calling all SX fretless owners

[zeppelinbass95]

I have been looking ay them for a long time (mostly the jazz) and I want to hear your thoughts and see your pics. Thanks

 

[dinghy]

I don't own one, but my friend does. It plays very well and sounds nice with a lot of mwah, but make sure you get a rosewood boarded one because apparently the maple ones have a layer of poly on it that makes it sound less mwah-y.

 

[zeppelinbass95]

bump

 

[LCW]

i wanna know peoples thoughts on these as well i at least want to just buy the neck for 40$

 

[ironrat]

Review here:

 

[Kurtmon]

I have a 5 string SX Fretless, and I don't think you could do any better for the money, I put a set of Sadowsky Flats on it and it made a huge improvement in the tone,, I say go for it....

 

[CardinalFan984]

they sound amazing for the cost, and they look pretty darn good also

 

[Hellbastard]

I bought a replacement neck from rondo and I am very pleased with it, only complaint I have is the that finish is too sticky. but it looks and plays great.

Link Removed

 

[v-grooves]

I have been looking ay them for a long time (mostly the jazz) and I want to hear your thoughts and see your pics. Thanks

I have a fretless SX Jazz and I am actually impressed with it. I like the sound the electronics put out and the finish is decent as well. I may have just been lucky to get a really good one.....It is a lil heavy though.

I have not played another SX so I have nothing to compare to. If it was stolen, I would replace it.

Good luck,
Vince

 

[TRob1293]

I don't own one, but my friend does. It plays very well and sounds nice with a lot of mwah, but make sure you get a rosewood boarded one because apparently the maple ones have a layer of poly on it that makes it sound less mwah-y.

Yikes!!

I want my mwah-y!

 

[billoetjen]

This is a joke, right?



I've had two SX's. The P clone I bought new has been an incredible value. They're good if you get a good one. Make exceptional foundations for modding. I modded this one so much, it's not an SX anymore - Dimarzio model P, lock-down bridge, stereo electronics to support the Dimarzio Model One (!), new PG, there must be more that I forgot. If you get a lemon, it's stinko. But Kurt takes them back - and pays the shipping! Jeezum Crow, what are you waiting for?
Bill

 

[dinghy]

Yikes!!

I want my mwah-y!

Haha, we need to come up with a more legit adjective for this

 

[yellofury]

my answer from another thread:

the regular SX P bass pickup makes a decent P Bass sound - nice fat and deep
and it makes a unique fretless sound like Pino Palladino
if I want that I usually solo the neck pickup

BUT I have found I get much more mwah and presence with the bridge soloed
and it makes a very nice Jaco-esque glasslike mwah

I hardly ever "mix" the two pickups together because for some reason atleast to me
the output gets minimilized and the attack is lost.

however the fact that I can get these two very fundamentally different fretless sounds in one bass that cost me 115 bucks is a nice bonus

 

[slaerts]

I have one and apart from taking the pickguard off and putting new strings on, it is completely stock. I was originally concerned that the pickup sounded crap and very cheap in a too trebley kinda way. I found that when I played in a band situation that the fretless cut through the mix much better than I could haver hoped. It still sounds crap while practicing by myself (my opinion only) but works great in the mix.

 

[Gopher Bob]

At first I despised my SX 5 string fretless. The neck made a creaking noise every time pressure was placed on a string. The pickups b string reproduction was also disapointing.

Recently as in about a week ago I was bored and was about to take the bass completely apart(I've had it about 2 years now). Between the neck and the body I found a little paper 'wedge'. After removing this wedge and applying a thin layer of wood filler between the neck and the body I screwed the neck back on.

No more creaking neck joint. Now I have E A D G C strings on it since the issue with the low B. They were too tight so I tuned them back to to B E A D G! But the cool thing is I really like how it plays and even it's unplugged sound is really nice(unplugged sound always important to me).

 

[GregBass1979]

I love my SX 5 {SJB-62} fretless!! I added the Marcus Miller neck pup gaurd,Bartolini Pickups,and Audere JZ3 pickups and painted the pickgaurd black. This bass is punchy and Jaco-Like as well as woody and thumpy sounding with the Neck Pups rolled up. IMO, the pickups made a HUGE improvement to the thin sounding stock pups that came with it. I HIGHLY recommend these basses..for the price, you just can't beat it. It would take a lot for me to sell this, unless I was completely out of cash and needed to eat.

 

[kingbee]

My GAS intensifies.

I've been going back and forth on whether or not to get a fretless SX. This thread has sealed the deal.

 

[Fresh Eddie]

I love mine... I swapped out the bridge for a still flimsy CIJ Fender one (just because I had an extra) but otherwise totally stock (including flatwounds.)

It sounds amazing... i had the frets tugged out of my Precision Elite 2 and the fingerboard coated, and the SX sounds much warmer and records great. Recently, a buzz had developed where the first fret would be, but it is not too bad. When I first got it, the fingerboard edges were hella sharp, but I ran the shaft of a screwdriver along the length of it and it went away instantaneously.

I am not a huge fan of the headstock, but for $130, I am not complaining!

Look at those toes!

 

[lonote]

Do they make any without fret lines?

 

[chubrocker]

If it is your first fretless, you really cannot do better for the money. My only complaint is the heavily finished neck. I'm just a satin neck finish guy, so....

I've had two SXs and both were good quality for the money. New bridge and new pups/wiring are a cheap and easy upgrade if you so choose to do so.