The Steel Guitar Forum

If you are at the St. Louis convention be sure to stop by the ZumSteel booth in the concert hall to check out our new model. It's about ready to hit the streets. I can't be there, but Bruce Zumsteg will be.

This is the one we have been calling Stage Two or Stage One DeLuxe as it was in development. Three pedals and five levers are standard with the fourth pedal being an option.

An armrest pad will be available as an option. We haven't completely decided on the final arrangement for a pad yet, so if you have suggestions be sure to let Bruce know in St.Louis. We have the detachable pad as on the display model and also a plan for a narrow pad that would be mounted permanently. I don't like a pad at all so it's hard for me to decide what people will like. Let us know your thoughts, please.

I'll be taking orders pretty soon.

oh great! it's already got three conflicting names!
does this have an all pull changer with bellcranks that can be moved? (so the copedent can be customized to the player)

no disrespect intended to you or the respectable bruce, just curious since players i know passed on the 'stage one' due to a 'fixed' setup.

No disrespect taken Chris.

Yes, this has the triple raise triple lower all pull changer with moveable bellcranks, split tuning via pull rod, adjustable tilt levers, etc. It's on a Stage One frame. Choice of single coil or humbucker pickup, designed to accept most pickups. I hope it will be popular. For $1499, I'm thinking it will be.

The Stage One was never designed to be anything more than what it is, and it works great for a lot of people. The Encore is for those who just want something a bit nicer that can handle custom setups.

thanks doug...sounds like a good thing!

Any pics. available???

No pictures to be released yet, but soon. Very soon.
As an added benefit of development of the new guitar, the Stage One gets a nicer keyhead at no extra cost. I have built a few using it and they seem to sound even better!

I like the narrow pad idea. Always heard it called a half pad. I'd be very interested to see the final product !

Congratulations on the new guitar Doug. We don't get many of your guitars here in California, I've only seen one once, at a jam. But it sounded as good as all the more expensive guitars with all the bells and whistles.

Now, how about coming out with a 12 string version? Us 12 string players need an inexpensive lightweight guitar too, and at present, nobody makes one.

Please? Pretty please? Pretty please with a cherry on top?

+1 for the permanent narrow pad and 4th pedal option - very much a contender for the part-time yet highly-mobile steeler.

'n' free too

Ransom, the pads won't be free but I assure you they won't cost very much. Neither will the 4th pedal. I haven't gotten this far by over charging people and I'm sure not gonna start now!

Mike P., it is a pity that there is not an inexpensive 12 string being offered. I won't be offering one either as there does not seem to be much demand. Now if you can bring me 50 other people who would buy one within the next year that would be a different story (maybe).

Sounds nice Doug. I won't be at the show to check it out, but as far as the pad goes, I think the optional detachable pad is a great idea. I don't use one either, but lots of people do.

This way, you can buy it if you want it or save a few bucks if you don't need it.

Looking forward to seeing one soon.

Good to know the Stage 2 will now be available Doug
can't wait to see one & try it out

Best of luck on the release of the Encore and your continued success, Doug. I look forward to seeing lots of pictures from the show in my hometown.

I personally like the idea of a "Half Pad/Detachable",I believe it would be a draw or a reason to buy this guitar,especially with the "New & Improved" engineering.Lots of luck Doug & yes I will buy one in the near future.(hopefully)

Thanks for looking!

Sounds great.

On the pad idea, I would rather see it as an add on unit that a player could put on or take off at will. Not everyone playing an S10, wants it to be on a double body or even a body and a half. If I was to play a single neck again, I would probably want a single body, but that's just me.

But it sounded as good as all the more expensive guitars with all the bells and whistles.

I have a very strong suspicion that bells & whistles are more likely to interfere with good tone rather than help it*. Will this thing be drilled to accept extra crossbars, like can it be blown out to a 5 + 5 without more machining?

*(like, abalone inlays on an acoustic's rosette is just gluing in pieces of rocks in the worst possible place.)

4x5 is the max planned for. Extras could be added but would certainly not be encouraged. Deviating from the norm messes up the entire process of building a reasonably priced instrument.

The pad is not an issue for me but the width of the guitar is. I like the double or one and a half as this gets the knee levers closer to your body so you do not have to hunker up under your guitar.

Playing a single neck for me is no different than playing my C6th neck. No knee lever issues at all.

Hey Doug, probably a few of us older guys with back/leg problems would be interested to know what is the weight of the guitar, say for the heaviest one you will make,in & out of case. thanks

now that the Kat is out of the bag, can we gets some pics Doug ?

Weight seems to be around 26 pounds, 42 in the standard case, which is plywood covered with the felt type stuff. I'll probably have a lightweight case option which would take about 8 pounds off the total weight and add $75 or so to the price. I also have access to medium duty road cases, the kind with the aluminum corners.