Rondo SX Tele Copy vs. Strat copy

[littlewing6283]

Hello Folks,

I just wanted some input from anybody.

I was looking to pick one of these up to learn how to mod/disassemble/reassemble guitars.

At the same time i want a decent playing guitar.

As far as build , are the tele's built better than the strats ?

I can go either way.

Any comments are appreciated

[jazztele]

if you're learning how to dissassemle and mod, tele's are the way to go. much easier for beginners.

[fauxsuper]

I have two SX "Strats" and one SX "Tele" and there is very little difference in build quality between them.

Rondo has a pretty liberal return policy, so I'd make sure the neck is straight enough that any issues can be corrected by a truss rod adjustment.

Most any other problems can be "cured" by either a good set up or replacement of inexpensive parts.

All three of my guitars needed the nut slots recut. I have a friend to has a SX Tele, and after I re-cut the nut, his guitar has been fine as far as playability, and it stays in tune.

My SX Ash P-90 strat has an amazing neck: it's WAY beyond decent playing. it plays as nice as any Fender style guitar I've played. I DO love the fat neck, but independant of that, after a good set up the action is just perfect with only a slight amount of relief. No buzzes or rattles and the bound neck gives it the feel of a much more expensive instrument.

Strat's ARE a little more complex with the Trem and one more pickup, so there's a little more that can go wrong, but I almost always block the trem, so for me it's not a big issue.

These can be made to be really good insrtuments without a lot of expense. I have added three guitars I play all the time to my quiver for a total outlay of less than $900. (I also have a 52 Goldtop and a 63 Tele, so for any guitar to get any playing time, it has to earn it's keep.)

[littlewing6283]

thanks for the responses people.

only thing worrying me now is the fat neck. i have smaller hands

but at 109 dollars, it might be a gamble im willing to work with so I can learn.

[fauxsuper]

Originally Posted by littlewing6283

thanks for the responses people.

only thing worrying me now is the fat neck. i have smaller hands

but at 109 dollars, it might be a gamble im willing to work with so I can learn.

As far as that goes, only the Ash Strat has the big, fat neck. But I have exactly the same size hands as Eddy Van Halen: small. (Discoverd this at the Rock Walk at the Hollywood Guitar Center.) And I have NO problems with the SX fat neck.

[FirstBassman]

Yeah, same here.
I have small or average sized hands and usually prefer thin necks.

But there's something about the fatter SX necks that just feels good and comfortable.

[fauxsuper]

Originally Posted by FirstBassman

Yeah, same here.
I have small or average sized hands and usually prefer thin necks.

But there's something about the fatter SX necks that just feels good and comfortable.

I just had to go off topic: The Airplane was one of the great underated live acts of the era. Sad to think that most people don't know this as there was a lot more to them than just Somebody To Love and White Rabbit. Jack and Jorma just flat out rocked and Spencer Dryden was also underated.

But back to the SX's. The necks on these guitars are among the best features they have, and I find it somewhat funny that people take them off and replace them with necks from Mitghty Mite because of the headstock shape. I look on Ebay for necks, as I'd love to pick up another fat one for a parts guitar.

[tele12]

I haven't played the SX's but from what I have seen cheap Tele's are usually a little better than cheap strats. Nobody puts any mass in the cheap strat bridge blocks so they tend to sound a little thin. And if you are going to upgrade you have one less tone pot and pickup on the Tele so it will be a little cheaper.

[littlewing6283]

after some research. i think im going to pull the trigger. on a sx tele.

now what color, any reccomendations.

ive been eyeballing the sunburst

[JDRNoPro]

I've got a sunburst and a powder blue and both of mine are great finishes. In the past some of the vintage white ones have reportedly had a slight greenish tint and some say the butterscotch can be a bit yellowish. The green is a bit of an odd shade to me but I've seen pix of the CAR that look pretty good. Black is black and I think looks good with the heavy neck tint. In the end it's you're choice.......just find as many pix as you can and get what appeals most to you

[littlewing6283]

i think im going to pull the trigger on the sunburst so it matches my strat

[littlewing6283]

Ive pulled the trigger. I was going back and forth on it especially since I just took delivery on my Class vibe Tele. I'm hooked on Tele's

I ordered a Sunburst STL50 after looking at JRDNoPro's photos of his sunburst STL50. It will be a good "cousin" for my Sunburst Strat (Just got some seymour duncan ssl-1's installed and boy do they sound sweet".

so the main reason I ordered this was because in the past month ive payed to get my les paul setup and the fender new p/u's and a setup. Prices were a bit steep so I want to learn how to do it.

I'm leaning towards turning this into an esquire b/c I already have a Twang King p/u i got on craigs list for 30 bucks. I am happy w/ my classic vibe so i'm going to leave it as is.

any thoughts ?

[Will Chen]

I have the SX SST Stop Tail in Powder Blue (reviewed for FrugalGuitarist.com) and I love that guitar. As others have said, neck is the bomb! Also, the stop tail on this model is TOM styled rather than the typical through body style you normally see giving the guitar a very unique look. Pickups are a matter of taste. Their medium output and on the bright side but short of barsh or brittle. You'll likely need to up the lows on the amp a little. I can't wait to try one of their Teles...

[FirstBassman]

Originally Posted by fauxsuper

I just had to go off topic:
The Airplane was one of the great underated live acts of the era. Sad to think that most people don't know this as there was a lot more to them than just Somebody To Love and White Rabbit. Jack and Jorma just flat out rocked and Spencer Dryden was also underated.

Thanks F/S. There happen to be a lot of people on this forum who like and appreciate the Airplane and Tuna. Though maybe most not as psychotic about it as I am.

Spencer was absolutely one of the best rock drummers of all time.
Just listen to the opening riff of 3/5's on the album pictured at left.
<--


PS: I also agree with you about the SX headstock (which has been much discussed on this forum). It is not bad at all. We've all seen a lot worse.

[littlewing6283]

Wow already shipped !

too bad it wont get here till next monday b/c I live across the country

[FirstBassman]

Originally Posted by littlewing6283

Wow already shipped !

Yup, they don't mess around up there in New England.

As I've mentioned, Kurt has told me he ships sometimes 100 instruments a day.