Single best upgrade on a bass? (Poll)

[Pilgrim]

I'm glad to see that currently, new strings has the most votes.

I have found that to make the single biggest difference that "upgrades" can make. I've had a string change turn a bass from a tinny trash heap into a really great sounding instrument.

 

[Roger W]

Again changing strings from cheap generic strings shipped on an $79 bass to Thomastik Infield Jazz Flats is analogous to changing oil from Dollar Tree Recycled Motor Oil to Mobil One Fully Synthetic Motor Oil. Both are strings/ oil but in both cases the latter is definitely an upgrade.

It’s an upgrade in strings or oil, but you’re going to change them anyway at some point so it’s not an upgrade in the car or bass in my opinion. Obviously you disagree.

 

[banjackal]

Def didn't read all the responses, but I voted tuners because a bass xtender on a 4 is the single best mod I've done for myself

 

[Watchootognbout]

 

[mistermikev]

I was just wondering what y'all in general would consider to be the "best" (certainly a relative, subjective term) upgrade for a bass. I understand that different basses would probably benefit from different upgrades but if you're looking to tinker with a bass you "like" but want to "love" then where do you personally start? Pickups? Tuners? Bridge? New neck? Pots and wiring? Preamp? Strings?

I'm interested to see differing thoughts and opinions, not looking to crown a champion. Let's go!

would depend entirely on why I didn't love it. if it was a "neck-feel" thing... perhaps the neck feels too thick... well replace the frets with low wide and you can make even a baseball bat feel thin. perhaps roundover the fretboard edges to get a more comfy edge. if it was a tuning thing... might try replacing the nut and then perhaps tuners/bridge. If it was a tone thing I'd probably consider replacing pickups but I might try loading in a preamp to get what I want out of what was there before I replaced them.

all that said... the biggest overall dif you can make to any elec instrument is the pickups imo.

 

[2strings2frets]

Contrary to multiple previous posters -I stand on my opinion that the proper string is an upgrade. I’ve had night to day revelations occur on basses with nothing but a string change . YMMV.

I believe you are right, on particular instruments. I had never considered a string change as an upgrade, just a change of tone. However, I have a violin bass that I had put roundwounds on it because I had sold the other bass that they fit. It sounded terrible, to the point that I wanted to put it in the wood stove. After a few weeks of not playing the VB I put a set of well used DA half rounds on it; that was a real upgrade for sure.

 

[vindibona1]

View attachment 4941965

I LOVE this song. Had it on my Manhattan Tranfer CD back when... Sadly the CD disappeared (as did my turntable and Hi8 video camera somehow).

Can you possibly post the rest of the sheet music?

 

[Watchootognbout]

I LOVE this song. Had it on my Manhattan Tranfer CD back when... Sadly the CD disappeared (as did my turntable and Hi8 video camera somehow).

Can you possibly post the rest of the sheet music?

I don't have it.I just searched "bass sheet music" and saved a pic of it.

 

[Clark Westfield]

So after reading almost 200 posts, I’m still not changing my answer.

It’s still straplocks!

 

[greenscharlie]

recutting pickguard for better, deeper, thumbrest space

 

[rojo412]

So after reading almost 200 posts, I’m still not changing my answer.

It’s still straplocks!

AMEN!
(Though again, I'd call those a necessity personally, but yeah)

 

[tadawson]

Other: Straplocks.