Making it yours do you usually modify your new basses?

[Jefenator]

I've only ever had two brand new basses that I can recall.
One was a cheapie that I wound up doing all kinds of amateur tinkering on. (Shielding, crazy paint job...)
The other was a Gretsch hollowbody. The round wound strings had to go and then I think I replaced the mediocre Gretsch quasi-strap-locks with standard buttons.
I've bought dozens of used basses. I've done everything from nothing (strings & setup don't really count in my book) to multiple body and/or pickup swaps. Tuner upgrades as needed. D-tuners on many of the 4-bangers. And a few have gotten new wiring harnesses. (Pots - particularly cheap ones - can wear out in a way that start cutting out the signal. Life's too short for that.)

 

[Alexis Duntov]

What do you do to make a new bass your own? (Besides paying for it, for the pedantists.)

I just finished customizing and converting into a workhorse my new fender player plus jazz. (Here is the NBD if interested in the before pics: NBD—J back in the house!
First, I got rid of that starchy white nurse’s hat of a pick guard for some nice red tort.

It needed a drop tuner for some of my current band’s stuff (plus the deeper the note, the sweeter it sounds!)

I really love the sound of Labella DTB flats in the light gauge on a J and I love the way they play. I do my own set ups, and it always takes a couple of days to get a bass stable with new strings in my experience.

I put in strap locks so it’s easy to change straps and it’s more secure. It’s not like I swing it around my neck, but I don’t just stand there and I’ve never had an issue with strap locks. I’ve had to catch basses a few times that did not have them, so I’m there for life. That was the diciest part for me, drilling 3/8 inch holes in that gorgeous body and hoping I had them centered perfectly. My guitarist’s face literally turned white when I told him I had done that. But it worked out nicely, and completed the personalization of my new workhorse.

Remembered the pic this time:
View attachment 4534205

I have two Sting Precision basses (one MIJ and one CIJ). Both got a replacement pick guard from WD, a modern hi-mass Fender bridge, and an overwound Fralin stacked pickup. One has TI flats, the other has DR Pure Blues rounds. Sort of favoring the heavier one with rounds at the moment (pictured).

 

[SLPimp]

Always toss on pro steel strings. I replace tuners if they're heavy or cheap, and do the same with bridge. Light hipshot stuff.

 

[JIO]

Answer: mostly, but not always. I have only bought 3 "new" (as in, not used) basses over 50 yrs. Didn't modify the first $40 MIJ one, which was my first bass (in '66) - did modify my second one ('68 EB-3), and did modify the third "new" bass (bought in '06), a '51 P RI, CIJ. Haven't bought a new bass since.

Before: (not mine - but one like it)

After: stripped trans-red finish - de-fretted (pre knowing who Jaco was) Out in the world somewhere - probably has been re-finished and re-fretted.

Before: (again, not mine - one exactly like it)

After: Tele L-2K tone monster - way better than it started out.

 

[Mrtoodamnsabre]

I’ll mod it if I’m forced to, I had a friend bring me a sterling by musicman body from someones trash that was missing a neck and so I had a buddy build a short scale neck for it and relocate the bridge and everything.

I bought an 84 Sabre with “wiring problems” that ended up being “every electronic component was replaced with aftermarket stuff.” For that one I tracked down an authentic musicman preamp from 1983, and two 1979 Sabre pickups which are very different from the stock 84 Sabre pickups. Best sounding bass I own and wouldn’t put a set of 84 pickups in there even if I found some

 

[JW56789]

I've bought the occasional 'cheap bass' as a 'fixer-upper', but usually a good used or new bass was purchased as I like it just like it is/was.

 

[wysiwyg248]

New strings and straplocks, set up at home or by Mike Koontz.

 

[Tim Schnautz]

No. i try it, I like it, I buy it. No need to dink with anything.

 

[Groove Doctor]

I’ll mod it if I’m forced to, I had a friend bring me a sterling by musicman body from someones trash that was missing a neck and so I had a buddy build a short scale neck for it and relocate the bridge and everything.

I bought an 84 Sabre with “wiring problems” that ended up being “every electronic component was replaced with aftermarket stuff.” For that one I tracked down an authentic musicman preamp from 1983, and two 1979 Sabre pickups which are very different from the stock 84 Sabre pickups. Best sounding bass I own and wouldn’t put a set of 84 pickups in there even if I found some

I’d love to know the tonal differences between the ‘79 and ‘84 pickups.

 

[Black_In_Mind]

With the exception of basses that are not practical to mod basses that can be modded are modded to my liking after buying them. It's usually for aesthetics but in a couple cases I did more mods to add or change functionality of the bass.

 

[Passinwind]

What do you do to make a new bass your own?

"If it ain't broke fix it anyway."

IIRC I left one bass alone back in the 70s, but I didn't end up keeping it very long at all. Over the last 20 years or so all three BGs I bought in that time got at least a new preamp and a new set of knobs, one also went through three sets of pickups until I got what I wanted, and I had the third one made without any controls or electronics and did all that work myself. I'm contemplating picking up one more and if I do there's a good chance I'll wind my own pickups for it, because learning new things is mostly what keeps me interested.

 

[GTHintz]

My Warwick is bone stock and it'll stay that way because it sounds awesome. Other things I've modded and not been bashful. I try to make everything functional and tastefull to improving the instrument and unlocking potential.

 

[factory presets]

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.

Gotta say I've had good results 1 step up from beginner basses. Used to enjoy killing time in the music shops trying random basses at all price points. When a cheapie played like something way above its price point, I would probably buy it. Still my favourite bass is an old Samick. 7lb 8oz. Rings l

 

[Jeremy Crockett]

I have ZERO set-up skills. It's not for a lack of trying, I just do not have the knack. That said, cosmetics for me.

I have a definite "thing" for Pearloid.

 

[Yellow Bang66]

What do you do to make a new bass your own? (Besides paying for it, for the pedantists.)

I just finished customizing and converting into a workhorse my new fender player plus jazz. (Here is the NBD if interested in the before pics: NBD—J back in the house!
First, I got rid of that starchy white nurse’s hat of a pick guard for some nice red tort.

It needed a drop tuner for some of my current band’s stuff (plus the deeper the note, the sweeter it sounds!)

I really love the sound of Labella DTB flats in the light gauge on a J and I love the way they play. I do my own set ups, and it always takes a couple of days to get a bass stable with new strings in my experience.

I put in strap locks so it’s easy to change straps and it’s more secure. It’s not like I swing it around my neck, but I don’t just stand there and I’ve never had an issue with strap locks. I’ve had to catch basses a few times that did not have them, so I’m there for life. That was the diciest part for me, drilling 3/8 inch holes in that gorgeous body and hoping I had them centered perfectly. My guitarist’s face literally turned white when I told him I had done that. But it worked out nicely, and completed the personalization of my new workhorse.

Remembered the pic this time:
View attachment 4534205

Uhh.. 1st if it has a bent plate Bridge.or some flimsy cheap bridge I change it to a Chunky,High mass style Bridge. I hate that Cheap thin POS looking Oem Bridge! Have been replacing rthem with Babics Full Contact Bridges! I hear a difference! but yeah YMMV. it is very subjective! I just feel better if Its changed. like how you feel better in your car after it gets new brakes! Its mostly aesthetic reasons, But I sweear I t feels & sounds better! I also change hardware to all Black( bridge, Tuners,knobs, etc.) it kind of became a trademark with me as Ive rebuilt a few Basses & that is my choice!

 

[Yellow Bang66]

What do you do to make a new bass your own? (Besides paying for it, for the pedantists.)

I just finished customizing and converting into a workhorse my new fender player plus jazz. (Here is the NBD if interested in the before pics: NBD—J back in the house!
First, I got rid of that starchy white nurse’s hat of a pick guard for some nice red tort.

It needed a drop tuner for some of my current band’s stuff (plus the deeper the note, the sweeter it sounds!)

I really love the sound of Labella DTB flats in the light gauge on a J and I love the way they play. I do my own set ups, and it always takes a couple of days to get a bass stable with new strings in my experience.

I put in strap locks so it’s easy to change straps and it’s more secure. It’s not like I swing it around my neck, but I don’t just stand there and I’ve never had an issue with strap locks. I’ve had to catch basses a few times that did not have them, so I’m there for life. That was the diciest part for me, drilling 3/8 inch holes in that gorgeous body and hoping I had them centered perfectly. My guitarist’s face literally turned white when I told him I had done that. But it worked out nicely, and completed the personalization of my new workhorse.

Remembered the pic this time:
View attachment 4534205

I also despise Plain White pickguards! ugh! like white socks, Boots & shorts, it looks so dorky, where as black PGs looks soo Much better/tougher! I immediately change it if it has one!

 

[juggahnaught]

What do you do to make a new bass your own? (Besides paying for it, for the pedantists.)

I play it.

Making it yours do you usually modify your new basses?

Nope.

 

[Kerem Koseoglu]

I definitely install locking strap buttons and remove trays / thumbrests / etc. Occasionally change the pickguard. If the truss rod is inaccessible, I let my luthier carve a dent into the body + pickguard to make it accessible. Frets get dressed if needed. After that, the periodic maintenance is executed: Lemon oil (if rosewood), cleaning, new strings, setup.

After playing it for a while and getting a feeling of the nature of the instrument, I might change the pickups. Maybe.

 

[Tommy V]

i change the strings and do a setup on any stringed instrument that follows me home.
hardware replacement is 'as needed' but usually left as found.
the exception is my telecasters.. those usually get a new switch so i have series / parallel positions.

 

[Mrtoodamnsabre]

I’d love to know the tonal differences between the ‘79 and ‘84 pickups.

the 84 uses a 16 pole piece neck pickup and a 8 pole piece bridge that sound great(I have a Sabre reissue and it uses the same kind of pickups as the 84). The 16 pole piece pickup can be jammed way up close to the strings which is nice, and the bridge pickup as does the 79, does sound more scooped than a stingray does, there’s less of a mids presence in it. I got some theories on that that may or may not be true

the 79 is really a gorgeous set of pickups, they’re hand wound, and it’s two 8 pole piece pickups, there’s an annoying part about them as they didn’t think about how strong the magnets are so you end up having to live with a little bit of magnetic interference that gets buried in the preamp towards the highest notes on the neck, but there is no set of pickups I have ever heard that are as deep and round sounding as those pickups are. The 84 style is a close second too, but just that hand wound aspect, I think makes a ton of difference