Zon basses - is everything OK ?

[Jeff Scott]

not to be a buttinsky, but I do have my own Zon story which I feel is relevant.
more years ago than I care to admit I snagged a pass to NAMM. even though I was a teenager, when it came to bass, I knew my "stuff" (I really hate these profanity filters. just ruins the story).

Try using this -

I suppose they think you're "lucky" to be dealing with them at all.
their shaging luck.

Shagging.

Hope this helps.

 

[Jefus]

not to be a buttinsky, but I do have my own Zon story which I feel is relevant.
more years ago than I care to admit I snagged a pass to NAMM. even though I was a teenager, when it came to bass, I knew my "stuff" (I really hate these profanity filters. just ruins the story).
the overwhelming majority of vendors were happy to talk to me - sometimes even amused - but in general they were friendly, warm, and accommodating, even if they didn't respect me. Jens Ritter even let me play one of his basses that (may or may not have been sold) when I got all gushy romantic. we had a good laugh. Pedulla and Fodera were an absolute joy to talk to, and very informative.
Zon, however...
I was fascinated with their product. I profess that I'd never played one of their instruments before, which is why I was hoping to talk to basically anybody there. I was playing a lined fretless, but I just couldn't get it to work (it turned out it was just out of tune and I was relying on the lines too much). I asked my buddy to BASSically (HA!) go ask for help, and the Zon guys literally just looked over their shoulders and said "yeah, sure".
then they laughed. literally laughed at someone who was scouting out basses for our shop. but more importantly, just laughed at another human being just doing its best. it was made abundantly clear I wasn't worth their time.
so I put the bass back on the rack, gave them a silent "F-you" in my brain, and never turned back. we went to lunch and paid like $18 for a chicken salad sandwich.
NAMM sucks. but so does Zon dealing with potential customers. they're Zon, and I suppose they think you're "lucky" to be dealing with them at all.
their shaging luck.

No, not being a buttinsky.

Is amazing how much one if those little interactions can shape an opinion of a company. I get it. If that had been my initial impression is feel the same way.

My story starts similar to yours. I was probably 16 or 17 and my dad and I had the local music shop (I grew up in Albuquerque) get us in to NAMM. I won't even begin to say I was a prodigy or a virtuoso, but I was proficient at the instrument. I wanted a 6-string so we were cruising the booths checking them out.

I think I was too young, inexperienced, or both to appreciate the subtleties of a well-crafted instrument. But I knew what tone I wanted and the Zons weren't it (read *any* of my previous posts about Bartolinis and that was probably it). But, Joe Zon was so nice to me and my dad today it left an impression on both of us. This was probably 1995 I think. When I told my dad I ordered a Zon his face lit right up. Of all the things we experienced that weekend, that was one of the things that left the biggest impression on him. He's psyched about it and has been telling all of his friends about that.

So, @Apolicious , I totally understand where you are coming from. I just had the opposite experience, and it's part of why I was willing to order a new Zon, even with some of the red flags. Joe was just as nice to me at his shop when I made my deposit as he was to me when I was a kid at NAMM with his dad.

 

[RodRy]

No, not being a buttinsky.

Is amazing how much one if those little interactions can shape an o Ypinion of a company. I get it. If that had been my initial impression is feel the same way.

My story starts similar to yours. I was probably 16 or 17 and my dad and I had the local music shop (I grew up in Albuquerque) get us in to NAMM. I won't even begin to say I was a prodigy or a virtuoso, but I was proficient at the instrument. I wanted a 6-string so we were cruising the booths checking them out.

I think I was too young, inexperienced, or both to appreciate the subtleties of a well-crafted instrument. But I knew what tone I wanted and the Zons weren't it (read *any* of my previous posts about Bartolinis and that was probably it). But, Joe Zon was so nice to me and my dad today it left an impression on both of us. This was probably 1995 I think. When I told my dad I ordered a Zon his face lit right up. Of all the things we experienced that weekend, that was one of the things that left the biggest impression on him. He's psyched about it and has been telling all of his friends about that.

So, @Apolicious , I totally understand where you are coming from. I just had the opposite experience, and it's part of why I was willing to order a new Zon, even with some of the red flags. Joe was just as nice to me at his shop when I made my deposit as he was to me when I was a kid at NAMM with his dad.

As we see, luthiers are people. Sometimes they can be super nice, sometimes they can be jerks. Your mileage may vary.

 

[JuanB]

No, not being a buttinsky.

Is amazing how much one if those little interactions can shape an opinion of a company. I get it. If that had been my initial impression is feel the same way.

My story starts similar to yours. I was probably 16 or 17 and my dad and I had the local music shop (I grew up in Albuquerque) get us in to NAMM. I won't even begin to say I was a prodigy or a virtuoso, but I was proficient at the instrument. I wanted a 6-string so we were cruising the booths checking them out.

I think I was too young, inexperienced, or both to appreciate the subtleties of a well-crafted instrument. But I knew what tone I wanted and the Zons weren't it (read *any* of my previous posts about Bartolinis and that was probably it). But, Joe Zon was so nice to me and my dad today it left an impression on both of us. This was probably 1995 I think. When I told my dad I ordered a Zon his face lit right up. Of all the things we experienced that weekend, that was one of the things that left the biggest impression on him. He's psyched about it and has been telling all of his friends about that.

So, @Apolicious , I totally understand where you are coming from. I just had the opposite experience, and it's part of why I was willing to order a new Zon, even with some of the red flags. Joe was just as nice to me at his shop when I made my deposit as he was to me when I was a kid at NAMM with his dad.

LOL, never heard "buttinsky" before. I like it.

Most teens do not have enough money to buy a boutique bass so maybe they wrote @Apolicious off if an accompanying adult wasn't present at the time.

In your case, @Jefus, could have been because your father was present. Other than the delays and excuses, my interactions with the shop have always been positive.

I was recently informed that my bass should be completed within the next couple of months.

 

[Obese Chess]

True, though going to Jefus and RodRy's points, Jens Ritter was also happy to humor me when I was a teenager who stumbled into Rudy's Music Shop one day when he was in town, and I still want one of his basses!

We are all human. I think.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...Jens Ritter was also happy to humor me......

See Jens in the background?

I don't recall if he was in the process of writing up the invoice...

 

[JuanB]

Has anyone heard anything from the shop?

 

[gwangi]

Has anyone heard anything from the shop?

+1 to that!!!!

 

[bigsnack]

+1 to that!!!!

I reached out on Sunday evening because I was told in the last email that my bass would be finished by the end of the month. So far, zippo but you never know.

 

[bobdabilder]

I hope it is.

I reached out on Sunday evening because I was told in the last email that my bass would be finished by the end of the month. So far, zippo but you never know.

 

[JuanB]

I reached out on Sunday evening because I was told in the last email that my bass would be finished by the end of the month. So far, zippo but you never know.

I wish you luck, bigsnack.

 

[JuanB]

@Rumblefisher, @mrgittleman, @31HZ, any updates from the shop?

 

[mrgittleman]

Thanks for checking in. Called emailed 6 times in October no response. Last time I received communication was early September. Concerned and conflicted about what to do next as Joe will not refund my deposit or make any attempt to send me a pic of any work that has been done so far. Would any of you out there waited as long as I have?

 

[who]

Is there any confirmed output from Zon at all in say, the past year?

 

[JuanB]

Thanks for checking in. Called emailed 6 times in October no response. Last time I received communication was early September. Concerned and conflicted about what to do next as Joe will not refund my deposit or make any attempt to send me a pic of any work that has been done so far. Would any of you out there waited as long as I have?

No, I would not have waited that long. Quite frankly, I'd be furious at the lies. I haven't waited nearly as long as you and I'm starting to get a bit frustrated. I was told my bass would be complete earlier this year and they keep pushing back the completion date. If they communicated better and gave more realistic delivery dates, I would be OK. I may pay them a visit if I don't hear from them in a couple of weeks. If you want, I will ask them about your build as well.

 

[bobdabilder]

I would not have waited this long.

Thanks for checking in. Called emailed 6 times in October no response. Last time I received communication was early September. Concerned and conflicted about what to do next as Joe will not refund my deposit or make any attempt to send me a pic of any work that has been done so far. Would any of you out there waited as long as I have?

 

[tleebassist11]

These people all seem so calm, I would def be hounding this dude incessantly

 

[mrgittleman]

No, I would not have waited that long. Quite frankly, I'd be furious at the lies. I haven't waited nearly as long as you and I'm starting to get a bit frustrated. I was told my bass would be complete earlier this year and they keep pushing back the completion date. If they communicated better and gave more realistic delivery dates, I would be OK. I may pay them a visit if I don't hear from them in a couple of weeks. If you want, I will ask them about your build as well.

Thanks for the support. Pretty much didn’t have any choice in the matter. And if you decide to go to the shop please let me know I would really appreciate having actual boots on the ground to determine order status.

 

[mrgittleman]

These people all seem so calm, I would def be hounding this dude incessantly

I have tried that it didn’t work. I’ve tried being super nice and that didn’t work. All there is to do is wait.

 

[JuanB]

Thanks for the support. Pretty much didn’t have any choice in the matter. And if you decide to go to the shop please let me know I would really appreciate having actual boots on the ground to determine order status.

I will let you know. I can only imagine how you must feel. I hope you get your bass soon and I hope this experience doesn't limit your enjoyment of it.