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Does Not Compute: $139 SX Mahogany 6 String with Set Neck

#104
Mine arrive this morning. Too early to go into detail. Finish level on the body consistent with price point. However out of the box this is the best setup bass I have ever received from Rondo. That might no be saying much but I own now four sx basses and this was absolutely playable out the box and with good action with nary a tweak. More to come once I plug it in but so far very happy with this purchase.

Ken
 
#105
Got mine too.
Some inconsistencies where the control cavity cover meets the body, but the body contour is beautiful. My son is upstairs noodling right now...how'd this happen? I'm cleaning the garage, and he's upstairs playing...some pics:
IMG_20111015_130421.jpg

IMG_20111015_130442.jpg

IMG_20111015_130552.jpg

IMG_20111015_130605.jpg
 
#108
Bassmanmike1 said:
Thanks for the reviews guys. Looking forward to seeing those pics. Thursday seems farther and farther away.

Came across an ad in my local CL for a case for $35.00. It's molded inside for a P or J. Think this would fit?
Click to expand...


I have three bass cases from Rondo that are the same recommended case for this bass on the website. Those are a perfect fit for a Jazz. So I say, yes. If it fits a Jazz it will fit this bass.

Edit: The rondo cases are not molded though. So if the case you're looking at is a snug fit for a Jazz then it might not accommodate it.
 
#110
So trying to figure out the controls on this.

Got a volume, then an active 3 bad EQ that is kind of counter intuitive as to which way to turn, and then a split knob/double knob, inner and outer ring. I mean I am guessing it is a pickup blend thing. But it seems backwards which is the MM and the J, seems the outer is blend but the inner almost acts like a filter sweep? Sorry all my experience is with basic VVT type controls, so any help would be appreciated.

Ken
 
#111
devilock76 said:
So trying to figure out the controls on this.

Got a volume, then an active 3 bad EQ that is kind of counter intuitive as to which way to turn, and then a split knob/double knob, inner and outer ring. I mean I am guessing it is a pickup blend thing. But it seems backwards which is the MM and the J, seems the outer is blend but the inner almost acts like a filter sweep? Sorry all my experience is with basic VVT type controls, so any help would be appreciated.

Ken
Click to expand...

You sound just as confused as I am about the controls.
I found some sweet spot settings that I like, but It'll be nice to figure out what does what on this thing.

The inner knob of the stack does act like a frequency sweep of some sort - I can't figure it out.

What amazes me about this bass is how light it is and the lack of neck dive. It's pretty well balanced, and the back-side contours make it fit real close and comfortably to your body.
 
#112
I saw these when they came out, but didn't post a new thread or link on TB as I'd get the typical "use search" or "don't make double threads" speeches.....

Anyway, there were 7 available that night, and non sold until the next morning. I passed on one because of the ~`15mm string spacing. Seems great for a Gerald Veasley bass fan, but my stubby fingers cramp up on 16.5mm spacing of my SR506. I also didn't care for the color.

What I was interested in, was the sound and construction as these are active and made out of mahogany. I hope you guys put up some more in depth reviews and pics.

Congrats on the few with a NBD incoming :)
 
#114
ack said:
You sound just as confused as I am about the controls.
I found some sweet spot settings that I like, but It'll be nice to figure out what does what on this thing.

The inner knob of the stack does act like a frequency sweep of some sort - I can't figure it out.

What amazes me about this bass is how light it is and the lack of neck dive. It's pretty well balanced, and the back-side contours make it fit real close and comfortably to your body.
Click to expand...

Sweet bass, congrats! Looks like it might be vol/blend (or vol/vol) with a 3 band preamp. The stacked knob is prolly the mid range cut/boost with a sweepable frequency. WOW! nice feature set on that preamp, how does it sound?
 
#118
Bassmanmike1 said:
Thanks for the reviews guys. Looking forward to seeing those pics. Thursday seems farther and farther away.

Came across an ad in my local CL for a case for $35.00. It's molded inside for a P or J. Think this would fit?
Click to expand...

I would imagine that the seller is misadvertising that case. A P and a J have different body shapes, so I'm assuming that the case is not molded, and it is just a general case. If it is molded, you'll have to find out which bass it is molded for.

This bass will not have the same profile as a P or a J, and I'm not used to basses with tiny bodies, so I can't tell you how it will fit in a general case.

Edit: A six-string neck is wider than a four-string neck as well...
 
#119
This is really the first bass I've ever touched with more than 4 strings, so I am by no means qualified to give a full and complete review of a 6-string bass. I will, however, give the folks waiting for theirs to arrive some head-up. It is crazy cool.
Is it an inexpensive Chinese bass? Yup. If you can't have fun with this thing, you need to find a new hobby or two.

The EQ section is somewhat baffling until you noodle with it for a while, but it has quite a range of tones. Both pickups sound fine solo'd, but I really like the Blend rolled slightly towards the Bridge Humbucker - it's got a real nice warm tone and obviously can be EQ'd to taste. I'm having fun playing some of my favorite staples on a new part of the neck with amazing lows. Strings (I think they're D'Addario's) are new and zingy, but playable for sure.

From a strictly aesthetic point of view, it fits against your body very nicely and it as light as a feather. Sitting up on its wall perch, it looks like it would weigh a ton, but I laugh every time I pick it up...and there's no sign of neck dive at all. Flat, comfortable neck. The neck pocket is tapered beautifully on the back side of the bass. Very nicely done.

To me, it was a good use of $158. Hell, that's 2 tanks of gas in the pickup.
I'll be interested in reading reviews from some of the more qualified bassists that got one. If there's anyone in the Raleigh area who wants to try it out, let me know.
 
#120
OK here is the knob config, best I can tell.

As looking at the bass

3 4 1
5 2

1 - Volume
2 - Blend

EQ - Section all w/"flat" detent including inner outer combo
3 - Bass
4 - Mid (level outer, freq - inner)
5 - Treble

I hope I don't have 3 and 5 mixed up but that is what it is.

The MM pickup is WAY hotter than the J pickup, particularly in the lower range. I have found best results by staying right in the middle of the two and for different sound variations moving a little off center each way depending what you want. Anything more than a few degrees and you will need to adjust volume or some EQ to stay at equivalent playing levels, or alter technique pressure.

Overall very versatile. I am pleased. I would expect the MM pickup to be hotter than the jazz but it seems more than usual. Just IMO.

One thing I did notice is that tapping on the high C string seems very weak. Not 100% sure if this is the string, pickup, or setup. Setup is pretty good. I am going to throw on different strings soon so that will tell me more. When I set it up with the new strings I will probably tweak the pickup heights a bit to level out the blend balance better.

Ken
 

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