Finally have a bass guitar...

[WeHuntKings]

Here's me playing my bass guitar



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It's a squier affinity p-bass.

I know I shouldn't be so excited, but I don't care.

Anyhow, what should I do to make it a more playable instrument? What parts should I replace, etc...

It should be noted that I like to play pretty heavy and distorted music. What do people do to hot rod their basses 'round these parts? What are some budget amps you guys like to play through? I am new to this thunderous world...

[The4455]

I'd have it set up to "make it more playable" or atleast change the strings. For cheap amps, I'd say Acoustic, their amps are really smooth sounding with alot of bass, Peavey makes some nice bass stuff on the cheaps. Besides for those two though, most good bass stuff is up there in price.

[Achtane]

Right on!

What do people do to hot rod their basses 'round these parts?

As a fan of hot-rodded basses, I suggest MOAR PICKUPS and OTHER ASSORTED PARTS.
But I think it would not be a bad idea to get a feel for the bass before worrying about replacing things immediately. I've never played one, but given what I've heard about Affinity basses, replacing the electronics is prolly something you'd like to do eventually.

Well, are there any issues you have with the bass right now? ie does it sound "muddy" or something? Does it feel comfortable to play? A basic setup might be a good idea. You can/should learn to set it up yourself as well, but if you've never done that then perhaps getting it done at a shop for now would be preferable
One of the cheapest modifications you can do is replacing the pots and cap with ones of different values, if you so desire. Or even different tapers. All the cool kids use linear volume/audio tone, you know. And by "cool kids" I mean "me".

...

Also, I like how that pic makes it look like your bass has a million tuners.

[The4455]

I also like how there is a guitar picture book on your table but you are playing a bass, also I'd like that picture book.

[WeHuntKings]

It's a bit muddy, but I think that's to be expected from shit pickups. Also I tuned it down to C when I got it without replacing the strings, should I get heavier strings? Or will it be fine without doing that? I kinda like the strings-against-the-frets sound for some reason. Sounds real dirty.

What did you replace your pots with and how much do they cost you? I am wondering what pickups to go for, I hear EMGs sound good on bass? I want something that will deliver a clear punch, even when distorted. I kinda want to cop the Godflesh bass sound...

[dorfmeister]

For amps how about a tronographic rusty box into a used power amp and then build a Dietz bass cabto run them into.. Set-up and pup upgrades would be good ideas. I like Pyramid Nickel Flatwounds but they are probably not for everyone.

http://www.electricalaudio.com/phpBB3/v ... =5&t=12345

[Mudfuzz]

It's a bit muddy, but I think that's to be expected from shit pickups. Also I tuned it down to C when I got it without replacing the strings, should I get heavier strings? Or will it be fine without doing that? I kinda like the strings-against-the-frets sound for some reason. Sounds real dirty.

What did you replace your pots with and how much do they cost you? I am wondering what pickups to go for, I hear EMGs sound good on bass? I want something that will deliver a clear punch, even when distorted. I kinda want to cop the Godflesh bass sound...

Active EMGs and a lot of fuzzes don't like each other. Personally I don't like them as I find them too hifi/bright. Their passive stuff and select stuff isn't bad, I rocked emg selects for over ten years before switching to Bartolini which I love and have them in 3 basses, DiMarzio bass pickups are REALLY great, model P is one of the all time classic mods for a reason, I have their ultra jazzes in my J which I use for demos. Seymour duncan bass pickups are also nice, I've used the vintage P and the 1/4 pounder P and like both, I also have antiquity's in both my "vintage" Ps, one of the coils died in my 74 so I just got a antiquity and their was almost no difference...

For lower tunings yeah I say get heavier strangs.

[D.o.S.]

Strings and downtuning depends on how far you're going and the feel you're going for. I use normal gauge bass strings, but I only used to go down two steps at most and really love the slack feel that setup gives you.

Cheap gear: Peavey, Hartke, there are quite a few super cheap gems hidden in that pile of superheavy shit from the 80's.

[theavondon]

For amps how about a tronograpgic rusty box into a used power amp and then build a Dietz bass cabto run them into.. Set-up and pup upgrades would be good ideas. I like Pyramid Nickel Flatwounds but they are probably not for everyone.

http://www.electricalaudio.com/phpBB3/v ... =5&t=12345

HNNG to the first part, but then you ruin it by saying to use flats.


IF YOU WERE ME (AS IN I DID THIS ONCE):

Paint the bass something incredibly garish or terrible, stencils a must. Remove pots entirely, go pickup->jack, use tuner as a mute. Get Rusty Box. Get Dean Markley Blue Steels. Get a pick. Play really hard. Never stop playing. NEVER STOP PLAYING. Throw bass as hard as you can against the ground. IT WILL PROBABLY NOT BREAK (LIKE MINE DIDN'T). KEEP PLAYING. LATER ON, scrape off all paint, and wheat-paste fliers to the bass, and then clear coat it. SAND THE HEADSTOCK, WRITE DIRTY WORDS THERE WITH A SHARPIE. KEEP PLAYING.

[the_carl]

For strings, just get some new rounds. Honestly I usually just get whatever rounds are on sale in my preferred gauge when I decide my bass is sounding too dead for the sake of change. You'll find a brand/gauge you really like eventually, and meanwhile your bass will still sound like a bass no matter what strings you've got on it.

Also, don't screw with the hardware unless there's actually something wrong with it. Electronics, go ahead and change 'em. Cork sniffers may tell you to get a heavier bridge or fancy tuners and such, but if you're going to put money into it the electronics are much more important IMO.

How loud of a budget amp are we talking? Bedroom, a little jamming, shows?

Also, needs ILF sticker.

[dorfmeister]

For amps how about a tronograpgic rusty box into a used power amp and then build a Dietz bass cabto run them into.. Set-up and pup upgrades would be good ideas. I like Pyramid Nickel Flatwounds but they are probably not for everyone.

http://www.electricalaudio.com/phpBB3/v ... =5&t=12345

HNNG to the first part, but then you ruin it by saying to use flats.

Well, like I said, it is probably not for everyone. But then my archetypal bass sound comes from dub. I love that bassy thud that you can feel. I love that sound with a shit ton of ambience around it. I love space. I just keep thinking that it is a sound that could be explored in more contexts. I keep imagining, heavier, doomier approaches utilizing that kind of sound.

Ideally one would have a bass with rounds and a bass with flats.

I stand by my other recommendations. It seems like everybody uses the same shit cheap gear and the same roundwounds and I like to see people staking a claim with a somewhat unorthodox but not random approach. YMMV.

Hell, at this point I am playing my guitar and bass through the same amp. A 30 watt Fenderish Tube amp. Not the best solution for bass but it is what I have right now.

[Rob Fossil]

Here's another vote for upgrading the electronics, unless you are having tuning/intonation problems. Otherwise, you are just getting better sound quality for an out of tune bass. Like others have said, I would start with pots/caps before pickups. As for amps, the Acoustic line is a decent option with enough power for jamming/giging for short money.

[Mudfuzz]

For amps how about a tronograpgic rusty box into a used power amp and then build a Dietz bass cabto run them into.. Set-up and pup upgrades would be good ideas. I like Pyramid Nickel Flatwounds but they are probably not for everyone.

http://www.electricalaudio.com/phpBB3/v ... =5&t=12345

HNNG to the first part, but then you ruin it by saying to use flats.

Well, like I said, it is probably not for everyone. But then my archetypal bass sound comes from dub. I love that bassy thud that you can feel. I love that sound with a shit ton of ambience around it. I love space. I just keep thinking that it is a sound that could be explored in more contexts. I keep imagining, heavier, doomier approaches utilizing that kind of sound.

Ideally one would have a bass with rounds and a bass with flats.

I stand by my other recommendations. It seems like everybody uses the same shit cheap gear and the same roundwounds and I like to see people staking a claim with a somewhat unorthodox but not random approach. YMMV.

Don [and many confused others] just like the sound of guitar stangs on bass... and...

that's... ok...
Looks like the OP is looking for that sound as well... and that too is ok... Personally I use Chormes which a lot of flat users call bright As for rounds though I like stainless over nickel because if you are going for a RW sound you might as well go all the way interms of aggressive, I like SITs myself

[Chumley]

I have that same bass, which I bought used, in crap shape, for $30.
I plan on getting a jazz neck, because the neck on mine's borked, replacing electronics & pickup (thinking dimarzio), and getting a new pickguard for shits and giggles. MAYBE a new bridge, but I'll do that last.

[McSpunckle]

I didn't read the thread so I don't care if I'm repeating what other people said.

First off, congrats!

Secondly, if you're going to change parts, I'd recommend taking it back and starting with one of the slightly more expensive Squiers. They tend to be a bit better so you'd have to put a bit less money into it.

But as far as playability, a good setup is all you need. New hardware (tuners and bridge-- tuners first) could help if it won't stay in tune. A new nut helps there too.

For tone, pickups and the hardware that the strings actually touch (especially the bridge) can be changed.

Guitar Fetish tends to be a pretty OK place for cheap decent hardware and pickups.