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Question about these "SX" bass guitars.

#23
martyman5000 said:
Cheap hardware and electronics...buy one and then save up for a real bass.
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That's a fairly ignorant comment.

Did you ever stop and think that perhaps an SX is all that someone reading this thread could afford, or stop to think that there are many very capable bassists on TB that gig with an SX?

I would hate if comments such as yours would deter someone from buying what he/she could afford and get started just because you think they're crap.

Steve
 
#26
This all reminds me of when Fender Japan first started shipping to the US and all the snobs were screaming about how bad they were. Now they are worth top dollar, and those same snobs will say that they are MUCH better guitars then what are currently available. :spit::spit::spit:

I'm so happy with my SX SJB-57, I sold my MIM P-bass and ordered a SX Strat and still had $$$ left over to do all my Christmas shopping with!!! :bassist::bassist:
 
#27
I sold a 79 Precision in favor of an SX Precision copy. It needed some fretwork, but it sounds like a great Precision, and it's stock. And once I got the frets right, it actually plays well now. It's the best value in cheap basses out there.
 
#30
ack said:
That's a fairly ignorant comment.

Did you ever stop and think that perhaps an SX is all that someone reading this thread could afford, or stop to think that there are many very capable bassists on TB that gig with an SX?

I would hate if comments such as yours would deter someone from buying what he/she could afford and get started just because you think they're crap.

Steve
Click to expand...

+1 - People will always have their opinions. IMO, the SX are good basses and are great value.

I bought a new SX Stingray copy when rondomusic carried them and I love it. I had do a full set up, but since I do all the work myself, it wasnt an issue.

My friend bought his kid the short scale SX jazz to learn on. That bass was awesome out of the box.

You may want to look into Squier also. Their affinity bass arent bad for the money. I have the P bass that I modded with Bassline 1.4 pounders and new electronics. That bass sounds and records great.
 
#33
I just got my first SX over Christmas. Wife bought me a SX SB-301 Fretless ( Link Removed ) and so far I love it. I also have a Squier VM Jazz, and a Schecter Elite-5.

Good things to say about the bass;

-- Came with flatwounds stock, although a light gauge than I would normally use.
-- Action was very low out of the box, and I dont think I need to adjust them at all.
-- Intonation seemed to be spot on out of the box. I check the note at the 12th fret of each string after tuning on the open string and each was spot on.
-- No dead spots on the neck from what I can tell so far.

Bad things to say;

-- One of the pots was loose, not major just tightened up the nut holding it in.
-- Pick-ups are a little quieter than my other basses.
-- Wiring was a nightmare on the inside.

Aside from the pick-ups being quiet, the only two issues I have are simple quality control ones. But honestly at $109 I didnt expect quality control to be as high as that of a MIA Fender or custom shop bass. As for the pickups Im just using cash I got from other family member to get a set of DiMarzio DP-126 pickups for $85.00.

Aaron
 
#34
martyman5000 said:
Post a sound clip :bassist:

I like the look of the Essex bass and think it is a good value for a beginner bassist. I've seen photos of the tiny sound pots and know that the tuners/bridge and pups are cheap. My Ibanez is over 20 years old and still sounds amazing ;)
Click to expand...

Sound clips have already been done, do a search. I can tell you from experience that my SX P sounds as good as most Fender Ps. I bought it, and thinking that it would need a pickup I ordered a Fender Original '62 pickup for it. I made a recording before I changed pickups and another after and posted them here (this was 4 years ago so I don't know if you can still find it, but look). The Fender pickup sounded a little bit better, but not much. Not enough to pay $65 for it. SX basses sound good right out of the box.

Look at the basses I own in my profile and you'll see that I have many "real" basses (by your definition) and I think SX are good basses. Maybe you should try one before you comment on them.
 
#35
Showdown said:
Sound clips have already been done, do a search. I can tell you from experience that my SX P sounds as good as most Fender Ps. I bought it, and thinking that it would need a pickup I ordered a Fender Original '62 pickup for it. I made a recording before I changed pickups and another after and posted them here (this was 4 years ago so I don't know if you can still find it, but look). The Fender pickup sounded a little bit better, but not much. Not enough to pay $65 for it. SX basses sound good right out of the box.

Look at the basses I own in my profile and you'll see that I have many "real" basses (by your definition) and I think SX are good basses. Maybe you should try one before you comment on them.
Click to expand...

I reposted an A-B of my SX with the stock vs. Original '62 PU in it very recently in one of the megathreads. The Fender IME was not as loud as the SX pickup and the quality of the construction wasn't really much better. Both pickups sound very good, and 99 percent of people would never be able to tell the difference.

On an aside, I always laugh when some dope tries to imply that SX owners are either beginners or don't know what makes a good instrument. I'm a far cry from a beginner bassist and I've been designing and building things out of wood for over 30 years. I helped my uncle build acoustic guitars when I was little and I build my own instruments now. I also have a very good ear. While I wish those with ZERO experience or with an ax to grind would just stay out of these forums, it doesn't break my heart if nobody buys SX basses. With the demand low, the prices will stay where they are and the inventory will stay high for me to pick from. I'm not a big fan of those who spread misinformation just because they feel the ridiculous need to defend their purchases of more expensive instruments.
 
#36
Well I just ordered a SX SJB-57C VYW Vintage Yellow from Rondo. I think I got it at the old $99.95 price because I left it my "cart" from a few weeks ago. They are now 119.95. Not that I needed a new bass, I have two, but reading all the threads about these perked my interest in getting an inexpensive bass to knock around. If I didn't like it I could use it to learn how to DIY a few things like a new bridge or pickup.

TW
 
#37
I've got 4 basses that see playing time these days. A fretless Roscoe LG-3005, a fretted Roscoe SKB-3005 (around 3k each - see pics on sig), one SX P and one SX J model ($110 and $140) Obviously, the SX basses don't have the playability or feel of the high end basses, but sometimes you just need a vintage P or J sound, and while I can get close with the Roscoes, they are just more modern sounding, period, because of the pickups and preamps. Being left handed, I've pretty much had to order every bass I have. On the rare occasion that a music store has some lefty basses, I've picked up a few MIM Fender J's and my experience has been that they were comparable to my SX basses. Granted, that's limited experience due to the lack of lefty basses out there, but you can't beat the value of an SX bass, IMO. Also, if I'm going to be playing outside in the summer or something, I'm reaching for an SX.
 
#38
petchimp123 said:
... I've been wanting to experiment with a 5 string bass and a fretless bass, is it a good idea for me to get a 5 string fretless or one 5 string and one fretless?
Click to expand...

I'd try separate instruments. I go the itch to try a fretless and a 5 string at about the same time, got a Stingray 5, and ended up liking the fretlessness of it, but not the 5th string so much.


petchimp123 said:
Also will an SX bass be a decent upgrade from a Squier(the only bass I own)?
Click to expand...

Maybe you should get the Squier a nice set up and buy a fretless or 5 string SX. That may help you decide which company's bass is better for you.


Oh, and one more thing; headstock whores probably do not play Ibanez basses! :D
 
#39
martyman5000 said:
Post a sound clip :bassist:

I like the look of the Essex bass and think it is a good value for a beginner bassist. I've seen photos of the tiny sound pots and know that the tuners/bridge and pups are cheap. My Ibanez is over 20 years old and still sounds amazing ;)
Click to expand...


Guess what? They're also a great value for people that want a good solid and "workhorse" bass as well. The tuners are dead reliable, and the pots take all of 15 minutes and $10 to upgrade to the industry standard CTS or equivilent. Add another $3 for a Switchcraft Jack, and you have a dead reliable "workhorse" bass.

So you're bassing your critique of the SX basses from Photo?

Although I use my old Fender in the studio, I'd have NO issues using the SX in it's place.
It sounds that good.
 

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