Single best upgrade on a bass? (Poll)

[avvie]

Funny thing as I have this issue again now.
So, if it's for live performance, I install active 3-band preamps. Very handy for switching up tones on the fly for different types of covers when in a variety band.
But thats not working for me in recording, so I bought a cheapazz passive Squier Precision and immediately ordered pickups for it.
I always modify everything I buy, and with basses it's preamp first, pickups second, bridge third, and cosmetic fourth.

 

[avvie]

I voted strings, but this bass started out as a 1973 Jazz Bass . it contains none of its original parts.View attachment 4940065

That, sir, is the Ship Of Theseus

 

[Heavy Blue]

Lessons & practice upgrade the player, not the bass.

As for "upgrades". It depends on the bass & it's particular deficiencies. There is no single "best" upgrade. Only what is best for a particular bass and that will vary.

First one is anything to do with tuning accuracy, stability, or intonation. Tuners, nuts, bridge assemblies, necks, & frets. Imo, a bass that can't get into and hold tune with good intonation up the neck is nearly worthless.

Then the stuff that effects weight and/or ergonomics & feel. Strings, tuners, bridge. Bodies and/or necks in extreme cases.

Then tonal items like strings, caps/pots, & pickups. In that order.

The one that I always do first is string rolling. Mostly due to my usual preference for flats in most (but not all) cases but also because I'm a Fender guy that can't stand Fender roundwounds so the stock rounds get removed right away. I like Fender 9050's on most Jazz Basses & GHS Precision Flats or LaBella760's on P Basses. For rounds, I like GHS Bass Boomers. I'm also trying out a set of GHS Pressurewounds on a Jazz & I also want to check a set of their Balanced Nickels on my Precision too.

Then change the tone capacitance to .1uf for the vintage roll off. If you aren't sure if you want to buy a new capacitor & if your original tone cap is a .047uf one. Wire another .047uf cap in parallel with it if you have one handy for a total capacitance of close enough to .1uf to see if it's your cuppa or not.

So far, I have not felt the need to change any tuners other than the ones on my CV60's Precision that started shedding metal shavings. Many stock pickups are pretty good with the rest at least decent. I always try my best to make the pickup that came with it work for my needs. I do plan on eventually replacing the non-Duncan Designed pups with noiseless ones in my Squiers though. Imo, Squier tone circuits blow hard too. More like off/on switches.

While not technically a mod. A thorough setup can be worth its weight in gold. Ensure that you have a fundamentally good setup first before proceeding to anything else.

 

[jtg]

 

[Les Fret]

A decent set up followed by many hours of practice

Yes this! And buy a better bass if your current one sucks, instead of spending money on upgrades.

 

[prowla]

a ramp is the best upgrade

What are they for, apart from getting in the way?

 

[MikeBassPT]

I experienced my first upgrades on bass: lessons and new strings!

Remember my starting post?
So after this years (shame on me) I finally change my strings and started the lessons, my bass "sing" much different... I said to my teacher "this is not my bass!" and he laught and continue the lesson

So, I consider (In my opinion of only 3 weeks of playing correctly bass) that first (or "essencial" upgrade) are the strings. Next upgrades are... whell, after I'll see

 

[okabass]

Pro setup (Including new strings).

 

[Gloompunk]

imo, if you need to change the neck or the body (or both) then you're looking at a completely different bass instead of a modified one.

as for me, i like changing the pick ups/electronics first, if needed. my current bass is a spector legend standard 4 with emgs instead of the stock, in house pups and I love it to bits.

 

[DWBass]

Depends on what the bass needs.

 

[BarfanyShart]

New fingers.

 

[jamro217]

Depends on the instrument and what you intend to use it for. Some basses just need a different style of string, others need pickups, and still others need to be wired correctly. If the neck is really bad, I usually avoid buying it in the first place. Sorry not to be too specific, but the question is like asking which surgery is best for a sick person. Depends on the ailment. Have a great day.

 

[MrB64]

I decided to "upgrade" the bridge on a Player series fretless Fender Jazz to a high mass bridge. I ended up putting the stock one back on. In that case, it was like if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

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!

1st fitting the bass with flatwound strings.
2nd finding the best flatwound strings type for the bass at hand ..

 

[Tim Skaggs]

It depends on how the bass was born.

If one bass had high quality tuners and a crappy bridge, a new bridge would be best. If a second bass had the opposite hardware characteristics, tuners would be best.

There is no “best” for all basses on the poll list. The only improvement that fits all basses is to be set up properly.

From the looks of the current poll results, a lot of players buy basses with pickups they apparently don’t like much, but attempt to remedy that with finding the right strings, which is generally a logical (and somewhat economical) way to alter the sound and playability of a bass.

If you find the strings that work, the task is complete, until the next new type, brand, etc. comes along and the player’s curiosity awakens. The down side to this method is never finding the strings that do the trick, changing the pickup(s), and having to start the process over to find the strings that work best with the new pickup(s).

It seems the best upgrade might possibly be everything in the list, including replacing the entire bass with another bass, or better yet, buying a companion for your current bass.

This thread should probably be re-titled as, “what do you buy most often when you have a GAS attack”….

 

[Acoop]

Had we two choices it would be electronics and pickups.

 

[koppinjo]

I said strings. I’m making the assumption that there aren’t any “problems” (e.g. twisted neck). Sounds can be modified, but feel is more difficult to change…finding the right strings can improve sound and feel. Some bases are awesome with just about any strings, others have a narrower scope, and most of that is just me and my weirdo brain.

 

[onda'bass]

my strings, if it needs more, I buy a different bass that addresses this shortcoming.

 

[Collin Bass]

From the list options I chose pickups. But practice is definitely no.1, and Strings WOULD be the 2nd most important after that however I don't consider strings to be an upgrade.

 

[2strings2frets]

The only answer as to why do you sound so good is practice. Even with zero talent and ability,(me) ,less than top shelf equipment,, poor band mates,the ten thousand hour rule works. Dam the torpedoes, full steam ahead!!