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Flip Or Persevere?

Michael Jewels

Michael Jewels

Supporting Member
Nov 29, 2000
11,453
9,890
Queens, N.Y.(Near JFK Airport)
#1
I was wondering what your philosophy is regarding basses.
If, after buying a bass, you realize it's not 100% to your liking, are you more likely to sell it (flip it) or take the time and money to customize it, and make it yours?
I'm a big believer in trying new pickups, hardware and set ups before thinking of selling off an instrument.
Then again, I usually take some time, usually months before actually purchasing an instrument I like.

There's no right or wrong answer, I'm just curious as to what most of the rank and file here think.

Thanks,
Mike ;)
 
#2
Depends, I just flipped a REALLY nice warwick bass. Nothing at all wrong with it, it played amazing, but I never really got the tone I wanted out of it. It felt like the wrong move to gut out a $3k bass so I just sold it (I also bought it used so I sold it for the same price I paid for it). If it were a more run-of-the-mill example I would have customized it.
 
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#8
Depends on what I don't like. If it feels great but the tone isn't quite there, I'll tinker with strings, my pedals, or EQ for awhile to see what I can do. Strings and EQ are cheap and easy.

If the feel is off, I'm more inclined to just move it along after giving an adequate "adjustment period". Changing the feel and balance of an instrument can be expensive and may not work anyway.
 
#11
I move on. In my experiences, instruments have an inherent voice. Pickup and preamp swaps can help your ability to modify that voice, but it will always remain that voice.

It’s the same as with a singer. They might sound different through a different mic or amp, but their voice is their voice and will always come through. It’s up to you to decide if it works for you or not.
 
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#14
jmattbassplaya said:
I move on. In my experiences, instruments have an inherent voice. Pickup and preamp swaps can help your ability to modify that voice, but it will always remain that voice.

It’s the same as with a singer. They might sound different through a different mic or amp, but their voice is their voice and will always come through. It’s up to you to decide if it works for you or not.
Click to expand...

Amen! This is exactly what I think, too.
 
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#15
I don't flip. I only buy basses I've had a chance to play, or at least play another copy of the same model. I've never customized a bass either: I either like it enough to buy it, or I don't. I've managed to keep my "collection" down to a very reasonable 3 basses this way (so far).
 
#17
It really depends. Some mods are easier than others. A different color pickguard or a different pickup, for example, are relatively easy to install and are reversible. Swapping necks/bodies, or more general concerns like the finish or an uncomfortable neck profile would seem to be more trouble than they’re worth to fix on most instruments.

At some point, it seems easier and more practical to sell to someone who is looking for the same things you don’t like about a particular instrument you own, and to put that money toward a different one that suits you better. I do understand that there are those who love to mod the crap out of their instruments, or even build parts basses from scratch, and don’t care about the fact that they likely won’t come close to a resale approaching the sum of all those aftermarket parts - as always, It’s a ‘YMMV’ type of situation. We all draw the line somewhere differently.
 
#19
I haven't counted, but I think the flippers are in the majority.
That's cool. I was just curious.
At present, my Ibanez Musician is a perfect bass as far as I'm concerned.
The only complaint I have, is that the stock pickups have 60 cycle hum. Not a big deal, but it bothers me a little.
I know I could put humbucking Barts in it, butI still want to keep it stock.

Mike
 
#20
It depends on how badly I want a particular vibe to work. But I’ll set a limit on what I’ll do, just for the time factor. I’m not going to rebuild the entire instrument. At the end of the game, there are still plenty of fish in the sea.
 

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