Official Zon Club Part 2

[Angus]

And I didn't have to wait that long for the TJ5!

Oh, did you buy his fretless TJ5? How do you like it? It's pretty different from their "normal" fretless wood choices.

 

[AndroWal]

Since you mentioned the TecAmp M212, I thought that you might also have miced the cab. I like the part after 123567... the best. The TJ works!

Thanks!

The Tecamp stuff is great. Really liking it. Really flexible and great features to play with.

The TJ does work! Love how it can go from sweet lyrical lines to being big, grinding, powerful in the heavier sections and more than hold its own...and the bottom.

 

[fretless4string]

Oh, did you buy his fretless TJ5? How do you like it? It's pretty different from their "normal" fretless wood choices.

There was a cross border VB5/TJ5 trade. I also have a Sonus fretless 4-string and over the last few weeks I have been going back and forth between the Sonus and the TJ5. I have really grown to like the richness of the TJ5 and its expanded tonal range. I let a friend who has been playing bass most of his life hear both instruments one after the other and he immediately said that the TJ was far richer.

 

[aggiebass09]

I picked this up about a year and a half ago. It was made for Trip Wamsley in '93 or '96. I can't remember exactly what year. It has some wear and tear on it but definitely never lost any tone! I'd like to save my pennies some time and get it fixed up a bit but I'd say I'm definitely spoiled with this being my first fretless.

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[embellisher]

Does it have Xtenders for all five strings?

 

[Angus]

No- not enough space unless you make custom levers on the bass (3 tuner) side.

 

[Svend]

Ugh... I want to be in this club so bad, it hurts

 

[ehque]

Does it have Xtenders for all five strings?

Wow, I see at least 2. Must be a trip to play.

 

[steubig]

There were some photos posted here of the Zon booth and I did not see any VBs. A couple of years ago, when I was waiting for my VB5, Martin Peters at Zon told me that the shop was very busy after the NAMM show fulfilling orders that were placed at NAMM. My VB5 took from July to May.

i was at namm on the friday. i was looking for and asking specifically about vb stuff (being interested in a vb-6).

no vb4/vb5 there. rest easy.

 

[Angus]

Wow, I see at least 2. Must be a trip to play.

Did you mean to make the pun?

 

[aggiebass09]

Does it have Xtenders for all five strings?

It has 3 Xtenders. One for the E, G, and C

It definitely takes some getting used to on top of the fact it's an unlined fretless. The Xtenders are pretty fun, though

 

[ehque]

Did you mean to make the pun?

Yes, yes I did.

 

[Angus]

Then you should be ashamed of yourself.

 

[ehque]

i was at namm on the friday. i was looking for and asking specifically about vb stuff (being interested in a vb-6).

no vb4/vb5 there. rest easy.

Still thinking about the VB6? just get it, man.

Then you should be ashamed of yourself.

:-D

 

[Vic]

That 19mm spaced Sonus Custom 5 is still haunting me. Hopefully sometime this year I can get into one.

 

[steubig]

Still thinking about the VB6? just get it, man.



:-D

well, when i hear that you got yours i'll be more optimistic.

actually talked to one of the zon guys at some length about it while at namm.

gotta call 'em after the post-namm hangover is over and see what i can work out.

but yeah, it's there in my mind.

 

[aproud1]

Had this Sonus Custom for a while now and it is hands down the best bass I've ever played. Truly an amazing instrument.

A semi angry pic for your amusement.

 

[Angus]

^ I didn't know Brian Posehn played bass!

That 19mm spaced Sonus Custom 5 is still haunting me. Hopefully sometime this year I can get into one.

You could've ordered one like two years ago! There are a couple floating around.

Man up and do it!

Would you go for a similar configuration with woods to any you've had in the past, or something different?

 

[Vic]

You could've ordered one like two years ago!

I'm embarrassed to say I honestly didn't know this was an option, even though I am a big Zon fan and have been for about 7 years now.

I knew he had 19mm, but I always thought that was only available in the 22 fret 35" version like the 519. I'd like to stick with 24 frets at 34".

Would you go for a similar configuration with woods to any you've had in the past, or something different?

Great question. I think I'd go for similar. It'd take an aweful lot to dethrone my current Sonus 5, because at like 7.5 pounds or so, it's the lightest ash bodied Sonus I've owned to-date (which I think is like 6 now if you count the Special fretless and the Custom... which I think, ironically, is the one pictured above in aproud1's post) and the tone is to die for IMHO.

My current Sonus 5 is an ash body with a lightly flamed redwood top (below). It's pre-trussrod, but has always been perfect, so no worries, and I'm glad... this bass is very special to me in many ways.

Anyway, I'd definitely go ash body like the one at NAMM... the question is the top. I'd probably be mostly looking at either another redwood top or maybe figured maple. I think I'm getting a little added warmth from the redwood top on my current Sonus, which works out really well, so that's the one I'm leaning towards most.

I'd probably also stick with flame vs burl... or maybe water cured (naturally blackened). I'd also stick with the lighter ash, too. Seems to just be a great formula for my tastes.

The one at NAMM was a little heavier than what I have, but it was great... not sure if it was heavier than I'd like or not. Didn't get much time with it and I wasn't standing with it.

My current one:

An example of the kind of water cured redwood top I'd like if I went that way (this top is NOT stained, btw):

Anyway, FWIW...

 

[Angus]

Yeah, he's had the option available but never made any sort of formal announcement- I'm not sure why. I hate 19mm spacing and think humans are silly for coveting it, but it's so much more popular in the general bass world that I don't know why he'd wait to announce that it was available with 34".

The blackened redwood he has is amazing- he's so proud of it. There is a ton of it, too! There is one stunning slab that looks like it's covered in birdseyes. I was considering it for my Sonus before I found some amazing katalox to give him.

Have you seen any instruments made from it? I know at least one went to Planet Bass (that I think was purchased by AJ), and they still have pictures up.

It doesn't turn out quite the same hue as the MTD because of the finish he uses, but it's one of the coolest tops they have. The stuff is light, too.

By the way, 7.5lbs? Insane. My Sonus 5 is 8lb 4 oz and I was ecstatic after years of playing my 12lb Sonus 6. I'd love to have one that's 7.5lbs!

I'm completely converted to one of Zon's favorite combos now: guanacaste with a very hard wood top. My 5 is guanacaste/katalox, and I've played a few others with the same wood configuration, and one with guanacaste/cocobolo, which I think is Joe's specific favorite. It's a really amazing combination, because it has a perfect combination of warmth and note clarity. If I ordered a lighter 6 string, I'd get the same thing again. It's an amazing combo, though won't ever be as light as ash/redwood or similar.