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sx project-p/u thoughts?

MadMark5

MadMark5

Mar 6, 2003
432
8
philadelphia/new jersey
www.myspace.com
#1
I'm gonna pick up an SX SJB57. I'm gonna throw a badass II on there, grab some new tuners, pickguard, and maybe get an OBP-1 preamp, depending on how the p/u's I get sound. BUT, my first order of business is to change the p/u's. I've heard a lot of great things about fralin's, but I wanted to get as much input as possible before I make a move. I'm going for a slightly vintage tone pushing toward the lows and mids. thanks a ton.


mark
 
#2
While the SX are great basses (I have one), I feel it's a little weird that you want to change everything in it. Putting $400-500 in a $125 bass...

Good idea about changing the pickup first, altough the stock ones are not that bad. I changed mine because I wanted to get rid of the hum.

I think Dimarzio pickups are a good improvement over the stock PU vs the cost. Both the model J and the Ultra jazz are great pickups and are affordable ($100 a set). I'm sure the Fralins are great but again, I'm not sure if high-end pickups like those (or Nordstrand, etc) are the best for the SX. Just my personnal opinion obviously.

I too first thought about putting a preamp in my SX but I've been completely happy with the passive sound. In fact that bass makes me think that I may prefer passive basses after all!

The tuners on mine are working fine, no need to replace those.

I did put a BA bridge and I'm happy with it. The stock one was totally usable but I had already ordered the BA.

I'd recommend to:

1. change the strings ($20)
2. change the pots/wiring ($15)
3. change the pickups ($100 if new)
4. play it that way for some time...and see if you feel something's missing.
 
#4
So were it me, I'd skip the preamp and pickguard changes and drop in some Nordstrand NJ4SE's... They're usually described as having a low/low-mid bump. The NJ4SV sounds like its goodif you want closer to vintage tone (I haven't tried em, just the SE's). Both are humcancelling, and I think the same price range as the fralins.

Smash's J pickup shootout has an excellent review of both, among many others and is well worth reading. I have no experience with the fralins, so I can't compare the two, but I seriously doubt you could go wrong either way. I'm sure even just some dimarzio's or duncans would help it out, but I love my nordstrands... there's a few tb'ers that sel them as well... I went through JPJ, but look at the nordstrand rocks your face megathread...

edit... I can't comment on PUP size, someone whose upgraded an SX should pipe in though
 
#5
MadMark5 said:
almost forgot, I noticed in another thread that the sizing on the pick up's is a little different from fender's. do I need to get 2 neck p/u's for the sx?
Click to expand...

A 4-string SX use normal Fender pickups size. So you'll need a bridge and neck (different) size.

The 5-string SX pickups are the same size as the 4-string pickups which gives problems when you want to replace them.
 
#7
MadMark5 said:
almost forgot, I noticed in another thread that the sizing on the pick up's is a little different from fender's. do I need to get 2 neck p/u's for the sx?
Click to expand...

My SJB62MG has the same size pickups as the standard Fender Jazz. Wait until you get the bass and measure just to be on the safe side.
 
#8
1kinal said:
...
I'd recommend to:

1. change the strings ($20)
2. change the pots/wiring ($15)
3. change the pickups ($100 if new)
4. play it that way for some time...and see if you feel something's missing.
Click to expand...

Before getting to #1 I recommend taking it out, setting it up and playing it. They use D'Addario strings now and mine were in fine shape. I planned steps 2 and 3, but the hum is just the standard J hum (no worse than a Fender, IMO). I still may do that someday, but it certainly isn't a "must do".
 
#9
One thing I noticed: The electronics are good quality, but the soldering leaves a bit to be desired. Unless you can do a better soldering job it's probably best to leave the electronics be; it'll work until one of the cold solder joints comes loose.

In addition, I'll say it again: The stock single coils sound as good as anything else you are going to find unless you don't like the vintage tone.
 
#10
Scott in Dallas said:
One thing I noticed: The electronics are good quality, but the soldering leaves a bit to be desired. Unless you can do a better soldering job it's probably best to leave the electronics be; it'll work until one of the cold solder joints comes loose.

In addition, I'll say it again: The stock single coils sound as good as anything else you are going to find unless you don't like the vintage tone.
Click to expand...

As an SX player I have experience and agree with this. I changed out the stockers on one of my SX's for SD's and I didn't like it nearly as much. The stock pickups -- in many instances -- sound just fine. Before you plan what you're going to do to the bass, play it for a while. Then you'll have a basis for comparison.
 
#13
Scott in Dallas said:
One thing I noticed: The electronics are good quality, but the soldering leaves a bit to be desired. Unless you can do a better soldering job it's probably best to leave the electronics be; it'll work until one of the cold solder joints comes loose.

In addition, I'll say it again: The stock single coils sound as good as anything else you are going to find unless you don't like the vintage tone.
Click to expand...

+1

The stock pickups sounds good and have a really hot output. I changed them only to get rid of the hum.
 
#14
MarkMyWordsXx said:
wait so if i have a 5 string, i can put stock 4 string pups in it?
Click to expand...

Physically yes I think, but the polepieces won't align with the strings...so it won't work.

Only way to do this (I think) would be to put pickups that have bar magnets which means they cover the whole lenght of the pickup, like bartolini's, instead of have polepieces (two) for each string.

That reason and the tight string spacing keeps me away from their 5-string basses.
 
#15
I have an SX P 4 string I dropped a set of NOS DiMarzio DM2s into (no routing or blocking required) and spent a more then a few afternoons dressing frets and filing, but other than that it plays/sounds GREAT. No other mods other than swapping out the whimpy wiring. Every time I bring it out someone tries to buy it off my lap. Total cost into the bass and the minor fixes w/the DM2s: $182, but it's worth 5 times that to me now. Best beater P I have ever owned.

So in other words, I am with the above posters but adding properly dress the frets to the list of things to do before a pre-amp/bridge/tuners.
 

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