Question for those of you that mod your basses

[Auer]

My Nash PB63 needs/needed nothing so I just play it as much as possible.
Sold off everything else but a lonely Sire M7 that's gathering dust on the wall.

Close to Bass Nirvana I guess.

Messing around with amps tho, but mostly because I want a few different ones for different spaces.

I have a lot of things I want to achieve musically (and otherwise) in 2024 and try not to add things I deem of less importance to the list.

Looking forward to learning and playing

Maybe one day I'll build a Bass. Maybe.

 

[VeryTallBassist]

My Nash PB63 needs/needed nothing so I just play it as much as possible.
Sold off everything else but a lonely Sire M7 that's gathering dust on the wall.

Close to Bass Nirvana I guess.

Messing around with amps tho, but mostly because I want a few different ones for different spaces.

I have a lot of things I want to achieve musically (and otherwise) in 2024 and try not to add things I deem of less importance to the list.

Looking forward to learning and playing

Maybe one day I'll build a Bass. Maybe.

I think a build is in the cards for me for 2024. I may wait until it gets warmer so I can paint it in the garage.

 

[2saddleslab]

Having learned long ago what elements work for me I mod to those ends and the results have been basses I play for life.

 

[beatdatthang]

I mod all the time. I always start with, at a minimum, putting on strap lock pins. All my basses have them. 4 strings normally get a detuner installed as soon as I can find one of the right size/color etc. On some occasions I may swap pickups or preamp (or add a preamp if it’s passive) if there’s something missing or I can’t dial in the sound I want but I’ve gotten lazy and always try to use solderless stuff these days.

I like EMG pickups and their preamps are good, too. They’re plug and play so that’s easy enough. With my Spectors I’m a Haz/Haz clone guy so the 3 Spectors I own have a US Haz, an SNC clone, and a KHaz. I have a BTS in my 5er (non Spector). Other than that, if they’re a bolt-on FSO, I like to mod necks, bridges, and tuners as needed. I prefer Hipshot ultralight tuners (and it’s easy to find detuners that match).

 

[micguy]

I build my basses, so I start with hardware I know will work - that part is pretty much naiied down at this point. The experiments are pickup positioning, pickup combinations, and the circuitry behind them - I do things that as far as I know, nobody else does, so I don't find ideas in searches - they come from crazy ideas and simulations. I have Spice models of all the pickups that I use, and I do simulations of the whole thing, including pickup locations - which you're never gonna find in a search here.

 

[Deleted member 365158]

No recipe, just receipts.

 

[Geri O]

If everyone “searched” for the answers or information they were seeking, there would literally be no new posts

To address the inquiry as written, I don’t really have a formula per se when I get a new bass. I play the bass for a while and see if there’s something I want to change.

All of my basses get a Hipshot Xtender.

Past that, only one of my current basses has been modded. The other two are fine as they came.

Ooooh, I forgot to mention one mod that all of my bases get immediately.....

I replace the strap buttons with #10 stainless steel sheet metal screws and cap washers. Yes, the straps are screwed on to the basses.

After catching an Alembic Series One bass 6 inches from the floor because of a failed so-called "strap lock" button, I've used screws on my straps ever since. Not taking that chance ever again.

Ever.

 

[Bozendoka]

I add strap locks to all my basses and ultralights to most; beyond that I have a Dingwall Combustion that has the original wood and string tee, and that's it. I've had Lace Alumitones with an Audere pre in it and currently have Q-Tuners running passive. I have a custom being made that I'm going to put Fishman Fluence pickups and pre into, too. Basically, if I hear about something super interesting and I have a bass it will fit in, sooner or later it ends up in the bass.

 

[Hawk256]

I used to modify a basses like crazy until I had one custom made. Nothing I really want to change and it was made to my specs. That's not to say I wouldn't modify this one but so far, it's exactly what I wanted.

 

[Polfuste]

The only common point i have on all my basses: Bartolini pickups, with original classic tone. Different size ( P/J; J/J; soapbars) but the same tone "color". Electronic are different (respectively full passive, glockenklang 2 bands , Markbass 3 bands + tonality) but my basis is Bartolini classics.

 

[jastacey]

I really only do reversible mods, what I usually do is change the tuners, pick-ups, pick guards, knobs

 

[Grinderman]

I build my FSO bass guitars myself how I want them.

Some things are consistent, such as Res-O-Lite machines but I consider them all ships of theory. Everything is changeable and reversible.

Eventually, I expect I'll have completely exhausted all the ways I can make them slightly better.

 

[HardNHeavy]

just typical hardware changes. It's always gonna sound like a bass once i dial in my preferred tone, so I dont mess with electronics too much except changing pickups out or simple pre/toggle switch stuff. I'm interested lately in different wood grains and finishes. I like visually striking without being "gaudy".

 

[Jefenator]

I remain a sucker for trying new stuff - in a mod-worthy platform.
With a little luck, or failing that trial & error, that "search over" moment is usually achievable for me.
Buying used & selling certainly helps keep the cost down.
I'm done with turd polishing. (So I keep saying.)

 

[primusfan1989]

I mod most of my instruments, the only "standard mod" I have is upgrading pots, cap and output jack unless there already quality components inside the instrument.

 

[KohanMike]

Because I have nerve damage to my neck spinal cord form radiation treatments for cancer years ago, I found that only one bass uke is most comfortable for me to play, a 21" scale RondoMusic Hadean violin/Hofner style. With that, I have Eric's Guitar make the same hardware modifications to them; replace the wonky floating bridge/piezo pickup with a fully adjustable all metal bridge that has a piezo pickup in each saddle, plus Kala/Galli flatwound nylon core strings and HipShot License Ultralite tuning machines.

 

[Thumpin6string]

The only bass I own that I "modded" is my 6 string Franken fretless in the link in my sig. I "modded" everything on that bass. Body, neck, everything. As for hardware and electronics, I only use high quality like Hipshot USA Ultralites, ABM bridge, Dunlop Straplocks, Tusq graphite nut, Bartolini pickups and a Benevente 18V preamp.

 

[Andy Marshman]

40P5 at the neck, either 40DC or 40TW at the bridge - I'm mechanically inclined and electronics is my profession. However, I'm not familiar with these terms at all. Please enlighten me. Thanks

 

[logdrum]

As a rule, I won't mod the electronics and most of the hardware** on a MusicMan EBMM, G&L and a US or German Sadowsky, Pedulla, Alembic*, Ric* or Fodera*.
* -- Have not owned these basses but played or was loaned them for extended periods.
** Maybe tuners to make them lightweight but that's really pushing it.

I only modded Fenders and Squier and my oldest Kramer bass when I made it fretless.

 

[BtaylorTheRogue]

If the thing isn't performing the way I want it to, I modify it. I don't care if it's routine or super weird. Example: the bridge side strap of my Tbird attaches to the front of the bass right next to the bridge, instead of on the edge.

Most of my basses work well outside of the box, and haven't needed mods.