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More SX'y bargain basement porn


OldGit
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[quote name='fifeq' post='153408' date='Mar 7 2008, 09:59 PM']i don't mind!
it will be rocking bass i will put black gaffa tape from the bottom or something. Nam the price and we have deal:)
so maybe now my squier will be little bit SX:) haha[/quote]


Ha ha well I have to hear back from the guy I bought the plate from first as, strictly speaking, it's his as he screwed up and then sent the replacement ... It's not an SX one mate, it's an AXL ...

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I too am guilty of ownership of a fantastic SX bass, purchased secondhand recently for the pittance of Aus$80 (less than 40 quid).
I'm in the process of getting Mick Brierley to build me some custom pups (as he does so well).

This is the model I got:




In a few pieces at the moment while I configure her to my taste.
Tortoiseshell pick guard is on its way to me in the post as we speak Old Git :)



Any recommendations as to which pots to use? The pups going in are passive.

Edited by Freuds_Cat
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[quote name='Freuds_Cat' post='153915' date='Mar 9 2008, 02:25 PM']I too am guilty of ownership of a fantastic SX bass, purchased secondhand recently for the pittance of Aus$80 (less than 40 quid).
I'm in the process of getting Mick Brierley to build me some custom pups (as he does so well).

This is the model I got:




In a few pieces at the moment while I configure her to my taste.
Tortoiseshell pick guard is on its way to me in the post as we speak Old Git :huh:
Any recommendations as to which pots to use? The pups going in are passive.[/quote]

£40? Worth every penny!

Pots? Use what it has. I seriously doubt you'll notice the difference if you fit CTS pots...


Tortie, yeah :)
Looks good .. after having a two pickup bass for a bit I can see the attraction, specially if it can sound like a normal P as well.
Bung a nice bridge on first ..

Edited by OldGit
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[quote name='OldGit' post='153926' date='Mar 10 2008, 01:20 AM']Pots? Use what it has. I seriously doubt you'll notice the difference if you fit CTS pots...


Tortie, yeah :)
Looks good .. after having a two pickup bass for a bit I can see the attraction, specially if it can sound like a normal P as well.
Bung a nice bridge on first ..[/quote]


Thanks OldGit. The pot for the J pup is dodgy and cuts in and out as you turn it so I figure I'd just replace them all with some quality ones. I did a quick fix and put a Japanese special in to make it usable but now I get that tone and volume roll off issue after about 8. I've noticed others commenting on this phenomenon in the past but never bothered to read up because until now it was never a problem.

As far as the 2 pup bass, that wasn't intentional really. Most of my basses have been Jazz or custom or ..."others" and I wanted to get a P bass just for a bit of fun and to shift my playing perspective a bit. The SX's have a good rep and are cheap, so I picked this one up. I would have been just as happy with a straight P bass.

The bridge on mine actually looks pretty good. But then most of my basses have Badass bridges or 3 point Gibiphone bridges so I'm no expert on Fender bent plate bridges. What do you suggest? I mean thats kind of why I bought the bass , to experiment a bit.

The only thing I'm a bit surprised about with this bass is the nut. The quality control team was at lunch when this was being done. Really doesn't match the rest of the bass at all. Its too big, poorly fitted and very cheap. Still, not an expensive thing to correct.


Thats a lovely pair you have neilb :huh:

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[quote name='Freuds_Cat' post='154292' date='Mar 9 2008, 11:51 PM']Thanks OldGit. The pot for the J pup is dodgy and cuts in and out as you turn it so I figure I'd just replace them all with some quality ones. I did a quick fix and put a Japanese special in to make it usable but now I get that tone and volume roll off issue after about 8. I've noticed others commenting on this phenomenon in the past but never bothered to read up because until now it was never a problem.

As far as the 2 pup bass, that wasn't intentional really. Most of my basses have been Jazz or custom or ..."others" and I wanted to get a P bass just for a bit of fun and to shift my playing perspective a bit. The SX's have a good rep and are cheap, so I picked this one up. I would have been just as happy with a straight P bass.

The bridge on mine actually looks pretty good. But then most of my basses have Badass bridges or 3 point Gibiphone bridges so I'm no expert on Fender bent plate bridges. What do you suggest? I mean that's kind of why I bought the bass , to experiment a bit.[/quote]


I'm no expert and I've never had a bad ass (apart from that time in Ibiza and I'm sure that was the prunes ) but the Gotoh 203 was recommended by Jon Shuker as a good solid direct replacement for Fender stock bridges. Good enough endorsement for me :)
It's cheap too :huh:
They do a string-through body bridge called the 206 and loads of people have put 201's on. Not me though so I don't know how they are.

My SX P does seem to have a better something about it, acoustically, after changing from the Fender threaded saddle bridge it had before - there's two more screws in the Gotoh so maybe that helps.

Edited by OldGit
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[quote name='Freuds_Cat' post='154292' date='Mar 9 2008, 11:51 PM']The pot for the J pup is dodgy and cuts in and out as you turn it so I figure I'd just replace them all with some quality ones. I did a quick fix and put a Japanese special in to make it usable but now I get that tone and volume roll off issue after about 8. I've noticed others commenting on this phenomenon in the past but never bothered to read up because until now it was never a problem.[/quote]

Cleaned the pot with pot cleaner spray? That usually sorts out that sort of thing ...

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[quote name='OldGit' post='154387' date='Mar 10 2008, 08:55 PM']Cleaned the pot with pot cleaner spray? That usually sorts out that sort of thing ...[/quote]

Yep tried the spray and still faulty. The original SX ones are mini pots and have a very nice weighted feel to them. I'd prefer to leave 'em if possible but just figured I'd ask for a few other opinions.

The bridge thing is interesting. You know the saying that if a bass sounds good when its not plugged in then it usually sounds good with decent pups? Well this SX sounds great unplugged and sounds OK with the stock pups. So once the Brierleys go into it I'm sure its gonna sound great. I have always used the Badass bridges because I like endless sustain and brightness in my sound but with this baby I'm more keen to try for a more traditional P bass sound. I might do the Nut, Pots, Pups and pickguard and see how its sounding before I start swapping bridges I think.


Anyhow I just noticed the "[b][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=13992"]SX configuration opinions., Yet another "which scratchplate"[/url][/b] thread! so I might continue this over there.

Thanks for your help OldGit, go easy on the prunes mate. :)

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[quote name='Freuds_Cat' post='154431' date='Mar 10 2008, 11:53 AM']Anyhow I just noticed the "[b][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=13992"]SX configuration opinions., Yet another "which scratchplate"[/url][/b] thread! so I might continue this over there.[/quote]


There's a bit of bridge chat on there too (Rich)

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Ok This is what it looks like today:)
Changes from the original pics are:

Pup cover off,
Pup replaced with my original 1962 Fender precision pup
Tort scratch plate rather than black
Gotoh 203 bridge rather than teh Fender re-issue (shorter height grubs in the post)
Artec 2 band active eq with tone stack knobs.
Nice Bart Simpson Skull and Crossbones sticker chosen by my lad to cover the hole in the lacquer I managed to add accidentally ...
Awww its first bit of Mojo ...

Original eBy pic


Odd perspective front shot



Battery box


Tone stack knob


Body front



If the new, shorter bridge height grub screws show up tomorrow I'll try it out at our gig on Saturday.

Edited by OldGit
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  • 4 weeks later...

[quote name='fifeq' post='153226' date='Mar 7 2008, 05:52 PM']I forgot to mention to you that my Clark Kent's job is making coffee in COSTA Coffee :)[/quote]

Which One? I may save you the journey up here for the plate .. of course your soldering lesson will have to be here :huh:

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My SX Precision is sorted .. I'm really getting to like it now I've re-soldered everything and it keeps going :)

I'd say the most significant change to the bass overall was swapping the bridge.
The Fender vintage re-issue one was OK but the Gotoh 203 makes everything feel a lot more solid and connected and the sustain is great (especially when unplugged - always the acid test). I had to use the shorter height adjustment screws to avoid shredding my hand whilst playing so I'd recommend that.

The ARTEC SE3A preamp is subtle and works well with the passive P pup just adding a good amount of bass and treble and cutting both well.
There's none of that "super glassy" feel that cheap preamps's usually have and it doesn't boost way past useful. The stacked knob works OK and looks pretty stock.

So there you go. That's sorted...

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  • 3 months later...

Might be selling this now ...
The Artec 2 band pre amp and Fender Pup are no longer in the bass (Artec and knobs are also available).
It's got a noname aftermarket Pickup that sounds pretty good.

I'll pop a for sale note up when I get some new pics..

Edited by OldGit
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  • 2 months later...

Yes, Rondo has some nice stuff. Still:
I would be cautious about ordering from Rondomusic from Europe,
Maybe I'd get it elsewhere.
I have bought a couple of guitars from ROndo myself. Doubt I will do it again.

For starters: it’s expensive to import. A $100 guitar cost $268!
I think the hype is coming from US customers. It’s a lot cheaper there.

Here is how: The shipping and customs and import VAT for items from outside EU makes it expensive even though the USD is low. Example: $100 for guitar and $100 for shipping and 34% on top of the sum (yes on shipping too!) makes it quite expensive. The 34% includes customs, import VAT. And the hidden 1,5% cost VISA gets from trading in another currency.

Secondly: the guitars don’t match their pictures on the web. Even though I bought some of their premium models, they didn’t measure up! Big disappointment. I’m not to crazy about the how the pu:s sound either. Some of the necks are to fat in my opinion and I like a fat neck.

Third: Lousy terms. If you have any complaints you will get: “Items shipped are as is with no warranty”. Sure shipping is expensive, but still..

Fourth:
Customer service suck!
They will probably try hard not to give you any money back. They would try to send you some left over used crap-hardware. At least that’s my experience.

So if you think you’ll order from Rondomusic, good luck to you!
I think you’ll need it.

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  • 4 months later...

[quote name='paul h' post='427877' date='Mar 7 2009, 10:12 AM']Finally took a picture of my 75 Ltd in the daylight and thought it warranted resurrecting this thread.

[attachment=21636:newsxjpic.jpg][/quote]

Very pretty .. What make is that bridge?

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[quote name='paul h' post='427880' date='Mar 7 2009, 10:23 AM']It's the standard high mass bridge that comes on the Ltd models.

All I have done is swap the white plate to a black one and fitted some Artec pickups courtesy of Paul Rose.

P.[/quote]

Cool Did't know they did that.
I bet that all sounds great.
The standard psudo Fender bent tin bridges the normal ones come with are a real achillies heel. Swapped for a Gotoh and they basses sound and feel much better.

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[quote name='paul h' post='427877' date='Mar 7 2009, 10:12 AM']Finally took a picture of my 75 Ltd in the daylight and thought it warranted resurrecting this thread.

[attachment=21636:newsxjpic.jpg][/quote]
Very nice looking bass Paul - got any more pics?

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My photography skills limit me to taking one unblurred photo per annum but I will endeavour to get some more at some point.

I didn't do any direct A/B tests but when I popped down to BassDirect with Mr. Fudge I had a good old play on a USA J, a MM J and a Nordy. And as nice as they all were, I still can't find a reason to justify the extra moolah! OK, this SX is pretty buzzy right now because I decided to set the action how I would ideally like it, and bugger the consequences! I don't actually mind a bit of controlled buzz here and there.

I might push the boat out when I am working again and spend another 20 quid on an Artec EQ for it!

P.

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