The Steel Guitar Forum

Newbie here.

A friend of a friend has 2 ZumSteel's one is a Stage one and the other an Encore.. $1000 and $1500 respectively. Both in very good condition.

Just wanted an opinion if you think this is a fair price and more importantly what you think of these two models?

I have never played a pedal steel and want to get started but I have been a guitar player for 40 years and can play many other instruments so Im not intimidated by them but am really anxious to get started.

I have been waiting for a Muellen S10 in the low 2K area but I havent seen one in awhile and who knows when one will show up.

Thank you in advanced for your input,
Anthony

From what I’ve read here those are decent prices and the Encore is the better of the two.

recent thread started by the esteemed Jim Cohen, both models get high marks:
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=353269

Encore,,if you have the extra 500.

Thank you for the link that was very helpful!

scott murray wrote:recent thread started by the esteemed Jim Cohen, both models get high marks:
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=353269

Hello Richard,

What is the general difference between the Encore and the Stage One? Is it in build quality or features?

Thank you

Richard Lotspeich wrote:Encore,,if you have the extra 500.

Thank you

K Maul wrote:From what I’ve read here those are decent prices and the Encore is the better of the two.

Anthony Krcmar wrote:Hello Richard,

What is the general difference between the Encore and the Stage One? Is it in build quality or features?

Thank you

Richard Lotspeich wrote:Encore,,if you have the extra 500.

Features. The Encore is an All-Pull guitar. The Stage One is a Pull-Release. The All-Pull presents more flexibility of set up. However, as you see by the testimonials, it is not like you are compromising sound or playability with the Stage One.

Thanks John,

What is the difference between a Pull-Release & All-Pull... I understand Push/Pull but not sure the difference in the above?

Thanks!

Jon Light wrote:

Anthony Krcmar wrote:Hello Richard,

What is the general difference between the Encore and the Stage One? Is it in build quality or features?

Thank you

Richard Lotspeich wrote:Encore,,if you have the extra 500.

Features. The Encore is an All-Pull guitar. The Stage One is a Pull-Release. The All-Pull presents more flexibility of set up. However, as you see by the testimonials, it is not like you are compromising sound or playability with the Stage One.

On an all pull guitar, the rod goes to either the raise holes or the lower holes in the changer. Either way, they pull the changer. The lower holes operate a reversing process. So pulling in one direction raises or lowers depending on which holes you choose.

I have no experience working on pull release guitars and I'm wary of making inaccurate statements. But....
There is only one set of holes at the changer. The rod either pulls to raise the string or lets out pressure, allowing the string to lower, using its own tension (and springs?). It is essentially suspended.

Note that the more you know about how it works, the better, on general principle. However, choosing not to know this stuff does not make anyone less of a steel player.

Hi Anthony,
I have owned both a Stage One, and an Encore.
Both are excellent instruments, sound wise and in build quality, and are ideal lightweight guitars for gigging.
(for the sake of comparison, I also own an Emmons Lashley LeGrande and a Derby sd-10).
I sold the Stage One only because I couldn't change the set up (i.e. which pedals and levers affected which strings).
It comes with the hugely popular ‘Emmons’’ set up, but I don’t use that set up.
I kept the Encore, and couldn’t be happier with it.
It is a step up from the Stage One because you can adjust the set up, and it’s able to support 4 floor pedals and 5 knee levers, where the Stage One is limited to 3 + 4.
Of course, plenty of beautiful music can be (and has been) made on 3+4 ... and even less, but you may find down the road that you’d like to expand your options.
Since you’ve been looking for a deal in the ‘low 2k area’, I would recommend the Encore.
Just my 2 cents!
Lee
p.s.
Regarding the prices, I think they are appropriate.

Would is be safe to assume that the Pull Release is a less common system throughout all Steels with the Pull System kind of being more of a standard?

Jon Light wrote:On an all pull guitar, the rod goes to either the raise holes or the lower holes in the changer. Either way, they pull the changer. The lower holes operate a reversing process. So pulling in one direction raises or lowers depending on which holes you choose.

I have no experience working on pull release guitars and I'm wary of making inaccurate statements. But....
There is only one set of holes at the changer. The rod either pulls to raise the string or lets out pressure, allowing the string to lower, using its own tension (and springs?). It is essentially suspended.

Note that the more you know about how it works, the better, on general principle. However, choosing not to know this stuff does not make anyone less of a steel player.

Thank you Lee, much appreciated. This was very helpful!

Lee Warren wrote:Hi Anthony,
I have owned both a Stage One, and an Encore.
Both are excellent instruments, sound wise and in build quality, and are ideal lightweight guitars for gigging.
(for the sake of comparison, I also own an Emmons Lashley LeGrande and a Derby sd-10).
I sold the Stage One only because I couldn't change the set up (i.e. which pedals and levers affected which strings).
It comes with the hugely popular ‘Emmons’’ set up, but I don’t use that set up.
I kept the Encore, and couldn’t be happier with it.
It is a step up from the Stage One because you can adjust the set up, and it’s able to support 4 floor pedals and 5 knee levers, where the Stage One is limited to 3 + 4.
Of course, plenty of beautiful music can be (and has been) made on 3+4 ... and even less, but you may find down the road that you’d like to expand your options.
Since you’ve been looking for a deal in the ‘low 2k area’, I would recommend the Encore.
Just my 2 cents!
Lee
p.s.
Regarding the prices, I think they are appropriate.

I owned a Stage One in the past and like the other fellow, would have kept it if I could have swapped functions with the middle two levers. I currently own an Encore. Granted it’s been a while since I had the Stage One but in my opinion the Encore plays and sounds better. Again IMHO, these are the cream of the crop in economy guitars and Doug Earnest is still building them & has excellent customer service. If you can swing it, buy the Encore. If you can’t, the Stage One will be fine. If you take care of either one, you can likely resell them for what you gave for them.

Hi Anthony,
I started a thread on what was the best pedal steel at a low price and all the input I got settled on the ZUM ENCORE. Therefore, I bought one and it is an amazing guitar and I still love it after all those years.

JAMES TAYLOR