I've been wanting to try this guitar for 20 years! - WAS IT WORTH THE WAIT? - Rondo SX Liquid
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- Опубліковано 12 чер 2023
- SX Liquid at Rondo: www.rondomusic.com/product111...
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This is a guitar I've had my eye on for nearly 20 years, and honestly, I should have bought one a long time ago. But now that I have it im a bit smitten. Despite various quality control issues there's actually a lot to like about this guitar, even its funky/unique shape.
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I own one of the SX Telecasters, and it's a really great guitar. Laura Lee from Khruangbin plays an SX J-bass. It's the only bass she's ever owned. They make great budget instruments for us normal folks.
Rondo’s stuff is very hit or miss, but still better than buying a aliexpress POS.
I have a P-90 SX guitar. The Pickups were almost there but got a little harsh at high notes. I simply replaced the ceramic magnets with Alnico 5 magnets and they smoothed right out. The neck on mine was tightened down in good alignment. On guitars that need tweeked, the time to correct the alignment is less time than it took to talk about it.
I bought an SX Jazz bass back in the mid 2000s. Believe it was under $150 shipped in a hard shell case. Still have it, and it stands up next to basses that cost significantly more. Highly recommend for anyone on a budget!
I had SX stuff from back in the day too (shoutout the 1,000+ page TalkBass thread), but things have changed a lot and the quality isn't there like it used to be in the good headstock/bright orange neck days.
I bought an SX jazz bass around the same time. Had a nice ash body with natural finish, and the big pearloid block inlays on the fretboard (70's style). Still wish I had it.
@@dmoore0079 mine is almost exactly the same (natural ash body, maple neck), but I have the “Geddy Lee” style black painted inlays/binding.
You can get a Fender trem spring that drops in the hole. It tensions the trem arm from below. I use them on Strats. Makes the arm stay wherever I leave it.
There are so many reviews out there by guys that have skills far beyond the reach of most guitar players. I think it’s awesome to see an average guitar player reviewing stuff and think that it really leads to a more realistic review.
Just in case it helps and no one else has said anything, try putting a Fender tremolo arm tension spring into the arm hole first, then screw the arm in on top of the spring. Strat trems often work the same way, and the screws aren't too hard on the pocket.
Talk to Kurt at Rondo... Can't say enough how great he has been to address anything and everything. I had one problem, after 10+ guitars from them (Agile is especially great too), and customer service was/is GREAT!
I love SX. Before you mentioned the tailfin/armrest, I noticed that it looked like that was a very cozy feature. This is weird, but I don't really like it aesthetically... until you're holding it. Then I liked it. I was so close to buying one of these about 4 yrs ago, but procrastinated my way out of it. So glad you like it because I think SX is awesome! And yes, the outro was super cool!!!
I have a Telecaster SX that I've modded and absolutely love. And two Agile single cut LP copies sold by Rondo that stand up to Epiphones and Gibson's
For threaded bars, Fender makes some small springs
That drop into the hole for the bar and allow it to stay put. 50 years of fighting with these bars, and I just learned this trick last year! Fender apparently include this spring with new guitars, but folks likely throw them away not knowing what they’re for…
I've got one of those! I bought a hard-tail version years and years ago. I added a Bigsby, custom pickguard, and replacement pickups. I don't play it that often, but I like it.
I have 8 old agile/rondo music guitars and I adore each and every one of them. The quality for the money is unreal.
As much as I love P90s, I thought it was an odd choice for a surf style guitar. They were “functional” for the surfy stuff, but as soon as you rocked-out a little bit, they shined. Maybe an out-of-phase switching mod would work for a new unique P90 surf tone.
I picked up a SX Liquid a few years ago off Craig's List for $50 partially disassembled. About a year later it was finished. The P-90's were replaced with some 70's Gibson mini humbuckers, the trem replaced with a Fender Japan model locking trem, Hipshot locking tuners, new 3 way switch, 500k pots and a PIO .047 cap and a Strat neck with jumbo frets I had laying around. It's the only guitar I've named, Gumby, because of the odd green color and a little Gumby pin I attached to the headstock. I love this guitar and it always gets raves from anyone who plays it. The P-90's that were in it were very good and only changed because those pick ups I put in were laying aound my parts stash for almost two decades. Only drawback is it barely fits into a Gibson gig bag and nothing else. Otherwise it's a winner, a real convesation starter and a keeper.
I have had an SX Fretless Jazz since 2006-2007. Bought it used for $90+$30 for shipping. I was thinking it would be a nice piece of wood to upgrade, but it honestly didn't need it. My Worship Leader at the time said it sounded incredible and the best $90 ($120) I ever spent. He is a big-time tone guru that repaired tube amps. I eventually put in some GFS pups and rewired with orange drop and CTS pots. I played that thing 5 nights a week for close to 7 years. One of the pickups died this year. Everyone that played it loved it and couldn't believe the value.
Oh wow, I haven’t thought about the SX or Agile guitars from Rondo in awhile. They always were good bang for the buck guitars. The higher end Agiles were absolute killers for a Les Paul style guitar. If you like the p90’s done as a strat concept, try a Reverend Jetstream 390, I have a purple one and the body shape is so comfy. Reverends are super cool guitars.
omg oh no these have been one of my favorite guitars for a long time, the p90s they come with are so raspy and nasal in such a cool way and have been incredible for recording! the 2 and 4 positions are amazing for strat out of phase sounds with more bite
I have an Agile AS-820 semihollow w/p90s bought from Rondo 2008 and a P90 Agile HARM (Designed by the denizens of Harmony Central!!) bought in 2004. Both are excellent guitars and remain my faves to this day. Return the SX and get an undamaged one. Check out an Agile although Rondo no longer carries as many different versions now.
Jay Turser made the “Surfmaster” that had a standard offset style body that had two P-90s, the same knockoff trem that your SX has, and JazzMasterish switches above the pickguard. I have a hunch the Tursers and SXs are/were from the same factory. I actually saw the Surfmaster a little before the SX came out. They were only available for a few years.
I think all that damage in the neck area is from someone in shipping throwing it around. I'd send it back and take my chances on a replacement.
It's a great looking guitar! And I like the fact they make it in a lefty, albeit without the wiggle stick. It might be a good guitar to start testing my modding skills by trying to change out the stop-bar tailpiece with a vibrato unit.
Give it a while, one will probably show up, it might only be one color choice though.
I like this guitar a lot, and love what you're playing on the outro to the video Ryan, lovely stuff.
I purchased one of these in 2020 having never played an offset- swapped the trem with a descendent and replaced the bridge with a stewmac roller. I've been delighted with this guitar! It's so unique, well made, love the vintage chonky neck! Bummer you got a wonky one, my neck is dead on!
Ryan, GFS makes some humbucker pickups in a P 90 format. That's what I would drop into that bridge spot.
I love mine, same model but just 2 P90s, sunburst. It rocks.
Great to see a video on the Liquid. That's one I've always thought was cool, but never ended up picking one up. I love the guitar, but loath the headstock. Sounds good!
Been eyeballing this model for quite a while now. Excited to get into this video. 😋
4 years on my tele with twin P90's and I'm not changing them! I did the nut when I put on 11's. Went to locking tuners just because, originals are fine. A good setup and I love the neck. It's only 6 feet from me right now. I have 5 guitars now and can't count the past ones. This is a keeper
I have the Fender Noventa Jazzmaster with three P90s. It sounds killer. The 2 and 4 pickup settings are great...very Straty
I did a video on this (different channel) like 5 or so years ago! I made the video for a local music shop I was working at at the time, then it sold two minutes after I made the video! Cool guitar for sure
Mine sounds a bit Strat-like, balances perfectly sitting or standing, and it's like driving a truck around. I Love it! Mine was 129.99 because they said it had a blemish....which I may or may not have found. Also- you may like the SX Hawk P90. It's hum cancelling with a 3 position switch. It's not as bright as the Liquid, and sounds not-like-a-strat.
Suggestions to make it cooler: Refinish with matching headstock, paint the pickguard, switch out the vibrato.
Weird….Was just looking at these. The review I needed to see. The issues didn’t scare me off either.
Great channel! Subscribed!
i used to play through 1: 1965 Princeton and 1: 1966 Princeton reverb together the sound was glorious. the 66 had the hang tags warranty cards and cover the chrome was perfect like museum perfect. i bought it for 400.00 sold the original tubes for 500.00 they were telefunken and the amp with rca in it for 3300.00 this was back in 2006. the 66 was so clean its hard to explain
I have a silverface super reverb in a condition very similar to your princeton. Still have the original tubes in it. It's a 1972 model. I got it from my late uncle who bought it new. I have it since the early 90s. That thing is crazy clean. I use it for everything even bass. And since I'm an electronic technician, (that's what I do for a living) I will rebuild it when it need to be. I was shocked when I saw how much they go for.
Edit : good for you to have sold the tubes, people pay crazy prices for these tubes, but I'll tell you à secret. Tubes, as long as they are they are in parameters and test good, don't make a difference. Usually, the old european and American products last way longer than the Chinese/Russian new production, but sound wise, they're the same thing. So when you find someone who are willing to pay à huge price for them, then good for you ( and for me as do this too lol ) I've à client who was willing to pay 350$ for a 5AR4 rectifier with a metal base, and I sold a pair of used mullard metal base EL34 for the same price.
I also have a complete eico stereo sound system from 1963, all with its original tubes, and rebuilt back to original specification. I love restoring old electronic.
Edit 2 : English isn't my language, sorry for the mistakes. I hope it's not too hard to read.
College days I could only afford Danelectros. (pretty inexpensive in early 2000s). I had like 2 guitars and 1 bass. I miss those so much. Very cool, played just as good as anything ive ever owned. Wish I never traded them in...
I have two SXs they are both teles. One has P-90s and it's cream color (beautiful) and the other one is surf green with a strat style trem, I bought that one used for around 100 bucks. They are so cool!
I'm surprised how much I do like the tone of this guitar!
I love both of my SX guitars. I have a short scale Jazz Bass and their Les Paul model. Jazz bass I haven't modded but the LP is getting Grover tuners.
Unfortunate that this had the issues it did. That was common for $250 guitars a decade or two ago, but the market has gotten so much better at the price point.
Nice job with that guitar music video at the end! Shows some inspired creativity with the guitars sound potential.
Wow, total honesty. Not used to that now a'days. Cool looking and three p-90's gets the best sounds (on Reverends with treble bleed and bass countour) but boy....those issues.
I own an older Liquid with the old headstock, maple board, lake placid blue with the three p90s and stop tail and I've owned that guitar for close to a decade and it does not have any of the finish cracks yours does. Bummer to see yours come new like that.
I Like Both The Sound (All Settings) & The Looks! Can't Beat It For The Price! Nice!
I have an SX lap steel guitar and the quality is superb! Love the brand.
Nice Review, I have a hard tail Lake Placid Blue version. They are fun cool looking guitars, no QC issues on mine got it in 2019. I like the feel of the body. The SX and Hadean guitars Rondo sells are real bargains. Poly coating on the necks are really thick.
I have a lefty version of this (no wiggle stick), and it’s my go-to guitar for gigs. I did swap out the stock P90s for a set of Mojo Tones, and now it really kicks. It’s super solid and has great sustain and feel. I definitely bought it knowing I’d likely have to do a small bit of upgrading. About $400 in total for a kickass guitar, I can’t complain at all.
"This video won't pay the bills. Nobody is gonna care" I go and look and see this is one of the most viewed videos on the channel for the last few months at least! Congrats! 😄
Thank you for this. I have always loved mine. I have the 2 humbucker version of this that I switched out for TV jones filters. Truly a unique guitar, and cheap!
Oh good. I have been thinking of getting one of these with the p90s and now you're showing one , thanks!
That’s certainly an interesting design. I am a fan of Rondo products having a SX SST62 VTG and a few of the high end Agiles and they are all very impressive guitars for the price. Thanks for uploading this video
I actually had one of those about 7 or 8 years ago. Had really solid tones but talk about a baseball thick neck - was crazy thick! The pickup switch had a short in it also so I ended up selling it for what I paid for it.
That thing has had major trauma. Send it back! I have two older SXs with the nicer headstock shape. Love 'em!!
I like its clarity and alder tone. Very nice sound. I played one before and they have a nice melodic fidelity buddy.
I bought a left handed hard tail version of one of these a few years ago. I wish mine came with a gig bag, packed in bubble wrap, and a gasoline smell. Mine had incredibly sharp fret ends that gave me scrapped dry skin on my hand while playing. I did the 7 sound mod and added the jazzmaster rhythm circuit to mine. With fuzz and the rhythm circuit on, it sounds trumpet like for some reason like how the FZ-1 was marketed.
I've wanted one of these for so long!!!
I have an excellent SX Taylor copy acoustic electric guitar....have played a lot of their guitars and you can find some really great ones
Kind of non reverse firebirdy thingy. Very nice. Played a couple of sx strats and they are nice enough.
Enjoying the jam out at the end. I needed a bass a few years ago and got one of their sx jazz with a short scale out the door for under $100. It's a bit neck heavy but otherwise fantastic for the price and not a flaw on it. Now I'm tempted to go back and get something else.
I have the hard tail version of this guitar which I modded with a Les Trem. It’s a fun guitar. I pretty much live in the 2 and 4 positions too.
Sorry you’ve had the QC issues. I’ve got two SX’s, the Liquid and an ash bodied Furrian (their tele), and neither had these QC issues. I got them pre-Covid though, don’t know if that would have anything to do with it. Like others have said though, Rondo is pretty good about addressing issues, so you may wanna talk to them.
Enjoyed this alot. Been getting hooked on alot of your content lately as I'm fairly new to accepting that surf rock and surf guitars are essential to the overall quality of life. Also realized during this stream I have to subscribed to your channel..sorry bout that.
I have ordered at least 5 guitars from Rondo. All 5 were returned for having multiple defects each. Including Agiles. I never received one that was actually in keep-able condition. I'm not sure why people still keep recommending them, you're going to get something banged up or inoperable. I would have totally returned this one - Nowadays you can get similarly priced guitars with little to no major QC issues. As time goes on it's less and less forgivable.
I, too, have oogled the Liquid for a long time (though sunburst/HH has been the one I pined over).But my Harmony Explorer copy hasn't failed me yet, so haven't had a reason to replace
Wow! Thats a cool looking guitar.
That guitar is so you …I have an Sx Callisto LP style it’s a bolt on neck , I’ve had it at least 10 years …love it feels great sounds great .
I've been in love with this body shape since I first saw it (though I would add a belly curve). I want to buy one, over-rout some pickup shapes, add a few pits for controls, and continually be able to use it for any wiring setup I choose. I'm not a collector. I want to explore with my one true guitar... And I want one of the green ones.
If I had the money, I'd pay a luthier to make me a telecaster bridge version. Left/right/humbucker over-rout in the bridge pickup slot. P90 slot in the middle. Jazzmaster/humbucker/p90 over-rout as the neck slot. A nigh-hollow bottom for a cockpit of control options. A strat jack for metal support and because side jacks are an insult to the glorious leg curves this guitar provides.
I haven't played guitar seriously in ten years and have been wanting to get back in! Been looking at these online and I think you sold me. As I don't have fender money right now! And I'm a punk/hardcore guitarist! I think the p-90s will be perfect for the sound I'm going for! Thanx for this review!
I know this is an older video, but here's your Trem Fix.
Buy a graphite pen. A good quality one, doesn't have to be extremely expensive, something like Staedtler form Wall-Mart will do.
Take apart graphite pen. Look for the spring inside the pen.
Shove the spring into tremolo hole long-ways.
Screw in trem arm.
Bam. a 1 Euro (Or whatever's considered cheap for you overseas) fix for the wiggle stick.
People say you can do this with a standard retractable pen, but my success is hit-miss with those, as the springs tend to be of a much lower quality (And smaller in size) I suspect because they're not meant to be used in much the same way as a graphite pens, which you use repeatedly as opposed to an "open/close" situation.
Enjoy your trem!
I've had one of these sans tremolo for two years and it's been great. No neck issues. However I did have a neck issue with a Squire Tele that was waaay worse than your issue. So I think it's just a roll of a dice at this price point no matter the brand. I put the SX above Epiphone and most Squires at the same price range.
I like the sound of the pickups
Interesting review. I recently got an SX Hawk, the strat style with 2 P90s. I like it so far, but haven't had a lot of time to really dive in. I'm pretty new to electrics, but I find it comfortable to play. Sorry about the wiggle stick, mine worked fine, but I realize at this price point, its a gamble.
I had one ....sold it big regret Dont sell it!!!
That’s a Way z cool Guitar!! Crazy shape! Sounds darn good for an inexpensive Axe!
Love your channel!
Thank you so much!
It's a really fun shape. For me the distance between the the bridge and the bridge pickup is a deal breaker just from the thumb pic, twang or bite not fully achievable at that distance. One of the reasons p90s don't have that bite compared to single coils, or even humbuckers, is that because of the width of the pickups, the pole pieces are even further from the bridge , not even a pickup swap will fix that. (edit oh you realised after a few days)
However it is resultantly very warm and fat so it's got function for someone who wants that. Through distortion it sounds perfect for the Sludge genre for example.
I've mentioned before that roller bridges have epic sustain and here you are experiencing that , c'mon face the truth !😁
The behind-the-bridge sounds are epically musical it gets many extra points for that.
My EastCoast Baritone mod project involves moving the bridge pickup closer to the bridge, however I am doing a refin to cover it all up. I'd encourage you to move the bridge pickup if it weren't for the refin requirement/ pickguard logistics.
Love the body shape, color, and of course the P90s. But there is NO WAY I would keep a guitar with a trash trem and cracks in the body. I know it’s cheap, but now days there are SO many incredible guitars available at this price point that have features and build quality of the high price models. Issues aside, a GOOD example of this guitar would be pretty sweet!
On most offset vibratos I’ve had the arm slides into a collet which can be tightened by removing the tailpiece from the body and tightening the nut on the collet. Not sure if a screw in arm would be the same, but worth a try.
Damn right two Princeton
I have been lusting for this guitar for about 2 years. I have bought a few guitars since but I really don't need another guitar. Actually the same color. I bought a Harley Benton Tele surf green. And bought a Leo Jaymz T type guitar. This will be my next.
It looks like a Guild Starfire. It looks cool but I find old retro guitars in better condition at $350 or less. One made by Ibanez the Jet King was $280. Not a scratch and in silver sparkle, It had a real metalflake finish not just the usual metallic paint.
The teflon tape really does work great on my ancient Fernandes.
Try a different wiggle stick on the Rondo maybe the the threads are a problem.
I was a big Rondo Agile buyer/fan back before 2010. GREAT guitars. Hard to sell used, as not many know about them, so SMALL market. The thing about Rondo's cheaper brands, is you might have to take advantage of their no question return policy, and get another sent. Sometimes it takes 2-4 guitars to get a perfect one.
Loved the piece you were playing at the end. To Hell with the guy and his "average guitar player" comments. To me, it sounded GREAT.
Thumbsup for the True Spring! The only choice if you can't fit/afford/deal with real spring outboard unit. And after owning and playing with real units, I sort of prefer the Source Audio anyhow.
I have a red one, hardtail with a maple fretboard and threw on a les trem. I dig it
cool guitar man! Love the channel, picked up a couple Harley Bentons after watching your show
I have one just like that and 2 more. These things make killer mod platforms and have real nice necks. Cheap thrills...
Good save on the two Princetons.
I have bought two SX guitars from Rondo and neither one had any significant quality control issues.
Rondo definitely sounds “harpy” and more musical behind the bridge.
And the microphonic pickups could be Fun! 🎸
I really like the shape and the uniqueness of 3 p90’s. Imma git one.
Point one on pickups:
My sense is this bird would fly with gold foil coils. Maybe keep that fun p90 bark in the middle, but at either or both ends, give it that Morricone swagger
Point two:
My first serious electric was and is a mid 80s Kramer Focus with the Floyd arm attached via adjustable nuts above and below the bridge, as opposed to the Floyd II with it's screw-on collar, allowing no-knock operation (crucial), in addition to setting it to let it dangle (EVH style, and i must note i was flummoxed to discover I differed in preference to one of my heroes at the time) or just enough tension to effortlessly nudge it to any position and it stays there, which seems to be our mutual preference
Thank you for your contributions and be well!
Blue Locktite usually fixes the wiggly thread issue.
Or pieces of earplug foam
I've got 2 Agile guitars from Rondo music! Both are very nice! Thanks Ryan
Me too! Both my faves and I have Gibsons too!
This guitar is on sale now at Rondo for $185. Tempting but not sure about those quality issues, esp. the cracking.
That's really groovy. I love the hell out of eccentric guitars like that. I still want an Eastwood but this would be a nice one too.
Kind of interesting that to my ear, the most realistic Nocentelli tones were in Bridge and #4 positions.
I finally got the blue version with the maple neck. It's flawless.
I love the shape of the guitar 🎸 I’d buy one. I’m not sure how much more id pay in Canada but after I pay for the Firebird I’m buying I’ll find out. Have fun with it!!
Take as a compliment, or not lol... But man! You're for sure the guy who would own an SX Liquid 😁
I have an SX P/J bass from around 2004-5. Think I paid around $120 including a HS case. UPS must have dropped it, the back strap button was broken along w/ a chip of finish. I just fixed it and carried on. The nut was cut too high so I had to do some nut filing on it. Adjusted the truss rod, set the intonation, and it was fine. Plays and sounds great. Nice maple neck on it, alder body. The pickups sound really good. I think it still stands up with just about any P bass.
Had an SX Strat which I reliced heavily in Shell Pink, beautiful guitar, played great. Sadly sold it... And bought me an offset instead, which is also great. Thanks to this channel actually - my love for offsets got off the chain, hahaha, got my third offset just a couple of weeks ago: Fazley Maverick Plus HH. Great stuff. You should do a review on that! ;)