I'm confused. Wouldn't that be an AWESOME deal?
Now excuse my while I drive around town at 120mph...
And go for the SX if you're itching for one. You'll have fun with it
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Can you go wrong spending $120 on a bass?
- Thread starter Icculus
- Start date
I'm confused. Wouldn't that be an AWESOME deal?
Now excuse my while I drive around town at 120mph...
And go for the SX if you're itching for one. You'll have fun with it
Exploiter8
Demons run when a good man goes to war
I spent $160 on a no-name headless bass from Ebay. After spending time tweaking and setting up after new strings, I've got a nice, lightweight, compact bass. So what did I do next? I bought a case, Straplocks and strap, cord, tuner, polishing cloth, etc. I know your starting out with a $120 bass, but if you fall in love with it (as I did mine!) by the time you accessorize, you'll be spending twice as much! Buy it and ENJOY it!
X8
X8
I have 2-one was bought new (white P-J w/black PG) and one was rescued from a pawn shop (LPB J w/matching headstock). Other than changing strings on both basses, the only "mods" I did were to ream out the E string holes on both bridges and changed the PG screws from chrome to black on the the white P-Bass.
Otherwise they are 100% stock and I'm fine with them. Just as important-they sound good in the mix with my band. The P-bass is a little stronger than the J, but they both do a credible job.
I have no issues with the tuners or the bridge. The basses stay in tune and they hold intonation well.
Otherwise they are 100% stock and I'm fine with them. Just as important-they sound good in the mix with my band. The P-bass is a little stronger than the J, but they both do a credible job.
I have no issues with the tuners or the bridge. The basses stay in tune and they hold intonation well.
I don't know about that... SX is my first bass, and it's treating me very very well.
If you want to learn and don't have a lot of money to spend, SX is a great place to start. You should learn how to set up the instrument. If you have more money, get the SX anyway, pay for a quality setup and spend the rest on the amp. Or even lessons.
I wanted to learn bass for a while, but couldn't justify the opportunity cost for what would inevitably start out as a hobby. But SX Jazz + headphone amp + strings, lots of webpages on setup and starting technique, and I'm having a lot of fun.
Save expensive gear for when you have paying gigs.
If spending that $120 mean you did NOT pay $120 your credit cards - YES. It will likely be a waste of money, which isn't the end of the world... but better to be $120 less in debt, if you ask me...
I paid $120 plus shipping for a used Cort bass when I was told that my Peavey Grind was unfixable. I don't see how I could have done better for the money.
what ever happened to that search .gif that someone made?
<insert it here>
it floated around here for awhile, then vanished.
<insert it here>
it floated around here for awhile, then vanished.
edmidlifecrisis
Registered mediocre bass player
My son bought a 5 string Rogue off MF for about that much. He really doesn't play but wanted something to do when his brother and friends jam on guitar (he has some music background though).
It needed new strings and a serious setup, just horrendous out of the box, which I did, it took a couple of hours. But it actually plays reasonably well (I don't play 5 string so have no comparison basis) and it does sound pretty damned good. It probably needs a bit more tweaking but he hasn't really been playing it so my motivation is low. This brand really isn't too bad for the low $$ either, I guess.
I had several SX's a few years ago and didn't like them, a J and a P/j. Sold them.
I recently bought an SX LPB fretless P just before they dried up. I really couldn't get into the flat fretless neck. So I bought a fretted neck here on TB and after some tweaking and adjustments and setting up with flats, it plays pretty well and sounds nice!!! Still needs a bit more tweaking but really, not bad. And it's beautiful.
Anyone want to buy a fretless neck?
It needed new strings and a serious setup, just horrendous out of the box, which I did, it took a couple of hours. But it actually plays reasonably well (I don't play 5 string so have no comparison basis) and it does sound pretty damned good. It probably needs a bit more tweaking but he hasn't really been playing it so my motivation is low. This brand really isn't too bad for the low $$ either, I guess.
I had several SX's a few years ago and didn't like them, a J and a P/j. Sold them.
I recently bought an SX LPB fretless P just before they dried up. I really couldn't get into the flat fretless neck. So I bought a fretted neck here on TB and after some tweaking and adjustments and setting up with flats, it plays pretty well and sounds nice!!! Still needs a bit more tweaking but really, not bad. And it's beautiful.
Anyone want to buy a fretless neck?
For me, +1 on the SX.
I just got one ( P-bass copy), and with new strings,and some cosmetic mods and a quick setup, it's a really good bass. At some point, as it sounds really good and plays well as is, the only other mod I'm likely to do is to replace the pots and wiring, but only if they start messing up. While I'm at it, I'll probably shield it. The tuners and bridge seem stable. The sunburst finish was a pleasant surprise, on the Rondo website it looks like that yucky black-red-yellow burst you usually get on cheap instruments, it turned out more of a subtler black-brown-gold color, much better looking. Looks nice with the black pickguard I got from Rondo at the same time. Neck/body join is tight along the sides of the neck pocket. Pretty good for $109 plus $20 for shipping.
I just got one ( P-bass copy), and with new strings,and some cosmetic mods and a quick setup, it's a really good bass. At some point, as it sounds really good and plays well as is, the only other mod I'm likely to do is to replace the pots and wiring, but only if they start messing up. While I'm at it, I'll probably shield it. The tuners and bridge seem stable. The sunburst finish was a pleasant surprise, on the Rondo website it looks like that yucky black-red-yellow burst you usually get on cheap instruments, it turned out more of a subtler black-brown-gold color, much better looking. Looks nice with the black pickguard I got from Rondo at the same time. Neck/body join is tight along the sides of the neck pocket. Pretty good for $109 plus $20 for shipping.
+1
These stock pickups on my SX P bass sound every bit as good as my '70's Fenders. I'm not saying there's not better (subjective) pickups on the market, but I'm not in any hurry to change them.
yes..
why not pick up a foundation or fury.. .. fury if you're a mod type guy..
SX have no resale.. nobody really comments that they like them till they drop a few hundred into them.
My vote would be to scour the ads for a Fury, Milestone etc.
why not pick up a foundation or fury.. .. fury if you're a mod type guy..
SX have no resale.. nobody really comments that they like them till they drop a few hundred into them.
My vote would be to scour the ads for a Fury, Milestone etc.
While those are nice basses that can be had at a bargain price...
you better like ultra skinny necks or they aren't going to be for you.
I'd always recomend checking those out if you are on a budget too.
For me though....necks are just too far away from what a good P bass should feel like (my personal preferance)
I don't know about anyone else, but I've said that my two SX basses were great right out of the box... and I didn't drop a few hundred into them, less than a hundred on each (and none of those upgrades were absolutely necessary).
...you might not ever want to sell them anyhow...like me.
I agree. I've seen MANY posts on this and other forums where folks are all hot to get to changing out stuff before they even have the thing in hand, and I figure they oughta wait to see if they really need to go to all that effort and expense.
They may find it's not needed.
In the past two months I've gotten both a Squier and an SX, and I don't think I will be doing any major modding of either. As you say, with a setup, pretty much they are good to go right out of the box.
Me too. I could care less about resale value. My only concern is that it be a fun bass to play.
I may (that's not a given) put in some new electrics (pots, wiring) and some shielding at some point, but that's it. That, along with some purely cosmetic mods that I've already done, will probably amount to about total of about $150-$160, which is quite a bit less than a few hundred, and it will be (already is, really) a fine bass.
While those are nice basses that can be had at a bargain price...
you better like ultra skinny necks or they aren't going to be for you.
I'd always recomend checking those out if you are on a budget too.
For me though....necks are just too far away from what a good P bass should feel like (my personal preferance)
Not all of the eras have pencil necks... earlier are a different profile.... earlier were less pencilish
Unlike the SX basses I've owned, I could quick and easy cash out an American Patriot, Fury or Foundation
