Essex Bass Club - Part 14

[Rip Topaz]

Lol. I've been leaning towards the burst anyway, and my wife also prefers it to the natural, so I guess the choice is made!!
I still have to wait a few more weeks before ordering, so maybe by them Kurt will have something new that grabs me.

[BillyB_from_LZ]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

...
I still have to wait a few more weeks before ordering, so maybe by them Kurt will have something new that grabs me.

But...Kurt might have less by then! It seems like they always run out of the bass that I'm interested in, just before I actually think about ordering it.

[Rip Topaz]

Yeah, that's true. Luckily for me I've got a few choices.

[gjbassist]

I wouldn't worry too much Rip. I have had mine for almost exactly a year (Feb. 8) and they still have them on the Rondo site. I'm a bit surprised they still have them in stock. If more people knew what a good bass these are for the price they would have been long gone by now!

[Rip Topaz]

It's funny because my 8 year old son has an SX. He's excited to play the new one when it gets here.

[tastybasslines]

Originally Posted by gjbassist

I can't speak for the "Pro" version but I will say without a doubt that the Ursa 2 MN jazz models that sell for $139 are absolutely worth the extra money. Better neck and body wood, better tuners and a better neck overall. The fretwork on mine was much better than the other standard SX basses I have owned. IMO they are the best deal out there on a jazz bass. Only downside is you only have two color choices.

Thanks and thanks to all the guys that posted a response to my question - I definitely got the info I was looking for.

I'm going to go with this one:

http://www.rondomusic.com/ursa2alderna.html

It has everything I wanted, except maybe a tort guard and block inlays. The Canadian maple neck seems to be better from what I heard from 2 people here, that's surely a plus. I may add a heavier bridge later. The "Pro" version has that, but on a 3TSB and I already have a 3TSB P and don't really want another one. Plus, it has the heavier ash body, a drawback. Interesting that it doesn't say anything about an upgraded neck (canadian maple) like on the $139 version. I am a little concerned that it may be hard to find a proper fitting pickguard when I change to tort.

GJbassist, in this case they appear to have only one at this range. Too bad you can't pair parts with each bass you order - I'd pay an extra $50 bucks to be able to mix and match!!

I've been wanting to get into a jazz for a while, but I have huge hands, and a 1.5 inch neck is too small for me so I am pretty excited to be getting what seems to be a very high quality bass for such a low price that has a 1.625 inch neck on it. I've played standard jazz necks, and I cramp up. If this bass is a good experience for me, I'll assess my needs/wants later and could always sell it later if I wanted something else.

[rfslick]

For your tort pickguard, go to www.dragonfireguitars.com/ You're talking 12 -14 dollars plus shipping. Great assortment.
Another tb'er said he had to drill a couple of additional holes as a few didn't match up. The old holes will be under the pickguard so you don't have to worry about plugging them...no big deal.

[SBsoundguy]

Originally Posted by gjbassist

Let me make it easier for you. As much as I like natural basses the 3TS on this bass is really nice!

I love it when maple is that light.

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by SBsoundguy

I love it when maple is that light.

Yeah, I'm hoping I don't get orange tint on mine. That'll be grounds for a return, I'm afraid.

This is the one I'm getting:

http://www.rondomusic.com/ursa2mn3tsash.html

I think the blocks and binding raise my chances for a light neck.

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

Yeah, I'm hoping I don't get orange tint on mine. That'll be grounds for a return, I'm afraid.

This is the one I'm getting:

http://www.rondomusic.com/ursa2mn3tsash.html

I think the blocks and binding raise my chances for a light neck.

Orange tint is on what SX term their "Vintage" lines.

It's supposed to emulate "colonial maple" which is the color that maple turns (due to oxidation of the sugars) when it's really old.

Only around here we call it "nuclear orange" as it doesn't quite cop the colonial maple color (though later SX are better than earlier ones)

[C.Linton]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

Yeah, I'm hoping I don't get orange tint on mine. That'll be grounds for a return, I'm afraid.

This is the one I'm getting:

http://www.rondomusic.com/ursa2mn3tsash.html

I think the blocks and binding raise my chances for a light neck.

From what I can tell, that's one of the ones without the tinted neck.

[gjbassist]

Originally Posted by rfslick

For your tort pickguard, go to www.dragonfireguitars.com/ You're talking 12 -14 dollars plus shipping. Great assortment.
Another tb'er said he had to drill a couple of additional holes as a few didn't match up. The old holes will be under the pickguard so you don't have to worry about plugging them...no big deal.

Yep, that is where my tort guard came from. Great deal! I did have to drill a few new screw holes but other than that the neck pocket and pickup route fit great.

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by bassbenj

Orange tint is on what SX term their "Vintage" lines.

It's supposed to emulate "colonial maple" which is the color that maple turns (due to oxidation of the sugars) when it's really old.

Only around here we call it "nuclear orange" as it doesn't quite cop the colonial maple color (though later SX are better than earlier ones)

Yeah, there's NOTHING natural about that color.

[gjbassist]

Nothing that a healthy dose of Citristrip can't remove!

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by gjbassist

Nothing that a healthy dose of Citristrip can't remove!

To those that used the Citristrip method, have there been any ill effects from the treatment, such as loose frets or dot markers coming loose?

[C.Linton]

The only problem I've ever heard was that sometimes (not always) it could mess up the logo decal, and would melt the plastic nut if you left it on while stripping the neck. Still, I would be very careful of binding and markers (dots or blocks), and not leave the stuff on any longer than necessary, and maybe ending up doing it more than once, leaving it to dry completely between each try.

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by C.Linton

The only problem I've ever heard was that sometimes (not always) it could mess up the logo decal, and would melt the plastic nut if you left it on while stripping the neck. Still, I would be very careful of binding and markers (dots or blocks), and not leave the stuff on any longer than necessary, and maybe ending up doing it more than once, leaving it to dry completely between each try.

Thanks. Fingers crossed that I don't have to worry about stripping.

[THand]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

To those that used the Citristrip method, have there been any ill effects from the treatment, such as loose frets or dot markers coming loose?

yep...I had it eat thru the candy-coating underneath and damage some dots. I then had to get all that (what ever they seal them with) off and re-dot the markers. I think this is pretty rare for this to happen, but it does happen. Not so much the CitriStrips fault, but this was an older SX neck that was not their best work. I suspect they didn't have the sealer on very even.

[Rip Topaz]

I'm able to do the repair if necessary, but it seems like a lot of work for a cheapie. It would almost be just as easy for me to make a new neck!!

[THand]

Rip, I just looked back to see which one you are getting, and I'm sure you won't have any orange tint on that neck..I have a ash P with the white blocks and binding, and it's a clear finish....And a great neck.