Luthier Ken Hoover founded Zion Guitar Technology in 1980, after six years of repairs, restorations, and custom building experience. In 1983, Zion was commissioned by Guitar Player magazine to build the Silver Bird model that was featured on the cover - and commissioned again in 1991 to build the Burning Desire model for cover art. Hoover has worked with such artists as Phil Keaggy and Ty Tabor (King's X), as well as custom builders such as Joe Barden and Pat Wilkins.
Zion guitars have been famous for their high quality and amazing custom finishes, and the Zion guitar staff maintains an output of forty to fifty guitars a month. From 1980 to 1993, the peghead logo had block lettering and triangular wings. In 1994, Zion redesigned their peghead logo to feature a bold signature look, with a large Z. In the mid-2000s, Zion released a line of Chinese-built guitars called "Zion By Design" that are affordable Zion guitars designed by Zion engineers but produced in China. For more information, contact Zion directly or visit their website.
Instruments currently built in Raleigh, NC and China (Zion By Design). Previously produced in Greensboro, NC. Zion has been producing guitars since 1980. Distributed by Zion Guitar Technology of Raleigh, NC.

ZION Electric Guitars Models

ZION ACTION SERIES Image

ZION ACTION SERIES

- offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood, ebony, or bird's-eye maple fingerboard, vintage style tremolo, bone nut, pearl pickguard/backplate, six-on-one-side Sperzel Trim-lok tuners, three Seymour Duncan v...

ZION RAD BASS Image

ZION RAD BASS

- offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 20-fret ebony fingerboard, four-per-side Gotoh tuners, fixed bridge, P-style/J-style EMG pickups, three knobs (two v, tone), black hardware, available in Amber Top, Classic Black, P...

ZION BURNING DESIRE Image

ZION BURNING DESIRE

- offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, graphite nut, six-on-one-side locking Sperzel tuners, standard Kahler vibrato, two stacked coil pickups and one humbucker Joe Barden...

ZION RAD BASS GRAPHIC MODEL Image

ZION RAD BASS GRAPHIC MODEL

- similar to the Rad Bass, except features specialty airbrush design or specialty finish, available in Frosted Marble Blue, Frosted Marble Purple, Frosted Marble Red, or Techno-Frost finish, disc. 1992.

ZION CLASSIC MAPLE Image

ZION CLASSIC MAPLE

- offset double cutaway basswood body, carved arched bound figured maple top, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret ebony or bird's-eye maple fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, six-on-one-side Sperzel Trim-lok tuners, Kahler Steeler locking vibrato,...

ZION Frosted Marble Image

ZION Frosted Marble

- similar to the Classic Maple, except has basswood body, Zion Versa-Tone pickups, and custom Frosted Marble finish with matching headstock, available in Deep Blue, Fire Orange, Intense Red, Jade Green, or Purple Frosted Marble finish, mfg....

ZION Graphic Series Image

ZION Graphic Series

- similar to the Classic Maple, except has a basswood body, choice of five-way pickup switch or three pickup selector mini switches, and a bypass-to-humbucker mini switch, and custom airbrushed design or specialty finish, available in Frost...

ZION E-SERIES GT (ELITE) Image

ZION E-SERIES GT (ELITE)

- offset double cutaway Strat-style alder body, rosewood or maple fingerboard with dot inlays, custom electronics in SSS or SSH configurations, six-on-one-side tuners, pickguard, chrome hardware, Wilkinson VSVG tremolo, available in Black P...

ZION RT CLASSIC Image

ZION RT CLASSIC

- similar to the Classic Maple, except has a bone nut, Mann resophonic tremolo, and chrome hardware, available in Amber Top, Honey Burst, Purple Burst, Tobacco Burst, or Trans. Teal finish, disc.

ZION METRO Image

ZION METRO

- mahogany body, figured maple top, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood, bird's-eye maple, or ebony fingerboard, bone nut, six-on-one-side Sperzel Trim-lok tuners, Mann resophonic tremolo, two Barden Deluxe, Seymour Duncan, or Fralin humbu...

ZION PICKASSO Image

ZION PICKASSO

- similar to the Burning Desire, except has Zion Versa-Tone pickups and black hardware, available in Black, Blue/Purple/Pink, Pink/Orange/Yellow, or White finish, disc. 1994.

ZION PRIMERA Image

ZION PRIMERA

- single cutaway mahogany body, AAA grade figured maple top, set mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with MOP royal crown inlays, three-per-side Sperzel Trim-lok tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece or Mann resophonic tremolo...

ZION RADIACASTER Image

ZION RADIACASTER

- offset double cutaway swamp ash, alder, mahogany, or basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret bird's-eye maple, ebony, or rosewood fingerboard, six-on-one-side Sperzel Trim-lok tuners, bone nut, Wilkinson VS-100 tremolo bridge, choice o...

ZION T MODEL Image

ZION T MODEL

- offset double cutaway basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret ebony or maple fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, six-on-one-side locking Sperzel tuners, standard Gotoh vibrato, graphite nut, pearloid pickguard, three stacked coil Zion p...

ZION Maple Top T Image

ZION Maple Top T

- similar to the T Model, except has a figured maple top and Zion vibrato, available in Blue Burst, Purple Burst, Tobacco Burst, or Vintage Burst finish, mfg. 1991-95.

ZION BENT TOP MAPLE T Image

ZION BENT TOP MAPLE T

- offset double cutaway basswood body, Bent (contoured) figured maple top, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood, ebony, or bird's-eye maple fingerboard, six-on-one-side Sperzel Trim-lok tuners, bone nut, Mann resophonic tremolo, pearl pickg...

ZION THE FIFTY Image

ZION THE FIFTY

- single cutaway swamp ash body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret bird's-eye maple, ebony, or rosewood fingerboard, six-on-one-side Sperzel Trim-lok tuners, bone nut, Tele-style fixed bridge, black bakelite pickguard, two Seymour Duncan vintage...

ZION THE NINETY Image

ZION THE NINETY

- single cutaway swamp ash thin-line body, figured maple top, bolt-on maple neck, f-hole, 22-fret bird's-eye maple, ebony, or rosewood fingerboard, tele-style fixed bridge, six-on-one-side Sperzel Trim-lok tuners, bone nut, two Joe Barden D...

ZION TY TABOR SIGNATURE MODEL Image

ZION TY TABOR SIGNATURE MODEL

- offset double cutaway basswood body, maple top, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, six-on-one-side Sperzel Trim-lok tuners, Mann resophonic tremolo, black pickguard with Ty Tabor signature imprint, thr...

ZION ULTRA GLIDE Image

ZION ULTRA GLIDE

- single cutaway basswood body, carved maple top, 24-fret fingerboard, Kahler "Steeler" tremolo with auto latch, two humbucker pickups, 24.75 in. scale, mfg. 1991-92.