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How much do you mod your basses
- Thread starter Willie5String
- Start date
I have a Fender MIM Geddy Lee Signature jazz, bought new in 2013. I did not mod it until last year, when I replaced the factory pickups with Geddy spec pickups from Tom Brantley, and all new pots, tone cap, output jack etc.
I previously owned a 2015 MIM Fender Standard Fretless jazz, also bought new (prior to building my own parts bass with a Warmoth neck and body). It was heavily modified:
- Replaced factory bridge with a Hipshot KickAss
- Replaced the pickups with Tom Brantley Geddy model
- Installed a treble bleed cap & resistor on the neck volume knob
- Put a CA glue finish on the Rosewood fingerboard, to protect from stainless round wounds I use
- Replaced pick guard from factory white to black pearloid
I’m in the process of modding my P-bass into a reverse P, and replacing the tone knob with a DIY varitone.
I also modded my Dingwall Z2 into a Z3 by routing the body and adding a neck pickup…and gutted the electronics and installed a Nordstrand preamp.
I also modded my Dingwall Z2 into a Z3 by routing the body and adding a neck pickup…and gutted the electronics and installed a Nordstrand preamp.
Attachments
Epi eb0 added guild reissue bisonic (love how it looks vs stock), supertone bridge, 12 way varitone instead of tone knob (that didnt do much) and added victory gold foil to middle (currently not connected though as removed 3 way switch to add varitone). In process of swapping victory for a novak h22 as its wider so can scoot back a bit more and figuring out where to put micro 3 way switch (cavity is packed) Last thing I want to do to her is ultralite tuners. Bought it used knowing I wanted to tweak it.
Jetson jr just added bridge cover. Like it's tone as is but every so often swapping pickups for geezer pops in my head.
Jetson jr just added bridge cover. Like it's tone as is but every so often swapping pickups for geezer pops in my head.
All my Basses got pickup mods. Except for one bass.
A 2021 Fender Precision American Pro II 5 string (well all my basses are 5 string). Rolled off the line perfect in every way. Sound and playability that is just totally off the charts. One of those rare unicorns that pop up from time to time that no modification can possibly make better.
A 2021 Fender Precision American Pro II 5 string (well all my basses are 5 string). Rolled off the line perfect in every way. Sound and playability that is just totally off the charts. One of those rare unicorns that pop up from time to time that no modification can possibly make better.
Because you like how it feels, but not the sound. The former is much harder to change than the latter.
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My SR5 bass and ES-Les Paul bass are OEM. My Jazz 5 got a new paint job, my 57 AVRI P bass got a pickup routed for the bridge (it has since been taken out, put back to original specs and a sticker covers the hole), my fretless SR4 got an Aguilar DCB-MM installed as it had the dreaded weak G string. I regret most of the mods I’ve done except the new pickup in the Fretless. Next bass I buy will be unsullied.
Hard to say which of us would be better off. Australia is a richer economy per capita. But your country has a much bigger economy overall. And is much closer to the US. We are closer to China. None of which takes account of steps in the supply chain charging whatever they think the market will support.
A lot on a Fender p. Spent about as much on mods as the bass cost. Never sounded that good. Cheap bass none,,,
After some regrettable decisions (as a teenager) modding some perfectly fine basses, I try to avoid it unless necessary.
I only have two that have been modded in my current lineup:
‘69 P that has a J pickup in the bridge and is currently having a custom neck made by a local luthier. I can’t wait to get it back from the shop!
‘07 Fender Marcus Miller J that I removed the preamp and pickups in years ago. I tried a lot of different pickups and pre’s in it before settling on an EMG J system.
I only have two that have been modded in my current lineup:
‘69 P that has a J pickup in the bridge and is currently having a custom neck made by a local luthier. I can’t wait to get it back from the shop!
‘07 Fender Marcus Miller J that I removed the preamp and pickups in years ago. I tried a lot of different pickups and pre’s in it before settling on an EMG J system.
Not as a rule so to speak, but I’ll do it if the inspiration strikes. I gutted the electronics out of my son’s bass (he only wanted a volume knob) and replaced the pickups (wired in series). I’ve converted a couple 6-string basses to wide spaced 5-string. I’m currently refinishing an SR506 that I converted to wide 5-string. I’m also doing a 6-string to headless wide 5-string conversation. I’ll make a post for that one when it’s done (hopefully soon).
left to right, all have Schaller S-locks if you count that as a mod.
- 2022 Player Plus Jazz - unmodded.
- 2019 Player Precision with a FCS '62 P pup, gold anodized, brushed aluminum pickguard, and Hipshot drop tuner. This bass was already modded when I got it.
- 2019 American Performer, Aguilar Pickups, new control set, custom pickguard
- 2021 Player Plus Jazz - pickguard, knobs
Usually change the nut to Tusq, tuners to Grover/Hipshot/Gotoh, bridge to Hipshot, and better strap buttons (mushroom shaped, not factory conical). Pickups only if needed and almost always the tone cap. Pots if they seem cheapo.
