Zon basses - is everything OK ?

[gwangi]

I knew it.

That's why I got my three built in '97, '98, and '99. You don't want to know what they cost back then, either.

When I first started playing bass in 1980 I remember the price for a brand new Alembic Series 1 & 2 were roughly around $2500.00, I still kick my self in the A$$ for not buying one.

 

[Rumblefisher]

I remember back in the early 90's all these builders like Ken Smith, Zon, Modulus, Pedulla, Alembic, Fodera, Wal the wait times for a build where never this insanely long, I guess the internet has something to do with this!!!!

I’m 4 years into the wal wait…at this point it’s whoever gets back to me first lol

edit: correction, 3 years

 

[JuanB]

I’m 4 years into the wal wait…at this point it’s whoever gets back to me first lol

You placed an order for one?

 

[Rumblefisher]

You placed an order for one?

no I joined the wait list!
I’m still on it as of last year…and correction my initial contact was 3 years ago, I just checked

 

[gwangi]

no I joined the wait list!
I’m still on it as of last year…and correction my initial contact was 3 years ago, I just checked

I got on the Wal list back in I think Sept. of 2021 and still haven't heard back from Wal when I'm going to be able to put a deposit down, the sad thing is when I think about it why even bother, I'll be 62 this year and once Wal does get a hold of me to put a deposit down the deposit does not lock in the actual price of the instrument once it's finished, it will be roughly another 4 years later after you put the deposit down til you get a finished instrument and as I see it now it's still going to be another maybe year & 1/2 till Wal gets a hold of me to put a deposit down and then waiting another 4 years to get a finished bass, I'll be roughly 67 years old and the final price of the finished Wal will be I'm guessing roughly close to $15000.00 or more.

 

[Rumblefisher]

I got on the Wal list back in I think Sept. of 2021 and still haven't heard back from Wal when I'm going to be able to put a deposit down, the sad thing is when I think about it why even bother, I'll be 62 this year and once Wal does get a hold of me to put a deposit down the deposit does not lock in the actual price of the instrument once it's finished, it will be roughly another 4 years later after you put the deposit down til you get a finished instrument and as I see it now it's still going to be another maybe year & 1/2 till Wal gets a hold of me to put a deposit down and then waiting another 4 years to get a finished bass, I'll be roughly 67 years old and the final price of the finished Wal will be I'm guessing roughly close to $15000.00 or more.

oof. As much as that’s a dream I’d be out at that point. I’m ok with whatever a super bare bones one would be now…I’m imagining high 4 figures (very high) but at 15 I couldn’t

 

[younggun]

There was a time when a lot of those makers just didn't really talk to the public quite so much.
I remember calling John Diggins in the 90s to ask about getting a 5-string JD Supernatural. He was willing to do it, but admitted he rarely dealt with the public - his backlog of instruments was primarily for professional players. Lovely guy, though.

Lots more people seem to feel the need to own a Smith, Gould/Modulus/Fodera now that they can see them online and drop the cash (or at least a deposit) so easily. It used to require more effort to get in touch with a builder and schedule a build. I'm sure the changes in wealth distribution over the past 25 years and the retiring matched-pension baby-boomers are helping that somewhat.

Did you ever get your 5 string JD? I had him build me a 5 string fretless in 2015...it took 2 years from the date of order till delivery. He had some delays due to an illness in 2016, but was very communicative and honest about it at the time. He was a master luthier and fine gentleman, and I feel lucky to have had him build me such a beautiful custom instrument...he'll be missed.

 

[frankie5string]

Did you ever get your 5 string JD? I had him build me a 5 string fretless in 2015...it took 2 years from the date of order till delivery. He had some delays due to an illness in 2016, but was very communicative and honest about it at the time. He was a master luthier and fine gentleman, and I feel lucky to have had him build me such a beautiful custom instrument...he'll be missed.

No, I didn't end up going through with one. I eventually ended up having a local luthier in Toronto build me something.
Glad to hear you got yours, though!

 

[Benko]

Lots more people seem to feel the need to own a Smith, Gould/Modulus/Fodera now that they can see them online and drop the cash (or at least a deposit) so easily. It used to require more effort to get in touch with a builder and schedule a build. I'm sure the changes in wealth distribution over the past 25 years and the retiring matched-pension baby-boomers are helping that somewhat.

I think it really is that, a whole generation who could not afford those dream basses and now, feeling we can see the end of those shop, just really want to have a nice piece.

 

[ModuMan]

I remember back in the early 90's all these builders like Ken Smith, Zon, Modulus, Pedulla, Alembic, Fodera, Wal the wait times for a build where never this insanely long, I guess the internet has something to do with this!!!!

Ah, the 90's. That was college for me and while I loved all those basses they were quite aspirational at the time. I knew guys with Modulus and Ken Smith so I got to try them but I was in no position to buy one!

But yeah, give me a time machine and I'd convince myself to do whatever it took to get one of those *then*.

I think it really is that, a whole generation who could not afford those dream basses and now, feeling we can see the end of those shop, just really want to have a nice piece.

Oh, 100%. But even for us "late bloomers" getting any of them even a few years ago is better than trying to get one now. The $4500 I paid for my (used) Wal ten years ago seems like an absolute bargain now.

That said, if I had a spot on the current Wal list I'd hold on to it. Sure, it's an insane amount of money but at least you can plan ahead! And you'll still be whatever age you will be then either way.

 

[Benko]

Ah, the 90's. That was college for me and while I loved all those basses they were quite aspirational at the time. I knew guys with Modulus and Ken Smith so I got to try them but I was in no position to buy one!

But yeah, give me a time machine and I'd convince myself to do whatever it took to get one of those *then*.

Well, no regret for me cause I'm happy to focus on "modern" Zon that has a truss rod.

Played in the end of the 90's, then restarted to be a bit more "serious" about playing only around...2017? Not even 10 years and 5 strings has only been for 3-4 years so now I feel i finally know what I really like (spoiler : love my ZONs)

 

[Jeff Scott]

Ah, the 90's. That was college for me and while I loved all those basses they were quite aspirational at the time.

I bought plenty of music gear in my college daze in the early '80s. Isn't that what student loans were for?

 

[ModuMan]

I bought plenty of music gear in my college daze in the early '80s. Isn't that what student loans were for?

I literally spent my meal allowance on a Hartke cab. I bought plenty of stuff then too but no Alembics!

I do still have my First New Bass, a '92 Music Man StingRay 5, so I made at least one good choice.

 

[ModuMan]

Well, no regret for me cause I'm happy to focus on "modern" Zon that has a truss rod.

Yeah, the no-truss necks can be hit or miss. My 1990 Legacy Elite has been fine. My 1992 Modulus M92-5 string was not and needed to be re-planed. Of course, both my 1998 Modulus Q6 and more recent Legacy Elite 519, which both have truss rods, haven't needed to be touched at all.

 

[gwangi]

I bought plenty of music gear in my college daze in the early '80s. Isn't that what student loans were for?

OH MY GOD!!!! If I only new that is what students loans were for (To buy musical equipment) I would have bought a Alembic Series 1 or 2, I used my student loan on Taco Bell!!!!

 

[golower]

My first composite neck was a Modulus Jazz. Really loved that bass. Ordered it in 2009 and it took two months longer than the quoted 12 months with no explanation or apology. That’s normal I guess even we would like to think differently. You are not ordering a custom Ford f150. Being adventurous I sold it to get a 5 strong Sonus without even trying a Zon. That Modulus was the one that got away, 2300$ Then they quit making em. When I went back and tried a Modulus Jazz after owning a Sonus 5 something was weird about the feel of the neck that I was now unaccustomed to and I thought ok guess Iam a Zon guy now? Just loved the Zon neck, tone and playability. I would still get a Modulus Jazz because I do like them. It was a cool bass and loved how it looked also. Sienna burst. Ive never tried Ghould but am interested in doing so. I played Stingray 5 for 10 years and really love the sound of those wonderful boat anchors. Low action is a must for my weird aging fingers. I might have to switch to pick style because finger style is killing my fingers. Not the end of the world since I play heavier genre but I prefer finger style. Composite necks are all about low action for me(mostly.) Most basses the neck isn’t seated properly and the action gets consistently higher towards the higher frets. My Sonus was the only bass that gave me consistently even low action across the entire neck. Thats just my experience. My Modulus had good action though not quite as good as my Sonus.

 

[Jeff Scott]

OH MY GOD!!!! If I only new that is what students loans were for (To buy musical equipment) I would have bought a Alembic Series 1 or 2, I used my student loan on Taco Bell!!!!

A sad waste of resources.

 

[gln1955]

A sad waste of resources.

Throwing money down the toilet.

 

[MCS4]

When I first started playing bass in 1980 I remember the price for a brand new Alembic Series 1 & 2 were roughly around $2500.00, I still kick my self in the A$$ for not buying one.

In fairness, $2,500 in 1980 dollars is equivalent to almost $10,000 today, so I'm not really sure it was a better deal back then. This is so hard to grasp though... I had the same thought about my Carvin that cost around $950 circa 2001 compared to the cost of Carvins/Kiesels today, before I looked it up and learned that equates to over $1,500-$1,600 today (only since 2001)!

 

[gwangi]

In fairness, $2,500 in 1980 dollars is equivalent to almost $10,000 today, so I'm not really sure it was a better deal back then. This is so hard to grasp though... I had the same thought about my Carvin that cost around $950 circa 2001 compared to the cost of Carvins/Kiesels today, before I looked it up and learned that equates to over $1,500-$1,600 today (only since 2001)!

Will considering I was 17 and didn't have to pay for a mortgage and at the time I was working at Denny's and between my weekly paycheck of roughly $92.00 and tips of up too $100.00 a week on top of that I would have been able to buy a Alembic within 3 to 4 months no problem. Alembics now for a Series 1 or 2 are between $30,000 & $40,000. I remember a Rickenbacker 4002 in 1980 pricing being $1500.00, realistically I don't think a 17 year old kid today with not much in bills could afford buying a Alembic Series 1 or 2 for how much they go for now.