• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Best bass mod ever for you?

#361
A DIY lightweight loaded body I made from a Paulownia body blank for my favorite Squier Jaguar shortscale neck. It's a slab body with elements of the Jag, Jazz, Guild Pilot and '51P style bodies adjusted to be less painful to play following a stroke that messed with my right side.


upload_2022-9-24_11-20-55.jpeg


I'm currently working on another for my Hofner Contemporary Galaxie SS neck that's a somewhat more exaggerated shape and, so far, a bit more comfortable for me to play.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: woodyng2
#363
Best for me was putting Bronco necks on a couple of my SS's. One is a '78 Musicmaster body and the original neck was much thicker, more like the business end of a Louisville Slugger IMO. Liked it so much when I built a parts bass for my daughter to paint I put one on that as well.

Sentell pickup was a huge improvement in that Musicmaster body as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2saddleslab
#364
  • Like
Reactions: 2saddleslab
#367
...but in all seriousness, the best bass mod I've ever done was probably a tossup between these two:

1) as I wrote in this thread
I replaced the stock electronics in my 1988 Modulus Graphite Quantum-6 SPX ...first with an EMG BTC preamp, which made a modest improvement, then with an ACG/East EQ-02 filter preamp. That totally transformed the instrument...from an awesome bass to an AWESOME bass.
Click to expand...

or

2) as I wrote in this thread
Back in the mid-1990s I bought a second-hand Warmoth fretless 5-string Jazz Bass (tuned BEADG) at a local music store. It was an okay instrument, but not great. For one thing, the low B string was completely anemic sounding. No resonance, no tone, no punch. Lame. So eventually I removed the neck and bridge, had Michael Dolan build a custom 8-string neck to fit the body, added a Schaller 8-string bridge, and had a pretty cool sounding fretted 8-string Jazz Bass
...which I eventually sold.
And then a few years after that I realized I still had that old fretless 5-string neck gathering dust in a closet. So I took a gamble that maybe the anemic low B string either A) wasn't caused by the neck, or B) wouldn't be an issue if I didn't string it up with a low B, and I ordered a new custom Precision Bass body from Warmoth -- unrouted, alder with a quilted maple top cap -- and mounted that old Warmoth neck on it. Routed it for a Bartolini quad-coil humbucker in the more-or-less MusicMan position, added a Bart NTMB preamp, Hipshot type A bridge, strung it up EADGC, and boom! Bob's yer uncle. This Frankenbass rocks!
Click to expand...
 
#373
As I remember, the Dunlop strap locks have a button on the strap portion of the locks that must be engaged as it is inserted into the strap button on the bass, then released. I had these on a bass many years ago, and the male half didn't properly engage with the strap button on the bass at a gig. It then popped out while I was playing, sending the bass neck earthward. I caught it in time, but learned my lesson. I've used Schaller strap locks since then.
 
#374
Aceonbass said:
As I remember, the Dunlop strap locks have a button on the strap portion of the locks that must be engaged as it is inserted into the strap button on the bass, then released. I had these on a bass many years ago, and the male half didn't properly engage with the strap button on the bass at a gig. It then popped out while I was playing, sending the bass neck earthward. I caught it in time, but learned my lesson. I've used Schaller strap locks since then.[/QUOTE Same.
Click to expand...

Same. Always Schaller/Fender for me. As long as the nut is tight, like really tight, they are super secure.
 
#375
Aceonbass said:
As I remember, the Dunlop strap locks have a button on the strap portion of the locks that must be engaged as it is inserted into the strap button on the bass, then released. I had these on a bass many years ago, and the male half didn't properly engage with the strap button on the bass at a gig. It then popped out while I was playing, sending the bass neck earthward. I caught it in time, but learned my lesson. I've used Schaller strap locks since then.
Click to expand...


I’ve never had a problem w Dunlop but Schiller dropped more than 1 instrument more than one time. NEVER again. The Schiller design is way more prone to user error of not locking it properly…dunlops click in
 
#376
I bought a heavily modded Sabre on accident, found a 87 preamp, and a set of 79 pickups,”. I couldn’t find the neck pickup to a 1984 Sabre, the 1979 bridge pickup is the same in the 84, but the neck is different. ended up putting a 79 neck pickup in the same bass and love it to death. ended up getting a 79 Sabre because of it, this one’s got an 87 preamp but I think it actually sounds slightly better(or more like me) than my second favorite(my 79). Would not throw a 84 neck pickup in there for the world!
AB0080D2-2C9C-414E-B7C4-81BC7DEE8135.jpeg
 
#377
cosmicevan said:
I’ve never had a problem w Dunlop but Schiller dropped more than 1 instrument more than one time. NEVER again. The Schiller design is way more prone to user error of not locking it properly…dunlops click in
Click to expand...
Schaller strap locks also "click" when engaged, and since the strap end actually "cradles" the strap button, I don't know how you can drop a bass.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AudioTaper
#378
The best bass mod I think I've ever done is wiring my (passive) Jazz 4 for series and parallel. I have no idea why this wiring isn't standard issue???!!!
Runner up mod is installing Hipshot Ultralite tuners on my MIM Jazz 5. Completely eliminated neck dive.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back