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my SX better than an Am. Std.?
- Thread starter grifo
- Start date
I've never played an SX and I don't care if I ever do, but I'd like to chime in about my 2008 MIA Precision.
If I knew more about bass guitars when I bought it, I would have bought something else. I'll have ended up modding my Fender Precision to get it to my optimal plabaility and tone almost the same way SX owners mod those things, if not moreso.
Not to say I would have been better off with an SX - if I ever have an extra $100 sitting around, I'm buying me some beer.
If I knew more about bass guitars when I bought it, I would have bought something else. I'll have ended up modding my Fender Precision to get it to my optimal plabaility and tone almost the same way SX owners mod those things, if not moreso.
Not to say I would have been better off with an SX - if I ever have an extra $100 sitting around, I'm buying me some beer.
No, the SX basses aren't better basses than Fender American Standards.
I like the sound of my two SX Jazz fives as much as the American Fender Deluxes I've had or even any other bass I've had and I've had quite a few good ones. They give me just the tone I want without any active EQ or much tweeking from my amp and the necks fit me just right. In no way are the SX basses built with as much detail and care as the Fenders but they fit me fine and get me what I want, probably the same way with the original poster.
Better basses? No, but they work just right for me.
I like the sound of my two SX Jazz fives as much as the American Fender Deluxes I've had or even any other bass I've had and I've had quite a few good ones. They give me just the tone I want without any active EQ or much tweeking from my amp and the necks fit me just right. In no way are the SX basses built with as much detail and care as the Fenders but they fit me fine and get me what I want, probably the same way with the original poster.
Better basses? No, but they work just right for me.
Sound clips /vids of the $89 SX Jazz Bass that I made - The bass is 100% stock in these videos, even the strings.
Fingerstyle -
Fingerstyle -
Sound clips /vids of the $89 SX Jazz Bass that I made - The bass is 100% stock in these videos, even the strings.
Fingerstyle -
ugh! Now those gas pains are back!
Varies a lot from bass to bass. I've had a few SX's and one in particular is a killer bass. I've played AM fenders that I thought were terrible. I wish my tastes usually ended up with me spending less money
I've got two SX basses and one is a killer bass. I've got a MIM Fender V delux and the good SX is easy the equal of it in the tone department.
The problem is that musicians get to following these myths thinking that somehow they are true. One common myth is that if you buy a bass just like the great bassist Joe Blow plays then somehow you will be as great as Joe. It's obvious nonsense, yet this is EXACTLY why so many companies have all those endorsements.
Another myth is that if you spend a lot for an instrument, "you get what you pay for". One variation of that myth is that if you buy a MIA Fender it's going to be a wonderful bass.
Horse manure. When I bought my MIM Fender I played all manner of MIA Fenders, MIM Fenders, and Squires. Some of those MIA Fenders were pure crap! The worst one had this neck angled so even with the saddles as low as they go the setup was still way too high. In the end I found my MIM Fender that was (in my judgement) BETTER than any of the MIA Fenders I played. It was a fraction of the cost. (So much for get what you pay for).
OK, so is my good SX, better than the MIM Fender which is better than any MIA Fender I played? Well, tone wise, I'd call it different but equal. Playability I'd rate the SX best. And in looks the Fender (old school tobacco sunburst) wins hands down. And my other SX simply doesn't measure up and is just a nice bar bass.
So what's the bottom line? The rule is that basses are ORGANIC! The wood comes from trees growing in nature and they are built by humans. Hence, each one can be slightly or even a LOT different from the next. I know a local bass pro who's go-to bass is a squire that puts my Fender to shame. So yes a $1000 bass is usually better than some $100 bass, but it's not a rule you can count on. In fact I heard a Fender MIA compared to a Jersey Drozd bass by some decent player and the MUCH cheaper Fender tone just blew the Drozd with the to-die-for looks away.
So the bottom line is that one has to admit that yes, some poor hillbilly girl can indeed change her name end up the biggest star of the 20th century, and there are plenty of horsey-looking daughters of rich families that will never amount to anything. That's life.
I've owned 5+ SXs and a few Fenders.
Generally, Fender is better. The odd time now and again you'll find an SX that is better than a Fender, but not usually.
When you consider that often the woods are the same (maple, rw neck & alder body) the biggest difference in terms of tone is the pickups followed by the bridge.
The most important thing to me is how well the bass is setup. I'd rather play a chinese bass with nice low action than a MIA with the action a cm or two above the fretboard.
All that said, I just got my custom stambaugh a couple days ago and the resonance, punchyness and depth of tone clobbers ANY other bass I've owned or tried. Of course that bass is worth $2000 and the SX is $100 so really thats how it should be.
Generally, Fender is better. The odd time now and again you'll find an SX that is better than a Fender, but not usually.
When you consider that often the woods are the same (maple, rw neck & alder body) the biggest difference in terms of tone is the pickups followed by the bridge.
The most important thing to me is how well the bass is setup. I'd rather play a chinese bass with nice low action than a MIA with the action a cm or two above the fretboard.
All that said, I just got my custom stambaugh a couple days ago and the resonance, punchyness and depth of tone clobbers ANY other bass I've owned or tried. Of course that bass is worth $2000 and the SX is $100 so really thats how it should be.
My chipboard Jolly Fats Weehawken bass with egg tempera finish and contact mike pickup can smoke your First Act bass
Hey, if I can score a decent masonite Danelectro at a good price, I'll smoke BOTH your basses!
As soon as I Citristrip this and get it routed for DiMarzios, you guyz are all gonna be toast:
The funny stuff is that it seems like these "special" basses whether it be a MIM, MIJ, SX etc is all over the place. Almost like they make 1 or 2 out of 2000 thats is crap.
I love my SX Jazz and would put it against any stock MIA fender tone wise. I am also sure if I had a MIA fender jazz and not an SX I would make the exact opposite statement and say the fender tone is better. A bass is kind of like a girlfriend when you get one you really love, nothing else compares.
bigfatbass
Inactive
- Jun 30, 2003
- 2,420
- 404
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Karl Hoyt Basses
I have 2 main basses, a Lakland Skyline 5501, and a Fender deluxe 5 from the early 90s. My beater for the jams is an SX P that I put a DiMarzio DM2, and a little elbow grease into, like any cheap bass requires.
No one has ever tried to buy the Jazz, or the Lakie off my lap, but I get gap-jawed, peepee dances, and sometimes even offers of cash, for the P-ho. It plays like butter, and punches harder than just about any stock MIA Fender I've come across. Of course that is a testimonial to the mighty DM2, and my, and my repair guy's, mad finishing skillz, but the name on a headstock means nothing. 80s Fender instruments are often boat anchors disguised as pretzels, but the lemmings pay 1000s for them, because they are enamored with the logo/age. The proof is in the playing, and the sound it makes to your ears. I have no problem believing that a cared for and modified ANYTHING sounds better than a dead stringed, poorly set up, Guitar Center wall decoration.
Basically, with very little cash and some learnin', you can make just about any bass out there a decent playable instrument.
No one has ever tried to buy the Jazz, or the Lakie off my lap, but I get gap-jawed, peepee dances, and sometimes even offers of cash, for the P-ho. It plays like butter, and punches harder than just about any stock MIA Fender I've come across. Of course that is a testimonial to the mighty DM2, and my, and my repair guy's, mad finishing skillz, but the name on a headstock means nothing. 80s Fender instruments are often boat anchors disguised as pretzels, but the lemmings pay 1000s for them, because they are enamored with the logo/age. The proof is in the playing, and the sound it makes to your ears. I have no problem believing that a cared for and modified ANYTHING sounds better than a dead stringed, poorly set up, Guitar Center wall decoration.
Basically, with very little cash and some learnin', you can make just about any bass out there a decent playable instrument.
What's a DiMarzio DM2 ? I can't find it on their page, and didn't have any luck on Google (except for your mentions of it in a couple threads).
I own MIA Fender's & SX basses. The SX basses sound very good and are quite comparable to the Fender's. The SX basses are not made as well as Fender MIA's, plain & simple. Do you pay extra money for the Fender name and logo? Of course you do. Anyone who has ever played a bass knows that.
Often basses at the store are not setup right.
I can't believe how many stores have basses with about half an inch action at the 12th.
I don't know about Europe, though (I noticed the euro sign in the OP), but in the States Guitard Center is the last place where you want to consider trying a bass, even the Fenders in the Fender area are setup by a 10 year old.
I feel that it's all in the quality control. There are a higher chance of a bum SX than a bum American Fender. That's not to say that both don't happen on a pretty regular basis.
This all goes to show that you should play the specific instrument you're going to buy and see if you like it. There's so many factors at work in making an instrument.
This all goes to show that you should play the specific instrument you're going to buy and see if you like it. There's so many factors at work in making an instrument.
