Am I foolish for thinking about...

[iiipopes]

Quality short scale 5-string bass strings are hard to come by. The B string will flop and thump. Before you purchase the bass, try this: tune your current 34-inch standard long scale bass down a full step to ADGCF. Then capo it at the second fret and play it as a short scale bass. As you play it, pay close attention to how the strings feel. This is what they will feel like on the TMB35. Ibanez does not offset the B tuner up the headstock, as they do on some of their other basses, like the SR series or the BTB series, making it even more difficult to find a B string that won't bind between the nut and the tuner.

Short scale conventional 4-string basses are one thing. Personally, having play the Ibanez offerings in stores the last few years, I do not believe that a short scale 5-string is a viable instrument in any event. 32 or 33 inch scale, yes, but not 30. YMMV.

 

[John Stephen]

I am dubious of my upgrade skills. 10 years ago I bought a set of pickups for a guitar, not realizing that they had to be soldered. The pickups are still in a drawer. I really do need to learn how to solder, but at 60 I'm afraid it may be "old dog, new tricks."

This is exactly my situation. As a matter of interest, I would love to be able to buy a cheap bass and change pickups, pots, etc. I've asked a lot of questions about it in other threads here on TB. But alas, not knowing how to solder, and not having any soldering equipment, I've decided against it. Checked out countless Youtube videos on "soldering for beginners" but none of them really answered the kind of beginners questions that I have. So I haven't done it, but I sure would like to. So my advice to the OP is "go for it!" As long as you can afford it, have fun!

 

[Pilgrim]

I am dubious of my upgrade skills. 10 years ago I bought a set of pickups for a guitar, not realizing that they had to be soldered. The pickups are still in a drawer. I really do need to learn how to solder, but at 60 I'm afraid it may be "old dog, new tricks."

I encourage you to learn. In 30 minutes you can figure out in how to solder well enough to swap pickups. There are tons of videos on YouTube and this is a very simple soldering job.

Strip wire, twist, apply heat to wire, tap solder on wire. (Skip tinning the wire, this will work.)

Make sure to insulate the joint with tape or heat-shrink tubing.

This is exactly my situation. As a matter of interest, I would love to be able to buy a cheap bass and change pickups, pots, etc. I've asked a lot of questions about it in other threads here on TB. But alas, not knowing how to solder, and not having any soldering equipment, I've decided against it. Checked out countless Youtube videos on "soldering for beginners" but none of them really answered the kind of beginners questions that I have. So I haven't done it, but I sure would like to. So my advice to the OP is "go for it!" As long as you can afford it, have fun!

If you have questions, PM me. I'll help.

 

[groooooove]

sometimes cheap does not mean poorly made, and sometimes it does.

there are some $250 basses that i would gladly put $200 pickups in.

there are some that you just shouldn't..

i don't know the bass in question so i can't say.

generally the cheap ibanez stuff i don't think i'd want to upgrade a whole lot. i'd rather just spend the money on a higher grade of ibanez.

 

[aprod]

I would say foolish yes. Especially if you are going to pay a tech. I suggest saving your money and buying a better quality bass.

 

[AFalseDichotomy]

It seems more risky to me than just using the extra $200 to get a better bass, the electronics and such might "fit" better with the instrument if you're not replacing them before you get it. At the very least, get the bass and play it for a few days, it might play better than you think.

 

[John Stephen]

If you have questions, PM me. I'll help.

Thanks, if I decide to give it a go, I will PM. I appreciate the offer.

 

[ejaggers]

I am dubious of my upgrade skills. 10 years ago I bought a set of pickups for a guitar, not realizing that they had to be soldered. The pickups are still in a drawer. I really do need to learn how to solder, but at 60 I'm afraid it may be "old dog, new tricks."

Like many things in the bass world, if the neck on the instrument you're starting with is solid - stable, straight, and doesn't have a pronounced dead spot, then modding it to what you really want makes sense. The whole point in a custom instrument is to get what you want - every part just the way you like it. Assuming you really know what you want, a custom bass is one where you never have to worry about resale value, because you'll never sell it. Are you that sure of what you want? if so, and the neck is good, proceed. If not, think a bit first.

I’m with you 100% on the soldering!!!
And I’m with micguy completely on everything he said!!!

I modded an Afinity P to hell and back because the neck is sweet and I’m just weird that way.
Ya’ll remember the nut made of dear antler.

I tried making the wiring harness at first, and it worked fine because I can wire,
but it looked like the Frankenstein Monster.
I’m too anal retentive to leave it that way even though no one would see it.

So, my Luthier does my soldering and gives me a price break.
I just make sure he doesn’t have to work (take things apart, and put them back, when soldering).

I’d mod that sucker ‘til the cows come home.
My advice is, know what parts you want and there’s no need to play it first.

For instance, I like lollipop tuners, so it doesn’t matter to me if the stock tuners work.
I wanted an over wounded Fralin for the AFN P, certain PG, etc.,
regardless of how good the stock was.

057912

This is exactly my situation. As a matter of interest, I would love to be able to buy a cheap bass and change pickups, pots, etc. I've asked a lot of questions about it in other threads here on TB. But alas, not knowing how to solder, and not having any soldering equipment, I've decided against it. Checked out countless Youtube videos on "soldering for beginners" but none of them really answered the kind of beginners questions that I have. So I haven't done it, but I sure would like to. So my advice to the OP is "go for it!" As long as you can afford it, have fun!

Have some solder for you.

 

[B-Mac]

Am I foolish for thinking about buying a cheap bass and doing major upgrades? I'm thinking about getting an Ibanez TMB35 5 string short scale which is only $250 new, then replacing the pickups, strings, and maybe the pots and wiring. Possibly ordering it from Sweetwater and having them put in the parts and do setup. I would have more in custamization than I would in the bass, but I think it would be a 5 string short scale that I would enjoy. There are not a lot of choices for budget 5 string short scales.

Go for it.
Check out the Glarry club.
They’re great for honing your modding skills.
Official Exquisite/Glarry/Burning Fire Bass Club?

 

[Bassamatic]

I am GASing for the TMB35!

I have the TMB 30 (4 string), and I will tell you that you will be wasting your time and money to do all those upgrades - this is a REALLY GREAT BASS! You don't need to do a dang thing except maybe change the strings after a while. Get one and you will see. MAYBE lightweight tuners down the road, but it's really not necessary. Don't replace pots until they die! Expensive pots and caps and jacks, etc. sound exactly the same as cheap ones.

The LEAST bang for your buck is changing pickups. Unless you have really cheap ones (These aren't), they make less difference than anything else. For example, I have two Squier Jaguar Short Scales. Because I have a shelf full of pickups from when I was stupid, I changed them out to DiMarzios in one and Duncans in the other. Listening in headphones there is only the smallest of difference between each other and from the stock pups, except the J is noise cancelling. Playing out it can't be heard at all. You will be the only one to think there is some difference.

Don't get carried away by the upgrade bug! The physical feel and quality of manufacturing is the most important and the TMBs are a great value. Just have a great setup, strings you like and you will be happy.

 

[ejaggers]

I am GASing for the TMB35!

I have the TMB 30 (4 string), and I will tell you that you will be wasting your time and money to do all those upgrades - this is a REALLY GREAT BASS! You don't need to do a dang thing except maybe change the strings after a while. Get one and you will see. MAYBE lightweight tuners down the road, but it's really not necessary. Don't replace pots until they die! Expensive pots and caps and jacks, etc. sound exactly the same as cheap ones.

The LEAST bang for your buck is changing pickups. Unless you have really cheap ones (These aren't), they make less difference than anything else. For example, I have two Squier Jaguar Short Scales. Because I have a shelf full of pickups from when I was stupid, I changed them out to DiMarzios in one and Duncans in the other. Listening in headphones there is only the smallest of difference between each other and from the stock pups, except the J is noise cancelling. Playing out it can't be heard at all. You will be the only one to think there is some difference.

Don't get carried away by the upgrade bug! The physical feel and quality of manufacturing is the most important and the TMBs are a great value. Just have a great setup, strings you like and you will be happy.

I agree with most of Bassamatic's points.
However, there's a difference between needs and wants.

Back to the lollipops example.
But there are things that will not make a difference in sound , I totally agree.

BTW,
I'm not a 5 string guy, but I am a short scale guy, and to me those don't go together.
Could that be why there are so few of them?

057912

 

[AFalseDichotomy]

BTW,
I'm not a 5 string guy, but I am a short scale guy, and to me those don't go together.
Could that be why there are so few of them?
057912

I think this is exactly right. The same reason that basses have a longer scale length than guitars, 5 string basses benefit from a longer scale length more than 4 string basses.

 

[chris_b]

Maybe you are one of this guys who just enjoys changing and messing around with stuff. if that's the case why are you asking us?

If you are not one of those guys. . . . . . IMO it's a potential waste of money to plan to replace parts on a bass when you don't know if you have a problem or not. A new set of strings is always a good idea when you are starting off with a new bass, but after that. . . . . . play the bass for a few months until you have assessed it and know what, if anything, you need to do.

 

[Volker Kirstein]

Am I foolish for thinking about buying a cheap bass and doing major upgrades? ...

The problem with buying a cheap bass and then upgrading it is, after you're done upgrading it, it's not a cheap bass anymore. It's now a more expensive bass. The whole point of a cheap bass is ultimately its cheapness . So this tends to defeat the purpose. ...

There's cheap, and then there's cheap.

Is this cheap bass a €200+ brand-name, or a <€50 no-name?

Are you planning to sell it, or is it a keeper?

I've upgraded almost all my €50-and-under basses. I've probably sunk close to €200, over time, into my go-to girl, a Harley Benton Shorty that I bought for €50. It was worth it, to me. No way would I be able to sell her for more than I paid originally, no matter how fancy schmancy she is now.

 

[ejaggers]

Maybe you are one of this guys who just enjoys changing and messing around with stuff. if that's the case why are you asking us?

If you are not one of those guys. . . . . . IMO it's a potential waste of money to plan to replace parts on a bass when you don't know if you have a problem or not. A new set of strings is always a good idea when you are starting off with a new bass, but after that. . . . . . play the bass for a few months until you have assessed it and know what, if anything, you need to do.

Modding a bass is NOT necessarily to fix a problem,
in fact, most of the time that’s not the case.

It’s to customize to your specific taste (back to my lollipop’s example).
Changing a pickguard does not change the sound, so what does it fix?
What does adding a racing stripe fix....(and so on)?

"Waste of money" is also subjective.
Buying a new Mercedes is a "waste of money",
when you can buy a used KIA for more than half the price.

057912