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Bass modifications...why?

#61
brianrost said:
I've always believed that if the instrument isn't right off the rack, it's not worth buying.

I have made a few mods over the years: swapped out pickups that had become microphonic, replaced worn tuning machines with better ones, rewired a J bass for series

I don't mind buying modded basses (like the P in my avatar) but I never buy one thinking of it as a chassis for hot rodding.
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Question: Why does a pickup become microphonic? I've heard microphinic pickups and preamp tubes. I can understand the tubes degrading and
becoming microphonic, but I am curious what happens to the pickups.
Thanks for your info.
 
#62
It might also be worth noting that without the tinkerers, the vast market of aftermarket options would not exist, and that means that you wouldn't be ABLE to buy your custom made Gryziphoinoidzon bass for $10k that was custom built to your exact specifications. Your choices would be Fender A, Fender B, Gibson, Ric, and Silvertone.
 
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#64
Slevage said:
I like my pizza out of the oven (or at least thawed).
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ha okay, of course you've gotta take it out of the box and bake it, but the key is to put the herbs and spices on before it goes in the oven. just like plugging your bass into the amp before starting to play.

but all joking aside, if somebody does prefer a bass without modification (or a pizza without spices) there's nothing wrong with leaving it stock (or unseasoned)
 
#65
Some folks in this thread seem to have the impression that all modding is premeditated, and that we're all buying basses with "defects" with the specific intention of "fixing" them through mods rather than buying basses that are perfect to begin with.

While there is certainly a fair amount of that going on, my guess is that the larger percentage of mods occur long after the purchase of the bass, by players who decide over time that there is something that can be improved. The concept of finding a bass that is perfect "off the rack" can't account for changes in taste or needs that occur over time.
 
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#66
baltodoc said:
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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In my case it's not necessarily that I'm after something in particular, but that I enjoy modifying things such as instruments, computers, etc. as an activity for its own sake. I've dismantled to some extent most basses that I have owned, especially the earlier ones - those I literally took apart as completely as possible, then reassembled them. It was fun and I learned something about how the instruments are put together. Not everyone would enjoy that, but I did - and now I understand what is possible, and can focus modifications towards what is important to me. I have changed everything from necks, to bridges, pickups, pickguards, knobs, adjusted strap pin positions, etc. etc. Just something to do, another part of what I personally enjoy about playing music - tailoring my equipment to better suit me as an individual. But you often don't know where you're going with it until you get there.
 
#68
SteveCS said:
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,
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.
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Ok fair enough.. I'll meet half way... :)
i agree on mods if not on a colector Basses especially when it comes to looks! Colors/pick guard/ gold vs black hardware etc. Fine!
But when people get into cutting into the body to add pick ups or filling in pick up holes changing everything under the sun (in some case) it would probably be cheaper just to buy what you really want in the first place VS upgrading to the extremes!
in my opinion , if people must modify
they should focus on what really matters SOUND feel etc. Even if it takes sacraficing that cool vintage cream color and very cool tort guard etc.

I've heard of some modifying only cuz there favorate celebrity bass player has it a certain way! that's another thing i dont get !
what works for others doesn't necessarily mean it will work for you and me.
 
#69
baltodoc said:
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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We are quite similar in age and starting age so it is not a matter of being old school since I mod my basses as "required". Some of us just like to make things our own and some of us don't or can easily find what they want on the market and don't have to. There are few basses that are set up exactly the way I want so I buy one that is close and season it to taste. My bicycles have more mods than my basses....
 
#71
I've been playing Bass for about 25 years. When I first started playing I used to ask myself why all these "famous" artists had all kinds of tricked out basses etc. Over the course of my career, I found that certain things worked MUCH better for me via trial and error. A good example of this is that I LOVE Jazz Basses. At one point I bought a 70's USA Hot Rod Jazz Bass. After a few months I realized I didn't like the P/J pickup combo but the neck was unlike anything I had ever played. As a result I acquired 3 more of the necks in the next year or so and replaced the stock necks on 3 of my USA Jazz Basses. Another example is that I have 2 Jazz basses that I keep in alternate tunings....one is BEAD. I found that a High Mass Bridge supported this tuning much better so I replaced the bridge.

In the end it all kind of comes down to personal taste. Some people do it for aesthetics, some for tone, some for functionality. If you haven't ever had anything that you consider a shortcoming on one of your instruments then you have no need to replace anything.
 
#72
I have done only a few mods in all my years of playing also.

My 1978 P bass: Installed EMG PJ pickups, BadAss bridge and a Hipshot D tuner. (the bass was a wreck when I got it)

Lakland 55-01: Replaced electronics with DiMarzio Ultra Jazz's, Audere preamp, a custom Jennie's pearl pickguard, and custom control knobs. (at the time I had like five Lakland basses, and I wanted to mess around with one).

I have Chandler replacement pickguards on both my EBMM Sterlings.

I took the pickguard off my Jack Casady.

It appears I do not like stock pickguards. :)
 
#73
Well, free will comes to mind. The desire to do what you want with what you own to obtain the desired results. If one obtains a cheap bass, they make it better by adding electronics that help it produce the sound one wants...it's that simple
 
#75
Kirk Bryant said:
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
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Really dude so a $189 squire Bass will be the same as a 10k fodera only cuz u upgraded it with fodera hardware /pick ups/ pope preamp etc.
what about the craftsmanship /materials
(wood types etc)feel/weight/details/and quality of the instrument! none of that matters?
Hey if it was that simple everybody would be doing it.
 
#76
I just bought two American 2015 Fender Precision Standards. I changed the pickguards so they match the bass. Put on Thomastik Flats. I don't really consider either of those things modding. The new P is already perfect for what I do. I will probably only need those two (and my 93 Korean Fender P) for the rest of my life. I am truly satisfied with what Fender USA puts out these days. That's just me.

I used to mod everything. I still rebuild abused and neglected guitars and basses for fun.
 
#77
There are times where it can be good, but I've said it before - I think people are MUCH to quick to modify. I read about people talking about making major mods to a bass before they have even bought it. If you know the bass doesn't have what you want, get a bass that does, unless this is a life bass - you get nothing extra on re-sale value.
 
#79
Most of the guitars and basses I've "modified" have been EPIC fails!!

marshall failure.jpg
 
#80
I replaced the tuners on my bass because the old ones looked really stupid. I enjoy the finer control i now have out of the new ones, and i feel like they hold better than the old ones, but the mod was originally an aesthetic one. Dumb little guitar tuners totally sapping my mojo, i need those big bass tuning keys or else i simply can't play!
 

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