Well i have a Rondo p bass that i upgraded the neck on to a jazz bass neck from Rondo and upgraded the pickups to Dragonfire active pickups but was wondering if i should upgrade because it needs a setup more frequently than my other basses (it needs to be setup 3 or 4 times a year). I like the tone on it and it plays great but would i be able to get a better setup that would last longer from a bass like a mexican Fender or a Squire? Also should i try upgrading the bridge instead of getting a bass because that seems to be it's weakest point?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Should i get a better bass?
- Thread starter danielfnj96
- Start date
Looks like you are in NJ, where they have "seasons"...3 to 4 times a year doesn't sound crazy to me. If you like the tone and think it plays great, then what's the issue?
Are you having to pay for these setups?
If so, you should learn to do your own, it's not that difficult.
If you are doing it yourself, it doesn't sound like a big deal to me.
To answer your question about MIM & Squier...it's going to depend on the individual bass. They may need slight neck adjustments as often as the SX...
Are you having to pay for these setups?
If so, you should learn to do your own, it's not that difficult.
If you are doing it yourself, it doesn't sound like a big deal to me.
To answer your question about MIM & Squier...it's going to depend on the individual bass. They may need slight neck adjustments as often as the SX...
Sometimes a bass just has certain issues that can't be fixed through upgrades.
Other times the upgrades cost more than getting a different used bass.
When it comes to setup stability it could be as simple as the neck not being very stable in the pocket, the neck not being stiff enough overall, the bridge bring poor as you noted, or worse the body possibly expanding or shrinking with humidity changes.
How much do you have $$$ in this bass now, including original price and the new parts?
Other times the upgrades cost more than getting a different used bass.
When it comes to setup stability it could be as simple as the neck not being very stable in the pocket, the neck not being stiff enough overall, the bridge bring poor as you noted, or worse the body possibly expanding or shrinking with humidity changes.
How much do you have $$$ in this bass now, including original price and the new parts?
What exactly is happening to it that requires 4 setups a year? I'm in NY with the same weather but it doesn't affect my basses that frequently.
Why not learn how go do your own setups? It is not hard. If you can turn an allen wrench and screwdriver you are half way there.
Also there are guides to help you Google is your best friend here.
Also there are guides to help you Google is your best friend here.
Well the neck is actually pretty solid but the body is made of some mysterious material that seems cardboard like and very cheap. The cost of the bass was about $125, the neck cost $70, and the pickups were about $50 so there isn't that much in it. I do all the work my basses need myself and i also maintain all of my school's instruments (several guitars, a couple of basses, several amps, and a drum kit) so it can get tiresome having to do so many setups. The neck pocket is a good point though since i put the neck in myself and had to make the pocket bigger to fit the neck so maby i need to make it bigger. Also it has a shim that i could try adjusting. Furthermore the setups are needed because of string buzz that will develop.
Well i looked at the shim and re adjusted it which made my neck sit more evenly but in the process i notice a bigger problem. The bridge is being ripped out of the body again from the string tension, this happened once before so i put in larger screws which are now also being pulled out.
That doesn't sound good. You might try filling the holes with wood filler and before putting the screws back. It's most likely just a product of really cheap wood.
Dude, frequent setups and the bridge is ripping out of the soft body? I'd get a new bass. If you can score a used Hwy-1 with the graphite reinforced neck you might even get away from the frequent setups too.
It does not make any sense to me to buy a low quality bass, and replace parts with new mediocre components. You end up with a not so great bass, and some worthless left over parts.
(Even worse, is people who buy a nice instrument, and insist on changing parts, and are still never satisfied with the end result. But that's a different disease).
Why not just buy an instrument that is well made, with quality components, in the first place?
(Even worse, is people who buy a nice instrument, and insist on changing parts, and are still never satisfied with the end result. But that's a different disease).
Why not just buy an instrument that is well made, with quality components, in the first place?
Look through the classifieds. It's a buyers market now. There are a bunch of Fenders, Squiers, etc. that have been floating around out there for quite a while. You can probably find a real good deal on a used bass right now. Or contact me. I have variety of lower to mid-level basses that I'd be willing to part with.
How about this for a "split the difference" solution. Since it sounds like the neck is fine, why not buy a new body that suits your liking? Whether it's loaded or unloaded, you could still transfer your pickups over to it. Between the TalkBass classifieds, eBay and Craigslist, not to mention all the aftermarket bodies you can choose from (Mighty Mite, Warmoth, etc...), you'd have quite a selection to choose from.
Sounds like it's complete upgrade time to me. If the string tension is pulling the bridge out of the body, there is a good chance that it will happen again. Oh wait, it's already happened once too. Yup, time for a new one. If it were me, I don't think I could in good conscience sell that instrument to someone either.
Well what i think i might try doing is to just try remounting the bridge after filling in the holes with toothpicks and glue. If that doesn't work then i'll look into either a new body or a new bass.
yup, that body wood is WAY too soft for practical reliability.
get a new bass :-D
you'll love it, assuming the new bass is much better than the old one in this way and still sounds great and feels great to you.
get a new bass :-D
you'll love it, assuming the new bass is much better than the old one in this way and still sounds great and feels great to you.
Chef
In Memoriam
100% agree.
Learning to adjust the trussrod for seasonal variance in humidity is easy.
Add learning to set saddle height and intonation for when you change strings, and you're set.
Learning to adjust the trussrod for seasonal variance in humidity is easy.
Add learning to set saddle height and intonation for when you change strings, and you're set.
+1 Although I have never owned a cheap bass that needed setup 3-4 times a year..just sayin.
