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Zon Sonus Serial Number and similar stuff

V

VintageKid

Guest
Apr 25, 2013
4
0
Puerto Rico
#1
Greetings:
By sometime now I have this Zon Sonus. All I know is that it has a carbon fiber neck that feels awesome, also I change the bridge to a Babicz since the original one was way to damaged. It has Bartolini's pickps and on the inside a Aguilar OBP3 preamp running at 18V. Try to get some info of it. I already write to the Zon guys through their mail and facebook but so far I have not get or find any info on the woods that is made of or what year it is. SN is 9403214. Any info would be appreciated to get this curiosity out of my head. Thanks
 

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#3
VintageKid said:
I already write to the Zon guys through their mail and facebook but so far I have not get or find any info on the woods that is made of or what year it is. SN is 9403214. Any info would be appreciated to get this curiosity out of my head. Thanks
Click to expand...

I believe the SN starts with the year, so yours would be 1994. Looks like the body is solid flamed maple, which was an option instead of the standard ash on the standard Sonus. Looks like the original electronics have been replaced, too, since Zon didn't use Aguilar and the standard Sonus from that period would have been just two stacked knobs: a stacked volume/blend in the position where your front control is, and a stacked treble/bass control in the place where your stacked back control is. It might have been something that was done at Zon, but that's not the knob arrangement that they use on the current 3-band Sonus controls.
 
#5
mikeswals said:
It looks to have a laminate top under that gloss finish, so it's likely still an ash core.
Click to expand...

That's what I thought initially looking at the upper horn, but looking at the forearm contouring it looks like the flame maple goes all the way through, at least in the picture. So, to the OP, if it's flamed all the way through, then it's flamed maple, but if there's a separate flamed top and plain back, it's flamed maple on ash.
 
#6
Thank you guys for your time Zon through their messenger answer me. The body is ash with a flamed (curly) maple top. When I asked about the preamp it could have been changed or came with it since they can put on it whatever you wanted. I asked the guy from who I bought it and he told it has been like that ever since he grasped it on Florida! Currently it's my favorite bass!
 
#7
Hello. New user here. Just found this thread and maybe someone here could help me. I have a Zon Signature (?) bass The serial number is 810603 Stamped on the bottom of the body at the strap button. Looking for the build date and anything else. Would the be the 3rd one made in 6 of 81? Or the 81st made in June of 03? I have no clue. It has blank black pickup covers (no name or identifying characteristics) and requires a battery under the volume knobs. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
 
#12
Wow... I wouldn't think there aren't many of these around.

I've just sent an email to Joe Z... not sure if he's in the shop this week or what he's up to, but if he gets back to me, I'll let you know.
 
#13
Here's some info on the basses...

For the Sonus with SER#9403214, the body was more than likely rebuilt or reworked and refinished and the dots were added by someone else. Joe Zon said, "We never did the drop top body like that (when the top contours with the forearm cutaway). Nor did we ever place fingerboard dots like that. Somebody fabricated the body or re-worked the old one. Probably added the dots as well. [Based on the serial number, it was] built in March 1994. Supposed to be "Amethyst" color. Plain ash body, no top."

For SER#810603, Joe said: "Wow!! That is an oldie. It was built in 1981, Buffalo NY, only about 12 made I think. East Indian rosewood top and back. Spanish cedar core. EI rosewood center block flanked by curly maple stringers. Polyfusion ZP-1 circuit. Original series Bartolini pickups. Thumb rests not original."
 

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