Pulled the trigger on a Zon today

[Akito]

A wonderful Zon! Did you trade in your Modulus or sell it?
Ironic that a Zon with single coils was the best bass I have ever laid hands on. Still miffed I didn't have the $$$ to grab that one.

 

[benthughes]

I love the spector!! Several basses have come and gone since I got it including a Status custom and a Warwick Thumb NT. It's a very nice instrument and you gave me a helluva deal, I can't thank you enough. It'll be a keeper. I've got a Zon Studio on the way that I can't wait to get my mitts on. Hope you're enjoying yours.

 

[seansbrew]

A wonderful Zon! Did you trade in your Modulus or sell it?
Ironic that a Zon with single coils was the best bass I have ever laid hands on. Still miffed I didn't have the $$$ to grab that one.

I traded my Q5 for it.

 

[lsu921]

Wow, what a nice Custom. I love my 519. Best basses on the planet. I want to try a Custom one of these days.

 

[seansbrew]

I just got back from band practice, and it was my first time playing the Zon in a live setting.

I took my SWR sm-500 and Ampeg BXT 4x10 hlf today. I started with all the tone controls on the head in the neutral position. The bass was really easy to dial in and we were playing within a few minutes.
I was able to customize my tone for specific songs using the tone controls on the bass only. From a burpy Jaco tone to a vintage blues tone, it sounded sooooooo good. This bass definitely gets an 'A' for versatility.
Everyone in the band said the bass sounded so much rounder and fatter than the Modulus Q5 I was using. The clarity of the notes is the one thing this bass has in common with the modulus, but Zon is so much warmer. Zons have a sound all their own, it's hard for me to describe the tone, but it works for all styles of music.

Another thing I want to mention is the scale length. The 34" scale (vs. the 35" on the Modulus) was easy to adjust to. I was able to play for much longer before fatigue set in. The strings definitely felt allot looser than the Modulus. I was surprised at how focused the low B is. I would say this is due to the graphite neck.
This bass is also much lighter than the Modulus and was much more comfortable. Bye the end of practice my shoulder was not hurting what so ever.

So far so good, I am so happy with my purchase, I don't miss ye old Modulus at all.

 

[seansbrew]

Wow, what a nice Custom. I love my 519. Best basses on the planet. I want to try a Custom one of these days.

I have heard the customs have the most versatile electronics yet. I wouldn't know though, the only other Zon I have tried was the RT model.

 

[onewebfoot]

Great news, Seansbrew, and congrats again. Your group's response certainly is a reputable confirmation of things you had already observed. I met Mr. Joe Zon yesterday at his shop. They got the Zon hardshell cases in stock, so I picked up in person what I ordered awhile ago for my Sonus 5 when still living in SoCal. He confirmed the instrument I bought as a second owner was indeed a specialized order completed in March 2002. 3-band equalizer toggle switch confirmed. The nicest guy in the world, and very accommodating, as I was running 15 minutes late, on a Friday afternoon, given I got temporarily lost. Perhaps kind of like meeting Clapton or someone. I'm kicking myself hard for not bringing a camera, or getting his autograph on myt string set. (dumb oversight on my part). Can't believe I'm only 10 miles from his headquarters.

Edit: I've had TI Flatwounds on my Sonus 5, but picked up his 40-125 ultrasonic string set, custom light guage, especially well-suited for Zon fretless, according to their website, and won't likely look back for a very long while to come. I'm swapping them in tonight. but would like to know more of your own string observations in coming months.

 

[Vic]

I have heard the customs have the most versatile electronics yet. I wouldn't know though, the only other Zon I have tried was the RT model.

IMHO, not really. I'd say just different. The custom has the straight up ZP 3 band preamp and a bit more of a modern EMG-like tone, whereas the regular Sonus' have the 3 band bart (ZB) preamp with the selectable mid centerpoint and a bit more of a traditional tone. I find they both do the job equally well, but with a different voice. I do find, however, the ZP preamp seems a little noisier for some reason (a little bit hissier on the high end). I love mine as well.

 

[seansbrew]

Great news, Seansbrew, and congrats again. Your group's response certainly is a reputable confirmation of things you had already observed. I met Mr. Joe Zon yesterday at his shop. They got the Zon hardshell cases in stock, so I picked up in person what I ordered awhile ago for my Sonus 5 when still living in SoCal. He confirmed the instrument I bought as a second owner was indeed a specialized order completed in March 2002. 3-band equalizer toggle switch confirmed. The nicest guy in the world, and very accommodating, as I was running 15 minutes late, on a Friday afternoon, given I got temporarily lost. Perhaps kind of like meeting Clapton or someone. I'm kicking myself hard for not bringing a camera, or getting his autograph on myt string set. (dumb oversight on my part). Can't believe I'm only 10 miles from his headquarters.

Edit: I've had TI Flatwounds on my Sonus 5, but picked up his 40-125 ultrasonic string set, custom light guage, especially well-suited for Zon fretless, according to their website, and won't likely look back for a very long while to come. I'm swapping them in tonight. but would like to know more of your own string observations in coming months.

Will do. I am not quite sure what Zon strings are on my bass at the moment. They are wraped in red silk, any idea?

I have some DR high beams and Marcus millers on hand, I also have a set of EB slinkys. I am curious as to how they will sound.

 

[seansbrew]

Not really. I'd say just different. The custom has the straight up ZP 3 band preamp and a bit more of a modern EMG-like tone, whereas the regular Sonus' have the 3 band bart (ZB) preamp with the selectable mid centerpoint. I find they both do the job equally well, but with a different voice. I do find, however, the ZP preamp seems a little noisier for some reason (a little bit hissier on the high end). I love mine as well.

I have observed the hissiness as well, had to turn the horn on my cab way down.

 

[Vic]

Everyone in the band said the bass sounded so much rounder and fatter than the Modulus Q5

This was also my experience.

The clarity of the notes is the one thing this bass has in common with the modulus,

+1
This is a graphite neck thing as well as the absolute lack of any deadspots whatsoever.

but Zon is so much warmer. Zons have a sound all their own, it's hard for me to describe the tone, but it works for all styles of music.

+1 as well.
I really dug the Modulus tone, but the Zons have always seemed more "musical" to me.

The 34" scale (vs. the 35" on the Modulus) was easy to adjust to. I was able to play for much longer before fatigue set in.

Same here. I have smaller hands, and this ended up being a big feature for me.

I was surprised at how focused the low B is. I would say this is due to the graphite neck.

Yes, but also what its made of. Joe's proprietary blend and construction also contribute a lot. I had a graphite necked Peavey Gv for a while, and the B on the Zon was way nicer even though the Peavey was a 35" scale. IMHO, Zons have the best sounding and most usable B string for a 34" scale bass. I love them! The really great part about this is, you get a great B string without having to make the D and especially G strings suffer a 35" scale.

This bass is also much lighter than the Modulus and was much more comfortable. By the end of practice my shoulder was not hurting what so ever.

How much does yours weigh? I definitely noticed the Modulus' seem to generally feel heavier, but the Zons mostly seem to be around (what I'd call a typical) 9 pounds. However, my favorite Zon is my redwood top'd Sonus (not a Custom), and it's only 7.5 pounds! It's an absolute effortless play and still has that same deadly B!

So far so good, I am so happy with my purchase

Nice score, dude... I love my Custom as well!

 

[Vic]

I have observed the hissiness as well, had to turn the horn on my cab way down.

Interesting. I usually just turn the treble on the bass down. The good news is, I can bump that down enough to quiet things up and it still has plenty of sizzle for me!

 

[Vic]

In case yer curious, here's mine. Kinda cool because yours is a spalted flame and mine is a spalted quilt!

 

[Vic]

Will do. I am not quite sure what Zon strings are on my bass at the moment. They are wraped in red silk, any idea?

I have some DR high beams and Marcus millers on hand, I also have a set of EB slinkys. I am curious as to how they will sound.

Check out some tapered strings as well. I REALLY like the Dean Markley SR2000 Will Lees on mine. I also like the Smith tapered strings. I find HiBeams are a bit too "slinky" for my taste on these basses, but the LoRiders (which is basically what the Marcus Millers are) work GREAT.

 

[seansbrew]

In case yer curious, here's mine. Kinda cool because yours is a spalted flame and mine is a spalted quilt!

Nice!!

 

[seansbrew]

Check out some tapered strings as well. I REALLY like the Dean Markley SR2000 Will Lees on mine. I also like the Smith tapered strings. I find HiBeams are a bit too "slinky" for my taste on these basses, but the LoRiders (which is basically what the Marcus Millers are) work GREAT.

I really liked Low riders on my Modulus, but they just felt really stiff. With the 34" scale they might feel more comfortable.

 

[seansbrew]

Interesting. I usually just turn the treble on the bass down. The good news is, I can bump that down enough to quiet things up and it still has plenty of sizzle for me!

That's with the treble on the bass turned down about half way.

And yet another thing to mention, my amps have never sounded better.