Let's See Your Hot-Rodded Cheapo Basses!

[Hnz]

That’s incredible! What’s the story?

Well, the story is that I quite liked the model and since it wasn't expensive I bought one.
I liked the sound but it 'lacked something' for the use I had in mind for it.
So I decided to chamber the body.







Change the hardware from silver to black, just because



And sand and paint the top of the body







I decided to make a 'ramp' for it that would close in the pu aswell.

 

[J Wilson]

So, I'd been wanting to buy a Squier to send to the Speed Shop. So several years ago, when these came out, I bought one: A James Johnston Signature Jazz Bass.

And it was OK. I was a complete FanBoy for that LPB paint job with the matching head. But, like I said, I had ideas for this guy. So I rounded up the bits I wanted, sent it to Jeff at Corner Music for the electronic assembly, and it turned into this:

I'd always admired that white pickguard/white pickup shell that Fender uses on Stratocasters at times, and thought it would work on a Jazz Bass. Got the white shells and pickguard from Bass Parts Resource, import Aerodyne knobs from Allparts, and CTS 250 volume, balancer, tone, .047 cap, and a Super Jack from StewMac. Replaced the pickups with take-out OEM Fender Yosemites, bought barely used at a big savings off a Reverb ad.

Turned out exactly the way I wanted it, and plays great and looks great. Terrific little axe.

 

[NortenoAcadian]

$90 Glarry hotrodded
before:
View attachment 4184564
after:

View attachment 4184575
passive volume for each coil.... all blend, no tone pot. On/Off switch because why the heck not.
I lightly sanded down the forarm contour as well, my sweaty arm was sticking to the gloss(I pick).

A question: what would that sound like if you had the humbucker in the neck position, instead of between the two Jazz pickups? I have a build going with that exact option. I bought a junked jazz body on Reverb, which turned out to have a hollow for a humbucker at the neck, so I'm thinking, why not? I'm trying to figure out how to do a three position switch (Jazz, both, neck humbucker), and wondering if I should just do a pan knob instead. Thoughts? Any suggestions on sources for wiring information?

 

[RustyStringer]

I think my Yamaha BB234 belongs in this thread!

We'll start at the top I guess...

Schaller BM Tuners
Amazon round string tree
Painted black pickguard (until I can order a black or tort guard)
Amazon rosewood thumb rest
EMG GZR PJ set
Amazon large satin aluminum knobs
Hipshot Kick Ass bridge

 

[Deleted member 365158]

A question: what would that sound like if you had the humbucker in the neck position, instead of between the two Jazz pickups? I have a build going with that exact option. I bought a junked jazz body on Reverb, which turned out to have a hollow for a humbucker at the neck, so I'm thinking, why not? I'm trying to figure out how to do a three position switch (Jazz, both, neck humbucker), and wondering if I should just do a pan knob instead. Thoughts? Any suggestions on sources for wiring information?

I know I modded a jazz bass and put humbuckers centered in the same positions as the jazz pickups were and im personally not happy with the tone, kinda muddy and tinny but missing low mids, but i like the bite and low end the humbuckers do when they are in that sweet spot…. Im seriously thinking of re modding the jazz and keeping the bridge humbucker where it is and either moving the neck humbucker down towards the bridge and adding a jazz pickup near the neck like the one you replied to or moving the humbucker towards the neck and adding a split coil between the 2 humbuckers.
Heck, this poor thing has been modded and re modded several times, including a de fretting

 

[Yahboy]

I know I modded a jazz bass and put humbuckers centered in the same positions as the jazz pickups were and im personally not happy with the tone, kinda muddy and tinny but missing low mids, but i like the bite and low end the humbuckers do when they are in that sweet spot…. Im seriously thinking of re modding the jazz and keeping the bridge humbucker where it is and either moving the neck humbucker down towards the bridge and adding a jazz pickup near the neck like the one you replied to or moving the humbucker towards the neck and adding a split coil between the 2 humbuckers.
Heck, this poor thing has been modded and re modded several times, including a de fretting
View attachment 4776488

Wow, cool looking vimpire squid jazz bass.

 

[Ric5]

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Nothing new, most of you have seen it before:
Began as a stock Affinity Jazz V
Now:
View attachment 3168003

VM Jazz V neck
Carvin HB bridge pickup, wired Parallel and single coil
SD blackout preamp
Passive tone control always in circuit
High mass bridge
This photo shows an SD QP neck pickup, but I have recently swapped it for a Fender USA Jazz V neck pickup to better match the lower output of the parallel/single coil settings of the bridge pickup. The QP better matched the higher output of Series wiring.
...and stickers...
View attachment 3168005

This cheap-o went full tilt…ditched the Jazz neck pickup for a 2nd Carvin/Keisel HB pickup…

I also added a HipShot Kickass 5 bridge and HipShot HB7 tuning machines….
Unfortunately, this bass is no longer “cheap”…

But I got a newer “el-cheap-o” bass, and I am determined to keep it that way.

This TMB100 cost me $169 out the door in April 2021. The only thing I modded is the obvious addition of the MM bridge pickup - which cost me $13 on Amazon.
I am constantly tempted to get a better MM pickup, like an Duncan SMB4D, but that pickup, and others like it, cost almost as much as the bass itself. The P pickup I am very happy with, so it stays.

 

[Deleted member 365158]

This cheap-o went full tilt…ditched the Jazz neck pickup for a 2nd Carvin/Keisel HB pickup…
View attachment 4776707
I also added a HipShot Kickass 5 bridge and HipShot HB7 tuning machines….
Unfortunately, this bass is no longer “cheap”…

But I got a newer “el-cheap-o” bass, and I am determined to keep it that way.
View attachment 4776712

View attachment 4776713

This TMB100 cost me $169 out the door in April 2021. The only thing I modded is the obvious addition of the MM bridge pickup - which cost me $13 on Amazon.
I am constantly tempted to get a better MM pickup, like an Duncan SMB4D, but that pickup, and others like it, cost almost as much as the bass itself. The P pickup I am very happy with, so it stays.

Wilkinson mm style pickups have been pretty inexpensive in the past and sound pretty good, i put one in this Harley Benton shorty (and moved the split coil up a bit)

i sold the bass to a friends kid. I don’t really care for short scale but it sounds great.
I think the pickup was around $45.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I know I modded a jazz bass and put humbuckers centered in the same positions as the jazz pickups were and im personally not happy with the tone, kinda muddy and tinny but missing low mids, but i like the bite and low end the humbuckers do when they are in that sweet spot…. Im seriously thinking of re modding the jazz and keeping the bridge humbucker where it is and either moving the neck humbucker down towards the bridge and adding a jazz pickup near the neck like the one you replied to or moving the humbucker towards the neck and adding a split coil between the 2 humbuckers.
Heck, this poor thing has been modded and re modded several times, including a de fretting
View attachment 4776488

Judging by the 4 toggle switches, I’m guessing you are running those pickups in every possible mode : Series, Parallel, neck coil, bridge coil.

Are you hearing muddy tones in all modes? I can’t imagine you would…
In my dual-MM Jazz bass posted above, I run Parallel, Neck Coil, Bridge Coil - no Series. I find tones in these settings crisp and clean, no mud whatsoever. Series would be a different story.
It could be the pickups you are using, those less-expensive Wilkinson’s aren’t exactly top-shelf. I am using Carvin/Kiesel AlNiCo HB’s, which are on-par with Nordstrand’s or SD’s.

In my TMB100, I installed a cheap ceramic Amazon Special for $13, which, according to the photos I’ve seen, might just be the same exact thing as the Wilkinson’s you have…with a blank cover.

I notice that it’s high-end is really struggling to show through, definitely unlike the AlNiCo’s. I am tempted to replace it, perhaps even for an AlNiCo pickup or something else.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Wilkinson mm style pickups have been pretty inexpensive in the past and sound pretty good, i put one in this Harley Benton shorty (and moved the split coil up a bit)
View attachment 4776766
i sold the bass to a friends kid. I don’t really care for short scale but it sounds great.
I think the pickup was around $45.

Judging by photos I’ve seen compared to the pickup I have, they could be the exact same thing except mine is un-branded. Those particular Wilkinson’s cost around $25.

I was thinking about getting the Wilkinson WJM hybrid Jazz/MM pickup. I’ve noticed the price of that pickup fluctuates depending on availability, currently around $56-$65 depending on where you look. I think I saw one place advertise it at $122.

 

[Deleted member 365158]

Judging by the 4 toggle switches, I’m guessing you are running those pickups in every possible mode : Series, Parallel, neck coil, bridge coil.

Are you hearing muddy tones in all modes? I can’t imagine you would…
In my dual-MM Jazz bass posted above, I run Parallel, Neck Coil, Bridge Coil - no Series. I find tones in these settings crisp and clean, no mud whatsoever. Series would be a different story.
It could be the pickups you are using, those less-expensive Wilkinson’s aren’t exactly top-shelf. I am using Carvin/Kiesel AlNiCo HB’s, which are on-par with Nordstrand’s or SD’s.

In my TMB100, I installed a cheap ceramic Amazon Special for $13, which, according to the photos I’ve seen, might just be the same exact thing as the Wilkinson’s you have…with a blank cover.

I notice that it’s high-end is really struggling to show through, definitely unlike the AlNiCo’s. I am tempted to replace it, perhaps even for an AlNiCo pickup or something else.

I did have my jazz in those configurations for coil selections but went to series/parallel for each and a phase reverse for the the bridge… I personally didn’t find coil selection all that useful but thats me. It didn’t matter what mode they were in, i just haven’t been happy with it… part of it may just be because its fretless.
Your probably right about the comparison of Wilkinson to your cheap blank mm pickup, I tried those cheap ones on a couple projects and that lead me to realize that placement is key for the mm… at least for the sound I like. I was really happy with the shorty’s sound when i was done, it was very similar to a full scale mm knockoff that i have (and love) with an added split coil.
I built a test bass that I can put pickups anywhere between the neck and bridge and that helps when im figuring out where good placements are for some of my builds and to compare pickups.
I used it to figure out placements for this double split P… nice and full sounding!!

And my test bass(life has hit hard so I haven’t been tinkering lately)

 

[Deleted member 365158]

Judging by photos I’ve seen compared to the pickup I have, they could be the exact same thing except mine is un-branded. Those particular Wilkinson’s cost around $25.


I was thinking about getting the Wilkinson WJM hybrid Jazz/MM pickup. I’ve noticed the price of that pickup fluctuates depending on availability, currently around $56-$65 depending on where you look. I think I saw one place advertise it at $122.

Yah, maybe I only paid $25… I ordered 2 when I found them, its been a while

 

[Riff Ranger]

I did have my jazz in those configurations for coil selections but went to series/parallel for each and a phase reverse for the the bridge… I personally didn’t find coil selection all that useful but thats me. It didn’t matter what mode they were in, i just haven’t been happy with it… part of it may just be because its fretless.
Your probably right about the comparison of Wilkinson to your cheap blank mm pickup, I tried those cheap ones on a couple projects and that lead me to realize that placement is key for the mm… at least for the sound I like. I was really happy with the shorty’s sound when i was done, it was very similar to a full scale mm knockoff that i have (and love) with an added split coil.
I built a test bass that I can put pickups anywhere between the neck and bridge and that helps when im figuring out where good placements are for some of my builds and to compare pickups.
I used it to figure out placements for this double split P… nice and full sounding!!
View attachment 4776808

And my test bass(life has hit hard so I haven’t been tinkering lately)
View attachment 4776809

I really want to try a double-reverse-P like that! It just looks like it sounds incredible.

And while I’m sad to hear life’s hitting hard (and I can relate, at least in a general sense), I just woke up and saw your Lego pickup positioning system and it has already made my day I hope that helps with yours.

In barely related news, I hope to finally resurrect the bass that kicked off this thread next month

 

[Riff Ranger]

This cheap-o went full tilt…ditched the Jazz neck pickup for a 2nd Carvin/Keisel HB pickup…
View attachment 4776707
I also added a HipShot Kickass 5 bridge and HipShot HB7 tuning machines….
Unfortunately, this bass is no longer “cheap”…

But I got a newer “el-cheap-o” bass, and I am determined to keep it that way.
View attachment 4776712

View attachment 4776713

This TMB100 cost me $169 out the door in April 2021. The only thing I modded is the obvious addition of the MM bridge pickup - which cost me $13 on Amazon.
I am constantly tempted to get a better MM pickup, like an Duncan SMB4D, but that pickup, and others like it, cost almost as much as the bass itself. The P pickup I am very happy with, so it stays.

I don’t police the thread, but in my mind, the initial cost of the instrument is really the only thing that “has” to be cheap to “count” here. We’ve seen plenty of fun instruments here that started out with cheap “base” basses and turned into downright swanky instruments, and I hope we see plenty more. Bonus points if even the hot-rod-ing comes cheaply, though, I suppose

 

[Deleted member 365158]

View attachment 4776880
I really want to try a double-reverse-P like that! It just looks like it sounds incredible.

And while I’m sad to hear life’s hitting hard (and I can relate, at least in a general sense), I just woke up and saw your Lego pickup positioning system and it has already made my day I hope that helps with yours.

In barely related news, I hope to finally resurrect the bass that kicked off this thread next month

Thanks man, life is getting better and back on track
The lego idea hit me when i was toying (ha no pun intended) with another rail system to play with placements. I took a 5 string dean a while ago and made it so I could slide the pickups around. I thought of the same system but with a lego plate on the rails then thought to bag the rails entirely.
A little hot glue to attach some flat lego pieces to the pickups and there you go!

Do you have specific plans for your thread starter?

 

[Riff Ranger]

Thanks man, life is getting better and back on track
The lego idea hit me when i was toying (ha no pun intended) with another rail system to play with placements. I took a 5 string dean a while ago and made it so I could slide the pickups around. I thought of the same system but with a lego plate on the rails then thought to bag the rails entirely.
A little hot glue to attach some flat lego pieces to the pickups and there you go!

Do you have specific plans for your thread starter?

Just to have a professional undo this

The old foam under the pickup wasn’t doing its job anymore, and when I went to replace it, I found the holes for the height adjustment screws had stripped at the depth I needed. Assured it was an easy fix, I tried the toothpick trick … and got this

I’ll see how the stock DiMarzio (or dead ringer of a clone) sounds once I finally have the pickup high enough, but if I don’t love it, I will probably give the Lace Aluma-P another try. I think this bass sounded too dark because I couldn’t get the pickup anywhere near the recommended height with everything disintegrating underneath it.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Yeah, that double P must sound great!

reminds me of the original 80’s Fender Japan Boxer:

 

[mellobud]

Squier Mini P
Usable strap buttons
Lightweight res o lite tuners
Hi mass bridge

but the most hot rod part on it is the Bill Lawrence/Wilde p46 pickup.

 

[NortenoAcadian]

And my test bass(life has hit hard so I haven’t been tinkering lately)
View attachment 4776809[/QUOTE]

That is one good looking bass. I love the circular notch cut at the "hook point" of the headstock, and the routed edge. The contrast between natural wood and the sparkly blue pickguard is very tasteful, in my opinion.