The Official Rumblekat Club

[Kev1955]

Well, just installed my Hipshot Ultralites, a more or less painless operation...one hole was a bit tighter than the others, and as I scraped a bit of paint off in the hope that'd make the difference(it did), my blade slipped and I now have a shallow scar across the head. Only noticeable when the light catches it, and to be honest it's not bothering me, but I may look into polishing it out.

I also installed a Hipshot Supertone bridge. Also an easy job.
It's late and I haven't had a lot of time to let it all settle, but it looks like my intonation is gonna be a lot easier to adjust. I'll report back in a couple of days on that, and hopefully to confirm I now have sustain for days!

That all done, I then put my TI jazz flats back on, to find they just barely fit!
Either they shrunk or the Hipshot bridge is set back a bit from the original.

One other little issue...with the new bridge, my G string seems closer to the fretboard edge than I'd like. I'm assuming the rear grub screw adjusts that, or am I wrong?

I believe the screw that centers the string adjusts side to side by adjusting one of those little set screws, be interesting how it all works out especially with the TI,s

 

[Oddly]

Lollipop tuners on!
TI flats too...and sounding great.

 

[Kev1955]

Lollipop tuners on!
TI flats too...and sounding great.

View attachment 3579404

Looks really good trying another set of string will post when done

 

[Kev1955]

So tried a lot of different strings, some just didn’t fit right, some didn’t have a balanced tone across the strings, some just didn’t feel right. Finally found a set I really enjoy, Labella Beatle Bass Light Gauge

 

[Oddly]

I'm now considering putting a BassMute on!
I mainly play with my fingers, and find muting a bit awkward.

Anyone else tried one of these?
They look like a great design, although a little bit pricey.

 

[Kev1955]

I never have, sorry

 

[Kev1955]

So tried a lot of different strings, some just didn’t fit right, some didn’t have a balanced tone across the strings, some just didn’t feel right. Finally found a set I really enjoy, Labella Beatle Bass Light Gauge View attachment 3579635
View attachment 3579637

Switched to labella 760 FX-S same gauge little beefier at tuners, better for Hipshot Tuners

 

[Kev1955]

Well decided to upgrade the pickups, going to go with tv Jones pickups probably going to spread it out over a month as I get the parts

 

[Kev1955]

So my last mod, tv Jones thunderton and thunder mag will wire it up tomorrow and give opinions on it

 

[Kev1955]

 

[Oddly]

Looking forward to how that works out, Kev1955.
I assume you did some research into each pickup, and why you'd place each one where you're going to?

 

[Kev1955]

Looking forward to how that works out, Kev1955.
I assume you did some research into each pickup, and why you'd place each one where you're going to?

Hi, yeah was looking for a little more attack, watched a lot of videos read reviews, people said the thunder mag was a little rickenbacker like, will see. Should be done and tested tomorrow. This isn’t a drop in mod, had to remove wood

 

[Kev1955]

Finished, results won’t know for sure till play it in the mix, first impressions really like it, the thunder mag really sounds good lots of attack and depth, thunder Tron more subdued, Can blend the pair for a multitude of tones

 

[Flamingo21]

View attachment 3593930 Finished

Looks good! I love it when a bass has a tug bar on each side. Do you use them both?

 

[Kev1955]

Thank You, I use the one for finger style all the time, the treble side one I use if using a pick sometimes and I also just like the look

 

[Kev1955]

Played with some friends, compared it to my PBass, and it’s dialed in and sounds exactly what I was hoping for, much fuller and open than the stock pickups, worth all the work. Summing it up the stock pickups were very compressed compared to these, so open and resonate is this setup.

 

[Kev1955]

The strings are Labella 750N-S

 

[Oddly]

Switched strings...again!
TI flats off, Labella on.
I think this time I've got it right.

 

[CalBuzz51]

Played with some friends, compared it to my PBass, and it’s dialed in and sounds exactly what I was hoping for, much fuller and open than the stock pickups, worth all the work. Summing it up the stock pickups were very compressed compared to these, so open and resonate is this setup.
View attachment 3598502

The TVJ website says the T-Mag has some Rick-like tones to it - how do these two pickups compare?

 

[Kev1955]

The TVJ website says the T-Mag has some Rick-like tones to it - how do these two pickups compare?

I would agree with that, definitely more attack, maybe a little fuller. Having said that it’s all opinion, and all subjective. All I can say for sure is I like the sound a lot better, but it’s a lot of work and expense. Once you do it there’s no going back.