Guitar player wanting bass information

[RickBlacker]

Hey all... New guy here.
20 years ago, I had an Ibanez bass. College came, had to sell it needed money.

Fast forward. Friend talks me into learning guitar. Been playing for a year and a few months now. I've taking a fondness to buying less expensive guitars, tweeking them, buying new parts for them and getting them to play and sound excellent.

My question is, can the same be done with a bass? Can a lesser quality bass be turned into a very nice quality bass? If so, how? I know there is basic setup that needs to be done. I'm looking at a Yamaha RBX260. I see that it's an inexpensive bass. The guy who is selling it wants $150 for it.

Also, being that it is a lesser expensive bass, I'd guess that the pups in it are not the highest quality. Not knowing much about bass guitars, what might be good replacement pups?


Any input will be greatly appreciated.
Rick

 

[scottbass]

Oh yes indeedy! Many of us buy less expensive basses and then upgrade the parts.

That Yamaha bass has a P-bass pickup. That's the type of pickup you will want to buy to replace it. You could buy one of several original Fender Precision (or "P-bass") pickups, or you could go with a different manufacturer. Many companies make replacement/upgrade pickups. Seymour Duncan, Bartolini, DiMarzio, EMG, Lindy Fralin, Kent Armstrong, and lots of smaller but equally high quality manufacturers. Most of them offer several different models in the P-bass configuration, depending on what tone, output, etc. you are looking for. I like Seymour Duncans, but that is just a personal preference. There are lots of equally-good, similar-sounding AND different-sounding pickups available from all of the manufacturers I listed above.

Now, the question is how do you choose the one that's right for you...

A lot of the input has to do with type of sound you are looking for. Thrash metal? Classic rock? Blues? What one - or several - bass players do you want to sound like?

P.S. The guy selling that bass is not giving you much of a deal. The last 3 Yamaha RBX 260's that sold on eBay fetched approx $89 - $125.

 

[RickBlacker]

I like Seymour D myself. Thats what I've used to replace into two of my guitars. I do have one guitar with Dimarzio pups. Something about SD though, gives me more of that 80's heavy metal tone that I like. (Yes, I'm an 80's heavy metal lover).

I want it to have punch, I don't want it to sound muddy. Nice attack. Bite.

What about the bridge? Is there much use to replacing a bridge on a bass? I was looking at some HipShot bridges.

 

[ga_edwards]

If it's 80's bite, punch and growl you're after than I can recommend the 'Dimarzio Will Power Middle' - this is the main pickup on the Billy Sheehan 'Attitude' signature bass (you must have heard of him being an 80s rock/metal man?). Delivers buckets of awesome in every way. It has a kind of growl that make a solid state amp sound positively tube like, yet still speaks clearly with plenty of definition.

There's also the Dimarzio Model P if you require something a little more restrained but still punchy. (Billy used to use this pickup before the Will Power was designed).

As far as bridges go, many people favour the 'Badass' range, but I can't speak for personal experience. I'm not entirely sold on the theory that more mass to a bridge makes a significant improvement to the tone. However, a quality bridge will probably make a substantial improvement to overall performance and tuning stability.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

If the bridge on the bass is damaged or you just don't like it, replace it. If it works OK and you don't hate it, I'd say leave it alone. Same with the tuning machines.

The bridge does affect the tone, so make sure you get a high-quality unit.

 

[RickBlacker]

I'm having a hard time there... I'm looking at two basses.

1) $150.00 Yamaha RBX260. Clear coat, no stain, no paint. GREAT SHAPE
2) $280.00 Yamaha BB450 Bass Made in Japan MIJ 1980's. Red. Few small dings.


I really like the look of the RBX260. Plus it's local and can pick it up today.