Ok, im gonna mod my SUB5.

[ibanez2005]

I love my SUB5 and i'd like to give it some special touches.

First thoughts are to order a replacement body from Sims Custom Shop in the UK.
Maybe an ash body, finished in trans red to match my Stingray. Or maybe another transparent colour. Either way, it has to have the body contours, fore-arm and rear.
Thinking of having the new body routed for a neck pickup, ala Sabre, and i'd need a custom scrathplate and control plate.

I wanna keep the original body in one piece so it can be returned to its original state if need be.

What do you guys think?

 

[MingusBASS]

It would no longer be a SUB5.

 

[adouglas]

I think you should take the money you're thinking of spending on mods, add it to what the SUB5 will bring when you sell it and go buy an SR5.

I've done modding myself on basses I've owned (pickups and electronics) and I know a couple of people who like to go that route...buying an inexpensive instrument and then throwing aftermarket stuff at it.

The rationale is usually that you can cobble together a good instrument for less than it would cost you to buy the real thing.

But it always seems to wind up costing more in the end and often you wind up with something that has virtually no resale value and maybe isn't all that great after all.

Modding is fun, though, and the act of tinkering can be its own reward.

It says a lot about the Bongo that it's one of the first products I've owned in a very long time that is just perfect right out of the box. I have no urge to change it in any way.

 

[Randracula]

A new body is a pretty big mod. IMO if you don't like it the way it is you would be better off selling it and buying a SR5 or Bongo 5.

 

[Disquieter]

isn't the sub neck different? it has a finish on it right? like the bongo, but it's contoured like a stingray?

why the hell not throw a replacement body on there, if you got the dough, go for it, plus then you'll have the oval PG too which you can't get on sr5's.


do it, and post pics afterwards.

 

[GassieBall]

I sort of always wondered about modding. Like with cars, for example. I've seen Acura Integras modded up so heavy, I think that the totally cost would be the same as a Porsche 911 Turbo.

 

[silverburst]

Why not. If you've got a good vision of what you want to do, I'd shop it around some and see if you can make your wildest dreams come true. It's not like you're experimenting with brain surgery and somebody's life is depending on the outcome. Of course I would make sure I had a back up so I had something to play while it was down.

 

[phatduckk]

i say go for it if you want. its your bass and you can do whatever you want.

 

[Randracula]

I'm just thinking of the money it would cost versus buying a new bass.If money is not an issue then yeah go for it!

 

[DKWilkins]

"But it always seems to wind up costing more in the end and often you wind up with something that has virtually no resale value and maybe isn't all that great after all."

I've found this often to be the case....

 

[GassieBall]

Back to what I said about cars, though. Some people like the modding for the pure sake of modding and having the satisfaction of saying, "Hey, I did this myself." Others would rather just enjoy the finished product. So just like you all said, if money ain't an issue and he enjoys it, go for it!

 

[Chris C]

I'd say go for it. This may annoy some here, but really, I actually like the tone of the SUB 5 better than the SR5 (at least the SUB 5 I have now compared to the two SR5's I've had in the past.

Really, IMO, there is no mod on the pickups/electronics that could make my SUB 5 sound any better than it does right now. I like the looks better, too, because of the classic control plate/pickguard--looks like a Stingray. The one thing that I'm not so keen on is the flat, textured finish. When I first got mine, I had planned on refinishing it in a cool color (like big flake sparkle gold or purple). Even though I've done that sort of thing with other basses (I've actually built a few from raw lumber), at this point I've decided against it. The textured finish has grown on me--it looks decent and sounds killer.

But... as I said, if those mods would float your boat, go for it. It's fun tinkering around with instruments.

 

[ibanez2005]

I do love the bass, sounds incredible and like you said chris, they sound different to a Stingray and SR5. The neck on it is incredible and im curious as to how much the body wood is having on its sound because if you knock or tap the body, it doesnt feel as solid as my Stingray.

Whats the availability of proper MM pickups, if was gonna go down the 2 pickup route, i'd want the proper pickups and pre-amp. Could i buy these from EBMM or an EBMM dealer?

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Incredible!!!!!!! I give up

 

[ibanez2005]

For the price i paid for it, the sound is amazing so i dont need/want to buy an SR5.
I would love gold hardware for it too.

 

[adouglas]

So let me get this straight. You love the way it sounds, but you want to change the body wood and electronics.

Which will make it sound different.

Huh?

EBMM doesn't sell parts. And the only way you're going to get gold hardware is to send your stuff out for plating.

Sorry for raining on your parade, but that's the fact.

Looks like opinions here are pretty evenly split. It's your bass, do what you want with it. I for one would be interested in seeing not only the final result, but finding out how much it eventually winds up costing you. When all is said and done (new body, new pickup(s), new pickguard, professional-quality finishing and installation) I'm guessing $500-$750 US.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

So let me get this straight. You love the way it sounds, but you want to change the body wood and electronics.

Which will make it sound different.

Huh?

EBMM doesn't sell parts. And the only way you're going to get gold hardware is to send your stuff out for plating.

Sorry for raining on your parade, but that's the fact.

Looks like opinions here are pretty evenly split. It's your bass, do what you want with it. I for one would be interested in seeing not only the final result, but finding out how much it eventually winds up costing you. When all is said and done (new body, new pickup(s), new pickguard, professional-quality finishing and installation) I'm guessing $500-$750 US.

Perhaps Mr. ibanez2005 is doing a Devils Advocate

 

[ibanez2005]

Im gonna e-mail Sims and get a rough qoute. Money isnt an issue.

The reason im going with a new body is i'd like the extra neck pickup but because i love the bass so much, i wanna keep the original in one piece. It would be easy for me to take a hammer and chisel to it and drop a new pickup in but i couldnt bring myself to do it.

Anyone know what the SUB's bodies are made of?

 

[Big Poppa]

SUb bodies are made from secret tone forests with nano compression and very rare givralter wood.....Ok most are poplar.....

To quote a great song...."its your thing...do what you want to do......" have fun and if you dont like it put it back to stock

 

[ibanez2005]

Cheers BP, like i said, amazing guitar and top sound. It would be nice to have an ash or maple body made for it and have the contours on it. After seing that 30th anniversary Stingray i may be tempted into Mahogany.