I've been playing bass since I was 8 years old and I'm now in my 60's. I notice that many, many players make modifications to their basses. I've never had anything but stock basses in all those years. I realize I'm old school, but what is it that you're after that you can't get out of a stock instrument?
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Bass modifications...why?
- Thread starter baltodoc
- Start date
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
Depends on the mods. I change pickups for better (or different) tones. I change tuners for better ratios or better stability (or weight.) Bridges are changed for tone, sustain, or weight. Refinishes are done for aesthetics but, arguably, so is everything else.
If you feel your bass isn't lacking then there is no need to mod. I tend to mod almost all of my basses though.
Bottom line.
If you have to look for a reason, you don't have one.
I have nothing against modifying anything. I don't do it anymore, but I heavily modified a Yamaha RBX550 when I was younger.
I'm at a financial position now where I always buy new, and if it doesn't sound, feel or look the way I want, it stays in the store.
I'm at a financial position now where I always buy new, and if it doesn't sound, feel or look the way I want, it stays in the store.
Personalization, and it's fun.
Edit:BTW I was hoping the body was routed for two pickups but being a SUB it wasn't so I did all the work body, pick guard & insert piece on a Bridgeport. Made a jig and everything. Wish I took more pictures. Fortunately at least the wires were long enough I didn't have to do any circuitry work.
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I'm 60 and I remember modifying all my basses back in the 70's. There were only a few bass companies back then, so my '71 P-bass had a Humbucker-Jazz-bass-pickup-badass bridge and no frets.
Why the sudden urge to ask after 50+ years of playing?
Tone.
I tried to mod a couple of basses just using different finger attack styles...but it didn't work.
I tried to mod a couple of basses just using different finger attack styles...but it didn't work.
Personalization mostly, I mean how many Squier Jags and Jazzes are there in the world? Lots! So modding mine serves to separate them from the herd.
But in the case of the Jag, that active bass circuit and the pups HAD TO GO. I tried the Fender Jags that were available, but none called to me, the Squier did, except for that active circuit. I also really wanted to try the EMG Geezer passives so that was a win-win for me.
I've got a cheap chinese knock off J that I'm going to convert to P/J, why? Because it was really cheap, I have a main and backup player already so other than being handy for woodshedding, this bass has no real function or purpose, so a little amateur luthery seems in order!
But in the case of the Jag, that active bass circuit and the pups HAD TO GO. I tried the Fender Jags that were available, but none called to me, the Squier did, except for that active circuit. I also really wanted to try the EMG Geezer passives so that was a win-win for me.
I've got a cheap chinese knock off J that I'm going to convert to P/J, why? Because it was really cheap, I have a main and backup player already so other than being handy for woodshedding, this bass has no real function or purpose, so a little amateur luthery seems in order!
Tone, ergonomics and aesthetics. My old Fender Mexican J is an example of all three, so I'll use it here. It's the first bass I ever bought (back in 2000), and has been modded a fair bit at this point.
Tone: I had the stock pickups replaced with a pair of the Fender CS 60s that are used in the current American Standards. They sound great.
Ergonomics: I sanded the gloss finish off of the back of the neck, and it's now much smoother, which I prefer.
Aesthetics: I replaced the stock plastic knobs with Fender chrome knobs. The pickguard has gone through several changes, but is currently a battered white with a Darkglass sticker stuck on it.
Modifying the bass, which I already had, was cheaper than selling it and buying a new one that more closely matches my current preferences.
Tone: I had the stock pickups replaced with a pair of the Fender CS 60s that are used in the current American Standards. They sound great.
Ergonomics: I sanded the gloss finish off of the back of the neck, and it's now much smoother, which I prefer.
Aesthetics: I replaced the stock plastic knobs with Fender chrome knobs. The pickguard has gone through several changes, but is currently a battered white with a Darkglass sticker stuck on it.
Modifying the bass, which I already had, was cheaper than selling it and buying a new one that more closely matches my current preferences.
Just curious. To me it seems this differences would be pretty minor. I've always been able to coax pretty much whatever tone I want out of stock basses over the years. I guess I'm more of an 80/20 guy, meaning what I get is good enough. There again, let me clarify by saying I play locally and do very little in the way of recording. So getting the tone or the feel "just right" isn't a huge issue for me.
Because the basses I like that are in my price range have specific stock features I look for, but sometimes don't have the electronic components I prefer (this can be anywhere from simple pots, to a pickup). They sometimes won't come stock with the pickguard of my preference and almost never come with a pre-installed strap lock system. So in almost every case, "stock" just isn't good enough for me because I feel the mods I make improve upon the original.
Also, having the skill or ability to make those mods all by myself makes it all the much better. If I didn't know how to solder or work a screwdriver, I'd probably find a way to justify my contentment with the bass "as is", but thankfully I don't have to.
Also, having the skill or ability to make those mods all by myself makes it all the much better. If I didn't know how to solder or work a screwdriver, I'd probably find a way to justify my contentment with the bass "as is", but thankfully I don't have to.
The obvious reason is to make them better.
I re-wired my Fender Blacktop and shielded the controls cavity. It is now much quieter.
I changed the pots in my Rickenbacker to get more output & a brighter tone out of it.
I put Lace Sensors in my Stratocaster, because they're pretty damn great compared to the stock MIM pups that came in it.
I re-wired my Fender Blacktop and shielded the controls cavity. It is now much quieter.
I changed the pots in my Rickenbacker to get more output & a brighter tone out of it.
I put Lace Sensors in my Stratocaster, because they're pretty damn great compared to the stock MIM pups that came in it.
I modified my '74 Precision because it developed problems. The bridge screws kept turning from the vibration so I replaced the bridge with a Badass bridge. The pickup developed some problem (I don't remember what) so I replaced it with a DiMarzio. The neck got dinged up and the frets wore down so I replaced it with a Boogie Bodies neck that had a neck profile that I preferred. The only thing I replaced for cosmetic purposes was the pickguard. Everything else was more or less out of necessity. I logged countless stage hours on that bass, so it's probably reasonable that it started falling apart. I still have it. The only original parts are the body, the neck plate and some of the screws. Maybe the pots are original. It's a very nice bass with loads of stories to tell.
madbass6
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- Jan 13, 2009
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I agree 100% with the OP.. I've always wondered the same thing! In my opinion Your better off waiting and saving up for what you really want VS guinea pigging your Bass ! if don't like a Bass then why buy it in the first place ..
I grew up in a family full of mechanics and repair people, so it's natural for me to build and modify things. It's almost a need at this point in my life. Not that I usually make anything better, just different.
Sometimes otherwise great instruments have big shortcomings that need to be addressed. The tilt-0-matic bridge on my '70 EB-3L comes to mind.
