Really!? Here on Talk Bass we got too serious?
Um, +1 from me on that.
Nice playing, Lucas!
Okay, so tomorrow I am recording a few bass tracks for a friends project. Think I can get an SX and some Lollar pickups by tomorrow afternoon?
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Identify the SX vs. Fender in the mix thread
- Thread starter savit260
- Start date
Really!? Here on Talk Bass we got too serious?
Um, +1 from me on that.
Nice playing, Lucas!
Okay, so tomorrow I am recording a few bass tracks for a friends project. Think I can get an SX and some Lollar pickups by tomorrow afternoon?
I think there aren't many people trying to answer in here because it seems that this thread mostly consists of SX-lovers stroking their ego.
In any case, I didn't listen because my computer speakers are horrendous.
One question though: if that SX is what you say it is, then why own an expensive '64 P-bass? Why hasn't that been rid of yet? I myself don't usually hold onto two basses that sound exactly the same.
In any case, I didn't listen because my computer speakers are horrendous.
One question though: if that SX is what you say it is, then why own an expensive '64 P-bass? Why hasn't that been rid of yet? I myself don't usually hold onto two basses that sound exactly the same.
Ego stroking SX lovers?? I thought this was about Ego stroking Fender lovers.
I fall into both categories, at different stages of my life. I used to own several Fender P basses over a few decades and haven't had one in about 15 years. Along with liking Fenders, I felt that I've paid my dues, made all the life sacrifices that full time players do, and that I DESERVED to own a FENDER ( and / or Alembic)
These days I'm less concerned with image or prestige (thank God) With these SX basses now available, I feel that I DESERVE to have a good P bass without paying out the big bucks. Repeating myself, I like this SX as well as the Fenders P's I had previously.
Really!? Here on Talk Bass we got too serious?
Um, +1 from me on that.
Nice playing, Lucas!
See, that's the thing I don't understand about this subject. In my mind, the thread never went downhill or got serious. I am just discussing. people put their opinions out there, I think myself and anyone else has a chance and opportunity to debate that opinion. I bear no malice to anyone, if they play an SX or a Ritter. It's their choice. But, I think I have a right to discuss something, without people refering to it as "whining". It's not whining when all it's just a different opinion. I remain unconvinced that the tone of an SX is the same as that of a nice MIA Fender. I do have a greater appreciation then I did before of an SX, due to Savit's test, and my own very recent research. I would not hesitate to reccomend one of these to a beginner, or to someone with more experience just looking for a cheap platform for mods. They make a lot of sense in that respect. For me, I prefer a decent mid-level bass. I don't need a Fodera at this point in my life. For one, I am not good enough to deserve one, and two, I would feel horrible every time they took a ding.
I am gassing big time for one of three basses at this point: A new MIA Fender 5 (passive), a used Sadowsky J 5, and a Carvin Sekou Bunch 5, with all the add-ons (spalted or flame maple, Birdseye maple FB, gold hardware, blue or green colored). I just can't get myself turned on to a budget bass. I do believe in mojo, which is just so intangible that I can't explain what I mean. My MIA P bass with flats has it, my MIJ Jazz does not.....anyway.
And thank you for that compliment...I know the stuff I play is far from the mainstream, and also not very popular. In my line of work (very simple music), I seldom get many compliments on my playing ...so that's always nice to hear, you know?
here is something a rock band I played with recorded back in 02. This is a perfect example which reinforces the other side of the argument. This bass (sterling) cost a lot of money, and I never liked it much. In fact, I traded it. Recorded at a house party, nothing fancy....the bass was built very well, but had some deficits in the tone department, which suprised me, considering the price tag...anyway, you decide....
Didn't you call "mystery bass" on track one?
Mystery bass was "Better Days" (Peavey Foundation)...
and that was Mark playing bass on that track ... not me.
Well, I said SX or mystery bass, right?
So I was like 2/3rds right.
Thanks for sharing the videos. The bass player in the 1st video is pretty convincing and his demo is well done, including some harmonics.
The "real" Fender has more tonal quality, sounds like newer strings possibly? It might be splitting hairs but it looks to me that he's fingering right over the pickups on the first bass, and an inch or so toward the bridge on the 2nd bass for a tighter sound. Little things make a difference.
The "real" Fender has more tonal quality, sounds like newer strings possibly? It might be splitting hairs but it looks to me that he's fingering right over the pickups on the first bass, and an inch or so toward the bridge on the 2nd bass for a tighter sound. Little things make a difference.
So far no one here has referred to any statement you made as "whining".
However, I think that particular sentence of your's may be getting close.
You never told someone to "stop whining"?
Oh, my mistake. I guess I misread your exact words. Same as when you called me a "poor craftsman".
I said no one here said any statement you made was whining
What you quoted was directed at Brad Johnson, not you.
I also never called you a poor craftsman. You insist on taking my quote of an old saying as being directed at you. Fact is, I never read your post previous to my quote until later after you objected to my quote. It wasn't directed at you but I guess you won't let that simple truth sink in.
However, it's now official, you are whining.
To quote an old saying, "It's a poor craftsman that blames his tools." That's such a good saying I've decided to sig it.
You want it to be about ego-stroking Fender lovers but the more I'm on talkbass the more I see people bashing 'ego-stroking Fender lovers' who largely don't even exist - at least not on this forum. If you look at the first few pages of posts in this particular thread the majority of it is people e-high-fiving eachother because nobody will respond about the recordings. The 'golden ears'. It reminds me of high school kids driving around in an old rusty Dodge Neon cheering because nobody will try to race them at all the stoplights.
I just like whatever looks, sounds, and feels fitting. No justifications - just whatever I like. The more I see these threads the more I realize in this forum SX has become like Fender - just another name people like to attach something too. The 'anti-label' has become the 'label'. Just like punk, Hot Topic, and mohawks.
My ears to tone aren't very good. Better than some, not better than others. I think some journeyman musicians believe theirs are better than they really are. I'm sure there are more than a few on talkbass who are like that. I don't believe playing 'better quality' instruments trains someone to discern tone as much as playing different sounding instruments. That's why I like having a J-bass, Rickenbacker, Fender Coronado, and whatever humbucker bass I can get my hands on. Having a fleet of one kind of bass really doesn't make much sense, IMO.
What you would do doesn't really apply to me now does it?
Well, first off, I've owned that old Fender for a lot of years, played a LOT of shows with it, and it's the yard stick by which I judge all other basses. It's a fantastic instrument, that has TONS of sentimental value for me as well. I have many great memories of shows that I played with it. For that reason alone I'd never sell it.
As far as basses that sound exactly the same... I'd prefer THREE basses that sound exactly the same personaly. The SX and the old Fender sound very close to each other, and the 2008 American Standard Fender that I use for my "live backup" is "close enough" sounding for me (for now anyway).
Yes, I know that having three P basses, all strung with the same strings, and basicly the same set up flies in the face of TB conventional wisdom, but that's what workd for me.
I have no interest at ALL in having basses that sound different from each other. Just not practical for me personally.
The rational is quite simple for me personaly. I don't want to have to futz around with e/q if I need to switch basses for any reason, nor do I want to have to have the sound engineer have to start twiddleing knobs either in the event that a bass swap is required.
I purposefully have and want at least three basses that are all within spitting distance of each other tonally. Two of those three wear the large backwards F on the headstock. One does not.
What I want is not to have people, especially financial struggling musicians, turned off from buying an SX bass because ego stroking Fender lovers are bashing them.
This old saw is rather popular but in a way it's as big a misrepresentation as the usual marketing idea that if you buy gear exactly like Joe Blow uses then you'll somehow be able to play like Joe blow. It may sell instruments to kids but leaves unanswered the question as to WHY you'd want to sound like exactly like Joe Blow. How about sounding like YOU?
A poor craftsman DOES often blame his tools. Its just an excuse for lack of ability. But the missing part is that a GOOD craftsman carefully chooses his tools to give him exactly what he wants in every situation. What they cost or the reputation of the tool maker is largely irrelevant. He might have some old $5 hammer his dad gave him or some $100,000 CNC machine. The good craftsman knows EXACTLY what each can do for him. And if they won't do what he wants he mods them or gets a different brand.
But If I fill my tool chest with the same exact tools as the master craftsman will I then be a master craftsman? You know the answer. It's the same one as whether my Joe Blow signature bass will suddenly make me play like Joe Blow. It won't.
So we have people here arguing as to whether the SX cheapo or $$$ vintage Fender is "best". That's like arguing if the $5 hammer or the $100,000 CNC is the better "tool". A hundred grand is irrelevant if you really want to smash the daylights out of something that's stuck! Now if the question is whether or not the $5 hammer can do the SAME job as effectively as the CNC, I guess that depends on the given job. In some cases the answer is probably yes. For others, it's no way.
Except that a hammer and CNC are two completely different tools that perform two completely different tasks. Apples to oranges. A Fender and a SX are both basses that are made from similar materials in a similar fashion and perform the exact same task, just at different price points. Like Advil and generic Ibuprofen.
Yes, I honestly can't think of one bass player I know in real life, that doesn't play in some sort of a band.
Bass is not an instrumet that lends itself easily to "solo" type playing (required IMO), much like drums.... so it seems with bass... as with drums... most everyone I run into that actually plays, plays in a band or some sort.
Not so for pianists, guitar players, horn players etc., that lend themselves easier to "solo" type stuff.
Personaly, I'd sooner gouge my eyes out with a dull spork than play bass all alone... or listen to Wooten solo for more than 7 minutes, or Buddy Rich solo for more than 5,(love them both in an group setting though) or a triangle, or tympany solo act.
No offense, you seem to be confusing playing alone with playing solo. Solo typically is a way to perform. Playing alone could simply be practice. Lots of people do it... and they're still not in bands.
