How would you fix an old beat up bass? | Page 1 | Bass Players Guild of Gaia | Guild Forums

Rael Rose Valentine

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Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 6:07 pm

My friend has this bass, it's old too. It's caked with duust, and screams neglect. He says when he gets a new one, he'll give it to me. The repairs are obvious, but how should I show the bass some love to make it new again. I want to make it sound good too. SO post suggestions here, and costs. Pm me about this matter if you'd like also.

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 6:38 pm

Ok, here's a list of the obvious repairs and damage
-new tuning machines
-newstrings
-new electronics
-damaged faceplate
-new bridge

Rael Rose Valentine

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BassMann95

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Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 9:18 pm

pickups, thats the biggist thing is the pickups, or you can get a pre-amp and that will do the same thing but if its crackd and stuff id leave that if it dosent affect the sound to much or dosnt look like compleat s**t, i personaly would never crack my bass but i think it gives it character, my friend had a les paul and hes the same way but when he dropd it it had this huge gash in the binding and there was bear wood just sticking out and it lookd good

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:50 am

well if you wanna paint it

or change the paint

you're gonna have to sand it down to wood, and get something to coat it, like an Enamel Paint, or like some clear liquid polymer or somehting to coat it and keep it from chipping

also, Frets may be a but of a problem, unless you like the sound of Bzzt and Dead

Zacc Attack

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Onani Master Luna Thoth

Hygienic Humorist

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Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 11:19 pm

If the fret bord is a problem and the tuning pegs just get a new neck and head, for the pick ups that isn't to hard most stores have some just find a pair that's close to the ones in there all ready you need pickups to convert the vibrations of the strings to sound, then the strings isn't to hard and if the face plate is cracked and its not a problem of the integrety of the bass I would say keep it it probably looks cool, as for the dust take a wet cloth wipe it down then take a sponge and some wood cleaner and give that baby a good scrub down. Also be sure that befor you replace every thing to test oil out the tuning pegs and put new strings on it to make sure it sounds all right.

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:15 pm

PM me, i know how to build basses (Neck Thru, Bolt On, Set IN, etc..)
here is a run down of the stuff...

tuning machines - they range from like 10-20(each) for decent tuners, but remember the cheaper the tuner is, the less your bass will stay in tune... here is a site to get tuners http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Bass_tuners.html

Strings - i always recommend Ernie Ball, depending on your nut size (i'm talking about the basses nut) depends on your string size... going to big of a gauge will make your string get stuck in the nut and when you tune, the nut will break off the bass (i know from experience), and going to small of a gauge will make the string shift around in the nut and will not keep in tune for long. here are some strings... Musicians Friend
Flatwound are for fretless, Steel makes the bass sound like crap, go for the slinky (different types of slinky have different gauges

electronics - electronics can mean a lot. the pickups could still be good, but the inner electronics might be damaged. check out the inner electronics and make sure everything is soldered, if something is hanging off, get a schematic of how the bass is set up (i need to know more about the bass, and i'll get it for you) and fix it. now if it is the pickups then get new ones... i suggest Bartolini, and i highly recommend that you do NOT get EMG's...

faceplate - do you mean "pickguard"? if you do, here is a site with standard pickgaurs http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Pickguards.html
if you bass is different, tell me what kind and i'll find where you can get a pickgaurd for it. ***there is a 90% chance that the pickguard is connected to your electronics, be careful when you take it off***

bridge - this is by far the hardest thing to get, you need to know your string spacing. here are some STANDARD bridges http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Bass_bridges.html
your bass might be different, PM and i will guide you thru the process of getting a new bridge...

there is more that IS wrong with your bass, if it gathered a crap load of dust, that probably means it hasn't had a set-up...
you probably need to adjust the truss rod.
you need a intonation and action adjustment (it doesn't matter if the bridge is new or old)

if you have anymore questions PM, i can help you faster that way...

EDIT: first make sure that you NEED the stuff BEFORE you buy it, many things can be fixed easily

Bass -AF2M-

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