Single best upgrade on a bass? (Poll)

[Jazzdogg]

First and best are not the same thing.

I change the strings first if I don't like what came stock. Which is highly likely, as I prefer flatwounds. Unless something is broken, I'll give the instrument time to settle before making any other changes. As an example, the tuners on one bass aren't the highest quality. But they work well, so there's no reason to change them now. IMO, feel is first, so the right strings can make all the difference.

If you're still not achieving what you want, I'd look at technique first, and then the other gear you're using. Once you've gone through the signal chain, if you're not getting the sound you want, the only other change to really make is the pickup(s). Strings will impart their own tonal signature, but it's really the pickup (and preamp if you have one) that determines the sound going to the amp. Different pickups have different sonic signatures, so I like to play an instrument for at least a year before changing anything (again, supposing nothing is broken).

Personally, I like passive basses with an outboard preamp. But there's no rules. Just find what you like.

Good post.

My dilema is that, despite having played since 1968, I still know virtually nothing about pickups or which pickups are most likely to give me a sound that I like, which makes selecting new pickups challenging. Plus, it would be MUCH easier to audition pickups if they could be swapped out easily (without soldering). It's not that soldering is difficult, per se, but the ability to unplug pickups and plug in a new pair makes sense to me.

 

[msgoodrich]

I said “other” because it depends on the how the bass doesn’t meet my expectations or needs. I think carefully before changing anything or deciding to just sell it to get a different bass that suits me better. I usually decide on the latter.

 

[Exploiter8]

Strap and Straplocks

 

[TN WOODMAN]

STRINGS. Your choice. Try something different. I have my preferences.

 

[Marc DLarosa]

Time.

 

[hooky_marr]

As a frequent bass modder of 'deals' bought online, upgrades for me fall into a few categories.

• Necessary replacements for anything with wear and tear.
• Modifications to improve the sound quality.
• Modifications to improve ergonomics / ease of maintenance, etc.
• Purely aesthetic things.

I often buy used basses that are 20+ years old from Japan, and thanks to the island's climate, bass hardware almost always has some degree of corrosion.

What I'll typically do is:

• Replace the tuners with Ultralites (wear and tear / ergonomics)
• Replace pots & wiring (wear and tear)
• Have it set up correctly / new nut if needed, etc.
• If it has a generic Fender-style bridge, I'll often swap it for a Babicz (more sustain) or lately, a Kahler (more adjustability to narrow spacing, which fits my style)
• If the J pickups are generic single coils, I'll upgrade them to avoid hum primarily, and maybe choose a model for sonic characteristics secondarily. This choice may be limited by pickup sizes available in a particular brand (ie needing two short Js, etc)
• Small things like string trees if needed, cosmetic choices like new knobs
• Ergonomic changes like fingerboard rolling
• Finish touch-ups

More involved is something like a fretless conversion, which I don’t do often.

 

[IamGroot]

Grolsch straplocks

14 Cents per strap lock, unless you buy the beer.

Grolsch Gaskets

 

[wysiwyg248]

Tort pickguard.

 

[4Mal]

This really depends on the bass and it's condition...
If all is good and no neck dive... strings, great strings.
If it is a neck diver, changing out the tuners for reso-lites or ultralites.
If wiring is faulty - well duh...
Pickups - If my taste runs otherwise on an otherwise nice instrument.
Bridge ? Almost never.

 

[Geri O]

One single thing that any bass can benefit from....

A Hipshot D Tuner.

 

[J-Mags]

After finding the right strings, the next best mods are ones that improve the balance, like ultralight tuners, a heavy bridge, or a giant nailed-on bracket like Jennifer Finch.

OT: Is this the best photo ever taken of a rock n roll bass player? I think it is.

 

[conttador]

Like most answers, the answer is:

IT DEPENDS

It depends on a case by bass basis…

I just upgraded an early pre-metro Japanese Sadowsky that had a Japanese version of the infamous Sadowsky preamp to an NYC preamp. I’ve upgraded Hipshot tuners to detuners so it always varies…

 

[HelpImaRock]

Good post.

My dilema is that, despite having played since 1968, I still know virtually nothing about pickups or which pickups are most likely to give me a sound that I like, which makes selecting new pickups challenging. Plus, it would be MUCH easier to audition pickups if they could be swapped out easily (without soldering). It's not that soldering is difficult, per se, but the ability to unplug pickups and plug in a new pair makes sense to me.

This is a really good question. The answer is found by knowing what you have, identifying what it lacks, and articulating what you want. Sometimes the solution is a new pickup. Other times, it can be a pedal, onboard preamp, or something else altogether.

 

[JimmyM]

As much as I love my Geezer pickup, Hipshot Xtender is a godsend since I often need to play in drop D.

 

[J-Mags]

Despite everything that's been said, including what I was saying, I just love to put a big, heavy, badass-style bridge on a bass. I know that it does almost nothing sonically, and that even the feel isn't night and day, but my favorite P-Basses have always had Badasses on them. The bass player in my band in college had one. Then my ex-wife had one. It was always more fun to play a P-Bass with one than without one. Is it a gratuitous $75? Sure, but getting a perfectly functional bass and then modding it is already gratuitous.

My 93 Jazz Bass sounded better after putting in a Bad Ass bridge. Actually, any Fender or Fender style bass I have or have had, gets the bridge changed. I don't think it's all in my head, look at what Music Man and G&L did with their bridges.

I have no idea whether it's in my head, and I don't really care. They look objectively cool, and I feel like they handle aggressive playing a bit better. I don't think you're missing out if you don't do it, but there are reasons to like a Badass (I use an Omega with grooved saddles).

 

[devnulljp]

 

[joelns]

Amp and cab upgrade.

 

[J-Mags]

View attachment 4940901

Awww screw that! I'll practice attaching new gear to my bass guitar.

 

[jdjk7]

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!

It's not a typical upgrade idea, but the feature that has made a huge difference to me (and I would have added to more of my basses) is a switch that bypasses the volume and tone controls. There's so much that can be done with this... I can roll the volume to zero and use it as a mute. Bypassing the two controls adds back a healthy serving of delicious mids (as well as highs), and this does a lot to really nail an aggressive, full-spectrum tone without having to resort to active preamps. No-load pots can do this, but unlike with no-load pots, I can set the volume and tone to be a backed-off tone and then be able to switch on to full blast for the parts that need it. This is particularly great with overdrives. It's like a rhythm/lead circuit but for bass.

 

[bobba66]

Brass nut.