Modify v Modified

[gazsellout]

I've recently started taking my playing a bit more seriously and would like to upgrade my bass to something a bit better without spending too much. I'm not unhappy with my current bass, a run-of-the-mill Squier P-Bass so it was suggested to me that adding a decent set of pickups (perhaps a set of EMGs) and having the bass professionally set-up would improve things and make things sound and play a whole lot better. However, I see that a lot of people have good things to say about the Fender Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass and that these are reasonably priced (I guess if I purchased the Vintage Modified Jazz I could always upgrade that in the future when I had more money to make things even better again).

So, I was wondering what other peoples opinions on this was?

 

[lonote]

I'd start with the pro set up if I were you. After that's completed, everything will (or should be) adjusted properly and you'll know how your bass really sounds. Then you can determine what, if any, mods you want to make. Before modifying anything, you should have some idea of what you are looking for by doing the mod. Adding a Badass bridge or a set of Barts (or EMG's) will not automatically make an average bass into a superbass. I will caution you that when it comes time to sell the instrument, you will not get a premium price because you modified the bass. A budget bass with aftermarket pickups is still a budget bass.

 

[gazsellout]

Thanks for the reply lonote.

Looking at the Squier Vintage Modified Precision Bass too I think this might be a good purchase as the reviews seem to be great, the price is brilliant and I would like to stick to a Precision. I think this would give me a better foundation for the next few years then as opposed to modding my Squier Affinity series which let's face it is not the best of instruments.

 

[mjolnir]

Yup, you might just wanna go with the vintage modified. Modding a bass is tricky business, and not really worth it on a low end instrument IMHO unless you just plan on keeping it forever.

 

[lonote]

I think going with the Squier VM P-Bass is the way to go. You may still want to think about getting a pro set up for the Affinity, it may be a viable back up bass for you.

 

[gazsellout]

I think that's the plan then, to get the VM and use the old Affinity as a backup. Makes sense with the planned gigging schedule ahead.