New Zon Bass Features Optical Pickups

Zon Lightwave (Click for larger image)

Zon Guitars, a leading manufacturer of high-quality, hand-crafted bass guitars, introduces the Sonus Lightwave Bass. The Sonus Lightwave bass represents a radical departure from magnetic pickups in the reproduction of string vibration as it relates to creating sound.

Utilizing an optical pickup system, a beam of infrared light is emitted across the width of the string to sense the movement at the bridge, the area of greatest harmonic content. The shadow created by the vibrating string, is read via a receptor on the other side of the string directly opposite the emitter. The electronic signal of the individual strings are then summed together and fed into an active EQ system. The EQ system consists of volume, bass and treble boost/cut controls.

Because there are no magnetic pickups associated with the Lightwave system, the strings are allowed to vibrate in a free and natural motion, unrestricted by the pull of the magnetic field. The result gives the Sonus Lightwave a rich, pure and acoustic-like voice. Complimenting the infrared optical system is a piezo element in the bridge which when blended, provides additional detail and sparkle to the upper frequencies. The entire system is powered by Recharge Anytime Ni-cad batteries and can be operated while the charger is plugged in, never leaving you stranded without juice. In addition, the infrared system is dead quiet. The absence of any magnetic field makes this bass unaffected by RF or 60 hz hum.

The Sonus Lightwave features a two-piece swamp ash body, 24- fret, 34" scale, bolt-on composite neck with a phenowood fingerboard and black hardware. Options include highly figured bookmatched tops ($300), transparent colors($150) and lined or unlined fretless fingerboards ($100).

While the Sonus Lightwave bass was not designed to make basses with magnetic pickups obsolete, it is designed to give bassists a truly unique and expressive new voice.

Sonus Lightwave Specifications:

• 34" scale bolt-on composite neck with phenowood fingerboard
• Two-piece swamp ash body (colors and highly figured tops optional)
• Black hardware
• Lightwave infrared optical pickup system with Icetone piezo feature.
• Powered by Recharge Anytime Ni-cad batteries.

Sonus Lightwave 4-string $2975

Sonus Lightwave 5-string $3275