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SX basses
- Thread starter Screnshaw
- Start date
Now that Rondo seems to be getting fewer and fewer SX and many of those are basswood I've started picking up a few SX bargains when I see them used. Just saying...
It wouldn't surprise me if one day in the not too distant future used SX basses take a "vintage" price spike as stock disappears off Rondo.
The great thing about SX is they are very low cost but actually used to use real tonewood like ash and alder. Some of them still do. Basswood is great to cut weight But I much prefer ash or alder for tone.
I missed that point, but you are correct in that the plain ones, and the bursts were ash. Although, I think I have at least one plain one that is not ash.
@Screnshaw, I haven't had any experience with the PJ, but the bass player for a fairly hot young band called Khruangbin plays an older SX Jazz as her main instrument on tour and it sounds fantastic, though I think she swapped out the pickups in it. I've always heard SX makes a good bass for the money.
Here are mine. As I said, the Dimarzio DP-127 in the "P" are blades. The DP-123s in the "J" have individually height-adjustable pole pieces (with hex wrench), which is nice. Both are more powerful and articulate than the stock pups than came in mine.
Apologies for the unsightly blanket. The dogs like it, but they like sniffing each others behinds, so I hesitate to trust their aesthetic opinions.
The CAR color on the Jazz really is beautiful!
Thanks. I generally prefer seeing the wood grain. That one came up in very nice, used condition so I bought it and it kinda grew on me over time. Now I actually like it. It's a well-done CAR job.
The one on the right looks like an old alder Fender that someone stripped the original black or white paint off of.
I'm currently between an SX basswood Precision in fiesta red and a Tagima precision in sunburst (51 looks with split coil) in Poplar.
I just can't decide right now, but I'll only be able to afford it by the end of this month or inthe next one.
I just can't decide right now, but I'll only be able to afford it by the end of this month or inthe next one.
I have a friend who bought a SX jazz bass last year in natural ash with maple fingerboard.
He's upgraded the pickups and it sounds awesome and plays beautifully. I've already tried some times and the neck feels great and the looks are spot on.
He usually plays with a Geddy Lee MIJ but this bass has also seen much action after he got it.
These are solid basses and for the money they're hard to beat.
He's upgraded the pickups and it sounds awesome and plays beautifully. I've already tried some times and the neck feels great and the looks are spot on.
He usually plays with a Geddy Lee MIJ but this bass has also seen much action after he got it.
These are solid basses and for the money they're hard to beat.
Guitars are just wood, wire, and some really simple parts. The Asian's finally figured out the major contributors in the sizing and design, then they identified the right materials, then they got their quality under control. Since everyone now is using the same materials, and now using the same designs, and now can achieve the same quality (Asia might be better now), they are functionally the same. At some point, the cost of anything devolves into $/lb. 10 lb of guitar doesn't cost much to make now.
Before the recent economic boom, you could order a new bass for $39 delivered, that meets all the criteria. That's around $4 a lb. Since the raw material cost is around $1-2 a lb, there's still a good bit of profit. At $15 a lb ($150 guitar), SX is making a healthy profit.
Before the recent economic boom, you could order a new bass for $39 delivered, that meets all the criteria. That's around $4 a lb. Since the raw material cost is around $1-2 a lb, there's still a good bit of profit. At $15 a lb ($150 guitar), SX is making a healthy profit.
I bought this short scale for my oldest son when he was 10 and was more than impressed. Now my 5 year old is enjoying the crap out of it and its holding up very well and sounds/plays great!I had an SX Short Scale Jazz that I originally bought as a backup for my main bass, my Musicmaster. I ended up playing it quite a bit at gigs and in some ways I wish I still had it. I loved the maple neck and it had an amber colored maple neck that was sweet!
Sold it after I got my hands on my 2nd Musicmaster though.
It was a great little bass, I think I was into it for about $175 from Rondo Music Home Page after adding a hardshell case. It played well, stayed in tune. I had the D'addario "Red Devils" on it. I say there's nothing wrong with the picture you're describing, snatch it up if you like it.
