Rondo Music Basses

[Eyesee7]

I concur with all the positive comments so far. If this is all you have to spend, then this is the best available for that price.

I've had the jazz bass you see in my profile pics for several years, but my gigging days are over and I'm pretty much a hobbyist these days; that pic was the only time I played out with it, at a two-day Rush jam.

I don't know enough about sound and I was plugged into another guy's rig anyway, but the comment I got from the sound guy was that I should buy a compressor and a preamp. Listening back to the tapes, the other two bassists' instruments sounded much better than my Rondo and we were all plugged into the same rig. Part of it may have had something to do with my playing style, but the sound guy said my bass was coming across "hot." If I didn't have uniform finger attack on the strings, you would hear notes drop out or not sustain. I don't know how much of that is due to the quality of the bass, or the fact that I couldn't hear what the heck was going on up there anyway

 

[martyman5000]

That was the best honest review of a bass I've read in a while. I think what Ibanezcollector did with one of them was amazing the quality of sound that he got out of the bass. To each is own I guess, I think its that instant gratification of being able to buy a bass right away that gives these bass guitars their appeal, I've had the same bass for over 25 years and the only mod I've made was a mistake (defretting it) and buying three different necks I've learned that a cheap neck works but does not sound like a quality neck.

 

[matrok]

I have an SX neck on my Franken P. It's gotten great compliments from owners of Sadowskys and Celinders. Best $60 I ever spent.

 

[savit260]

That was the best honest review of a bass I've read in a while. I think what Ibanezcollector did with one of them was amazing the quality of sound that he got out of the bass. To each is own I guess, I think its that instant gratification of being able to buy a bass right away that gives these bass guitars their appeal, I've had the same bass for over 25 years and the only mod I've made was a mistake (defretting it) and buying three different necks I've learned that a cheap neck works but does not sound like a quality neck.

I don't think it has so much to do with instant gratification, as knowing you can buy a reasonalby decent instrument, that is very upgradeable if you so desire(but not necessary), without having to spend a pile of money.

There's a LOT of appeal in that.

Click the band links in my sig to hear and see mine in action.

Again, 4 years worth of gigging, and it's still going strong.

 

[peakdesign]

I have thought about buying that bass too. I have a sx jazz ash and am happy with the quality. I also have a short scale jazz which I am happy with. My son loves it a bit more than i though

I wish i knew if the body was much smaller than a typical jazz though. I really don't like to play a jazz because the body is so large.

I have the short scale SJMB version, and that one has a smaller body, but they seem to tell you this one is 14.5" wide, so it's apparently a full jazz body. I just ordered one of their 5 string P/J models with the (narrow) P body and 2 jazz style pickups because I prefer a P neck, we'll see what that's like, maybe that or the 1P/1J pickup models is worth looking at. I asked and Kurt says the pickups and finish on those hybrid P/J models on $99 special are just as good as on the bigger J's.

 

[peakdesign]

You can buy a Squire for $180

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Rondo Music is a authorized Fender/ Squier dealer.

Ed Treat

Fender Consumer Relations
Fender Musical Instruments Corp.
8860 East Chaparral Road, Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85250-2610
Telephone: 480-596-9690 ex. 7274
Fax: 480-367-5262
E-mail: [email protected]

I still think its better to buy a bass at a store and try it out.

Yo, Ed!

Well at least you didn't appeal to patriotism, but let me tell ya, if Fender actually bothered to modernize, use the latest CNC machines to efficiently turn out a wide range of high quality low cost basses and return the jobs stateside, they would have a LOT of takers, and everyone would benefit. But Fender chose to do the opposite. These Squiers are (also) made in Asia, preserve none of our jobs (well, maybe one or two ), and have been (so far) lower quality kiddie instruments with far fewer choices than what we get for less money under the SX, Douglas and Brice labels. And we get royal personal customer service from Rondo. Indeed, since it is even better to try out the instrument on your rig for a few days, rather than in a store, they give us 7 days to try it out at home with no risk, shipping charges included. Maybe Fender should re-think their whole strategy, 'cause all I see so far is more of the same.

 

[savit260]

I've had the same bass for over 25 years and the only mod I've made was a mistake (defretting it) and buying three different necks I've learned that a cheap neck works but does not sound like a quality neck.

Why didn't you just have a decent luthier refret the original neck?

Think of all the SX's you could have bought(or half as many Squiers) with the money you saved from having to buy three different necks.

 

[ProfGumby]

Yo, Ed!

Well at least you didn't appeal to patriotism, but let me tell ya, if Fender actually bothered to modernize, use the latest CNC machines to efficiently turn out a wide range of high quality low cost basses and return the jobs stateside, they would have a LOT of takers, and everyone would benefit. But Fender chose to do the opposite. These Squiers are (also) made in Asia, preserve none of our jobs (well, maybe one or two ), and have been (so far) lower quality kiddie instruments with far fewer choices than what we get for less money under the SX, Douglas and Brice labels. And we get royal personal customer service from Rondo. Indeed, since it is even better to try out the instrument on your rig for a few days, rather than in a store, they give us 7 days to try it out at home with no risk, shipping charges included. Maybe Fender should re-think their whole strategy, 'cause all I see so far is more of the same.

Great post!

And I agree with all you said! I can get many more choices in color combinations by going the SX/Rondo route. Also, the quality on the SX basses is really, really understated! If one does get one with a dodgy neck or some other random issue, return it and get another. No hassle, no BS, no prolonged wait. Kurt is top notch and I'd expect his level of service on a 2,000 dollar bass, not a 109 to 170 dollar bass. But still, there it is!

I have a Squier VM to compare directly to my SX basses. To me, they feel as nice though I do prefer the neck radius on the Squier over the SX, the SX leads in almost every way, except the thick polly on the back of the neck (fixed that w/a green scrubby). Heck, the SX pickups are hotter than the Squier!

And I agree and recommend what others have said, play the bass first, do or get a pro level set up and then decide if you want to or need to upgrade. I did the upgrades on my SX basses because I wanted to and one was bought with the distinct intent to mod the snot out of it. Still not done with that one, but it plays and sounds so good, I am slowly completing the task.

One aside, when one buys a bass in the price ranges we are talking about, the thought of getting a fret job should not be off the table. Did mine need a fret job, no. Did they benefit from it? Yes. Now the only reason my basses sound bad is that I play them....It is very humbling to realize the sucky sounds emitting from ones bass amp are the direct result of ones skill, or lack of it. But guess what, practice is free and does fix that issue.

And though I have and love my Squier VM jazz, I think another SX will end up in the stable kinda soon. I am merely watching and waiting for a certain color and neck combo to show up and whamola! It will be mine. But there is one on the Rondo site now that will probably take me down soon......GAS is a hell of a drug!

 

[martyman5000]

I just wanted to point out that the comment below was mine not Ed from Fender. I would think Rondo does not sell Fenders or Squires so I'm not sure what that means.

I still think its better to buy a bass at a store and try it out.

Why didn't you just have a decent luthier refret the original neck?

Think of all the SX's you could have bought(or half as many Squiers) with the money you saved from having to buy three different necks.

I only requested the body be sent to me when I moved from one province to another. I don't know what happened to my original neck, so long ago.


from one of the Harmony Central reviews of a SX bass...I'm sure Geddy is a loyal SX owner.

Sound : 9
this bass sounds completly awesome as stated above...

it makes that grungy lack of tone noise, to that progresive getty lee feel.

wonderful

 

[dabbler]

Great post!

Heck, the SX pickups are hotter than the Squier!

True, but not surprising. Ceramic pups are often hotter than Alnicos, and you get Alnicos with the VMs. I also prefer SXes to Squiers, but that said, I put Alnicos in 3 of my SJBs for the warmer tone, but I left stock pups in my 4th SJB for those times when I want that extra punch.

 

[obviousmrfuller]

I finally have a complaint about Rondo!!

Every time I order from them, my bass comes a day early! I have to find a neighbor to get it delivered to.

Maybe that's a complaint about UPS. Nevemind... ;-)

 

[newbold]

SO!

just to reiterate...

Get an SX,

upgrade any hardware you want to be 'better'
Install new pickups and Hardware
Get pro quality set up...

...and you'll have a hard working, great sounding, super playing instrument...


...for well under a grand?

It's always gonna look too good to be true.

i think i might do it.

 

[Justice]

I have a pair of Sx's that i gig with regularly.

One is my black n chrome jazz. $120 for the bass, $60 for the block neck, $16 for the chrome pickguard. then i sold the stock neck for $25 so I have $166 in the bass. Everything else is stock.

Then there is my black and tortie P bass. It has been converted to string through body with a BadAssII bridge and the pickups have been upgraded to SD Quarter Pounders. I have also replaced the pots (cause i broke one). I have $240 invested in this bass (that includes what I paid my repair guy to do the string through conversion and install and setup the bridge)

I have another Sx mod bass planned but money is short and I'm still working another project so maybe later.

 

[Warpticon]

Well, I currently own a 6 string Brice bought at rondo. This bass is priced at 280USD but could easily be sold for 500USD.

I can't tell you anything about SX basses but I can tell you that you can expect to have a solid bass from Rondo. Reason I buy at rondo is because they have a nice line-up of south paw basses. Maybe when I have more money in my budget I'll start looking at adirondackguitar.com hehehehe.

I am actually planning on buying an SX SPJ Ash, from what I have read on various reviews it's definetly a bang-for-the-buck. ALthough I do plan to swap out for active EMGs.

You are almost EXACTLY like me. One thing i love about Rondo is that it's actually a disappointment when a model I like isn't available lefty, as opposed to being an assumption. And you know you're not going to get crap--on the off chance you do, Rondo takes care of it. I returned an acoustic guitar I got from them that had rough frets and some minor intonation issues...just yesterday I ordered a 3TS P/J from them, and I've got my eyes on another dozen guitars and basses on their menu.

Only difference is that I wasn't going to get the SPJ Ash because I don't like the offset dots...I'm oging to get the Scorpion, which is a completely different p/j bass in a jazz body. :lol:

 

[firesign10]

You are almost EXACTLY like me. One thing i love about Rondo is that it's actually a disappointment when a model I like isn't available lefty, as opposed to being an assumption.

My husband, Old Blues Guy, is a lefty and that's exactly why he originally turned to Rondo - the selection of lefty guitars. And when he was ready to get a bass, he went right there. Now he has an SX SPJ-62 and a Douglas WOB-825

And you know you're not going to get crap--on the off chance you do, Rondo takes care of it.

Yes, we too have always found their customer service to be exemplary!!

 

[bspot]

OK, I need some advice....I'm looking at buying a 5'er from Rondo and I cannot decide between two [almost] identical SX's:

SX SJB-57 4+1 5-String Bass Sunburst - Link Removed

or

SX SJB-62 4+1 3TS 5-String Bass Sunburst - Link Removed

My vanity likes the brighter finish of the first one, but the description says passive. The second has a duller finish, at least from the picture but has J-style pickups. Honestly, I'm not sure the difference between these pickups.

Thoughts?

 

[Justice]

OK, I need some advice....I'm looking at buying a 5'er from Rondo and I cannot decide between two [almost] identical SX's:

SX SJB-57 4+1 5-String Bass Sunburst - Link Removed

or

SX SJB-62 4+1 3TS 5-String Bass Sunburst - Link Removed

My vanity likes the brighter finish of the first one, but the description says passive. The second has a duller finish, at least from the picture but has J-style pickups. Honestly, I'm not sure the difference between these pickups.

Thoughts?

technically, the only real difference between those basses is the fretboard. All the other hardware and electronics is probably the same. to me, it just looks like they managed to get better pictures of one than the other. And there is no gaurantee that the finish will look exactly like the picture. It will be a sunburst but they can vary from bass to bass.

 

[newbold]

the photos are different. I wouldn't think the finish is all that different. White balance looks incongruent.

do you want a maple neck or a rosewood?

 

[newbold]

Why not this one?

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Ash body, maple block neck...

black pickguard...lookin' hot.

 

[newbold]

this is on my rondo short list...

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