Single best upgrade on a bass? (Poll)

[pie_man_25]

Practice

I'm not sure you realize that this is talkbass... not practicebass.....

That said, second best would either be bridge/tuners if there are issues with those, then pickups if you just don't like them - I'll lump in electronics with the pickups.

 

[bigboy_78]

I couldn’t believe the improvement I made replacing the pots/wires.

My bass sounded nice, but a bit “meh” and the tone knob only had effect for the first ¼ of a turn. I really only wanted a decent tone pot, but I’m lazy and useless, so I installed a full Obsidian Wire no-solder harness, and the bass came alive. I was very surprised.

 

[Egg250]

Other: practice your technique is the single best upgrade.

After that, strings.

 

[g-dude]

Instead of practice, I'm going to say lessons.

Sometimes you're practicing things incorrectly. Or your practice traps you in a box.

 

[kodiakblair]

There is no statement like "new ___" is the best bang for your buck - anyone that says that isn't thinking things through, or assessing the situation before taking action - they're giving advice that isn't worth anything.

You're talking my language there Friend

Most of the 'improvement/upgrades' I see posted on TB are just folk name dropping brand buzzwords in the hope others will congratulate them on ttheir shopping savvy by clicking 'like'.

 

[RVRSCO]

I think it depends on the bass. I have a Sterling Music Man StingRay and the first thing I swapped out was the pickup. Now it’s out getting a new nut and Plek. When it gets back to me, I have new tuners and a bridge to install.

I also have a Sadowsky on which I don’t need or want to change anything.

 

[J Wilson]

From what I run across?

A thorough professional setup, then lessons and/or lots of practice.

Everything else is after those two, and amazing that often doing those two steps reveal you probably don't need anything else.

 

[MVE]

Other:

Fret dress and good set-up.

A really good fret leveling, polish and a proper set-up is the BEST upgrade you can do for any bass.

 

[stingray69]

I've done many, many mods of all manner but I gotta put having level frets at the top.

For me, if it don't play great - I'm never satisfied no matter how good the tone may be. YMMV.

 

[Deleted member 365158]

Most of my basses don’t have stock pickups anymore

 

[ADHD librarian]

The number one is....
<drum roll>

getting a big bastard file out and rolling the edges of the fretboard!
(with a side of, cleaning up the fret ends)

 

[Zooberwerx]

I changed every single component listed in the poll to create my dream bass…then I cobbled-together all the leftover parts for a back-up.

Riis

 

[Audiomicrowave]

Dunlop straplocks and a wide padded strap.

B

 

[Chrisk-K]

Practice

Practice won’t make a Hofner sound like a Stingray.

 

[CallMeAl]

Setup (including fret ends, I buy mostly used) and/or strings is the most common “upgrade” I do. And almost always, that’s all I do.

I will say that my favorite bass is a J neck P bass, and that mod was clutch for that particular instrument.

 

[drumvsbass]

Hipshot Bass Extender Key.

 

[Akiyama]

A tort pickguard. I gotta have it. I am strange about it. (^_-)v

 

[Marty Forrer]

Setup by a pro luthier who is also a bass player. Rolled fretboard edges, perfect frets and fret ends, perfect intonation, perfect pickup(s) height, perfect nut slot depth and nut shape, all these things improve the sound as well as the playability. IMO these should be done before any other mods are made. I've done these things to a CV Squier and made it the equal of any of the US Fenders I have or have owned.

 

[39-Bassist]

First of all this comes with a question of price cost and level of the bass.
1) Strings
2) Setup
3) Pickups controls and hardware are determined as quality of bass goes.
Just my 1-1/2 cents

 

[darwin-bass]

Not pickups - most basses have pretty good sounding pickups already.
Strings? As an upgrade? They are normal wear item in my book.
Not the bridge - Improvements are small in this category
Pots & wiring - A great way to waste money. Play what came with it and replace with better when they give you trouble.

My vote? - New (ultralight) tuners. They will change the CG and will reduce or eliminate neck heaviness. Your L hand is freed to focus on playing notes & muting strings rather than also trying to hold the neck up.