I'm finally done....for now.
So I've had my SX (Essex) Jazz for just about a year now and I've finally caught up on all the mods I had planned. So far, I've done no electronics upgrades so if that's your ticket, you can stop reading here.
Here's what I started with when 'Bananas n' Cream' showed up at more door last February:
Not bad for $159, but I found some issues:
After much procrastination, and not playing my SX so much (only played it at the hotel when I traveled for work), I finally got around to spending the time to get everything right.
1. Orange tint - this was addressed by stripping off the top coat 'pumpkin' finish. Based on a thread started by Stingray69:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=553831
I used CitriStrip as prescribed and it worked like a champ. The neck is now normal maple looking.
2. 'Tinny' tone - I swapped out the stock bridge with the Gotoh 201. I bought this online from Warmoth. Perfect universal fit. Screw holes match up. Downside was the saddles were too high, so much thanks to TB, I found a thread where someone recommended using the stock saddles on the Gotoh. Swapped those out, adjusted and the tone is definitely warmer.
Note: there's been some debate over which screw to install first, some say start with the middle, but I installed each end screw first and had no problems at all. Install each screw but don't tigthen, then tighten alternating ends until you reach the middle.
3. Knob slippage. The neck volume knob would over turn the rotation of the pot so obviously it wasn't a good fit. Swapped around the stock knobs and the problem followed the knob, not the pot. So I ordered a new set of knobs from Warmoth (<$4 for 3). This time thought I'd go with the authentic Fender Jazz look and got the black plastics. I did have to 'pad' the pots with some locking washers under the metal cover because the plastic knobs were way too high off the body (especially the 3rd small one). The small 'holder tabs' that lock the pots into the metal cover don't seem all that important. After I installed the locking washers, they no longer reach the cover, but the pots feel nice and secure nonetheless. I definitely like the look more now.
4. Very high action - too much neck relief. While not a mod. I performed my own setup (before and after the new bridge) with a new capo, feeler gauges, string height ruler (from Stew Mac) and good advice from TB. Each string is precisely 6/64" off the 12th fret - just where I like it. Good and low with zero fret buzz. I mean she plays real smooth now.
5. Neck dive and re-tunes. Upgraded the tuning machines to Schaller BML tuners from Warmoth. The mounting holes do not line up, so I had to carefully re-drill all the holes. Also the Schaller tuner ferrules were not a snug fit (too loose) so I used the SX stock ferrules instead. Tuners turn like butter now and so far tuning is pretty static. Although I did not weigh the bass before and after, there does seem to be some reduced neck dive. This is one of my favorite of the upgrades.
Also - I re-strung her right away with some DR Lo-Riders and to my ears and fingers, it's like a match made in heaven.
Overall, I have to say, for the price of this bass, roughly $130 in upgrades, and few hours of my time, I am more than pleased with the playability and tone. I find myself playing and 'enjoying the playability' just as much as my MIA Precision.
Here's the after:
(not that bright in person)
Definitely a good play for someone looking for a bass on a budget, as long as you know something about setting up a bass (or a good one to learn on).
This thread here pretty much convinced me to hold off on upgrading the pickups for now
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=544156&highlight=essex+jazz
So I've had my SX (Essex) Jazz for just about a year now and I've finally caught up on all the mods I had planned. So far, I've done no electronics upgrades so if that's your ticket, you can stop reading here.
Here's what I started with when 'Bananas n' Cream' showed up at more door last February:
Not bad for $159, but I found some issues:
- Funny orange tint to neck
- 'Tinny' tone, especially with neck pickup turned down
- Knob slippage when turning
- Very high action and too much neck relief
- Neck dive and constant re-tuning
After much procrastination, and not playing my SX so much (only played it at the hotel when I traveled for work), I finally got around to spending the time to get everything right.
1. Orange tint - this was addressed by stripping off the top coat 'pumpkin' finish. Based on a thread started by Stingray69:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=553831
I used CitriStrip as prescribed and it worked like a champ. The neck is now normal maple looking.
2. 'Tinny' tone - I swapped out the stock bridge with the Gotoh 201. I bought this online from Warmoth. Perfect universal fit. Screw holes match up. Downside was the saddles were too high, so much thanks to TB, I found a thread where someone recommended using the stock saddles on the Gotoh. Swapped those out, adjusted and the tone is definitely warmer.
Note: there's been some debate over which screw to install first, some say start with the middle, but I installed each end screw first and had no problems at all. Install each screw but don't tigthen, then tighten alternating ends until you reach the middle.
3. Knob slippage. The neck volume knob would over turn the rotation of the pot so obviously it wasn't a good fit. Swapped around the stock knobs and the problem followed the knob, not the pot. So I ordered a new set of knobs from Warmoth (<$4 for 3). This time thought I'd go with the authentic Fender Jazz look and got the black plastics. I did have to 'pad' the pots with some locking washers under the metal cover because the plastic knobs were way too high off the body (especially the 3rd small one). The small 'holder tabs' that lock the pots into the metal cover don't seem all that important. After I installed the locking washers, they no longer reach the cover, but the pots feel nice and secure nonetheless. I definitely like the look more now.
4. Very high action - too much neck relief. While not a mod. I performed my own setup (before and after the new bridge) with a new capo, feeler gauges, string height ruler (from Stew Mac) and good advice from TB. Each string is precisely 6/64" off the 12th fret - just where I like it. Good and low with zero fret buzz. I mean she plays real smooth now.
5. Neck dive and re-tunes. Upgraded the tuning machines to Schaller BML tuners from Warmoth. The mounting holes do not line up, so I had to carefully re-drill all the holes. Also the Schaller tuner ferrules were not a snug fit (too loose) so I used the SX stock ferrules instead. Tuners turn like butter now and so far tuning is pretty static. Although I did not weigh the bass before and after, there does seem to be some reduced neck dive. This is one of my favorite of the upgrades.
Also - I re-strung her right away with some DR Lo-Riders and to my ears and fingers, it's like a match made in heaven.
Overall, I have to say, for the price of this bass, roughly $130 in upgrades, and few hours of my time, I am more than pleased with the playability and tone. I find myself playing and 'enjoying the playability' just as much as my MIA Precision.
Here's the after:
(not that bright in person)
Definitely a good play for someone looking for a bass on a budget, as long as you know something about setting up a bass (or a good one to learn on).
This thread here pretty much convinced me to hold off on upgrading the pickups for now
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=544156&highlight=essex+jazz
