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NBD - Yes, I bought a JacksonBacker

stingray69

stingray69

Talkbass Legit
Aug 11, 2004
5,498
7,470
St Louis Area
#1
Jackson-CBXNT-D-V.jpg





And I love it!! :laugh::bassist:

I'll try to keep it very brief instead of a rambling review. I've had it on 3 gigs now and many practices. It sounds FANTASTIC - especially in a live mix! One of the best sounding basses I currently own. Wasn't expecting that from a sight-unseen purchase. It plays effortlessly - and it's an extremely well built instrument. The fret work is very good - I can get a very low action and the fret ends are well done & do not protrude past the binding. Super smooth along the neck.

The tone is fantastic - it's growly & punchy! Which is my cup-o-tea. I LOVE the fact that the designers at Jackson decided to make the 5 string version a reverse P at the neck pickup! :bassist:

The neck is very thin & fast playing - on par with Ibanez SR series, but also re-inforced with graphite support rods & dual action truss rod. It's solid but it's not gonna be everyone's cup of tea. I like it a lot, but I also own other necks with the same feel.

The bridge is definitely high mass - I'm guessing this might also help contribute to the wonderful sustain this instrument has too. The preamp IMO is outstanding - can coax just about any kind of tone you're looking for from it. Very warm/smooth to growly/punchy, clank/bite, it's all in there.

Couple quick play-along bass tracks to give a general idea of a couple tones.

Both pickups (preamp flat).

P-only (with cut mids & treble).
 
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#2
stingray69 said:
Jackson-CBXNT-D-V.jpg





And I love it!! :laugh::bassist:

I'll try to keep it very brief instead of a rambling review. I've had it on 3 gigs now and many practices. It sounds FANTASTIC - especially in a live mix! One of the best sounding basses I currently own. Wasn't expecting that from a sight-unseen purchase. It plays effortlessly - and it's an extremely well built instrument. The fret work is very good - I can get a very low action and the fret ends are well done & do not protrude past the binding. Super smooth along the neck.

The tone is fantastic - it's growly & punchy! Which is my cup-o-tea. I LOVE the fact that the designers at Jackson decided to make the 5 string version a reverse P at the neck pickup! :bassist:

The neck is very thin & fast playing - on par with Ibanez SR series, but also re-inforced with graphite support rods & dual action truss rod. It's solid but it's not gonna be everyone's cup of tea. I like it a lot, but I also own other necks with the same feel.

The bridge is definitely high mass - I'm guessing this might also help contribute to the wonderful sustain this instrument has too. The preamp IMO is outstanding - can coax just about any kind of tone you're looking for from it. Very warm/smooth to growly/punchy, clank/bite, it's all in there.

Couple quick play-along bass tracks to give a general idea of a couple tones.

Both pickups (preamp flat).

P-only (with cut mids & treble).
Click to expand...
Well aside from the obvious butt hurt as with all ric copies its a cool bass and if its got the sound and the build then its a great bass. Id call it the Jackenbacker and keep woodshedding it!
 
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#11
sleddogn said:
4 string red version of these are on sale at MF with stupid deal of day, normally 750 on sale for 399 for 2 more hours
Jackson X Series Concert Bass CBXNT DX IV
Click to expand...

I searched TB for any info on these a few hours ago because I saw it on the stupid deal. There was a thread where it got hated on pretty hardcore just because of the way it looked. I actually think it looks pretty cool, but I also have no issue with pointy headstocks. I was an 80s kid.

The 4 string at $399 was tempting, though I really prefer 5'ers. Having heard the sound samples, I just may pick one up if it goes on sale for $399 again.
 
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#14
That looks like a nice bass. My 1st good bass in the 70's was a Ric--- just because.

These days, a Ric neck is not my desire, but the Ric-o-sound would be fun to have. Can that bass cop the sound of early Yes recordings?
 
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#15
KeithAlanK said:
As much as I love the looks and sound of Rickenbackers, I've never played one that felt in any way comfortable and the company's attitude turns me off.

If I were in the market for another bass, the 4 string version of this Jackson would be the one.
Click to expand...

I've never owned a Ric, always admired the tone & general look from afar. Never had a real intention to buy one though - partly because of some of the lingering stories of playability issues & the bridge woes that have almost become infamous with the Rics. One interesting thing I found while researching the Jackson, is that several reviews (both here on TB & YT) have come from Ric owners that have bought this Jackson model and surprisingly they all have had some pretty nice things to say about it. Wasn't expecting that. :thumbsup:
 
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#18
KeithAlanK said:
As much as I love the looks and sound of Rickenbackers, I've never played one that felt in any way comfortable and the company's attitude turns me off.
Click to expand...

So true and it's always been like that with Rickenbacker. The infamous *warranty void if not using Rickenbacker strings* comes to mind. They act like they're doing you a favor by letting you pay them your hard earned money for one of their instruments. I once owned a music store and we were a Rickenbacker dealer. They treated us the same way.
 
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#20
Slevage said:
That looks like a nice bass. My 1st good bass in the 70's was a Ric--- just because.

These days, a Ric neck is not my desire, but the Ric-o-sound would be fun to have. Can that bass cop the sound of early Yes recordings?
Click to expand...

Ah yes -can it Ric? :laugh:

Depends on who you ask. From comments I saw here on TB & YT from actual Ric owners - they say yes. At least one commentor stated they feel it cops about 75-80% of a Ric tone. From the TalkBass pearl-clutching crowd who would rather throw rocks at it because of the headstock, I've seen comments saying "the one I played in GC sounds nothing like a Ric". Yeah. :meh: So there's that.

I tend to value the opinions of actual Ric owners who have either played it or own it, of course. I have no direct point of reference as I've never owned a Ric - so I have to lean heavily on the Ric owners comments & the A/B clips I've seen from Ric owners tells my ears it's not far off at all. Identical twins...maybe not. Our resident Lobster did a review - I liked his analogy that the Jackson is what a lot of Ric owners will often dial in their Rics to sound like for a more rock type tone anyway. I take that to mean it's easier to dial in more treble & clank with the Jackson than perhaps it is with a true Ric.

Anyway...was curious myself when I got, it so I threw on some dirt & chorus and played along to a couple of Yes tunes.

Regardless of whether one thinks it does or doesn't Ric - I love the tone of the Jackson. It's a great sounding bass on it's own merits! :bassist:

Overdrive

Chorus
 
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