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Worth fixing up this thrift store pile of...?
- Thread starter BadSanta1281
- Start date
Got it now. Thanks.
At my current skill level it might not be much of an issue anyway. Spending most of my practice time closer to the head stock than above the 12th fret. I will investigate, though.
I say: Good score! 
Sounds like an extremely low risk learning opportunity. Having a cheap no name instrument to learn repairs and play with mods on is worth the time and small coin needed. Hands on is everything. Watch some videos, or get a book or two, and have at it. Odds are very good you'll end up with a unique funky bass that (at the very least) will sound good and play acceptably when you're finished.
Luck!
Sounds like an extremely low risk learning opportunity. Having a cheap no name instrument to learn repairs and play with mods on is worth the time and small coin needed. Hands on is everything. Watch some videos, or get a book or two, and have at it. Odds are very good you'll end up with a unique funky bass that (at the very least) will sound good and play acceptably when you're finished.
Luck!
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If I got that thing, I'd sand the pickguard enough to get good pain adhesion, and respray it with a better color. I've done that before, with good results.
- Sep 4, 2010
- 3,304
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- Endorsing: Martin Keith Guitars
Awesome.
+1 to fix setup, string and cleaning fretboard first, and then shim existing nut if necessary (I use thin maple veneer). Making a good nut is not that easy actually, while I do my own parts swaps, setups and occasional finishes, a new nut is is one of those things I leave to a proper luthier.
Also love that you want to go wild with the finish. Maybe a see through pickguard is the ticket here (ready-made pickguards probably don't have the proper screwhole posoitions for your off-brand bass to begin with. More fun to make your own with either some perspex from local Home Depot or look into cheap pickguard sheets at guitarfetish. Their own pickups are decent too fro not much money.)
+1 to fix setup, string and cleaning fretboard first, and then shim existing nut if necessary (I use thin maple veneer). Making a good nut is not that easy actually, while I do my own parts swaps, setups and occasional finishes, a new nut is is one of those things I leave to a proper luthier.
Also love that you want to go wild with the finish. Maybe a see through pickguard is the ticket here (ready-made pickguards probably don't have the proper screwhole posoitions for your off-brand bass to begin with. More fun to make your own with either some perspex from local Home Depot or look into cheap pickguard sheets at guitarfetish. Their own pickups are decent too fro not much money.)
There's nothing wrong with having a cheap bass to monkey wrench on. I've owned both a $100 P-bass and built one of those $100 J-bass kits. I've learned a lot about doing my own setups. I got the P setup and playing great before passing it on to somebody who would enjoy it more. The J underwent a late night (somewhat drunken) defret job and then a much more sober slot filling, and now I have a lined fretless.
The knowledge gained helped me build a bass from warmoth parts, and I'll be building a body from scratch for my next build. I never would have been willing to spend the money on those warmoth parts without having fiddled with those cheap basses.
The knowledge gained helped me build a bass from warmoth parts, and I'll be building a body from scratch for my next build. I never would have been willing to spend the money on those warmoth parts without having fiddled with those cheap basses.
That looks like a fun project. I find that as long as the neck is not warped in some weird way, the frets aren't completely warn out or the instrument is just not constructed correctly from the get-go, these budget thrift store finds can often be made to play excellent. Over the past several years I've learned to do my own set-ups, repairs and modifications. It has been a lot of fun and a great learning experience. It's a great feeling to take something that others rate as 'garbage' or 'guitar-shaped object' or 'firewood' and turn it into a player. When you get in deep and get your hands dirty, it also de-mystifies electric instruments to their wood, steel, wire and magnet components. It's got to the point with me that rather than go to a music store and check out new guitars, I prefer to go to thrift stores or buy and sell stores to see what sub $100 cheapies would make a cool project. I like to stay in the $40 to $60 zone if possible.
It's interesting that the nut slots on your bass seem to be cut too deeply. I find that most often budget guitars and basses have nuts that are not cut deep enough, and need to be filed down. Although there are exceptions. I recently bought an entry level Yamaha, EG 112 (HSS Strat style). The nut was cut perfectly, and I could see no sign that the previous owner had filed it down. Sometimes the quality of budget guitars blows me away on those rare occasions where I just have to clean it up, change strings and do a set-up.
What's also great is that you can do a lot without having to spend a fortune on specialty tools. I think the only specialty tool that I own is a re-crowning file.
For filing nut slots, I use spiral welding tip cleaners which are usually between $2 and $5. To level frets, I use a cheap knife sharpening stone from a dollar/discount store. Even my soldering iron is a generic $8 one from a discount store.
And if you are cool with buying direct from China through Aliexpress or Amazon or others, the price and availability of parts is unbeatable. Most metal parts, pots, switches plastic parts and pickups I've bought have been fine. I find that guitar tuning pegs have been a real gamble though. I've bought some really good cheap bass tuning pegs, but haven't had very good luck with generic guitar tuners. It's hit and miss.
I'm so excited that you've got this project to work on. I hope that it goes well, and you have a good time fixing up that fixer-upper.
It's interesting that the nut slots on your bass seem to be cut too deeply. I find that most often budget guitars and basses have nuts that are not cut deep enough, and need to be filed down. Although there are exceptions. I recently bought an entry level Yamaha, EG 112 (HSS Strat style). The nut was cut perfectly, and I could see no sign that the previous owner had filed it down. Sometimes the quality of budget guitars blows me away on those rare occasions where I just have to clean it up, change strings and do a set-up.
What's also great is that you can do a lot without having to spend a fortune on specialty tools. I think the only specialty tool that I own is a re-crowning file.
For filing nut slots, I use spiral welding tip cleaners which are usually between $2 and $5. To level frets, I use a cheap knife sharpening stone from a dollar/discount store. Even my soldering iron is a generic $8 one from a discount store.
And if you are cool with buying direct from China through Aliexpress or Amazon or others, the price and availability of parts is unbeatable. Most metal parts, pots, switches plastic parts and pickups I've bought have been fine. I find that guitar tuning pegs have been a real gamble though. I've bought some really good cheap bass tuning pegs, but haven't had very good luck with generic guitar tuners. It's hit and miss.
I'm so excited that you've got this project to work on. I hope that it goes well, and you have a good time fixing up that fixer-upper.
As long as the truss rod works and you have the desire to do it, do it. I seen some stuff about Davidson basses
here you go
Link Removed
I'll try the shim trick first and maybe the crazy glue and baking soda if the shim isn't sufficient.
I had to do the crazy glue repair once on a bass when I filed too much material out of one of the slots. It worked perfectly and is still holding up a few years later.
My crazy painted guitar I posted earlier in this thread is a Yamaha eg112 that I got at a thrift store for $30. I also have a TRBX174 that I like a lot. Yamaha stuff seems pretty solid and also bargain priced compared to some other brands. I have GAS for a budget acoustic guitar and a Yamaha is on top of my list unless I find a Craigslist or thrift store gem.
I love turning a $40 craigslist find into a playable instrument. I've thrown $200 worth of lace pickups into a $40 strat copy and used it for gigs (I even kept the girly sticker on the body and used the pink and black striped strap that came with it)
Sometimes it's a handy thing to know!
I've never totally filled a slot. But it's great if you just need a tad more height in the slot.
If I needed a project, that's a great fixer upper modding platform.
If I needed a backup bass and not a project, and the total cost for this bass + repairs exceeded $100, I'd take a pass and easily find its equal ready to play.
If I needed a backup bass and not a project, and the total cost for this bass + repairs exceeded $100, I'd take a pass and easily find its equal ready to play.
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There is also a chance that when you put the proper relief in the neck the nut slots will be at a more appropriate depth.
A quick note about the pick guard, for something fun, scuff it up with very fine steel wool and spray paint it a new color. I used "Hammered" finish spray paint. It comes out looking like hammered metal and if it scratches it can be touched up with a silver sharpie. It's a $5 can upgrade that will add something nice.
Others have made good points about the repairs.
-Don't swap the nut unless you have too.
-Used parts from a reliable cheapie (squire VM or CV) are your first bet, then take a look on Ali express or Ebay for truly cheap new parts that will take longer to arrive, but not push the budget into the realm of a new SX.
Good luck and have fun!
Others have made good points about the repairs.
-Don't swap the nut unless you have too.
-Used parts from a reliable cheapie (squire VM or CV) are your first bet, then take a look on Ali express or Ebay for truly cheap new parts that will take longer to arrive, but not push the budget into the realm of a new SX.
Good luck and have fun!
