A very good idea from....Squier????

[Freuds_Cat]

I haven't taken any pics of my SX since I finished the mods but here is one of the back from when I first bought it 2nd hand for $100.
Great bass. This one is Alder and has a P/J setup. To be honest I wish it was just a P but at that price I cant complain. I put a Tort guard, Brierley custom vintage pups and a set of tuners and a string tree from a MIJ Fender P I had lying around (the bits not the bass).

[copacetic]

As GOT mentioned way too many switches and (noisy glitches) in the Fender Jag AND neck diver galore. How is the balance on the Squier?

[nofi]

i bought an sx jazz with the old fenderish head stock right before the switch. however, mine had a twist in the neck and completely whack electrics. rondo has a great return policy so no harm done. i would still like a pre ursa p bass. though.

[godofthunder]

I wish this was pre Ursa  pretty cool imho. http://www.rondomusic.com/product3651.html

[dadagoboi]

Rondo was selling Pre Ursa pearl inlay necks last week for $59.
http://www.rondomusic.com/product3642.html

[godofthunder]

I played one of these today, all I can say for a $300 bass it is pretty darn nice ! Love the cleaned up electronics and the P/J setup over the J/J of the original Fender.The only thing I don't care for is the sanding sealer finish on the back of the neck, but that's nit picking. I might go back and get it

[dadagoboi]

The only thing I don't care for is the sanding sealer finish on the back of the neck, but that's nit picking. I might go back and get it

Easily fixed in 2 minutes with 0000 steel wool and some elbow grease.  Shines it right up.

[Dave W]

Sanding sealer? It's just matte polyurethane.

[Pilgrim]

I played one of these today, all I can say for a $300 bass it is pretty darn nice ! Love the cleaned up electronics and the P/J setup over the J/J of the original Fender.The only thing I don't care for is the sanding sealer finish on the back of the neck, but that's nit picking. I might go back and get it

Yup, steel wool or a Scotch-Brite pad.

[Lightyear]

I think I'm going to wonder over to GC tomorrow and see if they have one these.  I'm not thrilled with the agathis body body but for $300 it's a great staring point.  I can make a body for about $30, out of African Mahogany, and easily upgrade the electronics.  Seling off the old stuff would offset some the cost of upgrades.

[Pilgrim]

I've been doing some background reading on agathis, and it doesn't sound like an inferior wood for instruments.  There are plenty of people who don't like mahogany, for that matter.  I suppose it's all personal preference.  For me, the fact that agathis is a relatively light wood is a real plus, as long as it doesn't lead to neck dive.

[Lightyear]

Maybe the agathis thing goes back to all of the agathis packing that I've dealt with over the years from asian markets.  The stuff has been the pine of the orient for decades and it was used extensively for packaging and crating.  It smells horrible and I guess I still associate it with being trash wood.

Besides, making a new body is fun!    I can make it out of anything - poplar, alder, ash - as long as it's painted the body blank is easy enough to come up.

[Dave W]

The name agathis apparently covers a wide range of woods from low grade packing and crating lumber to a well regarded New Zealand tree also called kauri. We don't really know what type these bodies are. No doubt they're inexpensive but probably not junk grade either.

[Freuds_Cat]

A lot of Indonesian built guitars use the local variety of Agathis from that region. I know that a lot of Yamaha Pacifica guitars are proudly labeled Agathis. My experience is its a pretty decent tone wood. Somewher between Alder and Basswood imo.

[Dave W]

If it sounds good, holds up well and helps keep the cost down on entry level guitars, I don't see a problem.