• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Zon basses - is everything OK ?

According to my latest interaction with Joe, it doesn't matter what it is, as long as you want chrome hardware.

Is gold hardware now worth its weight in...uh?

Back when I was choosing hardware I had the option to mix and match, like a black bridge with gold saddles, guess he was into that at the time. Kinda wish I had given it a try but I was set on gold.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: RodRy
Is gold hardware now worth its weight in...uh?

Back when I was choosing hardware I had the option to mix and match, like a black bridge with gold saddles, guess he was into that at the time. Kinda wish I had given it a try but I was set on gold.
For the purple bass he's building for me right now I specified black hardware, but I think gold could look really good too. I'm even thinking "vintage copper" as one company calls it might be sweet. Anything but chrome. But when I reached out to him to let him know I had sent some hardware his way his response was, "Hope you ordered chrome because that is the only finish of bridge I have."

This is the weirdest response I've gotten from him yet.
 
For the purple bass he's building for me right now I specified black hardware, but I think gold could look really good too. I'm even thinking "vintage copper" as one company calls it might be sweet. Anything but chrome. But when I reached out to him to let him know I had sent some hardware his way his response was, "Hope you ordered chrome because that is the only finish of bridge I have."

This is the weirdest response I've gotten from him yet.
Sounds like he’s going to swap what you’ve sent to what he has in stock. :roflmao:
 
For the purple bass he's building for me right now I specified black hardware, but I think gold could look really good too. I'm even thinking "vintage copper" as one company calls it might be sweet. Anything but chrome. But when I reached out to him to let him know I had sent some hardware his way his response was, "Hope you ordered chrome because that is the only finish of bridge I have."

This is the weirdest response I've gotten from him yet.
How is anyone in any shape or form doing business with that guy. If you ordered and payed for black hardware he should put it in. I have read all the pages in this thread, but the consistent and ongoing unprofessionalism suprises me again and again.
 
I'm even thinking "vintage copper"...
GustavStickleyHammeredCopperTray1.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jefus and oddentity
Just thinking outside of the box here, but perhaps, due to the ever-present supply chain shortages, he can't get the black hardware?
By looking at the bridges on his 8-string basses, and assuming the comparitevely low percentage of his output that they make up, I'm assuming they're machined on an as-needed basis. Then you take it over to the coating place and have them anodize it. Seems simple enough.

3F9460AF-8716-42FD-9F86-889902718E28.jpeg
But his regular, single-course bridges do have a Zon logo on them, and this one doesn't. So if anyone recognizes this as being from another vendor, please let me know and I'll reach out to them directly to see if I can get a black one from them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RodRy
By looking at the bridges on his 8-string basses, and assuming the comparitevely low percentage of his output that they make up, I'm assuming they're machined on an as-needed basis. Then you take it over to the coating place and have them anodize it. Seems simple enough.

View attachment 4549356
But his regular, single-course bridges do have a Zon logo on them, and this one doesn't. So if anyone recognizes this as being from another vendor, please let me know and I'll reach out to them directly to see if I can get a black one from them.

I would bet very good money that this is an ABM bridge. It looks almost identical to the mk i 3706: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

there was a 3704 (4-string) and a 3705 (5-string) but I don't see a 3708, which would make sense for the eight string version. There was a 3208, which was the 8-string version of the 3204 (and 3205, 3206) but it looks different. I guess 3200 and 3700 are the series numbers? That would be very German of them.

Anyway, long story short, I'd reach out to ABM as they do have a custom/OEM shop and some Zon basses do use ABM hardware.
 
I'd bet almost no money it isn't (;)), if only because the 3208-C was ABM's 8-string offering and it's discontinued.

View attachment 4551240

Oooooooh ho ho ho! I'm trying to think of a suitably preposterous amount to "bet" without running afoul of any rules. :)

I'm just saying, it looks darn close to a first-gen ABM 3700 series, even though those didn't come in an eight string offering that I can find.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RodRy and BeeTL
I would bet very good money that this is an ABM bridge. It looks almost identical to the mk i 3706: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

there was a 3704 (4-string) and a 3705 (5-string) but I don't see a 3708, which would make sense for the eight string version. There was a 3208, which was the 8-string version of the 3204 (and 3205, 3206) but it looks different. I guess 3200 and 3700 are the series numbers? That would be very German of them.

Anyway, long story short, I'd reach out to ABM as they do have a custom/OEM shop and some Zon basses do use ABM hardware.
BEHOLD! THE ABM 3708!

ABM 3708.jpg


This is the only picture I can find of it. It's from an Italian parts distributor's archive page from before they got bought out by AllParts. Hard to tell, but that's a chrome bridge in a black and white photo.

Looks like a cool bridge, but that's not what's on the Zon!

BTW, Joe reached back out to me. My bass will have a black bridge. Sorry for bringing it up here before giving him time to resolve it. We've been talking often lately. Reading through this thread can really make a guy lose hope. And, again, I'm sorry for those that have had the unacceptably long wait times; that's not right, no matter how you look at it. However, that isn't my experience so far. My original delivery date has not yet passed, and while his communication certainly isn't instantaneous, I've always, eventually, gotten a reply.