SX Strat...I've Had It!!

Geezer · May 11th, 2009, 03:19 PM

OK, I tried to love it, thought about some upgrades (previous thread), now I'm ready to throw it in the fireplace! This thing will not hold a set up. I've tried everything I know (I'm not new to this stuff), took advice from several sources, NOTHING works.
I can get close to where I like it, but anywhere from three minutes to three days later the problems return, string buzz or dead frets. I've even developed string buzz while I'm playing.
I know it's a cheapo, all I'm asking from a guitar these days is for it to hold a set up. I don't care too much about tone or looks, I'm just a couch, by myself, 15 watt amp, player. The damn thing is going under the bed, I won't sell these troubles to someone else.
Sorry for the vent.

Sprocket · May 11th, 2009, 03:50 PM

Are you going through weather changes? Dry to rainy?

Giant · May 11th, 2009, 03:56 PM

when did you get it? email em and demand a refund or exchange....

Zman · May 11th, 2009, 06:57 PM

Hey Geezer it is amazing how good they look though isn't it? I look at them and see the price tag and I can't believe the price. How the hell can you make a guitar put all those pieces in and sell it for 79 bucks and make a profit.
I guess we understand now!
Yet I buy a CV Strat for 300 bucks and it is as good as a 900 dollar MIA.
I guess you really can't expect much for the money.
Take the mods and put them on a better platform. You will be much happier.

Geezer · May 11th, 2009, 08:20 PM

They are pretty. I don't feel right returning an $80.00 guitar because of set up issues. Kurt already offered to accept a return. I think I would have pressed the issue if he said no.
We are having crappy weather, very cool and wet. Lots of rain, low night time temps. Maybe it will stabilize when (and if) the weathers warms and dries.

Right now I thinking an Ibanez RG. Not a Geezer guitar, but very sweet. I flipped a barely played 89 Japanese RG550 that I bought fairly cheap at an auction, I loved that Wizard neck! I play Blues, and that guitar did the job, even though it is considered a metal machine.

Sprocket · May 11th, 2009, 11:24 PM

You didnt really mention how long youve had it, or if youd changed the strings yet.
Couple of things you may or may not know or have considered:
New strings typically are needed on almost all new guitars, unless the guitar was built within a couple of months of purchase. I wouldnt think an $80 guitar would come with quality strings, but Ive never tried an SX...although I have considered them.
Worn out crappy stale strings will never intonate...you may think youve got it, play it, test it again and its all over the place.
Pickup heights will play hell on intonation and tuning as well.

Also, when guitars are built the bodies/necks are dried so the paint cures, in transit they put silica gel inserts in the package to remove moisture(they do this with alot of electronics)...this dries the guitar out even more. When a guitar dries it shrivles/curls up and the neck shows major relief...if you hadnt even done anything but put it on a stand for a day(or two), just letting the guitar absorb your moist humid climate the neck would have straightened out by itself...and the tuning would have gone sharp.
Ever tune a guitar indoors, take the same guitar outdoors and try the tuning again only mintues later?

Geezer · May 12th, 2009, 06:22 AM

I've had the guitar for appx. three weeks, have gone through three sets of strings: 9's-10's-11's.
I had the neck off again last night and noticed that the pick guard was protruding a bit into the neck pocket at the heel. This may have been causing enough upward pressure to move the neck. I filed it down, set it up, so far it's OK.

Thanks to all for the responses.

mlp187 · May 14th, 2009, 11:54 PM

Did you set it up for the different string guages? That made all the difference on my strat.

Boris Bubbanov · May 15th, 2009, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zman

Hey Geezer it is amazing how good they look though isn't it? I look at them and see the price tag and I can't believe the price. How the hell can you make a guitar put all those pieces in and sell it for 79 bucks and make a profit.
I guess we understand now!
Yet I buy a CV Strat for 300 bucks and it is as good as a 900 dollar MIA.
I guess you really can't expect much for the money.
Take the mods and put them on a better platform. You will be much happier.

Yes, but do we really know that the CV will still be held in high regard in a couple of years?

Until enough time has passed, I think it is just as premature to announce the CV a permanent success as it is to go after the SX.

We might be talking about one green neck. I don't know.

I've played these CVs and I'm not sure what the elation is about. I think folks are so excited with the prospect of such a guitar they haven't really looked up her skirt yet.

And as Elvis Costello sings, "She says, Why Not?"

Strat-Man-Do · May 15th, 2009, 10:13 AM

Your Right....probly a neck thats not aged enough to play. Is the Truss Rod actually working?

Tell ya though...........I seriously like the Finish work on the Squier CV bodys. I've seen many that are just superbly matched and nicely figured. MOF I used one to build a Strat also because it was very very light. Completed Strat is 6lbs and resonants crazy.

One of my all time favorite Strats now. Just a great feel and nice Tone. I do feel somewhat LUCKY that the project came together SO WELL. I mean you just never know. There's a probability with using all Great Parts to build a Strat. But its still NOT a guarentee you'll have a great Strat thats your number #1 in the end. Or even one you'll keep! I feel fortunate here, this baby just came out so nice....piece by piece it all fits like a jig-saw puzzle. Neck-Pocket with the Squier body and MIJ All-Parts neck is just a DREAM fit. And the routing on the body was perfectly done so the neck is DEAD STRAIGHT when strung. With nice real estate on both outer edges of the E-Strings. The Middle Dots on the fret-board fall directly between the D+G strings. All signs of a very well put together Strat. Only thing Squier left on the guitar is the body and PG which I might even go with a Multi Ply Black PG. But everything else is here to stay. The GFS Overwound Rails are really happening. They rate 15, 10, + 7.5 and theirs just no noticable volume drop off. Just a very nicely calibrated set with nice Tone that though noiseless and humbucker. Also retains a almost scary Single Coil top end to the pick-ups. They remind me of Fenders SCNs only with more Balls in the bridge and middle but very close in the neck.

Ya its getting a lot of play, almost hate to restring it. I just put XLs on this week for the First time since I built it 4-5mths ago now. I was scared I wouldn't get it back together perfect as it was. And the TR needed a 1/4 Turn to take out a slight bow? Well it all came out Great, better than I expected.

Strat-Man-Do · May 15th, 2009, 10:49 AM

You know what though...................even for a silly cheap amout of money a Strat could be had. I bought this Jay Turser and it has a total of $60. bucks into it. I had Alnico V's and electronics out of a Squier CV-60 and the CV stock bridge hanging around to use on it. But when I played it in a local pawn shop. The action and fret-work were almost spot-on. Extrodinary for a electric of this caliber. The total weight of the Strat is 5.5 lbs? Jay Turser doesn't tell what he use's for Hard Wood on his Strats and Tele's? And I don't know if the weight is consistant on these...but 5 1/2 pounds? Its the lightest Strat I've ever owned. Acoustically it Projects louder than any Strat I own? So it has some interesting qualities.

I'll have o check out another JT Strat ....I'm sure it would be 1000% different!

Geezer · May 15th, 2009, 06:02 PM

There's been a drastic change for the best! The neck has settled down, the guitar sounds even better. It's either that or I feel more positive about the guitar now that I'm not making adjustments three times a day,

I bought a jazz guitar, and guess what? That puppy got returned , this one had a wave in the neck...no it wasn't from Rondo, in fact I just ordered another guitar from Kurt. This one is going to sit for a week before I even try to set it up.

66musicmaster · May 20th, 2009, 10:11 AM

Don't feel too bad. Guy in our band has an MIM that refuses to hold tune. It is a partscaster, so the tuners or something is not quite right. It can happen, to even "expensive" guitars.

Comparing my old clone or my CV60s to that MIM, I'd take either of mine anyday. Cheap guitars rule!

Randy

BeardedRainbow · June 17th, 2009, 07:54 PM

I'm very sure you just got one of the bad ones, you get one of those sometimes no matter what the brand is or how much it costs.

My personal experience with my SX Strat has been great. Right out of the box it stayed in tune pretty well, the pickups sounded very decent and it looked beautiful.

Since then I have removed the highlighter-orange paint from the neck (mine was very orange) bought locking tuners, Alnico V pickups, new steel saddles a tortoise pickguard and threw in two more springs and it has become my favorite guitar, for a lot less than a MIM Fender I have a guitar that feels much better than any MIM I've ever owned or played.

I think the issue may be the nut, SX guitars come with cheap plastic nuts, I would replace it with a better material and then move on from there if you decide to keep the guitar.

gilmourjunkie · July 19th, 2009, 07:09 PM

I have 3 SX's and traded two others for an Agile. I've had no problems with setup, intonation, etc. In fact, when I took the first one in for a setup I specifically asked if they ran into any trouble and he said No, it setup quite nicely. However, I would recommend replacing the nut to keep it in tune better. I've learned to order a new nut at the same time I order a SX. I have Toneriders in two of them and Nico 69's in the other and all sound and play quite well. Good luck to you... hope it works out b/c they are very good guitars IMO.

THSea · July 19th, 2009, 10:33 PM

haha, this thread made me remember I had a maple neck from an old axl marquee, and I was able to replace the crap neck of the strat i'm parting together.

Geezer · July 20th, 2009, 02:35 PM

Much going on since I posted this thread. The SX has settled down, is now a happy guitar. I've since bought a Squier Bullet, and a GFX Strat. The SX got a loaded Dragonfire pickguard, The Bullet got a pearl pickguard and the SX pups and electronics. The GFX got the loaded Bullet pickguard. They all sound great, the GFX has the best tone of all. Left-to-right: Bullet, GFX, SX.

Money wise: Bullet, used $40.00 GFX, new $24.50 (yes, twenty-four dollars, fifty cents!) SX new $80.00+$21.00 for the loaded pickguard. I think this calls into question the cost of a MIM Strat, of which against the GFX would hold it's own (this is not a put down, just a comparison.)

AllroyPA · July 20th, 2009, 03:12 PM

Geezer that's barely a picture, post a larger one ~!

dhb2000usa · July 20th, 2009, 03:14 PM

If you don't mind, where can you find a GFX Strat for $24.50?

Geezer · July 20th, 2009, 05:47 PM

I resized the pic, don't know if it will work. The "stuff" on the SX headstock is glare. I found the GFX on fleabay, it had a low bid, 17 bucks I think, I threw in a $30.00 bid and won it for $24.50. I would have bought 3 more, but I'm saving my limited funds for an upcoming auction.

bluzjamer · November 16th, 2009, 11:28 PM

I found that in setting up guitars I move things in small steps. I also try not to do it all at the same time. I see some of the guys using 5 springs on the trem block and have to ask why. If you want to lock it down just screw in the claw all the way or block it. SX seems to use 2 different kinds of maple necks. I like the lighter colored ones. They seem to be more like a squier neck. The yellow vintage ones seem chunky, Ok if you like them like that. Some are too Yellow for my taste. These pics will show the different necks.

thaus · November 16th, 2009, 11:32 PM

Love that P-90 strat-style. Even love the controls!!

Malikon · November 18th, 2009, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thaus

Love that P-90 strat-style. Even love the controls!!

this. very much this. That guitar looks really cool. Love the toggle switch.

bluzjamer · November 18th, 2009, 01:14 AM

Recently got this one, it is another SX p-90 called the Hawk. It is a mahogany body.

69chargerse · November 20th, 2009, 08:00 PM

I just got one of the Hawks! Looks great, and played nice out of the box. I'm going to have it set-up, that is something I do not know how to do.

Offshore Angler · November 21st, 2009, 05:32 AM

P90 Strats! Yum! Best kept secret in guitardom. Single coils with grind. I love em.

K-SOLO · November 28th, 2009, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strat-Man-Do

You know what though...................even for a silly cheap amout of money a Strat could be had. I bought this Jay Turser and it has a total of $60. bucks into it. I had Alnico V's and electronics out of a Squier CV-60 and the CV stock bridge hanging around to use on it. But when I played it in a local pawn shop. The action and fret-work were almost spot-on. Extrodinary for a electric of this caliber. The total weight of the Strat is 5.5 lbs? Jay Turser doesn't tell what he use's for Hard Wood on his Strats and Tele's? And I don't know if the weight is consistant on these...but 5 1/2 pounds? Its the lightest Strat I've ever owned. Acoustically it Projects louder than any Strat I own? So it has some interesting qualities.

I'll have o check out another JT Strat ....I'm sure it would be 1000% different!

Hey "Strat-man"...I have the same "blond" Jay Turser Strat(got it about 3 yrs.ago,)and you hit the "nail square on the head" when you said its the lightest,and its prjection qualities. Man! I've had all kinds and brands of Strats(from Fender to the Turser...)but this Turser Strat puts them all down! It is the most perfect sounding Strat that i have owned to this day(cheap factory pick-ups and all.) I "never" touched the electronics or tuners...just change the strings often,and she is the epitimy of what a Strat is supposed to sound like. Maybe when ours were built(same time&line...)they just were put together right. I have a bud with a 66 Fender black Strat(beautiful looking and sounding,)and when he comes over to jam,he gives it to me to play and plays the Turser...and wont put it down untill he leaves(he offered me $500.00 cash in hand,one day for it...he likes it that much.) Here a pics of my guitars("blondie" is next to the red 1983 Washburn "Lyon" series strat.) the "baby blue" Strat is a SX with a "gorgeous" factory flame neck that i heavly modded.

K-SOLO · November 28th, 2009, 08:31 AM

http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu...O-K/LPs008.jpg Oops! forgot to add the pic...sorry.