The quick engage/disengage pull on Buddy`s Zum?

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 1 Sep 2019 2:52 am

I seem to remember that there was a feature on one of Buddy Emmons` Zumsteels where he could engade or disengage a pull on the fly.
I think it was the low B to C# on the A pedal. He had the option of pushing pedal A and raising only the 5th string.
How is that achieved?

Gene Tani · Post by **Gene Tani** » 1 Sep 2019 4:00 am

Great question, I would like to know also

http://www.buddyemmons.com/zumsteel.htm

John Goux · Post by **John Goux** » 1 Sep 2019 4:10 am

Half turn of a knob at the changer end.
Does anyone know who has this black Zum that Buddy traded away for a hybrid?
The current owner could enlighten us. Or Bruce.
John

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 1 Sep 2019 5:46 am

Yes, I think there needs to be some sort of a preset to make it a quick change.
How is that achieved, mechanically?

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 1 Sep 2019 5:54 am

I see an opportunity for double duty knee levers, for instance...

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 1 Sep 2019 6:12 am

Now THAT's what I want! It would act as the 'Isaacs' change - he could get a '4' chord on 6,5,4,3 but have a 5th as a bass-note.

That's an interesting E9 set-up - did Buddy stay with that on his later Zum Hybrid?

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 1 Sep 2019 8:39 am

Click Here

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 1 Sep 2019 9:43 am

I'd love to see a sketch of the engineering of this.

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 1 Sep 2019 11:52 am

Jon, that is what I`m after, too....
The way Buddy used it is just one application.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 1 Sep 2019 4:00 pm

I think Hook Moore owns Buddy's Zum Hybrid - perhaps the change was on that guitar too .... I remember seeing a pic of it - there was a hex nut mounted flush with the top deck, just behind the C6th Keyhead .... but no pics of the mechanics underneath that accomplished the change.

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 1 Sep 2019 5:20 pm

I asked Bruce once how that was achieved, but didn't fully understand his explanation at the time. I do remember he seemed to believe you'd need space on the low end under the hood to accommodate the hardware, so the change was more feasible on string 10 on Buddy's D10. He did say it was simple. One of you technical geniuses should call Bruce and ask him, then explain it to all of us rookies!

I just discovered you CAN get that voicing this way:

B+C pedals, lever raising string 2 a half, strings 10, 6, 5, 2. You guys using 3 picks can get that spread out grip going, for most of us it'll be a 2-stroke voicing. But there's the notes for an A over B/IV over V, zero fret. Nice chord!

I might add the Isaacs pedal on my Rittenberry's ext E9, got a spare spot for it with 8 pedals.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 1 Sep 2019 7:08 pm

I think that, as I'm about to have a 'lower' on my RKR dropping my 10th to an A. I may ask if it can be set up so that, when I engage my A pedal, my 10th could be accurately lowered to a B note by engaging RKR. Or, in other words, my RKR would cancel out the 10th string raise on the A pedal.

Is that feasible on my Emmons LeGrande?

Dan Galysh · Post by **Dan Galysh** » 2 Sep 2019 1:19 pm

I do that on my Emmons LeGrande, Roger. I have it on the lever that raises 1, 2 and 7.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 2 Sep 2019 1:36 pm

Thanks, Dan - that might be better than overloading my RKR which, after all, is also raising two strings on C6th. I have the 1,2,7 raising on my LKL2.

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 3 Sep 2019 5:11 am

The change is actually engaged or disengaged at the changer end by turning a nylon tuner. It is achieved by using 2 rods , one from the changer but not connected to the cross shaft bellcrank of pedal A and one originating at the pedal A bellcrank but not connected at the changer. The two rods basically free float when the simple latch system is not engaged so that applying the A pedal pulls a free floating unattached rod without effecting the changer but with a turn of a nylon tuner the two rods are connected and the 10th string pull functions as normal. This replaces the normal one rod from changer to bellcrank that is always connected. Its very simple but a little hard to explain.

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 3 Sep 2019 2:23 pm

I haven't had the time yet to study this but there's lots to study.
Thanks a bunch, Hook.

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 3 Sep 2019 3:30 pm

Welcome Jon..

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 4 Sep 2019 9:52 am

Thanks a lot, Hook

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 4 Sep 2019 11:00 am

I'm printing out your wonderful photos/diagrams to study further, thanks a million Hook. I assume those shots are from Buddy's Zum?

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 4 Sep 2019 11:39 am

You guys are welcome. Yes John, these pictures are from the Zum hybrid Buddy allowed me walk out of his house with. ðŸ˜€

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 4 Sep 2019 3:23 pm

Did Buddy use that string 10 raise defeat just on certain songs and dial it out before the downbeat, or ever do that in the middle of a song preceding a section where he needed that whole tone raise gone? How did he like the guitar, and was adapting to dual staggered levers on the left a challenge? (Hard to imagine anything being a challenge for the Big E!)

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 4 Sep 2019 4:07 pm

Buddy said the guitar was a keeper. He told me the sparkle in the tone and sustain were very much spot on. I never asked if The staggered levers were a challenge but I certainly never saw anything to make me believe they were. Now for me and my short legs it is much more of a challenge. Especially the LLR and LRR.
The only recorded evidence Iâ€™m aware of where Buddy used the 10th string delete was the very last chord in Shenandoah. Knowing how he loved experimenting, I have no doubt he was working it in for future use.
Btw, the guitar also has a the 10th string b-c# raise on a lever so you never had to be without that change.

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 8 Sep 2019 3:04 pm

Hook, do you own his Zum Hybrid? Or know where it is? Just curious!

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 9 Sep 2019 1:17 am

Yes, I do own the Zum.

Jerry Jones · Post by **Jerry Jones** » 9 Sep 2019 4:21 am

It looks like you could also utilize this system to assign two different functions to a knee lever.

I think b0b was asking about this in an older thread.

Two different latch blocks spaced some distance apart and rotated 90 degrees apart.