ive seen plenty of sting ray copys before... why is this one such a big deal? if youre not allowed to copy designs how do companys like samick stay afloat?
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SX Stingray
- Thread starter Sippy
- Start date
vindy500 said:
It wouldn't be a big deal if everybody and his brother was running down to buy one.. LOL!
well good on sx, they saw a lead in the market they took it and now they will reap the benefits. ernie ball could have made a low price original like this if they wanted too, they didnt sx did. well done sx
- Dec 5, 2002
- 4,165
- 2,254
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball Music Man/Sterling By Music Man
I believe you, but I'm still not buying one. Nor have I said a single word (until now) about the much-ballyhooed SX Jazz clones. It's your money, it's your bass and it's your belief system. And a $1000 bass doesn't help me much. Like you, I'm just playing what floats my boat.
I believe you still. Not sure what that says about Fender.
And again, we agree. But I'm not going to be headlining at any coliseums anytime soon, so smokey bars and nightclubs are where I will most certainly always play...so I play the basses that make me happy, just like you, although I sense I worry less about banging one up. It's a bass, it goes boom boom boom, as Steve Barr says.
I'm clearly in the minority here, which again, was expected, about whether or not these copies cross the line. I suppose there will either be legal action or there won't and, either way, unscrupulous carpetbaggers will continue to make inferior copies of decent instruments.
And people will buy them.
Jack
Seems to me the big companies are trying to push out the SXs and Samicks and Tursers out of business by offering instruments of no better quality - just with the fancy name.
I'm a fan of SX basses. I've owned 2 in the past and currently own a SJB-75. The basses match up well to your average MIM Fenders. I've played MIM Fenders that are much better than SX, and I've played MIM Fenders that make me look for Squier on the headstock. Anyways, these basses have been a long time coming. I think Kurt started to run with the idea in late 2003, early 2004. In the SX thread, people noticed this bass for sale from SX Spain. Kurt has always said that it would be mid 2006 for these because he was holding out for QC.
So what does it mean, to me (at least)? These basses will probably be in line with the best OLPs out there. They're not a SUB, and a far cry from the actual thing, but should easily put the Jay Tursers and other low-level knockoffs to shame.
To you guys who own and love your Stingray: I can completely understand why you don't care about this. You have a real stingray, why would you care about a knockoff? But realize that there are many many many bassists here who are still rocking their Squier, their MIM Fender, their entry-level Yamaha, or, even, their SX.
Geez, given the anticipation of these basses in the SX thread, I was expecting this thread to be
and . not 
and 
So what does it mean, to me (at least)? These basses will probably be in line with the best OLPs out there. They're not a SUB, and a far cry from the actual thing, but should easily put the Jay Tursers and other low-level knockoffs to shame.
To you guys who own and love your Stingray: I can completely understand why you don't care about this. You have a real stingray, why would you care about a knockoff? But realize that there are many many many bassists here who are still rocking their Squier, their MIM Fender, their entry-level Yamaha, or, even, their SX.
Geez, given the anticipation of these basses in the SX thread, I was expecting this thread to be
and . not and scourge said:
Yeah it's comforting to know the big companies are looking out for us.. LOL I on the other hand am tired of getting Porked by them..
Buying a bass for $1000 and finding out I dont like it bringing it back to the store the next day with the $1000 price tag still hanging on it and offerd $300 towards a trade in
umm thanks.. $700 loss overnight woohoo!! I just bought an sx jazz just to see what the big deal was, well other than having to set it up it kicked butt.. and as far as trading it in, whats the worse I could lose?. lol i'll use it for a canoe paddle firstthe MTD 535 I bought for $3700 in november is worth what now? considering the store I got it from offered me 2300 a few months later
I for one am going to buy one. Why? I think that they look like a solid bass for cheep. SX has a great reputation around here and I am short on money and I need a new four string bass. I am not expecting to get a stingray or even a SUB out of this bass, but maybe I might just find something that I can make good music on.
I have bought cheep basses in the past ($200 epiphone) and loved them. The epi is one of my main basses and after a few mods it is a great bass to play. Deffently plays better than a MIM fender.
So I will give this bass a chance. You never know, I could get a great bass. Just watch SX become the next Ibanez.
lowsound
I have bought cheep basses in the past ($200 epiphone) and loved them. The epi is one of my main basses and after a few mods it is a great bass to play. Deffently plays better than a MIM fender.
So I will give this bass a chance. You never know, I could get a great bass. Just watch SX become the next Ibanez.
lowsound
- Dec 5, 2002
- 4,165
- 2,254
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball Music Man/Sterling By Music Man
bovinehost said:
Yes, I believe you are correct. Obviously SX, is planning on making sales based on the good reputation of Stingray basses. If it weren't the case, they'd come up with an original design.
Is it right. No, I don't think it is.
I think it's interesting that it's accepted very widely for many manufacturers to blatantly copy fender designs, but for others it seems inapropriate. I think if it's inapropriate for one, it should be for all.
I prefer the principle of OLP, as they're at least licensed to use EBMM designs, but having played a few, their QC sucks. There are some good ones, but many rough ones in between.
Having said that - I'm in the market for neither. I'm happy with the basses I'm currently playing.
I played an OLP MM at GC, they were selling them out at $145 in blue. It wasn't anything to write home about. I have an SX PJ model; based on its quality I would spend $15 more on SX's version of the MM.
I've tried to stay out of this, but I think many are missing the point.
First of all, I have owned and loved Stingrays in the past and plan to buy another in the future. I believe them to be the BEST mass produced bass out there in terms of fit, finish and reliability. Second of all, I have "known" Jack (Bovinehost) for years, even before he was an EB/MM dealer, in any sense of the term involving the internet and not actually meeting him in person, but know that he would have argued very much the same if he weren't a dealer.
My problem comes down to the fact that they're an obvious copy. Why? They could've just as easilly changed the pickguard and used a four-in-line headstock. This is a blatant ripoff that does cash in on the 30 year success of the original Stingray bass.
The oval pickguard and 3+1 headstock are synonymous with the Stingray bass. Ernie Ball has copyrighted the 3+1 headstock I believe, making this SX an even less legal copy.
There's a reason Ernie Ball is tight over their replacement parts getting out, so that cheap instruments are not loaded up with Music Man parts and become cheap copies that are electronically equal, but lesser instruments. Ernie Ball has every right to ensure that every bass with an oval pickguard and 3+1 headstock be of the highest possible quality, and that can only happen if they manufacturer it.
The SX does in fact water down the Stingray image.
Simply put, I won't own one. But I won't argue with anyone who does. You want a bass? Fine. You want a Stingray? You just cheated yourself.
Buying an SX Stingray is like bringing home a hooker with some extra parts. Surprise!
First of all, I have owned and loved Stingrays in the past and plan to buy another in the future. I believe them to be the BEST mass produced bass out there in terms of fit, finish and reliability. Second of all, I have "known" Jack (Bovinehost) for years, even before he was an EB/MM dealer, in any sense of the term involving the internet and not actually meeting him in person, but know that he would have argued very much the same if he weren't a dealer.
My problem comes down to the fact that they're an obvious copy. Why? They could've just as easilly changed the pickguard and used a four-in-line headstock. This is a blatant ripoff that does cash in on the 30 year success of the original Stingray bass.
The oval pickguard and 3+1 headstock are synonymous with the Stingray bass. Ernie Ball has copyrighted the 3+1 headstock I believe, making this SX an even less legal copy.
There's a reason Ernie Ball is tight over their replacement parts getting out, so that cheap instruments are not loaded up with Music Man parts and become cheap copies that are electronically equal, but lesser instruments. Ernie Ball has every right to ensure that every bass with an oval pickguard and 3+1 headstock be of the highest possible quality, and that can only happen if they manufacturer it.
The SX does in fact water down the Stingray image.
Simply put, I won't own one. But I won't argue with anyone who does. You want a bass? Fine. You want a Stingray? You just cheated yourself.
Buying an SX Stingray is like bringing home a hooker with some extra parts. Surprise!
O'kay. Point taken. I suspect the SX MM is manufactured by Samick. I think it's unlikely anything will come of this -- matter of fact, it's possible EB knows about this. What do you think?
- Dec 5, 2002
- 4,165
- 2,254
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball Music Man/Sterling By Music Man
tplyons said:
I agree, but you'd think that if that really was their goal, they'd keep their OLP line up to that also since they do manufacture those, or at least watch over them since they license them. If they were doing that there wouldn't be so many complaints about them, and people would be more ready to buy them than an SX version. OLP QC seems to be held in even less regard than MIM Fenders, especially around here. That doesn't much inspire me to want to go out and support them for making products that a $150 SX is likely to surpass. If companies want us to buy original and not knock-offs they should be able to produce things of at least as good of quality, and they *should* be better if they're going to charge 2, 3, 4 times the price.
Honestly, if a MIM Fender was really worth 4 times the price of an SX, I would get one instead. When it's barely worth the same it makes it an easy choice for me. My old MIM Fender was out the door the same week I got my SX P, and my Fender P was the best one I had come across in a lengthy search of several Sam Ash's and Guitar Centers, as well as local shops. I was ready to buy an OLP for my second bass a while back until I was shocked by how crappy each and every one I tried was. I don't plan to buy the SX version, but I would definately get one before an OLP if I was still in the market for one (assuming it's along the same quality level as their Fender clones, we'll have to wait and see if that's the case). Personally I think only being offered in one color with one fingerboard type is gonna keep it from being a big deal. One reason SX is so appealing over Squire and MIM is the amount of colors, necks, and body woods available. You CAN'T get a maple FB on a MIM or a Squire, or half the finishes SX has available. That's a big part of Fender's problem IMO.
If I wasn't a broke college student and had $1000 to buy a EBMM I would, but not everyone wants to spend that much when they want to play with something new. I've also found very few basses that I like out of the box. I'd rather start with a $150 bass than a $1000 bass if I'm going to gut it anyways.
Ahh...let them copy MM. I don't think they pose much of a threat. If you have ever tried the real thing you would know it's nothing like their copies. Like take the OLP for instance, it's even manufactured by MM, but there is still a very noticable difference in quality, just imagine what the sx is like. It's like a copy of an olp, which is a copy of a SUB, which is a copy of a Stingray. At least that's how i see it. Just my 2 cents. 
Rock on yall
Rock on yall
