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Bass modifications...why?
- Thread starter baltodoc
- Start date
I wanted a medium-thin contour graphite neck for stability (and tone)
I wanted fanned frets for the improved string balance it offers, but not extreme like Dingwall.
I wanted Bartolini pickups because I like them better than stock Squier pickups... Plus I had a bart-P pickup already.
I wanted a Hipshot detuner because I like to go below E down to D but don't like 5 strings.
I wanted a strat type jack because I hate side jacks and don't like 90 degree top mount either.
I'm fussy like that. And NO one offers that in a stock instrument.
I wanted fanned frets for the improved string balance it offers, but not extreme like Dingwall.
I wanted Bartolini pickups because I like them better than stock Squier pickups... Plus I had a bart-P pickup already.
I wanted a Hipshot detuner because I like to go below E down to D but don't like 5 strings.
I wanted a strat type jack because I hate side jacks and don't like 90 degree top mount either.
I'm fussy like that. And NO one offers that in a stock instrument.
I get exactly what the OP is asking and why. At one time in history, there wasn't as much foreign products out there and these companies have moved there manufacturing from one country to,the other ,so the quality control is in question. Mostly the electronics are my issue, I own several epiphones ,one being a Rumblekat. Which just happened to be one of the first ones they made,so the quality of the body and neck is usually pretty good,and if its not it'll be highly noticeable from the get go.
But if you buy a Name Brand companies Bass ,then there's not a lot of issues to be addressed.unless you wanna change pick ups or needs some mild fret work . I've changed Pots in new guitars for others , when I felt it they were fine, not humming or dragging . But my friend wanted to change pick ups and pots , go,figure.
But for a Bass , changing the pots can help some, to make them smoother ,IMHO. Pick ups are personal choice as a upgraded , to,bring the cheaper bass closer to the high end ones . Without having to pay more for the name ,when no many could tell a difference ether way.
I'm gonna change the pots in my Rumblekat, just because they aren't as smooth as I'd like . And I,find myself wondering wether I should change the caps too?
Any one have any ideas ?
When I tore into my Les Paul I changed pots and caps. I put new paper in oil caps in my 6 string guitar.
I have been trying to find out and get some info on changing the caps and if so what kind ?
Thanks in advance
But if you buy a Name Brand companies Bass ,then there's not a lot of issues to be addressed.unless you wanna change pick ups or needs some mild fret work . I've changed Pots in new guitars for others , when I felt it they were fine, not humming or dragging . But my friend wanted to change pick ups and pots , go,figure.
But for a Bass , changing the pots can help some, to make them smoother ,IMHO. Pick ups are personal choice as a upgraded , to,bring the cheaper bass closer to the high end ones . Without having to pay more for the name ,when no many could tell a difference ether way.
I'm gonna change the pots in my Rumblekat, just because they aren't as smooth as I'd like . And I,find myself wondering wether I should change the caps too?
Any one have any ideas ?
When I tore into my Les Paul I changed pots and caps. I put new paper in oil caps in my 6 string guitar.
I have been trying to find out and get some info on changing the caps and if so what kind ?
Thanks in advance
In thirty years, when the originals are selling for a million bucks, you'd wished you hadn't modified it
Your question has been answered but for me simply, I can put the same components that are used on 5-10 thousand dollar instruments on a bass that costs a fraction of that and get an instrument that is 80-90 % there in terms of sound/tone and playability. It may not have the build quality wood or attention to detail, but, again "almost" there. My basses that cost a few hundred dollars and have been modded play and sound like basses costing 2-4 thousand dollars. I know this because I own a few multi K dollar basses. Another bonus is I can get this performance in an instrument I don't worry so much about damage or theft with on dive gigs. I wouldn't take my Jerzy Drozd to a bar gig. Haha
Modding is fun. That's my motivation, be it guitars or anything else.
It is probably fair to say that most modifications are made to mass-market basses. All volume products exhibit variation so it should come as no surprise that people change things to suit there individual requirements. Stuff like pot and cap values are fair game, IMHO.
Also, things like a particular colour are not always available off the shelf - look at current EBMM options, for example. No amount of saving up will get me a new Stingray in vintage cream with a tort guard.
I buy ebmm basses and other high end basses because the urge to mod them goes away when they are worth 1500 and up...
Aside from personalizing an instrument to my specific desires and tastes (and the fun of tinkering), I also like the satisfaction of making something truly my own. It's a cool feeling to envision a project, successfully execute it, and enjoy the results. As a creative person, I just get a kick out of making something that didn't exist before--with basses it gives me a special pride and joy of ownership when I put some time and sweat into them. I don't follow recipes to the exact letter when I cook, either--same impulse (and the food always tastes better when you make it yourself)!
To me, you got looks, feel, tone, and reliability. If you can get looks and feel, you can do a lot for tone. Reliability can also be slightly modified via tuners and such (this is actually not an issue except some lower level basses I've had, replacing tuners on a squire and such)
Replaced pups and pre on an AM J Dlx. Years ago I fell in love with the j-retro. That bass now has the best tone for me in that realm. The feel was already there.
Only thing I've never really thought about modifying are fender p basses. Haven't run up on one that doesn't really do it's thing.
Replaced pups and pre on an AM J Dlx. Years ago I fell in love with the j-retro. That bass now has the best tone for me in that realm. The feel was already there.
Only thing I've never really thought about modifying are fender p basses. Haven't run up on one that doesn't really do it's thing.
Better tuners, bridges, strings, after market pickups.....really to make your bass specific to your wants and needs.
In 30 years, Ill be dead and wont care. Just hope that my offspring doesnt post a pic of my Squire Jazz thats been modded with a Fender waterslide on here and ask whats it worth. Awkward.....
I have only ever considered mods to cure something I don't like. If you are never unhappy with anything you would never get the desire to change anything.
To be honest most changes I have made are cosmetic, but that is mainly because I buy primarily on comfort and sound. If a bass is inherently uncomfortable to me I wont buy it, and if I don't like the sound I would have to really like something else about it to make the purchase.
But If I don't like the colour or the pickguard I know I can change that easily so I don't mind.
To be honest most changes I have made are cosmetic, but that is mainly because I buy primarily on comfort and sound. If a bass is inherently uncomfortable to me I wont buy it, and if I don't like the sound I would have to really like something else about it to make the purchase.
But If I don't like the colour or the pickguard I know I can change that easily so I don't mind.
In reality its about 'feel'....some will say its about tone, but tone is subjective and tone can be got in a number of ways, but feel cannot.
Simply put, many have changed basses for many reasons, then realised that when the novalty of the new instrument had worn off it did not measure up.....it did not have that great feel to it.
Now if you want a new tone you can change the pups, EQ suite and add a pedal...or change amp, all this will chanhe the sound but not the way it feels to you, its touch will be familier to you.....those litle dents, dinks and bumbs on the neck that you feel, but ignore, as you play, or the way the body sits against yours, or the way it hangs off a strap, and number of things that a new bass will not, or ever, have.
We can buy a bass that feels great but sounds bad and do something about it, but i have never really heard of anyone buying a bass the felt bad, because it sounds great, with the idea of improving its feel.
So if you want an active bass, do not sell your passive one, just fit actives to it because it will have the benifits of an active bass, but the feel of yours...plus its cheaper than a new bass.
Like i said, the feel of our favourite bass goes a long way, and those that sold that bass will spend a long time looking for another bass with the same feel.....not really the same tone.
Simply put, many have changed basses for many reasons, then realised that when the novalty of the new instrument had worn off it did not measure up.....it did not have that great feel to it.
Now if you want a new tone you can change the pups, EQ suite and add a pedal...or change amp, all this will chanhe the sound but not the way it feels to you, its touch will be familier to you.....those litle dents, dinks and bumbs on the neck that you feel, but ignore, as you play, or the way the body sits against yours, or the way it hangs off a strap, and number of things that a new bass will not, or ever, have.
We can buy a bass that feels great but sounds bad and do something about it, but i have never really heard of anyone buying a bass the felt bad, because it sounds great, with the idea of improving its feel.
So if you want an active bass, do not sell your passive one, just fit actives to it because it will have the benifits of an active bass, but the feel of yours...plus its cheaper than a new bass.
Like i said, the feel of our favourite bass goes a long way, and those that sold that bass will spend a long time looking for another bass with the same feel.....not really the same tone.
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Its fun to do, and I also can't resist doing it to cabs, cars, my house, computers, bikes, etc..
It made me understand my instrument better, and developed my ability to get the sound I want when I need to.
As I started out I could not afford a instrument that would do what I'd want it to do, DIY helped me get closer.
Over the years I developed very personal tastes in sound and playability that are not available in stock instruments. That's a two sided sword though: I probably would not have known I had these preferences if I had not modded my basses and cabs.
It made me understand my instrument better, and developed my ability to get the sound I want when I need to.
As I started out I could not afford a instrument that would do what I'd want it to do, DIY helped me get closer.
Over the years I developed very personal tastes in sound and playability that are not available in stock instruments. That's a two sided sword though: I probably would not have known I had these preferences if I had not modded my basses and cabs.
- Oct 7, 2000
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- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I'm with the OP, but I can understand others thinking it's fun to tinker with their toys. Different tone, a truly unique bass, something other to do than hang on TB and Facebook. If I want any of that however, I enjoy buying a whole new bass as opposed to swapping out parts. I only replaced the pickups in one bass, a MIM P deluxe. I wound up liking the original pickups more, and it cost me over $100 to make the change.
Something I really can't wrap my brain around is dropping hundreds on different bridges and tuners. I doubt if I'd ever know if you swapped a bridge or tuner on any of my basses (so long as they looked the same) while I was sleeping. Those are parts that to me just do their job, and most do them quite well. Only problems I ever had with tuners were 2 that broke, and the 4 crap ones that came on my late 90s MIA P deluxe. Out of 100s of other tuners I've tuned with, I never had an issue, desire, or need to replace them.
Something I really can't wrap my brain around is dropping hundreds on different bridges and tuners. I doubt if I'd ever know if you swapped a bridge or tuner on any of my basses (so long as they looked the same) while I was sleeping. Those are parts that to me just do their job, and most do them quite well. Only problems I ever had with tuners were 2 that broke, and the 4 crap ones that came on my late 90s MIA P deluxe. Out of 100s of other tuners I've tuned with, I never had an issue, desire, or need to replace them.
Mostly because I want to. Don't play electric instruments professionally, so just like to experiment and see what combo of parts/look I can end up with. My Epiphone looks more like what I would have wanted in a 1970's EB-0, but with the pickup still at the neck not shifted down.
For me, cost does become a factor. Even with all the mods done to this bass, the cost is still less than any used Gibson EB model I can find. Same with my electric guitars, they have been modified for the fun factor. Have a Squier 51 that now has a Teisco neck pickup and P-90 clone and it sounds perfect for my needs.
Oh, and for the record all my acoustic guitars (which I do play professionally) have been modified, either with new saddles to improve intonation or with pickups so they can be plugged in.
For me, cost does become a factor. Even with all the mods done to this bass, the cost is still less than any used Gibson EB model I can find. Same with my electric guitars, they have been modified for the fun factor. Have a Squier 51 that now has a Teisco neck pickup and P-90 clone and it sounds perfect for my needs.
Oh, and for the record all my acoustic guitars (which I do play professionally) have been modified, either with new saddles to improve intonation or with pickups so they can be plugged in.
