Zon basses - is everything OK ?

[Eilif]

4 years wait compensated for by scale change. Then a $1000 upcharge sprung on you after the neck and body are made?
Ugh.
I'd nail this down now if I were you, otherwise you know exactly what will be the result after he's "mulled it over". Does he know there's a sticky on TB about him?

This whole thing is a shame. I still remember the Zon we had at GC when I was working there 16 years ago. It was a real beauty and held up as a top flight aspirational instrument.

 

[gwangi]

I remember in the early 90's there was a music store in Lakewood, Colorado called Rockley Music and they carried Zon Legacy Elite's & also Zon Sonus models, they also carried Ken Smith, Alembic, Pedulla, Modulus, heck that store carried everything but that was before Guitar Center wipe out the mom & pop music stores out.

 

[Rumblefisher]

4 years wait compensated for by scale change. Then a $1000 upcharge sprung on you after the neck and body are made?
Ugh.
I'd nail this down now if I were you, otherwise you know exactly what will be the result after he's "mulled it over". Does he know there's a sticky on TB about him?

This whole thing is a shame. I still remember the Zon we had at GC when I was working there 16 years ago. It was a real beauty and held up as a top flight aspirational instrument.

I don't think he knows there's a thread...I didn't really mean to start it in bad spirit, just out of genuine concern when I hadn't heard from him in a while.

I took your advice and sent him an email just now. I hope I don't peeve him, the last thing I want is him to begrudgingly finish this build. I just kinda asked if he would forgive the cost of materials because of the 4 year wait...and because I paid in full up front and didn't say anything during the 4 year wait.

 

[bobdabilder]

Let him get peeved. The wait is out of hand.

 

[bigsnack]

I don't think he knows there's a thread...I didn't really mean to start it in bad spirit, just out of genuine concern when I hadn't heard from him in a while.

I took your advice and sent him an email just now. I hope I don't peeve him, the last thing I want is him to begrudgingly finish this build. I just kinda asked if he would forgive the cost of materials because of the 4 year wait...and because I paid in full up front and didn't say anything during the 4 year wait.

I hear you man, I'm in the same boat. That being said, being nice, polite, friendly, patient, etc. doesn't seem to be getting you any closer to a completed bass. It certainly hasn't worked for me either FWIW!

 

[Lackey]

Whatever 34" scale bass he started - he can finish it and sell for a profit.

After a year, a thousand bucks is OK.

After 4.5, it's not.

 

[Rabidhamster]

I actually spoke to Mr Zon this afternoon. I had been previously speaking with Martin, who I believe is the front office manager. Martin had mentioned that switching to a 32 would be fine and we would count that as a compensation for the wait.

Mr Zon was very nice, we got down to brass tacks...the body and neck are done and made. He's willing to pivot to a 32, and was nice about going through the details of it. The only catch for me is that he (understandably) would like to be compensated for the materials on the previous build, something in the order of a $1000.

Well, I balked at that, especially after my conversation with Martin. I don't really want to take a 30% hit on the cost of the bass. I asked if he would consider reducing that cost and he said he'll mull on it and we can settle it later. I'll ask him, since I'm providing pickups as well, maybe we can reduce the cost to something like 350 or 400? (essentially take a few hundred bucks off for the wait and a couple hundred for supplying my own pickups). I'm a little disappointed in myself that I didn't stick up for myself a bit more...but then again I'm also asking for a brand new bass really, and I feel guilty about that.

I dunno...again, Mr Zon was very cordial and I really have to say I'm not one for 34" scale anymore...I'd really just try to turn around and sell it and buy a 32". I'd eat the hit if it was a couple hundred bucks, I'm just bummed that I'd have to add $1000 to the build I really can't spare (because I just blew a bundle on a couple sets of LP pickups).

That seems strange and confusing, changing to a 32” scale “will count as compensation” but only if you pay for it?
Was the original neck somehow custom compared to other necks? I don’t see how he’s losing anything putting that neck on one of the other basses that’s waiting instead.

 

[Rumblefisher]

Whatever 34" scale bass he started - he can finish it and sell for a profit.

After a year, a thousand bucks is OK.

After 4.5, it's not.

I think so too the more I think about it.

That seems strange and confusing, changing to a 32” scale “will count as compensation” but only if you pay for it?
Was the original neck somehow custom compared to other necks? I don’t see how he’s losing anything putting that neck on one of the other basses that’s waiting instead.

Yeah I wrote that in the message as well...hopefully he ends up seeing it that way as well. Its not a custom neck, but it is a set neck (the less available option). Still, set neck vinnys are not custom, just not the more widely available bolt on.

 

[charlie monroe]

Joe Zon needs to get on here and make some kind of statement on what is exactly going on with his company

He has posted in this thread. 2 years ago, mind you.

 

[Rabidhamster]

I think so too the more I think about it.



Yeah I wrote that in the message as well...hopefully he ends up seeing it that way as well. Its not a custom neck, but it is a set neck (the less available option). Still, set neck vinnys are not custom, just not the more widely available bolt on.

Yeah if I caved to an extra $1000 I’d better get both necks, but in your place I wouldn’t be willing to send more money under any circumstance.
Did the sales contract include any “outs” for not meeting the original terms? Unless it spells out in the sales contract Zon gets to work on your bass indefinitely then legally I expect you are entitled to demand a refund at this point, but I almost doubt there would be available funds to pay you back. Plus after all this time I imagine you’d want to finally receive what you’ve been waiting for.

Hopefully it all works out for the best and you get exactly what you want!

 

[Rumblefisher]

I don't think there's any outs. I really just want the bass...if it had been delivered within the initial timeframe then this wouldn't be an issue...but a lot can happen in 4 years, and my playing changed to prefer 32 scale. I brought up if they want to complete the original order that's OK, but martin said it would be fine without mention of 1000 charge. I was just taken by surprise when Mr Zon brought it up.

 

[gwangi]

He has posted in this thread. 2 years ago, mind you.

Yes that was 2 years ago, what about right now!!!!

 

[bass12]

I don't think there's any outs. I really just want the bass...if it had been delivered within the initial timeframe then this wouldn't be an issue...but a lot can happen in 4 years, and my playing changed to prefer 32 scale. I brought up if they want to complete the original order that's OK, but martin said it would be fine without mention of 1000 charge. I was just taken by surprise when Mr Zon brought it up.

For what it’s worth, I had a very well-known luthier build two new necks for me (for two separate basses) and charge me nothing - he just kept the original necks. Will the body of the bass you ordered still be used on your bass? Because if so then the idea of Zon charging you for a neck that you will not be receiving is a little bit much. The whole four-plus year wait is ludicrous and Zon should be embarrassed and willing to bend over backwards for you at this point.

 

[Rumblefisher]

For what it’s worth, I had a very well-known luthier build two new necks for me (for two separate basses) and charge me nothing - he just kept the original necks. Will the body of the bass you ordered still be used on your bass? Because if so then the idea of Zon charging you for a neck that you will not be receiving is a little bit much. The whole four-plus year wait is ludicrous and Zon should be embarrassed and willing to bend over backwards for you at this point.

No, body needs to change a little (downsized). But then again he can also just make and sell the regular size body and neck separately. Or I can chip in 100 bucks for cost of a body blank.

Either way, I can't imagine a shortage of buyers and given the usual wait for a zon I would imagine he would have a line of people willing to buy a zon vinny 34" scale. Far more so than he probably would have 32" scale customers.

 

[Lownote38]

How do you know Zon has even started the original bass ordered? Unless you have progress pictures, I wouldn't believe it exists at all!

 

[bigsnack]

How do you know Zon has even started the original bass ordered? Unless you have progress pictures, I wouldn't believe it exists at all!

I have to agree with this statement. There’s been lip service on a few orders in this thread already, who knows how far that rabbit hole goes. I’m really glad this is getting visibility, maybe it will feed back to those guys and get them to round a corner with this stuff!

 

[kesslari]

Sounds like Martin and Joe did not communicate. Thhat shou

Yes that was 2 years ago, what about right now!!!!

A lot of luthiers (and other people) don't spend time on the internet. It's not where their attention goes. Demanding (on forum) that they do so is like yelling for your kid to come into the living room while they're away at physical school (remember those days? coming soon again I hope) - they just aren't there to hear you.
IMO this issue (and thread) won't be resolved by Joe posting here but by @mrgittleman @Rumblefisher and whomever else is on the multi-year waiting-and-avoidance plan getting their instruments.

 

[jfh2424]

I agree that it won’t be resolved by posting here.

However, I doubt that any bassists reading this thread will order a bass from Zon.

And if they do, at least they will know what they are getting into.

 

[gwangi]

Sounds like Martin and Joe did not communicate. Thhat shou

A lot of luthiers (and other people) don't spend time on the internet. It's not where their attention goes. Demanding (on forum) that they do so is like yelling for your kid to come into the living room while they're away at physical school (remember those days? coming soon again I hope) - they just aren't there to hear you.
IMO this issue (and thread) won't be resolved by Joe posting here but by @mrgittleman @Rumblefisher and whomever else is on the multi-year waiting-and-avoidance plan getting their instruments.

I guess I can understand where you're coming from but at the same time these folks want answer's, obviously these folks can't get there deposit back which to me is so strange considering somebody is waiting 12 years and still waiting and they are not getting any concrete reason why it's taking so long and they can't get there deposit back!!!!
Maybe the Covid situation screwed everything up and causing a domino effect on all the luthier's.
I can only imagine somebody that ordered a instrument 4 1/2 to 12 years ago and getting there price quote then and now prices on everything completely soared out the roof and there instrument still isn't made yet and does that mean the customer that already has been waiting for there Zon is going to have to pay a higher price that the builder needs to charge to cover today's cost on materials?
Zon Guitars I remember back in the 90's and early 2000's seemed like a well run organized business, when I finally got around ordering my first Zon in 2013 I received it roughly 9 months later, my 2nd Zon I ordered in Oct. 2018 and received that in July 2020.
I love both of my Zon's but if I could afford to buy another Zon I would be very nervous to order just because of the situation with what is going on with Zon.

 

[JuanB]

I will say that I probably would not have put a deposit down on a build if I ran across this thread first. I'm hoping for the best for all of you that have been waiting a long time.