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

#61
So here is the new bass with most of the stuff I want to do.

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With a close up of the body.

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I guess you've noticed the yellow hue to all of my pictures. I think that's because of the fluorescent lighting in my basement and the white balance doesn't compensate. I'll try to clean up the bass a little and get a good picture in the natural sunlight.
 
#63
Just plugged it in. Way cool tone. The Area J's give the bass a very sweet sound. Dare a say more like my Lakland? :D When I compare it to the other white SX, this bass seems to have a little more open, singing tone. The stock white SX has more of an old school vibe with a less complex tone. It could be because of the 500K pots.

Unfortunately, even the Area J's are noisy. Less so than the stock pickups, but still noisy. I was hoping they would be quiet as they are humcanceling. I have read that some people still get buzz with Model J's and Basslines STKJ's. I suppose down the line, I will do a shielding job, but for now, it's not bad at all - sort of half way between quiet and a typical jazz.

I set the intonation and adjusted the truss. The action is fairly low now. I think there are a couple uneven frets, but that is beyond my level of expertise to fix. If I like my creation enough, I might bring it in for a fret dressing.

Hopefully, I'll have time to take recordings of this bass, the stock SX, and my Lakland and do a taste test. Maybe a taste quiz like I've done before and see what people think.
 
#64
Excellent thread thanks for your time on this. I never realized other people had the same problem with CTS pots as you described. I always thought I was doing myself a favor getting CTS pots until the wire would pop off while playing b/c i couldn't get a good joint. Those Alpha pots always hold even if they don't feel as good. I didn't make the connection until you said that.

Not to say I'm coulnd't have just made bad joints because of my lack of skill, but since I've been using the cheaper Alpha pots i haven't had this problem either during installation or long term.
 
#67
This is from the DiMarzio website. I would very much agree with their description:

"Been waiting for a bass pickup that sounds like a vintage J Bass® pickup and cancels hum? Your wait is over. Bass pickups are usually described with aggressive terms such as “amazing punch” and “thundering lows”, but that’s not the sound of vintage J Bass® pickups. They’re all about warmth, sustain, and a clean, singing tone. The Area J™ captures all of those qualities. It is not loud, but it has a very focussed attack, so it has power where it counts - at the center of the tone. The lows are very clear and clean, and the highs are both smooth and open-sounding. We’ve reduced the magnet-pull, and included 4-conductor wiring to allow both series and parallel humbucking modes."
 
#68
GassieBall said:
Just plugged it in. Way cool tone. The Area J's give the bass a very sweet sound. Dare a say more like my Lakland? :D When I compare it to the other white SX, this bass seems to have a little more open, singing tone. The stock white SX has more of an old school vibe with a less complex tone. It could be because of the 500K pots.

Unfortunately, even the Area J's are noisy. Less so than the stock pickups, but still noisy. I was hoping they would be quiet as they are humcanceling. I have read that some people still get buzz with Model J's and Basslines STKJ's. I suppose down the line, I will do a shielding job, but for now, it's not bad at all - sort of half way between quiet and a typical jazz.

I set the intonation and adjusted the truss. The action is fairly low now. I think there are a couple uneven frets, but that is beyond my level of expertise to fix. If I like my creation enough, I might bring it in for a fret dressing.

Hopefully, I'll have time to take recordings of this bass, the stock SX, and my Lakland and do a taste test. Maybe a taste quiz like I've done before and see what people think.
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Yeah, I have the model Js in mine and they are still noisey. Shielding definitely required.
 
#69
LMII with UL112 x 2 rocks. I noticed you used them, too! I used to poo-poo them compared to my 410's but that was before I figured out how to use them right. Now, unless it's a humongo gig place, I go the lightweight route with the Epifanis.
 
#74
Do you want to hear it? I have to remind you that these are some crappy strings on the SX. I plan on getting some DR Sunbeam short scales down the road.

One recording is the Lakland. One is the SX. One is a Mikro with Nordstrand PJ's. Which is which?

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#78
LCW said:
Well my favorite sound was the carrots one, second the bacon and my least favorite sound was the apples one i did not like the sound of that one much at all.

Nice playing also
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+1

I can't say which is the SX, but my favorite order is also: Carrots, bacon, then apples.


I feel I'd have a better shot at this if they were stock SX pickups. And why the hell am I so hungry right now? :D
When I say Apples is my least favorite, that's not to say I don't like the tone. To my ears it sounds a bit modern/bright with enhanced deep end that I think is coming from the P pickup of a P/J config. I think the J's are between bacon & carrots. Or I could just be too hungry to concentrate. :D


Thanks for taking the time to do this great thread. :)
 

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