- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,233
- 45,120
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
Nice build specs. What do you mean by "rear mounted electronics"?
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Single volume on the front with EQ/panning accessible through the rear control plate via screw driver. Did this on my fretless. Makes it very set it/forget it and I like the aesthetics.
Martin was great to talk to. Very patient.
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,233
- 45,120
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
I could certainly have done something like this. Very cool idea.Single volume on the front with EQ/panning accessible through the rear control plate via screw driver. Did this on my fretless. Makes it very set it/forget it and I like the aesthetics.
Martin was great to talk to. Very patient.
This might be good time to check with Zon to see if my fretless Sonus can be turned into a fretted Sonus!
I think it's going to be a question of whether the cost would be worth it to you. If you want to have Joe do it, you'd probably be better off to find a fretted Sonus. At least that's what I heard when I asked if he'd redo a nice Caribbean blue fretless I found on Reverb.
I posed a similar question to a luthier and friend of mine, and he said, "once the neck is fully built and shaped, it's just easier to remove the entire fretboard and make a new one." Has to do with the fact that most of the time, the fret slots are cut while the fretboard is still completely flat and the sides are parallel. That is the easiest way to ensure they are in exactly the right positions.
But you may find some other way to go.
Not sure this helps or not, but I contacted them a few weeks back regading a conversion in the opposite direction (fretted to fretless). Martin wrote back saying they'd need to take off the fretboard, put on a new one, and that in any case, they're not taking on any "modding work" at the moment; from what i understdood, it's not clear when they'd resume accepting such mod requests. As with all my previous queries with Zon, Martin's responses were quick, helpful, and very courteous.
He did mention that it probably makes more sense to spec out a new order from scratch, which, well, depending on how the year proceeds... I may do later. But they do seem to be accepting orders, and the quoted turnaruond time I got was aruond 10 months.
Having to remove the fretboard to add the frets makes sense, but that work has to be far cheaper than ordering and funding a new Zon bass like this one!
I like the feel of this bass, but I don’t see a need for a fretless since my main gig was dissolved earlier last year.
I like the feel of this bass, but I don’t see a need for a fretless since my main gig was dissolved earlier last year.
Yeah, I agree that it would probably be cheaper (to the customer), but my guess is that the margins on "maintenance" work are lower & if there is a big backlog of new-builds in progress, it makes business sense to focus on those. I do wonder whether there are any luthiers who are particularly experienced with graphite necks that might undertake such a mod?
Grats! Sounds like a great setup. Is it the katalox with sapwood? It's likely from the billet I gave him that I've used for two basses.
Thanks. I hope it is! I sort of referenced that one
. I'd have to imagine it's been snagged by now.
I contacted via email a referred luthier in the Atlanta GA area about fret work and a Plek, but never heard back from them.
A previous owner sent my Zon to a luthier to get it lined and the guy was able to cut into the neck to add them. Maybe, if those line locations are accurate, going to frets won’t be that much of a hurdle.
Based on my reading & understanding on the Zon page the fretboards used are the same for their fretted and fretless basses, which is similar to ebony in hardness.
Not sure if it's the case for all vintages of Zon's, but indeed the fretless & fretted ones I have (both that way from inception) seem to have the same fingerboard material, and both seem very similar to rockwood/diamondwood that I have on a couple of Greg Curbow basses. Not sure if it's precisely the same supplier, but looks very similar.
If the fretline-installer was competent, I see no reason why the lines should be "off" of where you'd put frets, but it should be relatively simple to check? Perhaps use something pointed/sharper than a finger & depress the string on the fretline...
Curious to hear how this pans out
Good luck!
Not sure if it's the case for all vintages of Zon's, but indeed the fretless & fretted ones I have (both that way from inception) seem to have the same fingerboard material, and both seem very similar to rockwood/diamondwood that I have on a couple of Greg Curbow basses. Not sure if it's precisely the same supplier, but looks very similar.
If the fretline-installer was competent, I see no reason why the lines should be "off" of where you'd put frets, but it should be relatively simple to check? Perhaps use something pointed/sharper than a finger & depress the string on the fretline...
Curious to hear how this pans out
I used a capo and placed it on at a few positions on the fretboard right at the fret line (not over it) and the used a tuner to indicate the note being plucked and it seems the lines are in the correct location. I would imagine a luthier with the correct tools could over cut the line the width required to install frets, cut a new nut and covert this bass to a fretted version.\
I also understand the fret lines were added by Bob Groat from California.
Might be even more simple. Many who cut lines into boards use a fret-cutting saw to do it. If the lines are softer than the surrounding board, a competent luthier should have no problem passing a saw over them and taking them back out.
What are the lines made of? A photo would be nice too!
I may be off topic, but mind letting me know the luthier you went to for the line work?
A previous owner had the fret lines cut and filled with strips of maple. I understand it was done by Bob Groat (California).
What are the lines made of? A photo would be nice too!
Maple strips were used for the lines.
That is beautiful! Looks a lot like the rockwood fingerboard on mine. I have a fair guess on how it might sound
I'm not sure I'd be in a hurry to put frets on that - not sure how the sound would change... If I had another fretted sonus to trade you, I'd be tempted If you do decide to go ahead, might I request a quick before and after sound clip... For science!
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