Assembling your own basses vs buying production basses vs modding

[stonetone7]

My history has been the first two options. With mixed results. But I’d like to get into assembling my own one day, just for the fun and to see if I can maybe up the average a little.

Attached is my only modded bass, the last standing, most successful of the bunch. The rest have been sold or donated. It’s a 2000 MIM with an EMG J set and a Badass 2. (I didn’t do the work.) My guitars (2001 and 2008 American Fenders) are still stock and will probably remain so.

 

[SactoBass]

The only mods I've ever done on a bass were removing the bridge cover & pickguard & replacing the knobs-which don't affect the tone--just the look and to a degree the utility (Speedknobs which I find easier to use & the bridge cover removal makes for faster string changes)
And also removing the foam mute.
that did affect the tone--in my mind for the better.

My fretless is unmodded.

Excellent! Even minor mods are still mods that make it your own!

 

[SactoBass]

My history has been the first two options. With mixed results. But I’d like to get into assembling my own one day, just for the fun and to see if I can maybe up the average a little.

Attached is my only modded bass, the last standing, most successful of the bunch. The rest have been sold or donated. It’s a 2000 MIM with an EMG J set and a Badass 2. (I didn’t do the work.) My guitars (2001 and 2008 American Fenders) are still stock and will probably remain so.View attachment 3647921

That's a nice J bass!

 

[somebrains]

I'm curious. The market is so flooded with Fender parts that it seems fairly easy to put together a P or J. What I'm interested in-- has anyone built a Music Man style bass? I'd be interested in seeing a home made MM and how the owner likes it.

There have been a lot of fender shaped bodies with MM routs floating around from parted builds.
I’ve used SD and Nordstrand pickups with their respective MM clone preamps.
All sounded fine, and you can argue that you retain your favored J or P shape which makes playability better for some people.

 

[N4860]

While most of my basses are production line instruments, I do definitely enjoy building my own. The one below was a kit I put together, but I also made a jazz bass last year using parts I sourced from various places over the internet. Both basses play and sound great. I would say I am more fond of putting my own basses together to my own specs, however, I am more into the more different styles of basses compared to the classic P & J basses which makes it more difficult to source parts sometimes; mainly the body. For example, I would love to build my own 5 string T-bird style body bass with stingray electronics. I also really like the MM bongo body but that isn't easily accessible for a DIY instrument.

 

[N4860]

Here's the jazz I put together:

 

[Ric5]

have you ever regretted any mods?

of course

 

[Thumper]

On my second parts bass now. The first was a JPJ with MIM maple one- piece P neck and Lollar PUPs.

Now putting together a J body, 1 5/8" neck, CTS pots and switchcraft jack, and Thunderbucker PUPs. I LOVE the sound of a Thunderbird but not the ergonomics.

 

[JimmyM]

I built a cheapo parts bass, and some would say my 76 P is a parts bass since the only original parts are the body and neck plate. Enjoyed the process, don't want to do it again. The cheapo still feels like a cheapo, and I can get a better deal on a used bass than a parts bass by the time I get done with it. So I just stick with small mods here and there these days.

 

[Schmo_bass]

Sorry to ask a really basic question, but are all Fender P and J necks basically interchangeable?

Eg same sized body end and same bolt pattern?

 

[RBrownBass]

My opinion, for what it's worth, is if the body and neck came from the factory attached, then as long as those two components remain together, then other mods are just mods, and it falls into the "modded production bass" category.

I agree with this.

 

[EmuBass]

Body is Hohner (plywood). Pickups EMG. Added a battery compartment. Sounds GREAT!!!

 

[Snakeman1066]

Sorry to ask a really basic question, but are all Fender P and J necks basically interchangeable?

Eg same sized body end and same bolt pattern?

there are some exceptions...but for the most part...yes

 

[BAG]

If someone sold you a neck with sharp edges, it wasn’t a Warmoth

Both are definitely genuine Warmoth necks confirmed by them after sending some pictures.
The sharp edges is relative. I didn't notice it until I'd had the fretless board leveled, epoxied and the whole neck refinished. The luthier rolled the edges beautifully and it's the nicest feeling neck I've played at any price!
The fretted neck had excellent fretwork with no sharp ends but compared to the fretless i could suddenly feel the fretboard edge and so I got him to roll the edges and fret ends. It was very good to start with.... but now it is excellent. I have yet to see or play any neck (other than his custom builds) with edges rolled this well.
You can see some of his work here

 

[Volker Kirstein]

I buy used El Cheapos and retro-fit them to my liking. I love El Cheapos.

 

[glocke1]

I generally buy production basses and leave them as is..

I'm really not much of a tinkerer, lack of time and frankly a sub-par tinkering skillset sees to that.

That said, I generally buy higher end (north of 1k) basses, and I think at that price point most basses are outfitted in an acceptable manner and any tinkering you do is more or less an "apple and oranges" situation.

 

[Cuzzie]

I do like a build me, generally scout around for good second hand prices and pop em together and I will stand them toe to toe with production made basses as to how good they sound - plus you get to play with tools

White Pfirst ever attempt)
USA fender body
SD APB-1 pick up
Hipshots
High mass bridge
Olive pickguard
New status jazz graphite neck

Black Jazzenbackus:
Fender Highway One Jazz body routed and slight relic.
SD SRB-1 Rickenbacker pick ups
Stellartone Tonestyler tele Jazz plate
Second hand but undrilled status graphite P neck
Gotoh tuners
Schaller 3D bridge to bring the strings inline with pick ups

Goldilox:
Blank mighty mite body - sanded, stained, sprayed and relic’d myself
Creamery 58 P pick up
All parts neck
Anodised pickguard
A style bridge.

even with my love of expensive graphite necks, each comes in cheaper than a new mex fender and is way better.
I have sold a couple of self builds and repairs, but mainly for cost of items i got them in at, and for the buyer if they parts it out they get their money back - it’s great fun!

 

[panzerfaust]

if i buy the branded production line bass,..i will keep it as original as i can,,,,,why should i buy original one if i change it's component,..

if i really want specific pickup and woods and all electronic stuff,..it's better i go for custom,..far cheaper and better than you change any brand spec,....because first you buy "brand name" and then you change their appearance and electricity,...

so in my subjective perspective,...i had no point to do that,....but it is back to user her/himself,.....this is the freedom world and you can do anything no matter how weird ,..kinky or irrational ,.....as long as you dont against the law on your country,..that would be good

 

[JRA]

These two have been modded and both are my two favourite basses.

i think you've shown those before: i've really been impressed by those two! they are crazy good looking.

if the body and neck came from the factory attached, then as long as those two components remain together, then other mods are just mods, and it falls into the "modded production bass" category. And if the owner bought the body and neck separately and attached them, it's an "assembled" bass.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I have found that the only production basses that don’t need any mods are EBMM and G&L. Their proprietary components are top notch and you won’t find anything better in the aftermarket.
That said, I have gone through the rounds like the OP, and have gotten to the point that I will only from now on build my own from Warmoth bodies/necks and the slew of aftermarket parts available. That should satisfy my needs at this point and beyond.
I also don’t care about resale value. I don’t go into builds or mods with future sales in mind...I do it for myself and not some guy down the road...