Zum U12 7/3

Instruments, mechanical issues, copedents, techniques, etc.

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Marty Letz
Posts: 115
Joined: 21 Mar 2004 1:01 am
Location: Iowa City, Iowa, USA

Zum U12 7/3

Post by Marty Letz »

Hi this guitar not for sale I'm looking at it locally and wondering if I'm getting a good deal and like the Franklin guitars the Zum guitars will appreciate? I'll have to find another knee, L/R but all the under carriage hardware is there. Any ideas will help thanks, Marty
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J D Sauser
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Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Wellington, Florida

Re: Zum U12 7/3

Post by J D Sauser »

ZumSteel were top quality built PSG.
Yes, you would want at least one additional lever and maybe a vertical over the left knee too.

Likewise Franklin are top quality PSG. They are more rare than a Zum and thus tend to be quite a bit more expensive than a Zum.

As for "appreciation"... Ha! Good luck with that! I own an original 1932 Rickenbacher Fripan. The FIRST commercially produced electric "guitar"-type instrument WITH it's original and WORKING amp. I bought it over 25 years ago for about $1500.oo... it MAY have doubled now, if I'd try to sell it on ebay... but money has lost much purchasing power (inflation).
Some have bought name player PSG's for exorbitant amounts of money in the late 90's. I remember Bigsby PSGs with "names" on them being offered around for over $20'000.oo... IF they got bought for those prices, I doubt the buyers would get even only the same number amount of money for them today... and did I ever mention inflation? A loaf of bread now costs $4.99 at Walmart! $3.99 at Aldi

Franklins and a few specific year Emmons Push Pulls are among the fewest PSG which today sell for quite a bit more than what the cost to the first buyer, up to where one could say "owned and played and got their money back". And they were among the most expensive PSG. How long that trend will last, is difficult to say. Two of the biggest names are attached to both.

Only way to make money with steel guitars is you can steel them (pun intended).
In other words, if you can play the living daylights out of it like only few have been able to, or you've been able to buy one for less you can sell it again the same day by 4PM.

... J-D.
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Barry Coker
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Joined: 22 Jun 2017 9:59 pm
Location: Bagley Alabama, USA

Re: Zum U12 7/3

Post by Barry Coker »

When and if you need parts for the Zum I make them:
Barry
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Zum-D-10, Webb 614-E, 65 Pro Reverb, Evans RE200, 69 Gibson Birdland, 89 Telecaster EAD Bad!!
Jim Pitman
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Joined: 29 Aug 1998 12:01 am
Location: Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA

Re: Zum U12 7/3

Post by Jim Pitman »

Marty, I believe you are talking about the model with the trapezoidal end plates.
Not to rain on your parade or bash Zum - owned one and wound up selling it as it lacked sustain compared to other steels I had owned or owned at the time. Take that comment with a grain of salt though, for all I know I could have been the particular guitar.
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Dave Grafe
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Re: Zum U12 7/3

Post by Dave Grafe »

Jim Pitman wrote: 18 Sep 2025 9:13 am Marty, I believe you are talking about the model with the trapezoidal end plates.
Not to rain on your parade or bash Zum - owned one and wound up selling it as it lacked sustain compared to other steels I had owned or owned at the time. Take that comment with a grain of salt though, for all I know I could have been the particular guitar.
I have performed and recorded with three Zums now, in addition to three push-pulls, three Sho-Buds and a Desert Rose. They all had their own distinct voices but I never noticed a lack of sustain on any of them. I did have a '93 Zum with Bruce's own pickups that required more highs from the amp to really sing compared to the older Zums with Truetone pickups, but the resulting tone was huge when I pushed the pedal down.