trivial upgrades, big results --- post yours

[Nedmundo]

On my MIM Fender project fretless Precision, a Gotoh 201 bridge. I bought it to eliminate some rattling I was getting with the MIM Fender bridge, and was surprised at the increased clarity and sustain.

Let's not forget one of the best, least expensive upgrades -- a good pro setup. I'm learning to do much of this myself, so it's getting even cheaper, but a great tech is still worth it when things are seriously out of whack.

 

[B.C.]

On my MIM Fender project fretless Precision, a Gotoh 201 bridge. I bought it to eliminate some rattling I was getting with the MIM Fender bridge, and was surprised at the increased clarity and sustain.

Let's not forget one of the best, least expensive upgrades -- a good pro setup. I'm learning to do much of this myself, so it's getting even cheaper, but a great tech is still worth it when things are seriously out of whack.

A big +1

 

[GabeN]

Strings. Every time I swap a dead or nearly-dead set for a new one it just blows me away.

 

[mongo2]

Best improvement I ever made to all my basses was springing for a few months of lessons here and there.

 

[Saint]

Using Ken Smith bridges on most of my basses. Just makes everything more playble, sound better and easier to restring.

 

[Benjamin Strange]

Moving my pickups 1/16". HUGE tonal change. Free.

Gutting the electronics out of active basses. Big tonal change. Free, but scary.

Sticking an Auralex Gramma pad under my amp. I'm not a slave to poorly made stages anymore. Big tonal change. $40.

Not falling for the hype of Monster Cable. My jacks don't get ruined, and I know that I'm not supporting a evil, litigious corporation. Zero tonal change. Priceless.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Lots of discussion lately on stuff that seems like minutia: bridges, frets, strings, oxygen-free copper cable, etc. Some not so trivial, like pickups and preamps, necks, or even changing the finish. And not to forget, clay dots. To hear some people talk about it, they spend $10 on a little mod and the bass now sounds twice as good. Or more.

I'd like to know: what one mod have you done to a bass that truly made an awesome difference and is it now twice the bass it was before?

Learn how to adjust the bass.

Adjusting the bass, in particular pickup height and action. Most people don't and when they actuall feel and hear the difference they're floored.

 

[RBrownBass]

Moving my pickups 1/16". HUGE tonal change. Free.

Gutting the electronics out of active basses. Big tonal change. Free, but scary.

Sticking an Auralex Gramma pad under my amp. I'm not a slave to poorly made stages anymore. Big tonal change. $40.

Not falling for the hype of Monster Cable. My jacks don't get ruined, and I know that I'm not supporting a evil, litigious corporation. Zero tonal change. Priceless.

How do Monster Cables ruin a jack? I use one (it was given to me by a guitarist not too long ago. Seems quite durable), and now I'm concerned.

 

[trb6pJM2]

New input, solder activates a sketchy area in my preamp, kills all my electronics, causes me to have to buy a new Aggy OB2.

but it's all right, I love that bass like a son.

 

[Kyon`]

A piece of foam at the bridge, does wonders on my new mim 50s reissue, that and stringing it with flats off an old 60s catalog bass I found at the flea market!

 

[jumbosilverette]

A Boss TU2 tuner.

 

[Baryonyx]

Strings of 30. or 40. gauge. They just sound better!

 

[The_Owl]

1. Straplocks
2. Knowing how to adjust string/pickup height
3. Planet Waves cables
4. Cleaning cloth to wipe dirt/sweat of after playing

 

[whitedk57]

1. Straplocks
2. Wide leather strap
3. Nordstrand MM 4.3 pickups
4. New DR Lo-Riders
5. New Battery (alkaline - I hear it's better )

 

[Bassic83]

Strings of 30. or 40. gauge. They just sound better!

Yup!

 

[J.Stone]

Ripping the frets off my £50 ebay bass and filling the holes with Polyfill.

 

[moomoocajoo]

Some super balanced strings

 

[Barkless Dog]

Kahler- adds so much more for solo bass work.

 

[Warpeg]

Taking out the factory preamp in my Fender American Deluxe P-Bass. I replaced it with a standard V/V/T Jazz Bass setup and threw in a DPDT to switch the bridge pickup from single coil to humbucker. This only took me an hour, so I kinda' consider it trivial. It made a WORLD of difference! It may be my favorite all-around bass for tone now. No more hiss. No more strange noises. No more batteries. It's just pure Fender tone!

 

[illidian]

A good set of strings. A set up.