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SX Ursa 6-string Jazz bass
- Thread starter Figbassist75
- Start date
Mine should be here today. In the local Fedex,not yet out for delivery. No exchanges for like stock if there's damage, so I hope Fedex was careful!
Series mod UPDATE!
I've been playing with the series parallel switch I put in and discovered it needs an update. First off there is a mistake in how the volume is wired in the original. As it is the volume setting will affect the tone setting. So that is changed so the tone is set by the whole pot and not just the slider resistance.
The second thing has to do with hum and noise. This bass even without shielding is pretty darn quiet. But when you series the pickups one of them is grounded and the other one "floats" in both ground and signal. This allows it to pick up hum and noise if you get near it. Originally I had the neck grounded and the bridge floating in series mode. I figured that your hand would usually not be so near the bridge pickup. But as it turns out I didn't bother to shield the bridge pickup on my SX (because the rout is tight and it's rather a pain to do) Thus the neck pickup is the shielded one and in fact due to pick guard shielding is covered with copper on almost three sides. Hence THAT is the one that needs to "float". The new diagram changes that. The new drawing is at the same link as the old drawing.
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If someone wants more details we can start a thread in the pickups forum.
Still with stock strings and pickups I jammed the first time with my Ursa 6 full volume with my drummer and a revolving door of musicians (it was his B-day party) and it sang.
It was phenomenal and had a nice Geddy Lee growl. I adore that bass and as soon as they come out with them again i'm buying another and ripping the frets out.
It was phenomenal and had a nice Geddy Lee growl. I adore that bass and as soon as they come out with them again i'm buying another and ripping the frets out.
String tree update - Installed my hipshot string guides yesterday. Yeah, that's right, I went the the double 2 string guide route rather than the single 3 guide tree. Why? After I pulled the stock guides, and saw those gaping holes, I knew that:
1. I didn't want any of them defacing my headstock (using a single 3 string guide would have left one exposed)
2. I don't have the skills to plug them and make them look decent.
Pics will come later, but I wanted to post this now to give some advice. If you plan on covering the original holes with the hipshots realize that those curves that extend from the top of the guide down to the screw holes, because they are curved and don't go straight down, can get in the way of an adjoining string if you aren't very careful with your spacing. I wasn't and my G string actually touches the side of the A/D string guide.
My error, so that you don't repeat it, was to place BOTH guides so as to minimize them pulling the strings away from a straight line path to the nut. If I had been paying attention to the possible touching issue, I would have placed the G/C guide a little farther out, resulting in a slight outward pull on the C string.
I haven't decided if I'll move it or not. I guess another possibility would be to taka a dremel to the D/G guide, but I hesitate to do that either since I'm not sure I could polish the cut up to match the finish on the rest of the guide. It's only a cosmetic thing for me, since I wrap my strings around the post anyway, the string won't be rubbing on the guide appreciably (the main rubbing would normally occur on tuning up after a string change.
I got lucky with the D string getting past the G/C guide, it just gets by.
I still think the 2 guides look a little hokey, but it sure looks better than having that hole in my headstock!
1. I didn't want any of them defacing my headstock (using a single 3 string guide would have left one exposed)
2. I don't have the skills to plug them and make them look decent.
Pics will come later, but I wanted to post this now to give some advice. If you plan on covering the original holes with the hipshots realize that those curves that extend from the top of the guide down to the screw holes, because they are curved and don't go straight down, can get in the way of an adjoining string if you aren't very careful with your spacing. I wasn't and my G string actually touches the side of the A/D string guide.
My error, so that you don't repeat it, was to place BOTH guides so as to minimize them pulling the strings away from a straight line path to the nut. If I had been paying attention to the possible touching issue, I would have placed the G/C guide a little farther out, resulting in a slight outward pull on the C string.
I haven't decided if I'll move it or not. I guess another possibility would be to taka a dremel to the D/G guide, but I hesitate to do that either since I'm not sure I could polish the cut up to match the finish on the rest of the guide. It's only a cosmetic thing for me, since I wrap my strings around the post anyway, the string won't be rubbing on the guide appreciably (the main rubbing would normally occur on tuning up after a string change.
I got lucky with the D string getting past the G/C guide, it just gets by.
I still think the 2 guides look a little hokey, but it sure looks better than having that hole in my headstock!
My own string tree update!
Finally installed the two Hipshot string guides on the bass.
Doesn't look too bad, and hid both of the old "mushroom tree" holes.
Another note: I replaced the old stock strings with Warwick Black Labels and holy schnikeys! The tone and volume did magically improve significantly. I couldn't believe it! Sounds quite nice now, and even in volume when compared to my 4-string SX Jazz, with all volume/tone knobs wide open. I shimmed the neck and filed a little dropoff in the upper frets but I still don't quite have the action where I want it. However, the newfound tone has me very excited about this bass!
Finally installed the two Hipshot string guides on the bass.
Doesn't look too bad, and hid both of the old "mushroom tree" holes.
Another note: I replaced the old stock strings with Warwick Black Labels and holy schnikeys! The tone and volume did magically improve significantly. I couldn't believe it! Sounds quite nice now, and even in volume when compared to my 4-string SX Jazz, with all volume/tone knobs wide open. I shimmed the neck and filed a little dropoff in the upper frets but I still don't quite have the action where I want it. However, the newfound tone has me very excited about this bass!
My new bass. Got it Friday, just before heading into the mountains with the family. Took some flash pics with my phone's camera while camping, so the quality is so-so.
Played it for a couple days without an amp and I'm happy with the resonance and action. Action was very low, not much buzzing when played with light to moderate right hand technique. Dig in a bit esp. on the B string and it clanks pretty badly.
Upon returning, I plugged into my little Behringer 120 watt practice amp. The low B was a little weak due to the limitations of the amp, (same as all my basses,) but the tone was great, classic jazz bass teritory. Can't wait to try it on my big rig!
Very happy with my $150 spent.
Played it for a couple days without an amp and I'm happy with the resonance and action. Action was very low, not much buzzing when played with light to moderate right hand technique. Dig in a bit esp. on the B string and it clanks pretty badly.
Upon returning, I plugged into my little Behringer 120 watt practice amp. The low B was a little weak due to the limitations of the amp, (same as all my basses,) but the tone was great, classic jazz bass teritory. Can't wait to try it on my big rig!
Very happy with my $150 spent.
Finally had time to get my photos to work. Only mods were to remove the string trees and to put a card shim on the tuner side of the nut slot. Either the nut was too narrow or the slot too wide, since there was a lot of slop. The thing was free to slide to one side, screwing with intonation and tuning stability.
Second try:
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Second try:
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Heads up!! B stock available!!
"This b-stock item has a 1/2 inch dent on the back of the lower horn and there are some scratches in the chrome control cover. "
.... If you guys want one here's your chance!!!
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"This b-stock item has a 1/2 inch dent on the back of the lower horn and there are some scratches in the chrome control cover. "
.... If you guys want one here's your chance!!!
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Fine so far, at first there was a little buzz on the open strings, although the buzz wasn't audible amplified. I loosened the stock strings a bit and pushed them a bit farther down the tuning post. That, along with stabilizing the nut was all it took to clear up the buzz.
Although I am aware that changes outside the vibrating length of the string can't change the string tension, I like the looser feel I get now, especially for chording.
Was able to work a deal for this bass with another TBer. Will take a while to get used to the extra string. So far neck has had a dose of citri-strip, lost the SX logo in process but not a biggie. wondering if anybody replaced the tuners and pickguard yet and if so what was used.
Well, I replaced my guard and knobs"
I had an Agileguitarforumite (Twang) make the guard from the original one. Since the ears on the pups are an odd spacing, I have no idea where you might possibly get a replacement guard otherwise.
There's a guy on youtube named MaxProud who has stated that he added an Audere Preamp. He's still in the mod process, but will post some videos when he has a chance.
I believe that this video link has been posted, but I'll put it up again. It's his initial thoughts on the bass.
Oh yeah, Kurt just got some tweed cases and that "B stock" Ursa 6 got snatched up in the process.... Grrrr
There's a guy on youtube named MaxProud who has stated that he added an Audere Preamp. He's still in the mod process, but will post some videos when he has a chance.
I believe that this video link has been posted, but I'll put it up again. It's his initial thoughts on the bass.
Oh yeah, Kurt just got some tweed cases and that "B stock" Ursa 6 got snatched up in the process.... Grrrr
Thanks man!
There's a guy on youtube named MaxProud who has stated that he added an Audere Preamp. He's still in the mod process, but will post some videos when he has a chance.
I believe that this video link has been posted, but I'll put it up again. It's his initial thoughts on the bass.
Oh yeah, Kurt just got some tweed cases and that "B stock" Ursa 6 got snatched up in the process.... Grrrr
I think I hear him say that he is going to put one in.
Now here's the sad part of having too many basses (if that's possible
) I HAVE an Audere pre in a 75 SX JAZZ (I forgot that I had it! 
) that I could pull and try in the 6. Sad, very sad.Maybe I should check my own profile once in a while, or at least check the bass locker.
@ DJ Bebop, I asked him on youtube (under Purpleslime) what he was going to do to it and all he said was the preamp. This was his full response
"The 'AUDERE' pre-amp certainly brought a fatter, more distinctive sound! The maple neck is equipt with not only one, but two truss-rods. They evenly balances the 'action'. I customized it a little with a brown tortise-shell pickguard.
I'll soon put up a vid' on how it looks. "
I'm guessing that he's either gigging with "BODDUM LYGNE" or just quite busy. The guy is very honest and would be an asset to TB, especially on the Essex Forum.
"The 'AUDERE' pre-amp certainly brought a fatter, more distinctive sound! The maple neck is equipt with not only one, but two truss-rods. They evenly balances the 'action'. I customized it a little with a brown tortise-shell pickguard.
I'll soon put up a vid' on how it looks. "
I'm guessing that he's either gigging with "BODDUM LYGNE" or just quite busy. The guy is very honest and would be an asset to TB, especially on the Essex Forum.
