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Post subject: Fender Zone
Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 9:40 pm
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I just traded for this cool Zone bass.

But I dont understand how the knobs are setup, other than the main volume control. Anyone give me some insight?

Thanks.

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Fender Precision Jazz (1997)
Fender Zone (2003)


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Post subject: Re: Fender Zone
Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 12:21 am
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There were two versions, which one did you get? There is the 18 volt USA and the 9 volt MIM.

The pot CLOSEST to the neck is a PAN pot. The pot CLOSEST to the Jazz pickup is the MASTER VOLUME. The three outer pots in descending order from headstock to bridge control TREBLE, MID and BASS. There should be detents to mark FLAT on the 3 tone pots so you can feel a little click when they are set at flat. Only made briefly, these replaced the Japanese made P-Bass Lyte and the control layout is very similar.


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Post subject: Re: Fender "Zone"
Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:22 am
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Thanks very much. Got it all except for the "Pan" knob. Does it emphasize one pickup over the other to change tone?

Does turning the volume control back to zero have any effect on the life of the battery? Seems wierd that it has no volume (I think) if the battery dies. What if you're in the middle of a gig and the battery goes poo? No bass till ya' change it out - a pain getting the little cover plate off, with the tinyest screws.

I got the MIM, 9v version. I'm just learning to play, but I love it!!

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Fender Precision Jazz (1997)
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Post subject: Re: Fender Zone
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 8:46 pm
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Exactly right, The pan pot turned all the way toward the neck is the neck pickup soloed, turned all the way to the bridge is the bridge pickup soloed and at the center detent is balanced roughly 50/50 between the two pickups. One pickup is usually innately hotter than another so the actual 50/50 balance may be slightly more toward one than the other from the center detent. Yes, you can get a variance of tones using the pan pot.

You have no way to know when the battery is going to start dying. The preamp will work fine down to about 7 volts then it will get slightly distorted at first for a little while then the level drops and after that it just goes stone cold dead. Keep track of how many hours you get off one fresh battery before you notice it starting to distort some and thereafter change it at something short of that interval. There is no need to change before every use or every gig as it could last anywhere from 100 hours to 1000 hours or more. Battery life varies and I'm not sure of the current draw on these basses but it is far less draw than earlier Fender actives and I'm guessing it should last well over 100 hours. The jack turns the preamp on and off, not the volume control, so to turn off the preamp and conserve the battery just unplug the instrument cable from the instrument's jack when not actually using the bass.

Yes the little screws are a hassle. Take a passive backup to gigs if you use an active as your number 1.

There is a device that costs about $25 plus installation called the PMT LoBat-Active Electronics Low Battery Indicator. You can see one here: http://www.guitarelectronics.com/product/PMTLBAT/9-Volt-Low-Battery-Indicator-for-Active-Pickups-Electronics-For-Guitar-Bass.html It has an LED light that flashes when you insert the plug to indicate the battery is OK then the LED goes out but the unit continues to monitor the battery output. If the battery level drops below about 7.7 volts the led comes back on and this time glows steady without flashing. The device itself draws almost no battery current to speak of. The catch to this device is you have to drill a hole for the LED to be visible and I'm very against drilling holes. It is better to just change batteries just short of the regular interval for your instrument.

Remove the battery if the bass isn't going to be used at all for over a week or two. Sometimes the power connection in the jack can malfunction causing the preamp to stay on when it should be off which drains the battery dead and that will lead to premature leakage. Battery leakage of caustic chemicals in bass electronics is not good at all and can lead to major repairs of the electronics.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Zone
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:09 am
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Another solution: install an active/passive toggle switch.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Zone
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:11 am
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brotherdave wrote:
There were two versions, which one did you get? There is the 18 volt USA and the 9 volt MIM.

The pot CLOSEST to the neck is a PAN pot. The pot CLOSEST to the Jazz pickup is the MASTER VOLUME. The three outer pots in descending order from headstock to bridge control TREBLE, MID and BASS. There should be detents to mark FLAT on the 3 tone pots so you can feel a little click when they are set at flat. Only made briefly, these replaced the Japanese made P-Bass Lyte and the control layout is very similar.


The MIM came in 4 and 5-string versions. Only the MIA was available with 4 strings.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Zone
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:18 am
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The P-Light came in Standard and Deluxe versions.

I have the Deluxe with the gold hardware, 3-band EQ and a massive humbucker in the bridge.

Beautiful bass. The sleek mahogany body is warm and punchy with an incredible tonal response. I'll post pics soon as possible (hope my Mac will not crash!).

The P-Lyte Deluxe was the precursor to the USA Deluxe Zone if my memory serves.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Zone
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 3:07 pm
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Wow!! What a wealth of information.

Thanks, to everyone!

Arden

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Fender Precision Jazz (1997)
Fender Zone (2003)


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Post subject: Re: Fender Zone
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 2:46 am
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Here's my P-Light Deluxe. Enjoy!

Body (front) (1):

Image

Body (front) (2)

Image

Pickups/Bridge:

(note: one screw from the humbucking Jazz Bass pickup is missing.)

Image

Headstock (back):

Image

Body (back):

Image

Fretboard:

Image

Headstock (front):

Image

Bridge/Pickups/Controls:

Image


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Post subject: Re: Fender Zone
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 3:24 pm
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chromeface wrote:
The P-Light came in Standard and Deluxe versions.

I have the Deluxe with the gold hardware, 3-band EQ and a massive humbucker in the bridge.

Beautiful bass. The sleek mahogany body is warm and punchy with an incredible tonal response. I'll post pics soon as possible (hope my Mac will not crash!).

The P-Lyte Deluxe was the precursor to the USA Deluxe Zone if my memory serves.


That was what I said. The Zone replaced the P-Bass Lyte and had a similar tone circuit and control layout. Yes the Lytes were great basses and I have no idea why they do not bring more money in resale channels. Probably because there are just so many of them around. The Lytes along with the JP90's and the current P-Bass special are the three best buys in a used Fender bass for the dollar. The MIM Zone models originally retailed for less than the Lytes and they didn't last long in the lineup being discontinued fairly quickly. So Zones are far more scarce than Lytes. That doesn't make Zones better though.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Zone
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 3:35 pm
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chromeface wrote:
Another solution: install an active/passive toggle switch.


I would say that is an operational option to unplugging the bass to turn the preamp off. Again you'd be drilling a hole.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Zone
Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 1:03 am
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The MIM Zone superseded the P-Light Standard.

The MIA version replaced the P-Light Deluxe with the humbucker in the bridge.

Both MIM (except the 5-string version) and MIA Zones were accompanied by sound samples previously recorded with the MIJ Light Standard and Deluxe models.

Only the MIM Zone was available with 4 and 5 strings. Subsequently there's no an American Deluxe Zone V as Fender discontinued the line in 2006.

Unlike the MIM Zone V, which sported a 5-in-line headstock and a 5-string P/J configuration, the MIA Zone V would sport a 4+1 layout with dual Hipshot string trees, a 22-fret pau ferro fretboard and dual Zone 5-string humbucking pickups.


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