Modding Basic "cheapy" Models

[waynepunkdude]

Jesus wouldn't play a Warwick though.

[Happy Jack]

I've had a Johnson (why am I smiling as I write that?) and, for the money, you can't go far wrong as a basic platform.

Don't worry about whether the body is alder or plywood. At this price-point, the sonic differences will be swamped by all the other factors ... bridge, pickups, strings, tuners, lead, amp, speakers. Just make sure you avoid MDF.

Bear in mind that, when upgrading components, two of the things you can upgrade are the body and the neck. If you have a plywood body and you can actually hear the difference, wait for an appropriate 2nd-hand L/H body to turn up on eBay.

There's nothing to prevent you from starting with a Johnson and gradually swapping out ALL the components over a period of time, ending up with a parts-bin bass which has no Johnson content at all.

[Jesus]

[quote name='neepheid' post='349840' date='Dec 9 2008, 04:08 PM']£20-£30? That's a typical spend that down the pub on a Fri/Sat night! At the risk of making an assumption about your lifestyle - stay in for a couple of weekends then get the Streamer?[/quote]

If i wait im gonna be talking till about Feb for the Streamer, and ive just sold my righty so i dont even have anything to play around on at the min. And if i go with the Aria it leaves plenty to get a new decent strap, a stand, a gig bag, and a pedal.

I love Warwick though, since i first got into bass ive been into them big time.

[Mr. Foxen]

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='349928' date='Dec 9 2008, 05:00 PM']I've had a Johnson (why am I smiling as I write that?) and, for the money, you can't go far wrong as a basic platform.

Don't worry about whether the body is alder or plywood. At this price-point, the sonic differences will be swamped by all the other factors ... bridge, pickups, strings, tuners, lead, amp, speakers. Just make sure you avoid MDF.

Bear in mind that, when upgrading components, two of the things you can upgrade are the body and the neck. If you have a plywood body and you can actually hear the difference, wait for an appropriate 2nd-hand L/H body to turn up on eBay.

There's nothing to prevent you from starting with a Johnson and gradually swapping out ALL the components over a period of time, ending up with a parts-bin bass which has no Johnson content at all.[/quote]

Thats pretty much what I've done, liked it enough I did it again.

[Jesus]

Right i bit the bullet and ordered the Aria P-bass for £110 delivered. With the money saved ive managed to grab a leather strap (my current one is nylon and very thin), and new stand, and a Digiitech BP80 pedal secondhand from LowBlow.
Dont ask me why i chose Aria over Johnson, i think it was the headstock, or maybe that my righty was a Aria Pro II.

Edited December 10, 2008 by Jesus

[waynepunkdude]

[quote name='Jesus' post='350593' date='Dec 10 2008, 12:29 PM']Right i bit the bullet and ordered the Aria P-bass for £110 delivered. With the money saved ive managed to grab a leather strap (my current one is nylon and very thin), and new stand, and a Digiitech BP80 pedal secondhand from LowBlow.
Dont ask me why i chose Aria over Johnson, i think it was the headstock, or maybe that my righty was a Aria Pro II.[/quote]


Nice one mate hope it serves you well, nothing on this earth like a P Bass (why the f*** did I buy a Jazz?)

How you going to play with those holes in your hands?

[Jesus]

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='350801' date='Dec 10 2008, 02:56 PM']How you going to play with those holes in your hands?[/quote]

If anything its easier, my right hand self lubricates up and down the neck, and my left hand has a handy place to store spare plectrums, ear plugs, and lollipops.