POLL: Do you mod your basses?

[Mr Gaston]

I have a LTD B4E that feels like a woman in my hands but needs an electronics transplant, which it will get soon.

I also have a Ibanez SR650 that seems to me to be perfect as is.

It's like beating your guitar player. You only do it if it's needed.

BTW: i need a guitar player.

 

[InhumanResource]

I have a jazz bass (the Marcus Miller one) with a neck that is just irreplaceable to me. When the stock preamp failed years ago, I ran it passive for a while...then put in the John East verion plus a set of Dimarzio Ultra J's (why not?). It sounded great at home but didn't cut it at the gigs, so the pickups got yanked and replaced with stock single coils from an MIA jazz. It's perfect at this point, though the frets could probably use some leveling after years of pounding on it.

Presently pondering electronics mods to my Lakland - again, the neck is gorgeous (though in a different way from my Fender) but I am not 100% happy with the sound. I am much more likely to make modifications than buy a new instrument...which is expensive and a real PITA since I pretty much refuse to buy new. Maybe one day we can go crazy and splurge on something like a brand new Stingray or other expensive device, but I'm not laying down 2k or more for an axe.

Amplifiers are another story and I'm always gassing for a new "cool" one. <.<

 

[PortlandBass77]

Depends on the specific bass.... I would never even consider modding my T-40, P bass or Ibanez....

 

[bassstrangler]

I've modded cosmetically for pickguard and screw color, new strap buttons, maybe a Gotoh bridge. I've swapped out a few necks due to preference or irreversible damage. I've updated pots. The reason I do this is because I have a bass I really love, but I want to love it more. The Squier VM jazz basses are awesome but I don't necessarily want a black pickguard and Strat knobs on a Jazz bass. Plus a Gotoh bridge is inexpensive. Total modification price on a $300 Squier is around $60 - $85. This doesn't seem pointless because maybe the bass I want exists but can't be purchased stock.

 

[bgartist]

Yes. Most of mine have had some kind of mod. If it feels good in my hands and plays well enough, I'll mod it.

 

[Versatek6]

I have tried to keep mine stock, but have made various changes.

The most extensive was replacing a stock EMG B30 preamp with a Bartolini 5.4, and adding three switches: 200/400/800 mid-shift, and parallel/single/series for each pickup. This was done after playing the stock instrument for a good two years. This bass also got a purpleheart ramp between the pickups.

Replaced another B30 with an OBP-3. No new holes, but had to enlarge the factory tone control holes.

Nearly everything gets straplocks and the same rubber pointer knobs. I have sold basses rather than mod them.

 

[bazzanderson]

all basses currently or previoulsy owned were either modded by me or bought used with mods. Some mods are significant some aren't noticeable at all but all of them have been "personalized" by me.

 

[PeteJordanBass]

My Mods are kinda simple. I changed the Pickguard on my Jazz for a thinner one and replaced the original Strap Buttons with Dunlop Strap Locks. I also "Sandwich" a Pick on top of the Neck Pickup to serve as a Thumbrest/Anchor. It may seem small but the difference it makes for me is great. I do that with all my Basses (the ones that have the Jazz Pickup Configuration, which is most of them :-D ) and even "improvised" one on my Acoustic Bass. Here's my Jazz to show you. This Pic was taken just as I was getting it ready to have it rented out to Patrick Olive, the Bassist for the Legendary Hot Chocolate. A lot of Bands who play Ireland or the UK rent Gear here in order to save on Shipping costs and the Rental Company I've worked with asked me cos they didn't know anyone else who had a Lefty Jazz.

I'm also planning to replace the Pickups, possibly with Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders, which are Powerful and good for installing on Passive Basses. I also want to do the same to my 5 String Jazz.

 

[LowDownHawkeye]

I voted no, because I doubt that replacing the strap buttons with schallers is what the OP had in mind.

 

[bofat]

Some have GAS, I get GMS. I mod everything. Basses, cars, guns, etc. When I see something I immediately think how I could improve it, if possible, personalize it to my preferences, re-design the initial concept, improve its feel, appearance or performance. I tinker. It feeds the soul (and is cheaper than meds).

Wait.
It's not cheaper than meds...

 

[Awesome Sauce]

Not just my basses; my amps, cabs, pedals, computers, cars, house, tools, furniture...everything. I can't not **** with things. I'm just too much of a tinkerer, I guess.

 

[Brian D]

It depends on the bass really. I'll usually add straploks if it's possible.
Other than that, nothing major these days. I sold off my parts box piece-by-piece recently.

 

[ChefKen]

My alembic Essence was nearly perfect....except the side dots are brass and not visable to my aging eyes....(any eyes really).....I finally had the dots drilled out and nice shiny pearl in its place. Mod complete.

 

[20db pad]

I've heavily modded Fenders in the past, to get close to what Marcus Miller plays. Now, I do little nips and tucks, like Dunlop strap locks and maybe a Hipshot D tuner. The only basses I've had that I left completely stock are US and Czech Spector NS-2 models.

 

[Slinger]

I bought my Squier VM short scale Jag specifically so I could mod it as a bit of fun and I'm actually surprised at how bloody good it sounds now. It's a real keeper. I haven't touched my Epi T-Bird Pro-V though.

 

[4001]

7 of my 9 basses have some kind of mod....mostly stereo wiring, tuners/bridge replacements.

 

[covermego]

Yeah, I was just playing my stock Fender Jazz Squier series when all of a sudden, it felt ............ modified.

 

[bholder]

Any sane person will tell you that "it depends" and "carrots" are not mutually exclusive.

 

[bassbenj]

My alembic Essence was nearly perfect....except the side dots are brass and not visable to my aging eyes....(any eyes really).....I finally had the dots drilled out and nice shiny pearl in its place. Mod complete.

My Epic had the same problem but I just sanded them bright again and varnished over them. So I call that a "repair" rather than a mod. I voted "it depends" because it depends on how much the bass is worth. When the bass is in the grand and above range I get really reluctant to start modding things that could destroy resale value. And if there is any mod, I try to be sure it's reversible for later sale. I did mod my Modulus TBX but it was only wiring change on the pickup switches so I wasn't much worried about that. On the expensive basses the rule is drill no holes fer sure!

But on the low end stuff (especially my extensive SX collection) it's go for broke. I get a bass and play it for a while and then decide I'd really like it a lot better if it had this or that so I just put it in. After a while mods sort of build up but the bass is really playing like *I* want it to. I did mod my G&L Tribute with things including drilling a hole for a switch to flip between inner and outer coils in single coil mode. But my Two USA G&L while electrically modded with single coil etc, certainly do NOT have any extra holes in them! On my SX I've done many things even ripped off the fingerboard and glued a new fretless one on. But as for my Alembic, well I did glue some tiny cracks in the fingerboard, but as for major mods, I don't think so. And why should I? The high end basses tend to not need anything more done to them to make them great anyway.

 

[29A]

My AmStd P is still stock except for the pickguard. I just don't see any area for signicant improvement.

My J, on the other hand, is on its 3rd set of pups, new tuners, pots, and pg.

I like the J enough to keep it, but still prefer the P.