SX Basses.... Really?

[bspot]

Not directed specifically at anyone in particular.....

I really, honestly don't get it. Well maybe I do a little. People align themselves with brands. Chevy or Ford, SX or Fender, Ranger Boats or Stratos, hell, even NASCAR fans argue over drivers they like or don't like. And do some people find self value and self worth based on stuff that they own, or even some twisted sort of superiority?

But honestly, what is it or why is it some folks cannot stand that others actually like SX? Or worse yet like SX over Fender? Really, where is the beef and why do some feel the need to leap into an SX thread and slam the brand? Opinions are one thing, you are entitled to not personally like any brand, or relate an unpleasant experience with a manufacturer or shop. But full on, almost venom fueled bashing? Come on.....

And why is it not great that brands like SX or Turser or even Squier and Epiphone are there at a price that is able to invite more people into the world of music? Why is it viewed as bad? And anyone that expects a 100 or even a 300 dollar bass to rival a 3,000 dollar boutique bass, well let's just say they don't exist as I have never heard of one either.

But here is a thought, why not be glad someone found a bass that they are happy with and may own for 30 years, even if it only cost them 150 dollars? Some people may never feel the need to progress outside of that instrument, some will warp past them. What's the big deal?

Like them or don't care for them? Great, fantastic, wonderful! That means you do have a choice in what you can play! No bass, NO BASS is one size fits all, and that is AWESOME! But life is too short to hate......especially in the context of something so hysterically stupid as what your headstock says....

All IMHO, of course....Peace Out Ya'll!!!!

Beautifully said - I could not agree more.

 

[mongo2]

But life is too short to hate......especially in the context of something so hysterically stupid as what your headstock says....

The operative word there is stupid. That's all it is.

The headstocks on my basses display a gamixtapickle of logos, Epiphone, Squier, Fender, Lakeland, SX, Musicman, Kay, Danelectro, Peavey, Gretsch, Harmony, Jerry Jones, Teisco, the Sukop Saggitarius, Silvertone, Eastwood, Brice, Rogue, and others including none at all.

In nearly 40 years of playing the only place I've encountered the idiocy of constant brand bashing is on the 'net.

 

[matrok]

I haven't bought one, yet, but I'll post a friend's experience.

He owns a MusicMan fretless 5 and a 77 Jazz, has played over 30 years. He decided he wanted a fretted 5, but budget was a concern. I hipped him to the SX. He bought the natural J 5 for $169. He found one sharp fret, made a small tweak on the neck and put on a new set of strings. Very happy with the playability. Then he went down to GC and played a $1700 Fender 5. In his opinion he saved $1500.

Enough for me, I'll end up with one eventually.

 

[dabbler]

I definitely noticed that my SX does not have the same good tone as my geddy J/warmoth.

I played a 5 hour gig (yes, with lots of breaks) at a corporate gig outside just yesterday. My geddy/warmoth J is a fairly heavy beast, so I thought I'd bring my sx this time since its significantly lighter and would be easier on my shoulder for that long of time. I plugged the sx P into my rig and instantly noticed that it did not have the same fundamental lows as my main bass.

Next time I'll probably just put up with the weight and use my main bass.

But I agree they are good for $100+ and its definitely nice for banging on around the house.

No the SX probably wasn't as deep as your Geddy. But I'm thinkin' the extra deepness in the geddy came partly from the Alnico pups in it vice the ceramics in the SX. I'm not going to tell you that the SX is better, but I have found them to be decent basses. If you dialed your amp in for the ceramics, or if you put some alnicos in the SX you might very well be able to leave the Geddy home.

It's your bass and your call, but personally, what I like about ceramics (and the reason I bought an SJB to leave stock after I put a pre and Fender Original Jazz pups in my main SJB) is the punch! They are strong, punchy and slap quite nicely. YMMV, but diversity, yes even in basses, is a good thing.

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

Yeah, I was surprised by the tonal difference, but then again the sx is a p and my main bass is a Jazz.

I also must confess that I am very picky about tone. One other thing is that the sticky poly neck on the sx isnt my favourite.

Still, it is a good bass for the money. If I was broke and needed a bass I'd definitely take a hard look at the SX.

 

[ElKabong]

Thanks Justice - you just saved me $200 bucks...for now.

the routes are channel routes, they don't look good without a pickguard.

No micro-tilt

No brass plates under the pickups. the ground wire is under the bridge and goes into the control cavity

 

[Bassgirlsara]

I love my 5 string sx jazz bass. never had any issues with it. <3

 

[Mazatleco17]

Just receive my short scale sx p bass yesterday, a few minor flaws but nothing major, the only thing that's bothering me is that it stays tuned just of a while.

 

[electracoyote]

Mongo wrote:The headstocks on my basses display a gamixtapickle of logos, Epiphone, Squier, Fender, Lakeland, SX, Musicman, Kay, Danelectro, Peavey, Gretsch, Harmony, Jerry Jones, Teisco, the Sukop Saggitarius, Silvertone, Eastwood, Brice, Rogue, and others including none at all.
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Your collection sounds a lot like mine. I have several multi-thousand dollar trophy case specimens, Rogues, and everything in between.

Gear snobs are annoying. I've been dealing with them my whole life, over 30 years of performing, recording, and teaching. I remember recently when all those pictures of Jimmy Page playing a Danelectro surfaced. All the snobs had to do a double take, and suddenly it became more an issue of things like "chops" and "creativity" instead of "what's on the headstock." Refreshing.

 

[electracoyote]

It is what it is. SX (and several other similar brands) have a special and largely appreciated niche in the market. They serve everyone from those on a budget to those experimenting with different configurations to those who like to mod guitars. I wanted to get into fretless, but I was not going to spend a fortune on a whim. So I purchased an SX fretless P. Bass set up quickly and easily, sounds and plays great, has the "mwahhhhhhh," and I'm not in too deep financially. I do believe I could gig with this bass, I mean, why the hell not? I'll play this one to death, then maybe start auditioning other fretless basses to see what the extra cost is all about. It shouldn't surprise anyone in the least that some players get ahold of SX basses, find them perfectly acceptable and playable, and embrace the concept. I'm now curious about ash body jazz basses with maple necks. Has anyone priced those lately? Not cheap. But this is an experiment, and SX makes a really nice 70s style jazz with 3-piece ash body, maple neck, block inlay, upgraded mini tuners and high mass bridge for $179.00. And Kurt at Rondomusic.com bends over backwards for his customers. If you get a bad one, he gives a refund or exchange no questions asked. How anyone can whizz on that is beyond me. Now, maybe you're in that elite group who knows just what you want and has the bucks to spend as you please. Well, obviously, you should be custom ordering your bass, or scoping out vintage instruments, right? Personally, I think it's cool as hell whan I see a good player making it happen with a low-pricepoint instrument. To you guys who gig with SX or similar brands, hats off to ya.

 

[overdrivethree]

It is what it is. SX (and several other similar brands) have a special and largely appreciated niche in the market. They serve everyone from those on a budget to those experimenting with different configurations to those who like to mod guitars. I wanted to get into fretless, but I was not going to spend a fortune on a whim. So I purchased an SX fretless P. Bass set up quickly and easily, sounds and plays great, has the "mwahhhhhhh," and I'm not in too deep financially. I do believe I could gig with this bass, I mean, why the hell not? I'll play this one to death, then maybe start auditioning other fretless basses to see what the extra cost is all about. It shouldn't surprise anyone in the least that some players get ahold of SX basses, find them perfectly acceptable and playable, and embrace the concept. I'm now curious about ash body jazz basses with maple necks. Has anyone priced those lately? Not cheap. But this is an experiment, and SX makes a really nice 70s style jazz with 3-piece ash body, maple neck, block inlay, upgraded mini tuners and high mass bridge for $179.00. And Kurt at Rondomusic.com bends over backwards for his customers. If you get a bad one, he gives a refund or exchange no questions asked. How anyone can whizz on that is beyond me. Now, maybe you're in that elite group who knows just what you want and has the bucks to spend as you please. Well, obviously, you should be custom ordering your bass, or scoping out vintage instruments, right? Personally, I think it's cool as hell whan I see a good player making it happen with a low-pricepoint instrument. To you guys who gig with SX or similar brands, hats off to ya.

+1. my feelings to a T.