Very cool, espcially if you're not into the new SX headstock.
Doggone right. $100 SX + $100 MightyMite neck and your ready to rock!
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Identify the SX vs. Fender in the mix thread
- Thread starter savit260
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Doggone right. $100 SX + $100 MightyMite neck and your ready to rock!
The thread is up because I find it an interesting topic.
It's certainly not to bash Fenders, as you can clearly see I own a few of them. I've always loved my Fenders, and always will. It clearly isn't a "everyone should buy an SX" thread either. I DO think it does give a little insight into what you can do or expect from an SX with a little effort.
I've been told many times in many threads that I'm "out of my mind" to think that an SX could compare in any way shape or form to a classic Fender, and I've always stated that I have no problems using both basses interchangabley. As you can imagine that tends to be an unpopular option with some.
Now, as Brad has pointed out, this isn't the "perfect" comparison, but really what actually is short of handling each bass in person ?(not really an option here as this is the internet)
We've had some side by side comparo's of SX and other basses solo'ed in other threads that had some great discussion. I thought it would be interesting to have a thread where they are both used in the context of a mix, recorded in the same proffesional studio by the same engineer.
It has certainly brought about some interesting discussions IMO.
I stand by my earlier statements that an inexpensive Fender style instrument, built with the same/similar raw materials, with a little TLC and polishing, can hold it's own against "the genuine article". (yes, that even includes things like playabilty and feel etc. that we can't really accuratly represent or test on the interntet)
This is all in the spirit of a fun comparo, and some spirited discussion.
cool thread. i lolled a bunch. If anything, this thread shows that someone just getting into the craft can get a quality instrument for not much money. one that they can actually play out with it and sound good. that being said, i've never owned an SX.
personally, i find working on/upgrading instruments a lot of fun, and a rewarding and worthwhile experience. my main lead guitar is a warmoth strat that i put together. Once i built that, yes I sold my les paul i've had for 15 years. i kind of drool over buying cheap guitars and fixing them up. i bought a no name cheap-o strat copy off of a street vendor for 50 bucks once. after levelling the frets, replacing the pickups with a quality set, and a full set up....that thing smokes! and it's a plywood body...lol. Anyways, I traded it with a nice amp to my nephew for a set of vintage ludwig drums that need some work. At age 12 he has a nice little guitar rig...lol. now i'm recording with those drums, and he is taking guitar lessons. WIN! anyways, in my life i find it a better experience to upgade a mediocre instrument to make it great than to just buy a great instrument. it's fun and makes the instrument personal to me. Good job!
personally, i find working on/upgrading instruments a lot of fun, and a rewarding and worthwhile experience. my main lead guitar is a warmoth strat that i put together. Once i built that, yes I sold my les paul i've had for 15 years. i kind of drool over buying cheap guitars and fixing them up. i bought a no name cheap-o strat copy off of a street vendor for 50 bucks once. after levelling the frets, replacing the pickups with a quality set, and a full set up....that thing smokes! and it's a plywood body...lol. Anyways, I traded it with a nice amp to my nephew for a set of vintage ludwig drums that need some work. At age 12 he has a nice little guitar rig...lol. now i'm recording with those drums, and he is taking guitar lessons. WIN! anyways, in my life i find it a better experience to upgade a mediocre instrument to make it great than to just buy a great instrument. it's fun and makes the instrument personal to me. Good job!
I was talking with a guy yesterday at Atomic Music who was considering starting to play bass and asked for recommendations. I asked what price range he had in mind and recommended a few basses in the store to check out, among them some Fender Squiers and SX's.
That's interesting. I wasn't aware that MUSIC stores carry the SX brand. What's the price of the SX's at Atomic Music compared to Rondo Music?
\someone could save a ton of money if all they wanted to play was SX basses exclusively.
And that's not what this thread is about? If we stopped spending so much money on expensive basses which sound alarmingly similar to cheap basses, then we'd be better off? That's the only gist I get out of this thread...and if its not that, then I will have to revert back to the fact it's just here to stroke SX-lover egos.
As far as I know, they don't. They must not be new but used. I could be wrong though.
Take what you want from it - you're asking the wrong guy anyway. If you want the OP's intention see Post #343 on this page.
The thread is up because I find it an interesting topic.
Fair enough. As do I.
It's certainly not to bash Fenders, as you can clearly see I own a few of them. I've always loved my Fenders, and always will. It clearly isn't a "everyone should buy an SX" thread either. I DO think it does give a little insight into what you can do or expect from an SX with a little effort.
I see you own a few of them. But what's the point, if you can get the same tone from a $100 bass? The only point left is sentimentality. If it was me, I would have cashed in some time ago. Especially if I found something that suited just the same.
Yes, and that's why I generally take what I hear with a grain of salt.
You answered questions earlier that weren't directed at you...why not now?
There must be a reason you're here, so it can apply to you just the same. Care to respond?
Who said that? Buy and play what you want.
That's cool if you don't get it.
The purpose is to discuss and compare two similar sounding instruments and to possibly show that these basses, which are often refered to in very negative ways (firewood, P.O.S. Canoe Paddle etc. etc.) , can indeed perform pretty darned well in a real world situation.
No one is saying "abandon your more expensive bass of choice", but if that's how you chose to read it , then.... well... I just don't know what to say.
Atomic Music (both stores) don't list any "SX" or "Essex" instruments in their used gear listings.
The phone numbers of the Atomic Music stores are on their website should anyone wish to call when they're open to inquire if they have them in the stores. I may call tomorrow, I could use me a cheap used SX.
It doesn't have to be said. If there is an experiment to prove the cheaper drug A is just as good at treating a sickness than the more expensive drug B, then what do the results say? Would people still want to buy the more expensive drug? The experiment speaks for itself.
If I had an Audi and a souped-up Dodge Spirit and they somehow hit the streets just the same, and I went around showing how it was so...then surely people would ask me why I still owned the Audi.
You answered questions earlier that weren't directed at you...why not now?
There must be a reason you're here, so it can apply to you just the same. Care to respond?
Not that I recall. I offered some passing thoughts through the thread regarding the topic de jour (replacement pickup validity, etc.) Brad & I had a chat, but we were asking direct questions of each other.
The reason I'm here is I like SX threads, it's not everyday we get an A/B one.
Post 343 states the intent, I read it, I got it. That's my take on this thread.
I was thinking the same. I emailed Kurt, and he said than the neck pocket in SX basses isn't identical to fender's, but for what I read here with a little work a replacement neck would fit anyway.
I was thinking in a black Ursa 2 (Jazz bass) + Mighty mite maple neck. Just add the Baddass and you are ready with your Geddy Lee wanna-be
I think I definitively answered why I still own the Fender, but I'll do it again for you. It's the bass by which I judge all others, and a LOT of personal history with it. It's bought and payed for YEARS ago. I've used that bass in every band I've ever played with as an adult. I've used it on stages big and small. It's the bass that "brought me to the dance" so to speak. It's not for sale at any price.
I guess you really don't get it. Some people will prefer the name brand drug. Others may only be able to afford the generic, while others might just be able to afford the name brand, but chose the generic to save a buck.
Take what you want out the thread, but IMO, (as the O.P.) you're missing the boat.
Many people wouldn't want to take the time to sort out one of these inexpensive basses to get them to play and sound their absolute best. For people who aren't "tinkerers" there are PLENTY of very nice optioins on the market, not the least of which is a number of offerings from Fender. For someone on a budget, or just not willing to spend a ton of money, these SX basses are a very viable option, are solid gigworthy basses that can and do perform admirably when sorted out (required IMO)
This is just another thread about what can be done with these budget priced basses, given a little TLC. We also have threads where the basses are dead stock as well. This one adds the "in the mix" element that hasn't really been covered before.
Most of this discussion has been pretty fun IMO.
Well, you aren't me.
I really don't care about "cashing in" on my old bass. That would be like selling a family member to me. Not gonna happen.EDIT TO ADD: and as I've stated before.. I prefer to have 3 basses that sound and are set up as close to possible as I can get. The old Fender is one of those three.
That's cool. I don't have to take any of it with a grain of salt, cause I live with it every day.
, and I've seen what it's capable of first hand. It does a fine job of doing what I ask of it, and that's plenty good enough for me. 
if that was me, my answer would be, "so people don't back into my audi in the parking lot, crush the bumper, and leave." in bass lingo, you would change that to "so some drunken spud doesn't fall into the stage, knock my vintage fender over, then puke on it."
Worth a mention. The last show that I used the 64 Fender on as my "numero uno", the guitar players Birds Eye Top Gibson Les Paul was stolen off the stage only feet away from the Fender, on a show with a FULL Security team.
When a tuner got bent on the American Standard during a load out... I didn't lose any sleep over it. Getting a replacement tuner for it wouldn't be expensive or difficult, nor would taking a pair of plyers to it bother me. If the pickguard on the SX gets smashed and broken, I'll have Tony at pickguardian.com make me another one
