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What andrew said.
And basschanges, thank you for answering a question I've had: will a clip on tuner work with a headless bass?
What andrew said.
And basschanges, thank you for answering a question I've had: will a clip on tuner work with a headless bass?
It definitely does! Even for the low b on a 32 inch scale bass! That's probably because the string design and bass design mean that my low b is tight and focused, despite the short scale.
Good to know.... but TBH, I hadn't even considered performance. I was just wondering if/how a clip-on tuner could be used with a headless bass. Now I know!
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@Fuzzbass I use a TC Elec. Poly Tune clip-on on my headless Roscoe, and it does a great job. The only downside is that on occasion it becomes a free-wheelin' projectile with the same trajectory as a North Korean missile launch 
Just wanted to share some pics of my new Sonus and my trip to the Zon factory. Joe and Mark are some of the nicest guys you will ever meet and the basses they are making now are just unbelievable! I am totally blown away with my 2 new Zons.
My advice to anyone considering a new build is you really owe it to yourself to check out a Zon.
Talk to Joe and let him know what your going for and let him help you with it. He's amazing!
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- May 20, 2000
- 3,200
- 1,917
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- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Spector, Dingwall, Tech 21 NYC, Darkglass
Awesome pics! Man that headless just kills in every way!!! You've definitely got some great looking basses.
Zon basses definitely bring something to the table (IMO) that no other bass company does. The sound and stability of their necks are amazing. I can change from B-C to E-G on my TJ5 fretless and the neck relief never moves. And the growl and Mwah that Zon fretless basses get is just amazing!
To tell you the truth I just don't exactly remember everything because I've gotten 3 different basses from them over the last couple years and have had so much stuff going on in my life. To the best of my memory though I believe I was quoted around 6 to 8 months each time, but I know for sure that I ended up receiving the bass sooner than whatever I was quoted each time!
Something to keep in mind, when Joe gives you an estimate, it's his best guess at that time. He can't guarantee a time, so it's his honest opinion of how long it will take. He has a small shop and there are so many variables it could end up being shorter or longer than what was quoted, so that's something you just have to accept when you place an order with him. You can't rush perfection and he does not want an instrument leaving his shop until it's just right, which is unlike some other bass builders who just want to get it done and out the door. Honestly if I had to wait 2 years for a Zon it would still be worth it to me. Yea the waiting sucks, but it's just part of the deal when you place a new order.
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Awesome pics! Man that headless just kills in every way!!! You've definitely got some great looking basses.
Zon basses definitely bring something to the table (IMO) that no other bass company does. The sound and stability of their necks are amazing. I can change from B-C to E-G on my TJ5 fretless and the neck relief never moves. And the growl and Mwah that Zon fretless basses get is just amazing!
Thanks man! I had gotten the headless bass a little while ago but asked Joe to make a change to it. I had the middle humbucker changed to a P pickup (in a humbucker shell) and also changed the pre-amp from the original modern Bart to a more vintage sounding Bart, and it's totally awesome!
My new Sonus also got the same pre-amp and because I was wanting that one to be a little more vintage (with the J pickups) Joe even put a vintage Zon logo on the headstock, which is a logo style that he hasn't ever used since he was in buffalo in the 80s. When he moved to California in the late 80s his headstock logo (lettering) changed to the way it is today.
I'm hoping to order another bass from him too.
I had purchased a new Legacy Elite 4 string from Gelb Music in 1989 (when I was living in CA), and years later ended up selling it to my best friend. Well I've always missed that bass and regretted selling it, so I asked Joe if he could recreate a 5 string version of that bass with the exact same body wood, paint, pickups and Polyfusion pre-amp, and he said that he could!
He even still has the exact same Ice Blue Metallic paint that he used in the 80s! So that's going to be my next bass, within a year or two hopefully!
To me there is just nothing that compares to Zon basses. They are in a league of their own and I'm extremely happy and proud to be playing them exclusively now!
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- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,232
- 45,109
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
@Maiden Bass - beautiful stuff. Thanks for pointing out the logo - that's really cool. My "new" Zon is now 6 years old and I still have zero gas for another instrument. And when I think about modifying it (changing the preamp to a Pope, for example) I then think "what, do you (me) have some weird need to spend money for the sake of spending money? You putz, go practice!"
The best money I ever spent was on a Zon!
I've been thru more basses then I care to mention, but will never sell my Zons. They will have to pry them from my cold dead hands when I kick the bucket!
The only question left is how many Zons can one possibly own in a lifetime?
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- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,232
- 45,109
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
Well, that's the thing... I've owned 2. The first led me to order exactly what I wanted, which is my second bass.The only question left is how many Zons can one possibly own in a lifetime?
And now I have no need for another... been that way for 6 years.
I had My Three Zons at one time, and I keep thinking of another one, finances permitting.The only question left is how many Zons can one possibly own in a lifetime?
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,232
- 45,109
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
I think three is a good number for me too!
Love my 2 Sonus basses so after I get my Legacy Elite I better call it a day, or I may end up in divorce court.
FYI Joe is in the process of reducing his wait times. I'm not exactly sure how he's doing it (didn't go into the details) but he did tell me that they are working diligently on reducing wait times for ALL orders! All meaning both current and future orders!
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