Zon basses - is everything OK ?

[dhagopian]

All I’m saying is catching up on back log seems like a good idea.

 

[Matt-J2]

All I’m saying is catching up on back log seems like a good idea.

Yes, it probably is.

The part @Rumblefisher is likely concerned about is the link back to this very thread.

If they haven't seen it already, then folks at Zon will be able to see it now. They might put together Rumblefishers real identity, and depending on how far in their feelings they get over a thread like this existing, they may not include RFs bass in said backlog.

Maybe they'll see it and be spurred to action and knock it out right away.

I surely do not know, but I understand why RF would be a bit concerned.

 

[Fuzzbass]

If they haven't seen it already, then folks at Zon will be able to see it now.

Joe Zon himself responded in page 1 of this thread. But that was awhile ago; he may have forgotten that it existed, or simply not realized it was still so active.

I know how some builders behave in these situations (e.g. blame the customer), but my gut tells me that Joe Zon would not be that way. To the contrary, I would hope that JZ's motivation would be to address RF and the others here first.

 

[WG Plum]

Always hard to say. I know a long time Zon user, since moved to Atlanta from here in Seattle, who Zon pissed off so much he may have actually sold off all of his basses and switched brands. Last I saw of him he was still using his NS Omni but was otherwise playing a vintage Fender double P, a Bass VI, and other non-Zon instruments. It was a real surprise.

I get that you can't make everyone happy, and different folks react differently to adverse situations, of course.

 

[Matt-J2]

Joe Zon himself responded in page 1 of this thread. But that was awhile ago; he may have forgotten that it existed, or simply not realized it was still so active.

I know how some builders behave in these situations (e.g. blame the customer), but my gut tells me that Joe Zon would not be that way. To the contrary, I would hope that JZ's motivation would be to address RF and the others here first.

I thought they might have, but I wasn't sure. It's a lot of pages!

 

[Angus]

it wasn’t put together yet. Basically, I said hey since it’s still just parts can I just get a different neck? They said yes, but it’ll take longer. I said ok…eventually I just said you know what…use what ya got and let’s get it done. They said cool. That’s the gist of it really as far as spec change went.

Scale length isn't just a difference of a different neck, though. Bridge position, pick-up position and neck carve-out are different. They use different body jigs for different scale lengths, so it's not minor. Just FYI. And I'm saying that knowing I'm still the person with the longest wait by far.

 

[Rumblefisher]

Absolutely correct. They were willing to make a new body which would’ve added to the wait, but all parties understood that. Added to my decision just to say stick with what ya got

 

[Rumblefisher]

Spoke with Joe Zon today…should be done next month

 

[Rumblefisher]

He was very in favor of his pickup and preamp combo. Tbh I’m excited about the pickups…we are doing a couple of the ultra wide aperture pups featured in the Manring Hyperbass. If they are expressive enough to capture Michael Manring’s playing, then a guy like me will never even approach testing their limits. I know nothing about the pre, but if I hate it I can change it to a Glock 2 band. I doubt I’ll hate it.

 

[dhagopian]

He was very in favor of his pickup and preamp combo. Tbh I’m excited about the pickups…we are doing a couple of the ultra wide aperture pups featured in the Manring Hyperbass. If they are expressive enough to capture Michael Manring’s playing, then a guy like me will never even approach testing their limits. I know nothing about the pre, but if I hate it I can change it to a Glock 2 band. I doubt I’ll hate it.

What pickups/pre are they? Maybe I missed it in an earlier post.

 

[Rumblefisher]

What pickups/pre are they? Maybe I missed it in an earlier post.

The pickups are specific to Zon from Bartolini. All they say are “ultra wide aperture dual coils.” The pre is a Bartolini ZB5 which is Zon Bass 5 knob as far as I can tell. Volume, balance, bass mid treble. No values on it anywhere, only that Joe said he optimized it with Bill Bartolini for zon specific pickups many years ago.

 

[Thir13teen]

Joe Zon himself responded in page 1 of this thread. But that was awhile ago; he may have forgotten that it existed, or simply not realized it was still so active.

I know how some builders behave in these situations (e.g. blame the customer), but my gut tells me that Joe Zon would not be that way. To the contrary, I would hope that JZ's motivation would be to address RF and the others here first.

I concur. I'm definitely not a believer in that Joe Zon would be spiteful or get upset. As I said before, the guy has bent over backwards for me more then once. I never met him in person but in all of my phone conversations with him he was absolutely a real gent & I think you can get a sense of that if you see any interviews with him on YT.

 

[Thir13teen]

Spoke with Joe Zon today…should be done next month

Terrific news! Make sure to post a pic when you are able.

 

[Rumblefisher]

Terrific news! Make sure to post a pic when you are able.

I absolutely will. He was nice yesterday for sure (never hasn’t been) and gave me options regarding the pre…he said we would talk before he routes…the default is the ZB5 but we can do whichever one…since I’m going with hyper bass pickups I’m inclined to go with the hyper bass pre…anybody with info on these have any thoughts? Yes, I’ve read every Bart vs Polyfusion thread ever

 

[Thir13teen]

I absolutely will. He was nice yesterday for sure (never hasn’t been) and gave me options regarding the pre…he said we would talk before he routes…the default is the ZB5 but we can do whichever one…since I’m going with hyper bass pickups I’m inclined to go with the hyper bass pre…anybody with info on these have any thoughts? Yes, I’ve read every Bart vs Polyfusion thread ever

I'm excited for you, that's terrific. If I could have another Zon I'd pick either a Sonus 4/1 or the Billy Gould model. Also, I wish I had receipts to see what I paid for my two instruments back in 1995 & 1997. Somehow I winged it as a young guy at 23 & 25 yrs old but now I'm 52 w/ two teenagers/single dad & there's no way I could afford a new one (or used for that matter). What is interested though is if you look on the website the street price for the BG model is like $3000 - some odd dollars which seems low compared to the others.

 

[31HZ]

I absolutely will. He was nice yesterday for sure (never hasn’t been) and gave me options regarding the pre…he said we would talk before he routes…the default is the ZB5 but we can do whichever one…since I’m going with hyper bass pickups I’m inclined to go with the hyper bass pre…anybody with info on these have any thoughts? Yes, I’ve read every Bart vs Polyfusion thread ever

Well, make sure you thank Joe for being the perfect gentleman during your SEVEN YEAR WAIT, oh sorry don't want to draw attention to the fact that he still has my bass, musn't misbehave if I want my instrument someday!

EDIT: to be clear, this is not in any way, shape or form a rip on Rumblefisher, for whom I am rooting to receive his bass and have it exceed his expectations.

 

[MARVIN MECKLER]

My favorite Zon from the 80's...

Ron Royce of Coroner with his Kahler-equipped Scepter:

 

[sullen-moon]

He was very in favor of his pickup and preamp combo. Tbh I’m excited about the pickups…we are doing a couple of the ultra wide aperture pups featured in the Manring Hyperbass. If they are expressive enough to capture Michael Manring’s playing, then a guy like me will never even approach testing their limits. I know nothing about the pre, but if I hate it I can change it to a Glock 2 band. I doubt I’ll hate it.

Awesome! Very cool pickup choice, can’t wait to hear it!

 

[MARVIN MECKLER]

My favorite Zon from the 80's...

Ron Royce of Coroner with his Kahler-equipped Scepter.

I just realized something.

Back in 1987, I was trying to decide between a Spector, a Carvin LB-70 with a factory Kahler, a Peavey DynaBass with a factory Kahler, or a Zon Scepter with a factory Kahler; the Scepter for the sole reason I learned of its existence from Coroner's "Masked Jackal" video on Headbanger's Ball.

I ultimately went with a Spector.

I'm glad I did.

If I would have gone with the Zon, I'd apparently still be waiting to get it.

 

[Thir13teen]

I just realized something.

Back in 1987, I was trying to decide between a Spector, a Carvin LB-70 with a factory Kahler, a Peavey DynaBass with a factory Kahler, or a Zon Scepter with a factory Kahler; the Scepter for the sole reason I learned of its existence from Coroner's "Masked Jackal" video on Headbanger's Ball.

I ultimately went with a Spector.

I'm glad I did.

If I would have gone with the Zon, I'd apparently still be waiting to get it.

Probably not though. Like I said earlier, all the "bass only" stores in the 90s had Zon's on hand where you could just walk in & pick from several on the wall & buy it. And one of them I mail ordered from "Bass World" in KY. So back there weren't really any issues finding one. Bass Northwest in Seattle always had them and that's where I went to go buy my Sonus Special IV.