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Official Zon Club Part 5

#2,261
ModuMan said:
They are all black? And one is a Volume. :)
Oh, maybe you mean the lower right? I think that's just a lighting thing. And maybe that is the original Sadowsky knob so it's a little older. They are all the same color but that one might be a little less shiny.

I thought you might be asking why I wasn't able to justify ordering another one, despite my happiness with this one. No big secret, just that the wait would be an issue and while the communication was good when I had it, it was very sporadic.
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Oh wow, the color in the photo made it look like all but one were a dark brown to match the body, and one was black. As you said, probably a matter of how shiny. I've been known to put different color knobs on my basses so I can tell at a glance which knob does what, so I thought maybe you were doing the same.
 
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#2,264
I'm thinking of getting a Zon (a VB-4) and I have a question for you guys. On their website they say the choice of top wood makes a difference in the tone of the instrument. Has anyone had the chance to compare and see if it indeed does? What about the optional "tone plate"?
 
#2,265
That would have to be a pretty direct comparison, right? But maybe someone has a couple of basses that are that close.

My feeling is that the bass will sound fine, regardless of what top or plate you put on there. Though that is admittedly not very scientific! I'd go so far as to argue it's mostly for looks. That said, I totally went for a fancy top and bubinga tone plate on my Legacy Elite 519 because at that point, why not?
 
#2,266
alexbib said:
I'm thinking of getting a Zon (a VB-4) and I have a question for you guys. On their website they say the choice of top wood makes a difference in the tone of the instrument. Has anyone had the chance to compare and see if it indeed does? What about the optional "tone plate"?
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Joe believes that it does. So does Mike Tobias. They are two of my most-respected and favorite luthiers. There are many folks who say "doesn't make a diff".
I choose to believe Joe and Mike.
 
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#2,267
All four of my Zons sound very different. The two that have the most similar woods are hard to compare because fretted vs fretless and different pickups, but acoustically they sound the most alike. The bass with the most dissimilar body wood also has the most dissimilar sound.

I’d say the wood matters still. Tone plate? Meh. But certainly the body and/or top wood.
 
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#2,268
I've always thought the fingerboard should have the most impact as it sits under the the majority of the speaking length of the string.
I have noticed the differences in different body woods and tops too though.

My theory, based on experience is, the heavier the bass is, the better it usually sounds to my ears anyway, but you need to find that sweet spot, especially as you get older! ;)

Eude
 
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#2,269
Jeff Scott said:
I think I just received gwangi's. :hyper: :D
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Sorry late posting but I did eventually get my Zon, I'm not sure how Jeff Scott got my tracking # but I had to jump thru hoops to get UPS to get my bass back from Jeff and reroute it to my way.
Anyways I did get my bass, Joe Zon's artistry is just AMAZING!!!!
I won't be posting pic's just out of respect to the folks on Talkbass that are still waiting for there Zon's and have been waiting a long time.
Aside from the pizza stains on the fingerboard (thanks Jeff) the bass is absolutely KILLER!!!!
 
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#2,271
gwangi said:
Sorry late posting but I did eventually get my Zon, I'm not sure how Jeff Scott got my tracking # but I had to jump thru hoops to get UPS to get my bass back from Jeff and reroute it to my way.
Anyways I did get my bass, Joe Zon's artistry is just AMAZING!!!!
I won't be posting pic's just out of respect to the folks on Talkbass that are still waiting for there Zon's and have been waiting a long time.
Aside from the pizza stains on the fingerboard (thanks Jeff) the bass is absolutely KILLER!!!!
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I hope you like Hawaiian? ;)
 
#2,272
kesslari said:
Joe believes that it does. So does Mike Tobias. They are two of my most-respected and favorite luthiers. There are many folks who say "doesn't make a diff".
I choose to believe Joe and Mike.
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I'm sure it makes a difference. When Joe made my fretted Sonus 5/1 with the burl walnut top he used alder for the body wood. A year later, when I ordered the fretless Sonus 5/1 with the spalted maple top, it came with swamp ash.
 
#2,273
I'd think body and fretboard make a way bigger difference than top or tone plate.

And I am sure there are people who will be able to hear a difference. The point is, you would need two otherwise identical basses to even try to decide if *you* can hear a difference.
 
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#2,274
gwangi said:
Sorry late posting but I did eventually get my Zon, I'm not sure how Jeff Scott got my tracking # but I had to jump thru hoops to get UPS to get my bass back from Jeff and reroute it to my way.
Anyways I did get my bass, Joe Zon's artistry is just AMAZING!!!!
I won't be posting pic's just out of respect to the folks on Talkbass that are still waiting for there Zon's and have been waiting a long time.
Aside from the pizza stains on the fingerboard (thanks Jeff) the bass is absolutely KILLER!!!!
Click to expand...

I'd love to see it but respect that stance. A 6 string Legacy is on my short list. Out of curiosity (apologies if it was mentioned earlier), where did you order from? I ordered my last one from Atlanta Bass Gallery, but they have closed shop.

Side note: would love to see the Zon Zemi Acoustik see the light of day beyond Dick Lovgren's one-off.

IMG_0096-1l.jpg
IMG_0096-1.jpg
 
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#2,275
gwangi said:
Sorry late posting but I did eventually get my Zon, I'm not sure how Jeff Scott got my tracking # but I had to jump thru hoops to get UPS to get my bass back from Jeff and reroute it to my way.
Anyways I did get my bass, Joe Zon's artistry is just AMAZING!!!!
I won't be posting pic's just out of respect to the folks on Talkbass that are still waiting for there Zon's and have been waiting a long time.
Aside from the pizza stains on the fingerboard (thanks Jeff) the bass is absolutely KILLER!!!!
Click to expand...
I'm puzzled, how does not posting pics of your bass help people who do not have theirs yet? Sorry, I do love to see photos of new basses, and I'm feeling disappointed to not be seeing new Zon basses as they are being delivered, and just don't quite understand how this is helping those who do not yet have theirs? Maybe you can explain it to me if you are so inclined?
 
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#2,276
RodRy said:
I'm puzzled, how does not posting pics of your bass help people who do not have theirs yet? Sorry, I do love to see photos of new basses, and I'm feeling disappointed to not be seeing new Zon basses as they are being delivered, and just don't quite understand how this is helping those who do not yet have theirs? Maybe you can explain it to me if you are so inclined?
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I can't read anyone else's mind, but if I imagine myself as someone who'd finally gotten a bass after waiting waaaaaay too long, I can think of reasons for not wanting to give the builder publicity. I might be angry at my own wait; I might also be angry because of all the others still waiting after multiple years. I might be concerned that my bass photos would inspire new orders that would further delay those overdue orders. I might be concerned that they'd inspire a fellow TBer to place an order that would wind up being years overdue. Wouldn't have to be a TBer: photos posted here appear in search engines.

I'm not saying that withholding pictures is right or wrong... that's a judgment call. Bottom line is, photos are lot more powerful than the strongest warnings that accompany them. Because of image searches, it's more true now than it's ever been.
 
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#2,278
Fuzzbass said:
I can't read anyone else's mind, but if I imagine myself as someone who'd finally gotten a bass after waiting waaaaaay too long, I can think of reasons for not wanting to give the builder publicity. I might be angry at my own wait; I might also be angry because of all the others still waiting after multiple years. I might be concerned that my bass photos would inspire new orders that would further delay those overdue orders. I might be concerned that they'd inspire a fellow TBer to place an order that would wind up being years overdue. Wouldn't have to be a TBer: photos posted here appear in search engines.

I'm not saying that withholding pictures is right or wrong... that's a judgment call. Bottom line is, photos are lot more powerful than the strongest warnings that accompany them. Because of image searches, it's more true now than it's ever been.
Click to expand...

This was my assumption, as well. I am not sure how long Gwangi's build took (I'm sure it's in this thread) versus estimated. I've bought a few Zons and had one built by him. It did go over the estimated time, the communications were limited (when I did get with Joe, he was extremely patient and affable), and the bass did have one compromise. That said, that the bass is phenomenal and a keeper. I am going through a build that is about a year over projection (hasn't started) and will likely go 3 years over projections. I'm not ecstatic about it, but I've come to grips that these schedule estimates are generally wrong especially with the one or two man shops. Fodera has made great strides in that realm but it took quite a shake-up in their process from what I understand (they nailed the 5-6 month timeline with me).

The compromises in specs stinks. I love Zons (I've had 4 or 5). I'd love to spec out a 6 string Legacy but this thread worries me.
 
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