Question modding/customizing
- Thread starter your idol
- Start date
bassmonkeee
Well-known member
Thank-you...
I was wondering if there was a glitch in the EBMM Matrix...
Yeah, no kidding. I can understand refinishing an already matching headstock that was damaged (at a cost), but not changing from non-matching to matching.
I'd love for nicjimbass to come back and clarify his situation.
Musicman Nut
Well-known member
Why would you want to hot rod a hot rod, these basses kick ass right out of the box, now if you want a different tone, I think Wal Mart Now sells basses, try that.
the unrepentant
Well-known member
For the record i do mod my non-EBMM basses, i've modded my tobias and i'd mod my fender if it wasn't pretty pimped out as stock (though some better pickups might be nice)
I'm also thinking of getting a hipshot detuner for my SUB bass, i have one on my new fender and it's stupidly useful for some of the stuff i like to play, especially in live situations! I could have done with one for a few recent gigs!
I'm also thinking of getting a hipshot detuner for my SUB bass, i have one on my new fender and it's stupidly useful for some of the stuff i like to play, especially in live situations! I could have done with one for a few recent gigs!
mmbassplayer
Well-known member
I have a Gold Swirl PG on order for my SR5 08LE. Will probably change out the PG on my Bongo also. That is the limits of my customization for MM's. Now my Fender Jazz fretless... is on it's 3rd set of pickups and second bridge. Will be ordering some kind of MM fretless in 09 and throwing the Fender in the trash (not kidding). JOSH
bradfordws
Well-known member
See my photo album - had Marty Bell do one of his silver flake paint jobs on my SUB 5, which is now my disco bass (I have a disco band - yeah, I know, but it pays good). I think the SUB basses are the perfect candidate for a refin, unless you like the flat finishes. You can leave the neck and headstock as is - and a new body color looks great - like a custom. I had a local shop contour the body as well. I would only consider a refin on the other models if the body was really trashed and it did NOT have a matching headstock - because then you're dealing with color-matching and the decal issue. As far as mods or customizing on my other Balls, I always install Dunlop strap locks and paint the back of the neck with a clear polyester after carefully removing the neck and taping off - just a personal preference - I prefer a clear satin poly instead of the stock oil/wax finish. I just remembered: I did install a thumbrest on my Sterling 4H. And that's the extent of my "mods."
pbass2go
Well-known member
D-tuner on the Stingray and Straplocks on all my basses.
Talk about living on the edge.....
Talk about living on the edge.....
nicjimbass
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2007
- Messages
- 223
Mine must've been one that slipped through the cracks. Actually, until today, I thought it was something you could do anytime...lol.
I bought my SR5 back in 2000 or 2001, can't remember, but anyway, the body had something weird going on with the paint in one spot.... long story short, I sent it back since it was covered by warranty. While it was there, they painted the headstock to match the body. I'm sure I still have the receipt somewhere, so I can post it if anyone wants to see it, just to prove I'm not crazy!
If only this would increase the collectability of the bass!! haha
bassmonkeee
Well-known member
Mine must've been one that slipped through the cracks. Actually, until today, I thought it was something you could do anytime...lol.
I bought my SR5 back in 2000 or 2001, can't remember, but anyway, the body had something weird going on with the paint in one spot.... long story short, I sent it back since it was covered by warranty. While it was there, they painted the headstock to match the body. I'm sure I still have the receipt somewhere, so I can post it if anyone wants to see it, just to prove I'm not crazy!
Interesting. It doesn't happen very often.
bassmonkeee
Well-known member
Alright, I have done some mods to a couple of my Bongos beyond just replacing pickguards.
My Black Sapphire has been the subject of most of my experimentation and changes.
The first thing I did was attach a Roland GK-2B pickup at one point.
I never took the V Bass to gigs because it had too big of a footprint and I never really needed it for what I was doing.
I stumbled upon a Bass Mute for sale, and I put it on the Bongo next.
This thing is great. I can't recommend them enough if you want the ultimate in versatility. The switch is a lot more efficient than putting a piece of foam next to the bridge, and it looks better, too.
When I put straplocks on both my BS Bongo and Moby, the white whale, I went with recessed Dunlops. This was before EB announced their straplocks. You can see them on the black sapphire bongo with the mute.
The most drastic and permanent change I made was done out of necessity, really. The BS Bongo suffered a couple of hits to the back of the neck that chipped the finish in unfortunate locations. It was impossible to play without them annoying me. So, I stripped the finish and put a gunstock oil finish on the back of the neck.
It feels great. I completely removed the neck before I did any of the work. Much to my dismay, I had to do the same thing to my white fretless, too. It had been put into a cheap stand, and there was a chemical reaction between the cheap rubber and the finish. It left an inch long finish flaw right behind the 12th fret. The stand went into the trash, and the fretless got a Brazillian.
The only thing the Dargie has had done was a new set of EB straplocks and the occasional change of a pickguard.
But, truth be told, I prefer the original black pickguard that came on the Dargie Delight. So, it's been a looooong time since I've had anything on there other than the black one.
But, I would never swap out the preamp or pickups on any of my Musicman basses. That's just crazy talk.
My Black Sapphire has been the subject of most of my experimentation and changes.
The first thing I did was attach a Roland GK-2B pickup at one point.
I never took the V Bass to gigs because it had too big of a footprint and I never really needed it for what I was doing.
I stumbled upon a Bass Mute for sale, and I put it on the Bongo next.
This thing is great. I can't recommend them enough if you want the ultimate in versatility. The switch is a lot more efficient than putting a piece of foam next to the bridge, and it looks better, too.
When I put straplocks on both my BS Bongo and Moby, the white whale, I went with recessed Dunlops. This was before EB announced their straplocks. You can see them on the black sapphire bongo with the mute.
The most drastic and permanent change I made was done out of necessity, really. The BS Bongo suffered a couple of hits to the back of the neck that chipped the finish in unfortunate locations. It was impossible to play without them annoying me. So, I stripped the finish and put a gunstock oil finish on the back of the neck.
It feels great. I completely removed the neck before I did any of the work. Much to my dismay, I had to do the same thing to my white fretless, too. It had been put into a cheap stand, and there was a chemical reaction between the cheap rubber and the finish. It left an inch long finish flaw right behind the 12th fret. The stand went into the trash, and the fretless got a Brazillian.
The only thing the Dargie has had done was a new set of EB straplocks and the occasional change of a pickguard.
But, truth be told, I prefer the original black pickguard that came on the Dargie Delight. So, it's been a looooong time since I've had anything on there other than the black one.
But, I would never swap out the preamp or pickups on any of my Musicman basses. That's just crazy talk.
your idol
Well-known member
Dear Mr.bassmonkeee ,
personal opinion i hate bongos. just not my cup of tea. You have changed my mind your black bong is off the charts sah-weet! tasteful mods very functional and you gave it the perfect contrast that just makes it POP!. you, good sir, have taste.
personal opinion i hate bongos. just not my cup of tea. You have changed my mind your black bong is off the charts sah-weet! tasteful mods very functional and you gave it the perfect contrast that just makes it POP!. you, good sir, have taste.
Old_Guy
Well-known member
If I can find someone that I know would do a good job, I'd just like to put a satin finish on the neck of the Sterling. Too lazy and incompetent to do it myself. Seems to need a good oiling at least once a week.
bradfordws
Well-known member
I've mentioned this before - it's my preference as well. I don't like the "idear" of having to oil the neck - and clean it, because it DOES pick up dirt. Look at any used bass and you'll see the neck is brown from the dirt. And, I'd rather have a finsih on there to protect the wood from humidity, etc. Not complaining, BP - I love these basses!
Any decent guitar repair shop can do this satin finish on the back of the neck. I chose to do it myself because it IS a piece of cake. Remove the neck and throw a lunch bag over the headstock and tape off the neck on the actual existing paint line where it goes from finish to oil. Next, tape off the edge of the rosewood fingerboard + I tape off the heel area as well. If you have a maple board, then don't worry about this step. Last, tape off the face of the fingerboard to prevent any overspray. I found a great satin clear - Minwax Fast-drying Polyurethane - clear satin. I used 4 light coats and had the neck back on the bass the next day, although you could put it back together after a few hours. I sprayed both of my Sterling 5's when I first got them, so the necks were totally clean. If you have any dirt build up, then clean first, of course. My next Sterling 5 is due to arrive next month and I'm doing the same treatment on that one as well. I used a different brand of satin clear on my Sterling 4H and it's too much like a semi-gloss, so I need to re-shoot that one some day.
Psychicpet
Well-known member
still on me about that huh?
at least we can agree about giving the neck a Brazilian
bassmonkeee
Well-known member
still on me about that huh?
at least we can agree about giving the neck a Brazilian
Heh--Paranoid much?
Honestly, I wasn't thinking about you with that comment. It's just that the first thing that brought me to the Bongo was the preamp/pickup combo. So, I would never change that.I am stoked that I finally got the bass EQ pot replaced in the Dargie yesterday. Those circuit boards are no joke with their tolerances. I can't wait to get the Dargie out for my loud gig tonight.
Now I just need to get a new input jack ordered for the fretless...I've never liked bullet input jacks....
Old_Guy
Well-known member
And I'm not really sure what leaving the neck raw does for it
But I'll get off my dead keister and take it to a quality shop.
Metropolis_488
Active member
- Joined
- May 1, 2008
- Messages
- 27
Funny! I was so close to seriously considering that bass, but then saw that it had the neck refinished... I love the feel of oil & wax, so that's not for me.
Something little to consider in this "story": The original owner did buy the bass, and had the neck refinished, maybe for a considerable amount of money. A month later he decides to sell the bass because it's "not his thing". Now he has a mint condition non-stock instrument sitting there and most people who would be interested in buying that model will probably not do so.
Modding of perfectly fine instruments in general devaluates them. So don't do it
Wow, I know this is old, but I was just reading through and saw this.
Actually, that was my bass that I purchased brand new from Bass Central. After about a month, the fret edges lifted a little. EBMM, being the excellent company that they are, paid the shipping for me to send it in to them to have the frets leveled/tapped back in (what ever they did). While I was talking to the customer service rep on the phone to arrange this, I asked about the neck finish - my memory is a little blurry as it was over a year ago, but basically he told me that one of their techs could apply an epoxy finish to the neck. I said "sure". I sent the bass to EBMM, and about 2 weeks later I got it back, frets leveled and epoxy finish applied to the neck. All done free of charge. It is my understanding that tech no longer works at EBMM, as called to see if this treatment could be performed to another 'Ray of mine.
The reason I sold that bass, as well as two other EBMM is, as I latter discovered when I owned my 1983 Stingray - I much prefer the 2 band EQ. 3 Band is great, albeit, not my thing - its just a preference thing. (BTW - I sold the 1983 Stingray mostly because I wanted a nice shinny new one)
I currently own a 2 band SLO special that is Fantastic! (also only weighs 8.2 lbs!!!). I love EBMM instruments and I think Big Poppas accessibility and passion exhibited via this forum are great (and no small reason for me wanting to support his company and purchase another one of his basses).
I know I'm new here, but have been a member of that OTHER bass forum for some time - and it has conditioned me to pretty much never post a comment (thus my count here is small - and I prefer to learn rather than teach). So I hope this post is not received as being ill-willed.
-Matt
