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Zon...please advise

Halftooth...You got that right. The thing is that it's the fingerboard and not the actual neck that might get this problem. So he to replace the fingerboard and fret, and level and all that good stuff. He would have many many happy customers if the word got around that he stood behind it.(after warranty) Or meet halfway at least. It would be a problem with the material NOT his workmanship. I mentioned once before how Dan Lakin replaced my neck....after warranty....because the neck would not maintain a setup. It would constantly change. I sent him the bass and yes the neck would move around as the temp and humidity changed within minutes. I had a bad piece of wood....it was replaced....I paid nothing....and the new neck was and is super stable. Plus I was and am still VERY happy. And very impressed. :hyper:
 
sethlow3 said:
So what was your issues and repair prices for your Zons Jonathan?

My fretted Sonus 5 arrived from an online secondhand purchase with limited booty. It was twangy but sounded great unplugged.

Joe told me the preamp on that bass was a special one installed for someone who wanted that type of tone.

He charged me for the cost of of a new preamp board, which was not a lot, and when I got it back the bass was big & warm.

The second one is my beautiful spalt top fretless Sonus 5

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which I also bought used. When it arrived, the action was higher than I like, and the bridge all the way down. I pulled the neck and added added two progressive cardstock shims (there was already one in the neck pocket). That brought it down nicely.

When I called Joe about it, he told me to send him the bass so he could shave the neck heel cause the shims could cause the loss of a bit of resonance. He said this would be free, since he wants his basses to be right.

I haven't gotten around to sending it to him, but I will soon. I also need him to reverse the wiring of the pickup blend (I prefer clockwise for neck pickup) and exchange the blend and mid knobs so that both my Sonii are consistent (drives me crazy when I take them both to a gig).

When you order a new Zon, you get to specify these issues, so there are Zons out there with different control layouts.

Aloha,

Jonathan
 
Hate to sound like a broken record here, but I just got my first Zon... almost by accident... knowing Zon's are "nice", but not much more than that. What an idiot I've been.

1.) Zon's are NOT sterile sounding AT ALL. I can not believe the tone I get out of this bass. This thing is nothing short of magical... almost "telepathic" in playability and soul. Don't take that lightly. I also own a great MTD 535 and a sweet Roscoe LG 3005, so I'm NOT easily impressed, and I've played MANY premium fretlesses looking for the one that "sings" the way I want it to.

2.) Zon's customer service is absolutely second to none, and their product quality is exemplary.

For good measure, here's my "new baby" (Sonus 5 Special with the upgraded preamp... otherwise standard ash/bubinga model)...

zon_s5s.jpg
 
adrian garcia said:
wow , Vic! THATS a nice one! I have one a lot like that one around here somewhere... heck, where did i put that thing? i can't find it right now.... ;)

Doood, you crack me up... :D

Yeah, I got it from Adrian at Access Bass. Highly recommended dealer, IMHO. Doesn't stock 100's of instruments, but great prices/service. Long story short: I shop there first (though this wasn't my first shopping trip there). :)
 
Sweet, sweet, sweet! I just love the top. It almost looks like walnut.

Yes sir you are right on all accounts about Zon. ;)
I've had some questions about my Custom 5 and emailed them for answers. They have been right on top of it. I'm comparing mine to an MTD, Sadowsky and Fodera and I'd say it's easily in that league.

I have a question...do the new Zon's come with Hipshot ultralight tuning machines or are they still using the Gotoh's?
 
Jerry J said:
Sweet, sweet, sweet! I just love the top. It almost looks like walnut.
Thanks, yeah, I have to say it's one of the best looking pieces of Bubinga I've seen.

I'm comparing mine to an MTD, Sadowsky and Fodera and I'd say it's easily in that league.
Ditto that, though I can't claim experience on Fodera. :)

I have a question...do the new Zon's come with Hipshot ultralight tuning machines or are they still using the Gotoh's?
Mine are Gotoh, but I have no complaints, they work really well. Smooth and not "too fast."
 
I really have no problem with the Gotoh's either. I was just looking for a way to lighten the headstock a bit.

The bass balances perfectly on my knee but it seems just a tad neck heavy with a strap. Not bad at all really just a tweak. It's about like the rest of my basses,as is, anyway. So maybe I'll save my money and not buy new tuning machines. ;)
 
I succumbed to the pressure and bought another one from AccessBass.

If you check their website, it's the fretted Sonus 5 with the flamed redwood top. All I have to say on that one is, wow.

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I thought this thread was long gone so I really appreciate all the feedback, etc. the pennies keep being saved on my end and it looks like I will be placing order in late October. I have decided to go with the flame redwood top...it looks killer! The folks at Zon have been very patient with me and the service has been second to none :D Anyother thoughts are always welcome and once again the feedback is great.
Keep the Funk Alive People......
 
vacman said:
I thought this thread was long gone
Well I think it pretty much was, except for my foolishness. The thing is, I'm obsessing about these dang Zons right now. I think I'm gonna' start a general purpose "post yer Zon pics/comments" thread and have folks submit. I'd really like to see others' stuff and hear their feedback.

vacman said:
looks like I will be placing order in late October. I have decided to go with the flame redwood top...it looks killer!
It's beautiful in a very elegant way. It's not the most highly figured top I've seen... including some redwood tops, but nevertheless it is still one of the most beautiful tops I've seen. You will love it. Period.

vacman said:
The folks at Zon...the service has been second to none :D
Hmmmm, where have I heard that before... ;)
 
Yea, I am thinking Zon with my SVT will be sonic nirvana....
I get a kick out of folks who say that a Zon has a "sterile" tone.... I found the tone near perfection to my ear.... I really like how dry the tone is...almost transparent in nature. I was all set on Roscoe but I ended up here.
 
vacman said:
Yea, I am thinking Zon with my SVT will be sonic nirvana....
I get a kick out of folks who say that a Zon has a "sterile" tone.... I found the tone near perfection to my ear.... I really like how dry the tone is...almost transparent in nature. I was all set on Roscoe but I ended up here.
Dude, this is hilarious...

First off, anybody who says a Zon is sterile is just parroting other posts by others who either never played one, or musta' had one plugged into a crap amp. I think you already know this. So what. More Zons for us. :)

Second, I get a kick out of your post because I ALSO have a Roscoe (LG-3005) and I don't think I could survive without that one, either. I LOVE my LG. It's just the Zons are newer so I'm really exploring them right now.

I have to ask. What Roscoe and from who?

I guess, as long as I'm being nosey, what Zon and from who?
 
Well i try to keep a long story short...whenever I am in Seattle I go to Bass NW to noddle and annoy the guys with silly questions etc. I plugged a five string Roscoe in and went hot dog here is my tone! So I was all set to order from Keith until I had a chance meeting with a very beatup Sonus at a local music store. I plugged it into an SVT-CL with and 8-10, whuch happens to be the rig I play through, and I knew I had found THE TONE... which is odd for me because my favorite ax right now is a P-bass! So go figure my ears are strange....anyway you are a lucky guy to own TWO Zons and I hope you get alot of enjoyment out of them. Now if only my guitar player would play a little more softly we could all here oursevles think.... :bassist:
 
vacman said:
BTW, I order direct. There are no dealers for Zon or Roscoe here in Oregon.
Ok, well if you've already got something worked out, that's cool, but Adrian deals both, and is the finest dealer I've ever worked with... bar none. If nothing else, for future reference...
(shameless plug)www.accessbass.com(/shameless plug)

P.S. He's got an INCREDIBLE and VERY RARE Rosco SKB-3005 up right now for an absolute STEAL! Thing is, there might be a deal pending, so if you like what you see, better move on it. It's a real opportunity for an incredible and usual Roscoe. Likely one of only two SKB's like it... EVER.
 
vacman said:
I am in Seattle I go to Bass NW
I totally envy you.

vacman said:
chance meeting with a very beatup Sonus
Funny. I just "lucked" into Zon myself.

vacman said:
found THE TONE... which is odd for me because my favorite ax right now is a P-bass!
I LOVE the classic P sound... especially with Ampeg, but this is odd, 'cause Zons, as incredible as they are, are more like a J.

vacman said:
lucky guy to own TWO Zons
Thanks. I really do feel lucky. Jake at Zon also told me he remembered the Redwood one I just recently got. When the shop "remembers" one, that's a good thing... lucky again... :)

Any chance you could email/post pics of the Zon you're after?

OH!! The other thing is, I know a guy with a GREAT deal on a Zon Sonus 5, too. I think it's a 2001 standard Sonus 5, and he only wants like $1200 for it! I can not believe it hasn't sold yet. I haven't played it or anything but it looks pretty darn clean...

Anyhow, sethlow3's got it...

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133223