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Doesn't someone else commit that for you? And gee, I was genuinely hoping you'd show off your beautiful black/burst basses which I'm guessing you modded...I'd better! I've spoken at enough anime-cons that if I didn't, I'd have to hand over my Über-Geek card and commit seppuku!
As a tinker, I guess my bass is good enough when I can't think of anything else to tink. Errrrr....
Doesn't someone else commit that for you? And gee, I was genuinely hoping you'd show off your beautiful black/burst basses which I'm guessing you modded...
Technically, it's a two-man job…the do'er and his second.
Oh, and haven't I spammed enough threads with my handiwork?!
But since you asked so nicely……here's something I feel has finally reached beyond "Good Enough" on into "Awesome" territory. It's a Mighty Mite body, a Fender Aerodyne neck and a weirdo-mishmash of hardware, electronics and accessories. Throw in some spit, baling wire and a little DIY pickguard tinting. Roll the mangled heap down a few flights of stairs and violá…better than "Good Enough"!
Every bass I currently own has had some modification to it. But I look for deals where the bass has some problem that can easily be fixed. You would be surprised how many basses, and probably guitars, just have a poorly done or completely unneeded neck shim. My Lakland had a terrible neck shim that was trying to correct a glob of paint in the neck pocket that should never have passed QC.
I got a some time to tinker this weekend and switched the necks of two instruments for fun (the girlfriend was hungover
). I think the switch make more aesthetic sense without changing the sound of either bass. 
I got a some time to tinker this weekend and switched the necks of two instruments for fun (the girlfriend was hungover
). I think the switch make more aesthetic sense without changing the sound of either bass. 
Generally I'd say I need at minimum a decent fret job. Then you can set up the bass with low action and avoid fret buzz.
After that I might swap out a pickup and add a different tone control (or harness) if needed. I like having a useful tone knob--some cheaper basses have sort of an all or nothing thing going on. A proper tone control should give you noticeable differences in tone when rolling down 10-50%.
I haven't yet swapped out or removed preamps on any active bass I've owned but I've added a preamp to passive basses and usually found I didn't care for it. If a bass is passive I leave it that way now. If a bass is active, same thing.
Mexican Fenders have everything I need in a bass short of the better fretwork I desire if that helps. I may swap out the tuners and bridge on one of those at some point down the line but everything on those basses is pretty adequate. Needs vs. wants you know what I mean?
As another reference, so far I like everything about my Talman TMB100. The bridge pickup would be nicer if it was hum cancelling but it's fine as is.
I actually play a pair of USA made G&Ls because the Plek job and general quality makes them super comfortable to play. I also really like the MFD pickups some of their basses have.
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I 'Tink', therefore I 'Err'!
Like, a lot…lots of 'errs' in my brief, sordid bass-modding history!
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I got a some time to tinker this weekend and switched the necks of two instruments for fun (the girlfriend was hungover
Perfect!
If I acquire a bass, I set it up real nice and then play it as it is for a month or two. If the feel of the neck is to my liking, I will keep it. If not, I sell it. If I keep it, I dress the frets, intonate, put in the electronics I like (if it doesn't already sound good), sometimes add cutaways, and paint it.
I've always loved the look of BC Rich instruments but I'll never own another. I had a Warlock that was an Olympic level neck diver and a Mockingbird guitar that dug into my ribs. The Warlock was so bad it changed me from "I don't want the same two Fenders that everyone has" to "Let's try a Jazz bass".
Beautiful! Great work my man. I love the way your bass looks and secondly I love the P-J Combo. I modded a cheap MIM Jazz bass to a P-J.Technically, it's a two-man job…the do'er and his second.
Oh, and haven't I spammed enough threads with my handiwork?!
…here's something I feel has finally reached beyond "Good Enough" on into "Awesome" territory. It's a Mighty Mite body, a Fender Aerodyne neck and a weirdo-mishmash of hardware, electronics and accessories. Throw in some spit, baling wire and a little DIY pickguard tinting. Roll the mangled heap down a few flights of stairs and violá…better than "Good Enough"!
I mod my basses depending on what each bass needs. I start with a simple good clean set-up and go from there. I like to put Seymour Duncans 3/4 pounds in my MIM Fenders.
But I've modded a cheap MIM Fender Jazz Bass into a P-J combo with Seymour Duncan 3/4 pound in the split pickup position and a Seymour Duncan Hot Jazz pickup in the bridge. And I put a new neck on it. It all had to do with playability. But I love modding basses and guitars out. Its a hobby for me. I'm working on stripping a Fender MIM P-Bass body now and finishing it with a nice natural finish. Its all for fun for me. I have a couple that are done and I only play. Once they're good they're good. I get a new one if I want to tinker.
Attachments
Supah-Kewl, Yo! drool
I really dig how you got the P-pup into the Reggie-approved "sweet spot"! Who cut the custom guard for you?
devnulljp
Supporting Member
I ordered it from warmoth and it came cut in that position so I just routed the spot to fit it.
My only fretted bass (that I use for almost every gig I play) is a $160 Yamaha RBX170. I play a bunch of outdoor stages that have no PA support for bass, so that "crappy" Yamaha is hooked up to 2 Markbass 122 cabs and a Mesa subway D800 (all of which is about 15 times the cost of that bass!)
My point is I love my Yamaha; it is set up with low action, has a very stable neck, and (after throwing in a set of quarter pounders) has a decent tone IMO.
I've GAS'd for other basses, but I can't justify getting anything new when that trusty Yamaha still gets played the most and does its job well.
If the bass is comfortable, quiet, has stable tuning, and a low action, I won't go out of my way to change it.
My point is I love my Yamaha; it is set up with low action, has a very stable neck, and (after throwing in a set of quarter pounders) has a decent tone IMO.
I've GAS'd for other basses, but I can't justify getting anything new when that trusty Yamaha still gets played the most and does its job well.
If the bass is comfortable, quiet, has stable tuning, and a low action, I won't go out of my way to change it.
Having been a gearhead in a past life, I will say that wear, not just metrics vs. SAE, will often cause a need to use the next +/- of the other type to be sure you don't strip something. Having both sets of hex Allen's and nut drivers is not a big cost, for the size range we are talking, and will always make life easier. IMVHO. A player's touch you might say...
Edit: At the same time, Time is Money!
drool .. Malak, you always know how to make my mouth water!Technically, it's a two-man job…the do'er and his second.
Oh, and haven't I spammed enough threads with my handiwork?!
…here's something I feel has finally reached beyond "Good Enough" on into "Awesome" territory. It's a Mighty Mite body, a Fender Aerodyne neck and a weirdo-mishmash of hardware, electronics and accessories. Throw in some spit, baling wire and a little DIY pickguard tinting. Roll the mangled heap down a few flights of stairs and violá…better than "Good Enough"!
- Jul 7, 2010
- 3,383
- 2,311
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist for: Duncan Pickups; Line6, Hipshot, GHS Strings, Somnium Guitars
For me it is:
1) Playability - plays fast smooth and easy. NO fret buzz or dead spots.
2) Tones - find the best mix of pickups, cap and pots
3) Looks - looks like a bass that you would want to play ALL the time.
So after all of that I must say that I have FINALLY been able to build 2 - basses that I LOVE to play and DON'T want to put down. Plus I have had people give me compliments on looks and sounds.....So I am VERY happy with my basses. (I am looking to build 1 more...a fretless P bass)
Each bass has a Jazz maple neck w/ black blocks, Leo Quann II bridge, CTS 250k pots and Orange cap, 1 has natural maple body w/ Dual P Duncan pickups and the other has a alder PJ body in Sunburst with Duncan Pickups.
1) Playability - plays fast smooth and easy. NO fret buzz or dead spots.
2) Tones - find the best mix of pickups, cap and pots
3) Looks - looks like a bass that you would want to play ALL the time.
So after all of that I must say that I have FINALLY been able to build 2 - basses that I LOVE to play and DON'T want to put down. Plus I have had people give me compliments on looks and sounds.....So I am VERY happy with my basses. (I am looking to build 1 more...a fretless P bass)
Each bass has a Jazz maple neck w/ black blocks, Leo Quann II bridge, CTS 250k pots and Orange cap, 1 has natural maple body w/ Dual P Duncan pickups and the other has a alder PJ body in Sunburst with Duncan Pickups.
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Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
When I modify anything it's just to do it. It's usually fine as-is, but I get a wild hair up and decide to make it different. Good enough? If I was adequate, it would be great, so the actual bass I play is more or less irrelevant.
