So I just purchased my first SX bass, Only been playing guitar since May and wanted to get a a bass. From waht everyone says they are great but alot of people are saying " Replace the pots" what are those? (sorry noob question).
Also will I need to replace the pickups? This is all new to me so don't know if i should talk to my local music shop or try it myself.
Since you are a noob let me give you a general outline of how things go. When it comes to the instrument and it's hardware, there are three things: Setup, repairs, mods. You deal with them in that order. And by "deal with them" that means two things, one is to get the instrument working properly the way you like it, and second to learn just what it is that does that. If you don't know how to do a setup, then have someone who knows show you how.
A setup means getting your instrument so it plays pretty much as intended by the factory and also so it feels good to you. First you have to tune the instrument. Then there is choice of strings. This has to do with the kind of sound you want. You've already said you want that "twangy" sound so that means a set of round wound strings. And that means learning to buy, change and tune strings. And then there is the issue of truss rod and string height. This is where you set "High action" [strings spaced farther from fretboard and you can play louder before they start to buzz] or ["low action" which places strings closer to the fretboard and you play softer and "let the amp do the work". The only way to know what is for you is to spend some time with different setups. Just like the only way to learn which strings are "best" for you and this bass is to actually buy and try some different brands and styles. So as a newbie, I'd go get the bass set up by a pro and ask for an "average" setup to start. Experience should then guide you in the "right" direction.
At this point you should be ready to get going on your bass. We have replaced NO pots or pickups nor SHOULD you have! Now we come to repairs. You are learning your bass and you have a complaint: "Why do I hear 'scratchy noises' when I turn the volume or tone knobs?" This is then time to learn about "pot" repair. The first fix is to get a can of spray control cleaner. You spray it into the "pot" [sometimes easier said than done] and the noise goes away. Note there is much more to learn here. You learn how to get into the electronic cavity of the bass. How to identify the various components and so on. And then the next question you have is: "Why does the noise seem to come back soon after I spray my volume (or tone) pot?" The answer is because you need to replace them with ones that work properly. And that's a repair job. And a job that will teach you even more (should you choose to learn it) such as how to replace electronic components, how to solder wires etc. Or you can just pay someone to repair the bass.
So what you've learned now, is that most entry level basses tend to come from the factory with cheap strings and instrument adjustments can be just about anyplace. So the FIRST thing a new bass day needs after the joy subsides is new strings and setup. Given that you start to play. But also parts can be inexpensive and wear out quickly.
But if things aren't quite right (turning knobs makes "scratchy noises", wiggling cord makes "static" sounds, etc. This means that "repairs" are necessary such as new "pots" or jack. So now you should "get it" that what people are talking about when they say you "need" to replace pots and jack on a new SX bass isn't that you "need" to, they are simply saying that these parts are sort of low quality, so even if they are working properly you can head off trouble buy simply replacing perfectly good parts with better quality replacements. My advice, and what I do unless I plan to gig extensively with an instrument and want it as reliable as possible is just wait for the pots to get noisy or jack to start losing connection. That is the sign to get it fixed (replaced).
Note we didn't get anywhere near pickups yet! So finally there are "mods". Mods [modifications] are just that. Modifying the factory design to give you something the factory didn't intend to be there. You want a brighter (or more mellow) sound. You want active EQ on the bass. You want it turned sideways and painted yellow. It doesn't matter. You just want something beyond what is there. Obviously this is something for an advanced player who knows exactly what he/she is looking for! You would need to know for example what brand and model of replacement pickup would move the sound of your bass toward the sound that you'd like it to have. This is a pretty advanced topic and coming to TB for help can save a lot of time (money)...WHEN you reach that stage.
So, answer your own question: Should a noob change the pickups when you don't even know what setup or action is best for you? Should you replace the pots that are working fine, just for drill? Bottom line is that it's just the same as it always is. You start over here knowing little and keep adding bits of information and experience day by day until you end up over there knowing exactly what each component does for your instrument. That's how we all did it. And you can too.
