SX Jazz - gigging?

[PauFerro]

I own four shortscale basses -- all SX. Three are SX SJB style before the headstock change to the Ursa (which I think is a terrible name, Ursa) but anyway...the bass is a voice, not a brand (good quote from above). The other one is an Ursa PJ configuration.

The SX Jazz basses are fine. I upgraded the pickups on one of the SX SJB to Dimarzzio Ultra Jazz pickups and have recorded with it. I have done live video with it, and scores of gigs with it. It is reliable and sounds good. And I used it for jazz and rock gigs.

I've had people tell me the tone is great, although I had to add another cabinet to it in order to make it bassier for a band I play in. All the rock players complained bitterly it was too trebly for a rock band.

I find it can be what I want it to be in terms of sound and its reliable now that I play with 2, 2X10 cabinets. I love passive basses because I never have to worry about battery problems or kick myself if I leave it plugged by accident.

The SX PJ bass -- I would not gig with it. There is something wrong with it. I think it's the pickup height. It makes too much clackity noise. Also, the original pickups sound like cardboard. Needs a pickup replacement and adjustment which I've never bothered to do.

 

[Rip Topaz]

To get rid of the clicky noise, just put a strip of electrical tape over the pickup poles. The noise you hear is the strings bouncing off the poles. Trust me, I didn't believe it either but it works.

 

[mystic38]

who cares?.. the bassist is invisible anyway!

 

[InternetAlias]

who cares?.. the bassist is invisible anyway!

Not an issue, people complement the looks of my bass too, especially with the XL reds I have on it People simply say those basses are not 'giggable' enough as in reliability, looks, sound, but I have none of these issues since I've sorted out the fret problem (had 4 high frets) and got a great setup (1mm at the last fret on E string), so what's the issue? I've seen guys play fenders with ultra old strings and sound terrible (as in, trying to get clank out of dead strings so it ends up being ear piercing with no clarity) so I don't see how a fender with dead strings is better than an SX with fresh strings, yet some consider all fenders giggable yet SXs are not, even if perfectly setup with new strings? That's the logic I have trouble understanding.

 

[Mushroo]

I get a lot of compliments on the look of my SX.

 

[Basshappi]

I have gigged with my SX Jazz many times and will again. It sees regular use at rehearsal too. Anyone who claims that an SX is not a gig worthy instrument just because it is an SX has obviously never actually had one.

 

[PipeRain]

Back when I was playing out, I regularly gigged with a no-name J-bass (Literally, it had never had a name on it) make of honest to goodness plywood, voids and all. I "Upgraded" to a Tanara.

I would have killed for something as nice as an SX.

 

[InternetAlias]

To get rid of the clicky noise, just put a strip of electrical tape over the pickup poles. The noise you hear is the strings bouncing off the poles. Trust me, I didn't believe it either but it works.

My pickups came with poles that are not exposed from the housing (they're like half a milimeter in) so it's all great here

 

[Rip Topaz]

My pickups came with poles that are not exposed from the housing (they're like half a milimeter in) so it's all great here

Ah.

You could always check out Guitar Fetish and grab a new set for cheap.

They've got an active set I'm saving for right now. I was going to put an Audere preamp in my Ursa 2, but I think I'm intrigued enough by the GFS set to give it a shot.

 

[Burwabit]

Just sold an SX Vintage J this morning. I have too many instruments at present and got carried away when I bought it because it looked so cool. It's definitely giggable. My only beef was the weight. Sound was good.

 

[Laklandlover]

I play mine 2-3 Sundays a week in church and I get compliments and then strange looks from the bass snobs. They are usually looking for Smiths and MTDs. They love the sound but won't touch it cause of the stigma. Their lose.

James

 

[johnson79]

I play mine 2-3 Sundays a week in church and I get compliments and then strange looks from the bass snobs. They are usually looking for Smiths and MTDs. They love the sound but won't touch it cause of the stigma. Their lose.

James

2-3 Sundays a week? That's a lot of Sundays!

 

[vstring3]

I've gigged many times with my SX Jazz - pics are floating around this site somewhere from a year or two back. Great bass.

 

[johnson79]

I'm not currently playing out, but if I were I'd play my SX. Last mod is shielding and it will be a great bass.

 

[InternetAlias]

Ah.

You could always check out Guitar Fetish and grab a new set for cheap.

They've got an active set I'm saving for right now. I was going to put an Audere preamp in my Ursa 2, but I think I'm intrigued enough by the GFS set to give it a shot.

I live in Serbia, so I can't be picky about gear. I am going to install EMG PA2 copy soon, I've noticed SX pickups benefit from an active boost (impedence matching), and a few dbs of signal more is always nice. Speaking of pickups, though, there's absolutely nothing wrong with them, and dare I say, they sound kickass, I actually don't want to put a new set in because it could change the tone I really like, and I would lose a lot of resale value on the duncans I was about to buy, not to mention I don't like the sound of Fender Noiseless pickups. The only thing I'd change about pickups is their singlecoildness.... If there was a way that they were 100% hum cancelling in all positions, with this tone intact, it'd be even better, but not the case, shielding is on my to-do list

 

[badstonebass]

I prefer to gig with something that makes people say "what the hell?" so I say no problem.

 

[lonote]

Why even own a bass that wasn't gig worthy?

That is the big question, no doubt about it.

 

[InternetAlias]

If it is not gig worthy, then you are buying it to enjoy it at home... well, I guess some boutique basses are not gig worthy because some people don't want to chip their 4000 euro bass. That's one of the best things about SXs - they sound and work great and you don't worry if you chip it. It is the only fretted bass I have but I am still not afraid to knock it somewhere. Some logic, eh? The only case where someone would buy a bass that's not gig worthy is if it is a very low budget involved, but seeing as you can get pretty decent used squiers and SX guitars at incredibly low prices, I'd say there is no excuse to buying a bass that's not gig worthy, unless you have no experience so you can't tell it (in which case you should bring someone who knows stuff).

 

[dls59]

To get rid of the clicky noise, just put a strip of electrical tape over the pickup poles. The noise you hear is the strings bouncing off the poles. Trust me, I didn't believe it either but it works.

I use black gaffer tape on my SX pickups. Works like a charm.

 

[Laklandlover]

2-3 Sundays a week? That's a lot of Sundays!

I meant a month. . . . .