Zachary Strings - What's with this guy?

gpc2 · #1 03-12-2011, 09:04 PM

Zachary strings might be good, but here's what happened to me when I tried to order a set. He's clearly got a chip on his shoulder.

Here's the exchange:

Saturday, March 12, 2011 9:25 PM
From: <gpc2@yahoo.com>
To: "Zachary Music" <zacharymusic01@gmail.com>

Thanks for the quick reply (I guess), and f*ck you too Alex!

Apparently those who don't stroke your ego after they read about your strings don't deserve them. Fine. It made a lot of sense to me, but as you know, I'm just a moron.

Sorry for asking, I'll just go crawl back into my hole now.

--- On Sat, 3/12/11, Zachary Music <zacharymusic01@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Zachary Music <zacharymusic01@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: zacharymusic01@gmail.com
To: <gpc2@yahoo.com>
Date: Saturday, March 12, 2011, 7:30 PM

Sound like its worth “trying”???
You f*cking moron. Keep playing the under-tentioned, unbalanced crap you have now. You were too stupid to even realize it, until I educated you.
You got to want it more than that. Otherwise stick what you got, that is what you deserve.

Alex

* * * * * * * * * *

On 12-03-2011, at 5:34 PM, gpc2 wrote:

> Stumbled on your strings while looking for a set of flatwounds for my short-scale bass. The optimized tension sounds like it is worth trying, I'd like to order a set. Please send an invoice - Paypal is fine and I am in Illinois.
>
> Thanks,
> Gerry

m.oreilly · #2 03-12-2011, 09:25 PM

did you tell him you are a supporting member at talkbass? offer him decent meth? because you posted the text, we may need to have the party in question reply for validity?

bassboysam · #3 03-12-2011, 09:28 PM

Wow, what a douche.

gpc2 · #4 03-12-2011, 09:36 PM

There are some older threads on him, apparently this is par for course. In Alex's world, only those who worship him are worthy. I'm more than happy to stick with the TIs I "deserve"!

Jaco who? · #5 03-12-2011, 10:03 PM

I was curious and googled his website. Wow. Really professional. I think I'll keep on with my sunbeams and fatbeams, thanks anyway.

bassboysam · #6 03-12-2011, 10:15 PM

I almost want to email him just to see how far I can take it.

Roadkill · #7 03-12-2011, 10:17 PM

I actually have a set of his short scale strings. I guess I was deemed "worthy"

.

gpc2 · #8 03-12-2011, 10:25 PM

Good for you. If you dare to say you don't like them, I'm sure he'll "punish" you by calling you names and not selling you stuff. Interesting business model, seems to work for him. Not a person I'd ever support, pretty hateful guy.

the byronic man · #9 03-12-2011, 10:28 PM

i almost want to email this guy just to see if that is a common reaction.

FretlessMainly · #10 03-12-2011, 10:29 PM

Well, I'm cool with abuse (having listened to the radio for the past 30 years), so what's the tone like on these from those who have bought them?

Even tension, yeah, I've always wondered about that, and this seems like a good idea.

So, are the 4-string bass flats like any other stupid worthless string you know of?

20db pad · #11 03-12-2011, 10:30 PM

This guy is absolutely unbelievable, and has been "celebrated" for many years on various forums and alt groups. He's also in the school band instrument trade and it's exactly the same tirades and attitude. If I was Canadian, I'd apologize for him on behalf of my country.

I could see his business still staying afloat when the economy wasn't in the toilet, but how he stays in business these days is wierd science that is far above my head. Brace yourselves:

Zachary Custom Electric Guitars Bass Guitar Gibson Fender PRS

Beware of Zachary music - TrumpetMaster

bongomania · #12 03-12-2011, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the byronic man

i almost want to email this guy just to see if that is a common reaction.

It is! Believe it or not, that is his actual business model, and he's been doing it that way for years.

Roadkill · #13 03-12-2011, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FretlessMainly

Well, I'm cool with abuse (having listened to the radio for the past 30 years), so what's the tone like on these from those who have bought them?

Even tension, yeah, I've always wondered about that, and this seems like a good idea.

They are NOT even tension, they are progressive tension. The short scale set goes from a light "G" to an extra heavy "E" (40 55 80 120). In my case I only had to file the "E" slot in the nut to fit them.

If you want to try even tension go (45 60 80 105) . For a "milder" progressive tension set go (40 55 75 105)

. These should fit most basses without needing any work on the nut.

FretlessMainly · #14 03-12-2011, 10:50 PM

Thanks, Roadkill - yeah, I read the website; I just posted wrong. In any case, do these sound good? I mean really; screw the hype and the arrogance. Is all of that worth it? Give me some strong fundamental and some nice overtones and the crap is worth it.

That was my point.

Edit: I'm totally comfortable with adjusting my nut and other setup parameters; but only if these really kick. Most of my basses already have self-induced nut/bridge/etc. changes. But I'm talking normal long-scale, not short scale. And flats ony - I only saw one set of those for bass.

mmbongo · #15 03-12-2011, 10:51 PM

Even tension is not a groundbreaking thing, plenty of companies offer them. Circle K, GHS, and Ken Smith just to name a few.

I don't know if DR's are marketed as 'balanced' but they sure feel even to me.

ataunton · #16 03-12-2011, 10:53 PM

The first post made me want to find out more about those strings. The website made me not give a s**t.

giacomini · #17 03-12-2011, 11:05 PM

I found that Zachary website quite a while ago, and I visit it sometimes to read all that sh*t the guy tells people! It's fun!

I don't think he makes good or even just good looking guitars, he's just a good photographer. Ugly guitars, but the pictures are good, so those things look kinda good...

Soundwise his creations are just average/good. I've seen the videos, listen'd the clips and all that big talk sounds pretty PLAIN.

I wouldn't even try for free the strings that a sh*thead like that guy makes.

Since the first time I got thru that website my dream is to actually get an instrument made by this guy and send him a video of me destroying it! LOL

FretlessMainly · #18 03-12-2011, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Even tension is not a groundbreaking thing, plenty of companies offer them. Circle K, GHS, and Ken Smith just to name a few.

I don't know if DR's are marketed as 'balanced' but they sure feel even to me.

Well, you fell into the same trap as I did.

The whole concept here is not even tension, but progressive tension. The concept is that lower strings have historically been of lower tension than the D and G, which results in muddy tone on lower strings. (Concept simplified; avoid flaming.)

What I haven't heard is how these strings sound. No word on that yet.

ZachM · #19 03-12-2011, 11:18 PM

I would NEVER buy anything from a guy who acts like this. Not if they were the last strings on earth.

Roadkill · #20 03-12-2011, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FretlessMainly

Thanks, Roadkill - yeah, I read the website; I just posted wrong. In any case, do these sound good? I mean really; screw the hype and the arrogance. Is all of that worth it? Give me some strong fundamental and some nice overtones and the crap is worth it.

Well, short scale string sets tend to suffer from undersized floppy "E" strings so the Zog "E" is a dramatic improvement - very "tight" sounding, definitely "strong fundamental w/ nice overtones" and more sustain. Other than the gauges I'd say the strings themselves are nothing special - I'd guess they are D'Addario XL's by their sound? They do feel weird at first and you have to get used to the higher tension and larger diameter on the "E" string as "normal" strings have an "E" that is less tension than the "A"

.