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Official Zon Club

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#741
+1 to ehque
BUT nobody sells a used Vinnie.
I'm looking for one from ages and I'll have one built since they are impossible to find on the used market.
I bought an used Zon Sonus for 1000$ or so and I'm looking forward finding another (possibly in the same price range but that's a long long shot :) )

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Here's the bargain of the year if you're in the Chicago area
 
#742
ialma said:
Not quite true...

I found one a year or so back (courtesy of fellow TBer's tip) in a New Jersey CraigsList ad (I'm in Tidewater Virginia). Luckily, the seller was an up 'n up guy and had been featured in Bass Player Profiles so it turned out to be a secure deal.

They Vinny is not the end-all of basses but its rarity made it my "holy grail".

Riis
Click to expand...
 
#743
yes, you find one once in a while (there was one for sale six month ago in Reseda-CA but smelled scam everywhere) but it's very rare nonetheless.

Changing subject, I've seen THIS bass for sale, but I'm asking you Zon experts how the soapbars sound differs from the single coils.
I loved the sound of the Sonus with the jazz single coils and NTMB-918F preamp so I'm wonder if Polyfusion + soapbars will have the bright focussed and punchy sound I'm after.
Thanks everybody.
 
#744
I'm in! Got this beauty from a TB'er a few weeks ago. Sonus Fretless 5. I am really enjoying this bass, and the fretless basses now outnumber the fretted basses at the house by 3 to 1.

zon2.jpg



black_basses4.jpg
 
#745
ialma said:
I've seen THIS bass for sale, but I'm asking you Zon experts how the soapbars sound differs from the single coils.
I loved the sound of the Sonus with the jazz single coils and NTMB-918F preamp so I'm wonder if Polyfusion + soapbars will have the bright focussed and punchy sound I'm after.
Thanks everybody.
Click to expand...

I'm no Zon expert, i've only owned one Zon so far.

However, my Zon, which has soapbars now, was equipped with singlecoils when i bought it.

The soapbars are plenty punchy, in fact i found them even more punchy than the single coils. Bright isn't something i would use to describe either sound (singles or soaps), but the high end isn't affected much.

What i heard changing the singles to soaps was a decent increase in low end and a massive increase in the mids.
 
#747
ialma said:
+1 to ehque
BUT nobody sells a used Vinnie.
I'm looking for one from ages and I'll have one built since they are impossible to find on the used market.
Click to expand...

Well, that isn't really accurate. Several have sold here on TB, people find them in shops... Sam Ash in New Haven, CT had one for $1,300 and I missed it! That was just about a year ago, and about a month before I found mine here on TB. It was $2k by the time I dealt with the shipping and the duty (it came from Canada).

That said, I saw a few others before that, and it isn't so thoroughly impossible. Rare, yes. Impossible, hardly. If you want a specific set of features then you have to order it. The odds of the perfect VB being the one that shows up for sale are beyond slim. Well, a certain Rhode Islander has a VB that would have been close enough but I missed the opportunity!

And to nobody in particular:

I read another thread about the VB being the most affordable Zon on the used market... which is beyond incorrect. When you see Sonus 4's going for under a grand, that is a steal. If you can avoid being influenced by the people who demand a truss rod (don't even get me started about this) then you can get a great deal where they are missing out.

Oh... that TB 5... you have to be joking. That is the steal of the month here on TB and why it hasn't sold, in the high tax-return season no less, is beyond me.
 
#748
ehque said:
ialma said:
yes, you find one once in a while (there was one for sale six month ago in Reseda-CA but smelled scam everywhere) but it's very rare nonetheless.

Changing subject, I've seen THIS bass for sale, but I'm asking you Zon experts how the soapbars sound differs from the single coils.
I loved the sound of the Sonus with the jazz single coils and NTMB-918F preamp so I'm wonder if Polyfusion + soapbars will have the bright focussed and punchy sound I'm after.
Thanks everybody.
Click to expand...
I'm no Zon expert, i've only owned one Zon so far.

However, this Zon, which has soapbars now, was equipped with singlecoils when i bought it.

The soapbars are plenty punchy, in fact i found them even more punchy than the single coils. Bright isn't something i would use to describe either sound (singles or soaps), but the high end isn't affected much.

What i heard changing the singles to soaps was a decent increase in low end and a massive increase in the mids.
Click to expand...
Which Zon are you referring to? Your post almost seems to read as if you're referring to the Sonus Custom in ialma's post, but I think that's one I actually used to own at one point, and it never had single coils in it. In fact, soaps are standard for a Sonus Custom. I'm guessing you're referring to the Zon you currently own, which is something else. That said, if you originally had single coils and you didn't consider that bass to be bright, I wonder which model of single coil barts were in it, because the ones in my Sonus 5 are plenty bright... not out of control brittle, but plenty of high end. I never boost treble, and in fact, often cut it some, and I'm not someone who likes a darker more old school tone, either.

Anyway... just curious what you're referring to here.
 
#749
Vic said:
Which Zon are you referring to? Your post almost seems to read as if you're referring to the Sonus Custom in ialma's post, but I think that's one I actually used to own at one point, and it never had single coils in it. In fact, soaps are standard for a Sonus Custom. I'm guessing you're referring to the Zon you currently own, which is something else. That said, if you originally had single coils and you didn't consider that bass to be bright, I wonder which model of single coil barts were in it, because the ones in my Sonus 5 are plenty bright... not out of control brittle, but plenty of high end. I never boost treble, and in fact, often cut it some, and I'm not someone who likes a darker more old school tone, either.

Anyway... just curious what you're referring to here.
Click to expand...

Oops. I am of course referring to my own bass.

Bright. Hrmmm. Maybe "bright, but not brittle"? When i hear the word bright i think of brittle. On the other hand it is a lot more treble-present than, say, a P or a J. I used to cut highs a lot.

In either case, i don't think there was much of a change with respect to high end after the soaps were installed. I still find the un-EQed high-end usable but not harsh, and i still find myself cutting highs now and then.
 
#750
ehque said:
Oops. I am of course referring to my own bass.

Bright. Hrmmm. Maybe "bright, but not brittle"? When i hear the word bright i think of brittle. On the other hand it is a lot more treble-present than, say, a P or a J. I used to cut highs a lot.

In either case, i don't think there was much of a change with respect to high end after the soaps were installed. I still find the un-EQed high-end usable but not harsh, and i still find myself cutting highs now and then.
Click to expand...
That makes perfect sense, given your definition of "bright." Agreed on your points here, but I personally wouldn't consider bright and brittle to be the same thing.
 
#751
fretlessrock said:
If you can avoid being influenced by the people who demand a truss rod (don't even get me started about this)
Click to expand...

Man...
I'm not sure if I've been particularly unlucky, but the Sonus I bought definately had neck issues. Other Zon owners suggested to use lighter gauge strings without too much tension, but I like to be able to choose whichever strings brand I live most at the moment. That's why no more Zons without truss rod to me (at least not without having checked them first)
 
#752
Hey all. I am looking at picking up the 5/2 in the classifieds. Does anyone have any experience with them good or bad? I have played a few Zon's in my time, but never a 5/2. I always thought they had an organic zing to them that I really liked.

Thanks ahead of time!
 
#755
chris.gotfunk said:
Hey all. I am looking at picking up the 5/2 in the classifieds. Does anyone have any experience with them good or bad? I have played a few Zon's in my time, but never a 5/2. I always thought they had an organic zing to them that I really liked.

Thanks ahead of time!
Click to expand...

I own the same bass (even in the same color, but without truss rod)

I think of it as the best quality / price Zon.
It had the chance to compare it side by side with a Sonus Special and the sound was someway different.

This one is a mix of Stingray + Precision + Composite neck. Definitely boldier and thicker than the Sonus Special. Those Duncan Custom pickups paired with the Polyfusion 2 band preamp make a great match.

A took it to a friend of mine who used to own a Modulus FB4 and said the difference with the Zon (Sonus Special in that case) was the Zon was more woody sounding without losing the punch of graphite. Well, the 5/2 is even punchier IME while the Sonus Special was like a modern take of a Jazz.

I`m sure you can get a pretty low action with the truss rod. No other bass I`ve played "barks" so much when you dig it hard. Cuts like no other when you`re playing live with 2 distorted guitars.
 
#757
Papersen said:
I own the same bass (even in the same color, but without truss rod)

I think of it as the best quality / price Zon.
It had the chance to compare it side by side with a Sonus Special and the sound was someway different.

This one is a mix of Stingray + Precision + Composite neck. Definitely boldier and thicker than the Sonus Special. Those Duncan Custom pickups paired with the Polyfusion 2 band preamp make a great match.

A took it to a friend of mine who used to own a Modulus FB4 and said the difference with the Zon (Sonus Special in that case) was the Zon was more woody sounding without losing the punch of graphite. Well, the 5/2 is even punchier IME while the Sonus Special was like a modern take of a Jazz.

I`m sure you can get a pretty low action with the truss rod. No other bass I`ve played "barks" so much when you dig it hard. Cuts like no other when you`re playing live with 2 distorted guitars.
Click to expand...

Good stuff!!! I am stoked to snag this thing. You nailed two tones I love in your description. The Stingray and Precision.
 
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