Assembling your own basses vs buying production basses vs modding

[somebrains]

I mod and build.
I also buy other people's builds.

I started out in the 80's doing repairs to source parts or cheapo used gear to keep me playing. Unlike most here I was exposed to the population of players that needed break/fix. Whether they were working musicians, wing nuts, or tone chasers it didn't matter to me. I was improving my hoard and paying my bills wrenching on gear.

Do whatever makes you happy.
At some point I settled on what works for a given use case, and I still have a pile of parts strewn around that I put together when the itch hits.

 

[John LaTorre]

Hey, SactoBass, I think we need to talk. I'm also in Sacramento, and I've been kicking around the idea of building a bass. I've made a few guitars and mandolins (and other odd beasts), but don't have any experiences with solid-body instruments. I was just thinking about ordering one of those $80 bass kits you see on Ebay, but I went to this forum to see what others are thinking and suggesting.

If you're interested, I'll PM you with my phone number.

 

[face_east]

For my part, I'm eternally unsatisfied. I'm reluctant to put a big amount of money upfront. So I always ending up buying an ok thing. Then I spend the rest of my time buying an upgrading parts. In the end, the bass costs more than the initial more expensive one I was lurking. And because it is not original, I cannot sell it for the price it is worth. But I keep doing it over and over again, partially because I like to play with parts. I just bought an fretless Ibanez Portamento. I might be the first bass I keep origina Time will tell.

 

[SactoBass]

Hey, SactoBass, I think we need to talk. I'm also in Sacramento, and I've been kicking around the idea of building a bass. I've made a few guitars and mandolins (and other odd beasts), but don't have any experiences with solid-body instruments. I was just thinking about ordering one of those $80 bass kits you see on Ebay, but I went to this forum to see what others are thinking and suggesting.

Unfortunately, I don't know anything about those kits on ebay, so I won't be of any help in that regard. In fact I have never even heard of those kits! Perhaps another TB'er will chime in with their knowledge regarding those kits.

 

[John LaTorre]

Unfortunately, I don't know anything about those kits on ebay, so I won't be of any help in that regard. In fact I have never even heard of those kits! Perhaps another TB'er will chime in with their knowledge regarding those kits.

I totally understand. But I'd still like to pick your brain on local sources for components, used instruments, and such. Since Profound Sound closed a few months ago, I don't know of any local places except Guitar Center, which probably doesn't have the best prices.

 

[CallMeAl]

I took a P bass and put a J neck on it. I made a few other mods, but the neck swap was the most important IMO. I voted “mod,” cause that’s what I did in this particular case; but I could have gotten there with parts too.

I’ve done J bass mods, split coil pickups and series wiring. I’ve also been perfectly content with production basses as well. But the Modded P bass has become my favorite, and the only one I play anymore.

 

[Watchootognbout]

I have always bought a production model and performed mods.

The fretted has had one mod.
The knobs.

The fretless has had five.
Defretted once.
Then replace the pickups,knobs,and tuners.
Then had the defretted board replaced with unlined ebony fingerboard.

 

[Son of Wobble]

Total cost $356.

Used MIM P bass with rosewood fingerboard, $200 on Craigslist
Straight trade of said rosewood board for a 50's Original maple neck, Craigslist $0
Fully loaded gold anodized pickguard on sale from Stratosphere $130 shipped
replacement vintage threaded bridge $26

 

[SactoBass]

I totally understand. But I'd still like to pick your brain on local sources for components, used instruments, and such. Since Profound Sound closed a few months ago, I don't know of any local places except Guitar Center, which probably doesn't have the best prices.

Well, once again I am going to fail miserably, because I don't have any information regarding local sources for parts as I bought all of the components online without regard to where they are located in the USA (mostly from ebay or Reverb). But I am thankful that you are asking about sourcing because there may be others (as well as you) who are interested in knowing where I bought the parts for my four Fender basses. So, I will post the info here for everyone to see. This is all the info I have. You can use Google to find anything on this list:

Bass bodies (Warmoth or USA Custom Guitars or the STRATosphere)
Fender USA jazz bass neck, 20 medium jumbo frets (ebay or Reverb or the STRATosphere or Guitar Center)
Fender Deluxe Schaller Lite tuners (ebay or Reverb)
True Custom Shop string tree (ebay)
Fender neck plate w/four screws (ebay)
Hipshot Kickass chrome bridge w/brass saddles 5K400C (ebay or Reverb)
Lollar bass pickups (Lollar website)
Pickguard (ebay or Reverb)
Fender “ashtray” chrome pickup cover (ebay or Reverb)
Wiring harness for P or J bass (ebay)
VT knobs chrome (ebay)
Hipshot thumbrest black brass w/black screws (ebay or Reverb)
Copper shielding tape (ebay)
Dunlop Dual Design Straploks (ebay or Reverb or Sweetwater)
Strap button felt washers (white) and pickguard screws (ebay)
Nut slot files (Stew Mac)
Protec bass guitar gig bag CF233 (amazon)

Also needed is a soldering iron and a power drill. When you buy the wiring harness, the supplier will provide info on how to make the connections. Regarding installing the copper shielding, use google to find "how to" videos on that. Also, regarding filing the nut slots down to the proper depth, use google to find "how to" videos on that. The vids are very helpful! Once the bass is assembled, then you have to perform a "set up" (eg, truss rod adjustment, bridge saddle heights, pickup heights, intonation, etc.). Again, google will help you find "how to" vids for doing a proper set up.

And here's a not-so-secret tip when attaching a brand new neck to a bass body: put some chapstick (I use Burts Bees) on the screw threads. It helps make the screws go in easier.

Hope that info helps!

 

[SactoBass]

I took a P bass and put a J neck on it. I made a few other mods, but the neck swap was the most important IMO. I voted “mod,” cause that’s what I did in this particular case; but I could have gotten there with parts too.

I’ve done J bass mods, split coil pickups and series wiring. I’ve also been perfectly content with production basses as well. But the Modded P bass has become my favorite, and the only one I play anymore.
View attachment 3647401

Very nice! Love the J neck on a P bass!

And that dark blue really looks good with that rosewood board!

 

[SactoBass]

Total cost $356.

Used MIM P bass with rosewood fingerboard, $200 on Craigslist
Straight trade of said rosewood board for a 50's Original maple neck, Craigslist $0
Fully loaded gold anodized pickguard on sale from Stratosphere $130 shipped
replacement vintage threaded bridge $26
View attachment 3647441 View attachment 3647442

That is sharp looking!

 

[Son of Wobble]

That is sharp looking!

Thanks. Midnight Wine and gold anodized guard with a 50's neck is not a trifecta I'm seen from Fender's production runs, so this would be akin to your examples of building to one's own exact specs, in this case at a very fair price.

 

[SactoBass]

I totally understand. But I'd still like to pick your brain on local sources for components, used instruments, and such. Since Profound Sound closed a few months ago, I don't know of any local places except Guitar Center, which probably doesn't have the best prices.

Oops...I addressed your question regarding sources for components in my post #29, but I forgot to address your request for a suggestion regarding finding used instruments. IMO/IME, the best place to buy used gear is the TB classifieds. I have found that the prices are usually (not always, but usually) better than what you find on ebay or Reverb. But if you don't find what you are looking for in the TB classifieds, then ebay and Reverb is where I would look next for used gear!

 

[Moving Pictures]

Total cost $356.

Used MIM P bass with rosewood fingerboard, $200 on Craigslist
Straight trade of said rosewood board for a 50's Original maple neck, Craigslist $0
Fully loaded gold anodized pickguard on sale from Stratosphere $130 shipped
replacement vintage threaded bridge $26
View attachment 3647441 View attachment 3647442

Beautiful! I am really taken with that colour combo.

 

[NativeBobcat]

I’ve come to love doing parts builds! I started by making a Bass VI from Warmoth parts and it was so much fun I built two more almost back to back. The leftys are mine and the righty I built for a friend.

The whole reason I got into it was because, being a lefty, my choices are very limited. That’s why I built a Bass VI and a Jazzmaster bass for myself. Close to impossible to find those left handed. The next build I’m doing is gonna be a lefty Mustang bass.

 

[Holdsg]

I've enjoyed modding a number of basses over the years. I don't do the work myself. I usually have Mo @ Nordstrand do it, since I live nearby the shop and he's fabulous. I've had Pat Wilkins refi a bass, he's fabulous too. Most of the time I have done pickup swaps, which I find to give the biggest tone change for the buck. It usually goes something like this.

- find a neglected bass with good bones (import versions of US models is where I've usually done this, such as Lakland Skylines, Spector Euros or Rebops, MIM Fenders, etc.) But sometimes a US model that has been beat up a bit.
- find pickups you really like, then put them in.
- find a pre-amp you really like, then swap that out too.
- if you need to refin, think long and hard about it, and then call Pat Wilkins
- refinish the back of the neck with an oil/wax finish (this is a mod I have actually pulled off successfully several times)
- accessorize with new pick guards and your favorite strings.
- play it for a while, and then when you get tired of it, sell it and start all over again.

I've done this maybe 10 times in 15 years.
Here's a recent one:
NMFPPBD - New Modded Fender Player P-bass Day
where the previous owner did a number of good mods, and then I just made it a bit better with new pickups.
I was always pleased with my mods. Some were minor things. Some were major rescues. They always sold. I always lost money on the deal, and I didn't care, because rescuing basses, or making them better is reward enough.

 

[BAG]

The important part is the neck, find something with a good, stiff neck & you're golden.

Quite soon after switching from guitar to bass around 6 or so years ago I discovered that I prefer Jazz sized necks. I was lucky enough to pick up a fretless and fretted Jazz sized Warmoth necks. I don't think i'll ever part with them. The fretted Pbass is my No.1 and it will take something special to change that. The fretless neck is just so nice but i'm yet to find a body/pickup combination that I really like. Maybe i'm just a Pbass person. Both of these necks as so slim and narrow it is simply amazing how stable they are.

Will I throw together any more parts basses? Maybe if I score a great deal on another good neck some time. I'd love to put together a Cabronita style bass.

 

[SactoBass]

I’ve come to love doing parts builds! I started by making a Bass VI from Warmoth parts and it was so much fun I built two more almost back to back. The leftys are mine and the righty I built for a friend.

The whole reason I got into it was because, being a lefty, my choices are very limited. That’s why I built a Bass VI and a Jazzmaster bass for myself. Close to impossible to find those left handed. The next build I’m doing is gonna be a lefty Mustang bass.View attachment 3647451 View attachment 3647462 View attachment 3647455

Niiiiiice!

And I couldn't help smiling when I read "it was so much fun I built two more almost back to back" because after I did my first build, I was hooked and ended up doing three more! I was actually surprised at how much fun it was, and how satisfying and rewarding!

 

[SactoBass]

I've enjoyed modding a number of basses over the years. I don't do the work myself. I usually have Mo @ Nordstrand do it, since I live nearby the shop and he's fabulous. I've had Pat Wilkins refi a bass, he's fabulous too. Most of the time I have done pickup swaps, which I find to give the biggest tone change for the buck. It usually goes something like this.

- find a neglected bass with good bones (import versions of US models is where I've usually done this, such as Lakland Skylines, Spector Euros or Rebops, MIM Fenders, etc.) But sometimes a US model that has been beat up a bit.
- find pickups you really like, then put them in.
- find a pre-amp you really like, then swap that out too.
- if you need to refin, think long and hard about it, and then call Pat Wilkins
- refinish the back of the neck with an oil/wax finish (this is a mod I have actually pulled off successfully several times)
- accessorize with new pick guards and your favorite strings.
- play it for a while, and then when you get tired of it, sell it and start all over again.

I've done this maybe 10 times in 15 years.
Here's a recent one:
NMFPPBD - New Modded Fender Player P-bass Day
where the previous owner did a number of good mods, and then I just made it a bit better with new pickups.
I was always pleased with my mods. Some were minor things. Some were major rescues. They always sold. I always lost money on the deal, and I didn't care, because rescuing basses, or making them better is reward enough.

Biiiiiiig +1

That is EXCELLENT!

 

[SactoBass]

Quite soon after switching from guitar to bass around 6 or so years ago I discovered that I prefer Jazz sized necks. I was lucky enough to pick up a fretless and fretted Jazz sized Warmoth necks. I don't think i'll ever part with them. The fretted Pbass is my No.1 and it will take something special to change that. The fretless neck is just so nice but i'm yet to find a body/pickup combination that I really like. Maybe i'm just a Pbass person. Both of these necks as so slim and narrow it is simply amazing how stable they are.

Will I throw together any more parts basses? Maybe if I score a great deal on another good neck some time. I'd love to put together a Cabronita style bass.

View attachment 3647481

Those basses are saWEET! Love the reverse headstock!