So, rondo claims http://www.rondomusic.com/sjb75ltdcar.html has all upgraded parts over the other versions available. Is the "high mass" bridge and other upgrades worth the increase in price? Has anyone tried one of these to know if they are any different than the regular SX's? Thanks.
Yes definately. The LTD versions of SX basses are far and away better than the standard versions. They have upgraded electronics and better pickups. They also have hand-filed frets. I've owned two LTD versions of SX basses and I would never buy a standard version if a LTD version was available.
While the standard SJB's are quite OK, the tuners on the LTD are smoother (they are the same as on the SJB 4+1's). If you would NOT be happy with a standard fender style bridge, then you should compare the increase in cost with what you would buy to replace a stock bridge with. Though I do not own an LTD, I have played a fretless one, and I do feel that the cost differential is worth it, but I got most of my SXes below regular cost and modded them instead.
I've got a question, where do you find these LTD SX's on their website? On the regular Rondo site I don't see the LTD models. Am I looking in the wrong place? Help me out.
They are listed along with the standard versions. If there aren't any then they are out. Lately there have been some in red that come and go. Haven't seen one in a few days tho. Woop, I take that back here it is http://www.rondomusic.com/sjb75ltdcar.html Was on page 3 of the 4 strings, mixed in with the rest.
Last night in GC a young man was testing a new amp with his new upgraded SX 75LTD. He said he paid $190 with shipping. The bass sounded as good, if not better than, the current GC house brand. And it blew away the Squire Jazz Bass flavor of the month. It has knockoff Hipshot tuners and a much beefier bridge. The kid had is set up with Rotosounds 66s, with the action set very low. There are not a lot of things in this world selling for under $200. That's about half the cost of the gig bag I keep my Warwick in. Yikes. G
While it's awesome that Kurt thinks about the customers, I think I'd rather save a little coin initially and put in upgrades to my own specs.
I almost bought the LTD, but I wanted the black block inlays and a black p/g, so I didn't buy one. Now I'm gonna spend the money on a Baddass II, some new pickups(including pots and etc), and probably some new tuners. Talk about a killer bass...
I have a Squier VM Jazz (Fretted) that I love. How does it compare to the SX? Keep in mind that I replaced my bridge and pots... I like the Duncan Designed pups, they sound great. I don't think that my next bass is going to be an SX... but if I ever decide to take the fretless plunge I will probably go with an SX because I am not sure if the fretless thing is for me.
Do they ever do the 62 style with the rosewood board and the LTD upgrades? That would rock. The bridge looks like a pretty good Hipshot "A Style" clone.
For the record.....I got a total dud of an LTD bass from Rondo. It was a fretless but the neck was actually "scalloped." I wouldn't consider the LTD designation the gold standard of getting anything other than the typical crap shoot from Rondo.