Official Zon Club Part 5

[winegamd]

A questions about neck relief in an early Sonus 5 string.
I just picked up locally a Zon Sonus Special 5 string in beautiful condition, 1994, Everything is original and great on it except to me the relief seems on the high side, a fair bit higher than what would set a Fender Jazz bass, .014 in. Since there's no truss rod and the relief can't be adjusted, I"m wondering what Sonus owners would consider acceptable relief. I understand that ideally the should be some slight relief in the graphite neck, but this is more than that, though still playable in my opinion. I"ve looked into the option with Joe of having the neck refurbished to install a truss rod, something I understand others with early Zons have done. SOunds like the ideal option but labor intensive and not cheap.
Any opinions on acceptable relief. SOmeone posted the opinion that .015 was fine but this a bit more than that, around .017. I know of no other options for improving the relief. I don't think a shimming would do anything to change the relief. Any thoughts?

Use lighter strings, or at least strings with less tension. I have had the opposite problem with my Legacy Elite. I have had to use heavier gauge strings than what I would like because the neck is almost flat. I like almost no relief, but it is too much if I go below the .130 balanced set from Kalium, or any set below a .080 .100 A and E string. Although, the heavier strings to allow for lower action....

 

[OldSchool50]

Use lighter strings, or at least strings with less tension. ...

Thanks for the suggestion, Winegamd. I had not thought of that. Definitely worth a try. I"ve read that people like Labella flats and they make a lower-tension string that I'll check out.

 

[John B jr]

Greetings Zon-Masters,

Being new(er) to TB, I'm starting to wonder if these higher-end basses could do much for me. Like a 20 handicap golfer looks at pro clubs trying to get another five yards off of the tee, I doubt that my meager abilities are worthy of an investment of this calibre. As often happens, the music store near my rehearsal room finds me browsing the used gear and Boom, there it was, a Sonus 5er hanging from the wall. I could reach it so I did.

Turned out to be a fretless but that didn't deter me since I learned bass on an upright. I spent about 25 minutes on that neck and would have been there until closing time on songs that make use of the "fretlessness" by sliding over and over. Come Together and some Pink Floyd style noodling. The fingerboard was the hardest ebony I've ever touched and seemed to be one with the neck, no apparent transition from one material to another.

Eventually, a clerk asked me if I needed help. I asked if it was a graphite neck or what? It was just too racy and perfect to be made of wood. He admitted that he didn't know for sure. It was strung with the skinniest strings I've seen on a fiver; purple silks and I want a set of those! I'm on first name basis with Vinnie, the sales dude. He also said that this was the nicest bass in the store at the moment and possibly the history of the store for that matter.

About the only concern I have is the triple stack of tone controls make mid shifting a two-handed affair as the knob seems to bring the others for the ride when twisted. Looking at TB Classifieds, it seemed that $3500 was on the high side but there are several different models of Sonus on the Zon site so maybe it's a fair price. Thoughts?

 

[dhagopian]

Looks like a standard Sonus 5 model. If it's used I would say $3,500 is definitely on the high side. Easily lop $1,000 off that at least. Doesn't sound like the sales guy really knows what he has. That is a composite neck as you guessed. The fingerboard is a composite of wood and resin compressed under heat. I'm not sure what you mean regarding the triple stack controls. Those are volume, pickup blend, stacked bass/treble. Nice bass in good shape but they can definitely be had for less.

 

[John B jr]

It was like flirting with the prettiest girl in the club and she was actually reciprocating!

The pictures are horrible but the fretboard does have quite a bit of color variation so that made me think it was real wood. The backside of the neck doesn't seem to have the same "grain" (none at all) and there's no discernible line between the two if they are separate pieces. Very flat and comfortable top to bottom.

I'm going to have to go back and double check on the EQ knobs thing. Maybe it just looks like three concentric knobs but I find volume and balance on separate pots and tend to expect a three band or two plus mid/sweep as normal for better basses. This is definitely a better bass so the pyramid scheme seemed legit. If it's bass and treble there and a skirt on the upper knob, that would make sense.

Not sure if it's consignment of store-owned but it can't be taken home until the 15th. Lowball might be $2,250 with a fair price of 25 bills?

 

[kesslari]

The neck is Zon composite, the fingerboard is called "phenowood", basically wood infused with composite material and compressed.
I love my Zon fretless, and for my tastes Joe makes the best fretless basses bar none.
$3500 (if it's used) is quite high. When you can find one (Zon Sonus fretless 5) in the TB classifieds they tupically go for under just 2K to 2.5K.

I don't see any fretless currently in the classifieds, but there are a few fretted.
Not affiliated with any of these sales, but for info/reference:
For Sale/Trade - Zon Sonus Special 5

For Sale - Zon Sonus 5 Custom

For Sale - Zon Sonus 5. Ash & Quilted Maple Beauty

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Anyone have $4k I can borrow?
Zon TJ 6 string walnut top | eBay

The only thing I'd change about my TJ5 is that I sometimes wish it was a TJ6.

 

[John B jr]

Looks like a standard Sonus 5 model. ...

I'm not sure what you mean regarding the triple stack controls. Those are volume, pickup blend, stacked bass/treble. Nice bass in good shape but they can definitely be had for less.

User error. The top knob is skirted so it's a two tone control stack. We all know how to adjust level and voice on the mids using the bass and treble knobs. Grooving on the fretless for a spell again today was messing me up later when my slides were ending right on the fret. Fretless is an adjustment like no other in terms of electric bass geometry.
Zon of a gun ... or maybe Sonus of a gun! sweet

 

[OldSchool50]

Hoping for more ideas and feedback on my recent post. Any thoughts?
I just picked up locally a Zon Sonus Special 5 string in beautiful condition, 1994, Everything is original and great on it except to me the relief seems on the high side, a fair bit higher than what would set a Fender Jazz bass, .014 in. Since there's no truss rod and the relief can't be adjusted, I"m wondering what Sonus owners would consider acceptable relief. I understand that ideally the should be some slight relief in the graphite neck, but this is more than that, though still playable in my opinion. I"ve looked into the option with Joe of having the neck refurbished to install a truss rod, something I understand others with early Zons have done. SOunds like the ideal option but labor intensive and not cheap.
Any opinions on acceptable relief. SOmeone posted the opinion that .015 was fine but this a bit more than that, around .017. I know of no other options for improving the relief. I don't think a shimming would do anything to change the relief. Any thoughts?

 

[gwangi]

Hoping for more ideas and feedback on my recent post. Any thoughts?
I just picked up locally a Zon Sonus Special 5 string in beautiful condition, 1994, Everything is original and great on it except to me the relief seems on the high side, a fair bit higher than what would set a Fender Jazz bass, .014 in. Since there's no truss rod and the relief can't be adjusted, I"m wondering what Sonus owners would consider acceptable relief. I understand that ideally the should be some slight relief in the graphite neck, but this is more than that, though still playable in my opinion. I"ve looked into the option with Joe of having the neck refurbished to install a truss rod, something I understand others with early Zons have done. SOunds like the ideal option but labor intensive and not cheap.
Any opinions on acceptable relief. SOmeone posted the opinion that .015 was fine but this a bit more than that, around .017. I know of no other options for improving the relief. I don't think a shimming would do anything to change the relief. Any thoughts?

Honestly I would pass this one by, and try and find another used one with a truss rod or buy brand new and that way you'll have a truss rod and and full on warranty in your name.

 

[winegamd]

What strings are on it?

 

[OldSchool50]

Just some crummy old string, but look like 45-130. I am going to try the LaBella low tension but I don't expect much improvement.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Hoping for more ideas and feedback on my recent post. Any thoughts?
I just picked up locally a Zon Sonus Special 5 string in beautiful condition, 1994, Everything is original and great on it except to me the relief seems on the high side, a fair bit higher than what would set a Fender Jazz bass, .014 in. Since there's no truss rod and the relief can't be adjusted, I"m wondering what Sonus owners would consider acceptable relief. I understand that ideally the should be some slight relief in the graphite neck, but this is more than that, though still playable in my opinion. I"ve looked into the option with Joe of having the neck refurbished to install a truss rod, something I understand others with early Zons have done. SOunds like the ideal option but labor intensive and not cheap.
Any opinions on acceptable relief. SOmeone posted the opinion that .015 was fine but this a bit more than that, around .017. I know of no other options for improving the relief. I don't think a shimming would do anything to change the relief. Any thoughts?

This the one that was in the Groton area Craigslist?

 

[gwangi]

Hoping for more ideas and feedback on my recent post. Any thoughts?
I just picked up locally a Zon Sonus Special 5 string in beautiful condition, 1994, Everything is original and great on it except to me the relief seems on the high side, a fair bit higher than what would set a Fender Jazz bass, .014 in. Since there's no truss rod and the relief can't be adjusted, I"m wondering what Sonus owners would consider acceptable relief. I understand that ideally the should be some slight relief in the graphite neck, but this is more than that, though still playable in my opinion. I"ve looked into the option with Joe of having the neck refurbished to install a truss rod, something I understand others with early Zons have done. SOunds like the ideal option but labor intensive and not cheap.
Any opinions on acceptable relief. SOmeone posted the opinion that .015 was fine but this a bit more than that, around .017. I know of no other options for improving the relief. I don't think a shimming would do anything to change the relief. Any thoughts?

OOPS!!!! Sorry I kind of jump the gun here, I didn't realize you already purchase it, looks like either you have Zon do the repair or get a new Sonus, I would get a new Sonus.
I have a Zon Legacy Elite VI and it's a KILLER instrument.

 

[OldSchool50]

This the one that was in the Groton area Craigslist?

Yes it is. I went in eyes open and paid a reasonable price once the owner recognized the problem. I'm just hoping there are other options than a new neck, but that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. I'd have a great bass at a decent overall price. MUch cheaper than a new one, which is out of my range at the moment.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Yes it is. I went in eyes open and paid a reasonable price once the owner recognized the problem. I'm just hoping there are other options than a new neck, but that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. I'd have a great bass at a decent overall price. MUch cheaper than a new one, which is out of my range at the moment.

Hopefully you can get it sorted. My drummer pointed that one out to me a few months back as it's the next town over- pretty bass.

 

[OldSchool50]

Hopefully you can get it sorted. My drummer pointed that one out to me a few months back as it's the next town over- pretty bass.

I'm sure it will be in the end. It's otherwise in great shape, with the rare multi-coil Bart pickups, a clean-quiet pream and very clean cosmetics. Even with the cost of a new neck it will be a bargain.

 

[gwangi]

Yes it is. I went in eyes open and paid a reasonable price once the owner recognized the problem. I'm just hoping there are other options than a new neck, but that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. I'd have a great bass at a decent overall price. MUch cheaper than a new one, which is out of my range at the moment.

Have you talked to Zon about the possibility putting a new neck with a truss rod on your bass, I have no idea what that would cost or even if Zon does that but I guess it wouldn't hurt asking either.

 

[OldSchool50]

THanks gwangi. YOu must have missed my initial post where I said Joe will do a complete neck refurbish, including installing truss rod, new fretboard and frets and refinish/repaint the neck. Definitely an option I"m considering. TO my mind it would be like a new bass considering the condition of the rest.

 

[gwangi]

THanks gwangi. YOu must have missed my initial post where I said Joe will do a complete neck refurbish, including installing truss road, new fretboard and frets and refinish/repaint the neck. Definitely an option I"m considering. TO my mind it would be like a new bass considering the condition of the rest.

That is AWESOME!!!! Congrats.