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my experince with Zon (so far)

#21
As I mentioned above, Joe said that the bass would ship by the end of january (2006 that is:p ). NAMM's behind them now and it is the end of January, so I e-mailed them yesterday and called them today (twice-- got through the 2nd time). The person I spoke with said he didn't know about it but took my name and number and said that Joe will call.

We'll see...

I'll keep posting in this thread regularly until I get the bass and then, if anyone is still interested, I'll post pics and a review. It should be a pretty cool bass (headless VB5 with a ramp). I'm pumped!! I want my bass!!
 
#22
dunamis said:
I'll keep posting in this thread regularly until I get the bass and then, if anyone is still interested, I'll post pics and a review. It should be a pretty cool bass (headless VB5 with a ramp). I'm pumped!! I want my bass!!
Click to expand...
I'm SERIOUSLY GASn for a VB5... ouch...
 
#23
I've always liked headless basses! I'm not sure how many VB5's are out there-- VB4's I've seen and know a couple folks who have one, but I couldn't find anyone who's even played a 5. Being a Zon though, I can only assume it'll be great!:hyper:
 
#24
dunamis said:
I've always liked headless basses! I'm not sure how many VB5's are out there-- VB4's I've seen and know a couple folks who have one, but I couldn't find anyone who's even played a 5. Being a Zon though, I can only assume it'll be great!:hyper:
Click to expand...
Here you go... :)

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=226614

AJ is not easily impressed, either. :)

Edit: I know it's not a 5, but I can't imagine the 5 is that much diff than the 4... at least in quality, playability, and tone.
 
#28
Last summer I put money down on a new Gibson Thunderbird Studio bass, told it would be here in 10 days. After a month, I inquired and was told it would be another month. I asked again in October and was told MAYBE by Christmas. All this, and I was doing all the inquiring and all the leg work. I pulled my order and got my money back.

Presently I am waiting for a Dean B2 bass to be replaced because the one I bought brand new crapped out on me. Was told it would be here last Monday, still nothing, not even a phone call from the music store saying "We're on it, sorry for the delay."

I'll tell you, I love music, basses, and gear, but I am really sick of the sh*tty attitude of so many music store workers, who think they are doing US a favor by selling us gear. And the indifference of SOME guitar makers is disguting. Most businesses would go out of business with such treatment of loyal customers.

I will get a T-bird someday, but not ordering it through a local store. I am calling about my Dean B2 today and if I don't get a REAL cool answer, I will demand my money back. I didn't pay $800 to hold a bunch of air in my hands!!

Hope you Zon comes TODAY, if not, call and tell them to MOVE THEIR A** and get to work!! They are WORKING FOR YOU!!!
 
#29
You said, dude! Yeah, that's pretty much the situation.

(watch out for "generalizations" though-- I tend to get smacked down whenever I make general statements like that without typing "IMHO" or "YMMV" or some disclaimer like that :p )
 
#30
CaptainHueso said:
I find it cool that this is a thread about Zon basses, and that a guy who works for Roscoe basses is replying. I've heard from many that Zon and Roscoe are arguably THE two best fretless bass builders in the business. When I can afford to get a fretless (both money wise, and playing ability wise), I'm gonna have a tough time choosing between the two.
Click to expand...

Well, Joe is a friend, and I have respected his work since BEFORE that time. He makes what is in my opinion one of the best instruments available, period. I have loved my fretless Sonus Special for a long time. He doesn't have the luxury of having a guy that is in my position working for him, like Roscoe does, so sometimes things get overlooked (heck, they do at Roscoe too!!! :eek: ;) ), and I totally understand and respect dunamis' position - there really is no excuse for poor communication.

As for which you end up with, in my opinion, you can't go wrong with the choices you make from those two, although I could be a wee bit prejudiced about one of the options. :D
 
#31
CaptainHueso said:
I find it cool that this is a thread about Zon basses, and that a guy who works for Roscoe basses is replying. I've heard from many that Zon and Roscoe are arguably THE two best fretless bass builders in the business.
Click to expand...

How about Roscoe and Zon are two of the best "bass builders" in the business...they both make some of the best fretted basses as well, but their fretless basses aren't too shaby either ;)
 
#33
SMASH said:
+ 1 billion. You've done a great job debunking the excuses above.

Simple time management will allow all the good customer service and family time a person could care to have. That should come *before* cranking out the product, IMO, and if build times get longer then so be it or raise prices so that you're not swamped with orders.

Also simple - if you don't have time to reply to emails, don't post an email address.

Best of luck getting your bass. Hope you enjoy it for a long time to come.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your kind words. Obviously, I agree with the points you've made.

I've hesitated to mention it (**warning-- mandolin content to follow:p ) but I play a number of instruments and one is mandolin.

Now mandolin luthery is a whole different kettle of fish. High end, hand made mandolins can cost upward of $30,000 and take over 3 years to get. The average "production" pro-quality mando (anology in the bass world might be something like USA Sadowsky) costs about $7500. (BTW-- I don't own one of those. I have 5 mandos and my most expensive one cost $2500).

But, to your point, there are mando luthiers who have stopped taking orders because of the great demand for their product. The nature of handmade instruments (especailly the esoteric sort) is such that you can't very well delelgate or automate the work.
 
#35
I left a message for Joe yesterday, and since I didn't hear back from him I called again this morning, and spoke with someone there. It turned out to be the guy who I left the message with. He remembered me and apologized that Joe hadn't returned my call.

He did say that they were expecting "a batch" of pickups from Bartolini and that Joe told him that he was going to try to get my bass shipped out by the end of this week, whcih would be really cool:hyper: , but we'll see...:eyebrow: .
 
#36
dunamis said:
I left a message for Joe yesterday, and since I didn't hear back from him I called again this morning, and spoke with someone there. It turned out to be the guy who I left the message with. He remembered me and apologized that Joe hadn't returned my call.

He did say that they were expecting "a batch" of pickups from Bartolini and that Joe told him that he was going to try to get my bass shipped out by the end of this week, whcih would be really cool:hyper: , but we'll see...:eyebrow: .
Click to expand...

I can attest that "waiting on a batch of pickups (or electronics) from Bartolini" is a very valid reason to be waiting to ship a bass out!

:ninja:

;)
 
#39
You think Joe would want to hire a guy for chicken scratch and some cocoa beans? I'd work for him for, just for the experiance. Maybe it will happen....

I orederd a custom Sonus from Joe and Co. It came out FANTASTIC and was done and taken care in the time frame they said.

I only had a pick or two with them. I asked for chrome hardware and because they didn't have any they gave me black and then charged half price for it. I thought that was a little lame cosidering they waiting until the bass was done before they told me. However, they did have a good point, it does look better.

Also (I didn't steal this:hiding: ) I wanted d-tuners on all the strings. Again, they waited until they'd done everything but add the tuning keys before they told me that the bolt on head didn't have enough room for all 4. But no worries, I'm Michael Manring, I have a hard enough time using 2.

Lastly, and this isn't a big deal as the top wood is GORGEOUS, Joe said he would send me some pictures of top woods for me to choose from. He never did.

I know they do a small shop and BIG business, so I don't get that huffed about it. Besides, the bass came out awsome. However, I do wish that they could be a little more informative.

That said, think they'd hire a guy on chicken scratch?:D
 
#40
i thought i'd comment on the communication factor...
i ordered a zon legacy 6 in green 12 years ago, had the same problems, and cancelled my order after two months past deadline.
i would be willing to pay the extra it would cost on any instrument for these manufacturers to properly staff their businesses.
ken smith(however quirky he is) is a perfect example of someone who's business is run properly. his instruments are in the upper tier price-wise(and worth every penny), like the instruments mentioned in this thread, but he or his staff will call you or answer your query via e-mail usually in the same day.
i can say the same thing about ns design instruments.
i had problems with both, but the service has made me a die-hard customer who will continue to use both of these instrument builders.
doug
 

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