jamesr
01-05-2005, 07:49 AM
Summary:
I just finished my sx bass project. So I figured I would write a review on sx basses, and give some info on upgrading them. First off I think a lot of people recommend SX basses that never owned one. I will see a lot of people recommend them to beginners, and even say they are as nice as a MIM fender. They are far from MIM fender basses, even with a pickup upgrade. But considering a MIM bass is about $400, and an SX from rondo is $109 I didn’t expect them to be better. But with that said after upgrading the bridge, pickups, all the electronics, and a good set up it will be as nice as a stock MIM fender. I wouldn't recommend an sx bass to anyone that can't set up their own bass. They need a lot of work to play nice. Action, truss rod, fret dressing, and intonation. Sx basses are great for us do it yourselfers looking for a cheap project, but they are not a good beginners bass. I even had to file down a raised fret slightly.
Electronics:
It comes with very cheap, noisy, low output pickups. Also small cheap pots and a tiny cap. The stock pots are slightly smaller than the standard 3/8” so you have to drill the pick guard a bit to put in new standard pots. The factory pots are 250k with a .47 cap. I put in two cts 250k pots, a switchcraft jack, new .47 cap, and all new wiring. I used a factory American p bass wiring schematic. As for the pickup I put in a Model series DiMarzio p pickup. The stock sx pickups are a little larger then the stock fender pickups. So I had to drill new holes for the pickup screws. After all that the bass now sounds as good as my American p bass with more output. I fully recommend a Model pickup for and sx bass upgrade. Although this would not be a great setup for tappers, and slappers. Like most p basses it lacks treble needed to have a great slap tone.
Hardware:
I left the factory tuners in. They seem to keep in tune good, and are nicer than the factory ones on a squier. I did take them apart and greased them better; also I had to file two of them out slightly to turn smoother. I replaced the bridge with a Gotoh 201 model which was a perfect fit. It increased the sustain, but slightly restricted the action. The Gotoh Bridge is thicker, and doesn’t allow you to lower the action really low. Right now the action is 4/32” measured from the 12th fret which is the standard action Fender sets up their American Basses. Personally if I would do it again I wouldn’t replace the bridge.
If you have any questions about the bass let me know. I have owned it now for a month and love it. It is not neck heavy, and the neck feels like a fender p neck. I have gigged with it, but will use it mainly as a backup to my American P. I would not recommend this bass to a beginner. With the stock pickups, and set up this bass is not as nice as a GSR200. But if you can set up your bass, and wire in new pickups it makes a great bass. I still recommend an Ibanez GSR200 to all beginners. They play much nicer from factory, and sound nicer. If I could do it all over I would buy a used MIM Fender, and just replaced the pickup.
Costs (includes shipping & tax)
SX P BASS + hard-shell case........$184
American P bass wiring kit............$15
DiMarzio model p pickup...............$55
Gotoh 201 Bridge........................$35
Chrome Knobs............................$10
TOTAL......................................$299
"completed bass"
http://www.ezphotoshed.com/users/022679/photos/1104880252-3.jpg
I just finished my sx bass project. So I figured I would write a review on sx basses, and give some info on upgrading them. First off I think a lot of people recommend SX basses that never owned one. I will see a lot of people recommend them to beginners, and even say they are as nice as a MIM fender. They are far from MIM fender basses, even with a pickup upgrade. But considering a MIM bass is about $400, and an SX from rondo is $109 I didn’t expect them to be better. But with that said after upgrading the bridge, pickups, all the electronics, and a good set up it will be as nice as a stock MIM fender. I wouldn't recommend an sx bass to anyone that can't set up their own bass. They need a lot of work to play nice. Action, truss rod, fret dressing, and intonation. Sx basses are great for us do it yourselfers looking for a cheap project, but they are not a good beginners bass. I even had to file down a raised fret slightly.
Electronics:
It comes with very cheap, noisy, low output pickups. Also small cheap pots and a tiny cap. The stock pots are slightly smaller than the standard 3/8” so you have to drill the pick guard a bit to put in new standard pots. The factory pots are 250k with a .47 cap. I put in two cts 250k pots, a switchcraft jack, new .47 cap, and all new wiring. I used a factory American p bass wiring schematic. As for the pickup I put in a Model series DiMarzio p pickup. The stock sx pickups are a little larger then the stock fender pickups. So I had to drill new holes for the pickup screws. After all that the bass now sounds as good as my American p bass with more output. I fully recommend a Model pickup for and sx bass upgrade. Although this would not be a great setup for tappers, and slappers. Like most p basses it lacks treble needed to have a great slap tone.
Hardware:
I left the factory tuners in. They seem to keep in tune good, and are nicer than the factory ones on a squier. I did take them apart and greased them better; also I had to file two of them out slightly to turn smoother. I replaced the bridge with a Gotoh 201 model which was a perfect fit. It increased the sustain, but slightly restricted the action. The Gotoh Bridge is thicker, and doesn’t allow you to lower the action really low. Right now the action is 4/32” measured from the 12th fret which is the standard action Fender sets up their American Basses. Personally if I would do it again I wouldn’t replace the bridge.
If you have any questions about the bass let me know. I have owned it now for a month and love it. It is not neck heavy, and the neck feels like a fender p neck. I have gigged with it, but will use it mainly as a backup to my American P. I would not recommend this bass to a beginner. With the stock pickups, and set up this bass is not as nice as a GSR200. But if you can set up your bass, and wire in new pickups it makes a great bass. I still recommend an Ibanez GSR200 to all beginners. They play much nicer from factory, and sound nicer. If I could do it all over I would buy a used MIM Fender, and just replaced the pickup.
Costs (includes shipping & tax)
SX P BASS + hard-shell case........$184
American P bass wiring kit............$15
DiMarzio model p pickup...............$55
Gotoh 201 Bridge........................$35
Chrome Knobs............................$10
TOTAL......................................$299
"completed bass"
http://www.ezphotoshed.com/users/022679/photos/1104880252-3.jpg