The best upgrade for a bass is another bass next to it that does the same job but a little bit different.
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Single best upgrade on a bass? (Poll)
- Thread starter timendous
- Start date
It depends on the bass. My most recent bass - a Fender American Original 50s Precision bass in Aztec gold - had a major neck dive. Issue resolved by replacing the factory tuners with Gotoh Res-O-Lites. No permanent mods required. The Gotoh tuners even turn in reverse like the originals. Other than that, this bass needs no upgrades.
Seems like many people upgrade stuff... when they really want a different instrument
FullumMusic
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- Oct 13, 2022
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I can tell you i'd like to accomplish bouncing around town, farting every time i land.
FullumMusic
Commercial User
- Oct 13, 2022
- 2,010
- 5,688
- Disclosures
- Audio/Music software developer, contracted with a company you've heard of and deving my own stuff.
I wonder if up-grading/cross-grading is more common these days since buying instruments remotely without putting your hands on it first is more common. Just buy something you think you'll like, and if it's close enough, just mod what you want, otherwise you'll be in an endless loop of buying and selling basses looking for the exact right one.
As a general answer my overall vote is for getting the right strings installed. But the best mod for a '22 Ric 4003 is to take the bridge off - throw it away and install a Hipshot. That took it from a closet queen to being in my top 3. Now there's nothing in the way of the strings. No pickup cover, no mute screws/teeth, no bezels or kickstands installed.... plus you gain access to the strings much closer to the saddles which make for a sharp attack. That thing is fun to play now. Nothing is in the way. THEN I put Ti flats on it. Oh wow.... drooling
If an upgrade makes you want to practice more, it is the best upgrade.
New strings is probably the best upgrade option, because even if you get the wrong strings, you still have the upgrade option to get new strings. And, new strings are economical compared to upgraded anything else.
After exploring several basses and amps, I got a stock USA Jazz and a Trickfish amp and cab. Once I finally found these two items that were just right for me I haven’t upgraded anything since then except strings.
New strings is probably the best upgrade option, because even if you get the wrong strings, you still have the upgrade option to get new strings. And, new strings are economical compared to upgraded anything else.
After exploring several basses and amps, I got a stock USA Jazz and a Trickfish amp and cab. Once I finally found these two items that were just right for me I haven’t upgraded anything since then except strings.
Strings. Maybe a pickup? I'm no modder, if I had a bass that really didn't do what I wanted it to I would get one that did.
The only bass I added a preamp to was a mistake and it was better without. I prefer my preamps to sit on my pedalboard than in a bass anyway. Also tried a higher mass bridge and got rid of that too. I've changed pickguards on two basses, both to black. Nothing too out there.
The only bass I added a preamp to was a mistake and it was better without. I prefer my preamps to sit on my pedalboard than in a bass anyway. Also tried a higher mass bridge and got rid of that too. I've changed pickguards on two basses, both to black. Nothing too out there.
For me, it’s the tuners for sure if it’s a bass that is in any way derivative of a fender design. I need that giant counterweight that we call a headstock to be as light as possible.
After that, I guess I’d say strings but those hardly count as “an upgrade” in my opinion. Strings break, get old, etc. It’s like saying that changing the oil in your car is an upgrade rather than just basic maintenance
After that, I guess I’d say strings but those hardly count as “an upgrade” in my opinion. Strings break, get old, etc. It’s like saying that changing the oil in your car is an upgrade rather than just basic maintenance
I voted "Pickups" but pickups and preamps go hand in hand. I have two CL finds that played great but sounded terrible. One had an EMG system and the other Basslines (I think those are Seymour Duncan). In both cases I ripped out both the preamp and pickups and just re-built the electronics from scratch but I believe that the pickups make the bigger difference in transferring the sound of the strings to the amp.
