We're talking about him, so I guess his plan is working to some extent. Hell, there's part of me that wants to order a Dr Bass cab because I *might* be the lucky one.
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Zachary Strings - What's with this guy?
- Thread starter gpc2
- Start date
ya know, most of us are curious by nature...moreso than guitarists imo. and generally open to trying out new stuff, but wow! i've been using DR hibeams since their conception. and at $18 a pop, i think i'll survive without "Lord Alex" in my life...
Resurrecting a 3 year-old thread.....
I actually know Alex. I've never met him personally, but know him via cyberspace, and actually own one of his basses (my avatar shows the neck).
While I certainly understand the frustration expressed about him in this thread, I want to come out in his defense. He builds very good instruments and is, I think, a very decent man and is certainly passionate about what he does. Like many people who have strong opinions, he doesn't mind disagreeing with others, and perhaps likes doing so, and this means he makes lots of enemies. But I respect him for doing things his own way, for having conviction about his beliefs, his way of figuring things out, etc. It's admirable. Do I agree with him on everything? No, not at all. Do I think he builds the *best* guitars, or the best amps, or the best string sets? No, because I don't think anyone can claim they have defined what the best is. But I respect him and allow him to have the opinion that he does. Nothing wrong with that. It doesn't insult me or offend me that he thinks he's right and I'm wrong. This is the sort of thing that makes life interesting, and we shouldn't be so thin-skinned about it. He is not a warm and fuzzy guy but that's fine with me.
I think he sort of has a blind spot in that he cannot accept that sometimes as musicians we like or believe in things which aren't by some criteria "correct." His string sets are a good example. I think he came upon his design of string sets in the same way he does everything, by thinking long and hard about it and figuring it out on his own. Specifically, after a fairly painstaking investigation in which he calculated string tension and tested instruments with these various tensions, he concluded that the best way to string a guitar was what he calls progressive tension. Not equal tension in all strings, but a steady progression whereby tension increases as you go from higher pitch to lower. He states that low tension bass-side strings feel too slack and give a muddy, unfocused tone, for example, and also talks some about how different guitar designs require different strings (heavier strings on Gretsch or lighter on Telecasters, to produce tones we consider quintessential for those instruments). He has many sets and offers many options, and even has sets tailored to different tunings, which is very nice. I love the sets he makes for open G, Keith Richards style guitar tuning, for example.
Of course these conclusion begs many questions, all valid, such as 1) why does a Gretsch or a Tele have to sound that way? 2) how _much_ progressive increase in tension is correct? Why your formula and not someone else's? 3) what is the problem with equal tension, or with a different tension curve than you propose? There are other questions which could be asked.
This is where I think he has the blind spot. What if someone _likes_ the tone from a low tension E string on a Les Paul? One man's "muddy" is another man's "ballsy", or whatever. It's like trying to make a scientific argument that every bass should be strung with flats, or nickel rounds, or whatever. How can you say one is correct an another isn't? My Dad would return steaks to the kitchen if they were anything more than medium rare....my wife looks at a steak cooked this way, turns up her nose, and says "it's still mooing!"
Alex is a great guy, and I admire him. He is his own man, and he has integrity. I wish he didn't call people idiots or whatever for disagreeing with him, but there is nothing wrong with him doing it. I'd rather deal with someone with integrity calling me an idiot than with some smarmy liar blowing smoke up my ass trying to get my money.
The bass he built me is absolutely fabulous. There is nothing like it. The balance and ergonomics are absolutely wonderful. It weighs I think 9 lbs., but it feels lighter than some of my 6 string guitars, because of how it hangs on you and how it sort of snuggles up to the body. The neck profile is extremely comfortable and the feel and finish of the wood on the neck is incredible. I like narrow string spacing, which it has, and the fretwork is meticulous. The sound is amazing. Humbuckers with coil splitting options and a wide variety of tones that sound different than every other bass I have. It cuts through mixes and is a very live, airy sound.
Anyway....that's my experience with Alex.
I actually know Alex. I've never met him personally, but know him via cyberspace, and actually own one of his basses (my avatar shows the neck).
While I certainly understand the frustration expressed about him in this thread, I want to come out in his defense. He builds very good instruments and is, I think, a very decent man and is certainly passionate about what he does. Like many people who have strong opinions, he doesn't mind disagreeing with others, and perhaps likes doing so, and this means he makes lots of enemies. But I respect him for doing things his own way, for having conviction about his beliefs, his way of figuring things out, etc. It's admirable. Do I agree with him on everything? No, not at all. Do I think he builds the *best* guitars, or the best amps, or the best string sets? No, because I don't think anyone can claim they have defined what the best is. But I respect him and allow him to have the opinion that he does. Nothing wrong with that. It doesn't insult me or offend me that he thinks he's right and I'm wrong. This is the sort of thing that makes life interesting, and we shouldn't be so thin-skinned about it. He is not a warm and fuzzy guy but that's fine with me.
I think he sort of has a blind spot in that he cannot accept that sometimes as musicians we like or believe in things which aren't by some criteria "correct." His string sets are a good example. I think he came upon his design of string sets in the same way he does everything, by thinking long and hard about it and figuring it out on his own. Specifically, after a fairly painstaking investigation in which he calculated string tension and tested instruments with these various tensions, he concluded that the best way to string a guitar was what he calls progressive tension. Not equal tension in all strings, but a steady progression whereby tension increases as you go from higher pitch to lower. He states that low tension bass-side strings feel too slack and give a muddy, unfocused tone, for example, and also talks some about how different guitar designs require different strings (heavier strings on Gretsch or lighter on Telecasters, to produce tones we consider quintessential for those instruments). He has many sets and offers many options, and even has sets tailored to different tunings, which is very nice. I love the sets he makes for open G, Keith Richards style guitar tuning, for example.
Of course these conclusion begs many questions, all valid, such as 1) why does a Gretsch or a Tele have to sound that way? 2) how _much_ progressive increase in tension is correct? Why your formula and not someone else's? 3) what is the problem with equal tension, or with a different tension curve than you propose? There are other questions which could be asked.
This is where I think he has the blind spot. What if someone _likes_ the tone from a low tension E string on a Les Paul? One man's "muddy" is another man's "ballsy", or whatever. It's like trying to make a scientific argument that every bass should be strung with flats, or nickel rounds, or whatever. How can you say one is correct an another isn't? My Dad would return steaks to the kitchen if they were anything more than medium rare....my wife looks at a steak cooked this way, turns up her nose, and says "it's still mooing!"
Alex is a great guy, and I admire him. He is his own man, and he has integrity. I wish he didn't call people idiots or whatever for disagreeing with him, but there is nothing wrong with him doing it. I'd rather deal with someone with integrity calling me an idiot than with some smarmy liar blowing smoke up my ass trying to get my money.
The bass he built me is absolutely fabulous. There is nothing like it. The balance and ergonomics are absolutely wonderful. It weighs I think 9 lbs., but it feels lighter than some of my 6 string guitars, because of how it hangs on you and how it sort of snuggles up to the body. The neck profile is extremely comfortable and the feel and finish of the wood on the neck is incredible. I like narrow string spacing, which it has, and the fretwork is meticulous. The sound is amazing. Humbuckers with coil splitting options and a wide variety of tones that sound different than every other bass I have. It cuts through mixes and is a very live, airy sound.
Anyway....that's my experience with Alex.
There are just so many other builders out there that will work with you and do things without calling you an idiot. Why bother with this jerk? I ordered a guitar from him and he was pleasant to work with. As soon as I put down the deposit it was a Jekyll and Hyde turn around. Instead of building what we talked about, he was going to build whatever he wanted. That's when I cancelled and at least got part of my money back. Buy from him if you enjoy abuse, but I'd advise, based on my experience that there are so many other, better choices out there.
Yes, no doubt.
It's worth bothering with him because he does fantastic work! But you are right, you have to be willing to tolerate his "rules," which are, admittedly, very odd for a custom guitar builder. Look, I completely understand why people get turned off and want to work with others. And yes, it is very unusual to find a "custom" builder who really isn't custom, who tells customers what he is going to build and tells them to take it or leave it. You can argue it's absurd. But it is what it is, he is who he is. You have to take what he offers and walk away if you don't like it. To each his own. He doesn't shop for customers, they call him.
In the event others are reading this thread with the idea of possibly working with Alex....for what it's worth, he DID work with me. I insisted before sending him a deposit that the instrument needed certain features, and he agreed to those and delivered. I'm not saying that he would have agree to anything....in fact he rejected one of my ideas for a bass. But we exchanged many emails and came to a clear understanding about what would be done before any money changed hands. I may have irritated him by requesting these things, but he dealt with me squarely and was reasonable with me when I was forthright about what I wanted. I'm sorry you had a negative experience regarding your deposit and working with him.
Well, I read through a large portion of his site; have to say it's...interesting. I would like to try a set of his medium-scale flats on my Gretsch, but... Gee wizz- I hope I'm worthy!
I do have a question, though; by any chance, is this guy related to Ed Roman?? 
I do have a question, though; by any chance, is this guy related to Ed Roman?? 
I didn't have to get approval or pass a test from Roger Sadowsky or Vinnie Fodera or Stuart Spector to play their stuff. I think I'm just fine with their instruments, and the people I work with think so too. Why bother with this jerk, indeed.......
I run his flats on my go-to bass, a short scale tuned DGCF. I believe the "E" is a .120 - it's very hard to find SS strings in gauges like that
otherwise I'd just use singles and make up my own set.I would like to try a set of his medium-scale flats on my Gretsch, but... Gee wizz- I hope I'm worthy!
As far as I understand his strings are standard fare (probably D'addarios), it's just the gauge combinations that are unusual.
Just put together your own custom set from singles at bassstringsonline.com instead.
Nah; where's the challenge in that? Getting some strings from the Z-man will be like getting past the Killer Bunny in Monty Python's Holy Grail movie (and good for my self esteem, too!).
Nah; where's the challenge in that? Getting some strings from the Z-man will be like getting past the Killer Bunny in Monty Python's Holy Grail movie (and good for my self esteem, too!).
That's not a bad analogy.
