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oh heck, then i'm probably wrong... i don't think joe builds a ton of customs every year, so two is fairly significant, especially assuming you're not the only one who knows someone... anyway, he builds amazing stuff, but he's definitely been plagued with small shop syndrome over the years.
Again, to give full credit where due, wait on my custom was 9 months. I was thrilled with that because I heard "Zon says 8 months but expect at least 12 for a custom" from a few sources.
FWIW, it looked like my bass would be ready at 7 months, but according to Zon the additional delay was because bartolini sent pickups with the wrong spacing (narrow instead of standard). That probably falls under small shop syndrome.
FWIW, it looked like my bass would be ready at 7 months, but according to Zon the additional delay was because bartolini sent pickups with the wrong spacing (narrow instead of standard). That probably falls under small shop syndrome.
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,078
- 9,800
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
When I was with ZON back in the early 00's, Bartolini backlogs/inability to hit deadlines was almost always the cause for delayed deliveries. I hope they've gotten better since then, but it sounds like maybe not.
Once you have one of those "it was quoted 9 months and took 2.5 years" experiences, a couple months here and there is nuthin. lol
Once you have one of those "it was quoted 9 months and took 2.5 years" experiences, a couple months here and there is nuthin. lol
Ha, I had an extended wait myself and I felt every minute of it! Totally worth it though.
Maybe I already told this part of the story but... before shipping they discovered a problem with one of the pickups. This was when Bill Bartolini had just sold his company and they no longer did custom orders like Zon commissions. So the last several months were spent waiting while Bill Bartolini hand-wound my (and others, presumably) pickups. I just picture him up late at night under a small nightstand light with a pot of coffee just winding away... lol, maybe not. But still, I like my hand wound pickups just fine!
Maybe I already told this part of the story but... before shipping they discovered a problem with one of the pickups. This was when Bill Bartolini had just sold his company and they no longer did custom orders like Zon commissions. So the last several months were spent waiting while Bill Bartolini hand-wound my (and others, presumably) pickups. I just picture him up late at night under a small nightstand light with a pot of coffee just winding away... lol, maybe not. But still, I like my hand wound pickups just fine!
Who is getting a new Zon for Christmas???
Anyone???
Anyone???
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Hi Zon folks. I’ve got a legacy import model with the SD Bassline pickups/electronics.
While I love the feel of the bass, the pickups and electronics combo is deeply uninspiring.
What upgrades would folks suggest and has anyone done upgrades to pickups or pre?
Thanks
While I love the feel of the bass, the pickups and electronics combo is deeply uninspiring.
What upgrades would folks suggest and has anyone done upgrades to pickups or pre?
Thanks
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,078
- 9,800
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
Aguilar DCB's and a East Uni Pre is one of my favorite combos, and would do that bass justice nicely.
And then there were three… I have owned a 1990 Tobacco Burst Sonus and a 1993 Bubinga Top Sonus Special for some time now and I just acquired a 1993 Legacy Elite. All are 4 string and all are exceptional basses. I own a number of basses including Rickenbackers, Fenders, Musicmans, a G&L and a few other basses, but my Zon’s are my go-to basses for rehearsing, recording and gigging. The playability and stability of the necks, the versatility of the pickups and the quality of the builds is really impressive and IMHO unmatched by other so-called boutique basses.
Yes I am a happy man.
I was the first guy to play this 5/2 when it hit the Atlanta Bass Gallery in 2007. One of those times where it all just clicked and I had to have it. Out of eight, she's always at least been in the top two.
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Hey all,
FYI... There is a BG-4 for sale in the classifieds. It used to be my old bass and it sounds great and recently sold it to fund a custom Sonus with an on board preamp.
No affiliation with the seller. I’ve been a longtime “Member/Owner” and thought I would share it with you all.
Hope you all have a great holiday season!
Cheers,
Eddie
For Sale - Zon Sonus BG4 Billy Gould Signature Bass
FYI... There is a BG-4 for sale in the classifieds. It used to be my old bass and it sounds great and recently sold it to fund a custom Sonus with an on board preamp.
No affiliation with the seller. I’ve been a longtime “Member/Owner” and thought I would share it with you all.
Hope you all have a great holiday season!
Cheers,
Eddie
For Sale - Zon Sonus BG4 Billy Gould Signature Bass
I was *really* close to ordering a BG-5. I decided on a headless Sonus 519 instead (all bart electronics and custom coil switching options)... but went with matte black finish as a nod to the cool BG sig look.
Calling all Zon players!
Have you noticed that some strings just sound better on a Zon than other strings?
Do you think the Zon neck is probably the main reason for this?
And what have you found to be the best sounding strings on your Zon?
Very curious to hear other Zon players opinions on this!
And as a side note I actually had a private message with Michael Manring here on Talkbass awhile back and he said that light gauge Daddario XL's were his favorite sounding on his Zons.
Have you noticed that some strings just sound better on a Zon than other strings?
Do you think the Zon neck is probably the main reason for this?
And what have you found to be the best sounding strings on your Zon?
Very curious to hear other Zon players opinions on this!
And as a side note I actually had a private message with Michael Manring here on Talkbass awhile back and he said that light gauge Daddario XL's were his favorite sounding on his Zons.
Decades ago I was all Rotosounds all the time, but for years now I've been matching the strings to the bass: a set that sounds killer on one bass might be meh on another. But yeah, my Zon is a different animal than my other basses for sure! I'm happy with the DR Lo Rider steels currently on it, but I look forward to trying other sets.
I have D'Addario XLs on a couple other basses, they're one of my go-to sets. Still, the bart pickups on my Zon have a clean vibe to them, so I think I'll stick with steels -- for awhile anyway!
My favorites have been Kalium Nickels, DAddario XLs, GHS Progressives, LaBella Super Steps(though, they are not as growly), GHS pressure wound, and currently I am really liking LaBella Gold White Nylons.
I have set of regular White Nylons on the way, which I have a feeling are going to be killer. The gold White are a little more mellow in the upper mids/lower treble than I think I like.
The bass is a '97 Legacy Elite 6.
I have set of regular White Nylons on the way, which I have a feeling are going to be killer. The gold White are a little more mellow in the upper mids/lower treble than I think I like.
The bass is a '97 Legacy Elite 6.
I will add, I have not liked DR Hi-beams or the Burners or Rockers from Ken Smith on my Zon.
I'll second the Kalium nickel (hybrid) strings. Second, but over priced, are the Infeld Superalloy's, with Sadowsky Nickles being the cheaper alternative to these. These are on my 4 string Custom fretted.
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Hey everyone in the Zon Club, I have some news that I just received from Joe Zon.
Unfortunately due to the fires in California the Zon factory was closed for almost 1 month due to hazardous levels of smoke in the air.
However the good news is that everyone is OK and the shop has opened back up!
Unfortunately due to the fires in California the Zon factory was closed for almost 1 month due to hazardous levels of smoke in the air.
However the good news is that everyone is OK and the shop has opened back up!
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