Bass: Build or buy

[TRex]

I have had a recent change in my musical life and all the arrows are pointing to picking up bass as a what...4th Insterment.

I have decided I want a beginner P-Bass or P-J Bass as I like the sound of those P-Bass pickups

I really like the idea of doing the work myself by buying a GFS P-Bass kit, as I probably could make a sick looking bass to my taste. What do yall think of them?

 

[jtougas]

Re: Bass: Build or buy

I built 2 Very Decent basses - a P and a J - by buying Squier bodies, Mighty Mite necks, and Seymour Duncan pickups (in my case, Quarter Pounders). I've since sold the J to a friend, who loves it.

 

[ginormous]

Re: Bass: Build or buy

Building/assembly is a good way to go. If what you have isn't available off-the-rack, then you can make something that fits your style, your hands and your preferred sound.

If you get standard Fender parts, they're pretty much grab and go (plus or minus a few tweaks). The challenge will be a good finish. Search this forum for some great paint and finish threads.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Bass: Build or buy

I bet you can find a decent price on a used Mexican Fender and hotrod it to your liking. I've seen them sell for $250.

 

[ginormous]

Re: Bass: Build or buy

I bet you can find a decent price on a used Mexican Fender and hotrod it to your liking. I've seen them sell for $250.

My avatar is of an MIM Jazz that's identical to mine; I put in some SD pickups that were gifted to me. Next comes a new bridge, and it's right as rain.

 

[TRex]

Re: Bass: Build or buy

I built 2 Very Decent basses - a P and a J - by buying Squier bodies, Mighty Mite necks, and Seymour Duncan pickups (in my case, Quarter Pounders). I've since sold the J to a friend, who loves it.

I feel like I'm more of a P-Bass person for its sound

I will see how much it would cost to build out of Fender/Squier parts, but I have a feeling the kit would be the cheapest way to get a half decent bass.

The kit also let's me have a unique Insterment that I'm not afraid to replace stuff on. I can always buy new pups or pots 'n stuff as needed.

Building/assembly is a good way to go. If what you have isn't available off-the-rack, then you can make something that fits your style, your hands and your preferred sound.

If you get standard Fender parts, they're pretty much grab and go (plus or minus a few tweaks). The challenge will be a good finish. Search this forum for some great paint and finish threads.

I can learn to do a finish, I'll go look around for threads on the subject.

I might go solid if the wood grain isn't too pretty, but if it looks nice I'll look into doing some sort of translucent or Simi-translucent finish.

I bet you can find a decent price on a used Mexican Fender and hotrod it to your liking. I've seen them sell for $250.

That's a pretty expensive buy for me, as I also need to buy a new strat here soon.

I'm looking at staying around $120-150, but staying below $170 for sure

My avatar is of an MIM Jazz that's identical to mine; I put in some SD pickups that were gifted to me. Next comes a new bridge, and it's right as rain.

Nice job, I know my Birthday/Christmas list will be flooded with guitar and bass parts this winter. Why did I have to be born on new years

I'll probably replace the pups and pots and possibly the bridge at some point.

 

[dg27]

Re: Bass: Build or buy

^^1 vote for the Gotoh 201B.

 

[TRex]

Re: Bass: Build or buy

For the stated budget of 170USD, you should be able to find a Squier Affinity series P Bass. With patience, the same figure might land you a pre-owned Squier Vintage Modified Precision Bass. These are almost invariably good to play.

My other recommendation is pre-owned "budget" Yamaha instruments. The long-discontinued Attitude Plus model is criminally undervalued. Give it a Gotoh 201B bridge and an American pickup and you will embarrass MIM Fender basses.

I'll see what I can find on the local market, if I can get a "Vintage" Squier or MIM I'll get that.

^^1 vote for the Gotoh 201B.

 

[dg27]

Re: Bass: Build or buy

Reasons to go Gotoh.
1) Excellent materials-to-price ratio.
2) Aligns perfectly with the traditional Fender screw hole positions.
3) Improves the on-strap balance of many a budget bass guitar.

I'll defer to Mr Fingers ^^^ for the technical reasons. I have them in my '87 MIJ Squier, '84 MIJ Fender JB Special [definitely a budget item], and my '14 Warmoth. I think it improved the first two, which is why it was a no-brainer when I was parting out the Warmoth build.

 

[dg27]

Re: Bass: Build or buy

"Improved" is subjective.

Agreed. I didn't mean to imply that this would be true in all cases. I meant that it applied in these cases, especially my JBS.

I cannot remember whether I ever tried a 201B on my ol' faithful 1978/9 fretless Fender Precision Bass. For these three specific instruments, the traditional, cheap, stamped steel item was an essential ingredient in the overall tone.

As much as I like it, I don't have one in my trusty '76 P. For that I do not want to mess with it.

 

[jtougas]

Re: Bass: Build or buy

*nods* I put a Babicz bridge on my J, and promptly took it off - made it sound to thick, and removed all of the skinny growl you want out of a J.

 

[jtougas]

Re: Bass: Build or buy

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-Squire-Precision-Bass-Body-Neck-/271871292505

There ya go... add one QuarterPounder, and some electronics, and don't look back...

 

[dg27]

Re: Bass: Build or buy

^^+1 for QP. I have them in my '76 Fender P and '87 MIJ Fender Squier Jazz...love them.

 

[BlueTalon]

Re: Bass: Build or buy

If budget is the determining factor in your decision, just get an already made bass. You have something you can play right away, and you can mod as desired. If you want the experience of putting together an instrument, then a kit will help you get that experience. But if you truly want to create a quality instrument that is yours and yours alone, be prepared to spend some significant money for quality parts.

And be prepared to spend that money at Warmoth.com. Nobody else even comes close to the quality and variety offered by Warmoth for bass bodies and necks.

 

[dg27]

Re: Bass: Build or buy

IBut if you truly want to create a quality instrument that is yours and yours alone, be prepared to spend some significant money for quality parts.

I agree 100%. I spec'd out a custom bass after a friend sold me a brand new, gorgeous Warmoth Birdseye maple neck. That was the start of a long process.

And be prepared to spend that money at Warmoth.com. Nobody else even comes close to the quality and variety offered by Warmoth for bass bodies and necks.

I agree with this as well. My pickups are from the SD Custom Shop, but other than a few odds and ends I couldn't get through them, most of it was from Warmoth. For me it was worth it, but it did not come cheap by any means.

It all adds up very quickly.

 

[TRex]

Re: Bass: Build or buy

Well I'm ordering the kit tonight, after I consult my uncle about it. He plays a bit of bass, but now really only plays guitar

He isn't a believer on tonewoods, so he will probably like this idea of a kit.

 

[BlueTalon]

Re: Bass: Build or buy

Tonewoods are a whole 'nother discussion. I'll just say it's my belief that the wood choices matter, but the differences might be a little hard to quantify. It's all part of the big picture -- body wood, neck wood, fingerboard wood, pickups, control circuitry, strings, hardware.

If any of it matters at all, then all of it matters a little. IMO.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Bass: Build or buy

Tonewoods are a whole 'nother discussion. I'll just say it's my belief that the wood choices matter, but the differences might be a little hard to quantify. It's all part of the big picture -- body wood, neck wood, fingerboard wood, pickups, control circuitry, strings, hardware.

If any of it matters at all, then all of it matters a little. IMO.

+1

 

[TRex]

Re: Bass: Build or buy

I can see that, but I think then the quality of the wood would matter more

It's effects can't be seen in cheap guitars as much as those pricy hand crafted stuff

 

[Liko]

Re: Bass: Build or buy

That's a pretty expensive buy for me, as I also need to buy a new strat here soon.

I'm looking at staying around $120-150, but staying below $170 for sure

How about an SX? Rondo Music sells these real cheap, but they're based on decent wood (basswood, not alder, but solid-finish MIMs are poplar anyway) so if you're looking for a cheap bass you can hotrod, you'll end up with quite a player for pennies on the dollar compared to even an MIM.