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Post subject: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 2:54 pm
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I"ll start. Soon after I purchased my 74 P bass in 1979 I had it refinished Pearl White (with Red Flip-Flop on the whole guitar) and then installed a Badass bridge not long after that. Also put Dimarzio Model P's in it,. Over time I've had to replace the pots and input jack, pickguard, strap buttons with strap locks, screws, knobs, cap and other assorted items. I put copper shielding and new wire in it. Another refin happened in 1996. I returned the original pickup to the guitar a couple years ago and I returned the original bridge to it back in the 90's.

Oh yeah- it's had a refret also and a bone nut installed . Probably 100 sets of strings or more- mostly Rotosounds (99%).

There's pics of it (more than a couple) on here somewhere. It's Surf Green now and has a maple f.board "A" size neck.

I used it for recording in 2006 but other than that I've hardly touched it since 1996. It hasn't seen a live gig since 96. I really should go over it and start using it again. After all it's just a player class bass but it's part of the family and I sure would hate to lose it. I could chain it to my ankle I guess. The chain would have to be long enough for me to get to the RR on breaks though.

I have other P basses too.


Last edited by stroker vance on Fri Mar 15, 2013 11:24 pm, edited 4 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 3:37 pm
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Wow stroker vance! Would like to some pics of that bass. :mrgreen:

I purchased my '75 p-bass in 1978. Somewhere around a year later I changed the pups to Dimarzio's. That's the only changes I've made to it.
It could use some fret work now, but other than that it's in great shape. Well.....except for the true roadworn look. :oops:

I changed out the white pg to a white pearl on the 2012 ASP5 I recently purchased. So far that's the only thing I plan on doing to it. Plays, sounds and looks great as is. :D

After reading TheKingofPain's post, I remembered I did add straplocks to the 2012 ASP5.

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Last edited by grho50 on Sat Mar 16, 2013 1:02 am, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 6:00 pm
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Aside from cosmetic stuff like thumbrests, ashtrays, and pickguards...oh and straplocks...

I had a couple of MIM Standard basses when I first started playing again after a 12 year hiatus that I did pup swaps on. All solid basses. All upgrades turned them into better performers.

I had a used black standard that I pulled the stock pups and dropped in a set of Duncan Antiquity Raised A's and a vintage threaded bridge.

I had a white P that I pulled the pups and bridge out of that I replaced with a set of SD 1/4lbs and a BAII. Great bass.



Then I started getting into basses that I bought because I liked them, and a bass that I built. I had a Big Block P. Great bass, but not for me. I had a 78 P. That was perfect stock. My 51 RI P which I only shielded the cavities on. Then a parts bass that I built from all separate parts off ebay. Good bass. MIM body, MI 62RI P neck and hardware, US Vintage 62 pups, pots and jack. US vintage bridge.

My current basses consist of an FSR Antigua P which is perfect. I put strap locks on her as soon as I got her. The only thing I would ever consider is possibly a BAII. Just ordered my Classic 70's P today. (FINALLY!!!!) Ordered it through the dealer and I'm going all out for her. She's getting pro installed (I usually do all my work myself but I figured I'd treat myself) Locks, and BAII straight from the shop. (also a case upgrade)

So basically, the only thing I do anymore is replace bridges and add straplocks. :?


Though I'm always tempted to pick up something cheap on sale and go back to playing Dr. Frankenstein.

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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 4:37 am
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I have put bass lines pickups in, Badass bridges on, changed necks, d-tuners on, resprays, refretted with bigger wire, but now apart from the d-tuner (maybe a J neck on a P body) I really do like to keep things as they are, my Roadworn P is fast becoming my go to bass as it is simple, lightweight and sounds great, I do love modding, but for my playing now, simple is best.


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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 10:06 am
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`
`

Covered this in several other locations here at FF in the past 6 months, but here goes...

I currently only have one Precision Bass. The alterations have been to install GHS M3050 45-105 Flatwounds, a vintage bridge cover that was new "old-stock" through a dealer close by from the early 1970's, a mylar .039 mfd capacitor, Dunlop Snap-Locks, NeoTech 'Mega Bass' strap, 'Thumb-Tug' anti-scratch protector and thumb rest mounted in the high position and a set of DiMarzo "railroad track" DP127 pickups with 250 mv output and frequency response to well below 19 hz.

With the DiMarzio pickups, I can run both the P-Bass and the amp at a lower volume setting and still get the same output level from the amp. This allows the amp to run a little cooler.

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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 11:21 am
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A message for those in Fenderland. Please...unless your bass has obsenities carved into the paint, for all things sacred do not refinish your U.S. Fender.


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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 8:37 pm
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I can't think of a a thing I haven't tried. Frankly I'm out of stuff to try.

The two best bang for buck mods are better tone cap and copper shielding to ground on a single coil bass, not the current split coil P-Basses though. Next place I'd spend money is on a really good cable as that makes a lot of difference.

On a new bass if a Mexican one I might change the pickup if it is one I want to keep forever. On USA ones I wouldn't change anything but maybe the tone cap.

The straps I use now are so thick that strap locks don't work with them and in fact are superfluous anyway since these straps just don't come off by accident. If I was using other straps I'd probably still be spending money on strap locks.

I like Fender stock bridges fine but like the vintage ones with the threaded barrels best. I sometimes change pickguards and usually add chromed vintage style covers but not always.

I don't use finger rests or thumb rests. However have them on some instruments.


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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 9:22 pm
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Dalembic wrote:
A message for those in Fenderland. Please...unless your bass has obsenities carved into the paint, for all things sacred do not refinish your U.S. Fender.


I agree. Back when I refinned my 74 no one thought anything about it. Plus is was kinda beat from 5 years of some Rocker playing it in clubs.There wasn't a crazy Fender market thing going on. Most guys thought their guitars were cool but then most guys viewed them as tools to get the job done. I only paid $330 for my P bass. I made more than that a week playing 6 nighters. I was bummed when I had a few dents on the finish and some arm wear after playing 6 nights a week for a year but I wasn't thinking of the value of the bass so much as I just didn't like the dents- they didn't look good. Now dents in some cases look good. Go figure.

One thing good about the refin was that I got rid of that nasty "Thick skin" sealer coat. I'm sure that made it sound better anyway. I also found out the body is Poplar. The wood was still a greenish color under the thick skin. In 96 when we refinned it again that greenish grain had turned brown. That's how Poplar cures.( I used to work for a lumber company.)

If I were me (in 79) then as I am me now- then I would not refin a USA bass then or now.
I like that sentence.

So don't refin your bass unless it got in a flood or fire.


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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 9:48 pm
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Six nights a week? You just got alot more interesting.

The best opinions on bass come from old road dogs.


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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 5:43 am
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brotherdave wrote:

On a new bass if a Mexican one I might change the pickup if it is one I want to keep forever. On USA ones I wouldn't change anything but maybe the tone cap.




Spot on. I went through this when buying the Standard series instruments back in the day when I first go into playing again.

Personally, I've found between the Antigua, Classic 70's and 50's with the vintage pick ups and hardware/fret upgrades that they have are well worth the extra money.

However, I will say that I've handled a couple of the newer Standard series instruments out of Ensenada recently and honestly the pick up is the only thing I could think I would say I would HAVE to change if I was looking for a keeper. Almost entirely gone seem to be the string spacing issues, unstable bridges, and rough fret work of nearly a decade ago.

Recently we had a younger player at one of our shows who commented how much he loved my tone and that he and some friends were just starting the first band that he'd be gigging in. He mentioned he didn't have a lot of cash and he'd been playing on a loaner. He said he really wanted a Fender. He asked what he should do. I told him that were I starting out right now, not knowing where I might end up the best thing I could think of to do would be to go to a shop. Play every Standard MIM Fender on the wall. Pick the one I liked best. Practice, play the hell out of it. As soon as you get the money drop in a set of pick ups that someone you know you like the sound of plays and be done with it.

I told him that honestly, unless you are a serious session player, a signed artist or pulling down big bucks in a big regional cover band and can afford to spend it on yourself. For most applications a Standard P or J with a pup upgrade will serve you perfectly fine for your entire career. A decent amp and good strings and you'll be set for almost anything you want to do.

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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 6:12 am
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I wish someone had given me the advise that you have just given in the last paragraph King, it is spot on, I have been through thousands in gear and mods over the years, and at the end of the day a Good P bass, a great amp and I have been set for life, I must admit that I am so happy with my Road worn P that its going to stay just as it is, it looks great, it plays great and Iv'e got a great sound, job done.


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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 10:21 am
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I'll second that.....great advice TheKingofPain.

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1996 MIM Stratocaster HSS - Black
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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 6:38 am
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As Bro Dave has mentioned- the difference in magnets in pickups- USA vs. Mex- is why I noticed the sound of Mex pu's is not quite as good as USA- therefore I changed pu's from Mex to either USA or Duncans or Dimarzio in all my Mex basses. I'm glad I did it every time.
I only have 2 Mex basses now and they sound every bit as good as a USA. They are an 09 Roadworn P and an 05 50's Classic P. They are basically the same bass as far as wood and build and parts.
I have an 03 P that I removed the S-1 switching from. I installed Dimarzio model P's in it. The S-1 switching did nothing for me.

Another mod I did to my 74 P bass was a mini switch. That only lasted about a year. It did the same thing as the S-1 switching .


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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 7:45 am
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What pickups you got in your RW P at the moment Stroker? I thought about bass lines again, but I must say I have been so pleased with how mine sounds that it really is a case of, if it aint broke... for me on this bass.


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Post subject: Re: What Mods/Changes have you made to your P Bass ?
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 11:27 am
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stroker vance wrote:
As Bro Dave has mentioned- the difference in magnets in pickups- USA vs. Mex- is why I noticed the sound of Mex pu's is not quite as good as USA- therefore I changed pu's from Mex to either USA or Duncans or Dimarzio in all my Mex basses. I'm glad I did it every time.
I only have 2 Mex basses now and they sound every bit as good as a USA. They are an 09 Roadworn P and an 05 50's Classic P. They are basically the same bass as far as wood and build and parts.
I have an 03 P that I removed the S-1 switching from. I installed Dimarzio model P's in it. The S-1 switching did nothing for me.

Another mod I did to my 74 P bass was a mini switch. That only lasted about a year. It did the same thing as the S-1 switching .



I find it interesting that you changed pups on two Mexican basses that actually have upgraded vintage style pups. In one case to put in DiMarzio's which don't sound anything like a vintage Fender. At least to me.

My Antigua FSR has the Vintage style Alincos and I'll be damned if it doesn't sound like the real deal. I played a Classic 70's P which has a model of pick up that is called the "Split Single Coil". As opposed to the "Standard Split Single Coil, Vintage Split Single Coil, or any of the American Split Single Coils wether they be Vintage or Standard Series" and it sounded pretty darn close to my actual 78 Precision. I'm not sure what model pick up it is as that is the only bass that lists that specific model pick up that I've come across.

I just find it odd that you say the Roadworn and Classic P sound more like a US P bass. Which I find the American P basses to sound less like actual P basses. Especially the previous American Standard and Highway 1. Neither of those basses actually sounded like a real Fender P to me. I could understand if you were to swap out a Standard Series P as they usually have very low out put pick ups. However, to swap out pick ups on two mexican bases that actually have pup upgrades just seems funny to me.

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