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SX vs. Fender
- Thread starter Goose72
- Start date
BTW, I play my SX bass through a Fender amp so I am not a raving anti Fender bigot. I think most Js and most Ps sound pretty similar if set up properly.
I think SX basses are damn good for the money. Infact, I believe SX basses shatters the myth of what the headstock says determines the quality of sound! For a poor guy like me, SX basses are a life saver! Now I'm able to gig and record too while keeping some spare cash!
SX basses seem to be great value for money. I am sure that quality wise, they can rival Fender Squires as well as some poorly manufactured MIM basses as well. As regards their quality being superior to Fender MIJ and MIA basses? No way.....not a chance in my humble opinion.
This is an opinion based on experience or conjecture?
Have you played a fully sorted out, upgraded , luthier tweaked SX?
Some of us here own, and have played, gigged etc. MIM's, MIJ's , MIA's, Vintage Fenders, as well as stock and modified SX basses.
Just curious as to what your point of reference is.
I wouldn't put an SX up against a CIJ. Not a chance. With an MIA I'd roll the dice. I'm confident (in my experience with MIA's) that I'd win some, I'd lose some.
"This is an opinion based on experience or conjecture?
Have you played a fully sorted out, upgraded , luthier tweaked SX? Some of us here own, and have played, gigged etc. MIM's, MIJ's , MIA's, Vintage Fenders, as well as stock and modified SX basses. Just curious as to what your point of reference is."
Have I played a fully modded out SX?......no but I didn't have to. I have played four different SX basses ( one of which I had for around four months time). I currently own three mij fenders ( a precision, a jazz and a Geddy) and have owned three MIA Fenders ( Precision, Jazz and a Highway 1). In my humble opinion there is no chance in hell that a 125 dollar bass is going to be better constructed than the afformentioned mij and US made Fenders.
You can trick out a Chevy Chevette till the cows come home but at the end of the day it is still a Chevette. It may drive much better than the stock model or even better than more expensive models but at the end of the day it is what it is construction and material wise. No disrespect to SX. They are great cheaply priced basses that deliver the goods (probably way beyond their price) but construction wise do not measure up to the models I have mentioned, again in my untrained, unexpert opinion. I would appreciate comments from luthiers who have had experience with all three manufacturers (although I somehow recall seeing something on this very subject from a luthier).
Have you played a fully sorted out, upgraded , luthier tweaked SX? Some of us here own, and have played, gigged etc. MIM's, MIJ's , MIA's, Vintage Fenders, as well as stock and modified SX basses. Just curious as to what your point of reference is."
Have I played a fully modded out SX?......no but I didn't have to. I have played four different SX basses ( one of which I had for around four months time). I currently own three mij fenders ( a precision, a jazz and a Geddy) and have owned three MIA Fenders ( Precision, Jazz and a Highway 1). In my humble opinion there is no chance in hell that a 125 dollar bass is going to be better constructed than the afformentioned mij and US made Fenders.
You can trick out a Chevy Chevette till the cows come home but at the end of the day it is still a Chevette. It may drive much better than the stock model or even better than more expensive models but at the end of the day it is what it is construction and material wise. No disrespect to SX. They are great cheaply priced basses that deliver the goods (probably way beyond their price) but construction wise do not measure up to the models I have mentioned, again in my untrained, unexpert opinion. I would appreciate comments from luthiers who have had experience with all three manufacturers (although I somehow recall seeing something on this very subject from a luthier).
Just out of my own sake, I was saying that SXes >= MIM, not MIA or CIJ/MIJ.
UH OH!!! ....NO!!!!!!!!! .....OH GOD NO!!!!!!......RUN JUST RUN AWAY!!!!!...PLEASE!!!!!.....STOP WHILE YOUR AHEAD!!!!!!
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Are you sure about that? Appropriatly enough I was talking "Modified"
Sx vs. MIA or MIJ. I'm pretty sure this Chevette will take any street car at the Speedway, even ones that cost into six figures. It's all in the set up and fine tuning.I stopped at a local music store on my way home today, and played EVERY single P bass they had in the store. 3 regular MIA's, 1 60th anniversary MIA, 2 Highway ones, 2 Squiers, and one MIM. They didn't have a CIJ, but I've played plenty of them. Not one of them played anywhere near my modded SX, not even close. The 60th anniversary sounded the closest to my SX, as it should. They both are constructed similarly of the same materials, and both have the same p/u.
When you talk about construction, if you look at the specs, you'll see they are the same.
3 piece Alder body.
one piece Maple neck
Rosewood/or Maple fingerboard.
Both have well cut, tight neck pockets.
After that, it's all set up and hardware. All can be adjusted and modded and tweaked to equal or exeed a standard MIA or MIJ Fender.
Oh, just so you don't think I'm some kind of Fender basher, here's a shot of my Precision. My lightly modded SX gives up very little to this one in sound, and nothing in playablility.
Oh yeah, and my luthier was quite impressed with my SX too. He had quite a few nice things to say about it's construction.
SX can certainly hold its own with "better" more expensive basses. particularly tone-wise. But I don't think it's fair to compare basses of different classes (i.e. China-made vs. Japanese-made vs. American-made, etc). There are different manufacturing techniques and qualities.
However, I'd put an SX up against any bass (and I mean any bass out there) and it would be a fair fight. The SX may lose sometimes, but it would get a couple of good shots in before going down for the count.
However, I'd put an SX up against any bass (and I mean any bass out there) and it would be a fair fight. The SX may lose sometimes, but it would get a couple of good shots in before going down for the count.
"UH OH!!! ....NO!!!!!!!!! .....OH GOD NO!!!!!!......RUN JUST RUN AWAY!!!!!...PLEASE!!!!!.....STOP WHILE YOUR AHEAD!!!!!! "
Too late....I have opened up a can of Whoopass and now face the wrath of legions of SX faithful.
Too late....I have opened up a can of Whoopass and now face the wrath of legions of SX faithful.
"UH OH!!! ....NO!!!!!!!!! .....OH GOD NO!!!!!!......RUN JUST RUN AWAY!!!!!...PLEASE!!!!!.....STOP WHILE YOUR AHEAD!!!!!! "
Too late....I have opened up a can of Whoopass and now face the wrath of legions of SX faithful.
LMAO 
I tryed too!!!!hey guys, i think i changed my mind about giving up on this SX idea.
would any of the SX's be a "step up/upgrade" from my Ibanez GSR200, if played stock? i will probably mod it after a while too
i have a couple questions also..
what model do you think is the best SX P bass?
also, you guys have said a lot about modding the "sheilding" and "pots" on your SX's, what is this stuff? and how much does it cost for decent upgrades of this? can i do it myself? or should i take it in?
would any of the SX's be a "step up/upgrade" from my Ibanez GSR200, if played stock? i will probably mod it after a while too
i have a couple questions also..
what model do you think is the best SX P bass?
also, you guys have said a lot about modding the "sheilding" and "pots" on your SX's, what is this stuff? and how much does it cost for decent upgrades of this? can i do it myself? or should i take it in?
I have to respectfully disagree. SX's are great values.
But, one aspect not considered above is the fact that -
all wood is not created equal. This is most easily seen with - fretboards.
I can't comment on the P basses, as I play the 5er J's. I'll let that for someone who can better answer it. In any case, IMO IMO IMO, I believe any would be a step up.
About the sheilding, pots and other "mods". Sheilding is very simply. Get the flashy tape stuff and give it a go. It can just as easily be un-done and re-done until you like it. Or, you can try the paint as well! Also just as easy. Either will run you at most like $10
The pots is harder than sheilding, but if you can sodler, very simple. Take old ones out, put new ones in. At most you're looking like $5.
Most other mods are just soldering, or unscrew old, screw in new.
I would agree with you, but you're probalby not going to like or agree with what I have to say on this subject. All of the Fenders that I played today had what I would consider unacceptable amounts of fret sprout. The MIA's were the worst of the bunch. This would suggest to me that Fender isn't using properly dried rosewood on their fingerboards. If there is a difference in the quality of the cut of rosewood, I couldn't tell you, but mine feel fine. Granted, it's not Brazillian Rosewood like my Fender, but niether are any regular production Fenders these days either. I think they stopped using Brazillian Rosewood in the late 60's sometime.
