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Post subject: New bass new bass player
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:32 am
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I just bought my first Fender, (Jazz Bass). Some suggest changing the bridge. How does this affect the tone? Can anyone help?


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Post subject: Re: New bass new bass player
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:52 am
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Welcome to the forum...

Give us a little more info about the bass you purchased. Year, exact model and perhaps even a photo attachment. It may already have some modifications or add-on's and we can sort those out with you.

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Post subject: Re: New bass new bass player
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 7:10 pm
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Hi Willy and welcome to the forum. I bought my first Bass, a Jazz 2010 MIM model last september and I didn't change a thing on it yet. As it is my first Bass I can't compare it to previously owned instruments though, but I find that it has a great sound as is. Good luck with yours.
Claude. 8)


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Post subject: Re: New bass new bass player
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 9:21 am
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I'm pro modifying your bass, hey it's yours. But if you're not sure that's what you want or need, I'd leave it alone. Until you play with it for a bit, it's tough to say what needs changing or what you prefer. Show us some pix!! :D

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Post subject: Re: New bass new bass player
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 10:13 am
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If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Is there anything specifically wrong with your existing bridge?

And show us sone pics!


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Post subject: Re: New bass new bass player
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:03 am
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Congrats on joining the Low End Warriors (otherwise known as bass players)! You ask a great question. Having 3 years under my belt, here is my advice:

1. Don't make any modifications until you know why you are doing it. When I first started, it seemed like it was a rite of passage to buy a bass, strip it of all its factory parts, and rebuild it from the ground up. For some people, this may be the only way to get the sound they want, but someone just starting out can't make such a judgement.

2. Never compensate for poor technical skill by buying upgrades. Until you develop your technical ability, you can't know what the equipment you own is capable of producing. So hold off on making modifications to yoour bass until your technical skill progresses to the point where you can rightly determine whether its the equipment that is holding your sound back.

3. If you can't hear a difference, there is no difference. Some parts have greater impact on your sound than others. before you commit to changing a part on your bass, try to find someone who has the same bass as you do and made the modification you are considering. I was convinced to make mods that afterwards made no percievable change to my sound. After trading 10 bass guitars, I ended up with 2 basses that I swapped the pickups on and 1 stock bass. Other than an increase in volume, I can't tell you what else changed in the sound of the instruments.

4. Can a effects unit get you the sound variation without having to rewire your bass? After you calculate installation costs, a pickup upgrade can cost you $300 easily (even if you install it yourself, you still have to calcualte the value of your time? For about $75 you could get a multi-effects unit that could give you the chance to hear what your bass would sound like with various different pickups, preamps and other tweaks. I bought a Zoom B2 bass effects pedal for $40. It emulates 40 different amps and all the standard effects. Once you find a sound you really like, you could keep using the pedal or have your bass modded to produce te sound you like the most.
Whateveryou decide to do, have fun while your doing it.


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Post subject: Re: New bass new bass player
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:29 pm
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I'm onboard with the crowd that says do nothing until you know more about how you want your bass to sound and how to go about making it sound that way.

But then again I know how the urge to "do something" can be, so the first thing I'd start researching is bass strings. They're usually, though not always, the cheapest mod, and can have a profound impact on your bass guitar's sound and, perhaps more importantly, the way it plays. Plus, you want to learn early on how to change your own strings anyway because you'll have to replace work/broken ones anyway, and having a luthier do that for you is, in my opinion, a use of money that could have gone toward another piece of hardware.

Congrats on the new bass. Have fun.

Jeff


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Post subject: Re: New bass new bass player
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 3:44 am
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I would not change the bridge at all.

I assume you are talking about the Leo Quan BA II bridge like on the Highway One.

I get a better playing lower set up with a Fender stock bridge. When learning you need it to be reliable and play as good as possible. Setting up the Leo Quan bridges can be, well, a nightmare.


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Post subject: Re: New bass new bass player
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 2:45 am
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I also agree you should not do any such upgrades until you've played the thing for a good while. There's no guarantee any changes you make will make it sound or play any better than it does now. Play it, get to know it inside and out, and then maybe you can make a more informed judgement on whether or not it needs any mods. Never make mods without knowing what exactly you are trying to accomplish with a mod, the idea that a mod may make a bass "sound better" is too vague and not a sufficient reason to make a change. You need to know EXACTLY what you hope to accomplish with upgrades before you can do it successfully. Even then, there's no guarantees. I've seen too many people who have tried popular mods (like the aready mentioned Badass II bridge) only to be disappointed and had to change back to the original equipment. Of course, some people have been happy with the change, but again, some have not.

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Post subject: Re: New bass new bass player
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 7:19 pm
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I actually hate mods to an instrument beacuse I find too many used instruments with lame mods. A perfectly stock, well cared for used Fender will have more value. Just trade up to another axe when you're ready.


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Post subject: Re: New bass new bass player
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 1:58 am
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MANY NEW PLAYER IN NEW MARKET .
Nox Edge


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Post subject: Re: New bass new bass player
Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 11:31 am
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WTF does this have to do with bass bridges?
I HATE SPAM!!!


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Post subject: Re: New bass new bass player
Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 2:57 pm
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Chaunceyy wrote:
MANY NEW PLAYER IN NEW MARKET .
Nox Edge



Thanks for participating db! get lost!!

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'89 Power Jazz Bass Special-BadAssIII, EMG P/J
Project PBass-EMG PX, Schaller BM Light Tuner
'05 Aerodyne JBass
'06 Spector Legend Custom Neck Through
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Hartke TA5000 w/XL Cabs(210, 410, 115)


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Post subject: Re: New bass new bass player
Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 6:14 pm
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Chaunceyy wrote:
MANY NEW PLAYER IN NEW MARKET .
Nox Edge


Welcome to the forum, but I think you may want to post that in the FAT STRAT forum.

(Thanks! I'll be here all week! Enjoy the veal!)

Seriously, if I got rid of this gut which took years to acquire then I'd have to contend with buckle rash on the back of my basses. So I'll keep the gut since I consider it a automatic finish care accessory. The back of my basses get a polishing with every use whether it needs one or not!


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Post subject: Re: New bass new bass player
Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:41 pm
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brotherdave wrote:

Seriously, if I got rid of this gut which took years to acquire then I'd have to contend with buckle rash on the back of my basses. So I'll keep the gut since I consider it a automatic finish care accessory. The back of my basses get a polishing with every use whether it needs one or not!


yeah, I do have the same problem brotherdave!! :lol: the veal's a little dry ;)

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'89 Power Jazz Bass Special-BadAssIII, EMG P/J
Project PBass-EMG PX, Schaller BM Light Tuner
'05 Aerodyne JBass
'06 Spector Legend Custom Neck Through
VT Bass
Hartke TA5000 w/XL Cabs(210, 410, 115)


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