Bass mods, when does it cross the line?

[Darnell Jones]

I mean if Rembrandt slashed the Mona Lisa is that OK? Is the Mona Lisa now worth more because of the "mod"? Personally I doubt it, but then in ART there are no rules.

That reminds me of the Beatles, in a way.

 

[sadasar]

I think sometimes people get too concerned with what someone else does with their own stuff. Yes I think rics are fine how they are but i don't care if someone mods one.
Most if not all my basses have been modded in some degree whether it's just pick up and pre amp upgrades.

I don't like when a vintage car gets made in to a ghetto mobile with tractor size tires on and huge spinning rims but hey its what they wanted, and doesn't cause me physical harm.

 

[tjh]

IMHO it crosses the line when you call it an 'upgrade' and expect to receive compensation for the 'MODS' you made to suit your taste when you attempt to sell it ...
you make a change, it is a modification, not an upgrade ... unless of course it is a change that a potential purchaser would make and you have just saved them the trouble/expense ... just dont advertise it as an 'upgrade' please ... call it the mod that it is and let us decide if it was a desireable one worth paying for ... JMHO

 

[faulknersj]

Im reading thru this thread on my iphone...the Miles Davis classic 'Kinda Blue' playing in the background...just mod.....or don't...but always try to become a better musician than you are right now....because that really matters...

 

[bassbombs84]

Mod anything but a historical instrument (i.e. pristine pre-CBS vintage fenders, etc...)

 

[AltGrendel]

Im reading thru this thread on my iphone...the Miles Davis classic 'Kinda Blue' playing in the background...just mod.....or don't...but always try to become a better musician than you are right now....because that really matters...

Best answer yet.

+∞

 

[Hyper-sloth]

If you really like the feel and playability of a bass but are not satisfied with the sound or look of it I fully understand why you would want to mod it.

Ja, as much as I feel nice basses are works of arts, they are really tools to be used. I never ever would relic my tools ( buy a distressed hammer for double the cost?) but if I can "improve" my tools then I will do so. I won't ever mod something to make it look cooler or different, just to improver it, make it lighter, play in tune better, less noisey and so on.

 

[rojo412]

You are definitely free to do what you want. And there's definitely a school of thought that "If you didn't like how it was in the first place, why'd you get it?"

Well, sometimes, they don't make what people want as stock.
Sometimes stock is garbage.
Some people like certain components and won't be without them.

I do agree that there are a handful of basses that shouldn't be fooled with because their stock parts are what make them, them...

But there's also a damn good reason that Hipshot, Schaller, EMG, Dimarzio, Nordstrand, Gotoh, etc. do enough business in the aftermarket to stay afloat.

$0.02

 

[dalkowski]

When you have to blow into it to get any sound out of it, you've gone too far.

 

[jim777]

I've seen some handmade custom instruments that just had quirky parts. For example - to me a bridge is not flexible and adjustable if I can't play with it and drop the strings right onto the frets by lowering the saddles. No one would play like that, but the bridge should be able to do it. It shouldn't limit me to how low I want my action. So what do you do if you get a custom where the bridge is flush mounted and you still can't get the action as low as you'd like? Do you sell a $4K bass at loss or do you just throw in a Hipshot A of the same color and go about your business? I don't buy my basses to sell them, but with 4 kids and in this economy I need to know I could sell what I have if I had to.

 

[rob_thebassman]

be original and modify your own bass

 

[Crg2]

IMHO some basses just shouldnt be modded. The obvious one here would be the 4001/4003. I never understand why people change the bridge or the pickups on those.

You simply don't. Mine sounds and plays exactly the way it should. You alter it-you lose it. It is my go-to for recording heavy rock, and I wouldn't take out any of its magic.

 

[hibachiduck]

I can't believe this is even a question. You guys are acting like these things are more than just pieces of wood with electronics and hardware attached to them. Now, if you acquired a strat that Eric Clapton played with for years and decided to refinish it and swap out the neck, then yeah I'd be a little pissed. Not because you modded your piece of property, but because you denied the world an irreplaceable historical artifact. Your 2000's Ric that you bought brand new just does not have that same significance. Do whatever the hell you want to do to it. The goal of playing instruments is to make music. They are not idols to be worshiped.

 

[Bobster]

In terms of "crossing the line" it's the purchaser's instrument. As long as they're aware of the potential (likely) impact on their resale value, it's their choice.

But in my opinion if you aren't in love with an instrument but refuse to change anything about it, it's time to sell/trade it, or realize you're not a bassist... you're a collector.

Best to everyone,

Bob

 

[sadasar]

In terms of "crossing the line" it's the purchaser's instrument. As long as they're aware of the potential (likely) impact on their resale value, it's their choice.

But in my opinion if you aren't in love with an instrument but refuse to change anything about it, it's time to sell/trade it, or realize you're not a bassist... you're a collector.

Best to everyone,

Bob

+1

 

[G-MonRV5]

Depends entirely on the situation... I've got an American-made Fender Jazz that I modified with a Badass II bridge and Custom Shop pickups (admittedly conservative changes), and it's absolutely a better bass because of it - In fact, it's one of the best J-basses I've every played!

 

[randysmojo]

I know there are people out there that will want to lynch me for it, but I think if you can make your bass better for you, mod it. I know there are some basses out there that are mega expensive and it is easy to ruin their value, but they can have some mods without damaging them, such as different preamp or pickups that fit into the the existing spots, etc. I wouldn't cut up a $10,000 bass. Now I wouldn't even worry about doing any kind of mod to a bass like a US Fender or a Music Man or something. I usually try to keep my mods either reversible, or make them mods that someone would like if I felt the need to sell. If I can do something that will make a bass, cheap or not, play and sound perfect for me, then I'll do whatever to it because I probably won't ever sell it.

 

[hibachiduck]

This is off subject, but if I'm paying $10,000 for a bass it better be perfect when I get it. That's just my opinion on the matter.

 

[randysmojo]

This is off subject, but if I'm paying $10,000 for a bass it better be perfect when I get it. That's just my opinion on the matter.

That is a very good point!

 

[millsbass5]

Hey! I've got a Peavey with a Kahler! I also modded it with a very small ramp on the bass end of the neck pickup.

Hmm, that Kahler wouldn't happen to be attached to a late 80's charcoal grey Peavey Dyna-Bass, would it? I had one of those. It was the only Peavey bass that I've seen with a factory equipped Kahler. Hell, I can't even remember what the hell ever happened to that bass. I purchased it at The Pied Piper, in Huntington,WV. I miss that store.