Upgrading my CV 60’s P bass.

[electricGstring]

I got a 5% overwound Lindy Fralin pickup, a Gotoh 201b-4 bridge and a prewired harness w/Orange drop cap deal made by a guy in Texas named Dave Starr. I searched him here and got no hits. When it all comes in I'll post pix and give my input/opinion on whether it was money well spent or a waste of time. I expect the Fralin pickup will be the biggest difference maker but a lot of folks say that the factory stuff on the CV's doesn't really even NEED to be upgraded. What say you, TB nation?

 

[blacktocomm]

I just put an Xotic P pickup that I had laying around in my 60's CV. It's a punchier, hotter pickup, but I can honestly say it didn't improve the bass at all. Just made it different. I won't be switching it back, but I probably wouldn't do it again. The Squier pickup sounded plenty good.

 

[andare]

I got a 5% overwound Lindy Fralin pickup, a Gotoh 201b-4 bridge and a prewired harness w/Orange drop cap deal made by a guy in Texas named Dave Starr. I searched him here and got no hits. When it all comes in I'll post pix and give my input/opinion on whether it was money well spent or a waste of time. I expect the Fralin pickup will be the biggest difference maker but a lot of folks say that the factory stuff on the CV's doesn't really even NEED to be upgraded. What say you, TB nation?

I say change something if you're unhappy with it. You should know why you're unhappy and search for replacements that give you what you need.

Your bass will sound different. Better is a dirty word as it means whatever you want it to mean.

What was the problem with the stock electronics and what are you trying to accomplish with the new stuff? If you can't answer these questions then in my opinion you wasted money and time.

 

[electricGstring]

Having played basses with the components I bought (except for the harness) I already know that for the sound I personally like (boomier, with more warmth... less brightness), the pickup and bridge are obvious upgrades. The harness may or may not be worth the time/$$$. We'll see. I know there are arguments for and against high mass bridges but to my ears, the more heft is a benefit. Ymmv.

 

[tvbop]

I dont know about the 60 CV but both my Vintage Mod P and my superb

new 70's CV P sound very good indeed and Ive owned a ton of vintage P's over the years...Ive no interest at all in new PU's.

 

[JRT64]

The one in my CV 60's P sounds good to my ears. I've thought about upgrading at times, but I'm in no particular hurry at the moment.

 

[C Stone]

IMO upgrades are not necessary on either CV's or VM's unless you find them lacking somehow. I like the tone so well from CV's I have bought pick-ups 'take offs' on the cheap when people do upgrade or swap so I have them for future builds/swaps...

Enjoy your upgrades, if you want low, clean, clear thump from your CV go with flats!

 

[electricGstring]

IMO upgrades are not necessary on either CV's or VM's unless you find them lacking somehow. I like the tone so well from CV's I have bought pick-ups 'take offs' on the cheap when people do upgrade or swap so I have them for future builds/swaps...

Enjoy your upgrades, if you want low, clean, clear thump from your CV go with flats!

Lol!! I bought a set of D'Addario flats just today... when the BT's die, I'll try the flats next. I'm planning on building a parts bass in the not too distant future so if the stuff I have coming doesn't make much difference I can always use them (or the CV parts I'll be keeping!) on that build. Either way it's a win!

 

[40Hz]

Got a CV JB and had a CV PB. Left them both stock. 'Nuff said?

 

[Camaro69]

I have a CV P bass from the early series (2010) I feel no need to mess with it. But there's a lot of people who swear by the Fralin's
You could be a good lad and make sound clips so we can hear for ourselves

 

[electricGstring]

I have a CV P bass from the early series (2010) I feel no need to mess with it. But there's a lot of people who swear by the Fralin's
You could be a good lad and make sound clips so we can hear for ourselves

When everything comes in and is installed I will definitely do that.

 

[electricGstring]

Got a CV JB and had a CV PB. Left them both stock. 'Nuff said?

I'm a compulsive tinkerer... leaving well enough alone is not my strong suit, lol!

 

[C Stone]

I'm planning on building a parts bass in the not too distant future so if the stuff I have coming doesn't make much difference I can always use them (or the CV parts I'll be keeping!) on that build. Either way it's a win!

Right on so check this out...
I have VM's and CV's, one of which was a purchase of just the 60's Olympic white P body that I put together to my specs/taste.

I added Fender "Original 62" pick-ups also wired it with full size 250k CTS pots, a switchcraft jack, orange drop cap, and cloth pushback wiring as well as added a Fender maple p neck, Highway One tuners and a vintage bridge w/threaded saddles. I have to say this bass is one stellar player.
A beast of a Classic Vibe!

One of my other CV's a 70's P (walnut) I added a Gotoh smoked chrome bridge because it looked better with the p bass special (J neck profile) sporting a rosewood board but was not a necessary upgrade.

The stock 60's/70's and VM's are perfectly fine gig-able instruments as is. I would suggest you try the flats I suspect you'll dig em, if so save the parts fir your next build

Enjoy your bass whichever way you go and don't forget to post up a couple pics if/when you get the chance...

 

[40Hz]

I'm a compulsive tinkerer... leaving well enough alone is not my strong suit, lol!

In that case: Fralin, Aguilar, Klein, Epic, Wilde, EMG, David Allen, Radioshop, Bare Knuckle, Seymour Duncan, and DiMarzio all make for good swaps. I've used all of them in one PB or another over the years. And they're all good pups to try.

Luck!

 

[dannylectro]

I did an upgrade to my Squier CV 50's P bass - Lindy Fralin, CTS/Emerson pots, etc. I also rolled the edge of the fretboard, and knocked down the finish on the neck...

Bottom line: it sounds as much like a P bass as my '75 Fender P bass. Maybe even more so. It plays like a dream and looks very cool.

 

[andare]

I did an upgrade to my Squier CV 50's P bass - Lindy Fralin, CTS/Emerson pots, etc. I also rolled the edge of the fretboard, and knocked down the finish on the neck...

Bottom line: it sounds as much like a P bass as my '75 Fender P bass. Maybe even more so. It plays like a dream and looks very cool.

How did you roll the edges of a finished maple board?

 

[dannylectro]

How did you roll the edges of a finished maple board?

I used sandpaper & 3M abrasive pads on the fretboard edge and the back of the neck, and a Dremel to clean up the edges of the frets.

 

[electricGstring]

I plan on doing a bit of fretwork also just to clean them up but I have an edge file and crown file... I'll finally get some use out of the fret rocker I bought from StewMac a few years ago, lol!!