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Need help choosing an SX bass
- Thread starter turtlegrubs
- Start date
Hi, Y'all...
I like bluegrass. The simplest thing I can learn is the bass. Electric first, upright later. The Rondo SX looks like the best-priced beginner bass for learning basics -- mostly pentatonic, with lots of 1-4-5 stuff to expand. Your opinions, please re best SX 2-pickup model for my purpose. Thanks!!
I like bluegrass. The simplest thing I can learn is the bass. Electric first, upright later. The Rondo SX looks like the best-priced beginner bass for learning basics -- mostly pentatonic, with lots of 1-4-5 stuff to expand. Your opinions, please re best SX 2-pickup model for my purpose. Thanks!!
The word is indeed "luck". I agree with those who do not recommend an SX to the inexperienced (Unless you want cheap "setup lessons"). Indeed many people are lucky and their SX play right out of the box. But luck doesn't always hold. I've got about seven SX basses and my luck has held pretty good. And if the bass is horrible Rondo will take it back no hassle. But that said, I would NOT rely on luck unless you are experienced. And the reason is that if you get the usual cheap SX bass the chances are VERY good that you'll soon be getting lessons in fret filing! Been there. Done that. The same luck thing hold on SX wood grain. With luck you'll get a natural finish with matching grain that looks like you paid a grand for it. Without luck the wood pieces are different colors and it looks like a bass zebra. (I've got both kinds, but both do play great)
This is why for a beginner I urge easing into these things by FIRST getting the PRO models (which I prefer even though I can handle the fixes) or a Squier. Of course my Squier needed some tweaks too, but fret filing was not one of them! Both Squier and SX Pro basses are HUGE bargains for the money.
So I agree with those saying Pro or Squire. That is unless you feel lucky. Well do ya?
are experienced. And the reason is that if you get the usual cheap SX bass the chances are VERY good that you'll soon be getting lessons in fret filing! Been there. Done that. The same luck thing hold on SX wood grain. With luck you'll get a natural finish with matching grain that looks like you paid a grand for it. Without luck the wood pieces are different colors and it looks like a bass zebra. (I've got both kinds, but both do play great)
This is why for a beginner I urge easing into these things by FIRST getting the PRO models (which I prefer even though I can handle the fixes) or a Squier. Of course my Squier needed some tweaks too, but fret filing was not one of them! Both Squier and SX Pro basses are HUGE bargains for the money.
So I agree with those saying Pro or Squire. That is unless you feel lucky. Well do ya?[/QUOTE]
g
eap "setup lessons"). Indeed many people are lucky and their SX play right out of the box. But luckt doesn't always hold. I've got about seven SX basses and my luck has held pretty good. And if the bass is horrible Rondo will take it back no hassle. But that said, I would NOT rely on luck unless you are experienced. And the reason is that if you get the usual cheap SX bass the chances are VERY good that you'll soon be getting lessons in fret filing! Been there. Done that. The same luck thing hold on SX wood grain. With luck you'll get a natural finish with matching grain that looks like you paid a grand for it. Without luck the wood pieces are different colors and it looks like a bass zebra. (I've got both kinds, but both do play great)
This is why for a beginner I urge easing into these things by FIRST getting the PRO models (which I prefer even though I can handle the fixes) or a Squier. Of course my Squier needed some tweaks too, but fret filing was not one of them! Both Squier and SX Pro basses are HUGE bargains for the money.
So I agree with those saying Pro or Squire. That is unless you feel lucky. Well do ya?[/QUOTE]
m
This is why for a beginner I urge easing into these things by FIRST getting the PRO models (which I prefer even though I can handle the fixes) or a Squier. Of course my Squier needed some tweaks too, but fret filing was not one of them! Both Squier and SX Pro basses are HUGE bargains for the money.
So I agree with those saying Pro or Squire. That is unless you feel lucky. Well do ya?
[/QUOTE]g
eap "setup lessons"). Indeed many people are lucky and their SX play right out of the box. But luckt doesn't always hold. I've got about seven SX basses and my luck has held pretty good. And if the bass is horrible Rondo will take it back no hassle. But that said, I would NOT rely on luck unless you are experienced. And the reason is that if you get the usual cheap SX bass the chances are VERY good that you'll soon be getting lessons in fret filing! Been there. Done that. The same luck thing hold on SX wood grain. With luck you'll get a natural finish with matching grain that looks like you paid a grand for it. Without luck the wood pieces are different colors and it looks like a bass zebra. (I've got both kinds, but both do play great)
This is why for a beginner I urge easing into these things by FIRST getting the PRO models (which I prefer even though I can handle the fixes) or a Squier. Of course my Squier needed some tweaks too, but fret filing was not one of them! Both Squier and SX Pro basses are HUGE bargains for the money.
So I agree with those saying Pro or Squire. That is unless you feel lucky. Well do ya?
[/QUOTE]m
There's no one "best" instrument, it's just a matter of personal taste. Most of the basses at Rondo are copies of standard Fender designs - the Precision (with a single split pickup and somewhat thicker neck - SX's Ursa 1 design) and the Jazz (with two pickups and a slimmer neck). Colors don't matter to sound, so pick a bass you like the look of. If you want a two-pickup (jazz-type) bass, that will mean the slimmer neck (which I personally prefer, but some like rounder necks). Maple or rosewood necks have a slight effect on tone - maple is a little brighter and twangier, rosewood a little warmer and rounder - but only slight. Apart from those differences, it's the pickups themselves. The basic choices are:
Two single-coils (like this one - Link Removed) - also tend toward a "brighter" sound. If you turn one of them down, you may notice a hum coming from the other.
A "P/J" arrangement with one split- and one single-coil (Link Removed). The split-coil will sound a little warmer and thicker than the single.
A humbucker/single coil arrangement (Link Removed). The humbucker, like the split-coil, has a thicker tone, but in this case it's down by the bridge, where notes tend to be twangier. Popular for guys playing slap bass. I had one like this and it was great, but there was no way to get rid of the single-coil hum other than just turning that pickup down (balancing the signal from two single-coils is the normal way to eliminate hum).
The hum thing is annoying to some people and others couldn't care less or don't even notice it. It makes no difference once you're playing, gets drowned out in the notes. Any of these arrangements will have lots of flexibility in tone - you can turn either pickup down, or have them both up full, and you can turn the tone knob down to reduce those zingy high overtones (or leave them full on).
Bottom line: get what you like. Any will be great to learn on. I'd recommend taking whatever you get into a shop for new strings and a pro setup, SX's aren't always great right out of the box (might run you another $50). If it were me, I would just get a straight traditional jazz design (Link Removed) to learn on, and save money for a fancier bass once I had really figured out what I personally wanted out of a pricier instrument.
The word is indeed "luck". I agree with those who do not recommend an SX to the inexperienced (Unless you want cheap "setup lessons"). Indeed heir SX play right out of the box. Bfuyeyhht luck doesn't always hold. I've got about seven SX basses and my luck has held pretty good. And if the bass is horrible Rondo will take it back no hassle. But that said, I would NOT rely on luck unless you are experienced. And the reason is that if you get the usual cheap SX bass the chances are VERY good that you'll soon be getting lessons in fret filing! Been there. Done that. The same luck thing hold on SX wood grain. With luck you'll get a natural finish with matching grain that looks like you paid a grand for it. Without luck the wood pieces are different colors and it looks like a bass zebra. (I've got both kinds, but both do play great)
This is why for a beginner I urge easing into these things by FIRST getting the PRO models (which I prefer even though I can handle the fixes) or a Squier. Of course my Squier needed some tweaks too, but fret filing was not one of them! Both Squier and SX Pro basses are HUGE bargains for the money.
So I agree with those saying Pro or Squire. That is unless you feel lucky. Well do ya?
The word is indeed "luck". I agree with those who do not recommend an SX to the inexperienced (Unless you want cheap "setup lessons"). Indeed many people are lucky and their SX play right out of the box. But luck doesn't always hold. I've got about seven SX basses and my luck has held pretty good. And if the bass is horrible Rondo will take it back no hassle. But that said, I would NOT rely on luck unless you are experienced. And the reason is that if you get the usual cheap SX bass the chances are VERY good that you'll soon be getting lessons in fret filing! Been there. Done that. The same luck thing hold on SX wood grain. With luck you'll get a natural finish with matching grain that looks like you paid a grand for it. Without luck the wood pieces are different colors and it looks like a bass zebra. (I've got both kinds, but both do play great)
This is why for a beginner I urge easing into these things by FIRST getting the PRO models (which I prefer even though I can handle the fixes) or a Squier. Of course my Squier needed some tweaks too, but fret filing was not one of them! Both Squier and SX Pro basses are HUGE bargains for the money.
So I agree with those saying Pro or Squire. That is unless you feel lucky. Well do ya?
@ --> hrodbert696
I've played the banjo since 1973. Current axe, which I bought in 1979, is a Stelling Bellflower (mods include the Tony Pass pot and radiused fingerboard). In 1979, the Bellflower was $1,000; these days, it's $5,000 (plus another $900 or so for the Tony Pass pot and radiused fingerboard).
I'm an old phart still wedded to the concept that good ain't cheap. So, I asked the 'SX best bass?' question on this forum to get responses from guys who aren't paid to plug a product. Forum participants are more likely to praise only where it is due. Also, I'm a isabled Vietnam Vet retired on a fixed income -- so 'cheap, but still really good' is an very important attribute.
As a musician, I''ve got spot-on timing, I'm familiar with the chord progressions in hundreds of bluegrass tunes (most of which are 1-4-5 (plus some variations) in various keys, I've done the fret maintenance thing as well as neck adjustments, and I buy medium-heavy strings by the dozen.
Basically, I just have to learn where all those positions are on the bass; i.e., a lot of scale practice!! Easiest to learn on an electric first (cuz it has frets), and then move to an upright (maybe -- those dang things are getting more and more expensive). The SX appeals to me because it really does offer a beginner bass price. And it's apparent from the many reviews I've read (biased thought they may be) that the SX is good enough for stage work (bluegrass does allow electric bass, but all other instruments must be acoustic).
As for setup issues, several of the really good bassists in various bluegrass bands are also electric bass players -- so, I have no shortage of friends who are experienced doing setups.
Practice amp -- I have a Yamaha EMX5016CF powered mixer and a couple of studio speakers I can pull out of the trailer and set up in a pinch. However, I'll browse small and preferably battery-powered amps and pick one for in-house practice instead of dragging out the big stuff. I don't need a lot of volume for practice.
I'm grateful that you mentioned the 'hum' thing. I didn't think that would be an issue in a 2 passive pickup bass -- so I have volume mixing nuances to learn, too. The good news is that I have plenty of time to practice.
Many thanks for your comments!!
Very Respectfully,
Bill Krumpter
I've played the banjo since 1973. Current axe, which I bought in 1979, is a Stelling Bellflower (mods include the Tony Pass pot and radiused fingerboard). In 1979, the Bellflower was $1,000; these days, it's $5,000 (plus another $900 or so for the Tony Pass pot and radiused fingerboard).
I'm an old phart still wedded to the concept that good ain't cheap. So, I asked the 'SX best bass?' question on this forum to get responses from guys who aren't paid to plug a product. Forum participants are more likely to praise only where it is due. Also, I'm a isabled Vietnam Vet retired on a fixed income -- so 'cheap, but still really good' is an very important attribute.
As a musician, I''ve got spot-on timing, I'm familiar with the chord progressions in hundreds of bluegrass tunes (most of which are 1-4-5 (plus some variations) in various keys, I've done the fret maintenance thing as well as neck adjustments, and I buy medium-heavy strings by the dozen.
Basically, I just have to learn where all those positions are on the bass; i.e., a lot of scale practice!! Easiest to learn on an electric first (cuz it has frets), and then move to an upright (maybe -- those dang things are getting more and more expensive). The SX appeals to me because it really does offer a beginner bass price. And it's apparent from the many reviews I've read (biased thought they may be) that the SX is good enough for stage work (bluegrass does allow electric bass, but all other instruments must be acoustic).
As for setup issues, several of the really good bassists in various bluegrass bands are also electric bass players -- so, I have no shortage of friends who are experienced doing setups.
Practice amp -- I have a Yamaha EMX5016CF powered mixer and a couple of studio speakers I can pull out of the trailer and set up in a pinch. However, I'll browse small and preferably battery-powered amps and pick one for in-house practice instead of dragging out the big stuff. I don't need a lot of volume for practice.
I'm grateful that you mentioned the 'hum' thing. I didn't think that would be an issue in a 2 passive pickup bass -- so I have volume mixing nuances to learn, too. The good news is that I have plenty of time to practice.
Many thanks for your comments!!
Very Respectfully,
Bill Krumpter
Ah, OK then. I've owned 2 SXs and really had no complaints about either of them. They do deliver a good solid instrument for cheap. Based on overall responses from TBers, it would seem that quality control is spotty, as one might expect - some come through with finish flaws, or frets that need to be filed down, bad setups, that kind of thing. That's why someone posted earlier that the people who are happiest with SXs are the ones who can do their own setups.
I probably shouldn't have stressed the hum issue as much as I did, but the last SX I had it was the only issue that bugged me at all, and it was minor. It's just the way single-coil pickups work. If this is for learning the fretboard more than getting one specific tone, I wouldn't worry about it, just leave both pickups on full. Or get a P (the Ursa 1).
Since you're aiming to move on to upright, maybe you'd do well to get a fretless. (Link Removed) A lined fretless board will still help you get used to bass tuning and positions, but will also start you training your ears to get intonation right.
I probably shouldn't have stressed the hum issue as much as I did, but the last SX I had it was the only issue that bugged me at all, and it was minor. It's just the way single-coil pickups work. If this is for learning the fretboard more than getting one specific tone, I wouldn't worry about it, just leave both pickups on full. Or get a P (the Ursa 1).
Since you're aiming to move on to upright, maybe you'd do well to get a fretless. (Link Removed) A lined fretless board will still help you get used to bass tuning and positions, but will also start you training your ears to get intonation right.
Many thanks for the followup response. I hadn't given a fretless bass any thought since the 'fret' length is so much longer on an upright bass. I figured I'd mark the fret positions on the side of the upright fingerboard (white dots and lines) and use them as reference points.
I have bought a number of SX instruments from Rondo. Never been disappointed (except the banjo slightly) The basses were all great. Well worth the money. Great value for the $$
I probably have more SX, and other basses from rondo, than anybody on this board, but I don't play professionally. If you can do a setup, they are crazy values. On the hum, best thing to do is shield the bass, I do this on all of my J style basses. But you can also usually move or turn and find an orientation that will reduce the hum, it just restricts your motion.
You really can beat SX for the money. If you don't like the one they send you just send it back and they will send you another one. It will not play as nice as a MIA fender jazz, but if you have it set up and add some new pickups, you could end up
With a really nice bass (I prefer them over Squiers). Here's some pic's of my frankenjazz (SX pro neck, MIJ fender body, MIA jazz pups, schaller roller bridge). I love the character of the wood on my SX neck. This bass gets a lot of play, just as much as my MIA fender jazz.
With a really nice bass (I prefer them over Squiers). Here's some pic's of my frankenjazz (SX pro neck, MIJ fender body, MIA jazz pups, schaller roller bridge). I love the character of the wood on my SX neck. This bass gets a lot of play, just as much as my MIA fender jazz.
Attachments
Another vote for SX. Great basses. Squiers are overpriced and often poor quality. If you really must have a brand name on your headstock there are far more reliable brands at Squier price points such as Yamaha and Ibanez.
Regarding setup:
Instead of saying, this bass is more likely to need a personalized setup, why not just say "learn how to do a setup before you buy it." I don't understand why a poor factory setup would be a determining factor in deciding what bass to purchase.
Instead of saying, this bass is more likely to need a personalized setup, why not just say "learn how to do a setup before you buy it." I don't understand why a poor factory setup would be a determining factor in deciding what bass to purchase.
And regarding Squiers. For all the debate, it really comes down to:
These are basically the same instruments. SX have deeper necks (distance from fretboard to back of neck). Squier can be tried at the store.
O...and the price.
