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Copy basses

#21
Depends which one. A brand new Fender American Standard P-bass Link Removed costs $1100. An SX P-bass Link Removed costs $110. The Fender is ten times as expensive as the SX.

Is the fender better quality? Yes. It will most likely last alot longer than the SX. Will it last 10x as long? Maybe, but probably not. It depends on how well you take care of it.

Does it sound better? Probably, but not 10x better.

I personally don't think the differences in build quality, sound, whatever warrant the differences in price. You're paying for the brand name, and American labor. That's why I will never own a Fender.
 
#23
Araillac said:
But the price is so much higher on a fender. Is that just due to popularity or is it really better quality than a SX?
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First, labor costs in the U.S. are WAY higher than in China where the SX's are made.

The quality of the hardware is fancier on the American Fenders. That doesn't necissarly mean it functions any better, but it does mean it's more expensive.

The SX basses are great instruments, particularly when you factor in price, but the attention to detail isn't there like it is on a new American Fender, or more other more expensive bass.

These are a few of the reasons why the Fenders are more expensive. Yeah, you are paying a bit for the name as well. Fender is, like it or not, the industry standard, and the basses by which all others are measured.
 
#26
Araillac said:
I just don't really trust low priced things. I'm concerned about quality is all. I bought a paint ball gun once that was around 100 dollars and it was awful and began failing quickly
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I've gigged my SX pretty damned hard for over 3 years now. It's probably been gigged and worked harder than the majority of the high end $2000 plus basses you see here on TB.

If the bass wasn't trust worthy, or up to the task, I woudn't be playing it.

I always get concened when people replace parts for no apparent reason.

Example: there was someone in a thread not long ago talking about how the SX p/u's weren't any good, because a sound guy told him the signal was " Too Hot, Boomy on the low end and weak in the mids". He wanted new pickups.

I'd bet any amount of money , particularly after hearing stock SX J bass p/u's that they were simply just adjusted way too close to the strings.

Lowering the pickups by turning the adjustment screws is a WHOLE LOT cheaper than swapping pickups.

Do you follow what I'm trying to say here.
 
#29
Araillac said:
Well SX sounds good. I'll probably go buy one and get me a nice red tort pick guard to go along with it. Thanks for all the help and tolerating me
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If you go the route of getting an SX, factor in a few bucks to have it proffesionaly set up with the strings of your choice.

That will make a big differance in playability, and you'll know it was done correctly. This will be a good starting point for you.

Then learn the basics of how to do set up's yourself, and you'll be in good shape.

The SX basses are an exelent value.
 
#30
One side of me: I know someone who played in a project with Robert Fripp a long time ago using a (really craptastic) Hohner Jazz Bass copy. It's not the arrow, it's the Indian. I myself use a Japan built Fender Jazz fretless and a (severely hot-rodded) Hondo-II Strat to record with all the time.

Other side of me: Why do you want to play that junk for?
 
#34
Rebop said:
One side of me: I know someone who played in a project with Robert Fripp a long time ago using a (really craptastic) Hohner Jazz Bass copy. It's not the arrow, it's the Indian. I myself use a Japan built Fender Jazz fretless and a (severely hot-rodded) Hondo-II Strat to record with all the time.

Other side of me: Why do you want to play that junk for?
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I know what you're saying hahaha

I used to think every now and then that I ought to be playing one of my "better" basses when I'm out gigging the SX.

Then reality sets in. The SX plays and sounds fantastic.

I've even used my new American Standard as a backup to the SX if you can belive that!! Eithe one of those two could be my primary or back up on any given night. The SX served as my primary "workhorse" for over 3 years.
 
#39
Araillac said:
Could I take a list of the specs of the Fender Precision bass of some kind and just alter them on an SX or Squire until it's the same and if done correctly, expect the same tone? Assuming it's the same wood which I've noticed some are.
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You could expect similar tone, but probably not the same. However, which one sounds better is up to the listener.

The materials of a bass are not just about what kind of wood is used, but also how it's built. Bodies are rarely cut from one single piece of wood (except in high-end instruments), but rather 2 or more pieces glued together. In the case of Mexican-made Fenders, I believe the number is typically 4-6.

Everything will have an effect on how an instrument plays, sounds, or vibrates - wood density, moisture content, paint thickness, pickups, strings, bridge, tuners, nut material, etc. Whether the differences are noticible - or even an improvement - is where the debate is.
 

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