SX neck/fret issues...Luthier assistance or replace neck?

j_nition · #1 03-19-2010, 11:33 PM

My SX PJ has had some fret issues from the get go and now it seems to be getting worse. I feel like I'm happy with the tweaking I've done to achieve a comfortable action with minimal buzz besides the major problem areas that I think would require fret work but the problems seem to go deeper.

It has always had a bad buzz at the 5th and 6th frets on the E and A strings due to a low fret somewhere and the frets almost everywhere are now are starting to show a ton of wear from my left hand vibrato.
Most annoying is that I've also just started to notice several dead frets where the strings dont ring properly and kind if just thud out (3rd/5th fret G string and 8th through 10th fret D string) I swapped two different sets of strings to try and sort it but same problem on both sets.

My question:
should I bring it in for repair to have the frets leveled and dressed with a full setup or should I just by a replacement neck? I hear the mighty mite necks are a great fit and they quality is surprisingly good?

Slax · #2 03-19-2010, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j_nition

My SX PJ has had some fret issues from the get go and now it seems to be getting worse. I feel like I'm happy with the tweaking I've done to achieve a comfortable action with minimal buzz besides the major problem areas that I think would require fret work but the problems seem to go deeper.

It has always had a bad buzz at the 5th and 6th frets on the E and A strings due to a low fret somewhere and the frets almost everywhere are now are starting to show a ton of wear from my left hand vibrato.
Most annoying is that I've also just started to notice several dead frets where the strings dont ring properly and kind if just thud out (3rd/5th fret G string and 8th through 10th fret D string) I swapped two different sets of strings to try and sort it but same problem on both sets.

My question:
should I bring it in for repair to have the frets leveled and dressed with a full setup or should I just by a replacement neck? I hear the mighty mite necks are a great fit and they quality is surprisingly good?

I'd contact Kurt at Rondo if it's still an option and see what he can do for you. My SX necks have been miles above the Mighty Mite neck I bought out of the box. If Kurt can't do anything, I'd bring it to a shop.

I'm not knocking Mighty Mite, I just had great experiences with SX necks and replacing would be the last thing I do to the bass unless it's replacement was vastly superior.

j_nition · #3 03-20-2010, 12:01 AM

my window of opportunity to even consider sending this bass back is well beyond over. Besides, I've modded the pickups and the cavity shielding to my liking already too.

Thanks for the advice though, I've heard that the mighty mite necks a lot of people have been getting are of a quality on par with like MIA or MIM Fenders so I expect they would be an easy upgrade to the SX necks.

z6e9n · #4 03-20-2010, 12:23 AM

I would see if you can get it fixed. It is going to be a crap shoot if order a replacement neck(just as it is with their basses). I bought a replacement neck for one of the 3 SX basses I own and it has a number of issues. A number of people on talkbass will say all their SX basses needed was a setup. They got lucky. Save the money you might pay for return shipping and get it repaired or at the very least checked out. A professional luthier can tell you if it is worth getting it fixed. Whatever you choose good luck and I hope it works out for you.

Slax · #5 03-20-2010, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j_nition

I've heard that the mighty mite necks a lot of people have been getting are of a quality on par with like MIA or MIM Fenders so I expect they would be an easy upgrade to the SX necks.

IME, they're on par with Squier necks.

The AllParts neck I have I'd say is on par with MIA or MIJ.

tdvt · #6 03-20-2010, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slax

IME, they're on par with Squier necks.

The AllParts neck I have I'd say is on par with MIA or MIJ.

I would agree.

I've had a couple of SX's, 2 Squiers, bought 2 Allparts necks & have a MIM jazz (no MIA) to compare.

Bevo1995 · #7 03-20-2010, 08:41 AM

You might find that it is cheaper to buy a new SX than to have what sounds like major neck issues fixed by a professional.

Ric5 · #8 03-20-2010, 08:59 AM

At least 1/3 of the SX necks are substandard and need to be replaced. But they are a $100 bass with poor quality control. I have upgraded a few SX basses with mighty mite necks, and yes it is an upgrade. Only about 5% of the mighty mite necks have any problems.

Neck replacement is a good option. Especially considering the new ugly ursa headstock.

Eric Moesle · #9 03-21-2010, 08:25 PM

Why would you replace a neck that simply needs a fret levelling? Every bass can benefit from a fret levelling after a few years of use. Its not neural surgery or rocket science . . .

j_nition · #10 03-21-2010, 09:51 PM

this is at the heart of my question actually...

...would a fret leveling fix all these issues?
...and if the cost to repair the neck approaches more than 50% of the cost to replace it, would it make more sense to just start over with a fresh canvas?
and to be clear, this bass is only 6 months old regarding wear and tear and had neck issues out of the box that proved unresolvable through basic setup efforts.

Either way, I think my first step this week is to take advantage of a free estimate from a local and highly recommended repair tech to see what the prognosis and cost looks like.

Bevo1995 · #11 03-22-2010, 12:12 PM

You could always try doing it yourself. I leveled the frets on my son's SX. It only cost me about $10 in tools (needless to say these were not Stewmac tools). Wasn't difficult either.

Eric Moesle · #12 03-22-2010, 02:13 PM

In my experience EVERY new bass, right from the manufacturer, can benefit from a fret leveling right out of the box. The exceptions to this rule are from boutique manufacturers like Sadowsky, etc. who level the frets and fine-tunes the action before the bass leaves their shop.

If you buy a new SX replacement neck, I will guarantee you it will play better after a fret leveling.

stingray69 · #13 03-22-2010, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j_nition

this is at the heart of my question actually...

this bass is only 6 months old regarding wear and tear and had neck issues out of the box that proved unresolvable through basic setup efforts.

Either way, I think my first step this week is to take advantage of a free estimate from a local and highly recommended repair tech to see what the prognosis and cost looks like.

+1

Take it to the shop.

I'd see what your local tech has to say about it before going any further. No amount of fiddling (truss rod tweaks, saddle height adjustments) you may have done will suffice in place of a fret level. Action & playability are a combination of many things, but level frets are the foundation that great setups are built upon. If you're not working with a level foundation from the start, you're gonna be expending a lot of effort in vain trying to adjust the other variables (truss, saddle height, nut slot height, etc) to "work around" the real issue. Have it checked out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Moesle

In my experience EVERY new bass, right from the manufacturer, can benefit from a fret leveling right out of the box. The exceptions to this rule are from boutique manufacturers like Sadowsky, etc. who level the frets and fine-tunes the action before the bass leaves their shop.

If you buy a new SX replacement neck, I will guarantee you it will play better after a fret leveling.

I agree with Eric - most any bass usually can stand some degree of improvement when it comes to getting the frets as level as possible. A good, experienced tech has the tools & experience to catch a lot of very minute fret-height imperfections, not just the blatantly obvious ones. An SX replacement neck may not necessarily be any better in regards to needing a few frets leveled & dressed, or worse - taking a step back (possibly, from what others stated) in the feel, fit, or quality of another brand's replacement neck.

ProfGumby · #14 03-22-2010, 07:22 PM

I agree with taking the bass in and getting a pro opinion.

And FWIW, I always...and I mean always, consider having fretwork done on any bass I have bought so far, every SX, Squier or whatever. Any sub 500 - 700 dollar bass should be expected to have issues and the cost of a fret job should be a strong possibility in the equation.

lethargytartare · #15 03-23-2010, 11:20 AM

So a good fret dressing should cost as much as a new SX neck -- 40-60 bucks. But, as others have pointed out, ALL SX necks will probably need the same attention, so you're better off calling it just part of the cost of owning an SX neck.

Also, read up on analyzing your problems. "Dead frets" -- if frets 4,5, and 6 are "dead" fret 7 might just be high -- and you can sand it down with 220 and 320 grit sandpaper -- or popped up -- and you can fix it with some super glue. Those are cheap fixes you can learn that would be fairly appropriate for a $35 neck. AND with reasonable caution, you'd still be able to have a tech fix it more thoroughly later if you wanted.

If it's true that the frets are showing a ton of wear from your vibrato, then you might have a lot of pitting, and only a dressing is going to fix that. And in that case, you got your mileage out of the frets, and it's just a cost of ownership. The only cure for that might be stainless steel frets...and more money!

So, if it's fret wear and tear, EVERY neck you buy will probably be an issue for you -- frets are fairly fungible. Fretwork isn't, but all of these aftermarket necks are mass-produced and are going to have questionable fretwork.

Good luck, man!
ltt