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Upgrading my bass finally... Worth it?

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PoundinThunder

Sep 27, 2007
261
1
Upstate NY. Victor
#1
im sorry if this post makes people angry or is in the wrong spot/against the rules.

so i finally have some money to spend on upgrading my bass and buying some other stuff (dad finally paid a little child support haha)

i have a cheap rogue 5er coming to me to see what the extra string is all about

and i have a sansamp rbi coming as well.

i would like to upgrade my main player with the remaining money.

i have a MIM jazz. i love it to death. i have played others but none compare to mine. i deff. got a good one. anyways, its midnight wine with a white PG. its all stock.

so i am thinking about getting:

a white pearl(oid) PG
a set of dimarzio model js or ultra js - not really sure yet
a Badass II bridge
and a neck from warmoth i love the way the neck feels but i like the geddy/marcus feel a little more. im not sure what their return policy is though or if they even have one.

im wondering if it is worth the money to do it? or instead of getting the neck, is there something else that i could get?

thanks in advance
 
#2
Here's a thought: "Just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD."

The PG is a personal choice. If you like the Mother Of Toilet Seat guards, by all means, do it. I think they're cool as all get-out.

Pickups? What don't you like about the pickups? The MIM pickups have improved over the last few years, so if you have a newer model you might consider if it's really necessary to do this.

I'm a fan of Badass II bridges; others aren't. The newer ones come with slots already carved in the saddles; it's convenient, but limiting as you don't really get to choose exactly WHERE you want those slots now. If the tone you're looking for is more modern than the one you have, the new bridge might suit you well; if you like something that has a big warm "thump" to it instead, I wouldn't do it.

A neck from Warmoth? Must be a maple with blocks. Quite cool, but be warned that the tone will change markedly. Not for better or worse, just gonna be different - maple is snappier than rosewood.

If you DO make changes, I wouldn't do them all at once (save for the PG). Sounds like you're most excited about the neck; if I were you I'd try that first and see what I thought.

All of this, only my $0.02.
 
#3
Here's a thought: "Just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD."
Click to expand...

Big +1.

If you love it to death, and you know it's one of the good ones, be hesitant to change it.
Know what you want to be different - what you want to improve.

Might be worth saving for a Geddy or Marcus, then you have both.
 
#4
I'll only echo the sentiments already given-

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I learned the hard way, and have done more damage than good. Granted, my mods were more permanent than swapping pups and a guard, but the principal still applies. If you love it, leave it alone, IMO!
 
#5
Personally, when I had a late 90's MIM Jazz, I didn't think it cut through the mix very well and added SD BassLines PU which made a huge difference. Also, I am a big fan of BAII bridges over stock Fender bridges. Look on eBay.... you should be able to get both for around $150.
 
#7
stflbn said:
Sooooo... if you love how it plays and none plays like yours, then why are you thinking about putting a different neck on it? Or bridge for that matter...
Click to expand...
+1 , the neck may change the way you like your bass, the sound its going to be different as well , the feel, so why risk.. and im pretty sure you cant return a drilled neck...
why not save and get a squier modified jazz, it comes with the maple neck, natural color, duncan pups and you can get it for about the price of the warmoth neck
 
#10
The Warmoth neck will not feel like a Geddy or Marcus M.
Warmoth uses steel reinforcement bars and the neck will feel a bit chunky compared to a Geddy. IMO an Allparts neck would feel closer.
But if you like the neck, don't change it. I changed the neck on my jazz and I disliked the new neck so much I ended up selling the bass. :rollno:(I had already sold the original neck)

The bridge is a good upgrade and the pups are just a preference.
 
#11
I'm gonna spin off in a different direction here...

Regarding the 5 string - What made you decide to go with the Rogue? Not sure how much you could pay (or paid) for it, but if you love your MIM Jazz so much, there would be higher quality basses to look into, for a little more (if not as much) coin.

For example:

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Affinity-Jazz-Bass-V-5String?sku=512619

Link Removed (any 5's by Rondo, for that matter)

I'd say keep the MIM as it is (since you like it how it is right now) and put the 'upgrade' money towards the difference in a different 5 string.

As always - just my .02! :)
 
#12
Buskman said:
I'm gonna spin off in a different direction here...

Regarding the 5 string - What made you decide to go with the Rogue? Not sure how much you could pay (or paid) for it, but if you love your MIM Jazz so much, there would be higher quality basses to look into, for a little more (if not as much) coin.

For example:

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Affinity-Jazz-Bass-V-5String?sku=512619

Link Removed (any 5's by Rondo, for that matter)

I'd say keep the MIM as it is (since you like it how it is right now) and put the 'upgrade' money towards the difference in a different 5 string.

As always - just my .02! :)
Click to expand...


I gotta weigh in with getting a better fiver; I doubt you'll be satisfied with that rogue. The Rondo looks like a steal for the price.
 
#13
the 5 string im getting only to test the waters, it was only 130 and i figured what the heck, why not,i didnt really look around that much for cheaper ones. i just picked one. plus my guitarists really want to play their seven strings and i refuse to tune down that low (drop a) i know im gonna get flamed for that decision to not look around more but o well

i understand that i should keep it the way it is and stuff if i love it, which i do. but i like the feel of the other necks a bit more if that makes sense. i shouldnt have said warmoth but instead just a different neck. and for pickups, im more curious what i can get out of my bass. i like the tone, but i have heard good things about the dimarzio j pickups and am just curious. im not sure if i like this bass so much because its like my first real bass ( technically its my 2nd). the only other basses i have played that i really really liked were a few MMs, a bongo, and a ken smith. im not actually a fan of the Marcus miller and Geddy basses, i just like how the necks feel.

idk worst comes to worst, i have an extra neck, and an extra set of pups. i can either sell, or save for a project.
 
#15
Understood, but why not test the waters with the higher quality (yet similarly priced) bass? You might not like the tone/feel of the Rogue and as a result may turn you off to 5'ers in general.

Just trying to help you make the best decision possible here! :smug:

Regarding the mods - try your best to actually get your hands on & play a bass withe these components (Warmoth neck, Dimarzio pickups, etc.). As stated before, you may not like them after all. Better to find this out before purchasing, no?

But good luck to you in whatever decision you make, man!

PoundinThunder said:
the 5 string im getting only to test the waters, it was only 130 and i figured what the heck, why not,i didnt really look around that much for cheaper ones. i just picked one. plus my guitarists really want to play their seven strings and i refuse to tune down that low (drop a) i know im gonna get flamed for that decision to not look around more but o well

i understand that i should keep it the way it is and stuff if i love it, which i do. but i like the feel of the other necks a bit more if that makes sense. i shouldnt have said warmoth but instead just a different neck. and for pickups, im more curious what i can get out of my bass. i like the tone, but i have heard good things about the dimarzio j pickups and am just curious. im not sure if i like this bass so much because its like my first real bass ( technically its my 2nd). the only other basses i have played that i really really liked were a few MMs, a bongo, and a ken smith. im not actually a fan of the Marcus miller and Geddy basses, i just like how the necks feel.

idk worst comes to worst, i have an extra neck, and an extra set of pups. i can either sell, or save for a project.
Click to expand...
 
#16
i totally feel you on those points (in a hetero way) i probably will wait till the RBI comes in. and i really didnt look that much into 5ers. i just wanted to see if i could adapt the the extra string. at GC and stuff, i cant and i wonder if i simply need more time with one. if i do like it, i will most likely be buying a nicer 5er in the near future. the music shops around me are limited on nice basses. but the last 5er i played was a bongo and i loved it. but it was sold and i havent seen one since. i was thinking and realized that the neck i have on it has a lot of sentimental value to it, so i will probably keep it. i do want to see how much the RBI affects my tone. maybe i wont be curious about other p-ups. but i am pretty set on the BAII and a new PG. i didnt get the toilet seat reference lol. i might shield it and set it up again. but i will prolly have to cuz im getting a new bridge lol. i just got a little excited when i found out that i had the extra change lol. so i think im gonna save for a new bass. i played a ken smith at GC and it was literally like butter lol. idk tho.

thanks guys!
 

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