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My SX (Essex) P Bass Review

CapnSev

CapnSev

Aug 19, 2006
5,756
2,145
Coeur d'Alene
#1
So a few weeks ago I decided I wanted a cheap 4-string bass to teach lessons with, and hearing all the hype here on TB, I decided to go for the run-of-the-mill SX P. I love the P sound, and love the P neck, and the standard SX P-Bass (SPB 57 in black) was the only model with those specs.

I admit, I expected a miracle because of the hype here on TB about these instruments. Honestly, I was let down a little. I had to order two. The first one had a BIG dead spot on the G string from the 5th fret to the 8th fret that was so bad, zero sound came out of it. No setup was going to fix that. I sent it back, no sweat. The 2nd bass I got was better, and that's the one I'll review.

First off, the fit and finish:
It still has a bad spot on the G string from the 5th fret to the 7th, which buzzes a bit. There's several other spots as well, but this one is the worst. The action at the nut is pretty high too; it will take some filing to make it decent. The finish is not bad, the orange tint kind of made me laugh. It's a little tacky feeling, but it won't bother me. Overall, I'm not real stoked about having to dress the frets, but it was $100 bass.

Second, the sound:
This was definitely the selling point of the bass. It sounds like a really good P bass should sound! It was very evenly balanced between strings, and had a really sweet tone. I find the tone knob very useable, having a huge range with little volume effect. The volume knob was the only downside, it seemed to kind of have an "all-on, all-off" thing going. I'm not sure why people are so eager to swap electronics in these, as I think it's the best part of the bass.

Overall, it's an ok bass. I'm really going to have to put some time into it to make it feel good. It has some good potential, but I'm not crapping my pants over it or anything. Compared to other basses in the $100-$200ish range (Squier, Yamaha, Ibanez, etc.), I'd give it about a C.
 
#3
Pretty much the same review for me.

Bad:
- Neck tint/feeling* (altough I love the size/profile)
- Some dead spots, altough they are liveable
- Not the fastest instrument ever and I had to file some fret ends

Good:
- THE SOUND
- Good hardware for the price
- Great modding platform if you get a good one and give it some love

Since people on TB just love to twinker with their instrument and they are proven designs (thousands of aftermarket options for j and p style basses), it goes without saying that they get some hype. They are also miles ahead of what passed as a beginner instrument years ago, so the bang for the buck factor is definately there. Not many solid body Squiers, Ibanez or Corts for 109 out of the door, unless you go used.

* I finally sanded that gunky crap off and it is a lot better now.
 
#5
I think I was lucky, the neck and fretwork on my SX Jazz are really good. All I've had to do is one set up since I got it, and it's been rock solid. I don't know about the Precisions, but with a Jazz I think a control cavity shielding is just about a must. As others have said, the pickups sound great.

CapnSev, how was the quality of the paint job on yours? Mine was kinda' uneven and had some small runs. Since it's a clear coat, you have to look close to see it.
 
#10
CapnSev said:
It still has a bad spot on the G string from the 5th fret to the 7th, which buzzes a bit. bass.

.
Click to expand...
Fret buzz, or a dead spot?

Is the relief set correctly? Not enough relief, and that's pretty much where you'll start having issues IME arround 5 to 7.

If we're talking a "dead spot" , did you try a different brand or gauge of strings. That can, IME, "fix" those problems
sometimes.


Are you sure this is a "build" issue, and not just a set up issue?
 
#11
savit260 said:
Fret buzz, or a dead spot?

Is the relief set correctly? Not enough relief, and that's pretty much where you'll start having issues IME arround 5 to 7.

If we're talking a "dead spot" , did you try a different brand or gauge of strings. That can, IME, "fix" those problems
sometimes.


Are you sure this is a "build" issue, and not just a set up issue?
Click to expand...

Yes. Trust me. I've set up basses plenty of times.
 
#13
I got my SX short scale P-bass today, have heard the complaints and here's what I found when I opened the box:

I got a gig bag?! Oookay, wasn't expecting that.
The neck has a nice fast satin finish, and is really skinny at the nut, more so than I expected.
Good, neck is nice and straight. Rosewood fretboard looks good, but I'll oil it just the same.
Frets look good. No sprout or anything else going on. Need to play it some to see if any need leveling.
Bridge cheap but serviceable. I'll get a better one.
Nut plasticky. I'll change it when I change strings.
Sunburst finish even and far better than I expected. Knobs aren't so hot.
Lot lighter than my Squier Bullet 34". Was expecting lighter, but whoa. Most of my old guitars were heavier.
Strap buttons, string tree - meh.

After plugging in:
Tuners hold ok, feel kinda cheap. Ear says intonation needs small adjustment. Action seems good.
Strings have GOT to go. Worst I ever had on a bass.
Pickup seems good.
Sounds good, but different. Need to put flatwounds for a real test.
My fretting hand doesn't hurt at all after a few songs - big win, hope this is the answer to my hand issues.

So what do I think? For what I paid, I did very well. I wasn't looking for a professional grade bass, and I didn't care for the Epi EB0. I also didn't want to spend any more on my first short scale than necessary.
 
#14
CapnSev said:
First off, the fit and finish:
It still has a bad spot on the G string from the 5th fret to the 7th, which buzzes a bit. There's several other spots as well, but this one is the worst. The action at the nut is pretty high too; it will take some filing to make it decent. The finish is not bad, the orange tint kind of made me laugh. It's a little tacky feeling, but it won't bother me. Overall, I'm not real stoked about having to dress the frets, but it was $100 bass.
Click to expand...

The neck on my newest SX was the first (of 4) that I have had that had high frets on it. That was the only realy problem with it. I thought about sending it back for a replacement, but decided to just have a pro setup done on it instead (also since I had been wanting to try out a certain shop that I was hearing good things about) Yeah, the pro setup cost me as much as the bass, but damn it was worth it. It plays fantastic now.

Someone commented in another thread that you would never be able to get an SX to play like a Fedora, and I agree. But thats due to the differences in woods, finish, neck profile and things like that.

I think a well setup bass (of any brand) should be easy and comfortable to play. My SX's are, but they are not Fodera's. Maybe Fodera should make an SX copy so we can test them side by side?:hiding:
 
#17
Hey, thanks for taking the time and trouble to write that review. It was a refreshing perspective after all the hype here on TB.
The two SX's I've had were both purchased with the intention of modding. I just accepted that and was perfectly content with it because I'd mod anything that comes my way. Better to do that with a Chinese clone than a stock 60's Fender, right? Funny, but the neck on my (bought new, this year) SX P was and remains killer. Every fret. Yeah, the fret ends are a little rough and the nut had to be filed. But for some styles of playing, I hit faster and more accurately on this than on my custom-spec Warmoth neck. From what I hear, I was really lucky. Must be all that clean living.
Bill
 
#20
So I've had this bass a while now, and I'm growing more disappointed in it actually.

Since my last review, I've noticed a couple of other things that gripe me.

The volume control is way too drastic. It's either all-on or all-off practically. I am an avid user of the volume control, and this bass's volume pot frustrates me.

The tone control has it's own set of problems too, namely volume. The volume drops significantly when the tone is rolled off. Again, I am an avid tone control user and this one frustrates me.

There's also an area around the 9th to 12th fret which is really loud. It's way, way louder than any other spot on the fingerboard, I have no clue why. I think it's again related to inconsistencies in workmanship on the fretwork and the neck. I have yet to plek the frets, so we'll see if that helps somehow.


Bottom line is the old adage: "You get what you pay for." - I paid for a $100 bass.
 

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