Just Ordered My Rondo

[selowitch]

After nearly buying a new Invalid Link Removed in Lake Placid Blue with a maple fingerboard (for $525.00), I decided to order the Link Removed instead for $119.95 shipped. I figure since I intend to mod it anyway I might as well start with a lower-cost instrument.

One item of curiosity is that they call this model the SX SJB-57 (and other models with rosewood fingerboards often have -62 as the suffix). I assume this is because they are roughly similar to the Fender models from 1957 and 1962 respectively. Of course, the one I just ordered can't be modeled after a "1957" Jazz Bass because the Jazz Bass didn't see first release until 1960.

 

[Joey3313]

It's just the code for the colour of the fretboard...really, it has no importance.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

Hmmm, link didn't work. But congrats! I'm considering getting a fretless myself from Rondo.

 

[Vic Winters]

57 - Maple
62 - Rosewood
75 - Blocks and binding

 

[selowitch]

57 - Maple
62 - Rosewood
75 - Blocks and binding

Yeah, that's my point: The suffixes mean "having roughly the fingerboard features of the equivalent Fender year" but of course, in the case of my instrument, there was no Jazz Bass in 1957.

@Spinal Tapper, I fixed the link -- sorry about that.
@Joey 3313, at the risk of nitpicking, it's not the "colour" of the fingerboard, actually, but the type of wood or binding/blocking used for it.

Cool thing about Rondo is that even if I end up hating the instrument (unlikely), I simply end up with a handy, inexpensive backup bass. I think it's more likely that, after modding, this thing will be my main player.

 

[aperfectbass]

Please post some pics and your impression of it when you get it. After looking at their site, I am intrigued if the quality is there or not.

 

[ErebusBass]

Please post some pics and your impression of it when you get it. After looking at their site, I am intrigued if the quality is there or not.

It sure is. They're great barebones basses with cheap but functional hardware and electronics that can be swapped out at your leisure. An SX with upgraded electronics sounds just as good to my ears as any Fender I've ever played/heard.

 

[Joey3313]

\
@Joey 3313, at the risk of nitpicking, it's not the "colour" of the fingerboard, actually, but the type of wood or binding/blocking used for it.

It got the message across.


And I'm sure both Rondo and SX are deeply concerned at the inaccuracies in the model number of a bass.

 

[selowitch]

It got the message across.

And I'm sure both Rondo and SX are deeply concerned at the inaccuracies in the model number of a bass.

You're right, of course. I agree neither point was really all that terribly important. ;-)

I can't wait to replace the pots, wiring, and jacks on this thing. I will probably end up keeping the tuners. The bridge will be a debate; I may just get a Fender or Wilkinson bridge as others here at TB have done. The pickups I will wait and see; I might swap in some EMG-Js or SC Noiseless Fenders. I may change the black pickup covers to white. Perhaps white strat-style volume/tone knobs. The possibilities are endless.

At these prices, they are almost worthwhile merely as wall decorations, never mind as playable instruments. Of course, I hope it will be the latter.

It's coming Friday! A great 39th birthday present from my wife. I have a great big smile my face.

 

[Joey3313]

You're right, of course. I agree neither point was really all that terribly important. ;-)

I can't wait to replace the pots, wiring, and jacks on this thing. I will probably end up keeping the tuners. The bridge will be a debate; I may just get a Fender or Wilkinson bridge as others here at TB have done. The pickups I will wait and see; I might swap in some EMG-Js or SC Noiseless Fenders. I may change the black pickup covers to white. Perhaps white strat-style volume/tone knobs. The possibilities are endless.

At these prices, they are almost worthwhile merely as wall decorations, never mind as playable instruments. Of course, I hope it will be the latter.

It's coming Friday! A great 39th birthday present from my wife. I have a great big smile my face.

Good luck, hope you get a good one.

 

[BlacksHole]

As a former owner of a 1960 Jazz Bass, I happen to know that there were actually a few of them made in 1959. I am not sure if the 59's were available commercially though.

 

[selowitch]

As a former owner of a 1960 Jazz Bass, I happen to know that there were actually a few of them made in 1959. I am not sure if the 59's were available commercially though.

I'll be darned! That's neat.

There still weren't any Jazz Basses in 1957, though, right? I don't know much about production dates, but I imagine Fender released plenty of instruments as, say "1970" models that were in fact constructed in 1969. I imagine it's the same way with automobiles. Is that so? I don't speak from knowledge here.

 

[BlacksHole]

In 1959, only a handful of jazz basses were made - these were really prototypes. However, they are identical to the 1960 jazz basses as far as I can tell. I've never actually seen one in person - only a picture of one and it looked identical to my 1960 as far as I can recall.

 

[selowitch]

Well, anyway, I got the Rondo. I will stop short of posting a full review, but here are the essentials:

The Good
The body finish is impressive and beautiful, a metallic lake placid blue impressively like the classic Fender color. Very nice. Yes, the electronics and pickups are cheap but I'm struck by how quiet they are relative to my Fender Jazz. The wood appears to be pretty nice.

The Bad
The maple neck and fingerboard are a little too amber/orange for my taste.

The Ugly
The stock strings suck, as others have noted. They cut into your fingers and sound dead. The rout for the bridge pickup is too large and not quite the right shape. The bridge is flimsy and would not withstand repeated adjustment for intonation. Cheap plastic nut, as others have noted. Tuners are cheap and don't feel very solid, but they work.

The Neutral
The neck feels very, very thick to me, very baseball battish, perhaps a D-shape. Reminds me of certain 70s Fender P-Basses I've tried. I really prefer a thinner neck profile.

Overall
I can't see myself playing this bass at a gig because I find the neck too freakishly huge for my hands, and it also just doesn't sound very much like a Jazz Bass to me. It does seem a good value for the mere $120.00 shipped, and it's great to have something to play while I'm waiting to replace my ailing Fender, but I admit to a degree of disappointment since the reviews here at TB have been so stellar. Had I tried this instrument before buying, I would have passed. In fact, I think I may send it back. It just isn't quite up-to-snuff, although you do get a lot for the money.

 

[ishouldbeking]

Well, anyway, I got the Rondo. I will stop short of posting a full review, but here are the essentials:

The Good
The body finish is impressive and beautiful, a metallic lake placid blue impressively like the classic Fender color. Very nice. Yes, the electronics and pickups are cheap but I'm struck by how quiet they are relative to my Fender Jazz. The wood appears to be pretty nice.

The Bad
The maple neck and fingerboard are a little too amber/orange for my taste.

The Ugly
The stock strings suck, as others have noted. They cut into your fingers and sound dead. The rout for the bridge pickup is too large and not quite the right shape. The bridge is flimsy and would not withstand repeated adjustment for intonation. Cheap plastic nut, as others have noted. Tuners are cheap and don't feel very solid, but they work.

The Neutral
The neck feels very, very thick to me, very baseball battish, perhaps a D-shape. Reminds me of certain 70s Fender P-Basses I've tried. I really prefer a thinner neck profile.

Overall
I can't see myself playing this bass at a gig because I find the neck too freakishly huge for my hands, and it also just doesn't sound very much like a Jazz Bass to me. It does seem a good value for the mere $120.00 shipped, and it's great to have something to play while I'm waiting to replace my ailing Fender, but I admit to a degree of disappointment since the reviews here at TB have been so stellar. Had I tried this instrument before buying, I would have passed. In fact, I think I may send it back. It just isn't quite up-to-snuff, although you do get a lot for the money.

ah, the old "nuclear orange" necks... i don't mind it so much on my SX p-bass, but i've got a rosewood fretboard so the effect is reduced. sorry to hear you're not exactly thrilled about yours. i don't have any actual experience with their jazz basses, so i can't comment on whether you got unlucky or if the necks are all fat like that. the neck on my precision feels just about right. fret ends aren't fantastic, but better than a lot of MIM's i've played (and on par with my MIM Jazz).

at least the good thing is that you can still return it to Rondo without any hassle. i should say that i certainly do love my precision bass and do believe it's a fantastic deal, but I also had a lot of fun upgrading features, which really brought out the best in the instrument.

 

[jaco_bass]

i have both and IMO the rondo feels like a squire. The fender may be more expensive but it is worth it. The rondo does not really sound like a fender but it has some good tones comming from it.

 

[EagleMoon]

I had the exact same reaction to the neck. Incredibly huge and round especially down by the nut. If they could get the necks down to something resembling a Fender they'd be great.

 

[Rendog92]

Bad necks are definitely a turn off for me, I suggest ya get a used Jazz bass or such. You can still keep the Sx as an optional tuning guitar. Have fun though man!

 

[Warpticon]

Yeah, that's the thing...if you dislike the size of the neck, there's really not much you can do. I thought I was going to hate the orange tint of the neck, but it turns out it doesn't bother me at all, and I'm perfectly fine with the neck profile. It's not that the necks are bad; it's that, like all necks, feel and comfort are subjective and vary from player to player. As for the tuners, I still don't understand where complaints about those come from...how do tuners feel "cheap?" I've never had an ounce of problem staying in tune or stringing my SX basses, and they turn perfectly smoothly.

Didn't you say you were modding it? Which of the relatively minor issues could you not fix via modding? The pickups can be replaced, as can the bridge and tuners, and you could get a replacement neck that fits your ideal profile more.

 

[Kyon`]

I actually love both the jazz and p neck profiles, and the p neck has been refinished and I actually have a slight green tint my 75 style jazz. Not bad since it's a green SX, I personally like them but that's me, the necks feel better to me then the MIM in profile.