Zen-on ZES 170 (pic heavy)

[Jan Deal]

Years ago I posted about this guitar (my now wife traded it for a Japanese Strat body), which has been in pretty unplayable until this very week. I have a friend (Bob) who is a guitar tech, but since COVID hit, he's essentially been out of work. To make ends meet, he has been doing setups so I gave him the challenge of making this guitar playable.

It was a serious piece of work. I had it in a local shop years ago, but they couldn't get it playable at all. Bob however went to work, crowning frets, shimming the neck and getting up to all sorts. It's now playable! Mostly! At the end of the day it's a cheap Japanese guitar, but unless you are going past the 12th fret - in Bob's words "it gets a bit funky" - you are fine. I'll be using mostly as a recording tool, as the pickups sound pretty good. It's just such a cool looking guitar!

IMG_E2646 by 1983slowdazzle, on Flickr

IMG_E2647 by 1983slowdazzle, on Flickr

IMG_E2624 by 1983slowdazzle, on Flickr

IMG_2649 by 1983slowdazzle, on Flickr

IMG_2650 by 1983slowdazzle, on Flickr
A previous owner?

IMG_2651 by 1983slowdazzle, on Flickr
Detail of the finish.

IMG_E2652 by 1983slowdazzle, on Flickr
Somewhat amazingly, it holds it tune!

[Sweetfinger]

That is an exceptionally cool Japanese cheese-log. They were definitely taking inspiration from the Italians on that one.
The colored glitter on black is something I hadn't seen on a Japan made electric. It's similar to the Fender Custom Shop Otis Rush "better than Christmas" finish.
You'd think the tuner plates that make heart shapes would have been more popular.

[schoolie]

Super cool guitar! Love the push buttons. Is the neck mahogany? I bet Rosie from the Jetsons could wail on it!

[Jan Deal]

That is an exceptionally cool Japanese cheese-log. They were definitely taking inspiration from the Italians on that one.
The colored glitter on black is something I hadn't seen on a Japan made electric. It's similar to the Fender Custom Shop Otis Rush "better than Christmas" finish.
You'd think the tuner plates that make heart shapes would have been more popular.

It's difficult to get a good photo of the finish, but's a dark blue colour. Never seen a finish like it.

No idea what the neck is made of, but I doubt it is select tone wood! The push buttons are kinda cool - I hate to use them at a show - but the solo button is cool, acting very much like a Jaguar strangle switch.

[Sweetfinger]

The one MIJ brand that has a good amount of glitter finishes was Telestar, though I've never seen one with something quite like the Zen On. Google image for "Telestar glitter" and you'll find a good selection. The Fender finish I mentioned is "Holoflake", which looks similar, but the flakes get their color from light diffraction. The flakes aren't actually different colors, the just reflect a different color depending on the viewing angle, but the overall color spread is similar.

[Shadoweclipse13]

Cool as hell! I love the headstock shape especially, and the way that the mounting plates for the tuners alternate which side the screw is on (and which shape the open spots between them take).