Essex Bass Club - Part 14

[rfslick]

My new SX Ursa 2 sunburst J-Bass arrived today. I installed new Dunlop 45-105 round wounds and adjusted the intonation and left for the blues jam at Redhouse Studios in Walnut Creek, CA. I was amazed, tone, sustain, finish, great looking wood in the neck and body. I'm completely amazed! This bass is an incredible value. I had a '64 Jazz from about '72 to '82 and really missed it. I can't justify or afford a Fender now so I read up on these and thought I'd try them out. Fantastic! Can I join? Pics tomorrow.

[SBsoundguy]

I wonder what percentage of TB have or has owned an SX at one time.

[pocketgroove]

Originally Posted by SBsoundguy

I wonder what percentage of TB have or has owned an SX at one time.

All of them. Every last one.

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by rfslick

My new SX Ursa 2 sunburst J-Bass arrived today. I installed new Dunlop 45-105 round wounds and adjusted the intonation and left for the blues jam at Redhouse Studios in Walnut Creek, CA. I was amazed, tone, sustain, finish, great looking wood in the neck and body. I'm completely amazed! This bass is an incredible value. I had a '64 Jazz from about '72 to '82 and really missed it. I can't justify or afford a Fender now so I read up on these and thought I'd try them out. Fantastic! Can I join? Pics tomorrow.

Looking forward to pix of this one. I'm torn between the sunburst with blocks/binding or the natural with blocks/binding.

Either way, there's an SX Jazz in my immediate future. Unless a CV or VM Squier appears magically.

[BillyB_from_LZ]

Originally Posted by rfslick

My new SX Ursa 2 sunburst J-Bass arrived today. ... Fantastic! Can I join? ....

Since there are no numbers for this club, you simply add "SX Club member in good standing" to your signature line and you're in.

Congrats!

[BillyB_from_LZ]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

.... I'm torn between the sunburst with blocks/binding or the natural with blocks/binding.

Either way, there's an SX Jazz in my immediate future. Unless a CV or VM Squier appears magically.

Just order both and return the one you don't want. Return shipping from your place to Kurt's shouldn't cost that much...

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by BillyB_from_LZ

Just order both and return the one you don't want. Return shipping from your place to Kurt's shouldn't cost that much...

Good idea, but I know me. I'll end up keeping them both and the wife will be pissed!!

[BillyB_from_LZ]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

Good idea, but I know me. I'll end up keeping them both and the wife will be pissed!!

I hear you... I just went through that with used G&L Tributes. Both were picked up from different GC stores while on a business trip. Due to spousal pressure, I ended up returning one to a local store. A couple weeks later they dropped the price by over $100 so I bought it again!

SX content...has anyone else had issues with forcing a B-string through the bridge of their Ursa 2 6-string? I'm trying to get a set of half-rounds to fit but the B-string just doesn't want to cooperate. I'm about to take a drill to it.

[Rip Topaz]

I had a similar problem with the E string on Chromes with my cheapie P. ended up shaving the silk off the string with a razor blade until it fit.

With a B, you might need to drill.

[DJ Bebop]

Originally Posted by BillyB_from_LZ

I hear you... I just went through that with used G&L Tributes. Both were picked up from different GC stores while on a business trip. Due to spousal pressure, I ended up returning one to a local store. A couple weeks later they dropped the price by over $100 so I bought it again!

SX content...has anyone else had issues with forcing a B-string through the bridge of their Ursa 2 6-string? I'm trying to get a set of half-rounds to fit but the B-string just doesn't want to cooperate. I'm about to take a drill to it.

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

I had a similar problem with the E string on Chromes with my cheapie P. ended up shaving the silk off the string with a razor blade until it fit.

With a B, you might need to drill.

Remember what Sarah Palin said? Drill baby drill

[masonsjax]

I drilled ever so slightly the E hole on the bridge of my Douglas fretless P to get rounds to fit.

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by BillyB_from_LZ

SX content...has anyone else had issues with forcing a B-string through the bridge of their Ursa 2 6-string? I'm trying to get a set of half-rounds to fit but the B-string just doesn't want to cooperate. I'm about to take a drill to it.

Yes it's a problem for many string brands. Well, not a problem actually. You just take a hand drill and with the appropriate size bit and voila!

Yeah, I know it gravels you to drill the nice chrome plating and court the danger of it peeling off etc., but, hey, eventually you simply have to ask yourself, is this bass for PLAYING or for admiring the perfect chrome plating... get out the drill.

And that said, let me add that that I really like those 6 string bridges! Nice and heavy with saddle grooves etc for the screws. The thing is really exceptionally nice compared to the usual SX bent metal which works OK, but you always end up prying on the saddles with a screw driver to get them aligned where you want them. Of course after that it is just fine.

My favorite 5er SX bridge replacement is the cheapo musicman bridge:

http://basspartsresource.com/bridge_musicman.htm

About $20 and REALLY heavy and nice plus has the right SX 5er string spacing. I don't know if the 4s are right for SX. The only reason all my SX don't have them is that they are too wide for ashtrays which I love!

So all my ashtray SX still have the cheapo bent things.

Ps. How can spousal unit complain about TWO basses that cost less than ONE usual bass? Um. Nevermind.

[dabbler]

Originally Posted by bassbenj

Ps. How can spousal unit complain about TWO basses that cost less than ONE usual bass? Um. Nevermind.

Yes, nevermind. Fortunately, I don't have that problem, no she doesn't have an available sister, but maybe you guys can try getting the wife to think of them as big shoes... actually don't try that, she'll probably demand total cost equity on her shoe collection!

[Rip Topaz]

And therein lies the problem. Any bass purchase will result in an equal shoe purchase.

And we're running out of space for shoes!!

[Joe Hakim]

Originally Posted by TeeZeeMee90

Been looking at getting a 4 string SX and turning it into a piccolo. Anyone have thoughts or ideas on this? Obviously a short scale model.

I did this a little while ago; it's a fun instrument to play.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5yxu...YIUqL&index=19

It's the SX short scale Jaguar style. Piccolo strings from D'addario.

[BillyB_from_LZ]

Originally Posted by Joe Hakim

I did this a little while ago; it's a fun instrument to play.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5yxu...YIUqL&index=19

It's the SX short scale Jaguar style. Piccolo strings from D'addario.

Or one using a Short Scale SX Jazz .

I did note the each of these videos has a bass line behind them.

[BillyB_from_LZ]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

And therein lies the problem. Any bass purchase will result in an equal shoe purchase.

And we're running out of space for shoes!!

For the past year or so, this has been going on at my place without me realizing it. We're out of room for both at this point (or so our daughter (visiting from out of the country) decided).

[Rip Topaz]

My wife and I usually give ourselves an allowance at tax time. That's usually the time of year that I get a new bass. Last year I got two.

This year I'm not getting the usual hue allowance so I gotta pick one. I can't decide between sunburst or natural. With maple blocked boards.

Both are the same price.

As for space, she has the closet which is huge, and I have a finished basement. I can't complain.

[BillyB_from_LZ]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

...
This year ... I gotta pick one. I can't decide between sunburst or natural. With maple blocked boards.

....

Looking at your profile, it doesn't appear that you have any sunburst instruments...

[Rip Topaz]

Not at the moment.

I try to keep my profile updated as much as possible, but I use the iPhone Talkbass app and you can't edit your profile from it. So to edit my TB profile, I gotta dig out the laptop. I do it from time to time but gear changes quick as we all know.

It's basically the remote is across the room so I don't get up to change the channel.