Official Zon Club Part 5

[lowendmafia]

Keep in mind that the body of a TJ is larger than a Sonus Custom as well, so if you like the current body size, the feel of the bass will change in that regard.

So, in one week of regular plaing the TJ, I have adapted my style to a point where I can definitely play the bass. It's almost addictive when I play it... Hard to put down, so I'm going to roll with it for now. I think the Mando frets play a role in the feel as well which is just money for my style.

 

[Addison]

Michael Manring fans...



Also, subscribe to the Zon YouTube channel if you're so inclined... we'd really appreciate it!

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Huge MM fan. Unfortunately that video is almost unlistenable in several large sections because of the distortion (the loud background talking doesn't help either)

 

[Angus]

The distortion in the audio makes it unlistenable on headphones, unfortunately.

 

[Addison]

The distortion in the audio makes it unlistenable on headphones, unfortunately.

Then listen on speakers!

Anyway, some parts of the video are better than others, but it was LOUD there... the camera I was using just couldn't handle it.

I tried to clean it up, but it was impossible.

I just got a ZOOM Q8, so it won't happen again, fortunately.... picture won't be quite as good, but audio will be WAY better.

 

[azwhofan]

Then listen on speakers!

Anyway, some parts of the video are better than others, but it was LOUD there... the camera I was using just couldn't handle it.

I tried to clean it up, but it was impossible.

I just got a ZOOM Q8, so it won't happen again, fortunately.... picture won't be quite as good, but audio will be WAY better.

You're gonna dig the Q8, had one for a while now, it does a great job IMHO.

 

[slamsinger]

Hey fellow Zon enthusiasts ... I'll be putting my zon hyperbass up for sale soon... Drop tuner option on all keys and also has the infamous upgraded bridge as well... Has a Roland GK3 midi pickup attached with 3 small screws but easily removable ... Going a different route with playing so it's time to pass on this monster to someone else ..

 

[wpc1996]

Hey guys, I have a question or 2 about zon basses since I cant try any unless I find one used. Now Im looking at getting a new bass not exactly sure on a price range yet but around 1500 unless I can find a bass that makes me willing to go out of that, and right now my #1 pic is lakland. BUT I have been looking at the standard series mosaic and sonus so:

how do the necks compare to laklands, that was the main selling point for me on those basses, the string spacing and grip I had was perfect on it, and on paper the zon necks seem to be only a bit smaller.

Also a description of the sound would be appreciated, from what I understand the growl is real with these and they still punch and have the low end (My number 2 pic is a used wariwck corvette standard mainly because of the growl with that bass so if anyone has experience with both)

Thanks guys for any replies I may get! and sorry for the lengthy typing haha

 

[Damian Coccio]

Hey guys, I have a question or 2 about zon basses since I cant try any unless I find one used. Now Im looking at getting a new bass not exactly sure on a price range yet but around 1500 unless I can find a bass that makes me willing to go out of that, and right now my #1 pic is lakland. BUT I have been looking at the standard series mosaic and sonus so:

how do the necks compare to laklands, that was the main selling point for me on those basses, the string spacing and grip I had was perfect on it, and on paper the zon necks seem to be only a bit smaller.

Also a description of the sound would be appreciated, from what I understand the growl is real with these and they still punch and have the low end (My number 2 pic is a used wariwck corvette standard mainly because of the growl with that bass so if anyone has experience with both)

Thanks guys for any replies I may get! and sorry for the lengthy typing haha

My only experience with Zons is fretless basses so it may not be applicable, I did try a mosaic liked it and my current fretless is a sonus (previous was a legacy). The necks feel great you can order various string spacing on a sonus but 17mm works for me. I do have issues with my composite neck moving around with humidity / temperature. Id personally spring for a used sonus because the resale on these isn't that good and you could flip it if you don't like it. I havent tried the standard sonuses, but id still go used on it. I've seen some great deals on them. In terms of tone, mine is a sonus special freless and I LOVE the tone. Here is a track I did on a recent album you can check out. Oh yeah the B string is ridiculous. I run it flat eq, snd still had to pull out some low end in mastering.

 

[PMagers]

My only experience with Zons is fretless basses so it may not be applicable, I did try a mosaic liked it and my current fretless is a sonus (previous was a legacy). The necks feel great you can order various string spacing on a sonus but 17mm works for me. I do have issues with my composite neck moving around with humidity / temperature. Id personally spring for a used sonus because the resale on these isn't that good and you could flip it if you don't like it. I havent tried the standard sonuses, but id still go used on it. I've seen some great deals on them. In terms of tone, mine is a sonus special freless and I LOVE the tone. Here is a track I did on a recent album you can check out. Oh yeah the B string is ridiculous. I run it flat eq, snd still had to pull out some low end in mastering.

Beautiful - great recording!

 

[Damian Coccio]

Beautiful - great recording!

Thanks! Appreciate it.
Btw has anyone else experienced neck movement on a sonus? I find that I am removing the neck and adjusting the truss rod about every few weeks as we transition into summer. Something I didn't expect with composite.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Thanks! Appreciate it.
Btw has anyone else experienced neck movement on a sonus? I find that I am removing the neck and adjusting the truss rod about every few weeks as we transition into summer. Something I didn't expect with composite.

Nope. Look on the bright side- perhaps it's just a slow descent into madness on your part

 

[gwangi]

Thanks! Appreciate it.
Btw has anyone else experienced neck movement on a sonus? I find that I am removing the neck and adjusting the truss rod about every few weeks as we transition into summer. Something I didn't expect with composite.

I'm just curious what kind of Sonus do you have, is it a 4, 5 or 6 string and have you tried checking with Zon about this?

 

[Addison]

Thanks! Appreciate it.
Btw has anyone else experienced neck movement on a sonus? I find that I am removing the neck and adjusting the truss rod about every few weeks as we transition into summer. Something I didn't expect with composite.

This doesn't sound normal to me... but the one thing I will say is this.

I've only ever had to adjust my Zon necks once after I settled on string gauge and brand, etc, but the process of adjustment took a few weeks.

In my experience, once you turn the truss rod, it takes a good week or so for the neck to settle in to that adjustment... and it doesn't take much of a turn to get the neck where you want it either. It's not like wood where you get the response immediately.

Because of this, I could see how a person might over-adjust because they're expecting an immediate change and it might seem like your neck is moving a lot, when in reality, it's just settling in to the adjustment you made a week ago.

Give your neck a few weeks to completely settle in... Figure out where you want it and give the truss rod a 1/4 turn. Give it a week to settle, and then do the same. It'll take some patience at first, but once you get it where you want it, there shouldn't usually be much movement at all.

Again, this is my experience... But try it out and see what happens.

 

[wrench45us]

Just FYI
There's a used sonus classic on the nationwide guitar center used market
$1999

This is about as risk free (30 day return policy) as you can get to take advantage of used prices. They ship to your local store or direct.

I've bought 2 Zon standards used using other channels and they're exceptional values
But you have to like that neck style and 17mm string spacing.

Any Lakland comparison is going to have to take into consideration 35 vs 34 inch scale

The standards have 3 piece wood vs composite on the U.S. Zons. Never had any issue. And I will mention this. With other 5 string basses I've gone through a lot of trial and error to find strings that have the same tone and sustain/response across the fretboard. With the Zons the strings go on and they just work. I don't know what magic's involved to get that to happen, but I very much appreciate it.

 

[Damian Coccio]

I'm just curious what kind of Sonus do you have, is it a 4, 5 or 6 string and have you tried checking with Zon about this?

Its a sonus special 5. I did talk to zon early on about it, but thought it would get better. Bass is approx 8 months old or so. I will certainly check in again with them, just wondering if anyone had this experience. It cant be the neck material, but maybe it is the fingerboard.

 

[Damian Coccio]

This doesn't sound normal to me... but the one thing I will say is this.

I've only ever had to adjust my Zon necks once after I settled on string gauge and brand, etc, but the process of adjustment took a few weeks.

In my experience, once you turn the truss rod, it takes a good week or so for the neck to settle in to that adjustment... and it doesn't take much of a turn to get the neck where you want it either. It's not like wood where you get the response immediately.

Because of this, I could see how a person might over-adjust because they're expecting an immediate change and it might seem like your neck is moving a lot, when in reality, it's just settling in to the adjustment you made a week ago.

Give your neck a few weeks to completely settle in... Figure out where you want it and give the truss rod a 1/4 turn. Give it a week to settle, and then do the same. It'll take some patience at first, but once you get it where you want it, there shouldn't usually be much movement at all.

Again, this is my experience... But try it out and see what happens.

YOu might be onto something there with the adjustment lag time, I'll definitely have to consider that with the next adjustment.

 

[gwangi]

Its a sonus special 5. I did talk to zon early on about it, but thought it would get better. Bass is approx 8 months old or so. I will certainly check in again with them, just wondering if anyone had this experience. It cant be the neck material, but maybe it is the fingerboard.

I have a Zon Legacy Elite VI that I got brand new last year in July so it is coming up on a year now and I haven't noticed any movement yet, this is my first Zon and so far I'm very impressed with it so far.
I used to play another graphite necked instrument that I won't mention the name of the company but I had played there instruments since 1992 and I was a die-hardcore fanatic over these basses but the one problem I started having with them and I had owned up to 20 different graphite necked basses of this particular brand I was having problems with the phenolic fingerboard shrinking and causing the neck to bow, most of the instruments I had sent back to get the neck fixed or replaced but the same result would happen again so I gave up after about 20 something years of playing these basses and decided to get a Zon and so far so good, no problems with the neck so hopefully my choice for getting a Zon was the right choice and if not I'll most likely end up like the guy in the Indiana Jones movie "The Last Crusade" where the guy drank from the wrong cup and ended up turning into dust!!!!

 

[Angus]

Btw has anyone else experienced neck movement on a sonus? I find that I am removing the neck and adjusting the truss rod about every few weeks as we transition into summer. Something I didn't expect with composite.

It cant be the neck material, but maybe it is the fingerboard.

Remember, it still has a fingerboard on it that can absorb moisture, oils, and react to temperature, and the carbon fiber is fixed in plastics that can react to temperature (less humidity response), and then there is finish on the whole thing that can retain moisture. It is more stable than wood, but is not stone.

I found that I would adjust the neck two of my Zons every couple months initially, but after about a year I rarely, rarely ever have to touch them. I do not think I have adjusted either in a couple years, and that includes moves to three different climate regions in the US.

They settle in over time.

But if there is an issue, it is usually in the fingerboard rather than the neck with these systems.

 

[Damian Coccio]

Remember, it still has a fingerboard on it that can absorb moisture, oils, and react to temperature, and the carbon fiber is fixed in plastics that can react to temperature (less humidity response), and then there is finish on the whole thing that can retain moisture. It is more stable than wood, but is not stone.

I found that I would adjust the neck two of my Zons every couple months initially, but after about a year I rarely, rarely ever have to touch them. I do not think I have adjusted either in a couple years, and that includes moves to three different climate regions in the US.

They settle in over time.

But if there is an issue, it is usually in the fingerboard rather than the neck with these systems.

Makes sense, thanks. I probably just need to be patient. The fingerboard material on the new sonus seems different than my old legacy which didn't have a truss rod and absolutely never moved.