• 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 free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Zon "lightwave" vs. Lightwave "Lightwave" basses

SanDiegoHarry

SanDiegoHarry

Inactive
Supporting Member
Aug 11, 2008
17,143
9,104
San Diego, CA
#1
A buddy of mine has a *great* Zon lightwave fretless that sounds... well, like nothing else. Almost like an upright... It has one sound, so it's rather limited - but that one sound is just fabulous...

Anyway, I've played it and I want it but I can't have it.

I know that the folks who made the electronics now make their own basses - - and they are a bit hard to find in stores.

Has anyone here handled a Lightwave bass, particularly a fretless? What did you think?
 
#4
I've played a number of Lightwave Sabres, and they all sounded pretty good.

But they all played terribly. Really, really poor construction, and you couldn't pay me to take one.

But I have no idea if the current models are to better standards or not. These were a few years back.
 
#5
BigOldHarry said:
Had you played the Zon lightwave fretless at all? If so, how might they compare?
Click to expand...


I have had the opportunity to play two Zon Lightwave basses. They sounded good but with a little more zing(and not in a bad way) than an actual LW bass. But you could tell where it's roots came from if you ever had the chance to play the Zon and the LW bass separately.





Angus said:
But they all played terribly. Really, really poor construction
Click to expand...

Well that hasn't been my experience



Harry play as many LW basses that you can and see how things turn out from there.
 
#6
Compared to the overall quality of workmanship that goes into a Zon, there is no comparison, the Zon's are in a completely different (better) class.

I have played Lightwaves fretted and fretless, and they are interesting, flexible and have good tones, but I would put the overall quality (workmanship, materials) in the area of an average MIM Squier, which isn't bad, but not even close to a Zon.

I have talked with guys that are in the instrument retailing biz and they said that there were some significant quality issues at the beginning that resulted in them deciding not to carry the line at their store(s). They also said that the quality is better now.

In short, the ones I played are of respectable quality, but the cost didn't justify them, they were all more than $1,000 but they felt like a $500-$600 ish instrument, and the additional cost seems to be solely for the pickup technology. It is not for materials of the instrument itself.

Just my take after playing them for an hour or so.
 
#7
I briefly owned an early Lightwave bass, and had a similar experience as Angus. I liked the tone but was not impressed by the construction. I've played a Zon lightwave and thought it was in another league, in a good way. I didn't find it to be a one-trick pony either.

I haven't played any of the more recent Lightwave basses.
 
#8
Okay, so where does one FIND a lightwave dealer?...

Ah, the internet... my friend...

Here in SD, there is one dealer... (Bass Alone) and up in smell LA there is the place that used to be Bass Center / LA Bass exchange (now called The Amp Shop).... And Westwood music... Alrighty then.

But I'd really just like to have a Zon lightwave -- but try finding one!
 
#9
Harry is talking about my bass - it is a special bass, and he's still bitter that he didn't buy it 12 hours before I put down my money :D

I played the LW basses a few years back at their headquarters. I agree with most of the above - nice bass but it isn't the Zon, either from a playability or fit/finish standpoint. But that is to be expected for the price.

The reality is that I have yet to see any wooden neck that plays as well as my Zon, let alone be as stable. I think the LW/fretless combination is an ideal match - I've never liked the LW system with a fretted neck.

As for one trick pony it certainly isn't a chameleon like my Sadowsky PJ, but you can get some variation by finger attack and dialing in the piezo. It is subtle though...thankfully the main tone of the bass is damn near perfect for what it is, and I've played everything from straightahead jazz to slap funk on the Zon fretless LW. Records like a dream...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#11
Angus said:
I've played a number of Lightwave Sabres, and they all sounded pretty good.

But they all played terribly. Really, really poor construction, and you couldn't pay me to take one.

But I have no idea if the current models are to better standards or not. These were a few years back.
Click to expand...
I played a couple of Sabres a month ago, and I was VERY impressed with fit, finish, and playability. Felt like a $2500 instrument.

They were fretted versions so they sounded very piano-like, but I suspect those light sensors really show up every change made.
 
#12
Maybe the new ones are different, as I've heard they've made a number of changes and took on a better known and certainly very good luthier (Garza), so hopefully that has changed.

But the ones I played were not fit for sale, let alone at the ridiculous price point. Hence why they would be for resale for $350-400 used and not sell.
 
#13
Angus said:
Maybe the new ones are different, as I've heard they've made a number of changes and took on a better known and certainly very good luthier (Garza), so hopefully that has changed.

But the ones I played were not fit for sale, let alone at the ridiculous price point. Hence why they would be for resale for $350-400 used and not sell.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I posted that not to argue--I have no reason to doubt your experience--but rather to say that evidently Lightwave has sorted out their construction and quality issues. These latest ones were impressive. The bass guy at this store is a playing pro with two USA Ken Smiths, and he's impressed with the current crop of Lightwaves.

Unfortunate that they had a rocky start.
 
#15
First, thanks for the compliments on the newer LightWave instruments. We are working continually to improve product quality; both the fit and finish of the instruments and of course the electronics. For the record, we did have some quality issues early on. We had a partner company that was in charge of the manufacture of the necks and bodies. They did a series of pilot production runs, and we were not pleased with the quality of any of them, so we parted ways. They were not supposed to sell the pilot production as per our agreement, but they did so anyway. Some went through dealers and many were sold on ebay. We have heard varying reports on them. Some were good, some bad, mostly mediocre. We do not know how many were sold but evidently they still change hands on the used market, and we have been involved on many occasions in providing upgrades wherever possible. After that experience we changed production significantly. We produce most of the electronics here in California, and we now do all of the final assembly and set up in house. We also recently started a USA Custom Shop, and most of the custom instruments are built by Mark Garza, with electronics added here at LightWave.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back