If your looking at it from a point of view that an inexpensive bass knockoff can sound as good as an original vintage bass in all probability given the same electronics, woods played through the same amp settings they might sound equal/better between each instrument. It's really a matter of playing what you like / can afford.
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Identify the SX vs. Fender in the mix thread
- Thread starter savit260
- Start date
There's a chance some people reading this thread were previously considering dropping $5k (or more) on a vintage P-bass. I hope they thank Savit when they order an SX or Squier with a few extras 
Very well said.
Where were you twenty pages ago?
Ha it must have slipped by. I was really excited to make my post after reading the OP and the first page, but that's when I realized the dang thread had thirty more pages on it. Nards! There's no way that I'm going to spend six hours wading through all of that.
This thread is a good example of how to choose a bass.
Listen to it, If I like the feel and it sounds good in that order.
I have over thirty years of experience and can not tell witch one is the Fender.
Like I have said price does not matter if you are looking for a good tool to make music.
If you really have your heart set on a high end bass buy it if you can afford it.
As far as sound goes, I beat out guys at auditions with my cheap bass's.
Listen to it, If I like the feel and it sounds good in that order.
I have over thirty years of experience and can not tell witch one is the Fender.
Like I have said price does not matter if you are looking for a good tool to make music.
If you really have your heart set on a high end bass buy it if you can afford it.
As far as sound goes, I beat out guys at auditions with my cheap bass's.
This.
The test is a bit warped. Even if you have great ears, how are you supposed to tell when there are different variables.
Otherwise, it really is pointless. I don't care if you like the MIA or the SX - that's not the issue I have with this test. But oh well.
It's sort of like the question 'have you stopped beating your wife?' and your only acceptable answers are 'yes' or 'no'.
Either way, you're screwed.
Yes, but if you had read the 30 other pages you would have read a few making the important observation that tone is only part of the equation, and probably the most subjective one.
So the SX sounds like a vintage P? Big deal. Does it feel like it? Does it have the workmanship? Does it feel as good in the players hands? Yes? Great! Play the hell out of it. No? Find one that does and ignore any decals
Yes I obviously left that part out of the equation, but as the OP has stated, you can't really pass the SX around on the internet for people to play. He says it plays well, and I believe him. Of course it's not going to have the same craftsmanship as the pre-CBS Fender, but that's why he has the pre-CBS Fender.
The impetus of this challenge was that people had told Savit that a cheapo SX could never sound like a pre-CBS Fender, and had ridiculed him for even suggesting the possibility. They told him it would be easy to tell the difference. I think he's demonstrated quite clearly that they are wrong. To further complain that the tone is not actually the issue but rather the craftsmanship or playability is a classic example of moving the goalposts, and one that has been addressed several times by the OP.
OMG!!! another Fender VS. SX debate...I use to remember a several threads with similar outcome. And I think all of them with massive contribution of mr Savit...
neverthless, I tried to listen your tracks, but I'm not into NU Punk and things like that. so, I'll have to answer your quiz with my experience, from studio and live... ofcourse,NOONE can tell the difference when hear SX bass ( especially moded with quality pick up and bass which goes through proffesional studio equipment after ) and Fender or whatever the brand with the same pick up configuration and the same type of strings. it's pointless thread.
only person who can tell the difference is the player himself, and that's why people buy and prefer one instrument over another.
thanx.
neverthless, I tried to listen your tracks, but I'm not into NU Punk and things like that. so, I'll have to answer your quiz with my experience, from studio and live... ofcourse,NOONE can tell the difference when hear SX bass ( especially moded with quality pick up and bass which goes through proffesional studio equipment after ) and Fender or whatever the brand with the same pick up configuration and the same type of strings. it's pointless thread.
only person who can tell the difference is the player himself, and that's why people buy and prefer one instrument over another.
thanx.
Fair enough but - and I'm sure it's not just me - it's utterly impossible to judge, and therefore ridiculous, to post these endless "My cheap bass sounds just as good as your expensive one..." threads. I could stretch some bass strings between two chairs, play a riff, and start posting the same thing.
Because tone is not only subjective, but in an amplified instrument it's subject to the endless vagaries of what happens to the signal between the source and when it finally hits the ear.
To be honest, I've never handled an SX. But I've checked out many Squier's (another label put up against Fender in these types of threads). Are they nice instruments for the price? Absolutely. Do they sound similar? Probably. Is the quality the same as Fender? Not the ones I have experience with.
Well, again the impetus of this thread was not merely for Savit to show off the sound of his SX, it was to prove a point to the many people who told him his SX couldn't sound indistinguishable from his pre-CBS Fender.
And that's exactly the point.
And that's fine. Again, Savit's got that nice pre-CBS Fender if he wants to play something with excellent craftsmanship. If that is important to you, by all means buy a well-crafted instrument (lord knows it's important to me), but what this thread showed quite conclusively is that it is possible to get legendary tone with a cheap bass. "Possible" being the most important word there.
At this point I feel like we are both just repeating ourselves. I've said all I want to say, and so unless something new pops up I think I'm finished with this topic. Thanks, everybody!
EDIT: fixed a couple of typos
When I started playing in the middle '60s nobody ever mentioned that they were buying an instrument for investment they were bought to be played the fact they are so expensive now is amazing. I have a couple of vintage Fender basses but I got them when they were new but if I started out now I couldn't afford one, however I wouldn't be satisfied with SX either no matter how much I spent replacing parts its not a Fender not to mention resale value but play what you like thats the most important thing.
Thank you!
I'm going to try and maintain and not get all ranty but I wont make any promises.
One of my biggest pet peeves has been gear snobbery. While it is true you generally get a better built instrument if you spend a bit more dough, that is not always the case. I truly believe 90% of the guys out there with the over the top expensive basses are in it to satisfy their own egos and to generate some "wow factor". If it makes you happy go for it.
This bit about "its not a fair comparison 'cause you changed pickups" is just an excuse. It's still a cheapy verses "nice" bass. I think what it really comes down to is that we CAN'T tell the difference. I know I can't, and I think that since nobody has even made an attempt at taking a guess means that you can't either. So do I need to have a boutique bass for $3,000+ to sound good? I do believe the answer is a resounding NO!
Playability is a whole other ball game.
Let the tar and feathering begin! Ha ha!
I'm going to try and maintain and not get all ranty but I wont make any promises.
One of my biggest pet peeves has been gear snobbery. While it is true you generally get a better built instrument if you spend a bit more dough, that is not always the case. I truly believe 90% of the guys out there with the over the top expensive basses are in it to satisfy their own egos and to generate some "wow factor". If it makes you happy go for it.
This bit about "its not a fair comparison 'cause you changed pickups" is just an excuse. It's still a cheapy verses "nice" bass. I think what it really comes down to is that we CAN'T tell the difference. I know I can't, and I think that since nobody has even made an attempt at taking a guess means that you can't either. So do I need to have a boutique bass for $3,000+ to sound good? I do believe the answer is a resounding NO!
Playability is a whole other ball game.
Let the tar and feathering begin!
Ha ha!Actually this thread is SX snobbery " Ha I can make a $120 SX sound like a vintage Fender " I suppose the owners of vintage Fenders could counter "Well I have an $ 6.000-$12.000 bass you have a $ 75.00 bass " myself I play what I want to play I don't seek others opinions when looking for a bass.
At one of our gigs, about a month ago, a guy came up to our stage and triple-taked a look at my bass.
After the show, I was putting everything away and he came up we talked a bit. He told me he was in a "garage jam band" and that he'd been playing bass for 10 years or so. He asked me, "What kind of Fender are you playing? I've never seen anything like it." I explained to him that it wasn't a Fender. I told him all about how SX basses are imported from China through rondomusic.com. I told him that I actually picked mine up used, for $75 (it's a sparkle red "Jaguar" copy). I pulled it out of the case and handed it over to him. He must have said at least 3 times, "I can't believe this is a $75 bass". I told him, "Well, it's really not, they're usually about $120 new." He said that he loved the sound of it so much, and that's why he had to check it out.
It's funny, I'll pay $500 for a good guitar (I really want to buy a Fender MIM Telecaster Custom '72). I own an Agile Les Paul copy (that I LOVE), but I don't want an Agile telecaster copy, because I don't think anything compares to a Fender guitar... (something about the whole look/feel of the guitar). However, I have no desire to buy a Fender bass, and knowing what I know now about the SX basses, I'll probably never pay more than a couple hundred dollars for a bass. (On a side note, I really want to check out some of the new Squier Vintage Modifieds oh, and the Sterling 34s and 35s - although I realize those run a bit more than a couple hundred dollars).
It really comes down to what you find and feel comfortable with. Sometimes, you get a gem for $75. Sometimes, you find a great bass that's $1500. Although, I have a hard time believing that I'll find any $1500 bass that is 20 times better than my $75 bass.
After the show, I was putting everything away and he came up we talked a bit. He told me he was in a "garage jam band" and that he'd been playing bass for 10 years or so. He asked me, "What kind of Fender are you playing? I've never seen anything like it." I explained to him that it wasn't a Fender. I told him all about how SX basses are imported from China through rondomusic.com. I told him that I actually picked mine up used, for $75 (it's a sparkle red "Jaguar" copy). I pulled it out of the case and handed it over to him. He must have said at least 3 times, "I can't believe this is a $75 bass". I told him, "Well, it's really not, they're usually about $120 new." He said that he loved the sound of it so much, and that's why he had to check it out.
It's funny, I'll pay $500 for a good guitar (I really want to buy a Fender MIM Telecaster Custom '72). I own an Agile Les Paul copy (that I LOVE), but I don't want an Agile telecaster copy, because I don't think anything compares to a Fender guitar... (something about the whole look/feel of the guitar). However, I have no desire to buy a Fender bass, and knowing what I know now about the SX basses, I'll probably never pay more than a couple hundred dollars for a bass. (On a side note, I really want to check out some of the new Squier Vintage Modifieds oh, and the Sterling 34s and 35s - although I realize those run a bit more than a couple hundred dollars).
It really comes down to what you find and feel comfortable with. Sometimes, you get a gem for $75. Sometimes, you find a great bass that's $1500. Although, I have a hard time believing that I'll find any $1500 bass that is 20 times better than my $75 bass.
