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Let's See Your Hot-Rodded Cheapo Basses!

#701
I bought this (made in USA) cream white 1992 Peavey Fury with single ply black guard for $40 and it came with a small amp that I sold, so the bass was more than free.
Changed the pickguard to white/black/white for $8 and put in a used EMG Geezer pickup for $70.
Then decided to route the body to take a Thunderbird pickup that a guy in Taiwan makes for $55 (a well made copy of the Gibson 1965 T-Bird pickup) and I put that in with the original black pickguard. The shiny pickup trim ring is now black to match the guard, but I haven't taken a pic of it that way yet.
So it's my Peavey version of a FenderBird that cost me $95 total.
Sounds like Thunderbird but feels like a good Fury that hangs with no Thunderbird neck dive.
I know the body really looks like it changed color from creamy white to very yellow-ish and back to creamy white but it's the same body.

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#704
58kites said:
I bought this (made in USA) cream white 1992 Peavey Fury with single ply black guard for $40 and it came with a small amp that I sold, so the bass was more than free.
Changed the pickguard to white/black/white for $8 and put in a used EMG Geezer pickup for $70.
Then decided to route the body to take a Thunderbird pickup that a guy in Taiwan makes for $55 (a well made copy of the Gibson 1965 T-Bird pickup) and I put that in with the original black pickguard. The shiny pickup trim ring is now black to match the guard, but I haven't taken a pic of it that way yet.
So it's my Peavey version of a FenderBird that cost me $95 total.
Sounds like Thunderbird but feels like a good Fury that hangs with no Thunderbird neck dive.
I know the body really looks like it changed color from creamy white to very yellow-ish and back to creamy white but it's the same body.

View attachment 4840463 View attachment 4840465 View attachment 4840466 View attachment 4840467 View attachment 4840468
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As a one-time Thunderbird owner and three-time U.S. Fury owner, I approve these mods :bassist: though I do rather like the stock pickups in the Furies I’ve kept (Peavey super ferrite single coil in the first generation, Schaller? split coil with ceramic? magnets in the third). I don’t think I’ll mod anything on the first generation but the third got the Phil Lynott/Steve Harris mashup treatment, and will get burly Schaller tuning machines one of these days. Might carve the headstock to look like the hook-ier versions as well.
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#707
Deleted member 365158 said:
Im messing around with an OLP I recently picked up. I was going to leave it as is then thought another pickup might help
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then thought creating a new pick guard would be cool
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but after I pulled off that design, I really liked it without so now im thinking this will look cool
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ill play around with the J placement on my test bass before i make it permanent.
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Your bass has now got the same pickup arrangement as my favourite bass - the Warwick Streamer Jazzman.
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#710
Riff Ranger said:
As a one-time Thunderbird owner and three-time U.S. Fury owner, I approve these mods :bassist: though I do rather like the stock pickups in the Furies I’ve kept (Peavey super ferrite single coil in the first generation, Schaller? split coil with ceramic? magnets in the third). I don’t think I’ll mod anything on the first generation but the third got the Phil Lynott/Steve Harris mashup treatment, and will get burly Schaller tuning machines one of these days. Might carve the headstock to look like the hook-ier versions as well.
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Nice!
I also like the hook-ier headstocks.

I still have three other Fury basses:
Ash body Gen 1 Fury with the awesome stock slant Super Ferrite pickup.
Blue Gen 2 Fury with the EMG Geezer P pickup in it.
Arctic white Gen 3 Fury with a Geezer P as well.

So the redundant Gen 3 Fury (that cost me zero dollars) was the one that got the T-Bird surgery.

My son is routing a stripped Foundation body as I type this, gonna put a Peavey T40 pickup in the mudbucker spot and fill the two original pickup holes, then paint it.
I bought that Foundation for $75 and sold the pickups out of it, so it's another free USA made Peavey! :bassist:
 
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#711
Admittedly its probably at the top end of 'cheapo', but here is my Gretsch Junior Jet.
Mods include:
  • Gotoh GB350 tuners
  • TI Jazz Flat strings (surely the Ferrari of strings)
  • Fake abalone fret board decals
  • Brass saddles
  • Conversion to left-handed
I may also replace the screws on the body with gold ones.
I'm really impressed with the sounds I get out of it with the TI flats., so no plans to change the pickups.
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#715
Riff Ranger said:
Nice either way, but which one’s which again? I prefer the carbon fiber look, especially with the black hardware, but both look good.
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The “carbon fiber” is the vinyl wrap.
I don’t have a clue how it will hold up. I didn’t think it would stick to the glossy finish but it is for now. If it fails or starts pealing off, it’ll just go back to original with no worries. Pretty cheap aesthetic mod that was easy and fast to do.
 
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#716
bass4u said:
I guess this bass is as cheap as they can get.....it was free. A fellow musician (guitarist) gave the bass to me. He stated the bass was unplayable for him because the action was way too high and the neck was warped. I tried to tell him I could probably make some adjustments and make the bass playable. He declined the offer and said I could just have it. I didn't turn down his offer. After adjusting the truss rod slightly for a few weeks and setting up the nice non-OEM bridge, the neck is straight, low action and plays well. The only negative aspect of the bass is that the pickups have an anemic tone to them. But for free I can't complain. View attachment 4780141
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Looks to be an Epi Goth with upgraded Hipshot Supertone bridge. Solid mahogany body, maple neck - great platforms for modding as they can be had for relatively cheap.

Speaking of an Epi Goth... I guess this fits as hot-rodded; Epi Goth body heavily chambered to lighten, AllParts block & bound maple neck, Novak Darkstar pu's, Hipshot KA bridge, brass nut, aluminum cut-out pg w/internal lighting, strap-peg extension (no neck dive!) Gotoh tuners, and refinished in matte black by Pat Wilkins..

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#719
JIO said:
Looks to be an Epi Goth with upgraded Hipshot Supertone bridge. Solid mahogany body, maple neck - great platforms for modding as they can be had for relatively cheap.

Speaking of an Epi Goth... I guess this fits as hot-rodded; Epi Goth body heavily chambered to lighten, AllParts block & bound maple neck, Novak Darkstar pu's, Hipshot KA bridge, brass nut, aluminum cut-out pg w/internal lighting, strap-peg extension (no neck dive!) Gotoh tuners, and refinished in matte black by Pat Wilkins..

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:woot: Hot damn!
 
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