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Bass servicing with upgrades are going to be performed on this 32" short scale bass for students in a Canadian school so it's ready to play with the least possible frustration for the student.
Ordered from Rondo: Tuesday 3-31-09 -|- Received: Thursday 4-2-09
Body Comparison: Width: Lower Bout 12-1/2" - Upper 10-3/4" and 18-5/8" long.
A regular SX P-bass width at its widest point is 13" and 19-3/4" long.
Body Finish: Sugar Pink
Pickguard: White - Comparison photo with a standard SX Pbass.
Saturday 4-4-09: Shielded backside with copper foil. Reamed 3/8" holes for pots.
Finger Rest: None provided.
Thumb Rest: None provided.
Bridge: SX 7-hole Chrome. Standard SX dimensions
Bridge Cover: None provided.
Pickup Cover: None provided.
Strap Buttons: SX chrome.
All strap buttons come with felt washers but there are two reasons for replacing them with rubber: (1) rubber acts as a suppressant and a lock washer and (2) the tendency to crank down on strap buttons using only felt washers causes cracking of the body's finish.
Strap Locks: I highly recommend locks on all basses. Ever SNAP off a headstock~? If there's only one brain cell you can use: don't skimp here.
I'm unsure of the actual dimentions of this neck in the pocket, as well as width at the nut so I'll be spending time with this bass to scope everything out for future references. In other words, I'm not sure if this is a P-bass neck or if it's closer to a Jazz bass neck but the Rondo site states 1-1/2" at the nut so isn't this actually become a Jazz neck?
Inspection: Saturday 4-4-09: The neck is a cross between a P & J neck where the width at the nut is only slightly larger than a standard jazz neck. Overall length of the neck is 32" whereas standard necks are about 33". The width at the 20th fret is 2.280" wheras a standard SX jazz neck scopes out at 2.55" at the 20th fret; so what we have here is a midget with slight neck dive as well.
Neck Finish: Appears only to have been sealed. There's no poly whatsoever so extra care will be needed, and again, I only recommend Dr. Duck's Axwax as it can be used on everything. For more information, click here.
Headstock: Sugar Pink with SX logo.
Tuning Machines: SX GR Chrome. Standard SX. Needs Ultralites (too much $).
Tuners will be removed to install in my f'board jig. They'll be adjusted and lubed.
Neck Plate: Gypsy Rose - Aluminum: Standard dimensions
Note: Dissimilar metals will have more of a tendency to corrode, so I'll spray a clear coat on the plate.
Truss Rod Cover: None
Partial Fretjob: ($100.00)
Strings: SX uses D'Addario Long Scale Lights: .040 .060 .070 .095 ~ boneheads~!
Rondo ships with standard 34" scale strings, which wrap onto the machines past the silk. This isn't necessarily a bad thing UNLESS they break~!
The request was made by JG for Rotosound RS77 flats larger than Lights.
I do NOT recommend using heavier than light strings on this bass as the extra tension is going to be excessive. Rotosound offers: RS77M Medium 40 50 75 90.
Update Sunday 4-5-09: Quote from Rotosound's website: When fitting Rotosound Bass Strings, be sure that the silked part of the string ONLY is wound around the machine post. If the speaking length of the string is wound around the post, the string may then be prone to breakage.
Alternative to RS77M Medium 40 50 75 90:
D'Addario Chromes Flat Wound ECB81M Set Medium Scale 45 65 80 100
These would be the largest diameter I would recommend for this bass.
String Nut: SX plastique will be replaced with Bone. ($30.00)
Width of neck & nut: 1.532"
Setup: ($50.00)
Inspection: Saturday 4-4-09: Both volumes worked fine independently and in unison but the tone is noisy when applied. There is a slight humming but should quiet down once shielded.
Cavities: Shielded Cavities ($50.00) and Routed for Tone Pot ($15.00).
Saturday 4-4-09: Began shielding but stopped to layout for opening up the cavity at the tone pot area for the larger CTS pot diameter:
1 -|- 2 -|- 3 -|- 4
The depth at that area must be a minimum of 5/8" for the body of the tone pot.
Performed a bit of freehand routing: 1 -|- 2 and completed shielding cavities.
Controls: SX V-V-T: 4-4-09: Upgraded with USA components. ($50.00)
View completed Wiring Harness and Control Assembly.
Wiring: WBE PTFE Teflon High Temperature Silver Plated Copper Wire - 600V
Pickups: SX P neck and J bridge p'ups. All pups are standard dimensions.
Saturday 4-4-09: Installed pickups and wired to control assembly.
Control Plate: Plastic pickguard got shielded on the rear.
Control Knobs:
Installed Chrome dome top knobs with set screws onto the CTS pots. ($16.50)
Final Tally
Initial Purchase:
SX Gypsy Rose Bass: $100.00
BGC 200 Tweed Case: +50.00
Shipping to Plymouth: +23.80
Sub total: $173.80
Electronics:
Cavity Prep and Shield: $65.00
PG Prep and Shield: +10.00
Control Assembly: +50.00
Control Knobs: +16.50
Sub total: $141.50
Neckwork:
Partial Fretjob: $100.00
Strings: +38.00
String Nut: +30.00
Setup: +50.00
Sub total: $218.00
Final Tally:
Totals: $533.30
Received: -400.00
Balance from above: $133.30
Plus Estimated Shipping to Canada: $35.00
Balance April 5th: $168.30
Project Paid in Full May 14th, 2009
>> Workshop >> Project: SX Gypsy Rose Pink PJ-Bass
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 Parts Checklist
 SX GR PJ Body
Front -|- Rear
 • Finish: Sugar Pink
• Bridge: SX Chrome
• Bridge Cover: None
• Pickup Cover: None
• Pickguard: White
• PG Screws: Chrome
• Finger Rest: None
• Thumb Rest: None
• Strap Buttons: SX
• Strap Locks: No
Completed Body
SX GR 32" Neck
• Fretboard R&R
• Tuning Machines: SX
• Tuner Screws: Chrome
• String Guide: SX
• Strings: RS77M Flats
• Nut R&R:
• Truss Rod Cover: None
Dr. Duck's AxWax
and String Lube
For the ENTIRE instrument.
The safest musical instrument cleaning, polishing, and moisturizing formula in the entire world~!
Read about Dr. Duck's AxWax
4 oz. bottle lasts a long time.
1 bottle: $6.95 
Grab 2: $13.90
Electronics
• Copper Foil Shielding
• Pickups: SX
• Pup Screws: Chrome
• Pup Springs: Chrome
• Pup Pads: Foam Rubber
• Control Assy: SX R&R
• Control Pots: CTS
• Control Knobs: P-Bass
• Capacitor: OD .047µF
• Output Jack: Switchcraft
• Standard PJ Wiring
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