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Assembling your own basses vs buying production basses vs modding
- Thread starter SactoBass
- Start date
i think you've shown those before: i've really been impressed by those two! they are crazy good looking.
Thanks. They play really well and the necks are starting to age out nicely as the tint has darkened somewhat. The Jazz is very interesting in that I get very little hum when they are out of phase. Subsequently it has been used on more recordings than the Precision.
Some men are simply born to tinker. But I'm down with your logic. You sold your own build, didn't you.
Good to see you, by the way!
I did! I sold it to a fellow TB’er and they like it! Good to see you too
I would disagree, because I saved money buying production basses instead of individual parts, which is what this entire thread is about.
This is an important point.
My answer is that I would prefer that Fender made what I wanted. I’ve actually tried having conversations with their Custom Shop; which were laughably thrown back in my face with utmost arrogance, belittling, and ignorance. I like major elements of Leo’s designs; but, the folks exercising responsibility for those designs have broken this camel’s back with their basic nastiness. I will NEVER try to work with Fender ever again. No matter what.
My two main workhorses are both parts basses. The 4 is an older Warmoth body that Ive had forever. The 5 was assembled from Fender parts from the STRATosphere. They are both outstanding instruments.
Regarding mods, I generally try to keep instruments which have an element of collector market at least reversibly modified, with original parts in the case. Instruments with no collector market are fair game for my discretion.
I played a RIC 4001 (purchased, new, in 1997- when I was 15- played it, exclusively, until I was 50). Then realized it wasn't ‘doing’ all I wanted (or maybe I just didn’t understand it well enough...) I digress...
View attachment 3648066
Over the past 7+ years (and probably, not coincidently, since I joined TB) I’ve purchased, whole basses, and parts of basses & have truly found what *tickles my ears & hands*!,
The ‘no compromise’! - must have 1.5” width- (somewhat thin profile) necks
Just discovered short-scales aren’t for me (at least cheaper production models aren’t)
The fewer knobs/pickups-the better (aka the @alanloomis1980 club)
But- mostly- it’s great fun... nerding-out on part searches... & putting them all together & having them bring life to my vision!!
My ‘creations’ show up here- probably too much... but I have recently added a J assembly- pretty excited about ‘er
L-R:
Black American Special P body (born 2012) (theSTRATOSPHERE)
Geddy Lee J neck (CIJ)- rebadged with Precision waterslide (0.73” profile @ 1st fret) (TB)
Fender Vintage Hi-mass bridge (ebay)
Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound pickups (the Music Zoo)
3-ply pickguard (with TR cutout- so I don’t have to remove neck for ‘vintage’ TR adjustment) (ebay)
Fender flat-top knobs w/vintage wiring harness (Amazon)
Etched Fender neckplate (Greasy Groove)
*wore Roto SS ‘66 whilst I was gigging in a Classic Rock band... recently ‘retired’, from that, toned ‘er down a bit with GHS Pressurewounds! (BSO/FretNation)
*newest addition*
3TSB Classic Vibe ‘70s J body (I always hit the bridge pu with my playing fingers- so the wider spacing ‘solves’ that!)
Fender Deluxe J neck (0.80 profile @ 1st fret) (theSTRATOSPHERE)
Hipshot (HB7 tuners) (theSTRATOSPHERE)
Fender Vintage Hi-mass bridge (ebay)
Seymour Duncan ‘Apollo’ (linear humbucking) pups (dreamy sounding... pure tech-talk!)(Sweetwater)
Tort guard (ebay)
Fender flat-top knobs (Amazon)
Custom shop neckplate (Greasy Groove)
*currently strung with Roto Solo Bass pressurewounds (ebay)
Oly White American Special P body (born 2013) (theSTRATOSPHERE)
American Special J neck- rebadged with Precision waterslide (0.77” profile @ 1st fret) (theStratosphete)
Hipshot HB7 lollipop tuners (BestBassGear)
Fender American Deluxe bridge (ebay)
SD Antiquity II pickups (TB)
Celluloid Tort pickguard (BestBassGear)
Fender flat-top knobs w/vintage wiring harness (ebay)
Paisley Custom Shop neckplate (Greasy Groove)
Currently wearing D’Addario Half-rounds (Fret Nation)
View attachment 3648036
Two of my previous builds were (refins) Sonic Blue Mike Dirnt P & Sonic blue ‘Broncostang’... but were both sold due to not fulfilling my, above referenced ‘needs’! They were ‘proud’ creations!!
View attachment 3648040 View attachment 3648039
saWEET collection!
Also one assumes you can actually buy it "the way you like", as in most cases, you cannot. Hence, the build your own. To get a custom Fender the way I've built mine were either impossible or would have ran over twice the cost of my own build, with same quality. After all, all guitars are essentially "parts casters", it's just a matter of who assembled them.
Hiya,
I would say that I've graduated from leaving instruments as they were purchased to modding them to assembling them from parts and now I'm thinking it might not be long before take the deep dive to building from scratch.
For the first stage of my journey, I bought new or used instruments and played them, when either I grew tired of the sound or it fell out of popularity, I traded or sold, then bought new. I never touched the instruments, including setups other than changing strings. This is still the case for my '73 Les Paul Deluxe, Peavey Unity series neck through Koa and my Lane Poor Minima, these are "just right" as they are and if I changed anything, it would detract from them.
The second stage I started to modify instruments. It started out with simple things like pick guards, pickups, pre-amps/tone circuits, bridges, truss rod adjustments etc. All of my Fenders fall into this group. They all started life as out of the box P and J standards (US, Mex and Japanese), Peavey US bolt-ons, Guild Pilots, G&L's, EBMM's.
The third stage started about 10 years ago when I joined TB, I started to lurk in the parts and accessories for sale page. The first item I bought was a no name J body in black for a $100 bucks. Next I picked up a set of unknown maker J's, a Gotoh bridge, tuners, control plate for it off the board. I bought a Mighty-Mite maple P neck and slapped it together. I was hooked on building them myself. I ended up using that as my #1 for several years until my drummer's daughter finally pestered me enough to sell it to her. It was a great feeling to make something useful, then to pass it on to someone who's father would have bought her any bass she wanted but she wanted the one she grew up listening to. (She's still playing it)
My current project is a double P Warmoth in sea foam green with G&L MFD P's, a Gotoh bridge and no pick guard. I'm deciding on the neck now, going with a roasted flamed maple, ebony board, stainless 6115's, Corin nut, no face dots, Jazz width, slim profile but I can't decide if I want a Tele or Jazz head stock..... decisions, decisions, decisions....
Tom
I would say that I've graduated from leaving instruments as they were purchased to modding them to assembling them from parts and now I'm thinking it might not be long before take the deep dive to building from scratch.
For the first stage of my journey, I bought new or used instruments and played them, when either I grew tired of the sound or it fell out of popularity, I traded or sold, then bought new. I never touched the instruments, including setups other than changing strings. This is still the case for my '73 Les Paul Deluxe, Peavey Unity series neck through Koa and my Lane Poor Minima, these are "just right" as they are and if I changed anything, it would detract from them.
The second stage I started to modify instruments. It started out with simple things like pick guards, pickups, pre-amps/tone circuits, bridges, truss rod adjustments etc. All of my Fenders fall into this group. They all started life as out of the box P and J standards (US, Mex and Japanese), Peavey US bolt-ons, Guild Pilots, G&L's, EBMM's.
The third stage started about 10 years ago when I joined TB, I started to lurk in the parts and accessories for sale page. The first item I bought was a no name J body in black for a $100 bucks. Next I picked up a set of unknown maker J's, a Gotoh bridge, tuners, control plate for it off the board. I bought a Mighty-Mite maple P neck and slapped it together. I was hooked on building them myself. I ended up using that as my #1 for several years until my drummer's daughter finally pestered me enough to sell it to her. It was a great feeling to make something useful, then to pass it on to someone who's father would have bought her any bass she wanted but she wanted the one she grew up listening to. (She's still playing it)
My current project is a double P Warmoth in sea foam green with G&L MFD P's, a Gotoh bridge and no pick guard. I'm deciding on the neck now, going with a roasted flamed maple, ebony board, stainless 6115's, Corin nut, no face dots, Jazz width, slim profile but I can't decide if I want a Tele or Jazz head stock..... decisions, decisions, decisions....
Tom
Fender buys parts for their production instruments and assembles these parts. If I change the pickups do I have now a modded production bass or did I change something on my assembled bass?
Indeed!
That's why I do not call an assembled bass (meaning assembled by the owner) a "parts bass" because *ALL* basses are parts basses.
For the purpose of this thread discussion and the poll, "assembled" refers to the owner assembling the components, and "production" refers to the factory assembling the components. But you already knew that!
I think for some folks, it might be because a particular bass they have (or want) has *almost* everything they want in a bass, except for perhaps one or two components that can be easily swapped out.
+1
I'm always amazed at how important proper nut slot depth (and angle) is. I ended up buying a set of nut slot files from Stew Mac, and I worked on all five of my current basses to ensure proper nut slot depth and angle.
Here's a vid that some TB'ers may find helpful regarding filing nut slots:
Thanks @SactoBass for sharing this YouTube video! This is exactly what I've been dealing with and I finally figured out this weekend that the string nut is too high! The other three videos by the guitar tech are also excellent. Using these videos as a guide, I should be able to really get the bass action how I like!
Well KBD, just to clarify, that actually is not what this thread is about (although for some players, it might be). I created this thread to discuss the satisfaction of having basses that have the exact components that the owner wants, and for us to share which method we each have chosen to achieve that satisfaction. Now, having said that, it is very clear that for *some* players, the economics plays a vital role in the equation. For me, economics had absolutely nothing to do with me assembling my four Fender basses. But economics is definitely a factor for some players, no doubt!
I have 10 basses, only 2 are not modified in any way ('95 EBMM Stingray, Epiphone TBird, not sure of the year, 2010-ish)). my first good bass, '72 P bass has had different pickups/pickguards over the years. The next stock instrument I got, a Warwick Streamer 5 had an Aggy preamp put in it, the only change.
About 3,4 years ago I discovered EBay, and parts, have assembled 6 instruments, P and Jazz basses, 4 and 5 string. I gravitated to Jazz necks, love them on my P's. The ability to pick the parts, and finishes/colors is irresistable, LOOOVE the Fender platform for the variability!
MJ
About 3,4 years ago I discovered EBay, and parts, have assembled 6 instruments, P and Jazz basses, 4 and 5 string. I gravitated to Jazz necks, love them on my P's. The ability to pick the parts, and finishes/colors is irresistable, LOOOVE the Fender platform for the variability!
MJ
