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Official Zon Club Part 5

I don’t want to dissuade anyone from ordering a Zon as they are incredibly well-made and great sounding. I view my order is probably more an aberration than the rule. There have been many people who’ve had to wait a long time for them but they eventually got their bass. If you go into a build with that information at hand it will make it easier to bear the wait or be happy when your build is completed on time.
 
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Hi! Trying to change strings for the first time on my VB5. I bought it used, and tools were not included. I have an Allen key that fits but not the "brass tool" ... can anyone tell me what this brass tool is and whether I can use something else instead? Quite apart from the tool, I am finding this rather challenging!
 
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It is a short piece of brass round stock that has a shoulder on it. The small end fits through the grommet in the string end and the shoulder allows you to push the grommet end of the string down into the slot in the tail piece. From there you can slip the cut end of the string into the set screw slot at the top of the neck.
 
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I have a TJ6 H32 and use mine to change the strings. You could make one from wooden dowel if needed

... or, in a pinch, use an appropriately sized screwdriver :)

However, on most of the headless basses I have/had, i never really needed to use this too very often (including TJ6 with the "current" headpiece).

If your VB5 has the older string-through headpiece, you may not need the brass dowel at all - just anchor your strings in the bridge first, then pull through the headpiece & tighten.
 
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Hi! Trying to change strings for the first time on my VB5. I bought it used, and tools were not included. I have an Allen key that fits but not the "brass tool" ... can anyone tell me what this brass tool is and whether I can use something else instead? Quite apart from the tool, I am finding this rather challenging!

http://www.zonguitars.com/zonguitars/stringchangeguide.pdf

As others have said, the brass tool is a nice-to-have, but not a must-have. If you can't get a ball end into the "claw" by hand (it can be trickier with the thicker strings, especially low B), then you can use a screwdriver or dowel or whatever.
 
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141205395_2818257861787921_2331253215665967256_n.jpg
... or, in a pinch, use an appropriately sized screwdriver :)

However, on most of the headless basses I have/had, i never really needed to use this too very often (including TJ6 with the "current" headpiece).

If your VB5 has the older string-through headpiece, you may not need the brass dowel at all - just anchor your strings in the bridge first, then pull through the headpiece & tighten.
THANKS!!
This is my not-headstock. I'm SO confused.
 
View attachment 4136910
THANKS!!
This is my not-headstock. I'm SO confused.

That looks like an intermediate model between the two scenarios I mentioned, lol :)

It looks like the screws at the end are the "locks/string retainers" and the three hex bolts on top help keeping the strings flat from the fingerboard side (the top part is split in 2 to 3 proportion, right?)

The link to the guid that @Fuzzbass posted above should be very similar to what is going on with your headpiece - with the addition of the two top retaining plates (in your case).

good luck!
 
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Wow! Is one koa and the other walnut? That's some nice wood!
:drool:

Yes the one on the left is flamed koa that was built in 2014 and the one on the right is flamed walnut that I received back in July of 2020, it's strange I occasionally pinch myself how lucky I am having these two Zon's, they are truly phenomenal instruments, now the decision which one is going to get buried with me when I die!!!!
 
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Yes the one on the left is flamed koa that was built in 2014 and the one on the right is flamed walnut that I received back in July of 2020, it's strange I occasionally pinch myself how lucky I am having these two Zon's, they are truly phenomenal instruments, now the decision which one is going to get buried with me when I die!!!!
Did you custom order from Zon? And how long did the process take?

Asking for a friend...:smug:
 

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