adding bridge pickup to L1000?

eknivsnikta · #1 12-07-2007, 05:08 PM

i have an '81 mahogany L1000 fretless, and i have been thinking about adding a bridge pickup. i probably won't end up doing it...but if i did, i was wondering if there is anyone out there who has done this (or had it done) to an L1000. i am wondering what would be a good pickup choice (that would compliment the MFD.) also i was wondering about wiring and knob/switch additions and configurations. i have another MFD pickup (same type) lying around...but if i were to add that i might as well just get an L2000. any suggestions?

metron · #2 12-07-2007, 05:57 PM

Go buy an L2K and forget you ever thought about hacking your bass!!

dogbass · #3 12-08-2007, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metron

Go buy an L2K and forget you ever thought about hacking your bass!!

+1

vroc38 · #4 12-08-2007, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metron

Go buy an L2K and forget you ever thought about hacking your bass!!

Couldn't agree more.

nig · #5 12-08-2007, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metron

Go buy an L2K and forget you ever thought about hacking your bass!!

++1 soz bro.

mike_v_s · #6 12-08-2007, 08:31 AM

Yeah. I have a kid whose 2 arms just aren't getting the job done. I'm thinking about having another surgically attached. I hope you see my point.

I currently play an L-1000 that was patched up from a previous J mistake. Don't do it. I can hear the bass crying at night.

Mike

eknivsnikta · #7 12-08-2007, 04:41 PM

whew! okay, thanks all of you. i don't know what i was thinking. did i mention that i was drunk, stoned, on crack and cocaine and meth and uppers and downers and tylenol 3 and pop rocks and i hadn't slept in 2 weeks and i had a concusion and my head fell off and i had been watching reruns of oprah? maybe that explains my crazy idea.... anyway, i ain't gonna touch a thing. thanks again.

nig · #8 12-08-2007, 05:19 PM

ive got a wunkay fretless and know what you were thinking but a 2nd hand jaco will do the trick or even say a fishman eq/preamp but these basses are sweet in their own right.

Willem · #9 12-08-2007, 05:30 PM

Yeah, I think you could sell it easily and buy a nice L2000 with the money...

mike_v_s · #10 12-09-2007, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eknivsnikta

whew! okay, thanks all of you. i don't know what i was thinking. did i mention that i was drunk, stoned, on crack and cocaine and meth and uppers and downers and tylenol 3 and pop rocks and i hadn't slept in 2 weeks and i had a concusion and my head fell off and i had been watching reruns of oprah? maybe that explains my crazy idea.... anyway, i ain't gonna touch a thing. thanks again.

I guess I could have worded my response better. I'll seconf what evryone else is saying: if the bass ain't cutting it, you should sell it and pick up one that does.

Mike

DavePlaysBass · #11 12-09-2007, 02:18 PM

It's your bass. Do what you like. It has collector value so adding a bridge pickup would mess with that. But if it is the best feeling neck you have ever played and you feel completely connected to the instrument as you would never part with it. And if you really think having a bridge pickup would pull the mwah out of it, it's you bass. A Dark Star might be interesting. And of course a G&L MFD is logical choice. You might have a hard time finding your same bass in the L-2000 configuration.

Dave

earlgray · #12 12-09-2007, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eknivsnikta

i have an '81 mahogany L1000 fretless, and i have been thinking about adding a bridge pickup......any suggestions?

That's a really bad idea. You will trash the value of this rare bass -- advertise it on badassbassplayers.com where a lot of the G&L crowd hang out and you'll find plenty of trade/sell options.

Here's what I recommend: try a G&L SB-2 -- its a passive bass with an awesome, growly sound.

I'm sure you could find someone willing to trade for that.

hth.

**Chef** · #13 12-10-2007, 04:00 PM

Heck, I'd trade that...

eknivsnikta · #14 12-11-2007, 05:25 PM

i've always felt about 99.999...infinity% certain that it would be a BIG mistake to tamper with something as rare and extraordinary in it's own way as a fretless mahogany '81 L1000. i actually used to have an early eighties fretless mahogany L2000 (original headstock) many moons ago, but had to sell it cause i was moving and i needed the cash (boy have i been trying to track the guy down who ened up with it! but it's a lost cause.) i love my L1000 - it has a distinct personality and playability that would be lost with the addition of another pickup. i guess the main problem is that i want to keep it, but i'm fairly broke at present, and the only other 2 pickup fretless that i'm interested in is a WAL MK I ($3,000+ and rare as all get out.) although i've also been on the lookout for a 70's Guild JS II fretless. i know the guild pickups suck, but does anyone know what that bass is like otherwise?

DavePlaysBass · #15 12-14-2007, 08:16 AM

Why do you need another pickup? I used to think 1 pickup basses were limitied. The last two months I have been playing a P bass exclusiviely after playing and buying all kind of crap looking for the one. I am finding that hand placement and feel can do a lot to change tone. I sort of like the lack of choices. Put some nickel rounds on her and dial back the tone as needed. But that's my experience maybe not yours.