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SX (Essex) Jazz Bass: Stock vs. Upgrade SOUNDCLIPS

-=DanAtkinson=-

-=DanAtkinson=-

Feb 26, 2008
2,457
125
50
Atlanta, GA
#1
Ok, so I decided to get me an SJB-75 and do some upgrades. But I thought it would be educational to make a before & after recording. Here it is:

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The groove is played twice. The first time through is the stock SX, out of the box. I mean stock strings, pickups, etc. The 2nd time through (you'll hear a cymbal hit once) is post-upgrade. Here's what the upgrade included:

  • Fender Custom Shop 60's Pickups
  • New 250K CTS Pots
  • New roundwound D'Addario strings
  • New High-Mass Bridge
Listen to the results. Personally, I amazed at how little difference I can hear. To me, the tone sounds a bit "smoother" after the upgrades, but it's darn close!

Here's the model in question:

sjb75na1.jpg
 
#5
qroon said:
I like the sound of the stock configuration. To me, it's 'rounder' than the upgraded configuration.
Click to expand...

I've listened to it about 20 times now, and I personally prefer the upgraded tone. It has more bottom end, and the walk on the 1st string sounds more smooth to me. The stock tone is good, but it feels a bit "harsher".

But the difference is minimal, to my ears. The stock sound is still very, very good.
 
#6
Its no question SX has been a very good deal for musicians...They will never be popular at retail stores because they can't make a good profit due to the initial low cost to the public. If a store can sell you a $1200.00 bass and make $300-$400 profit. Why would they want to sell you a $159.00 bass and only making $30 dollars profit. Here is a great atricle about microphones that nails home "sometimes the cost is just in the name"

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:hiding:
 
#7
I'd be lying if I said I could hear any difference whatsoever. What you should have done is just posted it without telling us it was even 2 different clips, because I think a lot of people knowing is going to make them hear something different.
 
#9
otis_thick said:
Its no question SX has been a very good deal for musicians...They will never be popular at retail stores because they can't make a good profit due to the initial low cost to the public. If a store can sell you a $1200.00 bass and make $300-$400 profit. Why would they want to sell you a $159.00 bass and only making $30 dollars profit. Here is a great atricle about microphones that nails home "sometimes the cost is just in the name"

Invalid Link Removed

:hiding:
Click to expand...

i teach at a music store and the cheap stuff flies out the door. we cant keep the cheap imports in stock. ernie balls and g&l's sit around and dont move. all the small profit margin adds up;)
 
#13
I listened to the sample without reading your post first and I didn't notice any difference in tone. I only thought "sounds like roundwounds" just as the clip finished.

But I noticed only a slight change after I read your post. There's a touch more bass and a bit more of what I can only describe as reverb (?) when you play up the g string on the second cycle of the riff.

Sorry, but you seem to have spent a lot and gained very little!
 
#15
Maybe those low notes do sound smoother after the upgrade or maybe its the power of suggestion from the previous posts but if there is a difference the average person in a live audience would never pick it up.....

I got one SX short scale Pbass might have to buy a jazz....
 
#16
The fact that you can hear a difference considering what I would imagine would be fairly simple recording techniques, file compression, etc. says a lot to me.

I think your ears in a live setting are always the best judge of tone. Of course you did the next best thing considering you were modifying one bass and not comparing two side by side.

Personally, I'll echo what folks are saying about smoother/richer post mod.
 
#18
Perhaps it's my little speakers, but the low notes on the second sample sounded "woofier", making the first sample the better of the two!
As to the playing - why can't I take a nice simple bunch of notes and give it a twist to make it sound so good? That's probaly "talent."
Sounds great either way.
 
#19
Being the new-to-me owner of an SX, this thread has intrigued me.

Honestly, I wouldn't have noticed a diff if you hadn't told me. I do notice a slight difference, but shoot!, a new set of strings can make that much difference!

BTW: Nice playing!
 

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