Does ZumSteel need preamp/blackbox gizmo

Jeppe Grangaard · Post by **Jeppe Grangaard** » 9 Mar 2005 2:24 pm

Just wondering
This is not yet a realistic scenario for me, but..
Will a Zum with a True Tone pick-up necessarily
need one of these gizmo’s. Or is it meant for
a longer chain of effects. Does any of you guys do without it? Jepp

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 9 Mar 2005 4:29 pm

Any quality brand steel, and Zum is definitly in that class, should sound great straight into the amp. That's where I would start. If you're new to steel, I would learn without any add-ons anyway. Keep it simple. Tone knobs, reverb, and of course, technique will give you the best tone.

Bill Holly · Post by **Bill Holly** » 9 Mar 2005 5:31 pm

Jeppe, I'm no expert, I just tote my wife's Zum SD10 for her, however, we did add a Brad Sarnos Steel Guitar Black Box to the line up and really like the "roundness" it seems to add to the tone. (My non-musician description) She goes from the Zum to the BB to the Hilton VP to the NV 1000 amp. As best I remember Brad gives a money back guarantee on it, within a reasonable time, if you don't like it, but you might want to check on that.

Chris, if you ever run across a 6'5", 240# Allan Jackson lookalike, who answers to Darryl, climbing poles & restoring your electricity around your area treat him nice, he's trying to learn to play a PSG in his spare time.

Bill

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The toter of my wife's Zum SD10 3/5, Nashville 1000 amp, Hilton VP, Sarnos SGBB & Kay Double Bass

Cor Muizer Jr · Post by **Cor Muizer Jr** » 10 Mar 2005 10:09 am

Jeppe,
i do it without
i play/practice at home with my Rains steelguitar to an practice amp from fender just a little one the 85.

and believe me or not i have a killer tone.

keep on playing

cor

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 10 Mar 2005 1:28 pm

Jeppe, the need for a Black Box has less to do with the guitar and pickup and more to do with the kind of amp you use. It is designed to warm up and round out the sound of solid state amps.

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 10 Mar 2005 2:59 pm

I don't use one however I do use a DBX tube pre-amp.

Tommy White · Post by **Tommy White** » 12 Mar 2005 5:41 am

Jeppe,
I was sceptacle about the BlackBox until I recieved one this weekend and used it on the Grand ole Opry stage. WOW! I was amazed at the difference and improvement of tone. The BlackBox brought a new and bigger dimension to my tone, with smooth, warm highs, mids and lows adding almost a hint of compression. The best thing to come along for getting the most from a solid state amp IMHO. I won't be without the BlackBox from now on.
T.W.

T. C. Furlong · Post by **T. C. Furlong** » 13 Mar 2005 11:27 am

Jeppe,

I have had a Black Box for about 8 months and this last week I have been comparing it with a bunch of different steels and amps. I have two Zums...one w/ True Tone (E9th) and E-66 (C6th), one with factory pickups, a '69 Sho Bud professional w/ factory pickups, and a '80 push/pull w/ factory pickups. I have played all of these through Steel King, Walker Stereo Steel, '65 Pro Reverb, Sho-Bud S-15 and in every comparison, the Black Box makes the steel/amp combination sound better. It doesn't seem to matter if the amp is solid state or tube. I would describe the difference as - more three dimensional - and not as glarey on the high frequencies. Tighter low midrange too. I not only won't leave home without it, I won't stay home without it!

TC

Tommy White · Post by **Tommy White** » 13 Mar 2005 11:41 am

Funny, thought I just said that.Well, sort of. Heh-heh<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Tommy White on 13 March 2005 at 11:45 AM.]</p></FONT>

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 13 Mar 2005 1:05 pm

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HookMoore.com
Allen Moore

Gary Moore · Post by **Gary Moore** » 15 Mar 2005 11:54 am

TOMMY YOU DONT NEED A BB YOU SOUND GREAT ON A LAP STEEL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL .

Jeppe Grangaard · Post by **Jeppe Grangaard** » 18 Mar 2005 12:26 am

Thanks Everybody, thanks for your time .
It’s really hard here in the start to look through to what you really need.

Chris, I’ll take your advice to keep it simple.
Tommy, No doubt! If anone was to to take full advantage of this! I guess it takes a man of your skills to squeeze the outmost, the best out of this little thing!

I’ll probably sound terrible for a long time to come, anyway!
Thanks, guys

Jeppe