The Steel Guitar Forum

:)Well it has arrived and it is a beauty! Its long black veil did not hide its true identity .I sat into it like it was a new suit.It is a perfect fit and its voice is a technicolour of heavenly sounds;it is like a dream made in heaven.I am glad I bought new rather than old when one hears of worn parts and ocassional searching for replacements for instruments that have long gone out of production. In my position this was the best deal and I can only thank all in this FORUM who have pointed me in this direction; also THANKS TO DOUG for a great deal!!! YOURS AYE JAMES TAYLOR SCOTLAND SLANGE

An Encore grows in the UK! Congratulations James! Now, of course, you have to send proof of your purchase, or at least rub it in a little with a picture or two.

Hi,Daniel, I will try and send some pictures . It does not seem to be my strongest point on the internet. JAMES TAYLOR[/url]

Hey, no problem, you just enjoy your steel.

Just wanted to share my excitement...put my name down for a red encore with pad...expected delivery is jan....but I know it will be worth the wait...I am excited about getting it ., until the I will continue to enjoy my carter d10

Larry, I'm sure you will enjoy the Encore as it is easy to set up and sounds great . I believe the Carter is also a great guitar also. JAMES TAYLOR

For those of you that own a Zumsteel Encore:

How do you like the tone of your Zumsteel Encore's sound?
Which pickup did you get and would you describe
the tone as bright and present or dark and
smooth? I've learned that the guitar makes just as much
difference in the sound/tone as the pickup

I just wrote a post in the Pedal Steel section
describing what I'm trying to find out in more
detail called Excel Superb/Zumsteel Encore sound/tone

If you have time, I'd appreciate your opinion.

Thanks,

Jon

Jonathan, the Encore with the Encore humbucker pickup sounds tremendous. I have been using mine for recording. I took it out a couple of times to do a Church event and an opry show and it sounded extremely good to me but it took me about 30 minutes to realize I can't function without a C6th neck. As far as playability and sound it matches up very well with my D10 Zum and that is saying a LOT!
Jerry

I finally got around to playing a classic C&W gig with the Encore that I've had since April. I've had it out a few times and have been real happy with the way it sounds and plays but it was great putting it through the paces on a 3 set Classic Country gig. The Encore is a great PSG! I'm really diggin' mine. Here's a pic.

That red looks very snazzy on the Encore, Bob! It looks like the guitars are all matched up with Roland Cubes, that would be nice not having to fight for stage sound with the guitar. Are you using the humbucker on the steel?
Thanks,
Dan

One month down. 4 more to go waiting on my new Encore. I don't know if I can stand it or not! I bought the Winnie Winston book thinking that would help get through the anticipation. It didn't. It just made it worse!

Good choice with red, it fits you well Bob. I've had mine for about 3 weeks now and have been doing a little recording project with it. I'm still getting used to the new lever functions and haven't taken it out yet, but what a dream to play. Man I love the recorded sound I hear back. The tone has that little something that I haven't gotten from other steels except maybe my old Fender. I don't normally do a lot of recording but think I'll be doing more now.

Yes I agree that Bob's steel looks very good in red. I was between red and black and decided on black because of the black end-plates. However, Doug's choice of colours are so good it is difficult deciding on the final appearance and it comes down to individual preferance in the end ; the colour had me thinking a long time. I have a single coil p/u and I would describe the sound as:bright,clear with a very sweet tone,but remember the amp can alter the sound too. I have a Crate and Peavy Viper and the sound and tone is excellant. I am told that Doug's Humbucker is also a superb quality p/u but I can't tell anything about the difference .JAMES TAYLOR

Daniel, my Encore has the Humbucking P/U in it. I like it, it has a nice little growl to it. The guitar player and I both use Roland Cube 60's and they sound great together, however when that picture was taken I was playing through an old Peavey LTD that I have ( you can't see it cause it on a chair right in back of me ). The Encore sounded great through both amps. The LTD has a lot more power and I really had to watch my volume. It has a cleaner, more modern tone to it than the Roland. I set the Roland to the Twin Reverb amp model and, IMHO , it gets more of a '60s steel sound.

Bob I am seriously thinking about get an Encore. I will take you up on you bringing it to work some day and me coming over to see it.

What strings are used on the Zum Encore ? James Taylor

Hi James,
I meant to post this earlier, sorry.
The factory recommended gauges for the Encore are:
.013 .015 .011 .014 .017
.020 .026W .030W .034W .038W
The only full set of PSG strings I could source “locally” close to these gauges are: GHS Boomers GB-E9 Roundwound Pedal Steel Strings 13-36 E9th. The 10th string is a .036W instead of a .038W, but Doug at Stage One assures me that this is OK!! Also the 6th string is a plain .020, which is not to everyone’s taste (see the multiple forum posts on this subject). I have tried this set and to my ears they work fine and give a nice balanced sound.

However there is a catch…………because you will need to change the plain strings at least twice as often as the wound strings, you will need to buy singles and these are a bit harder to get hold of on this side of the pond. Some plain PSG strings are different to normal guitar strings and have a PG suffix (i.e. .017PG) to indicate their “high-break” properties. As a beginner, I’m still trying to get the balance right between cost and quality as I like to change the strings fairly often. I'll keep you posted on future developments.
Cheers

Hi Michael, Thanks for your advice . It is not that I need right now but thought it best to be prepaired. James taylor

James contact John Davies on the British Forum for reasonably priced strings or Gerry Hogan, or of course you can buy from b0b on this forum, but remember extra for postage/customs etc.

Thanks Malcolm, I do know Gerry quite well and I am aware that he has an excellant store of steel guitar material;I just wondered what make was on the Encore. Thanks for your help with the British Steelies, but after the secretary gave me a new code I still could not re-regester as my email was still recognised as that of an existing member;that was months ago now but it is just one of those things. Thanks for keeping in touch and I do hope your newly restored MULLIN is doing well. EVERY BEST WISH and SUCCESS JAMES TAYLOR

Michael, James, I find I don't change the plains any more than the wounds. At one point in their wear, the fifth string starts needing its changes tuned. At that point, I change all 10. They usually start sounding dead shortly after that as well.
On my Dobro, I find that the wounds need it more than the plain (and for some reason, the third and fourth twice as often as 5-8).

Lane, Thank you and I will note down what you have said . Infact I have quite a few quotes of yours that I find quite edifying and this will be added too. You know This forum is a godsend indeed at the touch of a button you can get expert help where years ago it was virtually impossible , certainly in this neck of the woods, to get any help at all. Lane and Malcolm I am Greatful and of course to all those who have been so helpful over this last year; not forgetting Bob the gentleman who has done so much to bring us all together. A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A MUCH BRIGHTER NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE ON THE FORUM JAMES TAYLOR SCOTLAND SLANGE!!!

James have asked Marc at BSS to have a look at your membership , and see what went wrong and get you back in.All the best for the new year, Regards Malcolm.

Malcolm, Thank you very much indeed and all the best. I don't know about you but I'm run off my feet as taxi driver for all the family ;it is just that time of year. JAMES TAYLOR

Doug, do you have any teal colors in yet? Also, rather than using a 2 bolts and wing nuts to hold the pedal board, is there an option for paying extra for "sliders" to secure the pedal board? I do love me Stage One and would like to go to an Encore if it had both of these. stevet