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SX Ursa 6-string Jazz bass

#121
Allen_VA said:
Oh boy! How old is your 4-string PJ? Is it an URSA or an older SX? The 5-string I citristripped is an SX from mid-late last year. Thanks for the heads-up!
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SX, old headstock, I've had it for a year and a half maybe?
Again, its not a big deal to me, Im happy to have the pumpkin guts gone.

Now I need to make a decision, a new pickup for one bass or a brand new 6 string...
 
#124
Allen_VA said:
Oh boy! How old is your 4-string PJ? Is it an URSA or an older SX? The 5-string I citristripped is an SX from mid-late last year. Thanks for the heads-up!
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+1

The vast majority of logos seem to be protected by virtue of being underneath the clear poly that remains after using CitriStrip, but a very small handful of basses in that thread lost the logo in the process. In those caes, it seems the logo was sandwiched between the super hard poly and the nuclear orange varnish. Unfortunately, tink9975's was one of those...

Since just a very small number of those occurred, I'm leaning towards a fluke in the time line of logo application vs poly application on a batch or two of basses. I'd like to think that it was just a fluke, but there's always the risk that the logo is not gonna be under that clear coat I suppose. I have seen in the Essex thread, a couple of TB'er were able to obtain replacement SX logos from Kurt at Rondo - don't know how easily Kurt can get them though.
 
#126
bassbenj said:
The Big disappointment:

The big disappointment here is the pickups!

The SX 6 string pickups just fall flat on their face! First off they are VERY weak! I had my Laney combo maxed out in gain and it still wasn't exactly over-the-top loud. And they are very THIN sounding as well. NOTHING like the usual factory SX 5 string pickups.

I did a comparison to my other SX alder body bass (5 string). It was like night and day! The old 5 string was HOT. The sound was fat and full and filled the room! When I flipped the pickups in series the volume was almost over-powering and the deep bass almost overwhelming as well. The 6 string was thin and frail and weak and couldn't be made to sound good. Only with tone totally rolled off did the tone even start to approach a Fenderish sound.

As a second test I compared to my Modulus 6 string. Of course the Modulus has a "modern" kind of sound so it shouldn't be fair but the tone was like night and day. ...

So I can see where the next steps are going. First I'll have to get some other strings, maybe my usual D'addario XLs or maybe some half-rounds or maybe even try some flats (the 5 string has GHS flats on it). After all I'm trying for an old school tone here. I've got plenty of uber-bright modern 6 string basses! And if that doesn't bring it round (I doubt it will change the gain) I'll have to start thinking about what pickup replacements to use. Maybe Norstrand. Dunno. I don't know if the rout size is standard or not. It's obviously bigger than the usual J pickup size. And the pickups fit the routs on mine VERY tight making pickup adjustment a chore. I can see that is going be a whole 'nother issue to deal with.

Until this tone/pickup thing gets sorted out, the second fretless version will have to wait. It seems that instead of going with the tone that made SX famous they decided to try to come up with a "modern" kind of 6 string sound out of a fender clone 6 string bass. I really don't think that was such a good idea.

So that's the first look, guys!
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I agree with your whole post.


Well mine came yesterday and I agree with your whole post. It is a nice looker, the hardware is great, and I've got some beautiful flame on the back of the neck (I'll get some pics up later)! My only complaint is the weakness of the pups. I sent a message to Kurt saying that I think he should try to get his supplier to wind them a little hotter... AND that if they complied, I would like to be able to buy a set!

I compared mine to my 4 string SJB (too lazy to go upstairs to get my 5er), and yeah, nothing like the strength. I too want old school tone in a 6er, I already have 2 active 6ers for modern tone. I think I am going to try the Carvin pups. However, if the shell doesn't fit, I am going to try to rehouse them in the SX pup housing rather than change routes in the body and guard.
 
#127
So, it looks like we have two "disappointed" and one "fairly pleased" from the threads posted here.

How does the bass "feel" when you're playing it? Does it feel cheap or solid? Other than the pickup output, does it play and feel fairly solid? How does it compare in feel to one of the Douglas 6'ers?

It's hard to find a 45mm ear-spaced J pickup replacement! Nothing on the radar yet...
 
#128
Allen_VA said:
So, it looks like we have two "disappointed" and one "fairly pleased" from the threads posted here.

How does the bass "feel" when you're playing it? Does it feel cheap or solid? Other than the pickup output, does it play and feel fairly solid? How does it compare in feel to one of the Douglas 6'ers?

It's hard to find a 45mm ear-spaced J pickup replacement! Nothing on the radar yet...
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You sound like you've never played an SX SJX/Ursa # SX basses area solid, and the Ursa 2 6 string no less so. It is the same body, with better (and lighter) tuners, and better (and heavier) bridge. The neck is a 6 string neck and it's solid too!

So it plays like an SJB/Ursa 2 5 string with an extra string. It's a different beast from my Douglas WOB826. It's got a longer body and it's heavier. If you like Jazz basses, and as long as you don't require wide string spacing or a thin neck, I would be surprised if you did not like it.
 
#129
dabbler said:
You sound like you've never played an SX SJX/Ursa # SX basses area solid, and the Ursa 2 6 string no less so. It is the same body, with better (and lighter) tuners, and better (and heavier) bridge. The neck is a 6 string neck and it's solid too!
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I own 2 SX's - 4-string and a 5-string fretless (both SJX) (not sure of the model #s now after all this time...) I guess I was wondering if this one was different than the ones I'm used to.

So it plays like an SJB/Ursa 2 5 string with an extra string. It's a different beast from my Douglas WOB826. It's got a longer body and it's heavier. If you like Jazz basses, and as long as you don't require wide string spacing or a thin neck, I would be surprised if you did not like it.
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Rock on - that's what I was hoping for I suppose. I dig the big JB body and I dig narrower string spacing. The pup's concern me but where there's a will, there's a way...can be corrected somehow I'm sure. :) Thanks for the input!!
 
#130
It's here! The famous Ursa 6.

The bass arrived with loose strings (good). Tuned it right up after letting it get a little accustomed to the room temperature. The action is nice and low right out of the box.

Overall, I like the bass, but there are a few issues. I was able to dial in one decent tone with both vols maxed, but the pups are not very hot. I was surprised to see only the tiny "SX" logo on the headstock. I'd have put on something else to play up the brand...whatever. As everyone says, the new headstock looks better in the 6 string version. There are in fact 2 truss rods. I didn't like the packaging it was shipped in. I heard the bass rattling around in the box before I opened it. No offense, but those UPS guys ain't exactly delicate with their boxes.

Tuners, strings, and nut really suck. I would like heavier feeling vol and tone knobs, but that is an easy fix. Strangely, my Bayou cable does not go in the jack as smoothly as my other basses.

OK, the good news.

I'm still amazed these guys can sell a bass at this price point that has a body this great looking! Not a flaw to be found. Very sharp. My first 3-tone bass. Neck is flat and feels good in my hands.

The neck looks great, and will look better if I get the dayglo orange off the neck. Although I must say I was expecting the color to be worse than it actually was. They must have turned down the volume on that orange. Bridge looks great and has the post guides cast in, nice.

Overall, it is keeper and an excellent bass for only $150 + $15 shipping. It is a great platform to make sound and feel uniquely yours. Get one...if you have doubts send it back. Only 6 left.

peace,
 
#134
daflores said:
Are you guys serious?
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No, it's the longest running joke ever. :rolleyes:

fremont-troll.gif
 

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