tweaking and modifying

[Lee H]

How many of you just have to "tinker" with your bass?

I have a compulsive desire to always try new stuff, or try to make anything just a little better. Once I feel that I have done absolutely everything I can, I get bored, and want a new project. My favorite bass always seems to be the one I am working on, at that time.

so are there others like me, out there, or am I just a weirdo?

 

[MJ5150]

Not a bass, but I like to tinker and modify other things I own. It really bugs me living in this rental home and not being able to tweak it how we like.

-Mike

 

[LiquidMidnight]

I've learned that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I'm pretty happy with my gear, and IME, once you get to a certain level of quality, you're just moving sideways by trying other stuff. For instance, I always scratch my head a little bit when I read something on here about someone selling their pro-level SWR rig to buy an equivalent Eden rig or something similar.

That's not to say that I don't try and get the action on my basses to my exact liking or try a new type of pick or whatever. But I don't feel the desire to drop a different set of pickups in one of my basses just because.

Anymore, if I have to add anything to my rig, I try to first assess whether or not it's going to be beneficial, and second, whether it's going to introduce a bottle neck (e.g., suck tone, add noise, etc.). If the first answer is no or the second answer is yes, then I don't add it.

After the new year, I'm going to be building a pedal board - not because I'm a big effects guy, but because what I'm putting together is going to help create what I need to create on stage. I'm being extra particular with what I'm putting in the chain and anything that sucks tone is going in a true-bypass loop.

Of course, this philosophy is just me. More power to those who continually tweak in the name of finding what sound's in their head...or because they like to try new things.

 

[sloppy_phil]

hmm, i'm not sure i quite have the bug to the same extent, but I don't own a bass (or guitar) which I haven't tinkered with. Everything has had something done to it, but the truth is that I'm generally satisfied. It's not so much for the pure sake of experimentation, but usually because there is a perceived shortcoming that I'd like to try and address. Sometimes its for aesthetic uniqueness (what can I say, I like having instruments which are identifiably 'mine'). I have one last thing to try with my 4003, and then I think I'm pretty much set for now.... If i ever get another bass/guitar (don't see it happening right now, but who knows, right?) I'll probably have the urge to tweak something again, but that's really it.