Keep my MIM Precision or get a new SX Jazz?

[Ignatius]

Here's the deal. I'm a guitar player, but I like to have a bass around the house so I can throw together demos in my studio - just ideas, scratch stuff, etc.

I've had a MIM Precision for years. Right now it needs new strings and could benefit from a setup. It's an okay bass.

I've always preferred Jazz basses because of the flexibility of the add'l pickups. I was just on the Rondo site and I was just thinking that I could probably dump my MIM for probably $125 (it has a pretty good size chip on the back) and get a new Rondo SX Jazz copy and probably break even. Heck, new strings would run my another $20 for my bass. I guess the setup doesn't factor in because I'd do it myself anyway.

Hmmm.

What would you do?

[Tim Armstrong]

That'd have to be a heck of a chip to devalue your bass THAT much!

I'd rather have a good MIM P-Bass. Betcha a new set of strings and maybe some tweaking would change your mind about the tones available.

Don't get me wrong, I love my SX bass, but I had to put another hundred bucks into it to make it a good gigger...

Tim

[Ignatius]

Ah, a voice of reason. Thanks Tim. Yeah, maybe you're right - I should throw a new set of strings on it and tweak it a little. If I have to spend extra $ on the SX to make it right then I'm not sure I want to go in that direction.

And by the way - yes, it's a big chip. Or should I say 'chunk', that is missing entirely. It was that way when I bought it (for $150). What a bargain - an actual reliced bass for only $150!

[marshman]

I just got my first P-Bass a few months ago ($125 pawn shop special, MIM, not reliced, just abused) and am very happy with it...it did require new strings, a serious cleaning and a major set-up, but now I dig it very much. I was worried before that I'd miss 'tones' due to the single p'up effect, but the tone control is pretty useful (even better with new pots/caps) and you'd be surprised how many variations you can create with technique alone.

Even more recently, I acquired a similar (MIM, same year, much less abused) Jazz, and am so far inclined to say that I prefer the P. I like the beefy tone and the wider neck.

[Anchoret]

Originally Posted by marshman

I was worried before that I'd miss 'tones' due to the single p'up effect, but the tone control is pretty useful (even better with new pots/caps) and you'd be surprised how many variations you can create with technique alone.

There's really a huge overlap in what you can do with P & J basses in the context of a typical gear combination. People make far too much of the P/J distinction...to the extent that it's not their pure imagination. Mainly, the difference is the J's more guitar-like neck -- and that neck was the primary reason for which Leo Fender introduced the Jazz; everything else was more or less incidental, a marketing tie-in with the Jazzmaster's introduction.

[I'm not sure what you did with the bleed cap to make a difference as the stock ones are already pretty much at maximum -- and a .047mFd bleed cap is a .047mFd bleed cap.]

[broadcaster]

I too would keep the mim and mess with it till it rocks.

[bobbybigmac]

I'd keep your MIM Fender and then save up a few bucks to buy the SX Jazz.

The SX's are so affordable but I don't think they have a big re-sell value.
I don't think they're well known ( except for this forum of course ) and that's a shame IMHO because they are of excellent quality and a very good thump for the buck.

I think this way, you'll still have your MIM Fender which has a good name for re-sell, and if the SX doesn't do it for you, you can always sell it to me

All joking aside, I think it's hard to resist the urge to have more than 1 bass, so buy the SX.