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Topic: Bruce Zumsteg's Book "My Life and the Steel Guitar" |
Wally Moyers
From:
Lubbock, Texas
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Posted 9 Feb 2016 9:02 pm |
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Yesterday I received Bruce's book and couldn't wait to start reading it! I finally went to sleep at about 2:00am and finished it tonight.. I have always really respected him and considered him a friend since the first time we ever talked back in the early 80s..
Like so many players my age, now 62, I started out playing Sho Buds and then Emonns Push Pulls. Like most of you my age I loved the sound of the Emmons but found myself spending most of my breaks at gigs laying under my steel fixing something that had messed up on the previous set.. Sometime in the early 80s I saw a little ad in the SteelGuitarist magazine.. It showed a photo of a guitar that looked just like my Emmons but tuned and played more like the Super Pro I had owned before the Emmons.. This looked like exactly what I had been wishing for.. When I called Bruce he was very friendly and we had a great visit so I ordered a guitar.. In hindsight I had no idea who he was or if he even knew what he was doing but something told me it would work out.. I can't remember how long it took but when I got the guitar it was everything I had wanted and more.. I played that guitar all over the country for many years and eventually traded it for another PP Emmons. My friend Bob Younquest still owns the Zum and it still plays and sounds great.. Probably the biggest mistake I ever made in my playing career was not ordering a Zum Hybrid at the Dallas Steel show several years ago.. My son Jeremy and I went to the show mainly to order one. At that show Hal Rugg, John Hughey and Buddy Emmons were all playing them and they sounded amazing. At the time there was a two year wait so while we were thinking about that we were approached by another builder and were offered a great deal to play their guitars... I won't mention the brand name but I always regretted it.. About three years ago Jerry Wallace had a nice Zum D10 on the forum so I bought it and just loved the guitar. While ordering parts for the guitar I was able to get re-aquatinted with Bruce, its always a pleasure visiting with him.. Last year I bought his CD, I really never knew what a great player he is, if you don't have one I would recommend you get it.. Over the years I couldn't get the sound of the Hybrid out of my mind so I was looking everywhere trying to find a used one.. One day while talking to Bruce he offered to build me one... I can't tell you how humbled and flattered I was and still am.. This guitar will end up being a family heirloom. It is the most inspiring guitar I have ever owned built buy one of the finest builders of all time.. I truly believe that his guitars are destined to be as sought after as the Franklins are now..
Ok, I got off track a bit but back to the book.. I highly recommend this book to any serious steel player. Its a great example of the evolution of the instrument and a true testament to what can be accomplished my someone willing to work hard while being committed to his craft.. Its also a great love story and example of a wife's dedication and support of a husbands passion in life... Like Bruce says in the book, Dorene is truly the "Wind Beneath His Wings"... Bruce's innovations will surly be around in instruments built after our time is over...
To order the book send $15.00 to:
Bruce Zumsteg
25625 South Brush College Road
Harrisonville, MO 64701 |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Don R Brown
From:
Rochester, New York, USA
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Posted 10 Feb 2016 9:49 am
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I agree! One big thread is easier to follow than 4 small ones. |
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Wally Moyers
From:
Lubbock, Texas
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Posted 10 Feb 2016 2:52 pm
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| Sorry Don and Mark, I looked before I posted but didn't see anything. Must have been on the second page.. Bob, you can delete this if you like... I put it on the Zum Players Facebook page.. |
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Don R Brown
From:
Rochester, New York, USA
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Posted 10 Feb 2016 7:14 pm
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| Wally, no need to delete it - your story is worth the price of admission in itself! (this forum really needs a "thumbs up" smilie or emojee or whatever they call those little faces!) Trouble is some folks might think this one is one they already saw and they'll miss that. Consolidate, yes - delete, please no! |
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Tiny Olson
From:
Mohawk River Valley, Upstate NY
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Posted 12 Feb 2016 6:11 pm
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Hey Wally:
I spoke of Bruce's book in the other postings. I agree with and can relate to all that you said man.
I just recently received an e-mail from Boo Bernstein with a picture of you, him and I taken in late '79 or early '80. You were with Red, Boo with Freddy and me with Gene. It was a Harry Joice tour if I remember right and we were in Flint, MI when this pic was taken. Sure brought back good memories. All those GM 4104s parked out back of the civic centers... ha...ha !!
Stay well Wally and I sure agree with you about Bruce's book and his guitars.
Your buddy,
Chris "Tiny" O. |
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Wally Moyers
From:
Lubbock, Texas
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Posted 12 Feb 2016 7:16 pm
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Hello Tiny,
It's was so cool running into Boo after all these years! Hope to see you somewhere again man, that was a cool tour for sure.. I'll never forget the great tone you had and how great you played... I'll post the pic so everyone will know what were talking about...
Thanks for reaching out my friend!
Wally
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