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Official Zon Club Part 5

#2,101
Johnny Pbingo said:
Wasn't somebody looking for an 8 string Zon?
2008 Zon Sonus 8-String Bass Black composite neck Rare Free Shipping | Milwaukee Guitar Collective | Reverb
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Yes I have been looking for a Sonus 8 for years, thank you for posting this!

Reading the description, he talks about the relief being high, but I also see he's using much heavier gauge strings than Joe would have shipped it with, so I have to wonder if it would be better string action with appropriate strings. Have to do lots of thinking and saving, I just blew all my money on a different unicorn bass, and found out that our company bonus (most of my play money) will be much smaller than expected.

Once again, thanks for the post!
 
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#2,104
RodRy said:
Is that common for Joe's basses? It's news to me.
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The older Zon's had phenolic fingerboards and to be honest I don't know if there where any issues with shrinking of the fingerboards, I'm only commenting on this particular bass because of it being an older Zon it would have a phenolic fingerboard and in the my past experience with another graphite necked instrument from another company that I used to play it had a phenolic fingerboard and it shrunk and pulled up on the neck causing high relief.
Now Zon has been using Phenowood for there fingerboards instead of phenolic fingerboards like they did on the older models for quite a few years now which is impregnated birch & phenolic resin and seems to be very stable and I know this for sure cause I have a Zon Legacy Elite 6 string bass that I've had since 2014 and the neck has never moved or never needed to be adjusted, seriously it's perfect, I get low action with no buzz and I play very hard with my hands.
Zon's RULE!!!!
 
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#2,105
I have a 97 Sonus Deluxe 6 string with a phenolic fretboard that is as perfect as the day I bought it new. No issues with shrinkage, and I play with a very low action as well. Rock solid and tone for days!

I suspect one of the reasons for the switch to phenowood is a more organic / natural look?
 
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#2,108
gwangi said:
I would be really worried about the relief in the neck situation personally, looks like the phenolic fingerboard which would be on this bass considering the age is shrinking and pulling up on the neck.
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That is a real concern.. I have a Zon Sonus Special V with no truss rod from 1998 that has excessive relief in the neck now. It's not an easy fix as I understand it. There's a Modulus guy on the west coast that apparently can shave down the fingerboard and make the feel playable "straight" again... I think Zon has also fixed the issue themselves by installing a truss rod.. Apparently a small (but significant) percentage of their non-truss instruments get like this over time due to the composite neck "giving out". Mine is basically unplayable and sitting on a shelf.

Frankly, I'd never touch a Zon without a truss... I've been looking forever for a 6 string Zon and i've passed on a few because they were made when no truss was installed.
 
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#2,109
One thing I've noticed with Zon with there Phenowood fingerboard (Birch/Phenolic Resin) combination is the Zon 6 string I have has a truss rod in it as well, the fingerboard feels AWESOME, very organic/warm sounding and I've never touched the truss rod ever to adjust, it's always been the same since I received it in 2014.
Other graphite neck company that still uses phenolic w/truss rod that I use to play, it didn't even matter that it had a truss rod in the fingerboard it still shrank, I gave up and decided to try a ZON and have been HAPPY ever since.
 
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#2,110
ChrisOnjian said:
That is a real concern.. I have a Zon Sonus Special V with no truss rod from 1998 that has excessive relief in the neck now. It's not an easy fix as I understand it. There's a Modulus guy on the west coast that apparently can shave down the fingerboard and make the feel playable "straight" again... I think Zon has also fixed the issue themselves by installing a truss rod.. Apparently a small (but significant) percentage of their non-truss instruments get like this over time due to the composite neck "giving out". Mine is basically unplayable and sitting on a shelf.

Frankly, I'd never touch a Zon without a truss... I've been looking forever for a 6 string Zon and i've passed on a few because they were made when no truss was installed.
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Yeah that black one on Reverb just does not speak to me. Too much relief, and about 2 pounds heavier than two others I tried to buy. Plus, I already have a black bass, and a second one does not excite me. Just does not seem like "the one." I'll keep looking, and please post here if you see any more out there. With the pandemic, I would guess Joe will not be making many basses for awhile. :(
 
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#2,112
gwangi said:
I would be really worried about the relief in the neck situation personally, looks like the phenolic fingerboard which would be on this bass considering the age is shrinking and pulling up on the neck.
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In 2008 this would've had the "phenowood" board.

I don't know if there is actually any structural difference between those and the phenolic boards beyond marketing and appearance, though.

ModuMan said:
That neck (on the black one) isn't going to fix itself.
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It also would have a truss rod, so the neck can be adjusted.
 
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#2,113
Angus said:
In 2008 this would've had the "phenowood" board.

I don't know if there is actually any structural difference between those and the phenolic boards beyond marketing and appearance, though.



It also would have a truss rod, so the neck can be adjusted.
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All I know is I've had the most worst luck with Phenolic fingerboards on a graphite necked instrument, too many issues to remember is why I had switched to Zon to take a chance on and have had good-luck so far with absolute no issues what so ever.
Regarding the 8 string my apologies regarding the fingerboard issue thinking it was phenolic but since the bass has apparently neck issues going on it gives one the idea or me the idea that the fingerboard was phenolic and not Phenowood since I honestly haven't heard any issues yet with issues with Phenowood fingerboards and I've definitely have heard and read issues with Phenolic fingerboards and myself have had bad experiences with graphite necked instruments with Phenolic fingerboards.
 
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#2,116
ModuMan said:
Are we talking about different basses? It specifically says it doesn't have a truss rod.

2008 Zon Sonus 8-String Bass Black composite neck Rare Free Shipping
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I've seen a lot of bolt-on Zons listed as "does not have a truss rod" because they don't know that you have to remove the neck to access it...so they think it does not have one.

I can't verify that this one does or does not have one, but it is in the era where it should. I'm just betting they've never removed the neck.
 
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#2,117
Angus said:
I've seen a lot of bolt-on Zons listed as "does not have a truss rod" because they don't know that you have to remove the neck to access it...so they think it does not have one.
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When I got mine two years ago I worried that it didn't have a truss rod because I didn't see a way to access it from either end of the neck. Folks here in this thread assured me it did have one; I'd have to remove the neck to get to it.
 
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#2,118
Angus said:
I've seen a lot of bolt-on Zons listed as "does not have a truss rod" because they don't know that you have to remove the neck to access it...so they think it does not have one.

I can't verify that this one does or does not have one, but it is in the era where it should. I'm just betting they've never removed the neck.
Click to expand...

Interesting, I didn't know that. Even the newer ones are pretty subtle about it but that is downright obscured.
 
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#2,119
Angus said:
I've seen a lot of bolt-on Zons listed as "does not have a truss rod" because they don't know that you have to remove the neck to access it...so they think it does not have one.

I can't verify that this one does or does not have one, but it is in the era where it should. I'm just betting they've never removed the neck.
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I asked the seller if the neck has been removed to check for a truss rod. I'll let you know what answer I get.
 
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#2,120
I have an older Zon, made in 1999 or 2000. It has a phenowood board, and no truss rod.

If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't have gotten one without a truss rod, but back when I bought mine (used) I don't think truss rods were an option.

I haven't had any issues with my neck, but it has way more relief than I like on a fretless. Had to shim the neck to get the action as low as I like, and if the neck ever does move, I can't go any lower without the notes in the upper register "fretting out".

It's a lovely bass though, and a keeper.

Zon20.jpg

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Zon 20.jpg

Zon 12 full.jpg

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Zon 10.jpg
 
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