SX SJB-75CT NAT

Check out the multiple SX (Essex) threads here on TB..... when searching type in Essex instead of SX....

 

Really???

Look out Fender!

 

I think he left out the "not" from that sentence.

I had an SJB 75 (an older version, not the current ones). The quality was pretty good in tems of fit and finish. SX has stepped up its game lately.

The pickups are surprisingly good. There is some hum, naturally because they are single coild, but it's not too excessive. A lot depends on the wiring in your house, club, where you're playing anyway.

While the pots are cheap, they work fine. Not scratchy at all (unless you get a lemon).

Basically, if you're looking for a cheap Jazz, you can't go wrong with SX. Their quality is much better today than it was three or four years ago.

As you know, you will not get Fender MIA quality, but for less than $200 you get a decent sounding bass that will hold up well if you treat it well.

 

you should just get it:



For the money, you won't find many better.

 

I figured that. But I still just had to have some fun with it!

 

By the way, I had an SX SJB 75 LTD (the upgraded model) and it was the best SX bass I have owned. I've owned about five of them over the past few years. The upgraded pickups made a world of difference. Though the stock standard pickups aren't too bad either.

 

What HE said.
You will have to toy with the setup a little, put some new strings on and you should be good to go.
And if there is something you dont like about it (bad pot, etc), Kurt will take care of you.



One of 3 SX's I have.
Mines about 7 years old. No problems. Knowing that SX's are better now than then, I'm getting an itch for another SX SJB-75 to...you know... compare the differences....

 

You can check arguments on fine points in Essex threads here, but basically you get a pretty decent bar bass with possible potential to actually move up to American standard levels IF you get lucky.

Best thing about SX is they are made with real three piece ash or alder not some cheap soft wood or 12 pieces glued together like some MIM Fenders etc. But a couple of things depend on luck. One is the match of the wood. See Dabbler's photo. Notice how one bass looks great and the other one which I sure plays and sounds greats has an unmatched look. My experience is the same. I've got a couple that are simply gorgeous (can't even tell they are 3 pieces without looking VERY carefully) and another with the panels motif. It's just luck of the draw.

The other luck of the draw is the neck fretjob. Some are boutique like, others have high frets and buzz and need work. A "bad" neck (like with a twist) is extremely rare and if you get one simply send the bass back for another spin of the wheel.

Pickups are quite decent but are single coils and so hum when singled. (In my opinion the only reason to upgrade pickups would be to go to humfree jazz pickups.

Tuners work fine though some may occasionally be stiff. They still tune and hold a tune. Bridges come in two types depending on SX model. The good ones are more than adequate and don't need replacing, the cheap ones sound OK but saddles tend to get out of position and you have to pry on them a bit to get them back where they belong. $20 buys a new bridge that works.

Pots are cheap and you need to eventually get good ones. I just use factory pots until they get noisy. Some are still going strong for years. I always do a copper shield to get noise to minimum as single coil hum doesn't need any more help. I like to add series/parallel mod too, often on a push-pull volume pot which solves one pot replacement. Sometimes I use a rotary switch with neck-both series-both parallel-bridge-mute. Mostly because I'm no fan of vol/vol setups.

Lastly neck joint may or may not be problem. Apparently up until recently there were no drill presses at the SX factory! hence neck screws often were crooked and joint poor. My standard procedure for a new SX is to install threaded inserts to hold neck on. Makes a large improvement in the "feel" of the bass.

For me the final touch is a new exotic custom pickguard which is some cash but really tweaks out the looks of the bass.

But just remember some of this is about luck, but nevertheless the worst you could end up with a really good-sounding good-playing bar bass at a decent price. hard to go wrong even with just that.