Official Zon Club Part 3

[ehque]

Hi there,
Not a member but I would join if someone sold me a high-end six string fretless Zon. Anyone have one they're thinking about letting go? There was a Zon legacy elite with piezos a few weeks ago going for $2400 and I missed it. I mostly play a new Skjold six string fretted and I'm looking for its twin sister.

Doubt I'd ever part with my fretless 6. My fretted 6 is on the market, but that's not what you're looking for. I think it's a buyer's market out there, wait and you should be able to find some nice deals.

Hm, so... further to my above post regarding Customer Service, I'd finally received my order (black Sonus 5/1 bridge, nothing complicated) earlier today. 'Yay!', I'd thought. Martin had told me the bridge would be mailed out on the 3rd of August... yet looking at the postal date, turns out it wasn't mailed until the 19th August, 2 and a half weeks late. Ugh, ah well. I also noticed I was over-charged on shipping fees. Ugh, ah well. I open up my package, keen to move on, and pull out the bridge. It's indeed black, and for a 5 string. Whew! But, wait... er... where are the mounting screws?

I checked the package again... nope, no mounting screws.

So a month and a half of emails to get some paypal details, over-charged on shipping, delayed shipping by two and a half weeks without notice, only to find I have a useless hunk of metal because the mounting screws were left out. Now, could I buy screws for it? Of course, but should I have had to?

Before I call up Zon as an upset customer, should I be feeling somewhat ripped, or would people consider the above to be normal?

Cheers.

Call them. Zon's not too good with keeping up with emails but they try to make you happy.

 

[Angus]

How come you decided to part with the fretted?

 

[rulyongo]

Uhhh, I can try later. I'm a horrible, horrible photographer though.

I have some high-res pics that Zon took, though:

And then two bad cell phone pics from the first time I changed strings:

I'll see if I can get some higher res photos for you though when I have the time.

Your bass always makes me think of chocolate and caramel ice cream!!!!... So cool!!!

 

[Vic]

Uhhh, I can try later. I'm a horrible, horrible photographer though.

I have some high-res pics that Zon took, though:
...

...

Wow, that's just a beautiful bass!!

 

[Angus]

Thanks! It sounds better than it looks.

It's much more purple in real life than the pictures show.

 

[kesslari]

I still say it looks like a chocolate cheesecake muffin! Delicious!!

 

[sps500]

Awhile back someone mentioned some real cool case for the Vinny bass....can someone chime in about the brand and where and how much?

Thanks

 

[onewebfoot]

Awhile back someone mentioned some real cool case for the Vinny bass....can someone chime in about the brand and where and how much?

Thanks

I recall that discussion also. I ended up buying one for a Vinny on the way, the case arrived in a couple months. Still awaiting the Vinny, but it's imminent. Got the word.

Glenn Cronkhite cases.
glenn cronkhite custom cases

I have the case right here, but will have to wait on posting pics. I went for black.

 

[sps500]

Thanks and its a funny story....I too and many others experienced the wait! FWIW it was worth it though ....the Vinny is amazing my only regret was not going for a 5 with a fancy top when it cost a lot less!

 

[ehque]

How come you decided to part with the fretted?

It was always the plan to get rid of it once the Vinny came, and the Vinny is here. I'll eventually replace it with a fretted Vinny if i decide to go back to fretted, but I'm pretty content doing all of my stuff on fretless for now, and the price hike doesn't help.

EDIT: Also, while the Sonus is a great instrument, the playability and portability of the Vinny leaves the Sonus in the dust.

 

[Angus]

Oh, interesting. It's funny- I find that to be the opposite. I liked the idea of the Vinny a lot, and thought about getting one to travel around with, but after borrowing one for a week I found that I didn't really like the ergonomics of the Vinny. It was good when I was standing, but I didn't much care for it sitting (even with the strap). I much prefer the Sonuses, even though they are heavier.

But I guess that's why there are multiple options available.

Actually, with that thought, what are the relative weights of your basses? How light is the Vinny? I saw the utility of them when I just had my Sonus 6, which is almost 13 lbs, but since my 5 string came in at just over 8 lbs I lost interest in the Vinny.

 

[kesslari]

My experience is similar to Angus' - I went down to the shop to order a Vinny, but when I played one, the ergonomics just weren't right for me. They sure are right for some folks. That's why it's wonderful to have options.

I'm still utterly in love with my new fretless baby. Joe called it a "Sonus Custom Elite", so that's what she is.
Video featuring her from our gig at the San Jose Jazz Fest - a little original funk in 7/4.
funkranomicon's Channel - YouTube

 

[ialma]

For those of us into extreme music , I've recently discovered that The Black Dahlia Murder's bass player Ryan WIlliams uses a Zon.
Weird beast though, looks like a standard with custom pickups...

 

[onewebfoot]

I already know the Vinny will be really small for me (35" sleeve length, pretty vertically oriented - say 70-75 degrees, if the pic of Ryan Williams is about 40 degrees). But I think the more vertical a player plays, the less relevance some factors have, but I don't know. Maybe it's the opposite....

It wasn't ideal ergonomics that sold me on the Vinny. I have comprehensively perfect ergonomics with the Barker Vertical bass. No straps. No shoulder weight. Nothing but pure vertical joy. But not portable (by my definition).

The Vinny offers a full scale Zon neck and sound with me everywhere my Sonus or Barker isn't practical. The Sonus stays home with me. The Barker stays locked up on site at my "peforming" venue fo rmy use 3 times a week. (I'm still doing the car-free thing, which also explains my fixation on micro-cabs ...and stuff...).

Hyper-Mega-Portability + Zon. That's what sold me ....

 

[ehque]

Oh, interesting. It's funny- I find that to be the opposite. I liked the idea of the Vinny a lot, and thought about getting one to travel around with, but after borrowing one for a week I found that I didn't really like the ergonomics of the Vinny. It was good when I was standing, but I didn't much care for it sitting (even with the strap). I much prefer the Sonuses, even though they are heavier.

My Vinny balances great when standing and fine when sitting. I generally do very little playing seated, and usually have my strap on when i do so.

But I guess that's why there are multiple options available.

Indeed.

Actually, with that thought, what are the relative weights of your basses? How light is the Vinny? I saw the utility of them when I just had my Sonus 6, which is almost 13 lbs, but since my 5 string came in at just over 8 lbs I lost interest in the Vinny.

The Sonus 6 is 10.9 lb. The Vinny 6 is 9.9. I'm a small dude, even by Asian standards, so I do place a premium on weight and portability. But seriously, doesn't a 8 lb 5 string neckdive?

 

[onewebfoot]

The Chronkhite Vinny case shown against a Zon hardshell case for a Sonus.
Will be nice when the Chronkhite has something in it.
Note about spelling: It's either Chronkhite, or Cronkhite.
Mr. Glenn C. has it spelled both ways on his home page.

This Sonus 5 fretless is 9.0 lbs (without strap).
As Vic often says, if you have to wait for one Zon, have another on-hand.
Sound medicine.

 

[Angus]

For those of us into extreme music , I've recently discovered that The Black Dahlia Murder's bass player Ryan WIlliams uses a Zon.
Weird beast though, looks like a standard with custom pickups...

It's just a Sonus 4/2.

 

[Angus]

About the sleeve length- I can't remember. It's been a while since I've gotten a suit fitting since I'm usually just in a white lab coat. I'm 5'9" with regular arms, so I'm not a huge guy. I play with probably a 25-30 degree angle? It wasn't the reach or the angle- that didn't feel any different than my Sonus because the pin locations are basically the same- it was just that I felt the body was too small for me to be comfortable.

The Sonus 6 is 10.9 lb. The Vinny 6 is 9.9. I'm a small dude, even by Asian standards, so I do place a premium on weight and portability. But seriously, doesn't a 8 lb 5 string neckdive?

Yeah, crazy neckdive. But the neck is so light that it doesn't bother me- I don't even feel it when I play- but if I do the usual neck dive test it falls like a rock! But compared to my TJ6, everything has neckdive (and everything feels like a feather!).

 

[ialma]

It has Bartolinis and a maple top
An uncommon 4/2 I'd say

It's just a Sonus 4/2.

 

[Angus]

Nah! Most 4/2's are sold that way, actually. I think we have bias here because the same painted 4/2's and 5/2's keep coming up for sale here, but the majority of the ones I've seen overall are Bartolini's and maple top. Those are the standard pickups these days for the x/1 and x/2 line.

Those are still my favorite Zons, actually!