• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

SX owners?

L

labgnat

Inactive
Oct 29, 2005
3,507
1
81
outta this world
www.garageband.com
#1
http://www.rondomusic.net/sjb75.html

i really like the looks of this bass. but i don't have any way to try it out before i buy it. can anyone give me some opinions on sx basses? i need to know about playability, is it heavy, does it balance well, should i expect a lot of set up problems, and fret buzz? electronics, is there much tone control as say a decent fender jazz, i guess i'm asking are they as versatile as a fender jazz? do they feel well constructed? i know they're cheap so it's probably not great, but i've heard decent things about them. I'm really wanting a maple fingerboard, i played a sweet fender jazz with maple fingerboard the other day, and it's got me wanting one real bad. i know i can't really compare sx to fender. But do you think i'd be totally disappointed with an sx?
 
#5
labgnat said:
314 pages,holy geez don't know that i want to sift thru that much
Click to expand...
Labgnat -

A few things ...

1) Instead of reading all 314 pages, look at the last 10 or so. That will give you a representative sample of opinions.

2) An SX bass was reviewed in the June issue of Bass Player -- overall positive marks.

3) Believe the hype - for the money they are very decent basses.
 
#8
My brother has one of the ones you are looking at, and I had the 5 string version. Sounds good, and looks good. On the natural color SX's the different pieces of wood in the body are usually more visible than the plain color or sunburst ones, and the ash bodies are definately heavier than the alder models.

When you get it, it will immidiately need a setup, and maybe a fret dressing. Lots of folks replace the hardware, but the existing hardware is adequate. Pickups/electronics are the most popular upgrade, but there again, it's an improvement, not a necessity.

Best bang for your buck around. Though the squire jazzes (also nice beginner instruments) I have played have been better setup from the factory, SX jazzes are on par with squire Standard Jazzes for playability and versatility. Further, they are available in in a wider variety of finishes for 70-110 bucks less.
 
#9
well i did find the thread that was mentioned earlier. between this thread and the other, it all sounds good and is what i wanted to hear. it's nice to know you can get something decent for a more than reasonable price.

i've got another question about fender jazz finish. i played one that the exact finish name escapes me. it was sunset orange or something like that. it's a real nice light orange color thats transparent so you can see the wood grain. anyone know what this is called exactly? i couldn't find anything with my google search
 
#10
I just recieved my sx 75 jazz copy 5 string...And I must say,I'm in total shock at the quality of this thing! It doesn't need a setup or fret dressing at all! I got it to install and try out the east jretro preamp,and Now I am having second thoughts about that! I personally think it doesn' need it!
The fingerboard is nicely figured and everything! I say go for it!
 
#11
I own that exact model SX.

My opinion is this. Understand that you're buying a cheap bass. Mine needs some fretwork, and the bridge is off center to the neck slightly. I'm not sure currently if that can be fixed right now, because the holes would be partially in the current holes.

Other than that, mine isn't stock, so it's hard to tell. I thought the neck was fine. The tuners look acceptable. Sounds ok (course mine has AM Jazz pickups, and different pots).

It's not as lively sounding as an MIA jazz, but after I get all the setup issues out of the way, I'll have a much better idea of what I'm working with.

If nothing else, the solid ash body is worth the money IMHO. Ash is ash. You could get a custom made neck from USACG (I beileve you'd need a custom heel, as these aren't fender compatible), put in whatever electronics you wanted, and have a better than MIA for not a whole lot of money.

P.
 
#13
The only things that I found that was really necessary a string change because the originals were total crap. The nut was not fitted and the strings at the nut were very near 1/8" above the fb. The playing comfort and the intonation were pretty unacceptable untill the nut was trimmed down.

I replaced the strings with rotowound flats and the whole instrument opened up. It did seem odd though, that a string change cost me around a third of the bass price.

I have the short scale jazz and after playin a P as my first instrument, the neck seems a bit chunky but I got used to it in a few minutes.

For it's size, it's heavy! And I have the alder body. It's perfectly balanced though which makes it a comfortable weight.

Mine may be a freak, but the fit and the finish are impeccable.
More a credit to good use of CNC artistry than luthiery.

I had a guitarist friend who plays a strat pick mine up at a jam and his jaw dropped when he played it. His own words were " this damn thing plays easier than my strat".

Sorry to sound like a commercial but I honestly can't put mine down.
 
#14
Pneuma said:
I own that exact model SX.

My opinion is this. Understand that you're buying a cheap bass. Mine needs some fretwork, and the bridge is off center to the neck slightly. I'm not sure currently if that can be fixed right now, because the holes would be partially in the current holes.

P.
Click to expand...

The bridge issue is not impossible. Get a new bridge that has the screws in a different position . Most non fender style bridges are like this. You can just re drill new holes, and the new bridge will likely cover the old holes. Some thing like this...

http://www.grizzly.com/products/h6347

would be just such a bridge, and would be a cheap upgrade as well.
 
#19
Pneuma said:
If nothing else, the solid ash body is worth the money IMHO. Ash is ash. You could get a custom made neck from USACG (I beileve you'd need a custom heel, as these aren't fender compatible), put in whatever electronics you wanted, and have a better than MIA for not a whole lot of money.
Click to expand...

+1. Or, on the other hand, if you're capable of doing fretwork and possibly refinishing, the maple blocked-and-bound neck (when it's available) is worth the price.

It's even worth the price after you factor in getting a professional to work on the frets, and possibly selling the other components.
 
#20
Another vote for buying it! If the body was made of swamp ash and not the other type of ash that is heavy, I would snatch one up in a heartbeat. Just to echo everyone else's posts, the SX is an amazing bass for the money. You will more than likely want to upgrade the electronics, because they are defiently cheap. Another thing you may end up doing is getting a fret dressing and a decent setup. Other than that your pretty much all set to go, I mean c'mon, where are you gonna find a better quality bass with blocks & binding? It's a total steal and I think they are much better than a MIM Fender.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back