My 'new' old steel.

[Ken Byng]

A few years ago I bought a D10 Zum from my friend Billy Murdoch. There is a thread on the upgrade of this guitar on the USA steel forum for anyone who is interested. I now have 3 blue pedal steels, but the Zum is in a class of its own in the looks department. http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... sc&start=0

[Donny Johnston]

Ken, That is beeeaaauuuutiful, the color is not to far away from my Williams. Stunning. Donny.

[Ken Byng]

Slightly darker than your Williams Donny. Yours is a real beauty. The darker blue sets off the mother of pearl nicely. Mr Murdoch approves, which I am pleased about.

[Will C]

What a beauty. Give me the depth of a lacquer finish any day rather than 'mica.

[Ken Byng]

In my life on the road years back as a pro steel player, I had 2 lacquer guitars that were ruined by idiots - a blue D10 ZB in 1972 and a sunburst ZB in '75.

The first gig that I did with my Show Pro 2 or 3 years back, a drunk was showing off on the dance floor, tripped and went head first into me and my guitar. 30 years ago I would have knocked him spark out, but thankfully for him I have mellowed with age.

Looks wise, I also love the classic black mica look of my Emmons push pull, and the blue mica of my Infinity.

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

Ken
You obviously did not read the conditions of sale when You purchased the Zum.
I admit it was small print but it did say that any major alteration to the guitar would render the sale null and void. the buyer would forfeit the purchase amount and the guitar must be returned to the seller in it's refurbished condition.
Since I am Mr Nice today I will let You keep it.

[Ken Byng]

You are so kind Mr Nice.

I have just finished a 3 hour practise session on the Zum, and the big thing for me is how much the tone has improved with the new body. It wasn't bad before, but the amount of sustain has increased quite a bit. The other thing is that the guitar doesn't look anywhere as good under artificial light as it does in natural light. When the sun shines on the body the grain pops out. What I'm trying to say is that the pics don't really do the guitar justice. I will have to wait for a sunny day and take pics with my digital SLR.

Billy, there is one more mod that I will tell you about by email, and then the guitar will be in a superlative class.

[Tony Smart]

Ken, if you get 5 minutes sometime, it might be interesting if you could give us your honest opinion on all the different steels you have.
I'm thinking of tone, sustain, playability, good and bad points and anything else. I'm sure a lot of players would like to know what you think.

I know you're a busy bee, so it's not imperative.

[Ken Byng]

It's an interesting option Tony. I have owned most of the major pedal steels in my lifetime apart from one that you own and one that Billy Murdoch owns. If I were to highlight any bad points, even though they would be personal opinions, it would just attract other people who would vehemently disagree with me. For example, I sold off one of my guitars in the last year that is highly revered by many players over here. I sold it because I felt the tone was way too bright for my personal taste. It would open a real hornets nest if I were to offer my opinion on that one.

[Tony Smart]

Understand your point Ken.