128 posts
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Post by Bendricks on Feb 3, 2019 20:42:48 GMT
Hello ! So yesterday I bought my very first bass guitar. It's a no-brand, made in japan, and it's very vintage. I love semi-acoustics, and the price was very good (130$), so I bought it. I feel that it may need some improvements, maybe newer hardware and pickup, I definitely need to change the tuners too. But the thing is, I've never owned a guitar with this type of bridge, so I don't know with what I need to replace it or should I just clean the rust out of it. Also I don't know anything about bass pickups, specially humbucker bass pickups, so if I could get some help in this area I'd be very appreciative Some pics !
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Post by DerAlex on Feb 4, 2019 11:38:25 GMT
Looks really nice with original vintage flavour. :-)
Is the neck adjusted correctly and how does it sound atm?
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128 posts
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Post by Bendricks on Feb 4, 2019 14:40:12 GMT
Looks really nice with original vintage flavour. :-) Is the neck adjusted correctly and how does it sound atm? It's set up well and plays really great. But since it's my first bass I don't really know how to describe the sound...it's bass-y ? But I think it needs some electrical work done, maybe some shielding because as soon as I touch the jack port while playing, it starts making those electrical noises.
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Post by DerAlex on Feb 4, 2019 14:58:25 GMT
To be honest: I modded two semi-hollows in the past and I won´t do it again. Looking at the f-holes in your bass I would even more NOT do it. If you have a luthier nearby I would ask him how much changing pots and the input jack would cost. Saves you a lot of grey hairs - unless you like challenges.
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128 posts
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Post by Bendricks on Feb 4, 2019 22:13:33 GMT
I just took a look at the input jack and the pickup, took the screws off to see the length of the cables, and it's enough to replace them without any issues. Plus I'll order some new tuners because these ones are horrible. The problem is, I don't know what type of pickup do I need to replace the one on the guitar, I didn't find anything like it, what do you suggest?
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Feb 5, 2019 6:23:15 GMT
You don't need to replace the electronics. If the jack makes noises, soldering it new should fix that. The pick-up could be a candidate but its position will yield a bass-heavy sound no matter what and of course the strings are likely dull. The bridge looks like it's just floating and needs to be turned a little for intonation. Its position will probably need adjustment for proper scale length too.
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Post by DerAlex on Feb 5, 2019 7:28:18 GMT
I wouldn´t replace the pickup as well - usually by adjusting the pickup height you can get plenty of change to the signal and therefore tone.
Tuners shouldn´t be a problem - maybe you can find ones where the screws match up but otherwise just drill some new holes.
So just resoldering the input jack as Leo said should be enough for first quick fixes.
Then change strings and see how it sounds.
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128 posts
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Post by Bendricks on Feb 5, 2019 9:09:01 GMT
Alright will do ! Thanks for the tips guys
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Feb 5, 2019 9:57:10 GMT
It looks like a Gibson EB2. Here's what the original sounds like:
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3,968 posts
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Post by salteedog on Feb 5, 2019 11:07:40 GMT
Great looking guitar and made in Japan so chances are it's more than decent. Nice one.
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Feb 5, 2019 12:40:12 GMT
Not a semi hollow like the EB-2 though. Probably fully hollow so should sound quite different. Maybe. How hollow it is wasn't said. The point remains that a pick-up that close to the neck would bring more of that Gibson sound than that of a Precision or Jazz Bass. But then, it is not quite as close as on the EB2.
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