Ya, I hear you...I just don't get the hype over a $100 bass. Even back in 86 when I bought my first bass for $350 I considered it an in expensive bass and it has lasted me over 20 years. I know a majority of the hype is younger guys and even some older guys that say this bass is ok but I'm thinking that those SX bass guitars will be in a corner collecting dust when the hype is over.
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I wish I knew about SX earlier.
- Thread starter Choosh
- Start date
I've been playing for almost 20 years and I've owned a lot of very nice basses. I don't give a hoot about hype. I bought my SX used in person because it played well and was cheap. It has a nice neck, a solid wood body with a pretty sunburst finish and is fun to play. For all I know, my SX may be an anomaly because it' the only one I've played. I've played a couple of those Ibanez Artcore hollowbodies(also made in China) and I could say the same thing about them.
Just like any other bass manufacturer, big and small, instrument to instrument they are going to be different. One person could buy a winner and another could buy a dud. Let's not get into too big of a pro or anti debate.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Well unfortunately and fortunatly that is what is happening to our economy...its flooded with Chinese bass guitars and you have to select the best quality for the amount of money you can afford. I think the Artcore I selected is a new model 
I can return it for free to my local shop if I'm not happy.
I can return it for free to my local shop if I'm not happy.
I think the hype over the SX basses are justified. They are cheap. And they actually are very playable right out of the box. Plus the fact that they are easily and pretty cheaply modded if you want to, adds up to one decent bass for little money. I think that's why there's all the hype. They are one of the best bargains available among basses. You actually get much more than you pay for with an SX.
Well said.
You won't see mine collecting any dust. Three solid years of gigging with this SX and it's still going strong. It's been played in front of thousands and thousands of people. More shows than I can remember. Recieved TONS of compliments on it's sound from more people than I can recall. From players, fans, and soundguys/engineers alike. The vast majority of them who had NO CLUE that it was a $100 bass. That says something in my book.
You don't have to believe the hype if you don't want to.
I know the deal, and own and have owned plenty of expensive gear.
I work my SX pretty damned hard, and will continue to for a long time coming.
Take that for what it's worth.
Here's a pic of it out working last night.
+1
And I currently own an SX BG-205. It isn't a Fender copy. It has 5-strings and two soap bar pickups that just sound fantastic. And yes, I've compared it to a multitude of other bases. I paid $160 for it and haven't looked back. Everything I want in a bass.
Oh, and I really like it with Curt Mangan's nickelwound bass strings. Very bright sounding.
I also own a 5-strinmg OLP "Cheapray" copy that I like, but not as much. Go figure. It gets much less play time from me than my SX. I've modded it to get more playability out of it but I still don't play it as much.
I also had an SX P-bass 4-string copy that I didn't keep very long, I just don't like 4 strings anymore. But that is just me. The quality and playability was just as good as my SX BG-205, I just didn't care for the 4-string limitation.
SX bass guitars are worth every penny, even unmodded. For someone shopping for a bass guitar the http://RondoMusic.net website should be first on your list of places to shop before you move on to anything else.
Well unfortunately and fortunatly that is what is happening to our economy...its flooded with Chinese bass guitars and you have to select the best quality for the amount of money you can afford. I think the Artcore I selected is a new model
I played a long-scale sunburst one with the MM style humbucker at a music store in Indy last year and one of my buddies purchased the short-scale model from American Musical a while back. They're nice basses, don't get me wrong. I'm amazed at the quality of the Chinese-made guitars and basses I've played lately.
To each his own. I have never owned a Squier bass, but none of the ones I have played in the store have made me sorry that I bought my SXes. I did mod my 5ers (economy badass stule bridge and alnico pups) but even stock I was happy.
Squier VMs are really nice, but hey, they are twice the price. Value-wise, I go SX.
No, these aren't identical, the left one is fretless.
I requested this before and still can't find a good video of someone playing one of these...one person said his would sound as good or better than my vintage Ibanez and I have a whole wack of vids on my myspace. Lets see your SX BASS VIDS
this one is pretty good...Invalid Link Removed but still doesn't sound nearly as nice as mine...
this one is pretty good...Invalid Link Removed but still doesn't sound nearly as nice as mine...
I requested this before and still can't find a good video of someone playing one of these...one person said his would sound as good or better than my vintage Ibanez and I have a whole wack of vids on my myspace. Lets see your SX BASS VIDS
this one is pretty good...Invalid Link Removed but still doesn't sound nearly as nice as mine...
Not me, but it was the first SX play video I ever heard:
Yeah that guy's good and the bass sounds great when he plays it. his one's even better:
that little slap lick at 1:02 is nice..
that little slap lick at 1:02 is nice..
SX are cheap Chinese manufactured instruments. You get what you pay for.
I have an SX 57 P bass with fotoflame top. Many comments on how nice the body looks. The original neck was coated in finish, but steel wool on the back of the neck fixed that. Also the 1st fret was too low on the E string, making it difficult to cleanly play a low F. I've put 3 different necks on the bass since then and play it to death.
The original electronics are functional but cheap. I snagged a ratty Fender JP90 off craigslist for $20 and put in the (ostensibly) Fender American electronics and P pickup. It snarls, bites, snaps, and rocks out.
I would compare it to a Squier because you're buying a stack of parts on a tight budget. Quality does vary, which is also true for almost any Fender product. It is much cheaper than a Squier. Kurt at rondomusic.net supports what he sells.
Bottom line: I hesitate to suggest SX as a first or second bass. If you're a new player, you probably won't understand what to adjust or upgrade to be happy with the instrument. However, if you're looking to customize something or if you don't mind making adjustments, it's hard to argue against starting with an SX.
I have an SX 57 P bass with fotoflame top. Many comments on how nice the body looks. The original neck was coated in finish, but steel wool on the back of the neck fixed that. Also the 1st fret was too low on the E string, making it difficult to cleanly play a low F. I've put 3 different necks on the bass since then and play it to death.
The original electronics are functional but cheap. I snagged a ratty Fender JP90 off craigslist for $20 and put in the (ostensibly) Fender American electronics and P pickup. It snarls, bites, snaps, and rocks out.
I would compare it to a Squier because you're buying a stack of parts on a tight budget. Quality does vary, which is also true for almost any Fender product. It is much cheaper than a Squier. Kurt at rondomusic.net supports what he sells.
Bottom line: I hesitate to suggest SX as a first or second bass. If you're a new player, you probably won't understand what to adjust or upgrade to be happy with the instrument. However, if you're looking to customize something or if you don't mind making adjustments, it's hard to argue against starting with an SX.
For me, the SX is one of the most perfect test beds for anyone looking to do more than just have a stock instrument. If you want a cheap outlet to learn how to mod your bass, it's a great instrument for it. How can you get too upset if you make a mistake on a $120 bass? 
I was surprised with the solid feel of my SX Jazz bass.
Only problem I'm having (and I started a separate thread on this but didn't identify SX in the thread title) is that the first G string SQUAWKS when played hard, a la Geddy Lee riffs in the 7-12 frret range.
What can be done to rectify this? String height? Frets? Change strings? (I have the factory strings on it still)(
thanks
Only problem I'm having (and I started a separate thread on this but didn't identify SX in the thread title) is that the first G string SQUAWKS when played hard, a la Geddy Lee riffs in the 7-12 frret range.
What can be done to rectify this? String height? Frets? Change strings? (I have the factory strings on it still)(
thanks
To each his own. I have never owned a Squier bass, but none of the ones I have played in the store have made me sorry that I bought my SXes. I did mod my 5ers (economy badass stule bridge and alnico pups) but even stock I was happy.
Squier VMs are really nice, but hey, they are twice the price. Value-wise, I go SX.
No, these aren't identical, the left one is fretless.
wow,, by the photo's it looks like you're singlehandedily keeping Kurt there at rondo in biz,, ( FYI,, there other cheap copies out there too,,, spread the wealth,, and you're tone )
wow,, by the photo's it looks like you're singlehandedily keeping Kurt there at rondo in biz,, ( FYI,, there other cheap copies out there too,,, spread the wealth,, and you're tone )
Yeah, I know there's other stuff, I have a Fullerton, Yamaha and I've played other stuff in stores. But for my money, Rondo has been good to me. Show me a neck thru 6 stringer as nice as my Brice Z6 for less than $250 (I bought it for $249 as a b-stock) and I'll buy it!
