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Pick ups cost more than the bass!!

That was the case here and money well spent, IMHO.
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I did mods to my Jag SS that totaled up to much more than the initial cost of the bass. The main goal was to learn how to do electronic mods and setups. I personally feel it was money well spent. If you want to do that, go for it. I doubt you'll regret it.
 
I threw some Dimarzios into a bass I paid $50 for so that's a 2x upgrade IIRC. Nothing wrong with doing that since the mechanics on the bass (neck, setup, light weight) were terrific. I did some very inexpensive upgrades to the electronics (fixed a bad jack, added a JFET buffer) and it sounds great.

From a reasonable viewing distance, most folks won't align the difference in appearance with any perceived difference in quality - the cheap bass is red stained wood, my more expensive basses are natural walnut and dark grey luthite.
 
Eyy man sounds like a great idea to me!
Keep me updated with how it turns out!
Also you are flipping right on about Pickups costing more than the bass, it's ridiculous, but what can you do!
I mean for the price of some pickups I might as well buy a new bass!
 
When I buy a bass I always assume that the only thing that I really want is the shell. Hardware and electronics get the heave-ho because inevitably they are substandard or not adhering to my personal preferences. You're not really paying much of a percentage of the price for those parts anyway in the case of a <$500 instrument. Most of what you're paying for is the wood and someone turning it into a bass guitar shaped thing with all the right dimensions.
 
Eyy man sounds like a great idea to me!
Keep me updated with how it turns out!
Also you are flipping right on about Pickups costing more than the bass, it's ridiculous, but what can you do!
I mean for the price of some pickups I might as well buy a new bass!

Yeah for real haha thats what my dad was saying that for the price i shoulda just bought another bass lol
 
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