The Steel Guitar Forum

Well, I'm thinking of taking the plunge and ordering a new Zum. I only play E9. Is the sustain/and or tone better on the double body with pad than on a single body? Any comments from your experience would be appreciated. Thanx! Larry Jamieson, Walton, NY Cougar SD-10, 3 & 5, Nashville 400, Goodrich pedal.

I say order your new Zum as a double body /w pad.

I have had my new SD-10 Fessy for a few months now and just from the standpoint of "playing position" being more like playing the front neck of my 75 D-10 PP Emmons, I'm very happy with it.
There is more room for KL's with the double body. Not sure if there is any real "tone" advantage, but I'm very happy with mine.
JE:-)>

I agree with Rex and Jim. Plus, I think you would probably have a better resale market with the double body.

Take the plunge, and get C6 AND E9. That's what I did, and now I can't play either one. <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Stephen Gambrell on 31 October 2002 at 04:20 PM.]</p></FONT>

I have a SD-10 Fessy and I think the sound I have is as good if not better than the Emmons.I think you should try a Fessy before you buy anything. They play very easy and the pedals push easy. I have played a couple of Emmons and you almost have to stand on the pedals. I think they push to hard.That is on the push pull.I think the all pull push a little easyer.
Sam White
SD-10 Fessy
S-10 Self built
Nashville 400
Profex II
Goodrich Match box
All hooked up together and what a sound you get on this set up.

Thanks for all the good comments and opinions. I have never tried a "Fessy." I did buy one nationally advertised name brand steel and found the pedal action to be so stiff I couldn't play it... However, I did buy it used, and maybe somebody played with the undercarriage after it left the factory. I currently have a Cougar on a double body. It has a nice tone, but I'd like to be carrying around a lighter guitar to my gigs. Any more opinions?

Hey, Samuel,
I like that.....We all PULL/PUSH....Yea, (All Together, Now) With the Bass player, Drummer, Fiddle player,Ba*&%o player, and lead guitar player.
When we ALL work together, It's easy to PULL/PUSH my Session 500, Evans FET 500, D-10 Emmons, Pak-a-seat, and everything else I've got up the 3 flights of stairs to the ballroom to play for those "Shriners in the funny Hats"....Too cool, Sam, I love it!

I have a Zum, single neck E9, on a double body, and I'm completely satisfied with it. I highly recommend it.

Larry,
I just ordered a S-12 Zumsteel from Bruce last month. I asked for the single body, because I have relatively short arms, and feel more comfortable playing that way. The tone of the guitar had nothing to do with it. I really don't think that the width of the body has much to do with the tone of a Zum. Hoping to get mine by "June". Good luck with your choice, however, you can't go wrong with a Zumsteel.

I've been playing a U-12 Zum on double since 83. Great playing and sounding guitar. I would go with the SD for the purpose of added knee lever placement.
Dennis

My vote is for a DB.

I started with an MSA S-10. When I changed to a Carter S10DB it just felt better on my arm position.

When I went to D-10 there was almost no change in my arm position. Felt very natural.

It's really a personal preference, and that's mine.

I owned an SD once but would opt for the single neck. I found the pad to be in the way and the single neck to be a faster guitar. I have a friend with a single neck push-pull who says the same thing. Different strokes for different folks.

Larry
I join the others in urging you to go double body. I prefer the comfort of the pad. Another advantage not already mentioned is greater stability from the wider body. You know what they say about wide bodies

I like the single neck with no pad as it just gets in my way like the C6 neck of a D10.

I like the single neck with no pad as it just gets in my way like the C6 neck of a D10.

Larry J., if you only play one neck (E9),why haul two around? Simple,isn't it!? Guys like Bruce Zumsteg and Jerry Fessenden only make great sounding steels,so don't worry about the tone.
~~W.C.~~