Show me your cheap basses with expensive upgrades

[JACink]

Have you looked at sxbassesspain.com?. The models seem quite different from what rondo are selling and include music man knockoffs.

I haven't, but no I'm going to have to

 

[JRA]

Have you looked at sxbassesspain.com?. The models seem quite different from what rondo are selling and include music man knockoffs.

i just did a copy and paste into google = no website! is it possible that there is a typo in your reference? thanks!

 

[spiritbass]

John Kallas did the work to turn this Squier Deluxe Jag into my version of a Fenderbird:

 

[swarfrat]

I might add - I was all in a huff to rip out the MMJ pickups in that Douglas 5 and put in a 4-string P pickup, plug the holes and repaint. That certainly would have put me in this category for real. But I actually like the tones I'm getting.

 

[JRA]

i've posted these guys plenty of times: but they fit the thread thematic:

both basses are chinese made kapok = cheap = $129 USD, each! bought one on ebay, the other on amazon (free shipping!). the necks are superb. the bodies are lightweight (supposed to be basswood, but could be cardboard...?). i play them regularly as they are my gigging instruments...

black: $129 + tuners/$30 + black knobs/$12 + calig pickups/$70 + neck 'narrowing' and brass nut/$80 + bridge/$20 + strap locks/$20 + roto 66 strings/$15 = $129 bass + $247 parts.
burst: $129 + tuners/$30 + black knobs/$12 + bone nut/$5 + schaller 3D bridge/$80 + strap locks/$20 + TI jazz rounds/$70 = $129 bass + $217 parts




i've tried to buy more of these kapok basses, but can't find the fretlesses anywhere, currently. i had my eye on a kapok fretless 5, but it was lined (i think it was about $140!). anyway: i'd love to buy more but i'd have to order "100 pieces minimum" last time i checked! ha!

 

[Abra]

i just did a copy and paste into google = no website! is it possible that there is a typo in your reference? thanks!

I think he meant www.sxguitarspain.com

 

[tbplayer59]

This is the thread to show my wife when she says I don't need any more basses.

Just show her all the shoes in her closet.

 

[wintremute]

Just show her all the shoes in her closet.

Yeah...well...that's not her. She's not very materialistic.

 

[madjazzbass]

I don't know if they are on the Rondo site, I bought mine from muziker.pt
It's the only site that I found that has SX's and ships to Portugal for free if you spend over 100€ and they also offered the set up for free

That's Great, That's a really nice Bass, I want one, Thanks, I'm gonna see how much to ship to the US.

 

[Fender_Bender]

i just did a copy and paste into google = no website! is it possible that there is a typo in your reference? thanks!

It's sxguitarspain.com, my bad . If enough people get on Rondo,maybe he'll bring in the Ray clones. I doubt it though as they seem to carry a lot less basses than they did years ago.

 

[JRA]

Fender_Bender , hey, thanks: but Abra knew what you meant and corrected. you're right: seems like the spanish version had some interesting options i haven't seen on the rondo site!

 

[swarfrat]

EBMM is among the more litigious companies around. I suspect its simply a different legal climate in spain.

 

[blablas]

Harley Benton PB-Shorty (converted to PJB-Shorty)
The new pickups cost me a lot more than the bass itself, Seymour Duncan SPB-3 and DiMarzio DP148.

Harley Benton PB-Shorty (converted to MMB-Shorty)
And again the pickup and 2 band preamp set me back more than the bass.

 

[ispunk]

I don't know if this is cheap enough for his thread but here is my 1995 Fender "Black Label" P Bass that I got out of the TB classifieds 7 years ago for $275. I just got another in black that I'm currently doing the same upgrades.

Upgrades:

Gotoh bridge
Hipshot Tuners
Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders
RS Guitarworks pots and Switchcraftoutput jack
Warmoth BWB pickguard

 

[Fender_Bender]

EBMM is among the more litigious companies around. I suspect its simply a different legal climate in spain.

I was kinda thinking the same thing.

 

[CEFox]

Not mine, but my Son's Yamaha TRBX174EW. He was looking for something cheap to keep in his bands studio. He picked it up in like new condition on Marketplace for $100, we installed a set of Quarter Pounders in it. Not a hugely expensive mod, but definitely a big improvement.

He prefers it to his TRBX 504 or his Gretsch G2220.

 

[chris_b]

I have a Cort GB35JJ. $200 and good in every department. . . . except one, tone. It sounds OK, but I need better than OK. I've been looking at all the usual replacement pickups, but can't find anything that fits the existing routes.

It weighs 7lbs, and is replacing a heavy boutique bass. My dilemma, I want great tone and I'd rather not get the drill out.

Has anyone upgraded the pickups in a GB35JJ? If so what did you use.

 

[srosenthal13]

The burst is a CV Jag body with Affinty Jag neck (32"):

• Fender Original 62 P pickup
• Fender 74 J pickup
• VVT control plate (Fender plate and knobs, CTS pots, PureTone jack)
• Graphtech TusqXL nut
• Graphtech Ratio tuners

The black one is a CV Jag (32"):

• Fender 75 Jazz pickup set
  
• Custom pickguard
• Everything else is stock (except for PureTone jack and some wiring tweaks)
• To Do: Graphtech nut and tuners; maybe eventually control plate

I do my own work, since that's a huge part of the fun for me. I dig the Jag body style, and I prefer a 32" scale, so I have to be my own custom shop.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Has anyone upgraded the pickups in a GB35JJ? If so what did you use.

I, myself, have never owned a Cort bass, but it might be worth mention how Laura Lee of Khruangbin had her SX J-bass' pups replaced with DiMarzio Ultra pickups. Apparently, they've been serving her well for years.

As for myself, I may have finally found a home in Bartolini B-Axis Jazz pickups. I have a set in my Warmoth build, paired with a set of Rotosound strings. (I can't remember which exact type, but they're probably RotoBass 45's. I only do stainless steel strings when they're pressurewound.) Whichever it is, let's say I like a fair amount of "grind" with my "meat", so to speak.

What kind of "great tone" are you looking for?

 

[friskinator]

MIK Squier Precision body refinished in Reranch Surf Green
AllParts neck with Hipshot Ultralites
Benson pickup

MIJ medium scale Squier Precision refinished in Frozen Berry Metallic
Replacement 3-ply black pickguard
KellingSound solderless wiring harness
Hipshot drop tuner