The Steel Guitar Forum

For you Zum experts.was there any changes in the late 80s models and the early 90s models, that would effect tone and playabillity? Like changer, type of wood, etc. Thanks

Okie doke thanks.☺

And the answer is........?

Terry not sure about the wood in the cabinets but I think the newer guitars have a lighter body than the older Zum's.
Don't know about any changes to the changer apart from the development of the Hybrid Changer.
Bruce changed the bellcranks from the comb type to the current side-loading ones about 1997 ish, and upgraded the pedal bar to an extruded one probably early 2000's.

Mine's a '91, so it falls in the changeover period. Just tryin to find out.
Thx, Pat

Bruce has always tinkered on his guitars over the years, but the only significant change I can really think of is somewhere I would say around early nineties, Bruce went from using a thicker front and mounting the cross shafts in the wood to using the aluminium apron to mount the cross shafts. Also sometime around 2000 or 2001, somewhere around there he changed the stop plate where the return springs are and connected it to that right endplate a little better. Other than that and designing the Hybrid plus I almost forgot to mention that around 2005, he added one of those adjustable changer support brackets to help minimize cabinet drop. In my opinion, unnecessary cause Bruce's guitars has always had minimum cabinet drop to begin with. I never played any Zum regardless of of how old or how new, that didn't play smooth, stayed in tune with minimal cabinet drop and had great tone and sustain, plus one of the easiest guitars' to work on. You just really can't go wrong with any Zum.

I also wanted to mention, I don't think there has been much of a change in the weight of those guitars. Because I think most of the parts Bruce uses in his guitars have been aluminum, his guitars have always been lighter than others. I had a JCH guitar and Jimmy Crawford always used steel for the front apron and cross shafts, dang! That guitar was at least a good 7 pounds or more heavier than my Zum.

i don't know for how long, but the '82 had
a cuttail neck behind the changer, not a wrap around.
split tuners through the endblock. light body.
tension adjustment screws to balance the hysterisis on each string, (allen screws underneath nylon tuners inside endplate openings) thick front apron.
no slab of aluminum to anchor everything.
i thought these were the coolest years.

then they gradually became a little more generic (or similar in design to other mainstream models)..
but probably the best steels made still.

Thanks a bunch guys, i appreciate all the info. Dean, enjoy your playing on the Presleys. Love that dobro to.