What I want isn't built by anyone.
But I can afford something close and mod it to be closer.
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Anybody have anti modding fever?
- Thread starter wshines1892
- Start date
What I want isn't built by anyone.
But I can afford something close and mod it to be closer.
When it comes to "real basses" I like them with the factory stuff, the 2 basses I own now (a Geddy J and a BTB676) I bought them because I liked absolutely everything about them.
BUT if for sooooome reason I get a cheap bass such as a Squier or something like that, I might just mod it (mostly switch the P/Us for some Seymour Duncan Basslines)
BUT if for sooooome reason I get a cheap bass such as a Squier or something like that, I might just mod it (mostly switch the P/Us for some Seymour Duncan Basslines)
+1!
I'm planning on installing a Nordstrand MM pickup between the Big Splits on my BTB. The BS's would be wired to a mini-toggle pickup selector and then to the preamp as the "neck" pickup. The MM would be wired to a mini-toggle series/single-coil/parallel switch and then to the preamp as the "bridge" pickup. The audere's active blend will allow me to blend the sound of the two pickup systems. Nobody makes anything like this!
I always feel badly for people when they make mods in a sort of blind effort to get a "better" bass without really knowing why they are doing it, or how to go about it. I also hate it when I see a bass in the classifieds that I might be interested in, only to find out it has been modified into something I'm not at all interested in.
On the other hand, if someone knows what they are doing when they mod a bass, they can come away with a better instrument after the work is done.
The other side of this is making mods out of pure curiosity, or just for the fun of tinkering.I've traded out pickups just to see what brand X sounds like, for instance. I have a couple of basses that are so "personalized" I realize I'd never be able to sell them for much, but it was a fun project and I wound up with a playable, good sounding bass in the end. And, you can always part out projects like this to recoup some or all of the investment.
On the other hand, if someone knows what they are doing when they mod a bass, they can come away with a better instrument after the work is done.
The other side of this is making mods out of pure curiosity, or just for the fun of tinkering.I've traded out pickups just to see what brand X sounds like, for instance. I have a couple of basses that are so "personalized" I realize I'd never be able to sell them for much, but it was a fun project and I wound up with a playable, good sounding bass in the end. And, you can always part out projects like this to recoup some or all of the investment.
This is where I'm at with my 4-string BTB. I glued a hand-made rosewood thumbrest between the pickups. It also suffered a bad fall which cracked the neck under the nut. It's been fixed and plays as good as new, but there's no way I could sell this thing for more than $300, even with the upgraded pickups/preamp.
Forgot to mention that I'd mod a good bass too if I ain't got enough money and I'm tired of my basses.
martyman5000 said:
That is me. I hav swapped a lot of bridges, PUs, PGs, tuners, you name it. But, I always save the original. I even save the original strap buttons when install locks.
If I sell it, it always back to original. The mod parts get sold separately.
There is no way I would ever do anything like re-routing or finish work or the like.
+1billion to the tinkering thing. Nothing beats a few hours at the bench with a soldering gun and a dremel.
As I've said before, I love the smell of rosin in the morning. Modding is fun.
I got comfortable with modding on a $75 Ibby - pickups and preamp. I'm getting ready to mod my BTB675. Not just because it's fun but because there's a fatal flaw in the BTB Bart Mk2 pups - the 'A' string falls at the edge of the gap between the split coils and sounds dead compared to the other strings. The ebay seller forgot to mention or didn't know. After I put the new pickups in, I'll see if the preamp is up to snuff.
I got comfortable with modding on a $75 Ibby - pickups and preamp. I'm getting ready to mod my BTB675. Not just because it's fun but because there's a fatal flaw in the BTB Bart Mk2 pups - the 'A' string falls at the edge of the gap between the split coils and sounds dead compared to the other strings. The ebay seller forgot to mention or didn't know. After I put the new pickups in, I'll see if the preamp is up to snuff.
I have never had the urge to modify any bass that I have owned. I don't think I ever will. I might build my own some day.
I have had some basses that I would mod, but some that I will never tinker with (unless something breaks on it). Generally speaking, it's more fun to mod cheap instruments. There's less to lose and more to gain.
The only mods I ever make are minor, and primarily aesthetic, knobs, pickguards, and as a matter of course, straplocks. My instruments are all pretty much stock, they all play and sound well and are as stable as I could want. I'm not against modding in general, but I get kinda confounded when I hear people say they're gonna mod the hell out of an instrument before thay even get it. I guess it's just because I'm of the mind I wouldn't do any swapouts of major components like pickups and hardware unless there were something wrong with the stock equipment, and how are you gonna know that until you have an instrument in your hands?
the closest to modding a bass i own that i've ever done was the newest bass i own. i bought an OLP MM3 off of the classifieds here that had a bartolini instead of the stock Pup. i took it out, put the stock one back in, and took the stock one back out to put the bart back in. much thicker sound than the stock Pup, and i liked it better.
that said, i'm about to buy a JB Player off of here that needs some work, so I'm going to do that as a project bass. After that, I'm going to build a jazz bass parts bass with the stock OLP Pup in it instead of the bridge Pup. modding can have it's place, but only if i can't find a bass with what i want, and with a reasonable price.
that said, i'm about to buy a JB Player off of here that needs some work, so I'm going to do that as a project bass. After that, I'm going to build a jazz bass parts bass with the stock OLP Pup in it instead of the bridge Pup. modding can have it's place, but only if i can't find a bass with what i want, and with a reasonable price.
Heh. But custom stuff is the ULTIMATE modding!
I don't get the people who seem to mod for no reason. To me the master not only doesn't blame his tools, he always makes sure his tools do EXACTLY what he wants them to do! So If I can buy something that does exactly what I want. There is no mod. Why would I mod it? But if I want a different look, I seen nothing wrong with a new pickguard. If I'm getting lots of hum, there is nothing wrong with a shield job. If my pots are noisy or even if I question their reliability there is nothing wrong with spending a few dollars on "insurance" [although, personally being lazy I tend to let that kind of stuff go until the pots or jack REALLY gets noisy.]
Point is a mod should have a musical purpose. I'd never slap on a badass bridge just because everyone else does it. I might change the bridge if the saddles are all cattywampus. I do get reluctant to start drilling and sawing on an instrument as the price goes up. I know I should be true to my art, but somehow "resale value" rears it's ugly head!
If we only did what we thought we needed, we'd have very little real progress. Experimentation is great and should be encouraged in those who want to do it, even when the purpose isn't driven strictly by need.
Why do you think big corporations have research budgets? Some of the greatest new ideas come from tinkerers and inventors.
Besides that, it's fun too.
I'm with you on the 'experimentation goes down as price goes up' though. What's nice about this vocation/hobby is that, with basses, there's and awful lot of neat stuff that can be done inexpensively if you're a DIY'er.
Why do you think big corporations have research budgets? Some of the greatest new ideas come from tinkerers and inventors.
Besides that, it's fun too.
I'm with you on the 'experimentation goes down as price goes up' though. What's nice about this vocation/hobby is that, with basses, there's and awful lot of neat stuff that can be done inexpensively if you're a DIY'er.
Depends on the instrument with me. A couple instruments I've only replaced things like the bridge and the tuners on. Easily reversible, should I wish to go back.
On my Peavey, though, I routed a big hole for a new pickup. I like the way it sounds now, which is good, because going back would be impossible. I also put on a new bridge.
On my Peavey, though, I routed a big hole for a new pickup. I like the way it sounds now, which is good, because going back would be impossible. I also put on a new bridge.
I'm with you. I've played for 10+ years and over 600+ shows and didn't even know you could 'mod' a bass/instrument until I joined this site.
I've found (maybe, probably just me) the more I change something, the more I want it changed, again.
I have a '06 MIM that's sounds better than ANYTHING I've ever heard or played.
I don't know if I would buy something just to change everything about it.....
I've found (maybe, probably just me) the more I change something, the more I want it changed, again.
I have a '06 MIM that's sounds better than ANYTHING I've ever heard or played.
I don't know if I would buy something just to change everything about it.....
I changed the bridge on my mim fender jazz (wanted something that had slotted grooves for the saddles) to a BA2, and honestly if i wanted to change it back it would take about the same time as it would to change my strings from flats to rounds.
Now if we are talking about cutting and routing a bass, well thats something else, I persnally would never do that. However we cant forget those with p bass's that wanted to add a jazz Pickup at the bridge back in the 60's 70's because this was not an available option, or dropping active electronics into basses that historically were passive. Sometimes it takes innovation from a few to bring about innovation and evolution to an instrument as you can see in the influx of options available today.
Now if we are talking about cutting and routing a bass, well thats something else, I persnally would never do that. However we cant forget those with p bass's that wanted to add a jazz Pickup at the bridge back in the 60's 70's because this was not an available option, or dropping active electronics into basses that historically were passive. Sometimes it takes innovation from a few to bring about innovation and evolution to an instrument as you can see in the influx of options available today.
I've only modded my squier (pickups and bridge)- I did enjoy the process though I hate soldering
I consider the time involved in the value of a mod after the oh so delightful experience of changing the pickups, hardware and harness on an Epiphone 335. The $350 in parts and 4 hours of strings tied to pots hell made me wish I'd just bought a better guitar. Though it does sound much sweeter now.
