My Essex Experience

[Batmensch]

I believe the term Essex was coined to comply with the search engines because SX will not be picked upped. Same with JayDee JD.

Exactly. The search engine will not recognize any terms comprised of less than three letters.

 

[Eyesee7]

I stopped playing for almost 10 years and an SX was the first bass I bought when I got back into it about 4-5 years ago.

Still really blown away at the quality-for-price ratio.

Same experience here. I've got a jazz and hope to get a precision soon.

 

[OUT51D3R]

I guess my take on the whole thing is that I really can't justify spending $350+ for a bass to hack around on if I can get a ~$200 bass to do the same job.

Yeah. My take is that if the $200 bass + $150 in modification/aftermarket parts ends up giving better results than the $350 bass, the $200 is a better deal. I don't own an SX, but that's only because getting it shipped to Canada winds up bringing the cost to around $250. There's plenty of options for decent basses for a lower price than that locally.

 

[Muddslide]

Yeah. My take is that if the $200 bass + $150 in modification/aftermarket parts ends up giving better results than the $350 bass, the $200 is a better deal. I don't own an SX, but that's only because getting it shipped to Canada winds up bringing the cost to around $250. There's plenty of options for decent basses for a lower price than that locally.

I hear you. And while I am a big booster of SX instruments, and in fact a lot of cheapo brands, at least here, where you can get an SX shipped to your door for $125-$200, I'd still consider that if you were going to go with $100 or more in upgrades, I'd save up a bit more and get something like a Squier CV or VM, or perhaps a used MIM Fender.

Thing is, my SX P clone doesn't really "need" any upgrades. Everything is fully functional and it came to me very well set up and playable and with a great finish both aesthetically and as far as the frets, etc.

I actually very much like the stock pickup.

I definitely think the SX bass could be made more reliable with some new hardware and wiring and such, but even as it stands it's something I would gig with with no reservations.

But if I were in the situation where an SX would run me over $200 and I planned on mods, I'd just score a CV, etc. Most of the CVs I've played have nicer enough hardware and electronics that I personally wouldn't consider any modding necessary unless and until something crapped out on it.

 

[mongo2]

I believe the term Essex was coined to comply with the search engines because SX will not be picked upped. Same with JayDee JD.

By my recollection, "Essex" as the guitar marque was around quite a while before "SX"

 

[Batmensch]

Hiccup!

 

[mongo2]

Pardon.

 

[overdrivethree]

add me to the pro-SX crowd. mine is the instrument that has taught me how to adjust, set up, and take care of my own instrument without having to drop $50+ on maintenance. i also have massive hands, so the thicker Jazz necks on the SX models suit me really well. while i could (and someday might) drop in a nice replacement set of SD's, the stock pickups sound plenty good, and i've gotten a wealth of solid tones from blending the pickups and working the tone knob from song to song.

for me, the deal was sealed the night my band got to open for Mike Watt. i busted out the SX for that show. one guy in the crowd told me "man, you sounded like Entwistle on Live At Leeds." and Watt himself told me, "that was some bass!" no one asked what kind of bass i was using. but given that i got props for tone/playing that night, especially from one of my biggest influences and musical heroes....i think the SX will do just fine at the moment

 

[Muddslide]

That's a great story. I've talked to Watt a few times over the years. What a solid, funny, kind person, not to mention oh-so talented.

 

[basscase]

I too own several SX bass guitars. They are all the old headstock design,don't know any dates they were made. I am pleased overall with the sound and fit and finish....However, I was playing around the other day with my LPB shortscale and never felt I needed to change the stock strings because they sounded great. Yesterday I felt my index finger on my fretting hand hurting like hell. could'nt figure it out till got out my magnifying glass and found a tiny piece of metal in the end of my finger.Don't know what string it was but I'm sure it came off of one of the strings. So...from this experience I would HIGHLY recommend changing out the stock strings ASAP and put on a brand name set. Just a little heads-up. Sorry for the long story.

 

[Gear_Junky]

...I would HIGHLY recommend changing out the stock strings ASAP and put on a brand name set...

that's pretty much a given - I always do that, regardless of the brand. Ok, I'll admit, I don't always do it right away, if I'm waiting to receive pickups, I'll keep the strings until the mods are all lined up and ready.

But the point is: it's not just the generic strings, it's that you can't always tell dead strings by visible condition. The bass may sound good to you, because it's a good bass, but there's no reference - fresh strings are the first and best mod, which every instrument deserves.

With roundwounds (bass or guitar) I always say: they're dead long before they look corroded.