..... My thought is (for me) it just does not make sense to buy a cheap bass that needs a lot of work, spend $$ upgrading it, when there are so many used basses out there that already play and sound good, thus a much better buy...........
Mark
While I am not arguing with you, I would like to comment on this part of your post. I wanted to buy a cheap bass to play, well re learn/finish learning where I left off decades ago. With all the hype here I bought an SX. Loved it. I tell you this to get to the next two basses.....
My purchase reasons for SX #2 and #3 were purchased with the sole intent of modding the snot out of them. I am shooting at becoming a custom builder starting with parts basses. But I wanted to start with existing basses and learn how they tick and mod them from stock.
The second SX was purchased with the sole intent to create the Geddy clone, a work still in progress. When I am done with it I may have 2/3rds of the cost of a Fender Geddy into the SX.
The third was because I wanted a P bass and wanted to swap it all out too. Starting with the neck. Jazz necks all the way for me!
Number 4 is because I cannot find the color combinations I want and I am going to take a shot at noiseless pups...
Now, at this stage, the SX necks are readily available, for the most part, from Rondo, and at a heck of a cost! I can buy a neck and get a fret job for less than the cost of an All Parts or Warmoth neck. And the hardware etc is pretty much drop in replacement.
If I screw up one really bad, it is easy enough to find parts to fix.
Other than starting out cheap and creating a fine, well built playable bass that rivals its higher priced counterparts. I don't really care about the cost. And I don't really care about resale. (I am prone to selling them cheap to someone who really wants one - don't ask, so far none are for sale)
For me the experience gained, the uniqueness of each bass and the "I made that" factor are worth every penny. That's why I mod low cost SX basses. But every one of mine have been perfectly playable right out of the box with only a minor setup, also an art I am still perfecting
Now, when I get to using Warmoth etc and have a grand into a bass, that (selling cheap) will change......a bit anyway.....
I am building what I want, when I want now and as I progress. I never plan to build many, if any to someone else's specs. So I will build and sell when someone wants it at my price and that is it....modding/building for fun and profit, but mostly for fun.
Oh and for the record, I do really prefer Fender's neck radius over the SX....so I do plan on owning a Fender or two down the road.......... ya I will probably mod them too.........
