That’s really nice! Beautiful!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Let's See Your Hot-Rodded Cheapo Basses!
- Thread starter Riff Ranger
- Start date
Tell us more about the white and yellow
1) MIM Fender P:
- purchased on eBay for $200
- Quarter Pounders, purchased used on eBay for $50, IIRC
- Fender tort pickguard for $35
- Rewire with CTS pots, Sprague cap, Fender knobs, and Switchcraft output jack, about $20
- Fender bridge and pickup covers for about $40
- New Fender hard case
2) MIM Fender J:
- purchased on eBay for $210
- DiMarzio DP123 pickups, purchased used on eBay for $90
- Fender tort pickguard and Fender aluminum shielding plate for $45
- Rewire with CTS pots, Sprague cap, Fender knobs, and Switchcraft output jack, around $25
- Fender bridge and pickup covers for about $45
- New Fender hard case
See the Glarry $67 bass thread for my Glarry P and Glarry J stories and associated costs.
- purchased on eBay for $200
- Quarter Pounders, purchased used on eBay for $50, IIRC
- Fender tort pickguard for $35
- Rewire with CTS pots, Sprague cap, Fender knobs, and Switchcraft output jack, about $20
- Fender bridge and pickup covers for about $40
- New Fender hard case
2) MIM Fender J:
- purchased on eBay for $210
- DiMarzio DP123 pickups, purchased used on eBay for $90
- Fender tort pickguard and Fender aluminum shielding plate for $45
- Rewire with CTS pots, Sprague cap, Fender knobs, and Switchcraft output jack, around $25
- Fender bridge and pickup covers for about $45
- New Fender hard case
See the Glarry $67 bass thread for my Glarry P and Glarry J stories and associated costs.
Last edited:
Did a bit more to my epi eb0. Already had supertone bridge & reissue guild bisonic (love the black & chrome vs stock sidewinder). But wanted to experiment with 2nd pickup without routing a cavity.
Came across Victory diamondback gold foil pickups ($65) that are surface mount. Carved a channel under pickguard for wiring that goes to neck cavity. Pulled out tone knob (didnt do much) and replaced with 3 way switch.
Due to difference in pickups (style/size) expected more of a difference than i got. Basically sounds same as bisonic. Bit more treble if i really listen. Slightly weak on g string on frets 1 to 3 but might be because i still need to fix angle of pickup (hard to see in pics). Still a great pickup for 1/2 of bisonic that sounds 99% like it. I also havent tried anything but tapes so not sure how strings change sound between the 2.
Since it sounds so similar i did buy cheap ($10ish each) variety of other pickup styles to swap with bisonic to experiment more since i can get my sound with the diamondback: blade & pole piece humbuckers, tele bass 51pb and some single coils. Also got mm and lipstick but not sure if they will fit neck cavity. Want to keep it so not wider than bisonic cover. Also got a fender tbx pot to add to the diamondback to see if that changes tone (and microswitch if adding pot back) or might direct wire some capacitors in too. Havent had time yet to swap them. Too busy playing.
Old pics look so naked with nothing in middle.
Last edited:
Hot rodded cheapos in my stable
From the left:
Aria Pro II 77 Precise bass which someone gave me with no electronics or pickguard. Had a route done and dropped a set of Fralin PJs in it, and added a MIM Fender Pickguard
Squier VM P Fretless with Bill Lawrence P-46 Pickup
Squier Mike Dirnt Sig with Gotoh Bridge and M&V Guitars P pickup in it
Squier VM P5 M&V Guitars P Pickup and Hipshot Kick Ass Bridge
I love and use all of these and gig them regularly next to basses worth many times more and they well an truly stand up in that company.
From the left:
Aria Pro II 77 Precise bass which someone gave me with no electronics or pickguard. Had a route done and dropped a set of Fralin PJs in it, and added a MIM Fender Pickguard
Squier VM P Fretless with Bill Lawrence P-46 Pickup
Squier Mike Dirnt Sig with Gotoh Bridge and M&V Guitars P pickup in it
Squier VM P5 M&V Guitars P Pickup and Hipshot Kick Ass Bridge
I love and use all of these and gig them regularly next to basses worth many times more and they well an truly stand up in that company.
Here's before and after shots of my £99 Epiphone EB0. It came with the Di Marzio Model One already fitted (which is why I bought it). I dug a hole for a Catswhisker mini humbucker, moved the jack socket to the edge of the body and wired it like a Jazz bass (volume/volume/tone). A set of Grover 142's and some La Bella 'Jamersons' completed the mods. It was a great guitar which I wish I still had. Cost of upgrades about twice what I paid for the guitar but well worth it!
I just got a Squier VMPV exactly like that and have been wondering what to do about the bridge and pickup! I hadn't heard of M&V, and will have to look into those. Does the Hipshot drop right in, or does it require drilling or routing?Hot rodded cheapos in my stable
From the left:
Aria Pro II 77 Precise bass which someone gave me with no electronics or pickguard. Had a route done and dropped a set of Fralin PJs in it, and added a MIM Fender Pickguard
Squier VM P Fretless with Bill Lawrence P-46 Pickup
Squier Mike Dirnt Sig with Gotoh Bridge and M&V Guitars P pickup in it
Squier VM P5 M&V Guitars P Pickup and Hipshot Kick Ass Bridge
I love and use all of these and gig them regularly next to basses worth many times more and they well an truly stand up in that company.
This is my current project - a Sterling 'Ray24. Photo 1 is a stock image but mine was identical. It's now had the neck tinted and the body finished in Olympic White (all nitrocellulose - cost about £30). I've also fitted a Tusq nut (£10). Next up will be a set of Shaller tuners (£60-70) followed by a Nordstrand PU and EQ circuit - probably costing a further £250. Adding £350 on top of the £500 purchase price may seem crazy to some, but I'll have a killer bass personalised to my taste for well under a grand - Good Times ahead!
Photo 1 is a Wesfield P copy that I picked up from a boot sale for £35. I repainted it and fitted Wilkinson tuners, bridge and pickup and a white pearl pickguard. I gigged this bass for a year with a 'Floyd tribute band before replacing the neck with a Squier Jaguar (same as a Jazz) item (£50). Other mods are Tusq imitation elephant nut (£10), Gotoh 203 bridge (£40?), Bareknuckle '58 pickup (£60), Grover 142 tuners (£60), CTS/Sprague/Switchcraft electrics (£20?), tortoiseshell pickguard (£15), La Bella flats (£45) and a full nitrocellulose refinish (£30?). Wow! just realised I've spent ten times the original purchase price on upgrades! Oh yeah, Fender reissue bridge and pickup covers and a thumb rest too... but it's a hell of a guitar for less than a monkey (£500) and a very personal thing that I won't part with.
There is a Squier version with the correct hole spacing that drops straight in.
Sweet! Thanks ... and stay tuned, bwahaha!
Some folks buy Fenders and upgrade the same parts you did
wintremute
mediocrity at its finest
- Oct 16, 2014
- 6,942
- 29,551
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Langstrom Carrot Farms
Somebody selling stuff out of the back of a car? Just an American guessing here
Yeah, a boot sale (trunk sale?) is like a yard sale held in a public place like a car park or a farmers field. Fill your car with junk and sell... good deals to be had.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
