Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
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Let's See Your Hot-Rodded Cheapo Basses!
- Thread starter Riff Ranger
- Start date
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
This would be my choice to quench a little g.a.s
That's a helluva transformation! Well done!!
I've run into this exact situation, only it was with a Quarter Pounder Precision pickup overwhelming a Fender Super 55 Jazz pup. That's saying something 'cuz the Super 55's are already beefy as heck. It just goes to show what a monstrous beast Seymour Duncan created there.
In keeping with the "Cheapo" groove @Monterey Bay-ss originally set forth, I have a few submissions. Most recently, there are my "No-Guilt" Jazzes. The exact composition of parts is chronicled in their own thread…
Unveiling IV: Squier "No-Guilt Jazz V" Parts-Bass
…but those are more "parts-basses" than "slightly modified from stock" instruments. However, at one time, I owned a great Squier Standard Jazz that served as my dedicated "mod platform". For a while, it was using the same Fender Deluxe bridge that you'd find on a Fender Blacktop, but honestly, there wasn't much difference, so eventually I went back to the stock bridge.
(Note: Only the Jazz was modified. I kept the P-Bass Special and the Strat in stock condition.)
One of the odd idiosyncrasies of the Squier Standard series was that they used the same size pickups for both the neck and bridge positions. This makes trying different pickup sets problematic, so I had my local Guitar Center tech open the bridge pickup slot a wee bit…really just a haircut, as you can see.
Once that was done, I was free to experiment with any standard-sized pickup set I wanted to.
Oh, one last thing…every bass I own eventually gets fixed up with some kind of Hipshot Drop-D tuner.
I think it's all pretty much covered in my thread:
If P, then Q!
In brief: SX P modded with added Q-filter mid cut filter on a concentric pot.
Otto
If P, then Q!
In brief: SX P modded with added Q-filter mid cut filter on a concentric pot.
Otto
Danelectro Rumor basses - both with Hipshot Type B bridges, DiMarzio Model P pickups, Sperzel locking tuners. Original cost of basses = $195 per. Upgrades ~ $250 per.
Drool. I've been eyeballing these lately. Nicely done.BEFORE
View attachment 3164806
AFTER
View attachment 3164794
Base instrument: Electra X700JB (230 USD) in 2018
Modifications: Gotoh 201B-4 bridge (40 USD), Gotoh GB707 tuning machines (60 USD), Gotoh(?) knobs (10? USD), Lace Aluma-P Alumitone pickup (120 USD); 230 USD total
When I started taking bass seriously again this spring after years of only occasional putzing, I found that my old gear didn't really suit my new ideas about tone, so I set out to find something snarly and dirty when this one crossed my path on reverb. I'd had good experiences with Matsumoku-made instruments from the '80s before, and this one certainly looked the part, so I took a chance on it. I figured the stock pickup would be nothing special, so I ordered the Lace in hopes of building an instrument to really push a burly tube amplifier I hoped to buy down the line (Mesa Buster 1x15). The stock pickup actually wasn't half bad as it turned out, but the Lace was already on the way so I figured I'd go for it. The intonation screws on the stock bridge had been mixed up, so I thought I'd go higher mass with a replacement, but the Gotoh 201 seemed like the only one that would fit, so I didn't go much higher mass. The clover key tuners had gotten sticky and seemed visually out of step with the rest of the instrument, so I opted for Gotoh GB707s which turn easily, look the part of a metal bass, and as it turns out, reduced mass on the headstock sufficiently to eliminate the neck dive I hadn't really even noticed. The plastic volume knob functioned but was damaged, so I had the tech replace both knobs with some black metal knobs (also Gotoh, I think) more in keeping with the look of the instrument. It wasn't a bad instrument when I got it, but with a few tweaks, it has become pretty much everything I want in a bass, and yes it does snarl through the Buster I eventually acquired
Mine started as a $159 Peavey Forum on the GC used site. I documented the NBD in this thread. There's a link there to another thread in which I take the reader through the "restoration" process. All told it cost me $420. It now sounds awesome and plays very nicely - very solid and comfy neck on a bass I don't need to worry about beating up.
Here's a teaser pic before you go look at the other threads.
Here's a teaser pic before you go look at the other threads.
I got mine for 230 USD; I see some asking more like 400 for the same instrument, possibly without the slightly screwed up bridge and damaged knob, but I bet you could get those sellers to come down a bit.
Glad you like it. The body shape makes it heavy but really stands out (and stands up if you lean it against a wall), and the neck is just right: not too chunky, not too skinny.
Does your brother sell carbon pickguards by any chance? Might push me into finally getting a Fender if I knew I could slap one of those on there. Or a mirror pickguard, or maybe one of those leather pickguards from Wal basses ...
I like this thread, though my modded Washburn Taurus is decidedly underwhelming in the face of these awesome instrument surgeries I'm seeing, esp since it's on the high end of the budget spectrum to begin with. Still, I might snap a pic (though it's also not quiiiite done)
That's gorgeous. And so's the bass, haha. I think I need to visit Alabama.
I don't play out at the moment, but one of my oldest buddies has worked with big acts out of Nashville and his main instrument is a modified Squier P-bass in Dakota red with matching headstock, gold Hipshot hardware, and some fancy pickup. This guy grew up in a house with a '62 Jazz, and owns Rics and high-end Fenders.
Seems like hot-rodded Squiers are their own thing.
Bah, let's see it! I didn't do anything crazy to mine, but I'm really happy with it, and that's what counts for this thread.
Started off as a J body of unknown origin. Added a Lic. by Fender P neck, nitro finish, a tort guard, some DiMarzio Model J pickups, and it turned out to be a pretty sweet J... With a fat P neck.
This is a Bronco that I found for $80. I bought a T-40 pickup (for $100!), and made a black pickguard. I was wanting to learn how to mod, this was my first project.
Before/before/After of my peavey milestone bxp .
Bass: $100
Wilkinson pickups: $55
Jazz wiring kit: $20
Knobs: $10
(Excluding tools)
The tone was sounding kinda weak to me, a little distorted. I fully intended on doing a straight up jazz wiring, but the full size tone pot wouldn't fit.(stock pots were mini) even had to sand to get the middle knob to fit. So I adapted, and wired it in series!
First gig out I wasn't sure, I think I overcompensated the EQ for the series pickups (cut bass, boost treble) and it sounded weird. But tonight I just played it out again, basically my usual settings, and IT KILLED! so fat and smooth .
So I love my el cheapo hot rod. Fun thread!
I nearly went with Hipshot lightweight lollipops on mine, but I think I made the right call for this one. I'd probably go with lollipops if I ever did get a Fender.
It's going to take me some time to present all the low cost basses I've modified, about 18, all under 24" scale and under $200. I'll post them individually over time. This one started out as a 21" scale Chinese bass uke with Aquila Thundergut poly strings, blonde with a skunk stripe, which inspired me to make it look like a walnut Rickenbacker done by Pat Wilkins. I had Eric's Guitar carve the body and headstock, added fake pickups (it has a piezo under the saddle), Rick pickguard and truss rod cover (I made a Ukenbacker decal), plus half of a Rick style tailpiece. I used LeBella flat wound 25" strings they make exclusively for the Gold Tone ME-Bass, but I use them on many different basses. Had to add an anchor on the back so the strings would fit the 21" scale. Replaced the black hardware with chrome.
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