Build to learn?

[MirageBass]

I'm a hobby player right now, and I'd like to learn the ins and outs of a bass guitar so I can troubleshoot them when they poop out on me. Things like proper wiring, setup, etc.

I was wondering if building a bass from stock parts might be a good way of doing this, or if there are other resources. I don't want to rip up one of my current basses to see how they tick, since I don't want to risk them.

I was looking at the Waring/Raymond book from the stickys, and I'm wondering if this is a good way to learn about everything in more detail, and how much this adventure might cost me. I don't have many tools, but again, I'd probably just throw together stock parts.

[__HM__]

My first instrument was a squier strat. I learned so, so much about it just by taking it all apart, stripping it, and putting it back together. Never learned so much, so quickly, in my life. I recommend buying a crap bass, and doing the same. take it apart, redo the wiring, see if it works. Good luck.

[OHSPyro89]

Books are good, experience seems to be better. Just wait until your bass or guitar poops out on you, then research to fix it.

About wiring: once you kind of figure out how the potentiometers are used, it's not hard to trouble shoot wiring on passive systems. I have no experience with active. Look at wiring diagrams for guitars and basses. Google has everything you'll ever need.

__HM__, I do believe your use of commas is a little too extensive hahaha. Did you get any of this 2 feet snow crap?!

[__HM__]

Well excuuuuuuse me for punctuating! Lol, yeah, over the past 4(ish) days, we're up to a good foot and a half, at least. (I didn't notice all the commas in that sentence until after I re-read it ) And its snowing right now.. haha. Safe to say I'm out of class for a couple days. (Go me! ) I take it you live near Cincy? I'm an hour north, up in Fairfield.