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As bassists, we’re used to peering into control cavities like this, but our guitarist buddies might
faint at the sight.$0
$0Low-enders! Welcome to the Bass Bench,
my new column about all things bass—
from its fundamental frequencies to its
fundamental musical mission. We’ll explore
modding and also seek to understand your
instrument and its main parts. We’ll cover
basic maintenance and setup, and even ways
to stay cool when your bass malfunctions in
the most inappropriate moment.$0
$0Here at
PG, there’s been a long tradition
of offering modding and maintenance ideas
for guitarists, but let’s face it, basses and
bassists have different needs. While our colleagues
are struggling with another attempt
to rewire a 5-way switch and test out yet
another vintage capacitor, we low-enders
have already swapped in our fifth 36-volt,
fully parametric 4-band EQ.$0
$0Basses have real strings too—not just those
tiny .010" wires that are just a few times as
thick as a human hair! Our mainly non-tube
bass amps are burlier than guitar amps, as are
our cabs. In short: Bass players embrace cuttingedge
technology and care about big, tough rigs.$0
$0Though we might start by simply adding
a new pickguard, our bass mods can include
swapping electronics and pickups, replacing
bridges and necks, and even attempting some
Jaco-inspired fretless conversions. Whatever
the mod, I like to categorize it as one of four
types: visual, functional, ergonomic, or tonal.
Categorizing a mod helps us focus on the
desired outcome, but these categories can be
less distinct than you might initially think.$0
$0For example, applying a new finish
(which would come under the visual
category) will often alter tone. Adding an
ergonomic thumb rest might hurt functionality
for slap-style playing. Balancing an
instrument makes it more ergonomic, and
that introduces a relaxed functionality for
your left hand. And those new tuners (functional
category) can shift sonic dead spots to
where they really hurt. These things all connect,
sometimes in unexpected ways.$0
$0So why consider modding? Maybe you’re
unhappy with your bass in one of the categories
we’ve outlined. Perhaps your playing has
evolved and you want to make your instrument
more suited to your current abilities.
Or you want to get closer to that unaffordable
dream bass. Or maybe you think tinkering
is fun.$0
$0Perhaps you’re one of those players who
needs to know how your main tool works,
and you want to be prepared to make a
quick repair or adjustment when faced with
a problem in the studio or on tour. Most of
us go through life without our own guitar
tech. If an output jack breaks minutes before
you go onstage—and it will, there’s a law
about that—you’ll be left completely on your
own. And you’ll be glad you’re not viewing
your instrument’s innards for the first time.$0
$0Okay, when
isn’t it a good idea to mod your
bass? For starters, some mods can’t be reversed.
Or they’ll hurt the resale value or blow your
budget or make a particular problem even
worse. Often, I have to slow customers down
instead of just taking their money and doing
the job. Remember, it’s best to move incrementally
and take one step at a time. You can
easily lose control by, say, changing pickups
and electronics at the same time.$0
$0In terms of importance, here’s how I rank
our four categories: functional, tonal, ergonomic,
and finally visual. If the instrument
lacks functionality—specifically good playability—
I won’t invest any time or money
into tonal mods, let alone a visual one. Your
priorities might differ, but if you don’t feel
that your current instrument is a real keeper,
don’t waste too much time on it. That
said, if you’re just doing mods for fun—a
perfectly acceptable goal—get a low-budget
instrument for your first experiments.$0
$0Another thing: Always keep the original
parts and don’t be afraid to ask a luthier for
help. A skilled pro should be able to give
you some advice. The more you know about
your instrument, the better you can judge if
the repairperson is just looking for work or
is eager to win you as a future customer.$0
Before you begin a project, ask yourself
these questions: What’s my budget? What
mods are the most effective? What’s the
value of my instrument? Are there affordable
replacements if I ruin it? Is it smart to start
a project the day before my biggest, oncein-
a-lifetime studio job? Am I just bored or
fixing up the instrument to sell it?
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$0Modifying your wiring is cheap, pretty predictable,
and reversible. Conversely, spending
your last bucks on your hero’s favorite pickup
could turn into a huge disappointment if you
don’t take other factors into account.$0
$0If you’re not happy with your instrument’s
playability, visit your local dealer and test-drive
a few basses. There’s a good chance your dream
machine already exists. If not, you should take
every chance to compare various basses, so you
understand what you really want.$0
$0And finally, don’t spend your whole budget
on a new finish unless you really love
the rest of the bass. Even then, think twice:
Function rules!$0
$0In my next columns, we’ll heat up the
soldering iron and try some basic wiring
projects. The goal will be to learn what can
break most often and how to fix it on your
own. See you then!$0