SX project

Keef Green · Mar 20, 2011

I bought a 5 string SX with the intent to do some mods so here is the start of it.

Like many I hate the new SX headstocks so that HAD to go. Here a few pics of the first stages.

Next step will be the new bridge and nut. then some pickups.

Been using it with an outboard Sadowsky pre and it sounds pretty darn ok.

Eventually I'll do some goofy refin.

5string5fingers · Mar 20, 2011

I dig that headstock. It's crazy, but awesome.

touji · Mar 20, 2011

I dig it. It reminds me of Parker's headstocks sort of. Groovy.

darkstorm · Mar 20, 2011

Bizzarre looking headstock thats works for fiver somehow but dont think itd look good for 4 string. I kinda like how it came out.

MiniMoose234 · Mar 20, 2011

I really like what you did with the headstock. It reminds me of the parker headstocks, said before, but maybe combined a lil with the buzzard headstock from Entwistles basses

Peepaleep · Mar 20, 2011

yes, very reminiscent of the Parker headstock. Me like..

Muddslide · Mar 20, 2011

Headstock is a definite improvement over the URSA. Nice work.

I bought an SX P a few years back with the intention of modding the crud out of it, but I ended up liking it just fine stock. Someday might upgrade the bridge and nut (tuners seem fine) but I really like the stock pickup. When/if the electronics go bad I'll upgrade the jack an wiring harness, but I'm still surprised at how nice that bass is for the $$$.

I would easily pay what I paid for the bass just for the neck--if not more. Great freakin' neck.

Keef Green · Mar 20, 2011

thanks for the input guys.

the cut is a deeper than I would have liked but I cutting out the original G string tuner hole was a challenge.

the neck is narrow spacing and also its a bit chunky. So the next move I guess will be shaving it a bit to give it less of a louisville slugger feel and more of a flat sleek feel.

I agree muddslide the bridge and nut are absolute junk but for the $ the necks aren't bad especially the ones with the unbound necks. the binding and inlays really show off the sloppy craftsmanship. I bought a fretless neck too for $50

bassbenj · Mar 21, 2011

Keef Green said: ↑

thanks for the input guys.

the cut is a deeper than I would have liked but I cutting out the original G string tuner hole was a challenge.

the neck is narrow spacing and also its a bit chunky. So the next move I guess will be shaving it a bit to give it less of a louisville slugger feel and more of a flat sleek feel.

I agree muddslide the bridge and nut are absolute junk but for the $ the necks aren't bad especially the ones with the unbound necks. the binding and inlays really show off the sloppy craftsmanship. I bought a fretless neck too for $50
Click to expand...

It is the cutting out of the G string tuner hole that makes the mod THE best ones I've ever seen on an SX! The problem has to do with string trees. On the original headstock the tree is on the center three strings. OK. Works great. The B string has the tuner very close to the nut so the angle of the string to the tuner is quite low and no tree is required. OK. But the G string tuner is WAY up the headstock. That means the G string does NOT make an angle with the nut anything like the other strings! This is bad. My solution was to remove the factory tree and put a bar tree across the highest four strings. Works well. And all strings make a nice angle with the nut.

Your solution, on the other hand, moves the G tuner back! This way you can KEEP the factory tree! And still all strings have proper angles with the nut. I love your mod!

Note too I also bought a fretless neck but it has problems. The "block" inlays are vinyl and not flat. No problem on a fretted neck. BIG problem on a fretless one. I figure I need to get the finish off the top of the neck, and pry out the "inlays". Then I'll need to glue in some nice WOOD inlays in some kind of veneer so the entire surface of the neck can be sanded and shaped to be fretless smooth. The wood of the inlays will not change the tone of the bass as you play over the largish blocks. Not a huge, project, but still, one more project.

TheSuzie · Mar 21, 2011

bassbenj said: ↑

Note too I also bought a fretless neck but it has problems. The "block" inlays are vinyl and not flat. No problem on a fretted neck. BIG problem on a fretless one.
Click to expand...

I find that even the narrow plastic fret lines cause problems on my SX fretless P. I imagine the block inlays are a nightmare.

To Keef - Excellent job on the headstock. That shape works for me.

Peace,
S

chunger · Mar 21, 2011

lookin' great. . . keep the mods coming

Keef Green · Mar 21, 2011

besides all that was mentioned the block inlays and binding are just so sloppily installed that they look like crap. The fretless neck I bought is also black block/binding and something they did caused a little color to some how fade off of the blocks and mix in with the laquer finish so theres a green hue in the finish but only in the areas around the black. It appears to have a case of gang green.

One mod i considered was replacing them too but with white perloid block and white binding. I know a guy who does this work.

I cut so much off the headstock there no room for a logo that I was gonna have laser etched on there.

I did started shaving the back of the neck down last night. More pics to follow

Keef Green · Mar 21, 2011

bassbenj I agree the G string tuner being so far from the nut caused it to almost level with the nut and bridge. Couple that with a really sloppy cut nut with a G string groove that is way too big and when you played an open G on the G string you'd get this really cool [detect my sarcasm] built in on-board chorus effect. It sounded like you were playing two notes at once. Moving the G string tuner hole forward as far as I did resolved that issue though a new nut and bridge are in order anyway.

As I mentioned previously the neck is narrow. It measures 1 3/4" considerably thinner than the standard 1 7/8" so if youre into narrow spacing 5 strings this is for you!

I also mentioned it feeling thick and chunky. It was to thick for me especially from frets 1 to about 9 so I did what any dumb fool would do. [luthiers feel free to cringe now]. I took a chisel, dremel and some sandpaper to the back of the neck and shaved off a considerable amount of wood.

My wife shook her head as I started this and many pose the question why so much effort for a POS $170 bass. My only answers are because I wanted to.... and also that Id never hack up a bass that had any real value. I figured at this price I could afford to... well you'll see.

Anyway heres as shot of the neck after I shaved off a bunch. I'll obviously clean up my slop work here and on the headstock before I go for a refin. I just wanted to put it back on her to see how it felt.

All I can say is WOW!! I shaved it to the perfect size/shape on the first try. It plays like a dream now. I'm going to gig with it unfinished this weekend. I am very picky about neck shape/comfort and am very excited about this mod!

Keef Green · Mar 21, 2011

and they stopped making Parker basses?? why, because they were soooo damn ugly??

I have to think my headstock is at least a little better looking than these....

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