KSD Modifications?

gimmeagig · #1 12-27-2006, 10:27 PM

Hi,
I just got my KSD 70s Proto J 5 today and like I expected I need to change a few things on it.When I took it out of the box it was terrible.The neck had no relief and the action was so low that the instrument had no tone at all.I almost was ready to put it right back into the box and sell it on ebay.
I do know how to set up instruments pretty well so I gave it a shot.Loosened the truss rod lowered the action, new strings intonated it...
Then I kept comparing it to my Moon JB5 and my 74 Jazz.I played through my amp (pickups good,preamp soso like I expected)and also just acoustically and I'm beginning to really like the bass.
Not plugged in it sounds really good compared to my other basses easyly in the same class.So I'm going to put some more money into it.
I do like split coils and since the pickups on that bass are larger than normal 5s I will check out if I can make the SCNs work and I'll also put in an Audere or a Noll preamp and a ABM bridge.
The adjustment screw for the trussrod seems really flinsy like it could strip out easyly.I'll check with a guitar builder friend if that can't be made a little more solid.
What have you changed on your KSD?

da drive first · #2 12-27-2006, 11:38 PM

Well,I had a KSD 705 I changed the preamp to a demeter 3 band and used the stock pickups it sounded fabulous.

Wayne Gulley · #3 12-30-2006, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by da drive first

Well,I had a KSD 705 I changed the preamp to a demeter 3 band and used the stock pickups it sounded fabulous.

I too found the KSD preamp to, well lets say it definitely lagged behind all other aspects of the bass and I replaced with an Audere JZ5D J Deluxe! The stock PU are fine but now the bass is a keeper!

Wayne Gulley · #4 12-30-2006, 12:23 AM

I have the KSD 5 (5 string retro 60's bass). Its a sunburst with a tortoise shell pickguard that is now scratched from too much slapping. Does anyone know where I can get a KSD replacement pickguard? I assume a Fender Jazz is not going to fit the KSD (but I dont know for sure and dont want to buy one to find out). Or does anyone have a way to resurface and remove pickguard swirls? Just having a hard time finding any replacement parts for the KSD.

Jaycephas · #5 12-30-2006, 11:58 AM

Jeannie Pickguards, but you have to send the original in to get one made. The pickups are odd size, but the bridge and tuners are standard. I am getting ready to order an Audere to put in my KSD 705J.

gimmeagig · #6 12-30-2006, 03:33 PM

Did you guys notice that the neckpickup on your KDS is further back than it should be on a Jazz Bass?I don't understand why Ken Smith designed it that way.I'm going to move mine forward and I'll have to have a new pickguard made as well.I'll check into Jeannie pickguards.

Jaycephas · #7 12-30-2006, 09:56 PM

Never noticed it before. Considering the great slap tone from this bass, I would say he did it to give more room for slapping.

I threw a neck pickup cover on mine made for the Marcus Miller V (lower profile) and it not only looks good, but lets me rest my hand for slapping.

gimmeagig · #8 12-30-2006, 10:20 PM

I don't need that much room for slapping so 3/4 of an inch less is nothing. But it just might make that little difference in tone to make that bass perfect. I'll keep you posted.

Wayne Gulley · #9 01-04-2007, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaycephas

Jeannie Pickguards, but you have to send the original in to get one made. The pickups are odd size, but the bridge and tuners are standard. I am getting ready to order an Audere to put in my KSD 705J.

Thanks very much. I knew about Chanlder (Pickguard Heaven) but they are too expensive and I did not want to pay that much (again - I had a MM jazz pickguard which cost more than $70).

Blakman · #10 07-01-2008, 11:28 PM

I modified my KSD 5 string. Listed below are what I added to my bass and by the way Mike Lull did the installation (www.mikelull.com).

- Sadowsk Onboard Preamp Kit with Vintage Tone Control
[OBPWVT]
- Lindy Fralin DJB5 - 5 String Jazz Set
- Black Ken Smith 5 string Bridge

After Mike Lull completed the install he was very impressed with the sound. When I plugged in to my rig (SWR 900 amp and Eden 4x10) my heart skipped a beat. This bass is awesome !!!!!!!

Crockettnj · #11 08-13-2009, 03:08 PM

I just added an Audere Jzd6 (?) and kept the stock pickups. I took out the old KSD pre and sold it.

I ran it with no pre, no knobs (wired direct) for a while and like the tone. The passive tone has always been nice on this, but now with the Audere...

YIKES!

Great upgrade (Audere is a great product) for this bass. I have always REALLY liked this bass in most other respects, but now... What a winner.

gimmeagig · #12 08-13-2009, 07:04 PM

I don't know if this is the appropriate spot for this post.It's part of what modifications i did and part bass for sale.
I just got my trussrod fixed.My repair guy thought of kind of a tricky modification and it operates beautifully now.Much better that the original design.
It has a Bartolini preamp,SCN pickups,a Gotoh quickrelease bridge,reshaped headstock and neck, lowered neck pocket and the pickups are now located in the correct 70s Fender location and I got a new pickguard for it..The bass is now completely dialed in.Nothing wrong with it.
But I don't want the bass anymore. I love my Atelier Z and I have had too much trouble trying to get some customer service.Never did get any help from Brooklyn Gear or Bass Specialites where I bought it.Just empty promises.Check out my posts about what modifications I have done and what problems I have had.
So PM me if you are interested in buying my KSD.[IMG]

[/IMG]

Crockettnj · #13 08-14-2009, 07:19 AM

For sale basses with a link to this thread would be more appropo imo

gimmeagig · #14 08-14-2009, 01:34 PM

sorry, I don't know how to do that.
But I figured since I started this thread you might cut me some slack

I did want to show everybody what I did and also the problems I had. I figured you guys would be interested.
By the way the nut on the trussrod failing was not the only thing that was wrong with the truss rod. It had completely come loose inside at the bottom and at the top a piece of wood that was essential to the functioning of the trussrod had also disintegrated because it was too weak to begin with.
It's a serious design flaw.I wonder if Ken Smith designed that too. Fortunately my repair guy found a solution.He put in a new beefier adjustment nut at the top.The kind that could fit either a phillips or a flat screwdriver.Like they used to have on the bottom of the older fenders.He also drilled out part of the back of the neck heel and fixed what was wrong there and glued in a new piece of maple.I don't understand exactly what he did but it is working now and he told me it is way better that what I had before.