POLL: Do you mod your basses?

[zcwilkes]

Yes, I'm primarily a 6-stringer but I ususally put hipshots on my four bangers and I usually mod the electronics in all of my basses. I've added passive tones to active basses, active/passive switches, series/parallel switches or a pickup change.

Just because I like hacking/modding stuff for the fun of it.

 

[Skokiaan]

I buffed down the finish on the neck of an Alembic Series II. I prefer a smooth satin finish on my necks. (A TBer eventually bought it from me and swapped out the hardware). Besides that, I have only added a few carefully placed stickers to a couple of basses.

 

[okcrum]

No. I play them.

 

[AltGrendel]

Minor physical mods, new bridge, a Hipshot Extender but no routing. Electronics, however, are fair game.

 

[Duder]

I haven't modded anything yet, but I really want to start. The first "mod" I'll try is shielding my jaguar bass with copper tape to see if I can tame that nasty hum. I do have a j bass body and some generic pickups, but no neck or hardware. It'll be a while before I can actually build my first frankenbass.

Edit: I did install strap locks on both of my basses so I guess I have modded them from their original state.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Just simple reversible stuff on a couple.

I had to un-mod an Alembic Persuader 5-string last year, and put it back to standard.

Probably the most extensive mod - one time I actually had the builder himself do a lined fretless conversion on one of my Turner Electroline 5-strings. That's about it though.

 

[xUptheIronsx]

Biggest mod I've done to a bass is change the pickguard & knobs, but I might get around to shielding my Fender. I probably leave my G&L alone though. It's a limited edition run, not to mention I don't feel comfortable taking out the preamp & stuff.

View attachment 708225

Mirrored PG's...THE way to go baby!!

The only modding I do is to put Ernie Ball Super Slinky's on

and all of my basses have the Hipshot D-tuner on them, but since tha tdoes not permanently alter the bass structure, I think of it more as an addition then a mod

 

[phillybass101]

All my basses are modded/customized with the exception of my Brubaker KXB-5 Custom (for obvious reasons) and my SX 75 copy. The SX is so old it has a serial number stamped on the neckplate. Keeping as is. It still sounds great.

 

[bucephylus]

There are instruments which require nothing other than being played.

Then, there are others which can be improved by sensible changes. I generally try to keep my changes reversible and toss the original parts in the hard case, which tends to live in the closet. I have not routed an instrument for a couple of decades now, and personally would seek a different instrument if I was looking for that kind of change.

 

[eldorado2001]

I do but only basic, reversible mods, like pickguards and pickups. No cutting/drilling/routing mods.

 

[mikeyjm2]

I mostly leave them alone but no hesitation to mod if I feel the benefit of the mod would outweigh the hassle of performing it.

 

[Jamvan]

Answered yes. I buy inexpensive basses (platforms?) and then systematically replace everything until I arrive at something that I find both aesthetically and sonically pleasing. Call it poundwise, penny foolish as I could probably end up with a really nice bass if I just saved my money but I have an overwhelming need to tinker.

Here's the lineup as it used to sit as I just added a tort and tugbar to the James Johnston Jazz. I'm dabating on covers as well...we'll see. Everything else is modded...at least cosmetically.

Here's the ongoing saga that is my Squier VM Fret(Ted) Jazz Bass: Squier VM Fret(ted) Jazz is the best for...Spending money?! | TalkBass.com

And I also do this to my guitars as well. Here's my '94 Les Paul Studio that I've done completely sacrilegious things to in the name of making it my own. Faux binding (sanded sides and back off exposing the sides of the maple cap), updated most components with cream components, gold speed knobs, Seymour Duncans, etc. It's an illness.

 

[Kmonk]

I have only modded one bass. My 2011 MIA Jazz Deluxe. I replaced the pickups and the pickguard.

 

[Bill Thompson]

When I hot-rod my basses, it's always from the point of performance. Better parts mean more than better paint (Thanks, Yamaha). The first is, of course, better pickups. After that, better tuners, better bridge, rewire in many cases, and if the project goes that far, a better neck. All of these changes will help the bass stay in tune and take the pounding that bassists put on their instruments. This bass is a working copy of Billy Sheehan's bass. AllPart's neck(maple/ebony/abalone), Schaller tuners, HipShot 'D' tuner, DiMarzio Will Power pickups, BadAss 2 bridge, bridge ashtray. Cheers. ;^D.

 

[MonetBass]

I don't see the point...if the bass is not up to snuff as is, why buy it?

Because in some cases, it's more cost-effective. For example, my Squier VM Fretless Jazz is a good bass but the electronics were lacking, IMO. So I bought some MIM Jazz pickups and a control plate, had them installed, and for less than $300 I now have an excellent fretless.

 

[etherealme]

I almost always am searching for that tone I hear in my head and therefore usually mod to some degree. Whether it be fitting the tone that naturally comes out of the bass more so to what elements will bring that out more, or changing pick-ups to emphasis other characteristics that are absent.

Dimarzios make a passive Warwick truly sing. Though I do have one bass I am never modifying; surprisingly its a cheap (ish) Korean Schecter, but it does one thing really well as is. Mwah for days and very even tone across the spectrum no matter neck or bridge pick-up selection. I love that bass.

On the other side of the spectrum I have a MIM jazz that, except for the wood and frets, nothing is original - It is a true beast now. Very bright and angular - Very Geddy. It's pretty heavy wood for a jazz, so I'm not surprised that I could unearth this tone, but it didn't start out sounding this way at all.

And then sometimes what started out as a small mod turns into a very large list of mods - trying different pick-up, preamp combos, changing the bridge to get more sustain, string changes to mellower or brighter, adjusting the action to get more even-ness throughout the fretboard/strings, etc. Sometimes some of this experimentation is unsuccessful, but I think learning from it all is pretty paramount to the next attempt.

 

[Marial]

It depends. Basic Fenders? Yeah, I typically swap out the pick ups at least, but often add a preamp, and sometimes swap out necks. For higher end basses, I typically won't do any mods.

Why? Well, I love the neck and body style of Fender Jazz basses, but I don't always like the tone I get from them, thus mods. Some day I hope to be able to afford both a Wal MkI fretless and another Pedulla fretless. In the case of these basses, I want them specifically for the tones they produce in their original state, so I would not mod them in any way.

 

[rojo412]

All of my basses get Straplock buttons, so yes, they are mod'd. But I don't think that's the actual question

I used to seek out basses specifically to modify (and Fender style ones pretty much beg for it!). But after being the guy who put the most elaborate onboard EQs in, changed pickups dozens of times, etc, only to give up and sell the thing... I started primarily playing 2 band Stingrays again. And that was enough to make me settle on basses that I liked for what they were to begin with.

I'm not opposed to mods, just ask my Jazz bass! But I no longer buy a bass for the reason to just add a million changes. It becomes cost ineffective REALLY fast.
Plus, simple is good sometimes, if you ask me.
I do enjoy working on mods a lot though, so I continue to do it as a side business.

 

[Solarmist]

I mod mine every 4 months with new strings

Seriously - I don't really need any modding for my playing needs.

 

[klokker]

I said no, but I have plugged the string through holes on my L2500, I guess that's a mod. The reason I don't mod is that I'm interested in practicing and learning the instrument, but have no interest in the electronics or other technical aspects of building a bass. So far I've been more than happy with what I have just the way it is. I'm interested in playing better, modding to me feels like wasted time. Happy not everyone is like I am......I wouldn't have a bass to play!