i have a n00b question :(

marshmallow83 · #1 10-16-2007, 01:30 PM

im gonna be getting a new bass soon so im thinking of modding my starter bass. but ive dont actualy know how you change the pups and pre amp, could you help me?

marshmallow83 · #2 10-16-2007, 01:57 PM

yeah im not sure if im gonna mod it or not im just asking if you guys would give me an idea of hot change pick ups and pre amps if i do actualy get round to modding it

marshmallow83 · #3 10-17-2007, 12:51 AM

come on guys, give me some help

**Ívar Þórólfsson** · #4 10-17-2007, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marshmallow83

come on guys, give me some help

Why do you want to mod it?

What are you specifically looking to get out of it after modding?
Are you looking for a specific tone? If so, what tone? etc.

zimmj002 · #5 10-17-2007, 03:01 AM

same here. i have an RBX 170 and wondering, what would be the best way to go about making it active?

marshmallow83 · #6 10-17-2007, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ívar Þórólfsson

Why do you want to mod it?

What are you specifically looking to get out of it after modding?
Are you looking for a specific tone? If so, what tone? etc.

well i want to mod it coz it was getting a bit boring and the tone im looking for is a really punchy tone but also i nice mellow tone too.

waseok · #7 10-17-2007, 12:20 PM

First of all, i would suggest to find on google pic of some unmounted bass guitar..
And then try to unmount yours, just the covers, to see what connects to what, to understand how everything BASSicly works.

Jimbob Jones · #8 10-17-2007, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waseok

First of all, i would suggest to find on google pic of some unmounted bass guitar..
And then try to unmount yours, just the covers, to see what connects to what, to understand how everything BASSicly works. What connects to what, etc.

+1

It would be a very good idea to find out exactly how your bass works, instead of just poking around in there with a soldering iron.

Open it up, have a look, see what connects to what, then put it back together. Do some basic maintenance jobs on it: restring, set your relief, action and intonation (in that order, if you are going to do it). This all helps you to become much more comfortable with your bass, and if you do decide to do a mod, it will seem like less of a mountain.

Just J · #9 10-17-2007, 01:22 PM

I have a Squier P Special with the P/J pickups. It was my starter, and since I'm a tinkerer I modded it pretty well. I shielded the cavity, put in new pickups, changed all the electronics, and of course swapped out strings a ton of times. I jacked the pickups to use in my Cowpoke bass since I don't play the Squier much at all any more. Shielding it made a pretty hefty difference, used to buzz and hiss something bad. Now it's dead quiet, need to shield my other axes... Changing the electronics helped smooth out the volume and tone changes, and cleaned up the tone a little.

If you suck with electronics, I wouldn't mess with it. If you're handy with a soldering iron knock yourself out.

idler · #10 10-17-2007, 01:43 PM

Purely from my own experience, think about replacing the pickups & pots with an EMG set. I managed this even though I'm a proper n00b at soldering. Sounds great - quite a harsh growly tone. But really depends on what you're after though. As someone else has said in this thread, you can do a lot by just playing.