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Post new topic Best humbucker for late Zum D10
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Author Topic:  Best humbucker for late Zum D10
Jerry Roller


From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
Post  Posted 10 Jun 2015 8:49 pm    
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I need to have humbuckers in my Zum because of faulty electric in a building I play every Friday night. The guitar sounds fine with True Tones but the hum is almost unbearable in that particular building. I would appreciate opinions on which humbuckers might be best for the Zum D10. Experienced opinions please. I have a pair of 710's, a pair of original BL chrome surround 705's and a pair of Tonealigners, a pair of Emmons 108N's and several George L's of different models. I have a pair of original 805's but feel they might be too dark for my taste.
Thanks,
Jerry
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Lane Gray


From:
Topeka, KS
Post  Posted 10 Jun 2015 9:08 pm    
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I'd either use the Tonealigner or, if you prefer the single coil sound, the 705s and mount a pair of hidden tap switches.
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Jack Hanson


From:
San Luis Valley, USA
Post  Posted 11 Jun 2015 5:35 am     Re: Best humbucker for late Zum D10
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Jerry Roller wrote:
I need to have humbuckers in my Zum because of faulty electric in a building I play every Friday night.

Have you tried the Electro-Harmonix Hum Debugger?
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Lynn Stafford


From:
Ridgefield, WA USA
Post  Posted 11 Jun 2015 7:09 am     Humbuckers
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Hi Jerry,

I'd recommend a pair of Telonics 409 pickups for your ZumSteel. Here is a link to a post regarding those pickups you might find interesting.

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=280618&highlight=telonics

I just installed a pair of those in my JCH and they sound great!
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Marvin Born

 

From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 11 Jun 2015 10:28 am    
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Telonics for sure. You can adjust the pole pieces for each string, so they are all the same.

Then adjust them for a little growl on the low strings and some bell tone on the higher strings.

Just call Sophie and give her a card on the phone. Chech the web site for phone snd email info.


Marvin
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John Roche


From:
England
Post  Posted 11 Jun 2015 12:11 pm    
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Whatever the pickup on the stage one is ,get one of them amazing..
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Jerry Roller


From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
Post  Posted 11 Jun 2015 12:24 pm    
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John, you are sure right about that. My Grandson's Encore sounds as good as my D10 with True Tones.
My son and Grandson were jamming last night and I came to that conclusion. That is certainly an option if I could get a couple of them from Doug.
Thanks for everyones advise.
Jerry
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chris ivey


From:
california (deceased)
Post  Posted 11 Jun 2015 12:35 pm    
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i'd try the options you already have before spending money.
but that's just me!
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Mike Perlowin


From:
Los Angeles CA
Post  Posted 11 Jun 2015 2:04 pm    
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Another option is the Lace Alumitone.
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Paddy Long


From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
Post  Posted 11 Jun 2015 3:19 pm    
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Another plug for the Telonics 409's, I have them in one of my Zum Hybrids and they are outstanding.
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Dave Mudgett


From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
Post  Posted 11 Jun 2015 7:51 pm    
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I have two Zums, one '01 U12 and one '94 D10. I loved the single-coil Truetone (wound to about 17.5K Ohms) that was on my U12 when I got it, but I also needed a steel with humbuckers for some situations. I tried a 712 and a 912, and I wound up using the 912, which kind of surprised me. Some players say they're a little dark, but it works on that U12. Nobody has ever told me that guitar wasn't bright enough, and it has a nice upper-midrange growl.

On the D10, I tried chrome-surround 705's, 710's, 910's, and the original Zum single-coils (wound to about 18.5-19K) that the fellow I bought it from had replaced with Truetones wound to 17.5K. They all sounded fine to my ears. The 705's were probably my favorite of the humbuckers, the 710s were brighter, the 910s were a bit beefier. Ultimately, I put back the Truetones I got it with. But honestly, any of those pickups sounded good on that guitar. I doubt you'd have any big issues with any of the pickups you already own. I know it's a bit of a pain changing pickups multiple times, but I don't really know any way to really "know" without doing that. As soon as I find something I really like, I just stop.

Personally, I generally prefer Lawrences for humbuckers, but maybe that's just me - YMMV. But another thing is that I have found that some pickups just 'mate' to certain guitars, and not to others. So I generally have to just try stuff to know whether I will like it or not.
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Olli Haavisto


From:
Jarvenpaa,Finland
Post  Posted 12 Jun 2015 5:43 am    
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Get the Telonics 409.
I personally dont get the single coil is always better rhetoric. Different, not necessarily better or worse. What you get with the humbuckers is, apart from a lot less hassle with the hum, also quite a bit more dynamics and sustain because you can use the full travel of the volume pedal without the hum taking over when the vibration of the string decays.
Good to the last drop.
Very Happy
That said, I think all steels should have quick change pups, so you can have it alll...
EDIT. Just realised that you already have a wonderful selection of pups.
If I were you I'd try the 108n. Loved them in my Legrande
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Jerry Roller


From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
Post  Posted 23 Jun 2015 9:55 am     Problem solved. Please close
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I attempted to install the original Bill Lawrence chrome surround 705's and found that the lead wire hit the changer pillar block and would not allow string clearance. I didn't want to remove the lead wire insulation so that plan failed. I tried the old Bill Lawrence 710's and they fit perfectly and sound very good to me. They are the perfect match for this Zum. Please close this thread.
Jerry
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