Recent experience with Zon Guitars (do your research before buying)

[TFunkadelic]

It's now stuck in my mind to research a brand before buying their kit.
I'm calling it the Zon-incentive...

I think that's good practice in general.

I do want to stress that I do absolutely adore my Zon, so much so that if I stumbled on one used for a good price I'd take a serious look at it. They sound that great. I've had so many people tell me over the years that it's the best bass they've ever heard.

I'd like nothing more than to see Zon stabilize and be able to post about that in this thread later on.

 

[Jazz Ad]

There are 2 issues here. One if the Zon delay and current situation issue, the other is the warranty issue.

I understand their initial answer and why you don't like how things went. It however would have been the same for any other product. Builders try to push back responsibility and users try to extend it.

All things said, pouring $500 into a daily used $5000 tool to bring it back to perfectly working condition is something done daily, from pro tools to computers to cars. I do't find in unreasonable and would pay a pro to do it. Likely not Zon these days though.

Statii basses

I still don't understand why this plurial is so often used for these instruments or where it came from. It's incorrect wether you use English or Latin plurials.

 

[TFunkadelic]

All things said, pouring $500 into a daily used $5000 tool to bring it back to perfectly working condition is something done daily, from pro tools to computers to cars. I do't find in unreasonable and would pay a pro to do it. Likely not Zon these days though.

In general, I agree with you.

What makes this situation different, though, is that the fingerboard didn't separate due to regular use wear and tear. It's not a regular maintenance component like strings, frets, or potentiometers.

And the initial defect that led to the problem was something that Zon had many opportunities to correct, from when the bass was relatively fresh. It is not typical for a bass to need that type of repair a year after purchase. That's exactly what a warranty is for.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

I still don't understand why this plurial is so often used for these instruments or where it came from. It's incorrect wether you use English or Latin plurials.

There is no "incorrect" in English, there is just "usage". If a plurial is used a lot, it's used, and furthermore is understood, and there the matter ends. Individual publishers have style guides that they choose to follow. Someone writing in a personal capacity is not bound by anything.

As for why these unusual plurieaux are used so much: they're fun.

 

[Spirit of Ox]

Can you post a pic of the neck repaired please?

 

[India_Sierra]

I still don't understand why this plurial is so often used for these instruments or where it came from. It's incorrect wether you use English or Latin plurials.

I'm pretty sure it probably has foundation in the popular television show 'I'm Alan Partridge'. In one particularly oft-quoted episode, Alan meets a seemingly like-minded bloke who also drives a Lexus. When they remark upon each other's respective choice of car ownership they refer to the cars plurally as 'Lexii'. I've heard that convention referred to a number of times when discussing the correct plural and nomenclature for Status basses.

 

[Altitude]

There is no "incorrect" in English, there is just "usage".

Of course there’s “incorrect” in English, but in any language it’s normal to adopt abnormalities into the vernacular. That’s what I think has happened here.

 

[BruceWane]

Is Jerry Dorsch still in business (Graphite Guitar Systems)? IME, this needs to be professionally addressed...I can understand the hesitancy to pursue via Zon.

Riis

Yes, he is. A couple of months ago I had him replace the fingerboard on a fretless Modulus Q6 TBX (original had lines which had shrunk, causing uneven tone/response). Beautiful work, looks like new. Very reasonable price, too.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I have a recurring nightmare that that happens to one of my basses. And it completely winds up falling apart. Sucks in a dream. Sucks worse in real life. I hope you get it resolved.

For me the dream is of the necks going floppy...

 

[Deleted member 365158]

till don't understand why this plurial is so often used for these instruments or where it came from. It's incorrect wether you use English or Latin plurials.

So whats the proper way to write multiple bass…
I can search basses and i get

as well several on line dictionaries say basses is ok.
I suppose bass guitars flows well too but really, whats wrong with basses?

 

[groooooove]

i totally understand both sides of this issue..

I would have brought it to someone experienced in repairing cracks - honestly, i trust violin makers the most with this. they repair cracks all day. i've asked some in the past if they could repair one thing or another on a guitar or bass guitar, and they've looked at pictures and said it was no big deal. (again... they repair cracks all the time..) - not that a good guitar luthier can't fix a crack just as well.

Zon had no reason to think it was not cosmetic, as the vast majority of these things are. after years and years have gone by they have no way of knowing what is up with your bass.

in a perfect world i agree they would've fixed it at a "meet in the middle" type of price. but they likely just can't do that at the moment.

bringing it to someone you know and trust (or doing it yourself if you know what you are doing) is the way to go.

 

[Tori2013]

I don't think your particular case should be seen as a testament to Zon's lack of concern for customers after the sale.

They offered to look at it 13 years ago. You declined.

Here we are today, with Zon having no idea how you stored nor used your bass. Understandably they will quote you a repair price (and probably shipping both ways too).

If I was using my bass for a living, I would've sent it there to be fixed. I am assuming that you are a working musician with more than one bass.

 

[Jazz Ad]

So whats the proper way to write multiple bass…[...]I suppose bass guitars flows well too but really, whats wrong with basses?

We're talking about basses from the brand Status Graphite.
In latin, the plural of Status is Status. In English, the plural of Status can be either Status or Statuses, if you treat the noun as a common name.
People tend to use the plural Statii when talking about more than one Status bass. It's an inner reference for fans of the brands. There's even a forum going by this name, dedicated to these instruments.

 

[Deleted member 365158]

We're talking about basses from the brand Status Graphite.
In latin, the plural of Status is Status. In English, the plural of Status can be either Status or Statuses, if you treat the noun as a common name.
People tend to use the plural Statii when talking about more than one Status bass. It's an inner reference for fans of the brands. There's even a forum going by this name, dedicated to these instruments.

Aha, my mistake.

 

[JamesDeGrandis]

View attachment 4612784

HOLY CRACK!
You fixed that yourself!?!?!? What are your rates?
Dude... props for digging in there and getting your hands dirty on that.

This is my experience with Zon (and most of the stories I've heard)... distilled down into 4 words.
"Great Basses. Bad Businessmen."
YMMV.

 

[bass12]

I've heard some great sounding Zon basses and the brand has been on my wish list for a number of years. But there's no way I'd buy one directly from Zon at this point. After dealing with first class builders such as Mike Tobias and Roger Sadowsky, the kinds of things I'm hearing about Zon make them a no-go for me.

 

[SleepyShark]

I've heard some great sounding Zon basses and the brand has been on my wish list for a number of years. But there's no way I'd buy one directly from Zon at this point. After dealing with first class builders such as Mike Tobias and Roger Sadowsky, the kinds of things I'm hearing about Zon make them a no-go for me.

The best outlook.

There are people who are undeterred and still actively placing new orders, even knowing of the production and communication fiasco.

I'm not sure if it's a case of, "well surely it won't happen to me, my build isn't as complicated as those other people's builds" or willful ignorance because they've wanted one for years and can't stomach the idea of not at least trying - maybe their order will be different!

Who knows.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Of course there’s “incorrect” in English

In France and Germany there are national institutes regulating the language. In the English speaking countries we do what we like. Plenty of people have set themselves up as authorities on what is "correct", formulating rules out of thin air, often enjoying healthy book sales as a consequence. The fact that lots of people choose to follow these self appointed arbiters doesn't do anything to change the fact that we are free to do what we like. If you wish to spend your life coining neologisms, for your own amusement, everyone else just has to suck it up.

 

[TFunkadelic]

I don't think your particular case should be seen as a testament to Zon's lack of concern for customers after the sale.

They offered to look at it 13 years ago. You declined.

Here we are today, with Zon having no idea how you stored nor used your bass. Understandably they will quote you a repair price (and probably shipping both ways too).

If I was using my bass for a living, I would've sent it there to be fixed. I am assuming that you are a working musician with more than one bass.

That's not what happened. All of these things were already addressed in the thread.

 

[Altitude]

In France and Germany there are national institutes regulating the language. In the English speaking countries we do what we like. Plenty of people have set themselves up as authorities on what is "correct", formulating rules out of thin air, often enjoying healthy book sales as a consequence. The fact that lots of people choose to follow these self appointed arbiters doesn't do anything to change the fact that we are free to do what we like. If you wish to spend your life coining neologisms, for your own amusement, everyone else just has to suck it up.

They could suck it up or also, for instance, could decide not to make you an employment offer. I suppose we're all free to do whatever we like as long as we are OK with the ramifications.

This doesn't seem worth an argument though.