If you're already thinking this way it sounds like it's not a bass you plan to keep long term. I'd say sell it now and just put it towards what you want.
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Buy vs mod vs build a 5 string P/MM?
- Thread starter gscroggin
- Start date
If you're already thinking this way it sounds like it's not a bass you plan to keep long term. I'd say sell it now and just put it towards what you want.
Yeah, I'm with going for a Sandberg. But I'd say give Kiesel a call and see if they would do a custom pickup on their P or LB basses.
+1. A good 5 string p/mm is darn near impossible to find. To me the best ones out there are the maruszczyk jake 5 and the sandberg vm5.
I went with maruszczyk and have absolutely no regrets
You can find one used with maple Fretboard or you can even spec a brand new one.
Ignore the color, but I think Kiesel might be an option in your price range.
Owned a sandberg, built a warmoth. Should have stopped at P-bass with the warmoth. I liked the warmoth sound better than the sandberg. The sandberg played really nice and I was able to sell the it. In the end for me can’t beat a stingray or p-bass separately, but it was fun buying and building the p/mm combo basses. Go for it.
You see - buy could be the best end of all = sound, desine, years of playing, mod is not bad too, but it will be surely much more expensive and you have to be sure that everything will match. Building could end with the best sound and design and loveliness, but you really have to know how to make a good bass and also it will take you a lot more time than the other ways, though you can ask a luthier to make a bass for you exactly the way you want, that will for shure be the expensivest version. So....choose yourself.
with your budget... Sandberg California VM5 used, meets all the criteria: generally pretty light weight, preamp bypass (the treble EQ control becomes a passive tone control when the preamp is bypassed), excellent build, feel, and sound.
Modifying your existing Fender will be a cheaper option, and if done well I would not worry about resale value, it's not a 'vintage' or collectors item, if you need to sell it there will be quite a few people interested in a well made P/MM just like people buy P/J
I would probably modify the Fender because it's a bass you already know and like well enough, and it'll be a great P/MM at a fraction of the cost. But Sandbergs are really nice. Maruszczyk is also a good call, although I find Sandbergs to be better quality (and I love Maruszczyks too, I've owned three! But Sandberg has a little extra something I cannot describe)
+1 very true
If the objective is having a fat humbucker at the bridge, as opposed to adding a single coil (so P/MM as an alternative to a P/J) then no problem. Even better (for my liking) if the coils of the P pickup are reversed so that the treble coil is closer to the neck than the bassier coil. But if the objective is to get anything close to a Stingray, this is not the way. The MM and P positions overlap slightly. However you may compromise a little and put the MM in the sweet spot and the P, reversed, right above it, which retains a LOT of the P sound even if it's not quite the same. I guess it depends on what's the goal here. A P/MM is a great configuration, but it will not do a faithful Stingray type of sound.
After watching the guy ranting about customers on Facebook, Kiesel would be one of the very last brands I would ever consider giving my money to.
Cool instruments but I'd recommend a little more research before committing to sending this guy your money. Customer service does not look to be his strength.
This is the way (I think). In fact I would propose the easiest path here is a Stingray HS.
But he’s on Facebook weekly talking to customers. Potential for screw ups? Yep. And he brings out new models frequently. Something is going well, they have a record backlog of builds.
Yes. And I solved it abandoning my build plans entirely, and using the basses I already own.
I occasionally go through phases where I start spec'ing out "dream builds," but then I always come back to my senses.
Honorable mention to this Squier Vintage Modified Precision V mod. If you can find one of these now-discontinued instruments at a reasonable price, parts and labor for the mod seem doable for well less than a grand.
Absolutely, there are many happy customers, but I saw something about the guy that I did not like at all. To me a good company comes out in how they deal (or not) with problems. Every person can do their own research and make up their own minds. My conclusion is not positive, which is why I wanted to throw in a little 'beware'. With so many good options out there, I'd rather go with those that I think are more like likely to treat me well should anything go wrong. That's just me.
My $0.019 is to spend as little as possible on a parts bass build / mod; and then see whether the result meets your needs. Then, if it does, you can either just keep it, or flip it with minimal loss to fund a more costly build.
Here’s why: Pickup combinations and placements can have some very unexpected results +/-. Many end up being on the negative side. For one thing, the magnetic poles of adjacent pickups affect the string behavior over a given pickup. So, for example, dual MM pickups do not respond exactly the same taken one pickup at a time as the single pickup versions. Also, combining pickups often requires altering the optimal position for which the pickup was designed.
Taken together, there are many chances for disappointment. Think about Leo Fender’s bass pickup bread board.
You really HAVE to try before you buy in this space. There are no theories for it. In my younger playing days I pretty much destroyed a gorgeous Rickenbacker 4001S by modding it with a Dan Armstrong pickup addition (mod BEAUTIFULLY done by one of the top NYC luthiers at the time). Looked great, completely ruined the sound. Expensive lesson.
Of course, the other way to do it is to go out and play a bunch of instruments in the showrooms and let someone else do the mods for you. Still, you may or may not find exactly what you are seeking that way. But, at least all you have in that approach is your time and travel expenses. Best of luck and enjoy the adventure either way.
Here’s why: Pickup combinations and placements can have some very unexpected results +/-. Many end up being on the negative side. For one thing, the magnetic poles of adjacent pickups affect the string behavior over a given pickup. So, for example, dual MM pickups do not respond exactly the same taken one pickup at a time as the single pickup versions. Also, combining pickups often requires altering the optimal position for which the pickup was designed.
Taken together, there are many chances for disappointment. Think about Leo Fender’s bass pickup bread board.
You really HAVE to try before you buy in this space. There are no theories for it. In my younger playing days I pretty much destroyed a gorgeous Rickenbacker 4001S by modding it with a Dan Armstrong pickup addition (mod BEAUTIFULLY done by one of the top NYC luthiers at the time). Looked great, completely ruined the sound. Expensive lesson.
Of course, the other way to do it is to go out and play a bunch of instruments in the showrooms and let someone else do the mods for you. Still, you may or may not find exactly what you are seeking that way. But, at least all you have in that approach is your time and travel expenses. Best of luck and enjoy the adventure either way.
D
Its fun and you learn about the instrument you play.
I’ve built a kit bass and modified it as i was building it. Upgraded the bridge and electronics. It was routed for a mm pickup and i added the p. It sounds awesome.
I bought a $90 ammoon jazz bass and modded it. Now its a HH with 5 way switch. I was more curious how it would sound by splitting coils and such... i think I created a slap machine. I dont slap typically but this one begs for it. their only 4 strings and thats 3 more than i know what to do with
There aren't a lot of P/MM options available from the factory. So, you will probably need to build or mod. I own a PrecisionMan 4 string and if you were local, I'd let you try it to see if you even like the Precision / MusicMan pickup combination. Mine has the MM in the proper location and the P moved forward slightly. It works well and I'm kinda skeptical of the P/MM basses that I've seen with the P in the proper position and the MM pickup moved 1/2 - 3/4" closer to the bridge.
Funny, lm thinking about this mod whole day. How this sound, with pu's so close each other? I would also put humbucker as closer to pickguard
1st video I've found convinced me pretty much. I would add humbucker in this position and wire it in series
I like Kiesel/Carvin too.
I have never had a P/MM, but have had a P/J 5 string.
Great necks, tone & play ability.
I have never had a P/MM, but have had a P/J 5 string.
Great necks, tone & play ability.
