creating a new pickup spot...

jamersonburton · #1 08-10-2011, 06:11 PM

an idea just crossed my mind:
If i buy a used Epiphone EB-0 shortscale (okay i know not that great...) and add another pickup, how would i do it?

I'm thinking of either putting a jazz bass pickup or a fender 51' p bass pickup (seymour duncan) and putting it in an epiphone eb0. but should i get it done professionally or should i do it myself? and how much would it cost?

I dont really have materials and if i got them, it would be my first time doing mods/repaires to a bass.... sorry for a stupid question. please reply, im having a huge burst of GAAAASSSS!

jamersonburton · #2 08-10-2011, 06:12 PM

and if you say: Do it yourself, what would i need and how would i do it. (im an unemployed teen so i dont have too much cash to blow).

bassfunk329 · #3 08-10-2011, 06:22 PM

Ok well... If your in highschool and it has'nt started yet wait and do it in shop. I wouldnt doubt the teacher would let you during a study hall or somthin. And get a templet best bet stew mac has em....

THIRSTYGUMS · #4 08-10-2011, 06:24 PM

Having it done for you will cost twice what you paid for the instrument. Do it yourself, visit the luthiers forum and read read read. (search: pickup route, pickup routing)
you CAN do it, borrow some tools or better yet hook up with someone that knows their way around a router and have them teach you some things. You'll get an enormous sense of satisfaction and achievement out of it.
Good luck

M.R. Ogle · #5 08-10-2011, 06:25 PM

Ya know, I always encourage people to "get into" the guts of their basses and learn how to set up and mod things themselves. It's part of the fun of the deal, to me. And learning on a not-particularly-expensive bass like an Epi is a good way to start.

However, to add a second pickup would probably require the use (or loan) of a wood router to cleanly cut a whole in the wood in which to mount the second pickup. If you can get a hold of a router, and are reasonably proficient with tools, you CAN do this yourself. I've seen it done with wood chisels, but that's REALLY a skill to pull it off cleanly.

On the other hand, if you go to a PRO luthier to have this done, it'll cost you MOST of what a router would cost to BUY.... and probably near half of what you paid for the whole Epi bass in the first place.

You can do this, if you want. It's not rocket science. Two screws, two wires and a hole in the wood.

jamersonburton · #6 08-10-2011, 06:31 PM

THANK YOU for the encouragment and quick replies! the thing is i would also need to buy a soldering iron... i dont have the epi right now but if i feel confident, i might grab one used or something. i dont want to mod my current bass (yamaha bb300) since i like it, i just want something different

alexgeddy · #7 08-10-2011, 06:33 PM

remember measure a thousand times and route once !!!

good luck

jamersonburton · #8 08-10-2011, 06:43 PM

another possibility would be for me to get the epi, change the neck pickup (just to build up some confidence) (the dimarzio model 1 are what like 100$?). mow some lawns/shovel snow/rake leaves or something for more money, and then add a pickup. or even maybe get an epi eb-3 and just widen the bridge pickup? that might be less of a hastle, even though its long scale.

jamersonburton · #9 08-11-2011, 08:44 AM

After some reflection i have YET another ideo

.. ... ... . .... i might just grab a cheap p bass or j bass since they have simple wiring schematics (passive). and just change the pickups myself. if i wanted to widen a pickup, what would i do? sandpaper and files? thanks.

Firesalt · #10 08-11-2011, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamersonburton

After some reflection i have YET another ideo

.. ... ... . .... i might just grab a cheap p bass or j bass since they have simple wiring schematics (passive). and just change the pickups myself. if i wanted to widen a pickup, what would i do? sandpaper and files? thanks.

Widen a pickup? Are you referring to the hole you mount the pickup in?
If so then yes, some sandpaper would work fine for small adjustments (say 1/8th of an inch or so) but if you want something bigger (like from a p-bass pickup to a musicman) you're back to chisel/router.
That being said there are LOTS of different options and pickups available for a P or J config to get different tones. Your best bet would probably be buying an aftermarket replacement pickup if the one you have isn't doing it for you.
And then there's preamps you can install to change your sound as well. Not terribly difficult to install if you can read schematics (or follow simple directions) and have a general idea on how soldering irons work.
I've been looking at putting a Sadowsky preamp into my Geddy Lee jazz for a little different tone from it. Love the passive sound but I want a deeper low end... That will involve wiring and drilling a new hole to mount a jack in the side.

iiipopes · #11 08-11-2011, 09:21 AM

Find the proper template, route out the top, add pickup ring and pickup, drill hole(s) for extra control(s), and wire it in. The most fitting addition for this particular bass would be to add a bass minihumbucker like an EB-3, along with an extra volume and tone control, arranged like a 4-control ES335-style instrument, and possibly a selector switch as well.

jamersonburton · #12 08-11-2011, 09:59 AM

yah, sorry. i meant to type cavity after that :/ thanks for all the great ideas. im gonna see what i can get, these forums always boost my confidence