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Official Zon Club Part 5

#1,362
FlatwoundFunk said:
Nice. Got my sub! And I like the hat.
What model Zon is that?
Click to expand...
I'm no longer in that band.
The bass was made to my specs - Joe has made a few other similar ones since then.
It's a Sonus, with a set neck and deep cutaway. It has "custom" pickups (same as the Zon Sonus Custom) in the "special" position (same as the Zon Sonus Special). Bart pre with 3 way mid switch.
Truly a dream bass. Killed all my gas - dead.
 
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#1,365
FlatwoundFunk said:
My challenge is that I don't wanna repeat mistakes of the past and get repetitious in sounds with my basses. I've had 5 p basses at one time and was SELF convinced that there was an huge difference in the sounds of each. Is there really a big difference in sounds between the Zon offerings?
Click to expand...

I don't yet own a Zon (hope to get it in early spring next year), but here's my 2¢: one of the biggest differences between basses is pickups, especially pickup location. You probably did have quite a bit of variety in your P-bass collection, even if they were all P-only (not PJ). That said, there will be a LOT more variety with Zons, because they offer such a wide variety of pickup locations. On top of that, they offer a wide variety of pickups, preamps, wiring configurations. I've heard Zons with the J-bass vibe, the Music Man vibe, and a wide variety of modern/progressive vibes. I'm sure there are some with a P-bass vibe too, I just haven't heard one yet.

Anyway: the most effective way to avoid tone repetition with your second bass is to order it with different pickups -- especially if they are in different locations! Also, different pickup types and brands, different preamp. And of course different body wood, but IMO that makes far less difference than pickups: e.g. an ash body P and an alder body P will sound far more similar than an ash body P and an ash body J.
 
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#1,366
Fuzzbass said:
I don't yet own a Zon (hope to get it in early spring next year), but here's my 2¢: one of the biggest differences between basses is pickups, especially pickup location. You probably did have quite a bit of variety in your P-bass collection, even if they were all P-only (not PJ). That said, there will be a LOT more variety with Zons, because they offer such a wide variety of pickup locations. On top of that, they offer a wide variety of pickups, preamps, wiring configurations. I've heard Zons with the J-bass vibe, the Music Man vibe, and a wide variety of modern/progressive vibes. I'm sure there are some with a P-bass vibe too, I just haven't heard one yet.

Anyway: the most effective way to avoid tone repetition with your second bass is to order it with pickups -- especially if they are in different locations! Also, different pickup types and brands, different preamp. And of course different body wood, but IMO that makes far less difference than pickups: e.g. an ash body P and an alder body P will sound far more similar than an ash body P and an ash body J.
Click to expand...
You are so right. A guitar tech/luthier once told me that electric bass is about 85 percent electronics and about 15 percent wood (not inclusive of the bridge ofcourse). A lot of people rant against that but in my years, I can see why he'd make that conclusion. NOT saying that I agree or disagree.

I guess my thoughts are around the neck construction and how it affects the vibration of the strings in combination with the wood. But as you stated about the pick ups, the placement and the preamps, I need to be a little more creative to accomplish my goals. That's for opening that up.
 
#1,367
winegamd said:
There is also a very noticeable difference between the set neck and bolt on construction. Much more than you would think.
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How would you describe the differences in tone?


I had a Legacy Elite years ago, and to the best of my memory I would say that the set neck had a little more sustain and a little more fundamental, a bit more like a neck through, but still had some of the cut and overtones of a bolt on.
Sort of like a cross between a neck through and a bolt on!
 
#1,368
kesslari said:
I'm no longer in that band.
The bass was made to my specs - Joe has made a few other similar ones since then.
It's a Sonus, with a set neck and deep cutaway. It has "custom" pickups (same as the Zon Sonus Custom) in the "special" position (same as the Zon Sonus Special). Bart pre with 3 way mid switch.
Truly a dream bass. Killed all my gas - dead.
Click to expand...

I just talked to Joe recently about a set neck Sonus and he said that he's made a few, so yours was one of them. :thumbsup:

Do you still have it, if so can you please post a pic?
 
#1,370
The bolton's just seem to be very punchy and tight with less might mid content. Some of that could be the pickups, but that quality has remained even with the Lightwave I have played. With the neck through the mids seem more even overall with much more complexity. They seem a tad bit brighter, too.
 
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#1,371
Maiden Bass said:
I just talked to Joe recently about a set neck Sonus and he said that he's made a few, so yours was one of them. :thumbsup: Do you still have it, if so can you please post a pic?
Click to expand...
Twist my arm and make me show photos....
zon_deck6.jpg
zon_x_back.jpg
 
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