What can a Fender do that my SX can't

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by fourstringbliss

I'd have to agree with this. I paid $200 for my SX MM/J (with shipping). I leveled the frets, filed the fret edges smooth, and shimmed the neck with some painters tape - now I have a bass that plays easier than anything else I've ever owned or played at GC. If someone offered to trade me an MIA Fender Jazz for it I'd only be getting a better name - not a better bass.

I have done some mods to it. I replaced the bridge with a high mass/brass saddle model, shielded the cavities, redid the wiring, etc, but I'm still only into it about $270.

I've even considered getting a "better" bass sometime down the line but it would be tough to justify the expense.

All I can say is you must've gotten a WAY better SX than any I've ever seen, and I've seen a few...


- georgestrings

[awilkie84]

Originally Posted by bassbully

This is all in your case. I have never lost money on a Fender I have bought and most cases always made money.

On my two SX I has some years back I was informed by the shop I used to use to sell them to remove the mods since he could not get much more for an SX then I paid.

I took his advice on one and it sold quick to a punker kid for less then I paid for it. The second hung in the shop with mods for a month or more at a higher price to cover the mods...never sold. I took it down removed mods put back to original and it sold to another kid for a $20.00 loss.

I never by new Fenders and know how to deal so your argument is invalid IMO

I have seen SX basses on my local CL from $75-100 in the last few months...no thanks.

Your argument is only made valid by your "I never buy new" statement. You're already buying it AT A REDUCED price. Buying new, you automatically lose 30% off the resale value because nobody pays new prices for a used instrument, unless they're stupid.

[awilkie84]

Originally Posted by Tupac

I don't know about you guys, but quality instruments really are much easier to play. I don't care about the sound, I'll be honest, I can't tell the difference. It's just that it's so much more comfortable to play. You won't notice playing roots in a bar band though, obviously.

-Better neck. I can really fly on American Fenders, Squiers I have to work a little harder.
-Better components. Holds a tuning better, ect.
-Balance! VERY important factor for me. I cannot play an instrument that isn't balanced in a skilled manner, since my right arm floats, and my left hand can't hold it up.
-Just plain better quality. Not worrying about sharp fret edges, no bad wood marks, ect.

I would argue that my Spector NS-2000/5 (Korean Import Neckthru) is lightyears ahead of my former Fender American P5. The neck's faster, the balance is better, the tone is much more to my liking (more of an electronics standpoint), and the hardware stays in tune much longer. New, the NS-2000/5 went for around $1100 (in 1996). The American P5 retails for $1300 NOW. The NS-2000/5 used goes for around $400. The American P5 goes for around $8-900 used.

[Lublin]

Have a resale value.

[Mastermold]

I worry about threads like these where some folks feel they have something they need to prove.

For me, I'm just going to keep playing bass--both my CS Fenders and my SX basses!

[Chrisk-K]

From a purely utilitarian viewpoint, the SX might be on par with the American Fender. But we all know that the bass is not a purely utilitarian product. The same applies to every musical instrument.

[awilkie84]

Originally Posted by Chrisk-K

From a purely utilitarian viewpoint, the SX might be on par with the American Fender. But we all know that the bass is not a purely utilitarian product. The same applies to every musical instrument.

That's only because we imply our own ideals, like Prestige, preference & prejudice to the objects we own & use.

[dabbler]

Originally Posted by georgestrings

All I can say is you must've gotten a WAY better SX than any I've ever seen, and I've seen a few...


- georgestrings

Actually, Ursa 2 HUMs, if they are like mine, actually are a step above most of the other models.

[fourstringbliss]

Stunning! I almost posted your pictures for you!

[LiquidMidnight]

I have an SX Jazz with some Barts in it. The pickups literally cost as much as the bass.

As nice as that SX is with its fancy pickups, it still wouldn't touch an American Fender Jazz in terms of tone, feel, and construction quality.

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by dabbler

You have funny financial logic. if the goal is to have the use of your money, what would you rather me do:

1. Take $800 from you now, give you a bass to play for 2 years, then give you$820 when you give it back. OR

2. Take $100 now, leaving you with $700, and give you $80 back in 2 years when I take the bass back?

Yes, you have more cash with option 1, but you gave up the use of 700... for 2 years!

Point was I could not give the things away modded or not. They were hung in the cheapie section of that store where the kids bought basses and guitars for $100-150 bucks. SX did not work for me.

[fourstringbliss]

Originally Posted by LiquidMidnight

I have an SX Jazz with some Barts in it. The pickups literally cost as much as the bass.

As nice as that SX is with its fancy pickups, it still wouldn't touch an American Fender Jazz in terms of tone, feel, and construction quality.

Truly, let's get real. Does my $200 SX bass the same quality as a $1300 MIA Fender Jazz? Nope. IMHO is that $1300 MIA Fender Jazz $900 better than my bass? Nope.

I think the OP was asking whether it would be worth investing in a Fender Jazz when he already has a J bass that he really likes. The answer for him would depend on what he feels like he's missing. It's really a crap shoot for everyone else.

We're in an interesting time when it comes to budget instruments. 30 years ago the best you could hope for in a budget bass was plywood. Just five years ago I bought my first SX Jazz which was made of heavy Northern Ash. My $200 three month old SX MM/J has an American Swamp Ash body and the pieces are pretty well matched. Is it the same level of matching that I would find in a 1000+ Fender? Maybe not, but I can't believe that the Swamp Ash they would use in that bass is that much better (if it's better at all) than the pieces used in mine.

Really the question for all involved is not whether an SX Jazz can truly go toe to toe with an MIA Jazz but whether it's worth the extra $900 to strap one on. That's a very personal question.

If I had $600 and could choose between an SX Jazz and used MIA Fender Jazz I'd go for the Fender, no question. Do I think it's worth it saving up for one now that I have my SX? Not really. That's just me, though.

I know there's this big divide between the SX crowd and those that don't get it. I don't think it's so much that SXphiles think their basses stack up against an MIA Jazz (though, mine beats the pants off any MIM I've ever played at half the cost), it's just that the value to cost ratio is off the charts in many cases. Look at Dabbler's bass! The figuring on the body, the flame in the neck! That's a $200 bass! It almost seems like those that paid the "big bucks" for an MIA Jazz got what they paid for and sometimes us SX guys get a lot more than we paid for. Kind of like playing a $1 scratch card. The MIA guys paid $1 for the card and maybe won $2. The SX guys paid $1 and sometimes get $0.65 (so they send it back) and other times they get $6 - $10.

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by awilkie84

Your argument is only made valid by your "I never buy new" statement. You're already buying it AT A REDUCED price. Buying new, you automatically lose 30% off the resale value because nobody pays new prices for a used instrument, unless they're stupid.

Ah so the lesson is never buy new and get good basses (name brand) cheap and resale for profit..ah Yes!

[Kenzy]

Originally Posted by bassbully

Ah so the lesson is never buy new and get good basses (name brand) cheap and resale for profit..ah Yes!

He's just noting that choosing Fender over SX due to resale value isn't a valid point.

Personally, I've never even touched an SX, so I have nothing to contribute...just wanted to possibly clear that up...

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by fourstringbliss

If someone offered to trade me an MIA Fender Jazz for it I'd only be getting a better name - not a better bass.

Originally Posted by fourstringbliss

I don't think it's so much that SXphiles think their basses stack up against an MIA Jazz

Contradict yourself much???


- georgestrings

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by Kenzy

He's just noting that choosing Fender over SX due to resale value isn't a valid point.

Personally, I've never even touched an SX, so I have nothing to contribute...just wanted to possibly clear that up...

Never did I buy a Fender for resale value but I always knew it would be there if I did sell. I have never lost money on a Fender..just saying.

[fourstringbliss]

Originally Posted by georgestrings

Contradict yourself much???


- georgestrings

All the time!! Just not so much in this case. My SX can't go toe to toe with an MIA Jazz. I AB'd one of the SX J's I have owned against some MIM J's and an MIA J. Sound and feel wise the SX was on par with the MIM's The sound was different but not better either way. The MIA felt better, played, better, and sounded more detailed and sweeter than the SX, but it darn well better! It cost $900 more!!

My contention is that for me the MIA J was a 100% but the SX was a solid 85%. It's not worth it to me to pay $600 - $900 more to get that extra 15%. Especially when I'm not a studio musician and probably won't ever have an audio track that is only what I'm playing. I play at my church and the occasional jam night, and in both places all the nuances that extra $600 - $900 could buy me would be completely lost in the mix. I think this is true of quite a few people here as well.

[Thunk4Brains]

Originally Posted by georgestrings

Contradict yourself much???


- georgestrings

That really isn't a contradiction as you're comparing a personal opinion to that of a general statement. In the first he is talking about HIS opinion on HIS particular bass. The other he is talking about OTHER'S people opinion on the SX brand as a whole.

As for the topic, I for one don't get the whole 'I bought it cause it has better resale' angle. I mean I might be a weirdo but typically when I buy an instrument I generally want to buy something I'd want to KEEP, but eh that's just me. And comparing new resale to used resale is not really far. Just like you can find a deal on a used Fender you can find great deals on used SX basses. Being entry model basses you get a lot of people who buy them and find out bass is not for them and sell it for incredibly low prices.

I think both ways around SX is the 'better deal' but if resale value is that important to you that's fine. But I'd rather buy guitars to play them rather than to make a profit. That said when it comes to value there are three things I generally take into account. Time, money, and sense.

As many people said SX is a great platform for customization .... IF you are willing to put in the time and effort to make solid good instruments into great ones. So they are the people who fall into the first group of people who have more time/sense on their hands then they do money. I mean if I had 1000 dollars and I could get a pre-made awesome guitar or I could get a ~200 dollar guitar and then spend the rest of the money to make it play almost as good as the awesome one, I'd choose the second. Having something that is customized from the inside out to MY specific likings is more important to me than any label on the headstock.

But there are also people who honestly have more money on their hands than they do time. And for them a Fender is the better investment. They pay a little more but they get a lot closer to what they want out of the box so they can spend more time playing guitar than they do tweaking and customizing it. And some people just have so much money and so little left to spend it on there is that 'why not' factor. Even if it is only 2% better, if you can afford it.... you can afford it.

Then the saddest and last are the people who have more money then they do sense. These are the people who only look at the label and believe that things are only as good as the number on the price tag. They'll never believe anything under four figures is a 'good bass' and these are mostly the kind of people who are constantly buying new basses chasing every flavor of the month. And to them, yes, resale value is important because they tend to be fickle minded and get swept up into trends quite easily.

Of course there are other factors. Reliability is one. With Fender there is a better standard of craftsmanship. I won't argue that but to be completely honest the customer service as Rondo is SO good its not much of an advantage. To use expand on the example given with the scratch off tickets, you always have the option of walking back into the store and going "Yeah I didn't win can I get another ticket?"

[TRichardsbass]

I have said it before that they are both basses that make bass notes when played. So the Fender doesnt do anything your SX can't. It comes down to nuance.

Better quality components will yield better playing experience. Most people who work in the US factories for Fender, Peavey, Carvin, etc. all are trained in the art of guitar making or desire to be guitar makers. In my personal experience going back decades most people working in overseas factories receive little or no training and are worried about making quota otherwise they dont eat. That will always show in some way in the instrument when played.

I think the biggest difference is in fret boards and fretwork. My Spector Shorty has the smoothest fret edges ever and the board is flawless. With the exception of my Aria Pro II just about every import I have or currently owned needed at least a fret dress from the get go. I saw an import bass in a local shop that while playable really needed the frets removed and a fret board levelling.

That is about it. And import quality gets better everyday so the argument will become even more moot.

Having driven a Bughati and a Yugo I can say that there really isnt much the Bughati did that the Yugo couldnt. How they did them, however.....

[AlastairWatts]

Originally Posted by Thunk4Brains

I for one don't get the whole 'I bought it cause it has better resale' angle. I mean I might be a weirdo but typically when I buy an instrument I generally want to buy something I'd want to KEEP, but eh that's just me.

+11