Mods to MM Basses?

[Musicman Nut]

Music Man Mods

Im Partial to the early 1977 white Pickup Covers So when ever i find them i buy em.

Ernie Ball Music Man Basses are the Best Basses on EARTH, Plug them in to anything, and they'll Kick Azzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

DJ

 

[bdgotoh]

If I'm remembering correctly someone on the Pit put me in touch with you and I bought those two above from you a few years back, Dave.

Having seen just a few of your collection makes me proud to have pickup covers that were once yours!

 

[Musicman Nut]

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.

Believe it or not but the more weight you have on your headstock the better,

I remember watching Charlie Christian in like a TV Program when i was a kid and he had a C Clamp Stuck to his head stock, and Guitar Player Mag had a rare artical on why he did that,

His answer? It took away dead spots and gave him more sustain.

In our time there was a Product called fat heads, brass plate that was mounted on the back of head stocks and that gave the weight.

So before you remove the steel from your headstock i'd think twice.
DJ

 

[bdgotoh]

You can still get the Fat Finger clamp but I think the Fathead is gone. Both Aspen Pittman (Groove Tubes) inventions, I believe.

Are the tuner posts steel? I always assumed they were chrome-plated brass.

I first put the aluminum posts on a neck-heavy bass and really liked the balance improvement and decrease in weight. I've tried to hear a difference before and after on many basses now and have yet to hear anything, and no dead spots. Just lucky, I guess.

 

[dlloyd]

I'd just be tempted to change pick ups and electronics. Oh, and fretboard markers too! I'd have to change those.

How are you going to do that?

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

I wanted a passive option on my 1989. I swapped the 3 banger for a 2 band Pre-EB Black epoxy. The underside jack disconnects the pre-amp and goes straight to the pickup. Passive sounds great.

My three Basses are now 1979 (2 band), 1989 (2 band and passive option) and 1994 (3 band).

IMO, modifications should always be reversable.

( And Guys...don't rat on me and tell BP )

 

[oldbluebassman]

Latest pix of my St-Ray5.

Status Carbon-Fibre neck with side LEDs
Nordstrand MM5.3 pick-up
Aguiller OBP-3 pre-amp
DR Sunbeam 40-120 strings

No coil switching yet but I'm working on it. I have to get a friend to do me a tiny circuit board.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

WOW! A Cutlass SR5

Well done Dave.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Have you guys noticed that that the SR5 has more tone controls with the slide switch...the in between settings like the Fender Strat...when you ballance the switch half way? Yup...true

 

[Psychicpet]

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....

the main reason I'm goin' with it ...for now.... is a friend of mine built a bass and put a pre-EB StingRay p/u in it that was given to him and he threw the OBP-1 in there, the bass was insanely huge, very 'modern' sounding but I liked the voicing of the OBP-1. ya, I am a little nuts right now but the bonus is that atleast I'm doing these mods and can change it back whenever and not have to take it to a repairman

 

[chaddukes]

thanks for all of your feedback guys.

I'd like to have a passive option as well. I'd certianly want to put a single coil neck pickup in....or wait until they come out in November.

A heavy headstock does improve sustain and decrease deadspots, but it also unbalances the guitar.

I had a Warwick that I loved, but it was nearly impossible to play standing up for any length of time. Oh, a note would sustain for minutes at a time, but your shoulder would wear out in the process.

Aussie Mark, the guitar for me is about the construction and the neck, the pickup and electronics can easily be played with and then replaced if the outcome isn't good. I see your point about taking the engine out of the car, but the pickups are a lot easier to pull out and put back in than the engine of a car. For me an EBMM isn't about the pickups, its about the playability...the neck.

Chad

 

[Big Poppa]

pwsy just giving you aq hard time...you will be back

 

[Psychicpet]

 

[mike not fat]

The creasiest mod i did on my bongo is screwing some dunlop straplocks and changing the strings for heavier gauge...Wow, i could consindere something crazy like changing the pickguard...

By tha way, hi everyone, i'm back after 15 days of silence (i'm sure you noticed it).

MNF

 

[Dees]

Schaller straplocks, that's about it!
And that's all I'll ever need of mods (on a MM)

 

[Psycho Ward]

I've got two sets of straplocks and two microfiber polishing cloths in waiting.

 

[shamus63]

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.

You wouldn't happen to have any pic's of the Sabre you could post?

 

[bdgotoh]

I sure can post a pic but it looked the same before and after, it's the later style with the closed pickup covers so you can't see the poles. Are you interested in that particular one or just Sabre pics in general? I've owned a mess of them and have pics of all if you are interested.

 

[shamus63]

Nice bass! Yeah, my interest is casual, but nevertheless interested. Posting all the MM pic's you want is more than welcome here!

 

[AdMar]

Who has modded thier MM Basses? You see guys modding Fender's all the time, but I haven't seen anyone mod a MM Bass.

If I had one I have a feeling that I would make some mods to the body.

What mods have you made to your MM Bass?

Chad

Hi Chad,
I have modified my '96 EB MM 3eq to better suit my needs for 'passive like' old school tones and for getting more old school Stingray tones.
I took out the original volume pot and replaced it with a stacked pot (EMG). The upper control is my 'passive tone control' (typical high end roll off like on Fender P) outfitted with both .47 and .22 caps (tried all kinds, untill I got what I liked). The passive tone control works after the standard 3eq.

The results I get are spectacular! Working with only the passive tone or with both the passive tone and the active treble control provides zillions of new very usable tones. The standard mid control slightly boosted sometimes provides just the right amount of clarity. I can play this bass in every musical situation and/ or style, and can go back to the original EB MM tone just by diming the tone control!

I've had very possitive reactions both from sound engineers and fellow band members and musicians.

I'm fully aware that me messin' with EB's hard work designing the elektronics is seen by most as a no go, but to make up for this blasfemy I promise I'll leave my other Stingray 4 (Classic Gilded White) fully stock!

Regards!

I use D'Addario flats on this bass.