Upgrading my bass-order of events opinions?

[boomchaka]

hi everyone-
I have a stock MIM pbass and a thoughtfully researched pile of upgrades(several of which I've amassed from TB'ers. thanks!).
I'm excitedly about to embark upon installing these in a very
methodical way.

I am proud to admit that I am a geek tweaker of stellar proportions and
I feel very safe saying that out loud on this forum I plan on doing the upgrades in phases and recording(audio) the tonal changes(if any) that I notice along the way. as well as any feel/playability changes. I was curious what kinds of opinions ya'll might have on the order in which I should do the upgrades. here is what I've got...

-fralin pickups
-wiring harness(still need to get from mojotone or stewmac-tried to get one from bayou cables but I never got a reply to my request)
-fender vintage bridge
-TI flatwounds(strings are currently stock rounds)
-bridge cover
-pickup cover
-wooden(maple) pickguard

I'm also going to have a setup done. I imagine that would best be done at the end once all the upgrades are in place?

let me know what ya'lls think. thanks!

[Benjamin Strange]

The thing that's going to make the most difference to you immediately is a proper setup with the strings you prefer. If you're making the switch from rounds to flats, your tone with change dramatically, and you'll need a setup when you change string gauges/tension anyway, so you might as well do both of those in one shot.

The next biggest difference will be the pickup change. We carry Fralin pickups at my shop, and they're quite good.

Changing the bridge will affect tone, but not that much. Don't change the bridge after your setup, unless you want to have to get it set up all over again.

Not sure what you're getting at regarding the wiring harness - wire is wire is wire, especially at the tiny amount of amperage generated by passive pickups. Just make sure you use good pots (Switchcraft).

Everything else is purely cosmetic.

[koobie]

I agree with Benjamin. Start with the strings and you may find you're done, tonally speaking, it'll be a huge change. If you're not satisfied, then try different pickups. I also don't see the benefit of the pre-made wiring harnesses unless you just don't want to deal with soldering. If you're looking to potentially open up your sound, I'd put in no-load pots, they give you another (brighter) option for $10 per pot.

As far as the looks, I dig those wood pickguards, surprised we don't see more of them here on TB. I'd pass on the pickup cover, I'd think it would limit your hand/finger positions.

[JTE]

A. Find some strings you like, and have the whole thing set up really well. Without that, nothing else will have any credibiltiy.
B. Have a sound in mind and firmly planted in your head.
C. Play the bass unplugged and listen very closely to what it sounds like. Electronics, bridges, etc. won't make a thin and nasal sounding bass sound big fat and rich. You have to know what YOUR bass sounds like.
D. Then plug it into a neutral sounding amp and listen to how well the electronics are translating the natural acoustic sound of YOUR bass to the amp. Be sure you're able to make critical distinctions. If it's "muddy" is it because there's too much bass or not enough high end? That's an important discrimination you'll need to make so that you can actually fix the real problem.

If you do this in that order, then you'll KNOW what to do next.

John

[rumblethump]

I would go up to the sticky's and learn how to set up the bass. Its not rocket science and no one knows whats perfect for you better than yourself. In the long run it's much more satisfing and will save you ton's of money over time. You said you like to tweak things. Setups are one of the very first things I teach my students.

[walterw]

the fralin and (to a lesser extent) the vintage bridge with steel threaded saddles will both be big upgrades. the wiring harness is pointless (mex fenders already have good cts pots). the rest is just cosmetic.

(strings don't count as "mods", just as different things to try).