Something I never noticed until after owning and playing my Zon was how uneven the response on another bass was across the strings . The string to string response was not smooth in comparison to my Zon .Not that someone would pick up on that listening to a band but I finally noticed that quality .My Zon has a very good string to string even response.
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Here's the latest recording of the black fretless, sort of a "Thonk" -inspired semi-improvised midtempo spook rock thing
I realize that my intonation sucks, I'm still learning how to control this crazy thing
I realize that my intonation sucks, I'm still learning how to control this crazy thing
Last edited by a moderator:
- Dec 12, 2007
- 2,268
- 43
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Zon Guitars, Tsunami Cables, DR Strings, GK
Dear D1G That is a really awesome birdseye maple ! Its cool to know you owned that bass for twenty one years,that it still plays great,were the first owner and pretty much seems to me somewhat of a pioneer in being a six string Zon player twenty one years ago.Yes, people played six string basses before that but it was hardly common to see.
Lookup birdseye maple on Wikipedia and you will see just how unique and uncommon it is .If a maple sapling planted next spring happened to be of this character how old would it have to be before it could be harvested and made into an instrument ? Iam assuming about 40 years .Probably true of most exotic instrument woods used on basses.I had a custom made bass with a Warmoth curly birdseye maple neck -real thin jazz style neck .It had a Minnesota Red Elm body .Huge tone!loved the look of that neck !
My Grandfather used to own this land next to a bog on one side and Leech Lake MN on the other side.There was a couple of acres of trees just off the cattails and in it were these trees with massive huge burls .I mean they were four feet across ! We were on a piece of land that had to be unique for these to occur .There were about six huge trees with them and it was a very wet area .One time we arrived and these trees had been harvested .I was like whats with this? My mom sold them to a woodworker he was going to make tables from them .Iam not against harvesting trees for their wood ,I did kind of like those trees on our land because they were so unique .Interesting to think about what the cost of an exotic top will be 40 -50 years from now .At some point demand will outpace stock and prices will soar.
Lookup birdseye maple on Wikipedia and you will see just how unique and uncommon it is .If a maple sapling planted next spring happened to be of this character how old would it have to be before it could be harvested and made into an instrument ? Iam assuming about 40 years .Probably true of most exotic instrument woods used on basses.I had a custom made bass with a Warmoth curly birdseye maple neck -real thin jazz style neck .It had a Minnesota Red Elm body .Huge tone!loved the look of that neck !
My Grandfather used to own this land next to a bog on one side and Leech Lake MN on the other side.There was a couple of acres of trees just off the cattails and in it were these trees with massive huge burls .I mean they were four feet across ! We were on a piece of land that had to be unique for these to occur .There were about six huge trees with them and it was a very wet area .One time we arrived and these trees had been harvested .I was like whats with this? My mom sold them to a woodworker he was going to make tables from them .Iam not against harvesting trees for their wood ,I did kind of like those trees on our land because they were so unique .Interesting to think about what the cost of an exotic top will be 40 -50 years from now .At some point demand will outpace stock and prices will soar.
Hey glower, good to hear your story, I hadn't really thought about how rare the wood maybe is, but you certainly don't see too many tops made from just birds eye maple, and I bet there are fewer still with such an abundance of birds eye figurings.
I have added a few more photos, included are the electronics showing the Polyfusion preamp and the signed back plate by Joe Zon, who I met a few years ago at a Michael Manring concert, two very genuine and great guys. Joe was interested to here of my bass and was genuinely pleased to hear how long I'd had it and that it played as well now as the day I got it.
I also got to play Michael Manrings famous Hyperbass, I remember the strings were ridiculously thin!
Anyway,I dug out the old receipt for the bass which told me I ordered it on 21 Aug 1992 and received it on 30 Nov 1992, not long at all. Its birth date was 5 October 1992.
Not sure about being a pioneer lol, I think i just liked the thought of trying something that was a little different, I can't say I was a particular fan of any 6 string users back then either really, there were only a handful i'm sure, John Patitucci and Anthony Jackson are two that spring to mind? Hmm will have to think about that, i'm sure theres someone that I use to listen too, but can't think of at the moment?
Anyhow here are a few more pics for those that are interested.
I have added a few more photos, included are the electronics showing the Polyfusion preamp and the signed back plate by Joe Zon, who I met a few years ago at a Michael Manring concert, two very genuine and great guys. Joe was interested to here of my bass and was genuinely pleased to hear how long I'd had it and that it played as well now as the day I got it.
I also got to play Michael Manrings famous Hyperbass, I remember the strings were ridiculously thin!
Anyway,I dug out the old receipt for the bass which told me I ordered it on 21 Aug 1992 and received it on 30 Nov 1992, not long at all. Its birth date was 5 October 1992.
Not sure about being a pioneer lol, I think i just liked the thought of trying something that was a little different, I can't say I was a particular fan of any 6 string users back then either really, there were only a handful i'm sure, John Patitucci and Anthony Jackson are two that spring to mind? Hmm will have to think about that, i'm sure theres someone that I use to listen too, but can't think of at the moment?
Anyhow here are a few more pics for those that are interested.
What bass are you holding in the second to last picture? Is it a Sonus Custom Special (or is it Special Custom)? 
Spectacular looking bass!
Spectacular looking bass!
What bass are you holding in the second to last picture? Is it a Sonus Custom Special (or is it Special Custom)?
Spectacular looking bass!
That was a sonus Joe brought to the show and wasn't for sale! Shame, I agree an awesome looking bass!
I have always loved the look of Birdseye and your axe looks spectacular! It can be hard to get a photo to do anything justice at times. The other bass your holding looks to be a cocobolo top .I like the pickup configuration with them mounted towards the back bridge .Love it when people share photos there are some nice instruments out there and it is cool to get to see them thanks for sharing everyone.
Well, here's the latest from the nutty fretless 2001 Sonus : "Scrufty's Theme"
^^ remixed with less guitar
bass only :
^^ remixed with less guitar
bass only :
Last edited by a moderator:
Tsar thanks for sharing your recordings !
My kids like to name my songs to
ur ten year old is nice about names usually names them questions, like can you turn that down please or can you turn that off .My wife names them announcements in shouts,Iam home now!!!!!!Our oldest son names them questions what was that song ?do you have to play that? Our older daughter is usually pretty vocal but likes to name the songs comments like shut that fing thing off or the neighbors are going to call the cops for sure .
Would like to hear as many of you out there as possible.
Always like to hear these basses because there is a very narrow band of recordings on utube displaying the tone of these basses .While waiting for my axe to be made,always searched hi and lo .Very little out there that tells the tone imprint ,especially with how I wanted to hear it -in a harder rock format .My software/interface problems have not been solved but someday I will put something up .Your not missing anything on the playing end but would like to put up a tone imprint of my axe for people who may be interested in how this particular bass sounds
.Lets hear your Zons people!
My kids like to name my songs to
ur ten year old is nice about names usually names them questions, like can you turn that down please or can you turn that off .My wife names them announcements in shouts,Iam home now!!!!!!Our oldest son names them questions what was that song ?do you have to play that? Our older daughter is usually pretty vocal but likes to name the songs comments like shut that fing thing off or the neighbors are going to call the cops for sure .Would like to hear as many of you out there as possible.
Always like to hear these basses because there is a very narrow band of recordings on utube displaying the tone of these basses .While waiting for my axe to be made,always searched hi and lo .Very little out there that tells the tone imprint ,especially with how I wanted to hear it -in a harder rock format .My software/interface problems have not been solved but someday I will put something up .Your not missing anything on the playing end but would like to put up a tone imprint of my axe for people who may be interested in how this particular bass sounds
.Lets hear your Zons people!
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