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Post subject: MMMM, upgrades
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 9:46 am
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Roadie
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So, after much time getting settled in, I'm finally doing some upgrading to Becky. I'm replacing the pots, the jack and the pickup. The jack is all goofed and cuts in and out. The pots are scratchy, and the tone does little. I'm torn between the Seymour Duncan SPB-1 (Vintage) or the SPB-4 (Steve Harris Sig). If the SPB-4 is my choice, I plan on also getting a hold of some blank covers to get rid of that signature. I may also upgrade the bridge. I've been GASsing lately, and I think this is a budget way to settle that.

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-Candy Apple Red Precision Bass (Maple fingerboard) carrying Rotosound Steve Harris Strings
-1980-something Bentley Series 10
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Post subject: Re: MMMM, upgrades
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 11:57 am
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Rock Star
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:idea: :arrow: I'd do a total hot rod upgrade. Completely shield p'up & control cavities. New pick guard. New pots & tone cap. New copper wire. New bridge. Steve Harris SPB-4's and leave the sig on as that's part of the total hotrod mystique. That ought to do ya for 20-30 years. Take the bass down one time and do all the work at the same time. Do your frets need to be polished and leveled? This would be the perfect time. Change nuts??? Perfect time. Want to re-finish to Steve Harris blue? Perfect time. Now is always the best & perfect time. :)

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One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


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Post subject: Re: MMMM, upgrades
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 12:48 pm
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Rock Star
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Are you stateside yet? Been a long time since I've seen you around.

Whatever way you go will probably work. Have fun!


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Post subject: Re: MMMM, upgrades
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 3:48 pm
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Roadie
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Been stateside for a while now, but work and two boys at home keep me plenty busy. I planned on doing the whole thing up, wire and all. The color will remain for right now. The admiral won't let me spend that dough right now, haha. She being the master of coin, I respect those wishes. However, I am going to do pup the guard. I'm thinking chrome, but unsure of how that'll look on a candy apple red. TO GOOGLE!

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Liam

-Candy Apple Red Precision Bass (Maple fingerboard) carrying Rotosound Steve Harris Strings
-1980-something Bentley Series 10
-Fender Rumble 15


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Post subject: Re: MMMM, upgrades
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 3:50 pm
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Roadie
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Just googled it. It shall done. It's so loud! I love it.

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Liam

-Candy Apple Red Precision Bass (Maple fingerboard) carrying Rotosound Steve Harris Strings
-1980-something Bentley Series 10
-Fender Rumble 15


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Post subject: Re: MMMM, upgrades
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 5:08 pm
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Great! Chrome should look good. If you like it that's all that matters.


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Post subject: Re: MMMM, upgrades
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 3:05 am
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Roadie
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Recently (about 6 months ago) I had the neck replaced due to truss rod breakage. I went from not caring about mods to really wanting to. I like where this beastie is headed.

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Liam

-Candy Apple Red Precision Bass (Maple fingerboard) carrying Rotosound Steve Harris Strings
-1980-something Bentley Series 10
-Fender Rumble 15


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Post subject: Re: MMMM, upgrades
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 5:18 am
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Any questions you might have, the answers are here.

http://brotherdave.com/


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Post subject: Re: MMMM, upgrades
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 11:14 am
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Roadie
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BroDave's site was the first place I scooted to. Going back over soon to see if he's got any thing on wire. Like I said, whole shebang.

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Liam

-Candy Apple Red Precision Bass (Maple fingerboard) carrying Rotosound Steve Harris Strings
-1980-something Bentley Series 10
-Fender Rumble 15


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Post subject: Re: MMMM, upgrades
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 12:07 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Location: Alabama, Michigan, Florida, Wisconsin, Mississippi and Tennessee seasonally
Liam - if you have a moment, please check your forum PM inbox...

Thanks...

"P-L"

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Post subject: Re: MMMM, upgrades
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 1:11 pm
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Professional Musician
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Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:01 am
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linnin wrote:
:idea: :arrow: I'd do a total hot rod upgrade. Completely shield p'up & control cavities. New pick guard. New pots & tone cap. New copper wire. New bridge. Steve Harris SPB-4's and leave the sig on as that's part of the total hotrod mystique. That ought to do ya for 20-30 years. Take the bass down one time and do all the work at the same time. Do your frets need to be polished and leveled? This would be the perfect time. Change nuts??? Perfect time. Want to re-finish to Steve Harris blue? Perfect time. Now is always the best & perfect time. :)





oil the rosewood too.


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Post subject: Re: MMMM, upgrades
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 8:57 am
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Rock Star
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Hi Bassopotomous, You know this is the time of year I do any upgrades myself. So far as wire I am a fan of the vintage style cloth covered wire. It might cost a buck more but to me the convenience is worth it. Lots of the parts houses sell it. It is easy to work with because you just push the insulation back to solder and no stripping is required. I use CTS brand audio taper pots. I use either vintage ceramic disc or vintage Sprague Vitamin-Q type paper in oil caps. I use only Switchcraft jacks. I use Silver solder.

There are wiring diagrams all over the place and they all are about the same. One thing to watch out for is that the point of view from which the diagrams are drawn. The Seymour Duncan diagrams included with their pickups and on their website are often drawn as if looking down from the front of the instrument, not from the back. I ran into that more than once. The first time it made the controls work exactly BACKWARDS since I wired it from the back using the diagram with a front point of view. LOL! The second time I caught it before actually wiring it. So compare a couple of diagrams and get your point of view ironed out first.

I want to throw another pickup into the mix. The Fender Original P-Bass pickup. Holy cats that is a lot of bright. You might want to up the cap value from 0.05uf to 0.068 or even 0.10uf...however I love it blazing bright with a 0.047 PIO or 0.05 vintage ceramic. That is my current favorite mass produced second generation (split) P-Bass pickup. It totally renewed my P-Bass love.


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Post subject: Re: MMMM, upgrades
Posted: Wed Dec 25, 2013 9:57 am
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Roadie
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Quick question to the Steve Harris owners out there: any idea what type and value the cap is? I like his tone and use it as a starting point for my own.

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Liam

-Candy Apple Red Precision Bass (Maple fingerboard) carrying Rotosound Steve Harris Strings
-1980-something Bentley Series 10
-Fender Rumble 15


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Post subject: Re: MMMM, upgrades
Posted: Wed Dec 25, 2013 1:19 pm
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Rock Star
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Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:14 pm
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Location: Linningrad
:idea: :arrow: Hey bassopotomous, is there some reason you just don't go ahead and buy a Steve Harris signature Precision :?: :?: :?: The cost of the p-bass you have now + the cost of the upgradges surely comes close. Wouldn't you be better off selling your current Precision, and buying a new or maybe even a used Steve Harris???

_________________
2012 Lefty American Standard Jazz
2017 Lefty American Professional Precision
2018 Rumble Studio 40 Combo
2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


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Post subject: Re: MMMM, upgrades
Posted: Wed Dec 25, 2013 4:36 pm
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Roadie
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The current neck I have on it is paradise. Plus the candy apple red is my favorite color fender makes.

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Liam

-Candy Apple Red Precision Bass (Maple fingerboard) carrying Rotosound Steve Harris Strings
-1980-something Bentley Series 10
-Fender Rumble 15


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