I've reluctantly decided to sell my Sonus 5 (along with a few other basses). I'm not very happy at the moment and I'm just not getting much out of playing anymore, and I've have too many great instruments for someone who will probably never play live again. All of the basses I'm selling are ones I thought I'd keep for life. They are "better" than the two I'm keeping, but the two that will be left were the gig mules, so they're beat up!
It doesn't help that I've apparently developed a sensitivity to something in the nickel/silver frets, so I have to swap the frets on the basses I keep to stainless. :\
After a few years with my Zon TJ6, I had Joe make me a set-neck TJ5, as I missed playing a 5 string and wanted another Zon that was lighter and warmer-sounding than my 6 string. It was just going to be a single MM pickup, so Joe decided he was going to "do something special" for me, and this is what resulted!
The top wood is a special piece I found that I gave to Joe as a gift. It made 4 tops, which have all now been sold. It was an incredible piece of wood! He was just starting to do guanacaste bodies at that point and thought I should try it, and he was right- it's a very warm, clear sounding wood, kind of like a less compressed alder.
It's also very light- this bass is just over 8 lbs!!
This wood combination has since become one of Joe's favorites, along with bubinga/guanacaste.
This bass is incredible for recording (where I've used it), and would be incredible for live work. Great for solo work, or would be great in a rock or R&B setting. The bass response on this bass is incredible- really full, warm and clear. The East preamp is a great fit with the Zon, and allows for a lot of tonal variation.
I believe it was delivered in early 2010. I'll double check my records.
Specs:
-Sonus/TJ 5 string with deep cutaway
-Katalox top/headstock
-Guanacaste body with a sapwood stripe up the middle
-Setneck construction rather than bolt-on (truss adjustment is from the back underneath a body-matched cover)
-36 fret neck with abalone dot inlays
-Lane Poor MM pickup
-East U-Retro 3-band preamp
-Hipshot ultralite tuners with Xtender on the lowest string
-Hipshot A-style bridge
-Inset dunlop straplocks
The Zon hardshell case had some modifications made by Joe Zon to the padding to make the bass an exact fit, including the added neck support piece. It's really nice.
There are some bumps here and there (mostly the two indentations in the back as shown in the pictures), but otherwise is in great shape.
I love this bass, but I just feel bad owning so much nice stuff when I won't be playing out much anymore. As a result, I really don't NEED to sell it, so please don't send trade offers, etc. I'm only selling it to fit my need to be practical. :\
I'm asking $4500 shipped in CONUS. Feel free to ask me any questions! If you'd like a different pickup, I'd be happy to swap it for no charge (including the new pickup).
More pictures coming tomorrow.
Accurate coloring, From Zon (before East pre and Hipshot bridge):
Old, bad cell phone pictures:
Recent bad pictures:
Dents:
More tomorrow!
