Official Zon Club Part 5

[Nightman]

I no nothing about the original owner, but the person I initially received it from in 2018 said it is a Sonus TJ5 Set-Neck (set-in) fretless. Based on what I read on the Zon webpage about the builds of his Sonus basses, it's a custom build. It was originally an unlined fretless with the standard preamp when he bought it, but he replaced the original preamp with a Bartolini 5.2AP NTMB-GFL and had the lines and side dots added.

 

[Angus]

Not answering for Nightman, but I believe the person who ordered his was influenced by mine, which was the first of it's kind that Joe built.
It's a Sonus body with a deep cutaway (rather than a TJ body) and set neck.

Are you sure it was the first like that? Mine was built in 2008/9.

Though definitely I bet the inspiration for the bubinga one was based off of yours! Such a great setup for a fretless.

 

[kesslari]

@Angus what do I know? Joe said he hadn't done one like it. Yours, IIRC, had some other uniquenesses - single pickup, that amazing Katalox - am I remembering it right? Looks like a rich delicious chocolate cheesecake muffin?
Anyway, that's what I recall Joe saying, and considering yours it didn't refer to "set neck, deep cutaway Sonus body fretless"

 

[wellso74]

Looking for a Vinny.......

 

[Jeff Elkins]

Swinging by to say hello! Just received this in trade. Not my first fretless (though currently my only) and not my first shiny fingerboard (I've had basses with ebanol), but my first Zon! I've been wanting see what the fuss was all about... now I know.

 

[Nightman]

Welcome, Jeff!!

 

[kesslari]

@Jeff Elkins glad that bad boy went to a good home!

 

[Jotha]

Hi!! Just want to share my love and admiration for the Zon Basses!!!
Here’s a pic of my two loves... a 97’ Sonus and a 2010 Sonus TJ5 !!

 

[RodRy]

Did anyone else notice that the 2008 black Zon Sonus 8 on Reverb sold for something around $1675? I notice that there's a new listing on Reverb for a 2008 black Zon Sonus 8 for around $2300 now. Pretty durn sure it's the same bass and they just slapped some different strings on it.

Pretty good mark-up for strings.

 

[RodRy]

Hi!! Just want to share my love and admiration for the Zon Basses!!!
Here’s a pic of my two loves... a 97’ Sonus and a 2010 Sonus TJ5 !!

View attachment 3873126

Love the simple and clean lines of the one on the left!

 

[wellso74]

can anyone comment on whether or not there is a neck profile difference between the Zon Sonus 5 and the VB5? Just curious if there is.

 

[portraitoftracy]

Don’t think so. The big difference between the two besides body size is how high up the top strap horn is on the neck. The Vinny is considerably shorter making first position much more of a reach

 

[wellso74]

Don’t think so. The big difference between the two besides body size is how high up the top strap horn is on the neck. The Vinny is considerably shorter making first position much more of a reach

Interesting!! I had not thought about that!

 

[radmin]

The vinny's strap button is at the 14th fret. It takes some getting used to.

 

[wellso74]

Don’t think so. The big difference between the two besides body size is how high up the top strap horn is on the neck. The Vinny is considerably shorter making first position much more of a reach

did you find it distracting or uncomfortable? I'm not wild for 35" basses for that reason...

 

[wellso74]

I'ld love to hear from folks who own the VB5 and/or VB4 on what straps they like to use. anything unique about playing them thats different from "traditional" basses. You can Message/PM me if you want or share here!

 

[portraitoftracy]

I wouldn't want a Vinny 5 for this reason. I absolutely love my Vinny 4. Reaching the low C on a 5 string would not be enjoyable for me on the VB5

 

[Angus]

FWIW my bass should arrive on Wednesday. Finally.

 

[kesslari]

FWIW my bass should arrive on Wednesday. Finally.

Wow! That's good news. Happened fast! (in a parallel universe...)
Looking forward to pics.

 

[kesslari]

A little bit of quarantine Zon: