>> Workshop >> Jerry's SX Ursa 2 JR RN 3TS 4-String Jazz Bass Project Bought at Rondo ~ Shipped from Jerry's on May 3rd ~ Arrived here May 6th Shipped to Jerry's in NJ: May 17th ~ Arrived in New Jersey on May 20th

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SX Short Scale Jazz Body   Front - Rear - Completed Body I don't always complete the body on the same day. Normally I take it apart and put everything aside to start on the neck, but I wanted to see the process through to provide an estimate of the time involved. I recieved the bass at approximately 4:30 PM and finished to the point you see at about 10 PM, subtract dinner so I estimate about 5 hours give or take a dip in the pool or two~! Wood Species: Alder Body Finish: 3-Tone Sunburst ~ Dr. Duck it. Before everything gets reassembled the body gets a treatment with the Duck sauce. Then, before I ship the bass the entire bass gets treated again. The neck gets the same treatment when it's nekid too~! But a NOTE to Dave and everyone else . . . don't duck it until after the copper foil shielding is installed or there may be problems with the adhesive of the foil adhering . . . Pickguard: White-Black-white with rear copper foil shielding. Finger/Thumb Rests: None Bridge: SX 7-hole Bridge ~ replace with OEM Deluxe - $32.95 shipped Installed bridge onto completed body. Bridge/Pickup Covers: None Strap Buttons/Locks: SX OEM chrome buttons. I strongly advise replacing the buttons with at least a larger head like these oversized chrome buttons. The oem style buttons are NFG because they act as a ramp for quick escape of your strap end and quick SMASH of your headstock~! Schaller Strap Locks are my first choice but there are other Strap Lock Systems to choose from. Update: Jerry said he already has a set of the Schallers . . . attaboy~! SX Ursa 30" Short Scale Jazz Neck   Front - Rear Found debris in the neck pocket and also stuck to the heel, which makes this a perfect example of WHY a bass should be inspected, especially a new bass from the factory. And don't think this is just from the SX factory either. ALL factories have this same level of quality control; middle of the road at best. Now imagine someone setting this up without having removed it~! No wonder factory settings are set so high. Here's a photo. Finding a digger on the edge of the neck, along with a few other tidbits, leads me to think this bass was a Rondo return. This isn't fresh from the factory. Wood Species: Maple Headstock: SX Ursa Neck and Headstock Finish: Some like the rear of their neck not to have a high gloss finish. I reduce this gloss, which reduces hand drag, with a Scotchbrite pad at no extra cost to you, unless it was the only job being done, which would tally at $20.00 labor. I also remove the stickers and adhesive on the back of the headstock at no extra charge but $1,000.00 if done seperately. They're just too fugly to remain and a PITA to remove and clean =o)   Destickered Saturday the 15th: Deglossed the rear of the neck and sealed w/Duck sauce. Neck and Headstock Painting: Some like the face of their headstock to match the color of the body. Yes, I do this for an additional $30.00 . . . Some want their entire neck refinished to match the body; it gets the top surface coat removed, 2 or 3 coats color and 2 or 3 coats clear, then buffed - for $100.00 labor plus paint. However, these 3-Tone finishes don't come across the same as they do on the body, making it look strange. The headstock painting is usually reserved for solid colors. Not that I wouldn't do the 3-tone if asked, but the HS already matches. Tuning Machines: SX Vintage Style chrome Truss Rod Cover: None Fretboard: Rosewood. Partial Fretjob: $100.00 Pulled and replaced 4 frets found not fully seated on the ends; replaced with new lengths. Levelled to the lowest frets, recrowned and polished. Rolled Fretboard: Includes approx. 1/8" radius to fretboard and fret ends: $50.00 labor. I only got a few photos that were halfassed so it doesn't show the extent of the work very well, but I guess these'll hafta do: here's a side view, a top view that looks blurry, and a close-up before cleaning. You're gonna love it . . . Fret Size: Medium Jumbo - .110" wide x .051" high Strings: GHS 3035 Short Scale Bass Boomers - est $22.00 shipped The strings finally showed up after almost a week in transit. Damn string companies always go for the cheapest delivery, 1st Class instead of Priority, yet they charge more than Priority prices. String Nut: Slot diameters: GHS .050, .070, .090, .107 Update: I'll be making two bone nuts; one for the D'Addario Lights that came on the bass and the other for the GHS Bass Boomers just in case Jery wants to switch back and forth. Regular charge for one Bone Nut Job is $40.00. And because this project has gone so smoothly (thanks to Jerry), this allows me to bend a little on pricing of my labor, so he's saving $50.00 right here with two nuts. Another day, another donkey-assed screwup on a bass . . . I mean, c'mon . . . what's it take for the schmuck at the factory to correctly install an already slotted nut? Unless somebody bought this and reslotted it with an oversize E string, this bass has mismatched strings on it. This bass came with a .110 E string and the rest are lights. But those light strings were in slots for medium diameter strings. My calipers on the slots read .109, .092, .076 and .049.     If it weren't for all the screwups this instance might be laughable. But when coupled with everything else, I'd like to meet some of these meathead(s) and slap 'em to wake'em up~! Update May 12th: Love letter frum Jerry: I think I'll standardize on GHS strings, so when you make the two nuts, can you make them for: GHS 3035: .050, .070, .090, .107 ~ completed nut for these O.D.s GHS 3135: .045, .060, .075, .095 ~ completed nut for these O.D.s Jerry . . . this GHS 3135 nut will be in a marked bag inside your accessories bag taped inside the shipping box. Well, I had already made a bone nut for the strings that came with the bass but I s'pose the better long term treatment should go for the GHS 3135s . . . so yes, Jerry, there is a Santa Claus . . . but I'm not going to buy the strings. You can pick them up and whenever you want to swap between strings, the other boner will be in a bag coming with your other accessories. The bone nut is a tight press fit. The best way to get the nuts out is to apply finger pressure because even light tapping could break or chip the bone. I try not to use glue whenever possible. String Guide: SX Button being upgraded to the Hipshot 3-String Retainer due to the "rattle" effect with the A string not be tethered with positive downward pressure onto the nut. Buzzing my basses will not~! Setup: Special Specs: None indicated ~ everything typical . . . Labor: $50.00 Electronics: Passive Pickups: SX Jazz with foam padding, screws, and springs ready for reinstallation Controls: Volume-Volume-Tone Everything that follows, with the exception of the Shielding and Control Knobs, is included in the price of the Control Plate Assembly, which is priced at $50.00 Control Pots: SX mini pots ~ upgraded to CTS 250K Audio Taper Short Solid Shaft Control Pots, Switchcraft 1/4" Mono Output Jack, Sprague OD .047µF Capacitor, and the finest of wire: Included in the price of the Assembly. Jerry chose:     • WBE 22awg Teflon Jacketed High Temp Silver Plated Copper Wire Control Harness: Completed Jazz Harness Control Plate: SX - Note that the short scale control plate is smaller too. Drilled 3 holes to accept the 3/8" CTS bushings, assembled plate, installed pickups, and soldered connections. Note one booboo: I forgot to preinstall a shrink tube so I taped (white) that sucka~! Each wire is tubed individually though; looky here. Control Knobs: SX push-ons will be replaced with Dome Top Control Knobs with Set Screw for USA SAE Shaft Pots: $3.95 each plus shipping Cavities: Copper Foil Shielding to cavs and rear of pickguard.   Labor: $50.00     • Completed Copper Foil Shielding of body cavs . . . bridge ground wire foil Pickup Balancing: Part of final setup with no added charge. Balancing output is a hit or miss thing because the two areas of the strings where each p'up is located picks up different string oscillations. But we do the best we can . . . and we did okay . . . you'll like it Jerry~! The strings sound equal across the board and the output of both pickups is almost perfect . . . balanced volume-wise that is. The Tally Checklist The List contains items you've agreed to go with . . . indicated with a price. The others in the list without a price indicate the need to make a decision. Customers receiving Service on their bass do not pay full price for parts. Customers receiving Service on their bass do not pay shipping on parts. However, all first-time customers must pay for their parts prior to assembly. BODY OEM Deluxe 4-String Bridge - Chrome: $32.95 discounted to $25.00 NECK Partial Fretjob with Final Setup: $150.00 Rolled Fretboard and Fret Ends: $50.00 2 Bone Nut Jobs ~ paying for 1: $40.00 discounted to $30.00 Hipshot 3-String Retainer - Chrome: $16.00 shipped reduced to $12.00 GHS 3035 SS Bass Strings: $24.00 shipped reduced to $20.00 ELECTRONICS Copper Foil Shielding: $50.00 Control Plate Assembly: $50.00 3 Control Knobs: $16.80 reduced to $10.00 EXTRAS - Accessories Dr. Duck's Axwax with Big Bends AXS Microfibre Cloth: $15.00 SHIPPING to New Jersey Lowest Price UPS Estimate: $25.00 Includes $500.00 Insurance TOTAL: $437.00

Project Parts and Labor Checklist SX SS Jazz Body • Finish: 3-T Sunburst • Body: Dr Duck it • Bridge: OEM DLX • Bridge Cover: NA • Pickup Cover: NA • Pickguard: W-B-White • PG Shield: Copper • PG Screws: Chrome • Thumb Rest: NA • Finger Rest: NA • Finger Ramp: No • Strap Buttons: JS • Strap Locks: Schaller • Bridge Setup SX SS Jazz Neck • Headstock: Ursa Stock • HS Finish: Stock • Tuners: SX Chrome • Tuner Screws: 16 chr • Fretboard: R&R • Fret Size: MJ • String Guide: Hipshot 3 • Strings: GHS 3035 SS • Nut #1 R&R: NIXED • Nut #2 R&R: GHS 3035 • Nut #3 R&R: GHS 3135 • Truss Rod Cover: NA • Neck Setup Bone Nut #1 got smoked Bone Nut #2 Job Pix 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 jumping forward . . . almost done. Final fitting comes after assembly and installation of strings. Bone Nut #3 Job Pix Naw . . . there's plenty with the other nut. Electronics • Standard Jazz Wiring • Control Plate: Drill 3/8" • Control Pots: CTS 250K • Knobbage: 3 Chrome • Capacitor: OD .047 • Output Jack: SWCFT • Copper Foil Shielding • Pickups: SX Jazz • Pickup Screws: Chr • Pickup Springs • Pickup Foam Pads • Pickup Setup

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Shipping is paid on the delivery of the completed bass from Bradenton, Florida to wherever the customer is located. An average weight of 15 pounds is used to calculate the shipping charges at UPS. The box size is pre-calculated (when providing estimates) at 48" x 14" x 4" and is re-adjusted upon receipt of the bass. When providing quick estimates to customers, it is standard practice for me to quote a worst case scenario of $35.00 which has been the average cost to ship a bass from the east coast to the west coast. ALL basses shipped must also include INSURANCE for full value of the instrument. I don't want to hear about, "Oh, but it's only a cheap SX bass."   Bullshit~! If that's the way a person feels, chances are good I won't even be servicing their bass. Nine out of ten people who ask about prices never even buy anything, parts or otherwise.

IF you are having your bass delivered to me in anything other than the stock shipping box, such as when you ship it to me in a hardshell case or gig bag, these boxes are usually oversized and will incur much higher shipping charges due to weight and size. The average cost of shipping these oversized containers usually doubles the price and is not usually necessary except for the most valuable bass guitars for protection. In all the years of shipping there has been only one loss due to damage, and that damage occured from the driver at the airport driving over it in a tug~! My point being, yes, take extra precautions when shipping a bass, but lets be reasonable; if you have a value of the bass under $2,000.00, insure it and if it gets destroyed, buy a new bass.

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