Zen-on Mustang Copy

Well it looks like i've finally found someone with the same guitar as me! hooray! mine sounds to be in a little better condition though. I was also told that it was made in 60 something, can't quite remember. It has 20 frets, one single coil in the neck position, with a volume and tone pot. The single coil is odd, it looks to be a humbucker in size and position of the rods, but upon inspection, GASP, one very corroded single coil. Somehow it still sounds interesting, I won't say amazing, just interesting, very bassy and rumbly, but with a high hum, which can be expected from a single coil, and one from the 60's no less. Passive electronics, not in the best shape. Tuning knobs are a little loose, but still functional. The bridge is just a height adjustable piece of plastic, nothing special, serves its purpose. Its neck is still in good form, straight as an arrow, however you can only get to the 16th or so fret without interruption, which has honestly been somewhat of a problem. It's a thin neck and a thin body, on a smaller scale (I'm not a huge guy, so I've had no problem). It's sunburst with an exceptionally thin pickguard. All in all, it's functional, if handled correctly it's even remarkable, but none of that compares to how cool it looks. Very sleek, very stylish, very cool. It is functional and even attractive. But be aware that experience is subject to the guitar, the one I bought had obviously been taken care of, but the previous review paints a much different picture. This model of guitar is very old, and was cheap even when it was out on the market, so If you're looking for the quality of manufacturers today, even Squire and Epiphone, you'll be hard pressed to see this guitar's value. If you're willing to live with a few dings, and a few necessary repairs, then you'll probably like this guitar, just be cautious not all of them are in the condition that mine was, so be ready with a screw driver and a soldering gun.

The sound is an interesting one, as I've said before. You're not going to get a ton of variety with one single coil in the neck position, but the tones you do get are pretty cool. I play a lot of different styles, but mostly surf, noise rock, and low-fi indie, so this guitar works well for me. I play through a Pro-Co Turbo Rat, an AnalogMan Standard Chorus Pedal, a Guyatone Md-3, a Roland Digital Space-Echo, a Tech 21 Sans Amp Classic, and a Line6 Delay all plugged into a 6 foot tall, homemade tube stack, and just a simple compressor, and the guitar sounds great through any and all of them. It has a very full sound, I wouldn't say rich, the body is too light-weight to get any really rich sound, so what you're left with is a sort of hollow jazzy sound. It responds well to new strings and to take it to it's best, wipe down the strings every time you play, and replace the strings every 30 or so odd hours of playtime, string corrosion is greatly amplified in the guitar. It would receive a high ranking for me if it were not for the humming. You do get a lot of unwanted noise, and having a pickup entirely on top of the pickguard prevents shielding, I found that replacing the capacitor with a higher model tapers off much of that unwanted noise. Overall, it has a signature sound that can't be heard anywhere else, but beware, the guitar is old, and subject to a variety of troubles. As with buying anything vintage, some repairs may be necessary. The sound I described to you came about through a few small replacements (such as modern potentiometers, and a higher capacitor, nothing expensive or even difficult), so if you're willing to put in the time, you'll end up with a unique and jazzy sound.

Let me be clear, this guitar is a great project guitar. It's corroded, it's old, it's dusty, it's from the land of the living dead. Things need replacing and things need some love and a good rub down, but what is important (the body and neck) are in fine condition. But to play it as is, would not be satisfying or pleasant. When I received mine, the pickup was rusted, eaten and disfigured, the potentiometers looked as if covered in moss, the input jack was bent, and the pickguard was cracking, but only slightly. Surprisingly it worked, it sounded remarkably fine, as if balanced by its numerous ailments. What is important for a project guitar is the woodwork, as long as the wood is fine and dandy, the rest is up to the project. The bridge was fine, nut was fine, the WOOD was fine, so the rest would come with a little work. remake the pickguard, replace the jack and pots and cap, re-wind the pickup, heck even replace the pickup while you're at it! If you're looking for a guitar to play upon arrival, this isn't for you, if you're looking for your first project guitar this is all you (one pickup, one volume, one tone? What a great way to start!), if you're looking for a les paul, go buy a les paul, if you're looking for a strat, go buy a strat, if you're looking for a rare and personal guitar, that looks unique, sounds unique, at the cost of some dings and some DIY work, then jump on that deal! I'm happy I did.

I'm a live musician, what musician isn't? So I need something to withstand some crazy antics. The guitar is small and light, but compact, so it can withstand a heavy beating. It's balance is center, and build is solid, it can be thrown, it can be tossed, it survives. Kurt Cobain would have loved this guitar, or would have been incredibly agitated at its refusal to break. It hardly even dings, it's the incredibly indestructible guitar, It's no wonder it's lasted this long in the first place. The strap is no problemo, and has never fallen off, which is seemingly always an issue for me. Now that I've fixed it up, I can even depend on the electronics, in short it can be depended on with a little work. I'm a de-tuner so I never have only one guitar on stage, I would however, feel perfectly fine on stage with just this guitar.

Unless the warranty is 40 years, I'm guessing it's not covered any longer. I haven't had to deal with the company, because Zen-on seems to no longer exist.

I own a Fender Jagstang, a Framus Twelve String, a Fender Stratocaster (who doesn't? haha) and a Mustang, to name a few, and this is my second favorite guitar to play right under the Jagstang. If you're planning to buy one, be ready to do a little work, the only thing I would ask the seller is how the body has faired through the years. With some work and some love, this guitar might just turn out to be a dream guitar.

I bought it on ebay, the seller indicated it was made in 1965
it is made in japan.
sunburst finish
has one pickup in the neck, probably the coolest looking thing on the guitar. a single coil. 1 volume, 1 tone.
body style is directly a rip off of the fender mustang.
the headstock is enormous and looks ridiculous on this guitar. it is a small scale guitar...almost child size.
the neck is really fat, the frets are poorly glued, the pickguard isn't even solid plastic...sort of soft and pliable. the tuners don't fit correctly in the holes drilled for them.
20 fret neck.

it is really quiet, the pickup sucks.
lots of fret buzz.
essentially useless.

i imagine the guitar, even in its heyday, was still crappy. the tuners are defintely the factory tuners, and they are very poorly put in. the action is very low, i've tried mucking around with the bridge, but to no avail.

seems like this guitar has taken a lot of abuse over the years. i would defintely not have a problem dropping out my window. it would probably survive too.

i can't find a single bit of information, other than the review for the archtop guitar, on "zen-on" on the internet.

i bought it with the intention of it being a project. but it just goes to show you whats wrong with ebay. the pictures never indicated that it was a tiny child-sized guitar.
so, its useless now.
i play an american strat and ibanez jet king through a danelectro danecho, TR-1 tremolo, BD-1 bluesdriver into a traynor bassmaster head (killer), down into a marshall JCM800 4x12.
this guitar would best be put to use by cutting up the wood and building a pedal board. wish i hadn't bought it.