when is a "beater" worth upgrading? *UPDATE - useless truss rod!*

[sissy kathy]

I don't feel like doing much with it until I can straighten the neck. Can a free-floating truss rod issue be fixed?

Yes, how depends on how handy you are and/or how deep your pockets are.

 

[sissy kathy]

Check out this thread, you'll be impressed:
//www.talkbass.com/threads/caution-graphic-content-squier-truss-rod-fix-amateur.1203210/

 

[Eilif]

lol, that's not a bad idea!

What you have now is a chance to experiment and see how a truss rod works and maybe even try to replace it. The SX neck is a pretty good idea and there's alot of cheap necks on ebay that you can get for a song if you're willing to try your hand at fretwork.

If you're interested, I've got a new, unused, unfinished (sealer only I think), fretted, maple board import P-neck (Fender headstock and heel shape/size) uninstalled and undrilled that I'll sell you for what I've got into it (45 bucks plus shipping). It's also got a 21st fret fingerboard extension so if you have to "finesse" the neck pocket at all it will cover up any butchery you have to do. I was going to put it on an autographed bass body, but I decided to part out a Kramer striker instead and take the neck from that.

 

[Argali]

New update! Turns out the truss rod was cranked all the way left for some reason. It actually functions fine, I just had to work it back to the right to begin straightening the neck out. So far so good.

 

[Watchootognbout]

I recently acquired a weird Blade 1 bass, made in Korea some time in the '90s, P-bass copy. It feels nice, plays well. But the pickups are junk, the input jack is junk, and the nut is chipped. I keep it around just in case I break a string, which I have yet to do (knock on wood).

I've put the bass on CL for cheap, but no one seems interested, as it's a no-namer really. So I'm pondering now if it's worth upgrading. An EMG Geezer P should fit nicely, and would solve the pickup/input jack issue. I could try a precut Tusq nut, maybe even replace the bridge if something will fit.

But I wonder if this bass is worth it...if I'd be better off, say, grabbing a cheap Fender MIM and modding that. How have you guys decided this issue?

Are you so enamored with it's "imitation P-Bass"looks that you are willing to spend the $ to upgrade it?
Or do you want the real thing?

 

[Argali]

Are you so enamored with it's "imitation P-Bass"looks that you are willing to spend the $ to upgrade it?
Or do you want the real thing?

Nice snark bruh! I have the real thing. 2005 American Deluxe P, the one with the humbucker in the bridge. I swapped out the stock P pickup with Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounds. Fantastic bass. The Blade has always been a back-up thing, and at the moment a platform for tinkering with. Also, I don't have any passive basses - my Fender has an active 18-volt pre and my Warwick Corvette ProLine is active/passive (sounds like butt passive) - so at this point I'm interested in setting it up nicely as a passive P.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Nice snark bruh! I have the real thing. 2005 American Deluxe P, the one with the humbucker in the bridge. I swapped out the stock P pickup with Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounds. Fantastic bass. The Blade has always been a back-up thing, and at the moment a platform for tinkering with. Also, I don't have any passive basses - my Fender has an active 18-volt pre and my Warwick Corvette ProLine is active/passive (sounds like butt passive) - so at this point I'm interested in setting it up nicely as a passive P.

There's your answer!Really shouldn't cost too much though!

 

[Argali]

There's your answer!Really shouldn't cost too much though!

Nope, my plan at the moment is to install some Dimarzio Clip Locks and an EMG Geezer P pickup. Not sure if I'll bother with the bridge/tuners just yet.