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ZON bass...Billy Gould

G

G_FUNK Music

Jun 7, 2010
8
0
#1
Hi everyone! Does anyone know which ZON bass Billy Gould plays? I am coming to the states end of Sept and am researching whether to buy a G&L, or a Zon. LOVE the G&L tone, but never tried a ZON, but love the recordings I have heard...eg:- Billy Gould, Mike Manring. The clarity of these basses seems pretty exhilarating! Would love to know where in LA i can try out some ZON basses. Some say the guitar centre is the place to go. More importantly, research-wise, would love to know the model of ZON Billy Gould uses. May then have to forgo the sansamp, and get a t-raxx, then get a peavey rig with worn speakers...!!! HA HA!! But then I would have to borrow Billy's FINGERS as well......
All kidding aside, thanks in advance to anyone who can reply to my thread.
from G-funk, here in little ol' New Zealand........[/B][/B]
 
#2
Billy's Zon is a Sonus with PJ pickups, althougthe the P is in a standard soapbar casing. I'm with you in that it's one of the best bass tones ever.

It's funny, looking back to my metal youth, some of my favourite recorded bass tones were all Zons! These being Billy's on King For A Day, Against and Roots by Sepultura, and Machine Head's The More Things Change. If you haven't heard these, check them out, particularly Against. It's so deep it's ridiculous.
 
#3
hey thanks heaps for your reply! Love your name by the way! Thats awesome info. I agree. I guess its that part of my metal youth that inspires me to buy an instrument I couldnt really afford back in the day. I can probably only JUST afford one now. They are pretty pricey. $4K in US dollars. Thats round $6K in NZ dollars, but if I keep my two nights a week gigs, and play my gorgeous ZON for the next 5 years, then thats a mere $11.77 investment per gig. NOT BAD AT ALL!! maybe they mortgage can give me a little loaner. The wife says "If thats what you really want, you should just get it" I knew there was a reason I married her!
Cant wait until September when I come to LA and try out these fine instruments!
SO, where did you get that info from? I couldnt find it anywherre on the net...
Thanks heaps for your reply.
 
#5
G_FUNK Music said:
SO, where did you get that info from? I couldnt find it anywherre on the net...
Thanks heaps for your reply.
Click to expand...

I remember it from interviews with Billy in various bass magazines from years back... It's difficult to find any information on it though now, or even find a decent picture! I saw FNM at Download festival last year and his bass tone was something else! :bassist:

There's some good footage on Youtube from the concert if you can look for it. Interestingly, although he still uses Peavey, it's a very different setup to what he used in the 90s, but the tone is still that aggressive, dirty growl we all love.:bassist:
 
#8
Hey, thanks for all your replies. Since starting this thread, I walked into a music store, thought I'd try a G&L L2500 since I was after a 5'er, and our guitar player uses G&L and rates it highly for a number of reasons.
And What a TONE it had! A lot of research later, and some bucks from gigs, and since it is actually HERE, in New Zealand, I just went for it. Don't get me wrong, in that this bass was a compromise, I still lust after a ZON. But since the G&L has it's got it's own thing goin on...
It was not cheap, (USA model/cost of shipping over here/what it is...)and after reading the above post by agreatheight, its a bummer a ZON can be found in that price bracket.
Since I am coming to LA in OCT, I'm gonna try and use the time between now and then to find one 2nd hand. BLACK preferably, but a BG4 in a 5 string version. Does ZON make one? Would that be a BG5??!! Time for more research!!!!!
 

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