Nope. It's actually maple -- what Joe at the time described as a 10A burled maple. I don't know how official that grading is, but it looked pretty good to me so I didn't ask any questions.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
- Status
Nope. It's actually maple -- what Joe at the time described as a 10A burled maple. I don't know how official that grading is, but it looked pretty good to me so I didn't ask any questions.
+1
I've OFTEN questioned how some "grading" is represented. I'm sure there's a system... like figuring density and consistency (and in the case of a burl, maybe also the number of or lack of voids), but I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of folks were just "seat of the pants" grading things on their own.
That said, it sure is a really great looking bass, so it doesn't really matter in the end game.
I'm sitting here trying to work but waiting for program to compile, so...
1 of the 3: To be getting new pickups soon- not really happy with these.
These pictures are really old...I need to get some new ones for insurance. These are pretty poorly taken!
I also now have bassjigga's extended cutaway Sonus firmly in my possession.
(No number please!)
1 of the 3: To be getting new pickups soon- not really happy with these.
These pictures are really old...I need to get some new ones for insurance. These are pretty poorly taken!
I also now have bassjigga's extended cutaway Sonus firmly in my possession.
(No number please!)
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,222
- 45,001
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
Yeah, I'm wondering this myself. Can't imagine anything better than Bartolinis for that bass. (Which is jawdropping).
I'm sitting here trying to work but waiting for program to compile, so...
1 of the 3: To be getting new pickups soon- not really happy with these.
These pictures are really old...I need to get some new ones for insurance. These are pretty poorly taken!
I also now have bassjigga's extended cutaway Sonus firmly in my possession.
(No number please!)
Angus,
I was just getting an order request and info from Zon yesterday about a TJ-5, 19mm spacing, alder body w/gallery top. How do you like this bass, how's the slap tone and ability with the extended fingerboard? Any sound clips?
Beautiful bass....
Thanks!
It's not the instrument, it's me!
I explained this more fully in my PM to kesslari, but more or less it's just the bridge pickup that's the issue. The neck pickup sounds incredible, especially for the solo and jazz music I'm normally playing. I've been using nothing but the neck pickup since I picked it up. It's warm and full and surprisingly articulate and clear for a neck pickup. The bridge pickup, though, just isn't working out for me. If the bass were fretless, it would probably nail the Jaco tone, but for a fretted it just sounds a bit too thin and bright to me.
A fair bit of it is because of the walnut body. Acoustically it sounds great so I don't think the body wood choice was a problem, it just that the bridge pickup just isn't the one for me. I know other people who've liked the way it sounds and all of you might entirely disagree with me, but for me it doesn't sit in the mix or solo'd the way I'd like.
I've not experienced this with any other Zon nor any other bass I've had with these pickups (Tobias, etc). It's just the combo of the body woods with this particular pickup that isn't quite right for me, but maybe for others.
The tone won't really be comparable- mine is walnut, yours would be alder. I'm considering ordering another soon to replace some instruments that were stolen
(), and the next one will definitely be alder or ash.That all said, I also am a firm disbeliever in slapping and thus never, ever use it. You definitely can slap here as long as your technique is clean and you don't mind doing it between the pickups, but it will definitely feel different. Again, this isn't a concern of mine so I'm maybe not the best source. But certainly possible!
I do have sound clips, but they're still .aiff files as I'm in the process of mastering at the moment.
You'll definitely enjoy the bass!
I've have several Zon's since... 1997, I guess. I need to get a photo of my current axe up here.
On the subject of Zon basses - is it just me, or did they lose a great deal of cachet when Joe went mass-market with GC several years back? The quality seemed to drop off for a while there...
On the subject of Zon basses - is it just me, or did they lose a great deal of cachet when Joe went mass-market with GC several years back? The quality seemed to drop off for a while there...
I've never seen any that were any less than top notch, and I'm really picky about the little things. It's not like the building was sourced out or anything. But maybe I've never seen the ones you are talking about (though I've played a number of them in GC's years ago).
Don't get me wrong - I love my Zon, I've enjoyed the several I've had and expect I'll have more, but I think that they went through a bit of a consistency issue for some time there, which seems to line up with the time when GC was carrying bushels of them. That some fit/finish stuff might be a problem is not a shock, what surprised me is just how much difference I have seen in the necks, which makes no sense at all, right? These aren't machined, they are molded - so you think they'd all be the same. I know for certain that I've played some Zons with what I'd call "Chunky" necks, and some (like the one I have now) with wonderfully thin necks. Now, the new Zons I've played in the last few years have all been pretty nice - but I've also noticed that they have nicer wood and fit/finish - - so I think Joe changed somethings for the better. Maybe this coincides with him off-shoring some of his more budget basses, rather than trying to create a lower-end bass himself.
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,222
- 45,001
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
I had to show these - David King made me some knobs for my Sonus Special.
I was going nuts replicating settings with the stock knobs (no markings).
I like these
Cruddy picture, I need to get a tripod.
I was going nuts replicating settings with the stock knobs (no markings).
I like these
Cruddy picture, I need to get a tripod.
I've had 7 Zon's, and have noticed some variance in the neck profile and size. I'm sure those molds wear out and have to be replaced. I have no idea why whoever makes them couldn't get it exactly the same though.. Maybe that's just Joe trying to tweak things a bit.
I had to show these - David King made me some knobs for my Sonus Special.
I was going nuts replicating settings with the stock knobs (no markings).
I like these
Cruddy picture, I need to get a tripod.
I'm digging those knobs.. I've thought about getting some for my Buckeye Sonus.. Just need to figure out how I want them..
WOAH! Nice! THG? Otherwise, where, and if you don't mind me asking, how much was the whole set? PM me if you like.
WOAH! Nice! THG? Otherwise, where, and if you don't mind me asking, how much was the whole set? PM me if you like.
Actually went with David King. I paid him on Saturday, knobs where done Tuesday, and to my house on Friday! He's in Oregon and I'm in Louisiana, so that's as quick as you can get it.. I paid $100 for the set shipped.
- Status
