- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,230
- 45,091
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
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- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,950
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
I'm also a big fan of koa tops. My older one is redwood on ash, but this one is koa on ash.
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,078
- 9,800
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,230
- 45,091
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
you are so right... including a bunch i've played at NAMM. And honestly, it even has an edge on my newer koa bass. if i had a nickel for every time i tried to bring myself to sell it after getting the koa one (my original plan), i'd be rich.
for reference, here it is, acquired from Adrian Garcia at Access Bass (RIP brother). I think it's a 2003:
This one is the standard Zon 17mm spacing. My plan was to essentially replace it with the same specs except for 19mm spacing, and the koa top. otherwise the same... 34" scale, 24 frets, same electronics.
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,078
- 9,800
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
I somehow forgot that this was an Adrian/Access Bass instrument. That makes it even more endearing. I remember when it was made in the shop. I played everything before it went out for the short time I was there in 02 and 03, and this was the "whoa dude" bass. 
Its a keeper for sure!
Its a keeper for sure!
thanks man, agreed. i remember talking to you about it a while back, and REALLY appreciated your confirmation. I also bought a Sonus Special fretless from him, but had to let that go. I definitely regret that.I somehow forgot that this was an Adrian/Access Bass instrument. That makes it even more endearing. I remember when it was made in the shop. I played everything before it went out for the short time I was there in 02 and 03, and this was the "whoa dude" bass.
Its a keeper for sure!
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,230
- 45,091
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
Ok newbie to anything related to Zon, but here I am. Picked up a Import Legacy with the AggiePUs/Aggie pre. Not sure if that’s a new combination or old. I Decided instead of chasing the bass I want with the specs I want (read mo $$) I decided to go in the direction of finding a bass that already is closer to what I want in some “standard specs” details like 34” scale narrower spacing, general neck shape etc. for the $$ I had. Instead of waiting for the upgrade.
Took a leap of faith having played real ones and knowing full this was not one, that would still be a quality import. I believe it is. Looks good for a veneer. Fit and finish is good, neck feels great in the hand. Here’s where I had a disconnect. The Aggie pickup/pre combo sounds SO different from what I’m used to. Played it at home and immediately felt it far more low end-ish for lack of a better term. I have a few preamps, Bart, Audere, etc but this just sounded way different to my ears. Kind of like both low and mid knobs were voiced very low and the treble wasn’t very powerful? I ran out to a jam and it sounded similar. I had the bass knob rolled all the way off and was playing the bridge PU. I looked it (pre) up and see there are different ways to wire it up. Variations on the mids I believe. So I don’t know how it’s set up but I looked inside and the are an awful lot of wires that are simply taped off connected to nothing.
I wanted to do (mid sweep pot) once I looked at the schematics. Which say you can. Some say switching only. Including Dave B at Aguilar. Also heard someone suggest the east mid knob but I’m not astute enough to figure out if it will work. Others said it’s doably but search as I might I haven’t found the specifics yet.
Are there any new hacks to make true sweepable mids. I’m cross posting in a preamp thread too. Also to add some detail, here is the situation.
Recap,the mids are lost. I need my mids back. Very accoustomed to Audere, Bartolini, and East Jretro, pres and this is totally different as to be like night and day, like the difference between having all my boost knobs cranked and switching from passive to active. Meaning a HUGE boost mainly of bass, mids that seem unfocused. Not sure if that’s from a wide bandwidth or what, and treble that seems voiced way high, too high for me. On Bart and Audere it seems to me the tone knob voicings seem completely separate. I hear each separately. If that makes sense.
Took a leap of faith having played real ones and knowing full this was not one, that would still be a quality import. I believe it is. Looks good for a veneer. Fit and finish is good, neck feels great in the hand. Here’s where I had a disconnect. The Aggie pickup/pre combo sounds SO different from what I’m used to. Played it at home and immediately felt it far more low end-ish for lack of a better term. I have a few preamps, Bart, Audere, etc but this just sounded way different to my ears. Kind of like both low and mid knobs were voiced very low and the treble wasn’t very powerful? I ran out to a jam and it sounded similar. I had the bass knob rolled all the way off and was playing the bridge PU. I looked it (pre) up and see there are different ways to wire it up. Variations on the mids I believe. So I don’t know how it’s set up but I looked inside and the are an awful lot of wires that are simply taped off connected to nothing.
I wanted to do (mid sweep pot) once I looked at the schematics. Which say you can. Some say switching only. Including Dave B at Aguilar. Also heard someone suggest the east mid knob but I’m not astute enough to figure out if it will work. Others said it’s doably but search as I might I haven’t found the specifics yet.
Are there any new hacks to make true sweepable mids. I’m cross posting in a preamp thread too. Also to add some detail, here is the situation.
Recap,the mids are lost. I need my mids back. Very accoustomed to Audere, Bartolini, and East Jretro, pres and this is totally different as to be like night and day, like the difference between having all my boost knobs cranked and switching from passive to active. Meaning a HUGE boost mainly of bass, mids that seem unfocused. Not sure if that’s from a wide bandwidth or what, and treble that seems voiced way high, too high for me. On Bart and Audere it seems to me the tone knob voicings seem completely separate. I hear each separately. If that makes sense.
The OBP-3 is a flat and dull preamp to me. You really need an aggressive pickup for it to sound right. It is just very smooth and low end weighted compared to, say, the ZP-2 polyfusion. It is very traditional sounding. You might try something like the Darkglass preamp with the Aguilar pickups. Aguilar has a very specific sound, and modern it is not.
I don’t have a Zon, but I was perusing through this thread and saw the comments about the OBP3 preamp.
I couldn’t agree more. That preamp came in a bass I just bought. I can’t wait to replace it with the Nord preamp that arrived today.
While I’m willing to trade out the pre and even have a couple of options on hand. However I’d like to try to make it at the very least better. I’d love to hear from someone who has tried the different wiring schemes. Also I’ve never heard these DCM pickups before so that muddies the water too.
I downloaded the schematic on the Aguilar OBP - 3 and it shows 7 options for the mids...#1 toggle between 800 and 400Hz... #2 fixed @ 800Hz...#3 fixed at 400Hz...#4 fixed between 400 and 800Hz (add capacitors)…#5 fixed below 400Hz (add capacitors)…#6 Mid-low between 400 and 800Hz mid high fixed at 800Hz ( add capacitors)...#7 mid-low below 400hz, mid high fixed at 800Hz (add capacitors). Whew! Might be better served to go with a different pre...
