10 Easy (Essential) Bass Mods, Bass Upgrades & Set Up Tips You Can Do Yourself
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- čas přidán 3. 08. 2024
- Make your bass your own with these 10 easy bass guitar modifications, bass upgrades and bass set up tips you can do yourself without spending a fortune.
0:00 Intro to Bass mods and bass upgrades
1:19 Change your bass tuners
2:52 Upgrade/Adjust Your Nut
4:28 Change your bass scratchplate
5:16 Change your bass pickups
6:36 Change your bass bridge - best bass guitar bridges
7:58 Get a new guitar strap, bass guitar strap
8:39 Get some strap locks for your bass
9:39 Fret polishing
11:07 Experiment with bass strings
12:28 Get a bass guitar tech to look at it!
In this video, Dagan shows you how you can make your bass your own by implementing these essential, and easy, bass guitar upgrades, bass guitar modifications and simple set up techniques. These bass mods won't cost a fortune but will potentially breathe new life into an old bass you have or a bass guitar that you simply haven't been enjoying playing.
We discuss simple bass mods like adjusting your nut, what the best bass bridges are and how to replace your bass bridge and even how something as simple as a scratch plate replacement can completely change your opinion on your bass guitar.
In this video, Dagan is using:
Blackstar Unity Bass 120 Watt Bass Combo: www.pmtonline.co.uk/blackstar...
Shop Blackstar: www.pmtonline.co.uk/brands/bl...
Squier Classic Vibe 60s Jazz Bass Laurel FB Daphne Blue: www.pmtonline.co.uk/squier-cl...
Shop Squier Bass guitars: www.pmtonline.co.uk/brands/sq...
Shop Straplocks: www.pmtonline.co.uk/catalogse...
Shop Straps:www.pmtonline.co.uk/products/...
Shop Bass Guitar strings: www.pmtonline.co.uk/products/...
Make The Bass Guitar Your Own and make some simple bass mods - you'll find they'll breathe new life into your old bass!
read more bass mods here: www.pmtonline.co.uk/blog/2020...
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As a bass builder and player, I would add the following easy/cheap tips as well;
1. re lubricating your nut slots, just add a bit of graphite from your lead pencil, works great as a dry lubricant - and cheap!
2. changing the pickguard - Don't use a powertool. Be gentle taking the screws out as you can burr up the head slots, and don't overtighten when putting back in as you might strip the wood.
3. changing pickups yourself - unless you're confident with soldering and the wiring, maybe leave it to someone else.
4. getting a "high-mass" bridge really does help, but if nothing else, I'd recommend brass saddles for a brighter sound. If changing a bridge, make sure the underneath makes good contact with teh grounding wire when re-installing.
4.a. If you're replacing the bridge, replace the strings. I mean, you have to remove them out of the bridge anyway. As a broad recommendation that is good quality, good sound, good lifespan, I'd recommend D'Addarios. If I was getting fancy I'd get Rotosounds. My size preference is 45 - 105
4.b. Flat-would strings sounds great and reduce finger noise, but they use a higher tension when tuned. This can impact your neck, resulting in a bend and making poor overall action.
5. if you're not used to fret-sanding, don't do it. Can start more problems than it fixes. But a clean with some 0000 steel wool is OK - just put some masking tape over the pickup so no fine steel wool dust gets stuck on them.
6. It's your bass, and these are just guildelines. Try a few things.
I agree. Don't use a powertool on anything on your guitar. The possiblity of "screwing" something up is magnified many times and fixing that will take way longer than any time you save. Screwdrivers impart a feel so any resistance should result in you stopping before damage occurs.
In my opinion many budget basses don’t need modifications. They’re fine. Maybe changing the pickups but even a lot of the stock bass pickups are fine.
Guitar tech - "The older and crazier the better..." Genius!
Got that exact bass (in natural finish though) he is holding throughout the video today and wanted to look up some ideas for upgrades. Made me smirk a little when I saw that exact bass
Thanks. Love your videos. Educational and fun. I bought the Fender Player Jaguar bass you demoed and getting ready to make mods.😊
Splendid stuff, well done chaps!
This video was super informative. Thank you
Yes and no. To be honest many budget basses especially in the $400- $500 range already have quality parts that work great. You don’t need to mod. That said, I did install CTS pots and switch craft jack just to slightly improve the build quality but not really necessary. The pickup was already great. Other than that, not really necessary to replace any parts. And videos like these get clicks and views. Ultimately the CZcams channel makes money from content
Cool lighting
I’m coming up on 50 years of playing, 30 years modding, and been building for around 8-9.
Gotta say that the quality of even super cheap instruments has gotten really good compared to decades ago, but many times it seems that setup varies wildly even when it comes to say Gibson and fender. (Gibson especially really seems to be a crap shoot)
My #1 suggestion is this,
Learn to set your instrument up yourself.
Everything from cleaning up fret ends to truss rod adjustments and intonation.
None of these things take special tools, and you’ll be amazed at how well even the cheapest bass or guitar plays if it’s setup really well.
(Modding IS one of life’s great joys though 😊)
yeah he's definitely right, i have here a thomson pbass that i bought more than Php7000 (more than a hundred dollars) and i once tinker on it's circuit for cleaning and find that the wire connecting to the volume potentiometer snapped off, luckily my dad has a soldering tool and i solder it by myself and it still works. im a complete noob when it comes to playing an instrument but it's also cool exploring stuffs on your own and understanding how your gear works, saves all the trouble of going to a luthier when you can simple do it on your own
i like this guy man
Great video mate, all great advice. Might I suggest taking a whiz before the shoot, as opposed to holding as it seemed you had to go badly! 😂😂😂
They are cool mods to be honest. Most of them are not exactly needed because like you mentioned, they are just an extra. Out of all of them, I modded the bridge (standard with deluxe saddles), and the pickguard.
That bass is awesome
I don't have a clue how to solder so that's why I bought a solder less wiring kit from Obsidian. 250k pots. They make them for J and P basses. Just plug them in and play. It's that easy. The shafts are 1/4 inch and fit fender J Bass factory knobs perfectly. You'll have to drill out the holes in your control plate or buy a fender mim J bass control plate and your in business. Also the factory scratch plate is not tapered in the control pocket so I had to buy a fender mim pickguard. Make sure that it's tapered to fit snug against the fender mim control plate. If you drill out the original Squier control plate from metric to 1/4 inch, you can go back together with it with the factory scratch plate. I've done both. Depends how you're trying to mod it. I've had no problems and after using Obsidian, I'll never look back.
I didn't know Russel Brand played bass
Good SIr, what is that single P90 Les Paul shape to your left? I've been wondering for a few vids now. Great vid btw! I will be applying some of these to my affordable P-type bass, very intrigued by the higher mass tuners and bridge.
A- Wall I’m pretty sure that is the Epiphone Jared James Nichols signature guitar “Old Glory”
@@juanseena476 Thanks! Looking it up now.
Thinking about getting a Rogue LX205B bass what pickups should I get
For the strap lock, do it with carefulness. It's very useful but the screw distance may cause problem. I have to fix it with some wooden tech that I learn. It was nice after I fixed it but it made me freak out somehow.
Glarry's doing a sale on a 5 string bass and I'm kinda tempted to get one and make it a project to customize it with graphics and pickups and the like.
did you get it? if you did- what upgrades do you recommend?
Glarry makes excellent basses at the price point. Perfect mod projects.
That's my next bass🗽🛸
Adding weight to the head stock can also increase neck dive.. Love gotoh tuners got gb7s on one bass and gb707s on another and gb350s on my spector euro 5 lt. Have a hipshot extender gb7 with the same bass that has these..
Thanks for that man. I switched the vintage bass tuners (one 120 g) for gotoh alu tuners (one 69 g) and finally neck dive is almost gone despite that beautiful vintage fat c neck with a 44 nut. Now my p bass is just hours of pure enjoyment and playability.
@@marcusstrymon693 awesome to hear. People don't understand that tuners can cause neck dive gotoh have been my go to for most of my basses might try hipshot on my old peavey grind 6 string.
More important than sustainability is heavier tuners reduce or get rid of dead spots on the neck. Before I went to short scale bass, I went on hunt to lighten my bass. Went with light weight tuners and dead spots showed up along the neck. If you go heavier tuners get a heavier hi-mass bridge(not badass two different metals that corrode) to balance out the heavier neck.
Hi mass bridges aren't all that recommended. They darken the tone way, way too much.
I got rid of those high mass reverse vintage tuners on my am orig. p bass and changed them to aluminium reverse lightweight tuners. I cannot stress enough how much better the bass now feels, with that horrible neck dive almost cured now. Despite my thick C neck, the bass almost balances perfectly and it ballances when switching it just a bit to the right while sitting. I would rather add a high mass bridge.... Which also helps cure neckdive furthermore.
Hi-mass bridges add sustain at the cost of losing highs and lows. What you end up with is a lot of mids.
Mod 11: Yank the frets off the fretboard of your sunburst jazz bass and relic it with a brick.
Pretty sure this guy puts on a great rock show :)... Have to wonder tho... why the need for more and more and more sustain ? I mean do you need your note to ring more then a bar or two ??
Glad I found your channel. It's great! Subd. 👍.
I have an issue with pickguard change I want to make. Ok to ask about it?
GReat video, thx Dagan.
btw, what happened to the PMTV instagram page?
Russel brand ain't bad on bass
I wanted to write a comment but seeing the other two weird ones I'm like ok.........
It's ok, we've banned them! Stupid bots! -Lee
Wait it wasn't that serious, I just see them in the comments in a lot of videos
2:28 i gotta learn british accent just to use them when mimicking some one bickering about something I don't know why but it makes it 100 times funnier. Not related but still just a thought train
Big Ben’s Nut Sauce sounds funny
Higher mass tuners are likely more stable than those stock squier tuners but more weight/mass on a stringed instrument will always kill sustain because they rob the strings of energy faster than a lower mass of the same rigidity. What you want it very solid/stable material that’s as light as possible. Try an aluminum bridge or tailpiece. The reason brass and the badass bridges are so good is because of the rigid ness of the material, the higher mass , the more energy the strings need to vibrate.
Interesting point. I wonder if people confuse the thicker bridges with being higher mass. Or are they advertised as higher mass? And do people not have enough sustain?
What exact model or incarnation is this Squire Jazz bass ? Thanks
My first bass got a HOLE on the nut on the E string...! I bought a new nut for it but it's a little too wide to fit on the slot (about 1mm) and it's also a little too tall and a little too deep (also about 1 mm). What is the best way to shorten it? I've tried with a nail file and sand paper but it didn't cut down the nut at all.
@Jeffrin Johnson eventually I got it professionally made. I also found out a small tip for when you are changing the gauge slightly or the nut is just a little too narrow: using an old string to fix it a little. Not professional luthier material but it might work out for some (this was a second hand tip so take it with a grain of salt).
Nice tips, but as I got older, i just want a LIGHTER bass :D
"Again, if you're one of those guys on forums that don't believe me..." 🤣
This guy should do stand up. I think he’s hilarious! 🤣
First of all, are we still doing "phrasing". Second, weight makes a huge difference. I have a Steve Harris signature model Precision bass, which has a maple body, as well as a solid maple P-bass Warmoth body. 13 lbs of bass will sustain for days. Definitely need a wide and preferably padded strap though.
When I get my dream bass I’m still not sure if it’ll be a Harris or an American Professional II in Dark Night.
Would absolutely love either.
Another easy mod is sanding down the neck. For necks with gloss finishing, like that Squire Jazz bass. A couple of passes with sandpaper and you’ll have a nice slick satin feeling neck.
Ig Russel Brand was on a guitar chanel :P Good job mate!
I have a 78 Rickenbacker 4001 that I changed the stock bridge to a Bad Ass2
And my Geddy Lee Japan model Jazz Bass bridge to a Bad Ass2 bridge and now my 2022 Fender American Performer Bass bridge to a Babicz bridge. And they play much better.
Every guitar sounds better with a purple, pearl flake pick guard!
*looks up price of the D tuner doodad...*
Aaaaand that's half my rig cost!
We now know lighter thinner and less massive bridges and guitars are better for sustain. Heavy guitars sustain better is a myth. I have a nice light bass, I have to release the note for it to stop. If you want sustain, light hard wood. Not heavy.
“Self lubricating nuts”😂
More mass at the headstock, more neck dive.
Buy light tuners.
You are not going to get neck dive on a J or P bass with just a couple ounces on the tuners. On a Gibson, definitely, but not on a Fender.
@@seanj3667 Specially the JB, it's neck dive-proof
@@MrJoeAkuma No sir, they certainly are not. Sure, they don't dive easily, but when they plunge they PLUNGE.
@@seanj3667 Gibsons worry me for many reasons. Can't bring myself to own/sink money into one.
I keep hearing this, but don't buy it at all. I build basses, and knowing the weight of the neck itself, tuners are the least of concern. But I would be open to evidence, though it may take years for tuners to affect the neck
for 5 string low string great sound u need a multiscale bass// if use low string a lot go dingwall //normal price superb sound
You don't *need* multi scale. I've been a 35" guy for the longest time. Literally, a 35" scale to a 34 is a world of difference for the B string. It makes it register much like the E string above it. Even get some clank out of it. Those fanned fret systems are definitely cool, though. Cool, not vital.
this is the most texan looking brit ive ever seen
I know it's a Squire.... but he still makes me nervous the amount he's fucking swinging around with that bass
While they are Fender's inexpensive little brothers, Squiers are still fantastic instruments. They *will* get you what you want standing on their heads. And if you get bit by the mod bug, you don't feel as guilty when you hack em up.
Look! Tuning key condoms...
My last guitar tech would go on about Jerry Garcia and looked like Christopher Lloyd's Doc Brown but he knew his s#!t he's retired now and I'm lost
When he praises the heavy mass tuners and I literally removed my heavy ass vintage bass tuners from my american original p bass and changed them to lightweight gotoh tuners out of Duraluminium because the heavy weight tuners literally make the bass neckdive so badly when sitting that you have to fight it all day, having wrist pain afterwards....
Dudes, go with lightweigt tuners, seriously, as long, as they are very well crafted. The little difference in sound you loose with the mass, you will gain by playing better when your bass ballances on our thigh smootly and your hand is free to play clean instead of holding the bass on the left, btw. pressing it down on your right with your ankle or your thump. Dudes, NECK DIVE is a horrible thing and it is also unhealthy long term, fighting the bass can cause to hand injuries and capal tunnel syndrom.
"Drop Z" 😂
"big bens nut sauce"
Am I too old to not trust anyone playing whatever a Blackstar amp/cab?
Mass != Sustain.
Also the resonance of higher mass is totaly bonkers. Why wouldn't you use cast iron guitars for the top sustain then? Oh! They don't sustain!
You know you’re early when you can see the s*x bot comments 😂👏
Oh man i'm so sick of those comments :( Thanks for watching though! -Lee
Pre Menstrual Tension.
Dagan always looks like he super has to pee.
DONT use steel wool when polishing an electric bass's frets, the lil metal shards of the steel wool, even small pieces we cant see w our bare eyes, they will end up in your pickups even if you wipe em of, they will get in your pickups and ruin the polarity. Please use high grit grit sandpaper instead
although luthiers prefer steel wool for acoustic instruments
The answer to the question - What would the child of Russell Brand and captain Jack Sparrow look like.
Joke
When you add weight to your head-stock it will drop like a bomb. Don't take this guitar players advice when it comes to bass. He even plays it like a guitar...Painful and awkward.
Yup! See, guitarists don't feel the pinch of neck dive quote like bassists do.
Milking beginners to feed the industry. If you fall for this, you haven't dialed in your talent. Get those down first.
Professionals don't use Frankenstein modded basses. They use custom shop gear. Skills over "upgrades".
i don't think upgrading your bass will make you a better player but if you want to do it why not? and it's not all about being a Pro!
Pros get stuff handed to them for free. Pros make money to afford high-end gear when they have to pay. And the only difference between "custom shop" and "frankenstein" is who does the work. All custom shops do is make the same upgrades you can make yourself but maybe with different parts. You're just milking beginners to feed the custom shop industry.
Uhhh. Dude. If you think that pro level performing bass players don't have at least a couple of "mod party" basses in their collection, you gotta open your eyes.
Sure they might never play them live, but you'll definitely hear them on a record from time to time.
Chris Squire made his rick 4001 stereo by replacing and rewiring the input jack, as well as carving away much of the body. His bass tone is great for that reason.
Blah blah for 1:22 get to the point
Dude you really need to stop. Higher mass = a sore back, mostly. Yes, you get more sustain. But your back and shoulders eventually will NOT.