SX SJM
Encyclopedia
The SX SJM 62 or 57 or 75 is a tailed bridge guitar
made by SX Guitars with features similar to the Fender Jaguar
and Jazzmaster. It is also available as a "stop tail" guitar, comprising a Tune-o-matic
bridge and a stopbar tailpiece.
The shape of the upper half of the body is similar to the Fender design, but the bottom half is something unique. It resembles a standard Jazzmaster body with part of the bottom bout cut away and 'smooshed' over to form the fin. the body shape seems radical on first appearance the top-fin shape resembles other guitars noted for their ergonomics such as the Ovation Breadwinner
and is possible to play quite comfortably in the classical style with the left leg raised. The guitar does not fit in a standard Strat
case because of its unusual shape which is reminiscent of the manta ray
, ex-video game character Glover
and retains elements of the Eye of Horus
.
This and other SX
guitars are popular for beginning or intermediate players and "modders" because of their low price and quality construction. The guitar is also available in left-handed models. The numbers in the guitar's name refer to years and signify certain details common to guitars of that era. The SJM-62 has a rosewood fingerboard and comes in "custom colors" similar to Fender's options of the time. The SJM-57 has a maple board; all Fenders prior to 1959's Jazzmaster had maple boards. The SJM-75 has a natural finish, as was popular in the mid 1970s.
The body is made of alder (ash on natural-finished models) and the neck is maple. Contrary to appearance, and unlike the Jazzmaster upon which it is based, the SX SJM cannot be fitted with a Fender Stratocaster
neck as the Strat's fingerboard hangs over the body at the 22nd fret, where the SJM's neck continues for the full length, resulting in a too-short scale and poor intonation
when the SJM is fitted with the Stratocaster neck.
In the same way it is common for people to customize their Jazzmasters, it is popular for the SJM owner to replace the bridge on models fitted with a tremolo, with a Fender Mustang
bridge and change out the tuners and possibly the volume and tone knobs because of their low quality plastic. A buzzstop can be installed to stop unwanted buzz and keep some tension on the strings, though some users find this dramatically alters the tonal properties of the guitar and interferes with tremolo use. If not fitted with a buzzstop, third bridge techniques are possible. It is also possible to insert a thin cardboard or wooden shim into the base of the neck pocket to increase the neck angle, resulting in a lower action.
In Mid-2007 Rondo introduced two variations on the standard SJM, one with 3 P-90
pickups, a 5 way switch and 2 tone controls (the same control arrangement as on the Fender Stratocaster
). The output jack on this model is on the side of the guitar. Also introduced is a 24" scale model, the same scale as the Fender Jaguar
. They also changed the pickup covers and knobs on the sunburst and black models from cream to black in accordance with a popular user mod. A newer model (SJM-62H) is also available with two humbucker
pickups instead of the soapbar P-90 and with knurled chrome metal control knobs instead of plastic. Another newer model is the SJM-62ST 'stop-tail' version which features a bridge/tailpiece array much like that used on Gibson guitars, consisting of an intonable bridge and a stout, heavy fixed tailpiece anchored into the guitar body via threaded inserts and height-adjustable studs. This gives the guitar very good sustain characteristics.
Tailed bridge guitar
Some electric guitars have an extended bridge for their tremolo system, named a tailed bridge guitar because of its shape. Most of these tailed bridge guitars were designed in the sixties and used in surf music....
made by SX Guitars with features similar to the Fender Jaguar
Fender Jaguar
The Fender Jaguar is an electric guitar introduced in 1962. A descendant of the Jazzmaster, the Jaguar quickly caught on in the emerging Surf music scene...
and Jazzmaster. It is also available as a "stop tail" guitar, comprising a Tune-o-matic
Tune-o-matic
Tune-o-matic is a name of fixed bridge design for electric guitars. It was designed by Ted McCarty and introduced in the Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar in 1954. In 1955, it was used on the Gibson Les Paul Gold Top...
bridge and a stopbar tailpiece.
The shape of the upper half of the body is similar to the Fender design, but the bottom half is something unique. It resembles a standard Jazzmaster body with part of the bottom bout cut away and 'smooshed' over to form the fin. the body shape seems radical on first appearance the top-fin shape resembles other guitars noted for their ergonomics such as the Ovation Breadwinner
Ovation Breadwinner
The Breadwinner was a solid body electric guitar made by the Ovation Guitar Company. It is one of the few solid body electrics they ever made. It has an unusual ergonomic body made of mahogany and shaped something like an axe, although that is not the only reason for the body shape, the designer...
and is possible to play quite comfortably in the classical style with the left leg raised. The guitar does not fit in a standard Strat
Strat
Strat can refer to:* Fender Stratocaster* Strategy...
case because of its unusual shape which is reminiscent of the manta ray
Manta ray
The manta ray is the largest species of the rays. The largest known specimen was more than across, with a weight of about . It ranges throughout waters of the world, typically around coral reefs...
, ex-video game character Glover
Glover
Glover can have several meanings:*A "glover" is a maker of gloves.Placenames:*Glover, Vermont, in the United States*Glover, Missouri, in the United States; ZIP code 63646*Glover Bluff crater, an impact crater in the U.S...
and retains elements of the Eye of Horus
Eye of Horus
The Eye of Horus is an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection, royal power and good health. The eye is personified in the goddess Wadjet...
.
This and other SX
SX
SX may refer to:* SX News, a gay and lesbian newspaper in Sydney, Australia* Parallax SX, a range of micro-controllers made by Ubicom* 1000BASE-SX, a fiber optic gigabit Ethernet standard* Skybus Airlines's IATA airline code...
guitars are popular for beginning or intermediate players and "modders" because of their low price and quality construction. The guitar is also available in left-handed models. The numbers in the guitar's name refer to years and signify certain details common to guitars of that era. The SJM-62 has a rosewood fingerboard and comes in "custom colors" similar to Fender's options of the time. The SJM-57 has a maple board; all Fenders prior to 1959's Jazzmaster had maple boards. The SJM-75 has a natural finish, as was popular in the mid 1970s.
The body is made of alder (ash on natural-finished models) and the neck is maple. Contrary to appearance, and unlike the Jazzmaster upon which it is based, the SX SJM cannot be fitted with a Fender Stratocaster
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
neck as the Strat's fingerboard hangs over the body at the 22nd fret, where the SJM's neck continues for the full length, resulting in a too-short scale and poor intonation
Intonation
Intonation may refer to:*Intonation , the variation of tone used when speaking*Intonation , a musician's realization of pitch accuracy, or the pitch accuracy of a musical instrument*Intonation Music Festival, held in Chicago...
when the SJM is fitted with the Stratocaster neck.
In the same way it is common for people to customize their Jazzmasters, it is popular for the SJM owner to replace the bridge on models fitted with a tremolo, with a Fender Mustang
Fender Mustang
The Fender Mustang is an electric guitar by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, introduced in 1964 as the basis of a major redesign of Fender's student models then consisting of the Musicmaster and Duo-Sonic. It was produced until 1982 and reissued in 1990.In the 1960s, it was used in Surf...
bridge and change out the tuners and possibly the volume and tone knobs because of their low quality plastic. A buzzstop can be installed to stop unwanted buzz and keep some tension on the strings, though some users find this dramatically alters the tonal properties of the guitar and interferes with tremolo use. If not fitted with a buzzstop, third bridge techniques are possible. It is also possible to insert a thin cardboard or wooden shim into the base of the neck pocket to increase the neck angle, resulting in a lower action.
In Mid-2007 Rondo introduced two variations on the standard SJM, one with 3 P-90
P-90
The P-90 is a single coil electric guitar pickup produced by Gibson since 1946. Having a more complex architecture and larger dimensions than Fender's single coils, it is occasionally mistaken for a humbucker.- History :...
pickups, a 5 way switch and 2 tone controls (the same control arrangement as on the Fender Stratocaster
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
). The output jack on this model is on the side of the guitar. Also introduced is a 24" scale model, the same scale as the Fender Jaguar
Fender Jaguar
The Fender Jaguar is an electric guitar introduced in 1962. A descendant of the Jazzmaster, the Jaguar quickly caught on in the emerging Surf music scene...
. They also changed the pickup covers and knobs on the sunburst and black models from cream to black in accordance with a popular user mod. A newer model (SJM-62H) is also available with two humbucker
Humbucker
A humbucker is a type of electric guitar pickup, first patented by Seth Lover and the Gibson company, that uses two coils, both generating string signal. Humbuckers have higher output than a single coil pickup since both coils are connected in series...
pickups instead of the soapbar P-90 and with knurled chrome metal control knobs instead of plastic. Another newer model is the SJM-62ST 'stop-tail' version which features a bridge/tailpiece array much like that used on Gibson guitars, consisting of an intonable bridge and a stout, heavy fixed tailpiece anchored into the guitar body via threaded inserts and height-adjustable studs. This gives the guitar very good sustain characteristics.
External links
- http://www.Rondomusic.net
- http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/SX/SX+SJM-62/10/1
- http://www.sxguitarspain.com/sxvjm62jaguar.htm (the picture on this site shows an earlier, 'curlier' headstock shape, now discontinued.)
- http://www.teamintlco.com/Sx/
- http://www.rondomusic.com/sjm75tstopna.html (newer stop-tail SJM-75NA model with natural finish and ash body wood)
- http://www.rondomusic.com/product1817.html (newer 2 humbucker-equipped SJM-62H with knurled metal control knobs)