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Making it yours do you usually modify your new basses?
- Thread starter DrThumpenstein
- Start date
It's pretty rare that a bass is 100% what I want off the rack so I would mod them to make them my own.
All my basses get outfitted with Dunlop Straplocks and a Hipshot eXtender to click into drop D. And if an active bass doesn't have a passive mode that works without batteries, I swap out the pickups for passive Duncans and simple VVT controls.
All my basses get outfitted with Dunlop Straplocks and a Hipshot eXtender to click into drop D. And if an active bass doesn't have a passive mode that works without batteries, I swap out the pickups for passive Duncans and simple VVT controls.
So are new pickups or a new bridge. But I agree with you. Consumables like strings are not a mod. You have to change them eventually, anyway.
I build my own basses. I am the Custom Shop that makes them. Every bass I've ever made for myself, I've had further thoughts (or learned something from another instruments) after the initial build. So I modify them. I don't modify hardware at this point, because I really do know what I want, but pickups, circuits, etc? Yep.
If a guy who makes custom instruments (all wired to do exactly what I want then to do - I studied the Physics of Musical instruments in college and designed pro audio gear for my career) can't hit the target of what I want all the time, what chance does a factory making generic instruments (with circuits who's primary design goal is lowest parts cost) have in making you an instrument that's ideal for you?
If a guy who makes custom instruments (all wired to do exactly what I want then to do - I studied the Physics of Musical instruments in college and designed pro audio gear for my career) can't hit the target of what I want all the time, what chance does a factory making generic instruments (with circuits who's primary design goal is lowest parts cost) have in making you an instrument that's ideal for you?
Carrots because your options do not cover my answers. Some basses are bone stock while others were bought to.be platforms for mods and others have picked up mods and personality along the way.
Tried it once with a Fender FSR Jazz bass...Audere JZ-3 preamp and Fender Suoer 55 pickups...easy as pie but I'll never do it again.
Now, I buy smart...10 basses, simply put on the proper strings.
(You're not talking about cosmetic mods, you're talking about stock basses that aren't quite good enough and need help playing/sounding better, right?)
Now, I buy smart...10 basses, simply put on the proper strings.
(You're not talking about cosmetic mods, you're talking about stock basses that aren't quite good enough and need help playing/sounding better, right?)
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I changed out the pick guard on my Fender Ultra Jazz V from a tort to a black pearl to match the block inlay.
and
I switched out the standard high mass bridge on my p-bass pro V to a hipshot aluminum. It brings out that RASPY TWANG of rounds on a p.
nothing that can't be undone
and
I switched out the standard high mass bridge on my p-bass pro V to a hipshot aluminum. It brings out that RASPY TWANG of rounds on a p.
nothing that can't be undone
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Carrots.
I add Hipshot Xtenders on all my basses and if the stock bridge is not to my liking, it's usually replaced as well. For Jazz basses, I have the pickups series/parelled if they're not PJ.
EDIT: forgot about straplocks, recently got into those after almost dropping a bass during a gig and still between brands. Levy's are cuter, jDunlop's dual design systemp is plainer but reliable, while schallers are probably tops in the 50$-or-less market. All IMO of course.
I add Hipshot Xtenders on all my basses and if the stock bridge is not to my liking, it's usually replaced as well. For Jazz basses, I have the pickups series/parelled if they're not PJ.
EDIT: forgot about straplocks, recently got into those after almost dropping a bass during a gig and still between brands. Levy's are cuter, jDunlop's dual design systemp is plainer but reliable, while schallers are probably tops in the 50$-or-less market. All IMO of course.
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I change the strings, set the neck / saddles / pickup heights and add a set of straploks. Then I play it for a while. If there is some issue with the playability or sound after a while, I look at options.
I repair stuff, and I've installed BA bridges on a couple, and of course set-ups.
After that - I just get a different bass.
I don't even change strings, altho' on two basses I removed some (to play Sandman-stylee).
After that - I just get a different bass.
I don't even change strings, altho' on two basses I removed some (to play Sandman-stylee).
None of the above. I buy secondhand and add Dunlop straplocks and/or Hipshot or Res-o-lite machine heads if not already installed. I have swapped-out preamps with time and boredom but not as first line offense.
Riis
Riis
I don’t care for Fender-style OEM strap buttons, and I’m not keen on generic tuners. I’ll replace a bridge with something lighter and/or more flexible, depending on the need. Everything else is purely cosmetic for me.
I used to be a guy that bought cheap stuff and modded the snot out of it. I didn’t have a lot of choice a lot of the time. I’ve never had much cash laying around. I eventually realized what a waste it was, though.
Buy a cheap bass or guitar. Upgrade hardware. Pickups. Electronics. Make a new nut. Put my time into a fret level, crown, polish. Shim the neck. Get it all set up just right, and it still won’t stay that way cause it’s a cheap piece of crap with a rubber neck. Now all I’ve got is a $200-$500 bass (or guitar) with another $200-$500 (or more) worth of parts stuck on it, that still isn’t really what I want, and is still only worth $100-$300 on the used market when I sell it on.
Nope. No thanks. I outgrew that a long time ago. These days I just buy what I really want, put my favorite strings on, set it up, and I’m a happy camper. If it needs anything more than a simple set of adjustments to sound and play the way I like, I don’t even bother with it anymore. And in the long run, Im actually spending less money.
Buy a cheap bass or guitar. Upgrade hardware. Pickups. Electronics. Make a new nut. Put my time into a fret level, crown, polish. Shim the neck. Get it all set up just right, and it still won’t stay that way cause it’s a cheap piece of crap with a rubber neck. Now all I’ve got is a $200-$500 bass (or guitar) with another $200-$500 (or more) worth of parts stuck on it, that still isn’t really what I want, and is still only worth $100-$300 on the used market when I sell it on.
Nope. No thanks. I outgrew that a long time ago. These days I just buy what I really want, put my favorite strings on, set it up, and I’m a happy camper. If it needs anything more than a simple set of adjustments to sound and play the way I like, I don’t even bother with it anymore. And in the long run, Im actually spending less money.
My son in law gave me a Jazz Bass for Christmas five years ago. I didn't like the white pickguard and put a cheap tort on. Didn't change the strings for about three years though when I put Brite Flats on.
I bought the vast majority used, so in addition to setup and straplocks, I give them a thorough cleaning. Im a little bit of a germaphobe.
Thats about it. Ive bought busted things before with an intent to fix or mod them, but thats not the typical.
Thats about it. Ive bought busted things before with an intent to fix or mod them, but thats not the typical.
New strings and a setup. I typically don't mod new basses. I wait until I have owned and played them for a while and then decide what will be changed, if anything.
It really depends upon the individual instrument. My two Fender Ocean Turquoise Jazz basses, I immediately put lollipops on them for personal aesthetics, but otherwise left them stock. There were no other improvements to be made, other than TI Jazz Flats on one, and TI Rounds on the other.
My custom Devons got new strings . . . Eventually. Some of my others didn't get any changes whatsoever, but they don't often get playing time.
My custom Devons got new strings . . . Eventually. Some of my others didn't get any changes whatsoever, but they don't often get playing time.
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I guess it depends. Sometimes a bass just has the sauce and I don’t want to change anything if I don’t have to. Sometimes I get stuff with express intention of modding or just to get a specific part that I need/want.
Last 5 basses I got, in no particular order:
-Sadowsky Jazz Bass (used) and I didn’t even change the strings.
-Frankenfender 59RI P-bass. I bought a bunch of used parts to make the bass I wanted.
-EBMM Stingray Special (new). It took me 2 months to change to strings it came with.
-Squier Precision Bass TB (used). Immediately modded it with better quality hardware and a series/single coil/parallel switch
-EBMM Stingray 4H took me 2-3 years to replace the electronics with Aguilar OPB3 and MM pickup. Then another 2-3 years to convert it to 18V which I just had done.
Last 5 basses I got, in no particular order:
-Sadowsky Jazz Bass (used) and I didn’t even change the strings.
-Frankenfender 59RI P-bass. I bought a bunch of used parts to make the bass I wanted.
-EBMM Stingray Special (new). It took me 2 months to change to strings it came with.
-Squier Precision Bass TB (used). Immediately modded it with better quality hardware and a series/single coil/parallel switch
-EBMM Stingray 4H took me 2-3 years to replace the electronics with Aguilar OPB3 and MM pickup. Then another 2-3 years to convert it to 18V which I just had done.
