-
Security notice: Ernie Ball staff will never send you a direct message about a prize or giveaway, and will never ask you to click a link to "claim" anything.
If you receive a message like that - even from an account whose name looks official - do not click the link. Please report it using the Report link on the message so the moderators can act. A scam campaign impersonating admin accounts was blocked on 29 July 2026; those accounts are banned and their messages have been deleted.
Mods to MM Basses?
- Thread starter chaddukes
- Start date
phatduckk
Well-known member
i think most people here have their MM's stock but there are a few folks with PUP replacements and some with string mutes, strap locks etc.
i think the most common mod here is pickguard changes
i think the most common mod here is pickguard changes
TheAntMan
Well-known member
MODS!!!! Dude! I am not going to change a thing. I spent a long time checking out basses before I settled on the ones I have. The reason I got my EBMM basses was for what they had to offer.
The only things I have changed are pickguards and fresh strings. Would not change anything that messed with the tone or design.
Last edited:
stingrayplayr83
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 15, 2005
- Messages
- 103
Dude, MM's are known for what they are, amazing basses. IMHO, you could change anything on the bass, but there wouldn't be anything that is as good as what MM put on it. I personally, have modified one bass, but sold it. I had one bass repainted, with a Hipshot D tuner, and a badass 2 bridge. I sold that bass, for more than a new music man, but it definately didnt feel as good as my stock music man. Not that anything but the bridge was physically different, but it just isnt what a MM should be. Sorry, I have a tendency to ramble. People here have learned to deal with it, I guess.
AnthonyD
Well-known member
chaddukes said:
Exactly...
Aussie Mark
Well-known member
I plug my MM basses into an amplifier, which modifies their volume significantly.
bovinehost
Administrator
My frequent modifications:
1. Dunlop Straploks
2. Flatwound strings.
3. sometimes a new pickguard but then I'm slutty.
Other than that, it's plug and play simplicity, baby!
But of course I do think that it's your bass, and if you decide to install gear shifts, tachometers, bottle openers....hey, if it floats your boat, do it, because I sure would.
Jack
1. Dunlop Straploks
2. Flatwound strings.
3. sometimes a new pickguard but then I'm slutty.
Other than that, it's plug and play simplicity, baby!
But of course I do think that it's your bass, and if you decide to install gear shifts, tachometers, bottle openers....hey, if it floats your boat, do it, because I sure would.
Jack
smallequestrian
Well-known member
1. definately need dunlop strap locks
2. already have a pickguard on order
3. new guitar stand
4. pics of Stingray
2. already have a pickguard on order
3. new guitar stand
4. pics of Stingray
Psychicpet
Well-known member
hmmmm......
amazing from the factory but then again..... To date I've taken the pre-amp out of my fretted Bongo5 , have swapped it's neck humbucker for the bridge humbucker in my fretless Bogno5 and am in the process of dropping an Aguilar OBP-1 into the currently passive fretted Bongo5. So far that's it.
amazing from the factory but then again..... To date I've taken the pre-amp out of my fretted Bongo5 , have swapped it's neck humbucker for the bridge humbucker in my fretless Bogno5 and am in the process of dropping an Aguilar OBP-1 into the currently passive fretted Bongo5. So far that's it.
phatduckk
Well-known member
my USA Fenders are modded with Badass bridges but thats b/c the stock bridge is some fancy tin foil 
MMs stuff's pretty damn awesome but its your bass, your money, and your sound. if some mod suits you better, then you should go for it dude
MMs stuff's pretty damn awesome but its your bass, your money, and your sound. if some mod suits you better, then you should go for it dude
I'd just be tempted to change pick ups and electronics. Oh, and fretboard markers too! I'd have to change those.
If I had a Bongo I'd have to change that suckers apearance! Perhaps it would grow on me, but I'm not so sure.
I had thought about the idea of taking the body off and hollowing it out to reduce the weight, but then it would probably unbalance the guitar. So, that wouldn't happen.
If I had a Bongo I'd have to change that suckers apearance! Perhaps it would grow on me, but I'm not so sure.
I had thought about the idea of taking the body off and hollowing it out to reduce the weight, but then it would probably unbalance the guitar. So, that wouldn't happen.
barkatozz
Well-known member
I've modded all my basses:
!) Schaller Straplocks.....I put 'em on all my basses
2) Hipshot Detuner.....all got one of them too
3) 3 of 'em have different pickguards then what they came with
Other then that I ain't touching jack sh!t as far as electronics.
!) Schaller Straplocks.....I put 'em on all my basses
2) Hipshot Detuner.....all got one of them too
3) 3 of 'em have different pickguards then what they came with
Other then that I ain't touching jack sh!t as far as electronics.
Last edited:
AnthonyD
Well-known member
This is so true!phatduckk said:my USA Fenders are modded with Badass bridges but thats b/c the stock bridge is some fancy tin foil
bovinehost said:
Ahem... Schaller straplocks and flatwounds.
I am a huge believer in "to each his own" and have no problem with folks doing as they please with their basses. But personally, I think EBMM has done a fabulous job of putting all the right pieces together and delivering an instrument that is far from lacking in any area!
Psycho Ward
Well-known member
The only mod I've made was the straplocks and a microfiber polishing cloth instead of the factory polishing cloth. I found the factory polishing cloth to dark and prefer the brighter, white microfiber cloth. I also bought a case of Duracell 9 volt batteries with the same expration date as the orgional, so the next big mod for me will be in 2009.
shamus63
Well-known member
My '79 Sabre came to me in trade already modded; Modulus Graphite neck and Hipshot bridge.
While I like the bridge upgrade, I don't care much for the graphite neck. It's okay, but not something I'd be compelled to do. I'll be keeping my eye open for a maple neck that fits.
Maybe a blend pot to replace the 3-way; definitely would take some mod's to make that work!
While I like the bridge upgrade, I don't care much for the graphite neck. It's okay, but not something I'd be compelled to do. I'll be keeping my eye open for a maple neck that fits.
Maybe a blend pot to replace the 3-way; definitely would take some mod's to make that work!
Aussie Mark
Well-known member
chaddukes said:
To me, that would be like buying a new car and immediately putting another maker's engine under the hood. Makes absolutely no sense at all. Build a parts bass if you like to tinker.
bdgotoh
Well-known member
I'm very comfortable with reversible mods and have done some to my EB/MM basses.
First up is the pair of Honeyburst Rays in my avatar that had their clear pickguards replaced with white pearloid and the black pickup covers with white.
Next is the Bongo HH4 that I put stock EB Alnico Stingray pickups into. It sounded good, not all that different but I think it looked cool. I think the quote from Jon was "Heresy"!
The mod to my 1989 Sabre wasn't visually obvious, but I found an NOS 8 pole Sabre bridge pickup and swapped it in to replace the stock 16 pole neck pickup. I changed the wiring to series instead of the stock parallel and it sounded great. The bass was over 10 lbs though, so I ended up returning it to stock and selling it.
Oh, and I should mention that all of my keeper MMs wear G&L aluminum string posts on the tuners, it removes 0.2 lbs from the headstock and they drop right into the MM tuners.
First up is the pair of Honeyburst Rays in my avatar that had their clear pickguards replaced with white pearloid and the black pickup covers with white.
Next is the Bongo HH4 that I put stock EB Alnico Stingray pickups into. It sounded good, not all that different but I think it looked cool. I think the quote from Jon was "Heresy"!
The mod to my 1989 Sabre wasn't visually obvious, but I found an NOS 8 pole Sabre bridge pickup and swapped it in to replace the stock 16 pole neck pickup. I changed the wiring to series instead of the stock parallel and it sounded great. The bass was over 10 lbs though, so I ended up returning it to stock and selling it.
Oh, and I should mention that all of my keeper MMs wear G&L aluminum string posts on the tuners, it removes 0.2 lbs from the headstock and they drop right into the MM tuners.
Last edited:
Big Poppa
Well-known member
Psych
you are nuts. what are you doing with the aggie preamp? I think it will be about three weeks ande I hoked up original preamp and what clirity punch and eq....
you are nuts. what are you doing with the aggie preamp? I think it will be about three weeks ande I hoked up original preamp and what clirity punch and eq....
