Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV - Overview and Best Prices

Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV Review
Add to Compare
FIND IT ON:
Amazon logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
  • 3 Prices - New from $529.99 >
  • From Jackson's 2021 X series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 4 strings
  • 34"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Jackson Medium-Output Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Jackson Medium-Output Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 4 tone Dome knobs
  • Jackson HiMass bridge
  • Bass X Neck-Through neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Jackson Sealed Die-Cast tuners
  • Side-By-Side Comparison
Show Specs
Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV Specifications
Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV
General
Brand: Jackson
Year: 2021
Configuration: HH
Strings: 4
Made in: Indonesia
Series: X
Colors: White
Left-Handed Version: No
Body
Type: Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar
Bridge: Jackson HiMass
Neck
Neck Joint: Neck-Through
Tuners: Jackson Sealed Die-Cast
Fretboard: Maple
Neck Material: Maple
Decoration: Black Dot
Scale Size: 34"
Shape: Bass X
Frets: 24 Jumbo
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16"
Nut: Plastic
Nut Width: 38.1mm (1.5'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Jackson Medium-Output Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Jackson Medium-Output Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 0
Knobs: Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1
Tone Controls: 4
Hardware
Strap Lock: No
Hardware Color: Gold

Our Scores and Tone Evaluation

Playability 82
Sound 79
Build quality 70
Value for money 82
Overall Score 77
Tone Evaluation
  • Heavy Metal
  • Hard Rock
  • Jazz
  • Blues
  • Funk
  • Country
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Active/Passive Preamp
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock

Price Overview

Its average competitor's price is $550, which means that the Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV is within the average price asked for this kind of bass. This takes into account all instruments of the same category in our database with 4 strings and Fixed bridge that are made in Indonesia.

SET PRICE ALERT

These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

User Reviews & Feedback

Not all instruments are created equally. That's why it's important to have different opinions. Here's what our users who have played this instrument say. If you've played it before, help others by voting below!

Weight

Vote

Tuning stability

Vote

Neck speed (thickness)

Vote

Neck access to high frets

Vote

Neck profile shape

Vote

Fret edges

Vote

Pickups noise

Vote

Pickups power

Vote
No Reviews Yet

Explore All From Jackson >

Hand Size Comfortability

After taking into account the neck profile, scale size, fretboard radius, and nut width, we can conclude that the Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV's construction favors people with relatively small hands.

Nevertheless, this comes down in the end to personal preference. Make sure you test this bass—or another one with similar characteristics—before buying.

Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV meets 4 out of our 6 criteria items for beginner friendliness, which means that it's a good bass to start with as a complete beginner. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players to get used to.

New Player Friendliness

Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

Videos

2022 Jackson X Series Spectra Bass | Jackson Guitars
Jackson X Series Spectra SBX V Bass Model Demo - ‘Dandelion 201’ by Bassist 김성현 (Sunghyun Kim)
Jackson X Series Spectra SBX IV — Demo
Jackson X Spectra Bass. REVIEW (🇺🇸ENG🇬🇧 subs)
Jackson Spectra SBP IV, Black Burst | Gear4music sound demo
2024 Pro Series Spectra Basses | Jackson Guitars
UNBOXING & REVIEW!!! - Jackson Spectra SBX V (Bajo eléctrico)
Bass Riff 6 (inspired by Black Hawk Down OST - Hans Zimmer and Still Breathing - Green Day)
Paris (vocals) - Colorfactory - bass cover
What's The Deal With Jackson?! 7 Awesome Facts You (Probably) Didn't Know About Jackson Guitars!

Playability

Scale Length

Scale length is the distance the strings will span between the bridge and the nut. It can tell you a lot about the overall playability and tone of the instrument. A longer scale length means longer distance between frets, brighter tone and more string tension—which means lower action, but more difficult bending of the strings.

Here's the Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV's 34" scale length compared to other common sizes:

Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV Scale Length Comparison
Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV's scale length (at the top) compared to other popular sizes

This is considered a long scale bass, and it's the most popular choice for several reasons. Even though it might be more difficult to play than short scale basses due to their increased string tension, their punchier low-end results in a clear and defined bass tone that can cut through in a mix, making them well-suited for genres like rock, metal, and funk.

Neck Profile

Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV Neck Profile
Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV's neck profile

The neck profile tells you the thickness (neck depth) and shape in cross section. Every difference will completely change the feeling and comfortability of the neck. This is a highly subjective thing, but most players indeed prefer certain types of necks (like Cs and Ds) because they feel nice in most hands.

It has a C type neck. C-shaped necks like this have been the most popular for the last years. The reason is that they feel good in most hands. It's generally a thin neck that doesn't get in your way when playing fast, but that also has enough mass to give your hands a comfortable grip for chords if they aren't too big.

Thin necks like this make it easier to move your hand across the neck and it helps when playing fast solos, especially if you like to leave your thumb free while playing high on the fretboard. However, thinner necks are also weaker and will need adjustment more often than a thicker neck.

Fretboard Radius

When it comes to fingerboard radius, personal preference will dictate which one is better for you. However, most people seem to agree that a more curved (lower) radius will make it easier to play chords while a less curved (higher) radius is better for soloing and bending.

Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV's Compound Fretboard Radius

The Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV has a compound fingerboard radius of 12" to 16".

A compound radius is the best you can get because you'll get the best of both worlds. It starts curved at the nut, but it flattens as you get closer to the body. This means that you'll get great comfortability for chords on the first few frets, but also a flatter fretboard for playing solos without problems on the higher frets.

Playability compared to main competitors

34'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.5'' Nut Width
Compound Fretboard Radius
34'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.5'' Nut Width
Compound Fretboard Radius
34'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.5'' Nut Width
Compound Fretboard Radius
34'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.5'' Nut Width
Compound Fretboard Radius
34'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.5'' Nut Width
Compound Fretboard Radius

Nut Width

Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV Nut Width
Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV Nut Width

The Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV has a nut width of 38.1mm (1.5''). This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 4-string bass. This is what most players find as a balanced width for both playing chords and single notes across different strings. If you have an "average" hand size, or you're not sure what nut width you'd like, this is a safe bet.

Frets

The Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV has 24 frets. A lot of people mistakenly believe that having more frets will always be better because it gives you a higher octave. This is certainly an advantage, but there's also a disadvantage to this.

Since the fretboard will be longer, the neck pickup will need to be placed closer to the bridge. And as you may know, the further away the neck pickup is from the bridge, the warmer it sounds. This means you'll have a brighter-sounding neck pickup when using a 24-fret bass, even if you use the same pickup on a 22-fret bass.

It comes with nickel silver frets, so they won't last as long as stainless steel frets. If you use your instrument a lot, you might need to replace the frets after a few years. But this is unlikely as most people change instruments before this happens.

Fret Size

Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV Fret Size Comparison
Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV's fret size (in orange) compared to other popular sizes

Finally, let's talk about fret size. Some people prefer tall frets because it's easier to press the strings and perform bends since there's less friction against the fretboard. On the other hand, some people like shorter frets because they like to touch the fretboard when playing, or because they got heavy hands and tend to press too much on the string and alter the of the note pitch accidently.

The Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV's frets are Jumbo size. This is a tall fret size that is becoming increasingly popular because it makes it easier to press down the strings cleanly. With this fret size, you won't feel the fretboard when playing, so if you press down too hard, you will get the notes out of pitch. However, this is something you can overcome by getting used to the taller size.

Playability Score

Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 100
Playability 82

Tone

Wood will have little influence in the final tone of an electric guitar or bass. Instead, the hardware, especially the pickups, will be the most important thing to look at. Bur first, let's see the quality of the wood.

Wood

Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar Body
Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple Neck, Fretboard

Poplar Body: It's similar to Alder in terms of tone as it has a fat low-end with strong mids, but it's a lot cheaper and softer. It's a bit heavier so it's mostly used for tops.

Maple Neck and Fretboard: This is one of the most popular types of wood used in all kinds of guitars. It's heavy, strong and compact, which makes it great for necks. However, it's also used for fretboards, bodies and tops due to its light color, resistance and beautiful patterns. When it comes to tone, it highlights the mid and high frequencies.

Pickups

Unfortunately, it doesn't come with pickups from one of the top brands. This doesn't mean you will get bad pickups, but you might want to consider a pickup upgrade after some time.

These are passive pickups, so you can expect a rounder sound and a moderade level of output.

Preamp

The preamp is an electronic circuit that serves as an intermediary between the bass's pickups and the amplifier. Its primary function is to boost and shape the bass's raw signal before it reaches the amplifier. This allows for greater control over the bass's tone, volume, and other sound characteristics. Preamps often include tone controls, equalization settings, and sometimes even onboard effects, enabling bassists to tailor their sound to their preferences and the musical context.

This bass has a Active/Passive preamp. This means it combines both passive and active electronics in one instrument. This versatile setup allows the player to switch between passive and active modes, providing a wide range of tonal options. In passive mode, the bass relies on traditional passive pickups and tone controls for a warm and organic sound. In active mode, the onboard preamp circuit is engaged, offering enhanced EQ shaping capabilities and sometimes a signal boost. This flexibility caters to a broader spectrum of musical styles and playing preferences, as it allows the bassist to switch between the classic, vintage tone of passive operation and the more versatile and finely tuned active mode, all within the same instrument.

The Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV's configuration is HH. With this pickup combination, you'll get warmer tones and more output than using single coils. Humbucker pickups cancel the noise that single-coil suffer from, which also results in a warmer tone. This pickup combination isn't only for high-gain music like Hard Rock or Heavy Metal. Their warmness is also popular for Jazz, Indie, R&B, Blues and more.

More with the same pickups

24 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Jackson Medium-Output Humbucking Bridge Pickup
Jackson Medium-Output Humbucking Neck Pickup
24 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Jackson Medium-Output Humbucking Bridge Pickup
Jackson Medium-Output Humbucking Neck Pickup
24 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Jackson Medium-Output Humbucking Bridge Pickup
Jackson Medium-Output Humbucking Neck Pickup
24 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Jackson Medium-Output Humbucking Bridge Pickup
Jackson Medium-Output Humbucking Neck Pickup
24 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Jackson Medium-Output Humbucking Bridge Pickup
Jackson Medium-Output Humbucking Neck Pickup

Versatility

It has a Coil Split option. It allows you to 'split' or turn off pickup coils to get even more tones in combination with the pickup selector. When used with humbucker pickups, it'll reduce the output and increase their clarity, turning them essentially into single-coil pickups.

What music genre is it good for?

As a 4 strings, Solid Body bass with HH configuration and Passive pickups, we'd recommend it for genres like Heavy Metal or similar. However, you can use almost any bass for any genre. This is just the typical type of music for this particular one.

Sound Score

Pickups 60
Sustain 80
Versatility 101
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 79

Build Quality

Country of Origin

Knowing where the instrument is produced is a good way to know how well it's built. Some manufacturing countries are known for having higher quality standards. For example, most expensive instruments are made in the US or Japan, but there are some exceptionally great countries—like South Korea—that are building a good reputation.

The Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV is made in Indonesia. Many people prefer the quality of an Indonesian guitar over a Chinese. Respectable brands like Epiphone, Ibanez and Schecter are building in this country because of the great quality and lower price. Some people like to compare them to the ones built in Japan during the 80s, when Japanese guitar makers made a name for themselves.

Bridge

Jackson HiMass: The advantage of fixed bridges is that they don't require any kind of set-up. This makes it extremely easy when changing strings because you don't need to adjust anything besides tuning the guitar. Also, the fact that the bridge is directly attached to the body will help to increase sustain. The disadvantage is the lack of versatility since you can't create the same vibrato effects as with tremolo bridges.

Nut Material

Another important thing to analyze is the nut material, as it's one of the most important aspects that can affect the sound and playability of your bass. A well-cut nut will make sure it stays in tune and will make it more comfortable to play.

In this case, the Jackson X Series Spectra Bass SBXM IV has a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

Neck Joint

The neck joint is the part where the neck of the bass meets the body. There are three main techniques to attach both parts together: Set-In, Bolt-On and Neck-Through. The latter two provide different advantages, although neck-throughs are the most expensive.

This bass has a Neck-Through neck joint. Many people believe a neck-through build delivers the best sustain because some of the vibrations from the neck aren't lost like with other neck joints. However, no one has been able to prove this. What we know is that a neck-through build is usually the most comfortable when playing the upper frets because there's nothing on your way at the neck-body joint.

Build Quality Score

Quality of materials 41
Features 100
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 70