Post by teesee on Sept 15, 2023 12:18:52 GMT
Hi all, just came across this forum (can't believe I never knew of it before), I'm usually on Talkbass but thought I'd share a couple of projects I've done on here also which may or may not be of any interest to anyone.
Firstly here a link to Talkbass on a JB-75 mod I did, (this was part 2 of the link, the first part is linked at the top of the post as I didn't know how to use the board there very well at the time).
The second project was on an RB-414
I did the same thing as on the JB, shielding, CTS pots, Switchcraft jack and switch, orange drops & Schaller tuners.
there's a couple of posts I've made there showing the RB stripped and prepared, then a bit further down a post showing the shielding and new electrical components.
I have to say that the new electrics really stand out now, (albeit there's nothing wrong with the stock stuff) there is just so much more clarity and variance in tone. All my components I bought from Northwest Guitars as they supply quality components rather than Amazon which can be iffy in quality and mostly Chinese components. I've shielded the new pocket too, which doesn't need it ATM as it's a humbucker but if every I want to change that pickup to single coil or other it's future proofed.
Then I bought a Hipshot 5RK400 bridge.
The fitted Hipshot bridge can be seen within this link (about 1/3rd way down)
The very first problem I encountered with the bridge is that it's lower than the stock bridge which meant I had to adjust the saddles to their highest setting just to get the strings off the fretboard. I then had to source some 5/8" UNC grubscrews here in the UK as the suppied were only 1/2" and were on their very last thread.
Due to the height of the saddle extension I'm not happy with with the angle of incidence of the string to saddle. The RB is with a luthier at the moment as the nut disintegrated and has to be replaced - something I'm not comfortable doing myself. I've bought some 3mm Aluminium plate and will make a shim for the bridge once I have it back. I can say for the day or 2 I had it after fitting the bridge it's improved sustain is remarkable.
The pickups supplied aren't bad at all, at least the neck pup, but the bridge pup leaves a lot to be desired IMHO the difference in volume is quite noticeable when switching. All this may change once I've got the guitar to where I want it once set up with the new shim, but I'll probably swap out the bridge with a Retrovibe bridge pup once I have it back. I've spoken with David at Retrovibe and he assures me that it's a straight swap into the RB. I'll keep you posted on the shim and pup when I do them.
Most of these mods have been expensive, particularly the Hipshot and Schallers and those 2 alone have cost me more than the actual bass has cost me from Thomann. However for a modest £40 or so you can make a big difference just by using shielding, and quality electrics.
Cheers for now.