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SX Ursa 6-string Jazz bass
- Thread starter Figbassist75
- Start date
Thanks!
And it SOUNDS and PLAYS as awesome as it looks. That Neo pickup mod really brought this one to life!
As for Colonial Maple stain, I used to have a can from one of the standard paint companies. I don't remember which one. I used it up building a drumset (matching modern white maple shells with honest to God oxidized old maple shells which really ARE that color!) so then I bought a small can of Minwax stain which as far as I can tell was exactly the same. It's the oil based stain which means you have to let it dry for a while. The important feature is that the orange pigment in the stain tends to settle out so if you put a bit of stain in the can lid you can control the color match by how much you stir it or allow things to settle!
No I got it used off of ebay. It is the 3 band version with the Z mode switch. It has really made a difference with this bass.
This is good news. I've been pondering throwing one of those into my fretted SX 6er with the round-wounds to give it a bit more active zing! This is giving me a push to go ahead and do it. I learned about 3 band preamps with my Fender Deluxe V Jazz. On a jazz bass the "mid" control is the key that gives you the tonal adjustment that gives you range of tone you just can't get out of a passive jazz. (Although I love what passive basses do too!)
PS. How well does the Z mode switch work with the SX pickups?
Very well. I boosted the low Z mode to get some real bottom out of it. One thing I have noticed about this preamp is the mid knob control. I have had two Audere preamps before and I have gotten rid of them because I thought the change was not as drastic as I had hoped. I tend to slightly cut the mids and give the bass and treble a slight boost. The mid must have a wide Q because when you boost it the bottom increases and the overall growl is enhanced also. If I would have bought it new I would have gotten the 4 band model. I had a bass with an Audere classic 4 band pre and it was very versatile.
I used to have one of those, which I had no problem installing on a Squier Affinity V... but a 4-band version I recently received won't fit into an Ursa 6 fretless... the plate had like 1/8" to go before being fully seated on the body. Also, at the point where the battery had to go (the preamp's forward 1/3 goes deep into the cavity so the battery won't fit there) the cavity is barely wide enough to let the battery in...
But no worries... I had been itching to learn how to use a router and the opportunity just presented itself?
Yes mine was a tight fit also. The cavity is not big on these basses and I might invest in a router or dremel also.
Cool! I would love to try one of those. They sound ideal:
Our JZ3 preamps feature our unique Z-Mode control. It delivers 3 organic bass voices with clarity and definition. The Z-Mode switch reconfigures the preamp to change the loading applied to the pickups. Pickups interact with the vibrating strings differently in the modes and this changes the voice of the instrument.
- [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] (center position) - is the sound of your passive bass. You will not lose your passive goodness and you will gain more responsiveness and better pickup mixing. Typically players spend the majority of their time in this mode.
- [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] (toward the bridge) - is a bright aggressive sound. This mode is often used for slap playing.
- [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] (toward the neck) - is a deeper fuller sound response. The unique aspect of this mode is it features very good note timing location and is never muddy. Lots of bass players have been looking for this sound and attempting to get it with tone controls on other preamps but that does not work.
In summary, the switch gives you 3 organic starting points, from which you can tweak pickup balance and add tone control.
jzbass6
One Nation Under A Groove
Hey Folks,
I just picked up a Ursa 2 6'er as a back up to my present LEJ 6 and I'm looking for some pickup options, so far the only direct replacement I've found are the Puretone Hippo's. Does anyone have any direct experience with these? I also saw a mention of Neo pickups but could not find anymore info. What other option are available without some serious body routing?
Thx.JZ
I just picked up a Ursa 2 6'er as a back up to my present LEJ 6 and I'm looking for some pickup options, so far the only direct replacement I've found are the Puretone Hippo's. Does anyone have any direct experience with these? I also saw a mention of Neo pickups but could not find anymore info. What other option are available without some serious body routing?
Thx.JZ
hey carvin makes 6 string jazz pickups. I don't own them & I was told they fit--I was also told they don't fit. Maybe they're not an exact match but likely a good product that may require some routing is my guess. God bless
- Aug 5, 2005
- 7,243
- 92
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: J.C. Basses
I know I'm a little late to the party, but I have to know where you got that pickup cover. It looks so classy on the 6er.
ursa6 barely fits this. It squeezes in. I depressed the center piece where the neck is cradled so that the u-shape is wide enough for the neck.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/musicians-gear-deluxe-bass-case
If you call and ask for it they'll give you the tweed case at the price of the black case. maybe not the best quality in the world but it looks really nice I get a lot of compliments on it
jzbass6
One Nation Under A Groove
Thx Chuck, I checked that already, Carvin uses the same size Jazz PU for their 4,5, and 6 string basses 3.72". Great PU's I have the J99A's in my SB5000 but to short for the Ursa 6 at 3 15/16th at the neck and 4 1/6 at the bridge.
I have no suggestions on pup replacements, but I AM going to repeat a suggestion that some people ignore. Change the strings BEFORE you change the pups (not at the same time). The stock strings are costing you output and some bite. I know you are using this as a backup to a particular bass, but until you change the strings you don't really know what your Ursa 2 6 sounds like now.
search ebay or any parts vendor for "Fender 5 string jazz bass chrome pickup cover"
Hippos are the only drop-in that I know of. Someone posted they are "great" whatever that means. Not much of a description. So I thought "what the hell" I'll be the guinea pig and buy a pair. Because they are from OZ it was a total fail. First I tried a credit card. But my bank cancels all Visa purchases in Asia because of heavy fraud. Then I tried my paypal account. PayPal insisted on trying to access my credit card as a debit card and natch it failed. I talked to them several times and the nice Indian fellow gave me instructions to fix the problem but the pages he told me to go to didn't even exist. And finally I just sent Puretone a bank check. Puretone sent it back saying that it would cost them more to cash it than it was worth.
So all I know is they do fit the SX without mods, they are a decent price, and they supposedly are "great". But someone else will have to be the guinea pig. I give up.
By the way given the huge price difference between SX and LEJ I'm wondering what your opinion is of the comparison? I had been gassing for an LEJ 6 or steve Bailey for a long time, but the high cost backed me off, especially since I had no idea if the jazz bass 6er thing made sense. But now that I've had the SX for a while I feel I can better justify a high end (heh, actually Low end) version.
Roy Vogt
Supporting Member
- Sep 20, 2000
- 4,433
- 537
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Kiesel Basses, Ampeg Amplification, Hotone Ampero II effects
The LEJs are at another level as far as materials, set up and finish. You might also check these guys out, sort of a middle ground.
http://www.bassmods.com/6-String_c_27.html
From what I've seen of the Rondo basses they're good, especially for the price, but need some TLC and can be a little heavy. However, most guys use them as a platform to tinker and mod and for that they're a very good deal.
http://www.bassmods.com/6-String_c_27.html
From what I've seen of the Rondo basses they're good, especially for the price, but need some TLC and can be a little heavy. However, most guys use them as a platform to tinker and mod and for that they're a very good deal.
jzbass6
One Nation Under A Groove
Thx Bassbenj for the feedback, I feel your pain. As far as comparisons go other than being a jazz bass style instrument that's about it. My LEJ 6 is a beast, build quality, sound, feel, plus great customer service, I had always wanted a 6 string bass that played like a jazz and sounded like a jazz and the LEJ's nail it, after having a Yamaha TRB6P, a MTD 6 and a Roscoe 3006, I found the LEJ and never looked back. I can say that the SX 6 is a great value, very playable and sounds decent, just like most folks here I plan to Mod it out within reason. I have a BassMods BEQ12-34PTAP arriving today and I'm thinking of changing the bridge all well as the PU's and stay in $450 budget range, bass included.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
jzbass6
One Nation Under A Groove
Thx, I've seen the Bassmods and there maybe one in my future, and yes the SX is a "let me mess around with this and see what happens" bass project, that hopefully will turn out to be a decent back up to my LEJ.
I've done a few searches but no conclusive results. I'm guessing there's no guards available for the Ursa 2 six besides white?
Generally speaking there are no guards available for SX basses even if it's just for a different bass of the same model. Fitting a standard guard takes a certain amount of sanding, shaping, and hole moving. I've actually bought SX pickguards and they don't fit other SX basses!
Thus my solution is just to take the old factory guard off and take it to Tony at Pickguardian.com and tell him to copy it exactly in whatever I've chosen. Costs more but you get to choose anything that tickles your fancy and results are spectacular.
