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Upgrading basses and replacing a truss rod
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 7:06 pm
by Jwar
Hey guys! I had a few quick questions about upgrading some shit.
I want to put some better/more responsive pickups in two of my basses and better electronics. Get rid of scratchy pots and such.
First off. What are some good responsive pickups in your opinions? I would like to take my Jackson 5 string and put some passive pickups in it, but it has Duncan pickups in it already. They are pretty good, but just not loud enough. Could this possibly be from the pot though? I don't know much about bass electronics. They have to be 5 string soapbar though or they won't look right. I'd love to throw some Aguilar in there or something along that line, but again, don't think it'd turn out right.
pic:
Older pic, but whatever
I also have a beater 4 string I want to change the truss rod out in. It's just shit.
Crestline...sigh. This bass has been around for a long time. It's beater that I'd like to show some loving to. New electronics, new pickups, new truss rod, pick guard, bridge...etc. I need help! Have never done a truss rod before.
Pics:
Re: Upgrading basses and replacing a truss rod
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 9:40 pm
by Mudfuzz
Um.. inless it is a rickenbacker or has a box rod that isn't glued in replacing then things means taking off the fretboard as far as I know.. I've put the things in new necks.. they are not made to be taken out...
Re: Upgrading basses and replacing a truss rod
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 9:57 pm
by Moustache_Bash
Yeah, you only replace truss rods on that 58 Les Paul you bought in high school and still own that's worth 250K now.
Re: Upgrading basses and replacing a truss rod
Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 11:13 am
by Jwar
Ok. So fuck replacing it. What about the bridge? Where can I get a similar one? Any clues? For the Crestline I mean.
Re: Upgrading basses and replacing a truss rod
Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 11:19 am
by Deltaphoenix
You could still get a bolt-on neck, unless you are attached to showing the world it is a Crestline
There are some reasonably priced, paddle head (correct term?) necks on eBay. You may have to add or subtract wood to make it fit in the neck pocket though.
Shape the headstock up a little, get a water slide decal that says GetSome in Gibson text or whatever and you are set.
Re: Upgrading basses and replacing a truss rod
Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 7:48 pm
by Mudfuzz
jwar wrote:Ok. So fuck replacing it. What about the bridge? Where can I get a similar one? Any clues? For the Crestline I mean.
That bridge looks to be your standard gibson style three point bridge you can find the things on ebay. Or.. just a Bassass 1 or the new overpriced thing from hipshot..
Re: Upgrading basses and replacing a truss rod
Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 4:53 pm
by Jwar
To tell you guys the truth, I have no idea if the neck is actually fucked or not. I just don't have a tool to adjust the rod. I could take it to a luthier, but that bass only cost me 50 bucks. LOL!. I just...am too cheap?
Re: Upgrading basses and replacing a truss rod
Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 5:08 pm
by Deltaphoenix
Umm, I would rather try to find something to adjust the truss rod with. It is a cheapie bass so surely they don't have some proprietary truss rod requiring a special $100 tool.
Re: Upgrading basses and replacing a truss rod
Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 7:42 pm
by Mudfuzz
jwar wrote:To tell you guys the truth, I have no idea if the neck is actually fucked or not. I just don't have a tool to adjust the rod. I could take it to a luthier, but that bass only cost me 50 bucks. LOL!. I just...am too cheap?
a bass is a bass, if you want to play the bass then fix the bass the right way..
and get the tool... no scratch that pay $300 to get that rod replaced! it's the right thing to do.
Re: Upgrading basses and replacing a truss rod
Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 7:48 pm
by Jwar
Mudfuzz wrote:jwar wrote:To tell you guys the truth, I have no idea if the neck is actually fucked or not. I just don't have a tool to adjust the rod. I could take it to a luthier, but that bass only cost me 50 bucks. LOL!. I just...am too cheap?
a bass is a bass, if you want to play the bass then fix the bass the right way..
and get the tool... no scratch that pay $300 to get that rod replaced! it's the right thing to do.
I do nothing? LOL!
Nah...I just want to be able to fix it myself on the cheap. I know the pickups and shit cost, but I didn't want to spend a lot having to adjust the rod.
Re: Upgrading basses and replacing a truss rod
Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 9:20 pm
by Mudfuzz
jwar wrote:Mudfuzz wrote:jwar wrote:To tell you guys the truth, I have no idea if the neck is actually fucked or not. I just don't have a tool to adjust the rod. I could take it to a luthier, but that bass only cost me 50 bucks. LOL!. I just...am too cheap?
a bass is a bass, if you want to play the bass then fix the bass the right way..
and get the tool... no scratch that pay $300 to get that rod replaced! it's the right thing to do.
I do nothing? LOL!
Nah...I just want to be able to fix it myself on the cheap. I know the pickups and shit cost, but I didn't want to spend a lot having to adjust the rod.
If the truss works and can be adjusted and play good then out side of the pickups sucking and you needing a saddle [a new set of saddles will cost you almost the same as a epi bridge will] that bass looks COOL man! It doesn't look like plywood and actually looks like maple so if you put a gibson pickup in it you have basically the same as a gibson...
as for the tool.. you just need to know the right size you need..
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=Gi ... h&_sacat=0
Re: Upgrading basses and replacing a truss rod
Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 8:43 am
by theavondon
Maybe the pickup is cool?
Re: Upgrading basses and replacing a truss rod
Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 9:56 am
by Jwar
theavondon wrote:Maybe the pickup is cool?
The pickup does work. I just want something punchier. Plus both basses need new pots and such.
Thanks for the link Mud!
Now to do a little more research and get crackin!
Re: Upgrading basses and replacing a truss rod
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:04 pm
by metalmariachi
Get a hipshot 3 point replacement bridge, get a warmouth neck with the same headstock and have a kick ass pickup wound.
MM