Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
SX vs FENDER: FACE TO FACE
- Thread starter Mindthegroove
- Start date
Dont really understand the comments on the video saying there's no difference. I can hear quite a clear difference in them, though which one is better and which one is worse is personal preference.
Personally I prefer the Fender, it's more middy and less bassy than the SX.
But they're not factory fitted pups, so the point of the video is lost on me.
Personally I prefer the Lindys, it's more middy and less bassy than the Aero's.
Great playing either way.
Personally I prefer the Fender, it's more middy and less bassy than the SX.
But they're not factory fitted pups, so the point of the video is lost on me.
Personally I prefer the Lindys, it's more middy and less bassy than the Aero's.
Great playing either way.
That's pretty awesome, but not as awesome as this, which was a suggested vid on the side bar.
Thanks for sharing. I agree that it's some nice playing. I also like the way the video is put together--it makes it easy to hear the different playing styles back-to back.
Comparing a Fender Jazz with Fralin pickups vs. SX Jazz Bass with Aero Pickups isn't exactly controlling for all variables, but I think the point is still valid that they sound more alike than one might expect. The difference is definitely audible, but they both sound good. I do have a clear preference for the Fender/Fralin combo. I suspect that playing live, it would be hard to discern. May be more of a difference in a studio recording, however.
Comparing a Fender Jazz with Fralin pickups vs. SX Jazz Bass with Aero Pickups isn't exactly controlling for all variables, but I think the point is still valid that they sound more alike than one might expect. The difference is definitely audible, but they both sound good. I do have a clear preference for the Fender/Fralin combo. I suspect that playing live, it would be hard to discern. May be more of a difference in a studio recording, however.
I have an SX P bass and a Fender MIA P bass.
Both sound quite similar.
The SX sounds deeper and bass-ier and slightly more dirtier.
The Fender is much more even sounding across the register.
Both cop the P bass tone beautifully.
The Fender is more refined sounding to my ears.
Playability is different.
THe neck on the Fender (2008 model) is just amazing.
The SX doesn't sit as nice in my hands.
Overall, both are great basses.
I feel the Fender is definately the better of the two (and at the price, you'd want it to be).
It is more playable, the quality and hardware are nicer.
But the SX is a damn good bass for the money.
I wouldnt sell it for twice what I paid for it, becuase I really think its value is higher than what i paid.
I love them both.
Edit:
I'll also say that when you look at them both next to each other, the Fender jumps out more.
THe finishing of the paint (Candy Cola), the fret board and the neck, along with the nicer controls, tuners, bridge, make it look classier and more higher-end.
It looks like a more expensive bass than the SX
Both sound quite similar.
The SX sounds deeper and bass-ier and slightly more dirtier.
The Fender is much more even sounding across the register.
Both cop the P bass tone beautifully.
The Fender is more refined sounding to my ears.
Playability is different.
THe neck on the Fender (2008 model) is just amazing.
The SX doesn't sit as nice in my hands.
Overall, both are great basses.
I feel the Fender is definately the better of the two (and at the price, you'd want it to be).
It is more playable, the quality and hardware are nicer.
But the SX is a damn good bass for the money.
I wouldnt sell it for twice what I paid for it, becuase I really think its value is higher than what i paid.
I love them both.
Edit:
I'll also say that when you look at them both next to each other, the Fender jumps out more.
THe finishing of the paint (Candy Cola), the fret board and the neck, along with the nicer controls, tuners, bridge, make it look classier and more higher-end.
It looks like a more expensive bass than the SX
who cares?--they both sound great--I just love that stylee ripping through out the demo--great playing !
This serves as a great comparison of the two types of pickups, and I really like the Fralins for my own personal taste. Really tasteful playing too.
I think it's a Grate Video. It was one biggest things that convinced me to buy my SX ursa 6 string. I own 2 Squier VM jazzes (4,5) and was really GASSING for a jazz style 6 Between you and Maxproud's review i was sold on SX.I personally can't afford $2000 for a fender 6 . OH when i was trying to convince my wife that SX was a great " cheap" bass your comparison sealed the deal thank you 20 of those 40,000 visit was me lolol
I was hoping the video was comparing the mechanics of the bass. The hardware, necks, frets, build quality etc. While I get the sound quality isn't so radically different to justify the price difference, how was the overall experience? I mean after all, you can wipe your butt with charmin or sandpaper and get similar results, but the experience isn't the same. 
Great playing btw!
Great playing btw!
This is more of an Aero vs Fralin video, I was hoping for stock pickups
Can't agree more. The point of the video is invalidated by the fact that neither are stock instruments. Return them to stock, re-do the video, then you'll have some valid results.
I'm with you on that ... and on top of it we don't know if both basses have the same string.
Everyone agrees on one thing. The playing is great. Maybe we focus too much on gear, instead of playing.
This is a one sided argument. Sx copied fenders. I think that's all the proof you need for which is better.
Sx is made from cheap bottom of the barrel components.
Fenders are quality instruments for the most part. Some lemons slip through.
Sx is made from cheap bottom of the barrel components.
Fenders are quality instruments for the most part. Some lemons slip through.
hoo lawdy
- you might want to rethink that given a LOT of makers copied Fender, not just 'cheap' ones.
And Fenders cost an arm an a leg for some pretty shoddy work that "slips through".
You want to compare? Ok, what about the wood. Fender? Bottom of the barrel. 15 pieces of scrap wood glued together. SX? THREE pieces of really nice tone wood glued into an excellent bass body (that may or may not have killer matching grain) SX has Alder and Ash. Fender sometimes does but lower lines (Squier) usually has soft cheap wood like basswood or pine.
Bridge. SX has two models the bent metal crappy one and a really fine (high mass) bridge. Fender? Well Fender invented the cheap crappy bent metal bridge and often still use it. They've also got some better ones too. This is sorf of a draw.
Tuners. My experience with tuners is SX tuners work but tend to be crap. Some are VERY stiff. Some are VERY loose. Fender tuners are usually great. Fender wins.
Pickups. SX pickups are VERY consistent. Sound good. And you always know what you are getting. Fender pickups vary from crap to astounding, but you never know what you'll get because they keep changing them and discontinuing all the astounding stuff (eg. SCN pickups)
Neck wood. Maybe Ive been lucky but the necks on both my SX basses and on my Fender basses have been EXCELLENT. Extremely stable, well made. Truss adjustements easy and refined. SOME Fenders and SX bass have had to have some fret leveling. Some of EACH brand came excellent out of the box. Personally I prefer the neck profile of the SX jazz basses over Fender profiles. (Love Fender P-bass profile, however,)
Shielding. Sx is unshielded so that is first mod to do. Fender comes shielded BUT sometimes they hum anyway and you have to shield them too! But point is that not all of them are bad so Fender wins.
Electronics. For passive electronics both Fender and SX seem to
use similar parts (not exceptionally good quality). Both really end up needing reapairs eventually. But that is expected with cheaper parts. I've had little trouble with either. but I did have a pot die on my Fender and a couple SX pots get "scratchy".
Finish. Well the SX has a thick gooey poly that isn't the most boutique look in the world. And my Fender looks like a million. But is also has a veneer to cover up the glued together peices. So it looks like an amazing one piece body, but isn't while my SX bodies look like real three piece bodies of real quality tone wood and they ARE! Still the finish on the Fender is more classy looking. And of course there are the old SX basses in "nuclear orange". (I've got an SX strat copy in that...ew!) Fender at least has the good taste let aged color come with actual age.
Which gets us down to the final compare: PRICE. Fender can hand you an excellent bass if you have a grand or more to spare. You have to get down to the Squier lines to compare to SX and while I do own a Squier PJ 5er that came out excellent, it needed mods to get that way and the wood is only pine. (Agathis). So the main thing about SX is you start with nice wholesome wood already shaped out for you and finished with some usuable hardware. If you want to go beyond that then you have to start modding and spending money. If you don't want to bother, Fender will do that stuff for you, for a price.
This thread is disturbingly civil, but then again (as said) the video has two non-stock Basses so there is no valid comparison being made here to even argue about. Not only that, sound is just one very vague factor of an instrument, playability and stability are more important.
Also the post above made me chuckle a little.
Also the post above made me chuckle a little.
