Is modifying your bass a waste of money??

ericmknight1906 · #1 11-27-2008, 10:56 PM

I gave this question some thought today. If I buy a bass or any instrument for that matter, wouldn't it be best to leave it as is and at the most, just make adjustments?

For example, If I buy a Squier bass that comes with a cheap bridge does it do any good to replace that bridge with a leo quan knowing that it probably won't make much of a difference in sound because of the cheap wood.

Or if a bass comes stock with certain strings aren't you actually taking from the factory recommended optimum performance by changing the brand of strings.

Same goes for the pickups and/or electronics.

The only exception I can see is maybe the tuning keys because I don't think they really have a lot to do with the overall quality of the sound per se.

I've purchased basses in the past and have modified them only to wind up selling them for less of the value if I had left them as is. This will never happen again.

I just bought that 2008 fender 5 American standard and I dare not mod it Period! No leo quans no bartolini's or nortstrnads and no Daddario's. Oh, and only American made axes from now on.

Please comment.

MyUsernameHere · #2 11-27-2008, 11:06 PM

I don't know about "optimum performance" from the factory. Most basses are built to a price point...its got nothing to do with the designers figuring out what combination of cheap components go together so well as to cancel out their individual suckyness.

But yea, if you're worried about getting your money back from reselling...most modifications won't pay for themselves in the long run.

phatbass · #3 11-27-2008, 11:15 PM

No.

To me basses are just starting points and if I have a bass I really like the feel, response, and unplugged tone of I have no problems playing around with it if. I just want an instrument I like and the last thing on my mind is resale value.

As for strings, they are NOT chosen for "factory recommended optimum performance" except maybe in the case of certain more boutique instruments. Mostly, if a mass producing manufacturer can save a nickel a set by using brand "Y" rather than brand "X", they'll go with brand "Y".

In some cases, they do use a certain recognised brand name string because then it becomes part of the promotional blurb. If I buy an off-the-rack instrument, the first thing I do when string replacement time comes around is find the string that gives the instrument optimum performance for ME.

rllefebv · #4 11-27-2008, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyUsernameHere

most modifications won't pay for themselves in the long run.

Yep... Sometimes the senseless modifications don't, well... make sense. A lot of times, folks will buy a bass with the idea of modding before even hearing how it sounds... The key is, if you're gonna mod, do it solely for the playability and ignore resale value... You'll never get it back...

I recently acquired a VM P bass, (pre-modded as it had been refinished)... My first thoughts were to replace the pickups and bridge, but it's actually fine as is! Totally giggable!! No need to mod...

On the other hand, I have another Squier VM, a Tele bass, that is a killer player, but doesn't meet my sound needs. I love the way the bass plays, sounds great on its own, but doesn't cut it in any band situations that I currently have... Significant mods will be made to get it into suitable gigging condition... Those mods will be worth it to me, but I don't plan on flipping it...

Kind of like when you're browsing craigslist ads and read the ones that equate what the person paid with how much they expect to sell for... Doesn't work that way at all!

Strings = Mod?? You can't be serious, can you??

-robert

ehque · #5 11-27-2008, 11:43 PM

I'm not about to let a penny-pinching engineering/executive type person dictate to me what MY bass should be built out of, strung with, sound, and feel like.

I'm not sure about you.

Dudaronamous · #6 11-28-2008, 12:06 AM

Changing from "original" strings won't affect resale. New owners just put their favorites on anyway. Agreed on pickups, tuners, bridges, etc, unless you plan to keep the bass. I replaced original pickups on early 70's jazz about 30 years ago. kept the originals but will probably never sell it.

ehque · #7 11-28-2008, 12:13 AM

And really, if you're modding your bass primarily to increase the resale value, you've gotten it very very wrong.

Boombass76 · #8 11-28-2008, 12:19 AM

Modding can be a real pain... I guess some mods can be a good idea - depending on the situation.

I just know that I spent WAY too much money on continouosly modding a bass trying to alter its very core tone - not a good idea... If you e.g. are after a classic ash/maple sound - go buy an ash/maple bass!

As for your new Fender - depending on your patience - keep it stock. Most likely the tendency of 100% original Fenders being much more worth than modified ones will probably not change over time. In other words, keep it stock (and take good care of it), play it, enjoy it, and - boom - in 30 years it will have become vintage

62bass · #9 11-28-2008, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rllefebv

Yep... Sometimes the senseless modifications don't, well... make sense. A lot of times, folks will buy a bass with the idea of modding before even hearing how it sounds... The key is, if you're gonna mod, do it solely for the playability and ignore resale value... You'll never get it back...

I recently acquired a VM P bass, (pre-modded as it had been refinished)... My first thoughts were to replace the pickups and bridge, but it's actually fine as is! Totally giggable!! No need to mod...

On the other hand, I have another Squier VM, a Tele bass, that is a killer player, but doesn't meet my sound needs. I love the way the bass plays, sounds great on its own, but doesn't cut it in any band situations that I currently have... Significant mods will be made to get it into suitable gigging condition... Those mods will be worth it to me, but I don't plan on flipping it...

Kind of like when you're browsing craigslist ads and read the ones that equate what the person paid with how much they expect to sell for... Doesn't work that way at all!

Strings = Mod?? You can't be serious, can you??

-robert

I modify my basses if I feel there is something I can improve by doing so. I don't care about resale value. I buy basses to play. I own 4 right now, all quite different from one another. Two are stock except for the strings. The other two have been modified. One, a 78 Fender P is modded quite extensively-new pickup, new bridge, preamp added, new neck (the old one was twisted beyond reasonable repair). All the mods were necessary in my opinion and gave me a desired result. If I sold it I'd lose money. I don't plan to sell it.

The two that are stock are fine on their own. I have no plans to sell them either. My latest buy, a Squire Classic Vibe 50s P bass I modified immediately with a custom wound pickup. The bridge is fine as are the tuners, other parts and electronics. The neck is very nice with excellent fretwork. It sounds great now, plays beautifully and has quickly become my favourite. The body is cheap basswood. You could never tell. I think it sounds better than the Sting model I tried a few times.

I wouldn't pay the money that Fender wants for their USA made basses, even though the new ones seem to be better quality than in years past. Used, maybe. And if I did get one I'd probably replace the pickup first. Just a sound thing.

Strings always get changed.

Chris Breese · #10 11-28-2008, 06:08 AM

"Is modifying your bass a waste of money??"

It depends on the results. I bought a new USA Jazz 5 last year and modded it for Nordstrand Big Singles. That mod was not worth it to me. I live and learn. Nothing ventured nothing gained, etc.

These days, I buy the parts and put them together myself.

capnsandwich · #11 11-28-2008, 06:38 AM

It all depends on what you want to get out of the bass. If you like the way the bass feels but want a more aggressive tone or more power then I'd say go ahead and dump a new set of pickups and an active preamp in it. If you love the way it sounds but hate the feel I'd say go ahead and sell the bass as-is and get something you want with the money from the sale. It's easier to change tone than feel IME and IMO. If you're trying to boost the resale value of the bass then don't even bother. You never get out of the bass what you put into it. I've modded 3 basses and all 3 are no longer in my arsenal, and all 3 were losses compared to the money I dumped into them.

lomo · #12 11-28-2008, 06:47 AM

It depends on what the mod is, how much it'll cost, how much the bass costs, how the mod will alter the value of the bass, and whether you enjoy doing the work or find it drudgery. Too many variables for a universal answer. However, IMO buying a cheapo bass and modding the snot out of it to try and transmogrify it into something really nice only makes sense if you really dig the process of doing it. A cheap car with a spoiler, mags and some engine upgrades is exactly that, a cheap car; I'd rather spend the same money buying a nicer stock vehicle or bass that'll hold its' value much better. Having said that, I've done minor mods that improve a bass' ergonomics for my taste, like sanding the back of a gloss neck, for eg.

ericmknight1906 · #13 11-28-2008, 07:18 AM

Guys, I am sorry but I think my post came out wrong. I didn't mean modding the bass for the sole purpose of selling it. When I said I wind up selling my basses anyway regardless of mods, what I meant was the mods didn't make me appreciate the bass anymore than I would have If I had left it alone. So I end up selling it anyway. Eventhough, I just did $300 worth of mods.

But Yeah, if you are gonna keep it, then by all means mod away. I was just trying to make a point that by modding the bass are you really helping or hurting the sound, tone, playability, etc.

9mmMike · #14 11-28-2008, 07:54 AM

The result of your mods is so subjective that you'd need to find someone who was looking for the exact same bass to come close to breaking even IMHO.
My basses are not too expenesive to start with and I have no plans to sell them. The modified ones are done for both the pleasure of the process and, hopefully, the final sound/feel. Hard to put a value on something like that.
I built a bass from parts that must have over 800 bucks in it (Audere, Nordy's, Gotoh etc.) but in the end it is still basically a MIM parts bass. Who would ever pay me for even half of what I put into it? It was a ton-o-fun to build, sounds great, and gets good reviews/comments by everyone who has handled/played it. That's priceless, at least to me.

martyman5000 · #15 11-28-2008, 08:03 AM

Okay I'm going to say this the last time on this site...Have fun and just do what you want. You don't need to spend a ton of money on a bass but it should be reliable. Here is Mike Watt playing a Squire and it rocks. Some guy say the SX is a great bass out of the box and if you need to change the tuners/pups and bridge than go for it. I'm old and crusty so I would rather save my money for one great bass than have spent my money on half a dozen trying to find that one great bass...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP2GATvtr3M

Bruce Lindfield · #16 11-28-2008, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericmknight1906

I gave this question some thought today. If I buy a bass or any instrument for that matter, wouldn't it be best to leave it as is and at the most, just make adjustments?

For example, If I buy a Squier bass that comes with a cheap bridge does it do any good to replace that bridge with a leo quan knowing that it probably won't make much of a difference in sound because of the cheap wood.

Or if a bass comes stock with certain strings aren't you actually taking from the factory recommended optimum performance by changing the brand of strings.

Same goes for the pickups and/or electronics.

The only exception I can see is maybe the tuning keys because I don't think they really have a lot to do with the overall quality of the sound per se.

I've purchased basses in the past and have modified them only to wind up selling them for less of the value if I had left them as is. This will never happen again.

I just bought that 2008 fender 5 American standard and I dare not mod it Period! No leo quans no bartolini's or nortstrnads and no Daddario's. Oh, and only American made axes from now on.

Please comment.

Well - as people have said - whether you get any musical advantage out of this is debatable...?

But what is certain is that modifications will put off potential buyers should you try to sell on.

Not only will you not get anything that you paid, back - these things will make people more suspicious and less likely to buy!

So nobody can know how well you have done the mods and whether or not it has affected the bass detrimentally...?

If somebody is looking to buy a bass - they will want it, as it was sold - as close as possible to its new condition!

ga_edwards · #17 11-28-2008, 08:23 AM

Althought it depends on whose buying it too. Not everyone is looking for solely factory original when buying second hand. A lot of people who know their stuff will happily pay appropriately if a bass has been modified/upgraded with superior parts.

Heck my brother once bought a peice of junk guitar to salvage the orig Floydd Rose trem off of it. The trem was worth more than the guitar was selling for.

Ric5 · #18 11-28-2008, 08:27 AM

I can not imagine owning a bass and not modifying it.

WalterBush · #19 11-28-2008, 08:35 AM

I'd say it's worth it, for me at least. I ripped the frets out of an OLP, did a ton of setup work, cleaned the neck pocket up, etc, looking to kill a couple of afternoons. Instead, I found I had a great playing and decent sounding fretless bass all of a sudden. I'm putting Bart pups and a pre in, which will cost more than the bass cost me, and I think it's more than worth it since I play out with this thing regularly.

I'm rapidly becoming convinced that most of the cost savings on cheaper instruments are the nickel-and-dime production steps and cheap electronics; I'm probably gonna buy an SX jazz next year just to spruce it up, too. It won't be the Alembic I want, but it'll cost less than the tax on that Alembic, too.

fretlessguy · #20 11-28-2008, 08:42 AM

I understand your POV. I find it strange that some folks will sometimes pay thousands of dollars for a bass and then go a mod it. If I am going to pay a lot of money for a bass, then I want what I want on it when I buy.

As for modding a cheap to midline bass, then that depends. As already stated, you will never get your money back out of it. Wise advice for modders: if you think you may sell it down the road, then keep the original parts. That way you can put them back on and keep the mod parts for a future project.
I can justify modding a less expensive bass if it will be done to increase your knowledge of guitar luthery or perhaps just for fun. I am thinking about replacing the bridge on my essex to a bridge that will make changing strings easier and enable me to use larger gauge strings. that is common sensible.

Where we differ will be the string issue. I will try several different sets and types till I find out what seems to bring the best sound out of a bass, at least to my ears. Strings are a highly subjective issue to a bassist, and I am not about to let someone else dictate what strings sound good to me.