Official Zon Club Part 2

[rulyøngo]

+1 again.

I can name shops that are just as small... and also smaller... who are more responsive. I love Joe and his products, but they really could do better.

My thoughts exactly.

I custom ordered my Sonus from them two years ago and had all the problems that all of you guys mention... The thing is, do I like my Zon? Yes. Will I order another bass from them? NO...

That's my opinion anyway...

 

[sps500]

With all due respect, being a small company is no excuse. Communication and the ability to manage workload are key in any business, regardless of company size and regardless of how well-respected your instruments are. I know plenty of one-man shops in various businesses that do this just fine - it is not rocket-science.

I will say this, when I did get Joe on the phone once he spent a LOT of time talking to me about my bass. I appreciated that and, in fact, that conversation and his reputation keep me from being more concerned.

But a phone call, photo, email, explanation - something - would be nice!

+100!!!

 

[LeonD]

Leon,

You make all very valid points. Yet as customers, I think that we don't really understand that these are VERY small companies. The do not have dedicated receptionists or even a marketing person (let alone department). They work VERY hard trying to build basses and get them to a customer in a timely manner. Since they are small, they are also, at times, at the mercy of suppliers who tend to service bigger accounts first. It is a tough place to be - the cutting edge

Hey Mike, how've you been?

I just wanted to follow up. I completely understand that stuff happens with small companies. And a lot of it is out of their control. Delays are almost inevitable.

My issue is with letting me, the customer know about it. Be proactive and let me know as soon as the builder knows. Why wait till after the due date has passed to let me know.

Or even worse, don't let me know and have me call the builder after the due date only to find out it'll be another month.

Again, I have no issues with Zon. (Although reading here, it seems like some have had issues with Zon; I didn't realize that.) While I've never ordered a custom bass from them, I have called to ask questions and have sent basses to them to have work done. I've had nothing but good results.

 

[Angus]

Anyone looking to buy a new Zon soon? If so, contact me and I can offer an opportunity that will make you extremely, extremely happy.

(It has to be something other than a VB.)

 

[ehque]

Anyone looking to buy a new Zon soon? If so, contact me and I can offer an opportunity that will make you extremely, extremely happy.

(It has to be something other than a VB.)

Whoa? I am interested to know what you know.

Unfortunately I believe my next bass will be a basslab.

 

[Angus]

Hah, can't help you with the basslab!

 

[LeonD]

I have a question about the midrange frequency selector on my Vinny 5. The on-line user guide says the bass has a ZB-5 preamp. With the knob in the up position, the midrange is at 250 Hz. With the knob in the down position, the midrange is at 800 Hz.

I would think at 250 Hz, boosting would give a deeper sound than boosting at 800 Hz. And cutting at 250 Hz would give a thinner sound than cutting at 800 Hz.

My problem is that when I cut with the knob up (250 Hz), I get a fatter sound than with the knob down (800 Hz). This seems backwards.

Is it possible that someone rewired the frequency push pull selector? Is that even possible? Or, could the manual be wrong?

It appears that the Vinny is the only bass that has the push pull midrange frequency selector so can any Vinny owners chime in here?

Thanks.

 

[ehque]

Hah, can't help you with the basslab!

Haha, can help me with my curiosity though.

 

[Andy Brown]

I have a question about the midrange frequency selector on my Vinny 5. The on-line user guide says the bass has a ZB-5 preamp. With the knob in the up position, the midrange is at 250 Hz. With the knob in the down position, the midrange is at 800 Hz.

I would think at 250 Hz, boosting would give a deeper sound than boosting at 800 Hz. And cutting at 250 Hz would give a thinner sound than cutting at 800 Hz.

My problem is that when I cut with the knob up (250 Hz), I get a fatter sound than with the knob down (800 Hz). This seems backwards.

Is it possible that someone rewired the frequency push pull selector? Is that even possible? Or, could the manual be wrong?

It appears that the Vinny is the only bass that has the push pull midrange frequency selector so can any Vinny owners chime in here?

Thanks.

Hey Leon,

On my VB4, with the down position boosted, there are definitely more low frequency mids. I'm guessing your particular VB5 could be wired backwards. If you experience this in the up position.

-A

 

[LeonD]

Hey Leon,

On my VB4, with the down position boosted, there are definitely more low frequency mids. I'm guessing your particular VB5 could be wired backwards. If you experience this in the up position.

-A

Hi Andy,

It sounds like you're saying the same thing I'm saying. Zon is saying up 250 / down 800.

Based on the above, boosting the up position would give more low mids.

But you're say down, you get more low mids. That sounds like for you, down is 250. Which is what I'm saying.

 

[Andy Brown]

Hi Andy,

It sounds like you're saying the same thing I'm saying. Zon is saying up 250 / down 800.

Based on the above, boosting the up position would give more low mids.

But you're say down, you get more low mids. That sounds like for you, down is 250. Which is what I'm saying.

Ah... you're right. Could be a typo in the manual.

 

[LeonD]

After having my VB5H for two weeks, I just noticed a few cracks forming around the neck pocket. I know they weren't there when I first got the bass. But they are definitely there now.

I took some pics of the cracks and sent them to the folks at Zon. They tell me the "cracks are in the finish and not structural so it's not a real concern". I believe that. When I asked how they thought the cracks started, they said it was a "result of the bass having allen face first, impacting some surface". I know for a fact the bass hasn't fall and hasn't impacted anything so I still don't know what the cause is.

On one hand, I know I could live with it (they're almost so small, you'd have to look for them) and the bass would be fine but on the other hand, they just shouldn't be there.

I'm bringing this up here to find out if this is common with Zon basses and the finish they use? Has this happened to anyone else's Zon?

Thanks.

 

[Vic]

After having my VB5H for two weeks, I just noticed a few cracks forming around the neck pocket.
...
I'm bringing this up here to find out if this is common with Zon basses and the finish they use? Has this happened to anyone else's Zon?

I've seen this happen before on Zons and been given the same feedback. I've owned some that have this kind of crack and have plenty of miles on them, as well. The short answer is, I don't see any reason for concern.

I think it has more to do with the thickness and fairly rigid nature of their finish, and the fact that those are sharp corners, where it's really pretty easy for a small crack to form, and then run a bit, but then stop. IMHO, it can even happen with temperature change, and may even depend on the particular cut of wood. It may require a small impact to start, but I'm not even really sure about that... and by small, I mean maybe even like just getting bounced around normally in a case.

All I can tell you is, at least in all the ones I've seen, both newer and older, it won't continue to get bigger, it will never chip off, and the wood is still very well protected.

 

[Papersen]

I'm bringing this up here to find out if this is common with Zon basses and the finish they use? Has this happened to anyone else's Zon?

Thanks.

That happened in 2 of my Zons.
Finish started to peel off at neck joint and although it didn`t affect playability, didn`t look nice IMO.

 

[Vic]

That happened in 2 of my Zons.
Finish started to peel off at neck joint and although it didn`t affect playability, didn`t look nice IMO.

Yours actually started to peel away from the wood?

 

[Papersen]

Used to be like this (a bit worse in the Sonus 5/2)

 

[Vic]

Used to be like this (a bit worse in the Sonus 5/2)

Ok, but that's not what the other guy is talking about. He's talking about the finish on the body at the neck pocket.

Here's an example...

 

[AndroWal]

Has this happened to anyone else's Zon?

Thanks.

I have the same issue with my TJ5.

Told them about it after I found it...just one...they said the same to me...that it's in the finish...I really have to look for it to see it in the satin....

I actually don't even think about it anymore....not that a new instrument should have such defects....but what a great instrument!

 

[LeonD]

It seems like I'm not the only one with a Zon that has a crack in the finish. I'm not sure if that should make me feel better or not.

I think it's kind of cool when basses are show wear from being played but this is a little different. Other than the aesthetics though, everything else seems fine. I guess I'll just live with it.

Below are a couple of pics of the cracks.

Thanks for the input.

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[fretless4string]

Below are a couple of pics of the cracks.

Dear LeonD
As the original owner of this bass, I was really upset to see the pictures you posted of the new cracks in the satin finish of the VB5. I am so sorry. I am also somewhat surprised that the finish would crack at this time because the bass was manufactured in 2008, and it survived three Canadian winters. I also play classical guitar and so I am used to handling instruments in the winter to minimize thermal shock. There are a couple of simple guidelines that I follow: 1. warm the car before the instrument is brought from the house 2. leave the instrument in its case for as long as you possibly can when you bring it in from the car. I was careful with the VB5 but not nearly as careful as I am with classical guitars. But from the pictures you posted it does look like the cracks may have been caused by differential thermal expansion/contraction of the wood/satin finish (this brings back memories of facture mechanics and the Griffith's criterion). I am also really surprised that the relatively thin satin finish cracked. A crack is a way of relieving strain and the energy associated with the strain is larger if the finish is thick (all other things being equal). It is possible that the thermal expansion coefficient of the finish is not well matched to that of the ash. Anyway, I am certainly not an expert. Others here (Angus?) may shed some more light on this subject. From the pictures that have been posted here it looks as if this is something Zon should certainly look into. Eliminating the sharp corner on the neck pocket would really help.