Cort Precision Bass vs the mighty SX

[robkphoto]

Hello all,

I have a Cort Precision copy (PB-1L?) that I got in a trade for my 1980 Rick 4001 in around 1992 or so (don't worry it wasn't a straight trade). I always thought it was a decent P Bass copy. Anyway I left it at a friends place after doing some recording and kind of forgot about it and just figured it had been swept away by the sands of time. I just heard from the friend and will actually be getting it back shortly. In the interim I've gotten back into playing bass and bought a Sting Ray (like I always wanted....AWESOME) and now I'm thinking I'd like to set the Cort up a bit differently with flats and some other upgrades (Badass bridge, tuners, pickups, pots, etc.). I have the Sting Ray set up with rounds for that bright, tense Sting Ray vibe, want to try and make this a bit Mellower.

This brings me to my question. I've read all the numerous daily threads here on Talkbass about how utterly fantastic the SX Fender copies are and have had very little luck finding anything regarding the Cort Precision copies. I'm wondering if it's worthwhile to just drop the extra $100 for a SX P Bass if I'm going to try and upgrade a P bass copy. Is the Cort not worth putting the time and cash into? I know that a lot of the Cort basses are very fine instruments but is their version of the P bass a very cheap rip off? And would I be better served by spending a little extra on the SX for my project bass and keeping the Cort as beater? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Before everyone says I need to play them and figure out which I like better I would just like to point out that the Cort played great when I got in 1992 but is sorely in need of a setup. I haven't seen it in around 3-4 years and when I last saw it the action was pretty high. Nothing a truss rod tweak probably wouldn't fix.

Thanks,
rk

 

[Jimbob Jones]

My experience of cort is that they're great. One of the other bassists at my church has an active cort 5er, and it really is ace, blindfolded, I don't think I'd be able to tell the difference between it and a much more expensive bass.

If upgrading it is gonna cost less than a really nice P, I say go for it!

Good luck!

 

[BillyRay]

I don't know who manufactures the SX basses, but Cort manufactures a LOT of imports for big brand names. Now, this is an older instrument, so it might not be to today's import standards (wich are very high), but pick it up and give it a go. Don't mod anything unless necessary. Way too many people slapping fancy bridges or pickups on beaters and convincing themselves its a necessity.

The SX stock pickups, for example, are perfectly serviceable.

 

[bass player 48]

IMO - If there is nothing wrong with the Cort and the action is good after set up, then the SX would not be better in any way. You might as well stick with the Cort.

Also, only IMO, You might want to rethink the BAII bridge. If you are going for a round, mellow, fat P bass tone the flat wound strings are a good idea, but I think the BAII will have the oposite tonal effect - I find they add punch, sustain, clarity and give a more modern hi-fi kind of sound... it sounds like you'd be better off keeping a Fender style bent plate bridge.

 

[robkphoto]

Thanks for your opinions. Think I'll probably get it back, try it out, and set it up and maybe change out the strings to flats and see how that goes. I think it's still got the original 1992 strings on it. If I like it and feel like it could be better maybe switch out the pickups depending on how it sounds through an amp.