Are SX basses really made with American swamp ash?

bassbourne

bassbourne

Nov 20, 2019
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#1
Where I live I see quite a few SX basses pass by and I've noticed certain models claim to be made of American swamp ash and I was just curious as to whether there is any truth to this claim?
I know swamp ash is becoming increasingly rare now, but I imagine a lot of the SX guitars could have been made before that was the case. Still, I'm a little suspicious of it as the guitars are so cheap and made in China I believe.
I'm not losing any sleep over it, but if anyone knows anything more I'd be interested to hear it.

Thanks!

PS I've attached a couple of photos as examples. Sorry for the low quality of the close-up.
 

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#4
Not sure of wholesale prices on premium wood, but I'd expect a cut body and neck to go around $500 each in the U S. A paint job will do that too.
They have been the pointers I've gotten when I was looking to have a new neck made with decent featured maple

Since Sire is reasonable wood, imv and the paint is good, then they must be doing all that for $250 at factory.. and that's not China, iirc

So, you have to have reasonable expectations on what can be used and achieved at a certain price point.

Minimum or average wage is different everywhere and they locate because of cost. Same as materials, imv.
 
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#8
Yep, and I'm guessing he does body, neck and paint for U.S makers to put together. Maybe those U S companies up the wood spec etc to charge higher prices to set a 'premium'
But Sire basses have a reputation for being on the heavy side too so maybe the wood 'quality' is in that equation.

Custom builders will also charge a premium for good quality liggtweight wood because many buyers want that.
But again, define, custom.

Re SX, you get what you pay for and better hope you can reconcile 'quality' and price.
I wonder what benefits the workers get and whether it is ethical buying in any sense?
 
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#9
bassbourne said:
Where I live I see quite a few SX basses pass by and I've noticed certain models claim to be made of American swamp ash and I was just curious as to whether there is any truth to this claim?
I know swamp ash is becoming increasingly rare now, but I imagine a lot of the SX guitars could have been made before that was the case. Still, I'm a little suspicious of it as the guitars are so cheap and made in China I believe.
I'm not losing any sleep over it, but if anyone knows anything more I'd be interested to hear it.

Thanks!

PS I've attached a couple of photos as examples. Sorry for the low quality of the close-up.
Click to expand...
That particular Jazz, looks like alder.
 
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#10
bassbourne said:
Where I live I see quite a few SX basses pass by and I've noticed certain models claim to be made of American swamp ash and I was just curious as to whether there is any truth to this claim?
I know swamp ash is becoming increasingly rare now, but I imagine a lot of the SX guitars could have been made before that was the case. Still, I'm a little suspicious of it as the guitars are so cheap and made in China I believe.
I'm not losing any sleep over it, but if anyone knows anything more I'd be interested to hear it.

Thanks!

PS I've attached a couple of photos as examples. Sorry for the low quality of the close-up.
Click to expand...

I have a couple of SX basses, a jazz 5 string and a 4 string p-bass. I don’t really recall what wood the jazz is, but the p-bass is supposed to be swamp ash. The jazz is a massively heavy beast, but the p-bass is fairly light. Both have beautiful grain and sound decent, stay in tune, and I am happy with both. The same as an American Fender….no. But decent and gig worthy instruments…yes, and I have.
 
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#11
bassbourne said:
Where I live I see quite a few SX basses pass by and I've noticed certain models claim to be made of American swamp ash and I was just curious as to whether there is any truth to this claim?
I know swamp ash is becoming increasingly rare now, but I imagine a lot of the SX guitars could have been made before that was the case. Still, I'm a little suspicious of it as the guitars are so cheap and made in China I believe.
I'm not losing any sleep over it, but if anyone knows anything more I'd be interested to hear it.

Thanks!

PS I've attached a couple of photos as examples. Sorry for the low quality of the close-up.
Click to expand...

I have no clue as to it’s wood, but that is a nice looking instrument. Congrats.
 
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#13
I believe it.

The boat that brings the basses over from China, do we think the boat goes back to China empty?

Or is it possible they make the trip more profitable, by filling the boat with American goods (like swamp ash) for the return leg of the voyage? A quick Google search of "US lumber exports" shows me, that China is the #1 importer of American hardwoods, a multi-billion dollar industry.

I have 2 SX basses and they are very nice, with good quality wood grain.
 
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#15
Shipping costs (especially right now) are a big part of the budget for inexpensive imported goods. I have a very hard time believing that an Asian factory imports wood form the US, makes a guitar out of it, then ships it across the ocean, and still sells it for bottom dollar.

It’s either a similar species that grows in Asia, or someone has planted American ash trees in Asia, or maybe it’s just a fabrication of the marketing folks.

Playing fast and loose with the exact species is something that affects wood, fish that you might eat somewhere, olive oil, lemon oil, and I’m sure many more things.
 
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#20
pepj said:
Yep, and I'm guessing he does body, neck and paint for U.S makers to put together. Maybe those U S companies up the wood spec etc to charge higher prices to set a 'premium'
But Sire basses have a reputation for being on the heavy side too so maybe the wood 'quality' is in that equation.

Custom builders will also charge a premium for good quality liggtweight wood because many buyers want that.
But again, define, custom.

Re SX, you get what you pay for and better hope you can reconcile 'quality' and price.
I wonder what benefits the workers get and whether it is ethical buying in any sense?
Click to expand...

“Ethical buying” lol. Your phone, tablet, computer, and half the stuff in everyone’s house come from some factory in Asia where workers are exploited. Unless you have electronics made by the Amish, don’t blame SX for their pricing. I have two basses from Rondo Music that are exceptionally well-built and fun to play. My particular SX bass is alder. It weighs about 10 pounds, very solidly built.

Questions to consider: Is American Swamp Ash the species? Can it be grown in Asia?
 
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