Zum Reso Simulator - Battery Life?

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 4 Apr 2001 8:46 pm

I recently picked up a used Zum resophonic simulator. It clamps onto the leg of the steel and has its own thin single coil pickup. I'm enjoying being able to switch in a "dobro" sound easily.

The box is powered by a 9 volt battery. My question - under what conditions does the battery drain? Do you have to be in "dobro mode"? Will it drain if nothing's plugged into it? The switch could easily be flipped "on" while it's being moved in my equipment case.

I get very long battery life from my Goodrich 10k pedals by unplugging the output wires when they're not in use. Is it the same with this unit?

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<small><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (E9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

Keith Hilton · Post by **Keith Hilton** » 4 Apr 2001 9:00 pm

Bobby, I have had a booth at Scotty's Convention, next to Bruce Zumsteg for over 20 years. We are good friends. This next week he is helping me with casting up in Kansas City, Missouri. Here is what I know; I "think" Bruce only sold these a short time. They were kind of a fad at Scotty's convention for a time. There were several distributors who had them. When I see Bruce this next week, at his factory in Harrisonville, Missouri, I will find out the information you want.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 5 Apr 2001 2:10 am

Chuck Abend did some work in this area for Bruce and that unit may be one that Chuck built. My impression is that it was going to be competition for the MatchBro, as was the Marrs Cat Can but the MatchBro won out.

Chuck is currently active in the IVL steelrider MIDI area and has rebuilt several.

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 7 Apr 2001 9:22 am

b0b, have you taken it apart and looked at the jack? If it's got a switching jack like some of the Goodrich products do, then you'd need to unplug it. Typically the battery hot lead goes right to the jack.

My guess is that if they put a power switch on it, it doesn't have a switching jack. You can also check with a meter to see when/if it's drawing current, and how much. That would give you an idea of battery life.

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Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 7 Apr 2001 11:25 am

Yeah, I know. When I opened it, it looked sort of complicated and my eyes aren't that great. I was hoping someone here knew the answer so I wouldn't have to trace it.

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<small><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (E9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 7 Apr 2001 12:46 pm

b0b, e-mail Chuck Abend, in Kansas City, if anyone knows it's him. I don't have his e-mail handy but he's registered and it's on the IVL steelrider thread.

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 7 Apr 2001 7:37 pm

So b0b, how does it sound???? I've yet to find a dobro 'patch' on a Profex or anything else that's very good.

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chuck abend · Post by **chuck abend** » 7 Apr 2001 7:58 pm

Hi Bob.
Bruce used a Fishman preamp ,and when you
plug it in,the barrel of the 1/4 in.jack
completes the neg.circuit and turns on the
preamp.The selector switch selects dobro or
steel guitar.So my advice is to unplug the
preamp when not in use.
Bruce only made a few and discontinued
production.Hope this answers your question.
Chuck Abend-email..countrysteel@hotmail.com

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 9 Apr 2001 1:04 pm

It sounds pretty good, Bill. I need to figure out how to mount it on my Sierra. The strings are higher from the fretboard, so the pickup doesn't have as much volume as it would mounted on a traditional steel. Also, the box can't clip onto the Sierra's square legs.

Chuck: Is the switch on both jacks, or just one of them?

chuck abend · Post by **chuck abend** » 9 Apr 2001 6:45 pm

Hi bob ;I called bruce,and he didn't rembember too much but thought it was on the
input only,which is the normal configuration
for most effect units ----Chuck Abend