Modernize and Upgrade Violin Bass?

[mongo2]

It's too bad that they don't list the names of the writers of their articles anymore, because I wrote that. The green bass is also the one I put them in (but recently sold).

Simply put, yep. Those are the exact drop-ins I used.

Thank you and well done on the article.

 

[MAJOR METAL]

Dude, I tried doing what you're asking and at the end of the day, it might just be a better idea to have a violin bass made to your specs. Michael Dolan has made 2 custom violin basses for me that are a thousand times better than the MIJ 60s/70s violin basses I was playing.

 

[Eilif]

As an update, Bud's building basses again.

LeCompte Electric Bass

That's great to know. I recall drooling over his semi hollow bass designs quite a bit. Maybe a decade ago? Still drool worthy.

 

[GIBrat51]

I've always enjoyed playing Violin basses, but there are a few things about them that bug me; limited tone, intonation, Neck dive, etc. But it crossed my mind that much of this could be fixed. I did a search, but didn't see much of anything about modifying or upgrading these basses to have more modern features, like a tune-o-matic bridge and a traditional tone knob, NS strap horn, etc. Is anyone doing this? And if so what have the results been?

I have a couple of them. I like them; they're fun to play - and I can play them with no problem. And, for some of the music I like to play, they work/sound just fine. But... I've accepted the fact that they (like me) are relics from a time long past, and that no matter what I try to do with/to them? That's where they're going to stay. Fiddling with the hardware, electronics, and pickups is all well and good; if that's what you want to do. But, it's really just putting lipstick and rouge on a pig. The inherent flaws in the basic design are there - and will stay there - forever. Years ago, I spent a lot of time - and a great deal of money - on a '67 VW Beetle. It was a lot of fun, and I don't regret it. What I wound up with was a very expensive little car that would go down the highway at about 165 mph, but... it was still a cheaply made, kinda flimsy, '67 VW Beetle. It just went way, way, too fast... It was never going to be a Porsche Turbo Carrera, no matter what I did to it, or how much money I spent on it. If you want a modern, "cutting edge" violin bass? Your only real option, IMO, is a custom, solid body, violin bass - shaped object....

 

[Levitamin]

Resurrecting this thread. I just put in the Seymour Duncan mini-humbuckers in my B-Bass as recommended and it's a huge improvement. I would love to replace the electronics with a simple vol/vol/tone set up. The switches leave a lot to be desired. The solo setting makes it louder, but also cranks the treble. I'd like to be able to roll that off a bit. Has anyone replaced the electronics in theirs? I'm also thinking about installing a zero fret to get rid of some of the buzz on the low frets. Maybe I just need a truss rod adjustment?