The benefits of being cheap!

[rickboy88]

Yeah, come to think of it, you've got a point with the tort pickguard John. My sunburst Fender Jaguar bass also has one. The Jag is a Japan market model, as at the time you couldn't get it in the U.S. Now all 4 Jag finishes are available here.

I should be getting the Rondo model on Wednesday, and I plan on reporting. I've never actually had a "real" Fender Jazz bass (the Jag is my only Fender and kind of close), but I can review it as simply a bass.

[johnallg]

David, I played a Squier Jazz, the Squier Vintage w/SD pups, a MIM Jazz, and an MIA Jazz, and was not impressed enough with any of them to spend the money to get one. On my SX, I had to level the 2nd and 3rd frets and dress the fret ends, and of course a full setup, but it is better than all but the MIA and probably the MIM Jazzes. The finish on the SX is not top notch Think RIC or MIA Fender), but for $129 shipped I got so much more bass for my money over the others. It plays great, sounds great - even better than the SD Squier - and I am happy with it. Of course, all my opinions.

[rickboy88]

The bass did indeed arrive today. It is like they listened to you John, as it came with the tort pickguard!

The only issues so far are a stripped screw attachment for the strap peg near the bridge. I simply got a slightly larger wood screw from the "junk" drawer and fixed that issue.

The more serious issue (sort of) is that the screw holding in the headstock "button" over the D and G strings popped out when I was tightening the string tension. The button holds the strings down closer to the headstock. Those of you familiar with Fender basses will know what I am talking about.

I will hit an Ace Hardware or Napa Auto to get a slightly longer and larger diameter wood screw to fix that issue. I don't think the screw they used is large enough for the tension. I need to get some flatwould strings pronto as well. I had been buying D'Addario Chromes, but I'm open to suggestions. The chromes would allow a nice comparison to the other basses, but not mandatory.

[johnallg]

I put Fender flats on mine - a local store had them for $13 a set a while ago and I bought two sets. They sound great on it.

[ajish4]

Well,

I WAS going to order my SX Tele this week, but was distracted by this bass.....$185 delivered.

This broke all my normal likes! lol, (5 String, BLACK (aka finger print Glo) but I've done a lot of research on these Peavey basses.

This one is a early to mid 90's model, but the big factor in this purchase was that is has the "Super Ferrite" pickups. I'm told these are almost like ACTIVE HUMBUCKERS.
They are LOUD & very powerful but also very quiet. MOST of the Peavey Foundation 5ers have a different pickup. I've been keeping an eye out for one of these for a while.

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/revi ... +Bass/10/1

Yeah, I know....I know.....Harmony Central, but I've found some of their reviews helpful in the past.

SO, I too am waiting for the delivery truck.....I can't wait to get my hot little paws on it, I'm going to try a 5er again!

[rickboy88]

Looks like a nice one Tony.

I hit the Napa Auto Parts at lunch today, and they did indeed have some wood screws. Now the bass is tuned up with the roundwounds it came with. The intonation is surprisingly good and I like the feel of the neck. I am playing it with a pick the way I do with my Rics, resting my right hand on the pickup cover.

This is the link again, but the pickup guard is actually tortoise shell.
http://www.rondomusic.com/sjb75ct3ts.html

I will look into getting some Fender Flats, John. I tried Wildwood Guitars here (handle tons of Rics) but they are essentially all guitar focused with the occasional Ric bass, and carry no bass strings. I may end up doing mail order, depending on how fast I want them.

I also plan on taking a picture soon of the SX Jazz copy next to the Fender Jaguar for a tortoise shell comparison.

[atomic_punk]

I dont think you can go wrong with that Peavey!

Just a few tips I have come across (from personal experience, unfortunately)...

The Ibanez BTB basses (IMO) seem cheap and pretty, well they are both. I bought one and for the life of me could not get a usable sound out of it. One rehearsal and off to Ebay it went.

Another one as the ESP B-50 (I think) got it really really cheap, and it was not worth that. Played it at a gig, the guitar player came up to me and told me my "new bass sounds like ***". And it did. I ALMOST chucked it out the window of the car on the ride home. Off to Ebay it went.

The OLP 5-strings are seductive at their price point, but every one I have played has has SHARP fret ends and no active preamp, which means it does not sound like a Stringray at all. The OLP Tony Levin model, however, DOES have the preamp and is good.
Unfortunately, most are PEACH.

Peavey Cirrus BXP. Well, I had one for a while. 18V active preamp. Almost blew every amp I had with that thing. Even with the -10DB pad on, it still was like a bass on steroids. Could not get that thing to behave. They are blowing them out at a lot of Guitar Centers right now for 1/4 the original price!
However, the Peavey Millenium BXP IS a relatively decent bass ezpecially if you can get one under a hundred. Good value.

I'm sure there are more (squier Telecaster bass which shipped to me with a faulty output jack and strings that left nickel all over my fingers after 15 minutes), but those are a few I have had experience with. Buyer beware!

[rickboy88]

I finally made the time to take a picture of both side by side. The SX (Rondo) Jazz copy is too the left, and the Fender Jaguar is to the right. The wood grain and tortoise shell on the SX is actually more "interesting". At some point, I will get one of those on-line posting sites setup.

Rondo SX Jazz copy and Fender Jag

It also looks like they re-imaged the bass at Rondo, so the picture of the model now shows the correct tortoise shell pickguard:
http://www.rondomusic.com/sjb75ct3ts.html

[ajish4]

Ok,

With the holidays at hand, and I'm looking for a HINT for the Mrs. for a cheapie gift, what do you think David and John about the SX?

I'm going to HINT for the Tele SX, but WHICH ONE? I'm leaning towards the Humbucker version, but ANY cheap TELE is on the table right now....

I'm looking at the Peavey Generation EX with the Piezo and the SX....trying to narrow it down.

Thanks Steve for the input....

SOMETHING TO ADD ABOUT THE FENDER RUMBLE 100.....to make a long story short......I own one, it was used by someone else in my church and apparently BI-amped it and toasted it.
It has a 5 year warranty. I'm in year 3, Fender said "it is a non-serviceable unit" so the sent a BRAND NEW ONE, in 3 days! Not bad, not bad at all!

[johnallg]

Tony, my SX Tele 6-string sounds great, plays nice, but will need the frets leveled. Per Dale F, I will use 330 grit and do the deed myself - worked on the Jazz copy nicely. Once again, I got what I paid for and more. Adequate to re-learn playing guitar on.

http://www.rondomusic.com/stl50vwh.html though it is more greenish in hand.

[rickboy88]

I love my Fender Rumble 100. Really nice bass amp for the price.

John looks to have you squared away on the tele. I've got Fender flats on the SX Jazz copy, so it is tougher to A/B compare with my other basses, but I'm liking it.

[johnallg]

I've got Fender flats on the SX Jazz copy, so it is tougher to A/B compare with my other basses, but I'm liking it.

Me too! Love the feel and sound.

[ajish4]

Just an update to this old thread.....

From the auction....

"A great guitar at a great price!
This is a Peavey Generation EXP Custom ACM electric guitar in Tobacco Sunburst.
Along with two high quality Peavey humbucker-type pickups, this guitar features a piezo pickup in the bridge. This pickup, along with the exclusive Peavey ACM circuitry, delivers a convincing acoustic guitar sound.
Included is the special stereo Y cable which allows you to separate the acoustic and electric sounds. Otherwise, use a regular guitar cable and both sounds are output together. You can of course mix them with whatever amounts of each you wish.
This high quality instrument is in like-new condition. Some very minor surface scuffing is about the only thing I could find on this guitar. Everything works properly and it sounds great.
Shipping and handling includes professional packing to protect the instrument.

PEAVEY GENERATION EXP CUSTOM ACM
Leave the acoustic at home. The new Generation EXP guitars feature our exclusive ACM® Analog Acoustic Modeling circuitry that let's you play your instrument as an electric, an acoustic or blend them both together!
Features:
• Available in Sunburst, Wine Red, Purple, and Brown Sugar
• 25 1/2 inch scale • ACM® circuitry (Analog Acoustic Modeling)
• Humbucker-Humbucker
• High quality solid basswood body
• Rosewood fingerboard
• Steel plate bridge with Graph Tech™ saddles
• Dual expanding truss rod
• Binding on back and top
• Stereo Y cable included
• Case not included"

Well, I figured for almost the same price point, this one was $129.00 (no shipping, it was local so I save a few $$$ there) and I love the thing. What sold me was the Piezo acoustic pickup in the bridge..Tons of sounds, great price, looks amazing...now all I have to do is figure out how to play the darn thing! LoL!

Thy had some pretty good reviews, they original MSRP was $500.00 +/- so I think I did alright.

[rickenbrother]

Congrats and enjoy it, T!! I like the way that looks more than an actual Telecaster.

[ajish4]

Congrats and enjoy it, T!! I like the way that looks more than an actual Telecaster.

LoL...thanks Joey, I thought the same! I don't know what the heck I'm doing with it yet, but I'm sure having fun!

Anyway, it will tide me over til the 4004Cii arrives.