Sx essex quality can I need advice

[Jerry Ziarko]

I bought one as a spare. I planned not to ever play it, but to have in case of a major failure at a gig. I bought it used, and it came strung with Labella flats. Now at home, it's all I play. I've owned many basses over the years that I paid much more for. Honestly, they weren't that much better, and some, not quite as nice. I don't know how they compare bass to bass, but a significant deal for the price. I may even buy another.

 

[jschall84]

mine was great out of the box. needed a little set up. i put some chrome flatwounds on and put in a quarterpounder and it sounds and plays better than most fenders i have ever played. i have worked in music retail stores for the past 3 years and have played very few basses that wowed me like this one. it isnt perfect, but for under $200 with everything, that is like paying $500 for a car that can hang with a Vette

 

[Fool]

Im gonna have to stay tune to this. I have read many threads here about sx. Now i don't know much about jazz or p basses but i want one of each! (is that asking to much??)
what are the differences in sx and fender?

 

[jschall84]

one says fender and cost 4 times as much..

 

[enemybass]

well I have jumped on the SX bandwagon
I just ordered 3 of them !!
2 jazz's and one p/j
ll choose my favorite and sell the other 2 on
if there as good as they look then ive just got 3 complete basses for the same money i was about to pay for my warmoth neck !

 

[Bassmingo]

i was hoping to order an sx geddy type jazz neck, but rondo said they were out of stock till jan....are they back in already?

 

[lucas vigor]

Yup. The SX that I owned worked rather well.

Lucas, have you had a bad experience with SX?

No, not really. I just don't understand the massive adulation heaped (or should I say "Hyped") on these basses.

Sure, they are ok basses. But they are not equivelent to American made fenders (which some of you are comparing them to).

I can't help but think it's a "thing" where people claim they love essex so much, but what they are really saying is "I am such a great bass player that I can make ANY bass sound great".

That's what I really think this is about.

But most pros (except Savit) do not play them.

Also, there is a reason Tiger Woods does not use cheap Target or wallmart clubs to play golf.

Quality is quality, and good craftmanship is good craftmanship. Not buying some of the great American made instruments, and instead buying some ok but cheap knockoff is an insult to a lot of struggling American manufactures, especially in this economy.

Are essex basses made in America. I admit, I don't know.

One of you compared an essex to a corvette (car). I just don't get that attitude, except that a couple of well respected bass players here say they are the bomb, and everyone wants to be part of that "club" by aggreeing whole heartedly.

I would never tour with an Essex as my main bass. There is no reason to, unless of course I have ulterior motives and want to make some point about how great I think I am.

 

[jschall84]

I would never tour with an Essex as my main bass. There is no reason to, unless of course I have ulterior motives and want to make some point about how great I think I am.

so you've never played one, and you wouldnt tour with somethign just because of the name? sounds like you have ulterior motives of wanting to be associated with a brand name so people think that you are better.
Like I said, i have worked music retail for the past 4 years. 3 years managing GC and almost a year at a small mom and pop store. i have played many good and crappy basses. i can honestly say that i would put my sx (sbp-57 with a quarter pounder) above a mexi fender and even some americans. Fender is super inconsistent, so some of the americans really suck. I have finally come to the realization that if my bass plays great and sounds great, who cares what is on the headstock. Im not out to impress anybody with how much money i can spend on a bass.
besides, i like knowing that if my awesome playing, awesome sounding bass gets stolen or broken, i can actually afford to replace it. try that with your $1000+ bass!

 

[allexcosta]

Ok, let me write this first:

YMMV, IMO, IMHO, IME, AFAIK, ROLFMAO, OBDAA, OPEP, ONU, VIP, etc...

SX basses ARE the best deal in the bass market today, you can NOT get any other bass with this quality and sound for 120 bucks, period... Watch the video and tell me you're not a believer... BTW, his SX is totally original, only mod was cavity shielding.

 

[Slackerprince]

Ok, let me write this first:

YMMV, IMO, IMHO, IME, AFAIK, ROLFMAO, OBDAA, OPEP, ONU, VIP, etc...

SX basses ARE the best deal in the bass market today, you can NOT get any other bass with this quality and sound for 120 bucks, period... Watch the video and tell me you're not a believer... BTW, his SX is totally original, only mod was cavity shielding.

OK, that guy's so smooth it bugs me.
I am this <> close to buying an SX.

S.

 

[lucas vigor]

so you've never played one, and you wouldnt tour with somethign just because of the name? sounds like you have ulterior motives of wanting to be associated with a brand name so people think that you are better.
Like I said, i have worked music retail for the past 4 years. 3 years managing GC and almost a year at a small mom and pop store. i have played many good and crappy basses. i can honestly say that i would put my sx (sbp-57 with a quarter pounder) above a mexi fender and even some americans. Fender is super inconsistent, so some of the americans really suck. I have finally come to the realization that if my bass plays great and sounds great, who cares what is on the headstock. Im not out to impress anybody with how much money i can spend on a bass.
besides, i like knowing that if my awesome playing, awesome sounding bass gets stolen or broken, i can actually afford to replace it. try that with your $1000+ bass!

I have played them. I got curious last year after reading so much about them right here on this forum.

They were better then the crappy Hondo 2s we had when I was a kid, that's for sure. They are a great deal for a beginner, or someone experimenting on modding a bass.

And no, it's not about impressing anyone when I play a real Fender. It's just the right tool for the job, and most American Fenders have good quality. Not the made in mexico's, or Squires. I would sooner buy an essex then one of those.

I am not saying a pro bass player has to play a Ritter. I am just questioning why a pro player would play one of these things. They are beginner's basses. Mod them all you want. But what I am getting here is that bass craftmanship does not matter at all to some of you essex people. It does matter to me, and though I am not a pro, I know it matters to a lot of pros. You don't see the Marcus Millers or Victors of the world proudly sporting an essex bass.

 

[allexcosta]

And more:

 

[Downlowd]

really I am finding it hard to get my head round a anything on it being any good for $150

Also ive emailed mighty mite about 4 times now and had now answer !
Maybe they dont want my money

I have emailed Kurt at Rondo several times for assorted questions. All were answered timely, politely and most importantly..honestly.

I would not buy from a company that does not respond to my emails.

 

[Diogenes]

... Mod them all you want. But what I am getting here is that bass craftmanship does not matter at all to some of you essex people...

I gig with my relatively cheap ATK, Squiers, SXs and JaZeds because they play very well, sound great, are reliable and deliver time and time again. I'm not a pro nor do I feel the need to pay high dollar for name brand instruments so that I can look like a pro. I know how to build a bass from raw lumber, machine hardware, build pickups, modify basses, play basses and just basically enjoy every bass I own.

So sorry you just can't understand or get past that fact.

 

[allexcosta]

They are beginner's basses. Mod them all you want. But what I am getting here is that bass craftsmanship does not matter at all to some of you essex people. It does matter to me, and though I am not a pro, I know it matters to a lot of pros. You don't see the Marcus Millers or Victors of the world proudly sporting an essex bass.

What exactly makes you say they're beginner's basses? The price? What's wrong with the craftsmanship of SX basses? Can you elaborate? Poor fret job? Intonation? Sound? Do their necks warp? Do they fall apart while you're playing? Could it be because they are made somewhere else?
I guarantee that Marcus would sound just like Marcus on a SX Jazz Bass

I don't get it. I own 4 Foderas, several vintage and new Fenders, Celinders, Sadowskys, etc and still find SX's to be very nice basses...

 

[martyman5000]

What exactly makes you say they're beginner's basses? The price? What's wrong with the craftsmanship of SX basses? Can you elaborate? Poor fret job? Intonation? Sound? Do their necks warp? Do they fall apart while you're playing? Could it be because they are made somewhere else?
I guarantee that Marcus would sound just like Marcus on a SX Jazz Bass

Go on Youtube and listen to the sound clips of SX bass and compare it to a bunch of other bass guitars. post the comparisons and make us believe.

edit..here you go, totally random picks from youtube.

 

[allexcosta]

Posting this again:

 

[lucas vigor]

What exactly makes you say they're beginner's basses? The price? What's wrong with the craftsmanship of SX basses? Can you elaborate? Poor fret job? Intonation? Sound? Do their necks warp? Do they fall apart while you're playing? Could it be because they are made somewhere else?
I guarantee that Marcus would sound just like Marcus on a SX Jazz Bass

I don't get it. I own 4 Foderas, several vintage and new Fenders, Celinders, Sadowskys, etc and still find SX's to be very nice basses...

Would you use the essex as your main touring bass over all these other basses you just mentioned?

 

[lucas vigor]

I gig with my relatively cheap ATK, Squiers, SXs and JaZeds because they play very well, sound great, are reliable and deliver time and time again. I'm not a pro nor do I feel the need to pay high dollar for name brand instruments so that I can look like a pro. I know how to build a bass from raw lumber, machine hardware, build pickups, modify basses, play basses and just basically enjoy every bass I own.

So sorry you just can't understand or get past that fact.

ATKs are excellent basses. No comparison to an essex.

 

[guizzy]

This thread should be all the proof that's needed.