How much do you mod your basses

[InhumanResource]

Does every bass in your stable get modded and how much.

All of mine that are single coils get a stacked hum cancelling AlNiCo pickup.

My main player (whichever bass I am currently in love with) gets lots of tweaks. My current main squeeze is a black 92 JB+, I am switching all the hardware to black and have added a DiMarzio Area in the bridge and a Norstrand Split 51 in the neck. I have also had the bass refretted and Plekked by the local Gurus.

Nope. On actual working instruments (not the various parts projects I have Frankensteined together over the years) I have done pickups, pickups and preamp swap, and…nothing at all.

My workhorse for many years was a MIJ Marcus Miller jazz. I had a break from gigging for a couple of years, then when I came back to it I gutted the thing. Put on plain old single coils from an American Standard and John East “Marcus retro” preamp.

I’m kind of done now. Lately I use a Tribute L2500 (wanted a 5 string for a party band that I joined) and it sounds just fine, but it’s heavy. Dropped a deposit on a new L2500 option order (empress body!) and I do not expect to modify anything beyond strap locks.

When I was younger I liked digging into everything from basses to cars and audio systems etc but nowadays I’m not into cutting my stuff up anymore. I try to get something that is “good enough” from the get go and that’s it.

 

[Cleezmo]

I always add Dunlop Straploks, which is admittedly very minor.

I had a MIJ Fender Jazz fretless that was probably the only bass that I had modded in a material sense - swapped the bridge for a Hipshot Vintage, changed the pickguard, swapped the pickups for Fender Noiseless. Had it a few years, sold it.

My G&L M-2000 and L-2500 are stock, as is my Modulus Q5. I've debated swapping the out the EMGs in the Q5 for something else, but never have been motivated enough to do so.

The latest "mod" was to my G&L JB - I love it but couldn't get used to the exposed pole pieces, as I usually play right over the neck pickup as you would a ramp. Ordered $12 aftermarket solid covers and it made a HUGE difference in how comfortable it is to play.

 

[Tom Bomb]

Wouldn't dream of it I have one or two but they came my way in that affected form. I didn't participate in any way other than to pay, one way or another, for the work done. My rule is not to tinker. I'd rather trust that those who conceive of the machine and then concoct the machinery, have done the thinking before my purchase, and they know better than I do.

I admire a good, well conceived mod, including those in odd pieces here that went under the knife before I came along. They don't detract in any way from the ensuing joy. When you have good mods, done well, it's time to celebrate. The limit for me, sad to say — those mods done by my own hand — would usually be to add strap-locks or I may remove a pickguard or two, or make a valiant attempt at a restoration. My one specialty is to comprehensibly distress the product Put simply, I don't trust myself — call me Mister Damage.

The logic, for me, is: engineering something musical, out of bits and pieces, will always — according to those who inform me on these things — have a fair modicum of luck playing a part. In all likelihood, the officially unmodded instrument that you gravitate towards and pick up, has already been picked up by others who have recognized something in that particular instrument that's inherently musical, or not — the dice were rolled and the game was won, or lost, without your involvement. A number of other instruments were hopefully weeded out in that process because the luck wasn't with them, if we're lucky.

In making the choice to mod, amend, or extend an instrument that doesn't fit the bill, you'll be, ostensibly, throwing the dice again, and, this time, without the potential to have choices — let an axe or two slip — and without the luxury of being able to weed out the deadwood. So, this means that, in reality, you may have to throw those dice a good number of times before you get that one musical instrument, and you'd better hope that you don't do irreparable damage, in the process, before you get the desired outcome.

All I've ever done is bugger things up. That forces my hand, more than anything else. Like others here, I'm happy to let those who are in-the-know roll the dice. All I care to do, my choice, is adopt and adapt.​

 

[Blackbird]

I am kind of the opposite. I will only buy a modified bass if I can restore it to original at a reasonable cost.

If I do make a modification, it's usually reversible, such as switching the hardware to a different color or adding a clear pickguard, which I think looks really nice.

The only bass I regret not keeping for modding was an original USA Valley Arts bass I managed to get. I should have upgraded the generic electronics it came with. I haven't seen a Valley Arts bass (other than Samick knockoffs) for sale since I sold that one. Not that I miss it that much. I did not keep it long.

 

[factory presets]

I'd rather trust that those who conceive of the machine and then concoct the machinery, have done the thinking before my purchase, and they know better than I do.

Lot of basses I buy, most of that thinking revolves around how to cut costs. My contribution is to see where they might have gone too far and if it can be corrected for minimal investment of time and money.

 

[Nev375]

Hmmm..where'd you get that fanned fret neck?

Moses Graphite

I don't think they make them anymore.

 

[staurosjohn]

That's not Igor. That's "Eyegore"

 

[crguti]

I do the following to all my instruments (2 guitars and 5 basses):

• Graph tech nut
• Fret sanding (the end part closer to the 1st string)
• Strap lock
• Pickups
• Electronics

 

[Ferniff]

I tinker a bit

 

[B-Mac]

Does every bass in your stable get modded and how much.

All of mine that are single coils get a stacked hum cancelling AlNiCo pickup.

My main player (whichever bass I am currently in love with) gets lots of tweaks. My current main squeeze is a black 92 JB+, I am switching all the hardware to black and have added a DiMarzio Area in the bridge and a Norstrand Split 51 in the neck. I have also had the bass refretted and Plekked by the local Gurus.

only reversible mods.

 

[MMiller28]

Pickguard and/or knobs only. I've never changed pickups or preamp in any bass and I've had plenty. If the whole thing doesn't work for me, off it goes.

 

[Seano76]

I usually tinker with my basses. I've got a reverend mercalli 5 string and I am in the minority and didn't really care for the stock electronics so I put a bartolini preamp in there. Probably obliterated the resale value but it made it more usable for me. Then I have a Player p bass and put an American fender pickup in that. Why not?

 

[Marko 1]

I don't mod my basses at all. Learned my lesson many years ago with a miserable mid-seventies P-bass. I tried to fix it with the usual modifications, none of which improved that boat anchor. I don't purchase or use a bass that requires modification to suit me.

Many years ago, newish to live gigging, the BL/Guitarist convinced me that I needed SJ5-3s for my MIM Jazz V. He even put them in for me. I eventually put the stock pickups back in. That's my whole mod story.

Edit: I recently bought chicken-head knobs for two (same model) amps that have horribly-difficult-to-read round, chrome knobs, then put some on a few of my basses.

 

[Fynn]

Of course, Joe seems to buy mostly valuable vintage instruments, so we're talking about losing a LOT of resale value if they're messed with much. In his case it makes sense not to really mod anything. Inexpensive contemporary instruments, on the other hand ...

He argued with the fact that most of the time it's just not worth it in general. I don't believe that Joe cares about resale value much at all. Afterall he plays all the guitars changes the frets on them and in general is not very well known for actually selling guitars again. I doubt he'd need the money anyways.
But my point is basically that it's usually not worth it. Putting a new bridge on a bass that you already really like, because you believe that that new bridge will sound better is almost never worth it. There's close to no audible difference at all if you go from one metal bridge to another. But that's sort of why I said unless it's absolutely necessary. Because there definitely are instinces where a better pickup would drasticially improve your guitar. Let's say you buy a cheap Squier because you liked the neck of it alot, but you absolutely dislike the sound of these cheap pickups. Ofcourse you can mod that..
I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's kinda stupid to make a hot rod out of an already really good car. But in the end everybody can waste their money however they want

 

[chris_b]

I buy all my basses from the classifieds and I won't by anything that has been modded.

Every bass has to be original and mod free for me to be interested.

 

[MrB64]

Overall, not much. I've put different pickguards on my black Geddy Lee jazz (black), as well as on my 3 tone Sunburst Fender Player series fretless jazz (tortoise shell). On the latter, I had a tusq nut put in after the original broke. I also tried putting a high mass bridge on it but went back to the original.

On my G&L JB, all I've done is install Dunlop strap locks, which are on all 3 basses.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Depends on the bass. The only two in my stable of 12 have mods...well, 3 if you count changing pick guards.
Am J - pickguard change
Squier CV 60s P - Duncan Quarter pounder pickup, upgraded pots and cap, Fender vintage tuners
Squier CV 70s J - Fender pickups (can't remember model), upgraded pots and caps.

 

[TyBo]

He [Bonamossa] argued with the fact that most of the time it's just not worth it in general. I don't believe that Joe cares about resale value much at all. Afterall he plays all the guitars changes the frets on them and in general is not very well known for actually selling guitars again. I doubt he'd need the money anyways.
But my point is basically that it's usually not worth it. Putting a new bridge on a bass that you already really like, because you believe that that new bridge will sound better is almost never worth it. There's close to no audible difference at all if you go from one metal bridge to another. But that's sort of why I said unless it's absolutely necessary. Because there definitely are instances where a better pickup would drasticially improve your guitar. Let's say you buy a cheap Squier because you liked the neck of it alot, but you absolutely dislike the sound of these cheap pickups. Of course you can mod that..
I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's kinda stupid to make a hot rod out of an already really good car. But in the end everybody can waste their money however they want

I'm glad we have permission to mod Squiers . And yeah, if an instrument already behaves as I want it to, then there's no need to mod it (though there could be aesthetic reasons - not usually my 1st concern). However ... lighter tuners help combat neck dive, new pickups can certainly impact the sound, and a new bridge CAN impact the sound and feel, and indeed has been worth it when I've felt motivated to make that change (if you haven't experienced this, maybe you're not choosing the right replacements. )

It's true that Bonamossa's preference for vintage instruments has mostly to do with their musical virtues, as opposed to their monetary value (according to what he says, which I'm inclined to believe). So from that point of view, it would not make much sense to, say, put in a Floyd Rose or something. But I do think he'd feel it was a shame to trash the value of such an instrument, from both a historical and monetary perspective. So while he actually DOES sometimes mod those vintage instruments, they're done for practical reasons, like a refret if one of them becomes unplayable, and so on. Joe sees the value in targeted mods, but with his instruments that wouldn't generally include something like a gaudy bridge upgrade.

 

[Kaa]

The only bass I have modded was the really budget one. I upgraded the tuners, bridge and electronics.

 

[MegaSwing]

The less Fendery they are, the less likely I will mod them, because that’s when it becomes a pain to do. However, they had better be pretty close to perfect unto themselves.