godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,060
- 38,448
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
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New SX Jazz Bass
- Thread starter Mammoth_Bass
- Start date
Well since you asked that question, you should probably find someone who knows how to use tools
It's mostly common sense. Don't think you can get away without making proper pilot holes.
before you take off the old bridge, mark to the left and right of the bridge where the string saddles sit so you can make sure the new bridge saddles will be in a good place.
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No big tips as installing them is not big deal, but I've installed a few on SX. Well I should say I've installed a few bridge covers and removed a couple pickups covers which I find get in the way for me. I really like the look of the ashtrays so I like to put them on.
I should mention that I often install after market bridges (usually a Stingray clone bridge at about $30) But they have a wide base that doesn't fit under the cover at least on my 5ers. Just saying.
What I do is use 4-40 brass threaded inserts to mount the bridge cover and/or pickup covers. They aren't very strong and don't take a lot of force (like say using them for pickup screws) but are fine for pickguards, control plates and bridge covers. I just put a tiny dab of epoxy on the outside and hammer them into the right size hole. I also run a thin ribbon of copper foil (of the kind used in the shield jobs with sticky on back) from under bridge to over top of one of the inserts so when you mount the cover the screw presses the cover down on the foil and grounds it. I don't think this extra shielding is necessary at all, but I still do it just for drill. The inserts allow you to take the covers on and off many times (like when changing strings) without screw holes being stripped.
Inserts:
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I also have a MIM Fender Deluxe Active V Jazz but (shhhh!) I usually prefer the necks on my SX to Fender Jazz necks. I had to change the pickups on the MIM to be satisfied with tone. But sometimes only a Fender-shaped headstock will do.
As for SX mods. Common mods are first the bridge since the stock cheap SX bridge is a bent metal thing that sounds OK and works OK but has no slots for the saddle screws and thus sometimes needs to be pried on get strings aligned. I like to replace them with a $30 Stingray clone bridge on my SX 5ers (very nice) and I replaced even the nicer bridge that comes with the 6ers with a $30 top-loading Hipshot clone (avatar). Yours of course already has that mod. Another common mod is to replace the plain white or black pickguard (especially on the natural models) with something more boutique. Usually this takes a custom copy of the original pickguard as SX pickguards all seem "handmade" which means each is different. Of course yours already has this mod too!
Another standard SX mod is copper foil shielding. they aren't bad as is, but because they are single coil pickups getting rid of as much other hum as you can always helps.
Another Standard standard mod is to replace the SX string tree with a Fender or similar. Some SX trees are sharp underneath and chew the strings and bind when tuning. And related to that but more work is to replace the plastic nut with bone or I like the graphtech lubed nut. The main feature of this is that it helps keep strings from sticking when tuning. Also some times the outside piece beyond the E string will break off the plastic nut and a stronger nut helps prevent that. I just buy precut graphtech nuts of a size that is close and just sand it down until it fits. I don't make the effort of actually filing the grooves into perfect.
Some people like to mod the tuners to light weight ones to reduce neck dive. I've never done this. Sometimes SX tuners are a bit sticky or loose but seem to work. I just go as is, but it is a common mod.
And one can mod pickups. I've never done this but the main reason as I see it would be to get rid of single coil hum. I could go for that. But to get rid of the hum and keep the single coil tone takes some serious pickup money (like say Nordies). So I haven't done it yet, but it is an option of interest.
And lastly I like to install threaded inserts on the neck joint. To me it makes the bass have a more "solid" feel and better sustain. And part of the problem is that sometimes the screws on the SX necks are installed crooked or there is not enough clearance in the body holes for the neck to be pulled down tight. So in dealing with whatever is found in the neck joint I just add threaded inserts too since it simplifies the repair. Again this is a FAR from necessary mod.
My deal with mods of ANY bass is as you say, you play it for a while and live with it and if certain things seem to need improving, well, you improve them! Pretty soon that bass is just the way YOU want it be.
I bought a Fender tort pickguard and "modified" it. It just took some sanding to get it to fit.
By the way, I bought mine used and don't know if the pickups were upgraded but it sounds way better than my FSR Jazz bass. It feels and sounds like an American bass. No joke.
My SX is in my avatar also before the pickguard swap.
By the way, I bought mine used and don't know if the pickups were upgraded but it sounds way better than my FSR Jazz bass. It feels and sounds like an American bass. No joke.
My SX is in my avatar also before the pickguard swap.
Few people have complaints about SX single coil tone. About the only reason to change them is to get rid of single coil hum. My Fender MIM jazz on the other hand came with old fender "noiseless" pickups which sounded really bad, but had no hum! So eventually I swapped them out for SCN pickups which sound great and also have no hum! I've never changed the pickups in my SX basses. I just live with hum if a pickup is soloed. Maybe one day I'll try a few high end humfree pickups in an SX just for fun.
Result of a tight neck pocket. I have an ursa 3 fretless. I made a new bone nut and cleaned up the board and also had to move the bridge slightly. Otherwise it is sweet, no excessive hum from the P/J set up and the finish is nice. Good find on your part, enjoy!
Do you think overtime it will worsen? I rather just keep it than return it since the set up is nice out of the box and there are no sharp fret edges etc.
It's possible if it is indeed a tight pocket. Assuming that is the case you could remove a little material there.
