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Yet another SX (Essex) SJB-62 3/4 Short Scale Modification Thread

#22
GassieBall said:
That's an awesome thread link, thanks! I'm a little worried about the rosewood as only a couple of people did it in the thread, but I'm gonna keep that in mind for later.
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I'll add a post to that thread once I do my neck with a rosewood fretboard...I plan on doing it either tomorrow night or the next morning...want to get rid of that orange ASAP. I think that if you tape it off really well, the rosewood will be safe.
 
#23
Both the fretless and the fretted are 7.8 lbs on the bathroom digital scale. Talk about consistancy. On the other hand, my Ibanez Mikro short scale is 6.6 lbs and is much better balanced, but has fairly cheap tuners that are light.

Just for those who are curious, here is what the shorties look like next to the long ones.

Invalid Link Removed
 
#25
I asked Kurt if that blocked neck was a straight bolt-on for a P and J shorty and his reply was "No, SPB and SJB and SJMB necks are all a bit different."

It will be interesting to see how yours plays out.
 
#27
That's an interesting bit of info. So I examined the SJMG neck carefully. The fretboard overhangs the neck a bit. Even if the straight ended neck doesn't fit snug into the curved neck pocket, I think the fretboard overhang will cover up the gap between the body and the end of the neck. I'm just hoping the rest of the fit will be snug.
 
#28
ggoat!!! said:
I wish people would be so thorough regarding expensive basses when they get them and post similiar reviews regarding finish quality and attention to deal in the same manner people review SX basses on this board.
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LOL, that would be boring. Here's my Lakland review: Body - perfect. Neck - perfect. Hardware - excellent. Tone - awesome. Etc. :D

I only can imagine something like a Sadowsky. I mean, give me a high end Porsche or Ferrari, I'm not gonna complain. Give me a Hyundai, I'll be a little more critical :eek:
 
#29
GassieBall said:
LOL, that would be boring. Here's my Lakland review: Body - perfect. Neck - perfect. Hardware - excellent. Tone - awesome. Etc. :D

I only can imagine something like a Sadowsky. I mean, give me a high end Porsche or Ferrari, I'm not gonna complain. Give me a Hyundai, I'll be a little more critical :eek:
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When you pay more, you should be at LEAST as critical...you should actually be MORE critical of quality.

I guess that's why some of the current MIA Fenders and Ricks are even allowed to leave the factory...as long as they are expensive, some people just assume everything is perfect. Those same same people will rag on any perceived flaw on an SX or a Squier but not even have the perceptual ability to notice the same flaws on an expensive guitar.
 
#31
ggoat!!! Yeah, I was being rather tongue-in-cheek. You are totally right, I actually have been rather disappointed recently with MIA Fenders. I don't want to start a flame war, QC is erratic, IMHO.

But seriously, I do like my Lakland. I wish my sterling were a little bit lighter, though. But I digress...
 
#33
The only thing stock on mine is the wood... body and neck

I did the same thing as Gassie and swapped the neck off my SX ss Jag and put it on this one. Fits no problem. Square bottom also presents no problems.

The one thing I do know is that you cannot put the SX J neck on an SX ss P. The P neck pocket is too small. It can be routed though and thats what I ended up doing so I could have a rosewood fb on my SX ss P.

Specs on my bass:

- DiMarzio Model J pups
- BA II bridge
- HS Ultralite tuners
- matching black string tree
- Sadowsky style knobs
- orange drop cap
- graphite nut
- white pearl pickguard

I need to get a proper pic one of these days:
sxnaturalJazz-1.jpg


This is a very nice bass for the total price. Certainly an excellent platform to mod.

I might get a sunburst or black body and swap it with my ash. I prefer darker colours.
 
#34
Love seeing dudes playing and modding inexpensive basses. Love seeing dudes driving Hyundais too. Haven't ever had an SX, but just seeing and hearing the stories makes me believe they are decent and great values. I have a Squier that I liked better than my Rickenbacker.
 
#35
ggoat!!! said:
When you pay more, you should be at LEAST as critical...you should actually be MORE critical of quality.

I guess that's why some of the current MIA Fenders and Ricks are even allowed to leave the factory...as long as they are expensive, some people just assume everything is perfect. Those same same people will rag on any perceived flaw on an SX or a Squier but not even have the perceptual ability to notice the same flaws on an expensive guitar.
Click to expand...

+1, I've read probably a dozen+ threads about MIM/MIA Fender with any number of problems from bad finish jobs to major neck issues that are uncommon even on inexpensive SX basses, but heaven forbid anyone compare a lowly SX to the quality of one of those things favorably. Too many people get defensive of the money they spend and lose objectivity. I used to do it too admittedly, but there's not much shame in admitting you like a cheap bass better than some more expensive ones. You just end up with a fatter wallet and who cares what people on the internet think? I have yet to EVER experience the snobbery and elitism in the real world as you can find on these forums and others sometimes.
 
#36
dave120 said:
+1, I've read probably a dozen+ threads about MIM/MIA Fender with any number of problems from bad finish jobs to major neck issues that are uncommon even on inexpensive SX basses, but heaven forbid anyone compare a lowly SX to the quality of one of those things favorably. Too many people get defensive of the money they spend and lose objectivity. I used to do it too admittedly, but there's not much shame in admitting you like a cheap bass better than some more expensive ones. You just end up with a fatter wallet and who cares what people on the internet think? I have yet to EVER experience the snobbery and elitism in the real world as you can find on these forums and others sometimes.
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You hit it on the head, Dave. I don't think I've EVER read a thread talking about such minute finish flaws like people point out on an SX. And they SHOULD be pointed out on EITHER...but people EXPECT poor quality on an SX, so they look for it and point it out. But, the blind DON'T expect it on an expensive bass, so they don't even THINK to look for it, and when they do, they IGNORE it. I was interested in a Jaguar a couple weeks ago since they are closing them out cheap. And while MIJ Fenders aren't the halo of blemish-free workmanship even in their 90's heyday, they USUALLY are better finished than MIA Fenders. But, I picked up a sunburst Jag which had paint shrinkage all over the body filler in the wood which looked like ass, and the vintage white one had visible 400 grit sanding lines ALL OVER the bass. Some of the worst shameful paintwork I've seen on ANY instrument ever. But...no one points it out and usually says "flawless" when describing an expensive bass that they just purchased. Hmmm...
 
#37
I've been playing bass for only about 2 years. I jam with a guy who is a phenomenal guitar player, way out of my league. Anyway, after using a Washburn bass he had lying around the first couple jams I bought a Squier VM Jazz. Got it set up and brought it out. He's been trying to buy it from me ever since. I haven't found a Fender that feels any better yet. They may sound better as I still have all the stock electronics, but I don't gig or record, I sit in my garage drink beer and make noise. I have an SX p-bass on the way, and I fully expect to be more than happy with what my $150 is going to get me.
 
#39
Yeah, nobody wants to admit that their $5000 bass may have a flaw. You guys are spot on.

::::BASSIST:::: cool bass, man! Same rig, too. I'm really gonna have to pick your brains on this project. I would like to see an update pic please!!!
 
#40
GassieBall said:
Yeah, nobody wants to admit that there a $5000 bass may have a flaw. You guys are spot on.

::::BASSIST:::: cool bass, man! Same rig, too. I'm really gonna have to pick your brains on this project. I would like to see an update pic please!!!
Click to expand...

Heck there was even a thread about someone with a $5k Fodera that had things like excess glue at the joints and such and as I recall the company just told him to fix it himself. Does it happen a LOT less often with a company like that? Surely, but it still happens, and should be quite a bit less excusable. But alas, SX will always be cheap Chinese crap that will never sound or play as well as a "real" bass. I'll play my SX basses with joy while people type that all day long. Granted my SX basses aren't stock, but I haven't done anything to them I wouldn't have done (and did have done to the Fenders I had) to your average new Fender.

Fender will always have a place in my heart but the value for the money they are putting out these days doesn't come close to the mid 80s MIJ Fender JBS I currently have. No Fender I've ever come across has been better than this one. Companies like Lakland, G&L, etc which are in the same price range as MIA Fenders have a lot better QC if you want a good bass for that kind of money.
 

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