Let's See Your Hot-Rodded Cheapo Basses!

[/\/\3phist0]

That's not something you see every day - MEC's on a Squier or Fender. Nice! I'm similarly on the hunt for a gold MEC jazz pickup to hot rod an old Ibanez.

The MECs are much maligned by some Warwick owners. My Dolphin remains 100% stock.
These are great sounding. Highs are very present. Very similar to the EMGs that they are derived from.
The gold actives are very modern (a bit scooped) but solid too. Good luck on your hunt.
I got the pickups and preamp for $75.00, the preamp remains in my parts pile , the pots are very high quality.

 

[Dean N]

My Dolphin remains 100% stock.

Dolphin, you say? PM incoming.

 

[Malak the Mad]

A 5 string UNDER 8 lbs !??!!!?

Body: Hot Pink 4 string Paulownia clearanced Jazz bass body

OH man is this fun! feels like it is not real!
Hollow , made with styrofoam, filled with helium.

Oh, I believe it! The wood is flat-out magic!

Similarly, I snagged a paulownia J-body from Guitar Fetish a couple of years ago in the hopes of assembling an inexpensive and lightweight (re: "No Guilt") travel bass. Much to my astonishment, what I ended up with was way, waaaaay lighter than even I had expected…all 6.625 pounds of it!

 

[KohanMike]

Don't remember what I added before, but here is one had done recently, A Hadean 24" bass uke, modified to look like a Fender Jazz/Mustang fusion. The bass uke cost $189, the mods about $450.

 

[Volker Kirstein]

This is Frankenbass, a defretted Harley Benton JB-75. I picked it up from the want ads for €25! Twentyfive! All the hot rodding was done by the previous owner. Note the Frankenstein cracked headstock repair. Note the Frankenstein control plate, with Blend/V/T. Note the defret, filled with spackle. Note the old, well worn flats. I didn't have to do a thing. The action was beautiful, and it played/sounded "like buttah".

I gigged it once, at the Blueshaus. My fingers found where they needed to go, and I was complimented on my sound.

Since I don't play fretless for pleasure, and needed space for more basses, I sold it a few months back. For €50 + €25 shipping.

I advertised it as a Frankenbass, and used all the Frankensein's Lab repairs as selling points, emphasizing that this was a "monster of a bass". The buyer was well pleased, raving about now having his own "bass of doom", and that it is a beautifully playing monster indeed.

If I had need of a fretless, and the space, I would have gladly kept it. But I don't, so I didn't.

 

[Deleted member 132197]

I'm busy with this, Charvette body with (supposedly) an Ibanez neck.

The original bridge was quite ok, and it had Gotoh tuners, so those will stay. The pu will be replaced with Geezers (if they are ever shipped, they are a bit difficult to get right now here). Probably gonna stain the headstock black and add a Hipshot D-tune as well.

 

[Riff Ranger]

I'm busy with this, Charvette body with (supposedly) an Ibanez neck.

The original bridge was quite ok, and it had Gotoh tuners, so those will stay. The pu will be replaced with Geezers (if they are ever shipped, they are a bit difficult to get right now here). Probably gonna stain the headstock black and add a Hipshot D-tune as well.

View attachment 4025515

I hope you’re sticking with that finish

 

[EatS1stBassist]

I just finished this build. Neck $33 body $53. Sanded and stained the body.
Mostly nickel hardware. CTS US pots cloth wiring orange drop cap Fender Original Pickup W/custom guard. TI Jazz flats. Sounds awesome.

 

[Deleted member 132197]

I hope you’re sticking with that finish

oh hell yeah! I love it!

 

[EatS1stBassist]

My satins.

 

[Ric5]

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

View attachment 4026559

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So is the swing set 5 or 6 string?

 

[Ric5]

So is the swing set 5 or 6 string?

ya that was something I sold years ago and I grabbed the wrong picture

how about these

 

[Volker Kirstein]

This is Jenny, a hot rodded Harley Benton Shorty. Fender Himass Bridge, Hipshot style string retainer, upgraded quality electronics, tuners, and iridescent block inlay stickers. And, of course, knobs that go to 11.

 

[Ronzo]

This is Jenny, a hot rodded Harley Benton Shorty. Fender Himass Bridge, Hipshot style string retainer, upgraded quality electronics, tuners, and iridescent block inlay stickers. And, of course, knobs that go to 11.
View attachment 4043661
View attachment 4043662

Obviously, the serial number is 8675309.

 

[Savagehenry]

That took a moment....
....I did get it, after a few read throughs....

 

[Riff Ranger]

That took a moment....
....I did get it, after a few read throughs....

You got it! (You got it!)

 

[Savagehenry]

I have actually entertained ourselves by my dog and myself having “staring at the ceiling fan” contests,
....not to mention the more mundane distractions....
Actually, a physiological asset in this day and age, to my way of thinking...
This is Loki and I in a routine “first one who blinks lacks resolve” game.

 

[amimbari]

I bought one of those Jackson JS1M guitarcenter 199dollar specials and the pickup was weak.....
So I just tossed in one of my old Jackson preamps. Here's a picture when I was finishing it up before I put the rubber cover on the battery
Weak no more

 

[Volker Kirstein]

I picked up a red sparkle "kid's guitar" off the want ads for €10. I replaced the bridge, and restrung with Bass VI strings. (I had to retaper the E string) I still have not found a tuning that works, and intonation is all over the place.

How it arrived: