Anyone use a Chinese-made Tagima as a mod platform?

[CTBassGuy]

The Tagmia TW-65 P/J has my interest piqued; at $290, it seems like it might be a good platform on which to add items like some Geezer P/J pickups and a KickAss bridge, but I really have no idea how they stack up to others in build quality, wood etc.

Anyone use a Chinese-made Tagima as a mod platform?

I've had an itch for a P/J bass for a while, but have yet to find one that scratches it well. I like the idea of a Lakland Skyline 44-64 Custom, but not at $1450; I'm more in the $600-all-in kind of price range.

That said, I have some really nice instruments (Pedualla Buzz, Lakland Skyline 44-64 P, 2 1980's Carvins, and, oddly, my 2000 MiM Fender P), so I'd like something that feels at least a nice as the Fender.

Any thoughts/experiences modding one of these?

 

[Yahboy]

Philippine-made Bacchus BJB1RSM under USD300 with Rock Solid Roasted Maple neck.

MOD the neck j pup to Split P and new pickguard.

 

[LowEndLobster]

Absolutely!... But manage your expectations as the bones are OK but not stellar. Is the TW65 you've been eyeing the one on my shop? Shoot me a message and we can work out a deal if you'd like.

 

[B-Mac]

The Tagmia TW-65 P/J has my interest piqued; at $290, it seems like it might be a good platform on which to add items like some Geezer P/J pickups and a KickAss bridge, but I really have no idea how they stack up to others in build quality, wood etc.

Anyone use a Chinese-made Tagima as a mod platform?

I've had an itch for a P/J bass for a while, but have yet to find one that scratches it well. I like the idea of a Lakland Skyline 44-64 Custom, but not at $1450; I'm more in the $600-all-in kind of price range.

That said, I have some really nice instruments (Pedualla Buzz, Lakland Skyline 44-64 P, 2 1980's Carvins, and, oddly, my 2000 MiM Fender P), so I'd like something that feels at least a nice as the Fender.

Any thoughts/experiences modding one of these?

Lots of modding ideas with similar like minded TB-ers here. They just use an even more inexpensive modding platform than Tagima.
Official Exquisite/Glarry/Burning Fire Bass Club?
Check ‘em out! Fun bunch!

 

[CTBassGuy]

Lots of modding ideas with similar like minded TB-ers here. They just use an even more inexpensive modding platform than Tagima.
Official Exquisite/Glarry/Burning Fire Bass Club?
Check ‘em out! Fun bunch!

Unfortunately, the Glarrys don't seem to have an FSO that is a PJ. Their PJ looks more like it came from the Ibanez family. It seems that the PJ platform is just not as ubiquitous with budget builders as the straight P or J variants.

I suppose, for the price though, the Glarry P might be a good platform to try my routing and drilling skills...

 

[ThudThudThud]

That said, I have some really nice instruments (Pedualla Buzz, Lakland Skyline 44-64 P, 2 1980's Carvins, and, oddly, my 2000 MiM Fender P), so I'd like something that feels at least a nice as the Fender.

Not odd. I had a 2000 MiM Fender P on which I replaced the pickguard (it had a one ply white), pots, cap, and knobs (it had Strat style knobs) that was simply wonderful. Playability, sound (it could growl, it could be smooth), and build were just fine.

 

[ThudThudThud]

Thomann USA? [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

$600-ish all in.

 

[CTBassGuy]

Thomann USA? [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

$600-ish all in.

I've been eyeing the P7; it seems to tick all the boxes. Decisions, decisions... Good problems to have I suppose.

 

[B-Mac]

Unfortunately, the Glarrys don't seem to have an FSO that is a PJ. Their PJ looks more like it came from the Ibanez family. It seems that the PJ platform is just not as ubiquitous with budget builders as the straight P or J variants.

I suppose, for the price though, the Glarry P might be a good platform to try my routing and drilling skills...

My suggestion was more for ideas and comradery.

 

[CTBassGuy]

Not odd. I had a 2000 MiM Fender P on which I replaced the pickguard (it had a one ply white), pots, cap, and knobs (it had Strat style knobs) that was simply wonderful. Playability, sound (it could growl, it could be smooth), and build were just fine.

Yep, exactly what I did to mine

 

[CTBassGuy]

Absolutely!... But manage your expectations as the bones are OK but not stellar. Is the TW65 you've been eyeing the one on my shop? Shoot me a message and we can work out a deal if you'd like.

Thanks, LowEndLobster; yours and DrCheese's videos on the Tagima were my first stop for researching the interest. I was actually looking at a black/tort variant of the TW65; I didn't realize you had yours up for sale. Terrific price, so GLWTS.

Your comment on the "...bones are OK, but not stellar..." is the main concern I have with undertaking the project. I've been somewhat spoiled with the good instruments I've managed to acquire, so "OK" probably is not enough to move me.
My Fender P is probably my least-good bass at the moment (and I think it's really quite good given what it is), so if the Tagima is not up to parity with an early 2000's MIM Fender, I don't think it would be worth it for me.

Thoughts on that comparison?

 

[LowEndLobster]

Thanks, LowEndLobster; yours and DrCheese's videos on the Tagima were my first stop for researching the interest. I was actually looking at a black/tort variant of the TW65; I didn't realize you had yours up for sale. Terrific price, so GLWTS.

Your comment on the "...bones are OK, but not stellar..." is the main concern I have with undertaking the project. I've been somewhat spoiled with the good instruments I've managed to acquire, so "OK" probably is not enough to move me.
My Fender P is probably my least-good bass at the moment (and I think it's really quite good given what it is), so if the Tagima is not up to parity with an early 2000's MIM Fender, I don't think it would be worth it for me.

Thoughts on that comparison?

Your assessment is accurate. If you want something like a MIM Fender, you will be disappointed. Perhaps a frankenfender might be a worthwhile pursuit!

 

[CTBassGuy]

Your assessment is accurate. If you want something like a MIM Fender, you will be disappointed...

Thanks LowEndLobster; this is exactly the analysis/comparison I was hoping for.

...Perhaps a frankenfender might be a worthwhile pursuit!

I think this may be the direction I'm going to go. Stay tuned...

 

[bolophonic]

Thanks LowEndLobster; this is exactly the the analysis/comparison I was hoping for.



I think this may be the direction I'm going to go. Stay tuned...

Frankenfender is the way to go, IMO.

 

[mlvswoll]

I purchased a TW-73 recently with the same idea to make it a mod bass. I replaced the pups with some Duncans and I upgraded the pots and control panel with an Obsidian harness. I did run into a few snags. The diameter of the pots were larger than the OEM control cover holes. I purchased a Fender control panel cover and installed the obsidian harness without issue. However, upon trying to re-install the pickguard I ran into an issue where the panel cover meets the pick guard. The fender panel cover has more of a curve to it whereas the tagima panel comes to more of a point at the top. This causes a gap above the panel and the pickguard is hard to line up properly. I purchased a fender pickguard figuring it would line up as needed with the panel cover as they are authentic parts, however the screw holes on the fender brand pick guard do not line up with the holes in the guitar. So..... now I am going to try to source another tagima panel cover to drill out the holes so everything lines up properly as i am too meticulous for my own good. I could drill the panel cover that came with the bass but I like to keep the oem stuff in case I revert the bass to stock at any point in the future. I have about $475 in it at this point but it plays and sounds fantastic. Just trying to clean up some of the cosmetic issues that arose with the mods.

 

[CTBassGuy]

I purchased a TW-73 recently with the same idea to make it a mod bass. I replaced the pups with some Duncans and I upgraded the pots and control panel with an Obsidian harness. I did run into a few snags. The diameter of the pots were larger than the OEM control cover holes. I purchased a Fender control panel cover and installed the obsidian harness without issue. However, upon trying to re-install the pickguard I ran into an issue where the panel cover meets the pick guard. The fender panel cover has more of a curve to it whereas the tagima panel comes to more of a point at the top. This causes a gap above the panel and the pickguard is hard to line up properly. I purchased a fender pickguard figuring it would line up as needed with the panel cover as they are authentic parts, however the screw holes on the fender brand pick guard do not line up with the holes in the guitar. So..... now I am going to try to source another tagima panel cover to drill out the holes so everything lines up properly as i am too meticulous for my own good. I could drill the panel cover that came with the bass but I like to keep the oem stuff in case I revert the bass to stock at any point in the future. I have about $475 in it at this point but it plays and sounds fantastic. Just trying to clean up some of the cosmetic issues that arose with the mods.

Great information, mlvswoll. Thank you. Your experience is my concern; a lot of fiddling with components and parts that won’t fit properly.

I think LowEnsLobster and bolophonic are probably correct here; Fender or Fender-compatible parts bass is probably where I need to go. This is likely a tough path to keep under $600, but I think the result will be more likely to be a happy-for-me result I’m the long run.

 

[jaysbass2002]

I just dove into a 80's Lotus body. Routed for a jazz pickup, kickass bridge, cheaper neck from eBay, bartolini p/j pickups, kellingsound harness with blend pot. Some pics. Tru-oil going on the neck. Fun project!

 

[CTBassGuy]

Well, FrankenFender seemingly is the way to go. This guy came up on the Classifieds and was exactly what I was after from an end result. Jazz Neck (Mexi Geddy), P/J config, Geezer pickups, and I've added the KickAss bridge.

PJ GAS addressed; for now...

Thanks for the recommendations all!

 

[kodiakblair]

Your experience is my concern; a lot of fiddling with components and parts that won’t fit properly.

You won't have that problem if you buy the correct parts.
The CTS pots used in the Obsidian harness were made in Taiwan but are SAE sized for 1/4" knobs to fit USA instruments instead of the 6mm knobs used by everyone else, that is everyone outside the USA

The EMG GZRs will fit no problem . EMG use pots for 6mm knobs , no reaming of the control plate for them. Same goes for the Kickass bridge , screw spacing for that is 17.8 mm ; screw spacing on the Tagima is 17.5mm.

0.3mm is a 0.011 guitar string of a difference

Should you decide to swap tuners ; buy metric size !

Change the PG ? Use the existing one as the template

A mechanic wouldn't dream of tapping a metric fitting to accept an SAE fixing when metric fixings are freely available , no reason somebody modding a bass should either.

 

[trtlepwr_88]

The Tagmia TW-65 P/J has my interest piqued; at $290, it seems like it might be a good platform on which to add items like some Geezer P/J pickups and a KickAss bridge, but I really have no idea how they stack up to others in build quality, wood etc.

Anyone use a Chinese-made Tagima as a mod platform?

I've had an itch for a P/J bass for a while, but have yet to find one that scratches it well. I like the idea of a Lakland Skyline 44-64 Custom, but not at $1450; I'm more in the $600-all-in kind of price range.

That said, I have some really nice instruments (Pedualla Buzz, Lakland Skyline 44-64 P, 2 1980's Carvins, and, oddly, my 2000 MiM Fender P), so I'd like something that feels at least a nice as the Fender.

Any thoughts/experiences modding one of these?

I have the TW-65 in sunburst with the maple neck. I bought it from Reverb new (though I think the seller had it set up and sitting out on his shop floor before he sold it to me). It felt nice and played great. The quality reminded me a bit of the Squier CV line.

I will mod it down the line (so far only swapped out the strings for my preferred brand). I will change out the tuners and the bridge (have some Fender tuners I will put it). One thing is that the bridge has a non standard screw pattern (four screws, one in each corner - as opposed to the five aligned at the bottom). So I'd have to drill in extra holes to swap it out. I'm also looking at the Hipshot Transtone bridge which has a similar screw pattern, but I have to measure the dimensions of the Tagima first to see if a swap would work.