Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

making a chinese bass sound like an american one...


ogri
 Share

Recommended Posts

i absolutely love my highway one jazz bass, and swear it sounds better than a standard yank, or at least has the exact tone that i want.
recently, i bought a squier classic vibe in white/tortoiseshell, which is a great little bass, but back to back the highway has it beaten(much as you would expect) hands down in terms of tone.
highway ones are berluddy expensive now, at least 250 sovs more than mine was a few years back, so was wondering if there was a simple, straightforward way to make me classic vibe replicate thetone?
visually, the highway one has its badass two bridge instead of the standard one but thats it. both got the smaller machine heads....both got alnico pick-ups but im guessing the yank ones may be better..or is it just the sum of everything( woods used, wiring etc) that makes for the sound?
cheers dudes
paul

Link to comment
Share on other sites

good advice mate...is the badass bridge that much better? have tried altering the relief in the neck so the action is higher and the strings twang bassier acoustically but still cant get the deep bass tone the highway has
[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='689951' date='Dec 20 2009, 06:09 PM']If you are really curious, get yourself some hardware swapping in to find where the tone is. I reckon the Badass is a major. Then the pickups.[/quote]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree with Mr. Foxen in that I usually tackle the bridge first when upgrading instruments. Pickups next. Bear in mind that if you are trying to replicate a much loved bass this is near impossible. If you simply wish to raise the game of the weaker instrument this is much more realistic. I wasn't that impressed with the handful of HWY1 instruments I tried but I know there is a lot of love for them. It could be that you've got a particuarly good one

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='690079' date='Dec 20 2009, 07:42 PM']I agree with Mr. Foxen in that I usually tackle the bridge first when upgrading instruments. Pickups next. Bear in mind that if you are trying to replicate a much loved bass this is near impossible. If you simply wish to raise the game of the weaker instrument this is much more realistic. I wasn't that impressed with the handful of HWY1 instruments I tried but I know there is a lot of love for them. It could be that you've got a particuarly good one[/quote]
...or dodgy fifty year old ears... :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think you'll manage to get the CV to sound exactly like the Highway but you might make it sound even better than it does.

I have a CV Jazz and it is a great instrument but I'm also considering some upgrades.

1) I'm not changing the bridge, which is already a high mass bridge with brass saddles.
2) I'm planning to change the electrics for CTS pots, a Sprague capacitor, and a Switchcraft socket.
3) I'm going to change the pickups for (probably) a pair of Lindy Fralin Vintage Jazz (but maybe Wizard 64s or Fender Custom Shops - or lots of other possibilities depending on what you like).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='694163' date='Dec 27 2009, 11:16 AM']I don't think you'll manage to get the CV to sound exactly like the Highway but you might make it sound even better than it does.

I have a CV Jazz and it is a great instrument but I'm also considering some upgrades.

1) I'm not changing the bridge, which is already a high mass bridge with brass saddles.
2) I'm planning to change the electrics for CTS pots, a Sprague capacitor, and a Switchcraft socket.
3) I'm going to change the pickups for (probably) a pair of Lindy Fralin Vintage Jazz (but maybe Wizard 64s or Fender Custom Shops - or lots of other possibilities depending on what you like).[/quote]
all good stuff, thanks again blokes :-)
the CV jazz is indeed a beautifull bass, well worthy of the upgrades

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Personally I wouldn't go for the bridge 1st. I've fitted BaddAss bridges to several basses and to be honest the results have always been underwhelming in the extreme.

The best sounding 7ender I've ever played has bent tin for a bridge.

I'd give Andy at Wizard a rig and chat about what you're looking for.

Peter

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='GreeneKing' post='698341' date='Jan 1 2010, 08:35 PM']Personally I wouldn't go for the bridge 1st. I've fitted BaddAss bridges to several basses and to be honest the results have always been underwhelming in the extreme.

The best sounding 7ender I've ever played has bent tin for a bridge.
Peter[/quote]

+1

[quote]Is the cheapy bridge one with grooves for the saddles?[/quote]

Best bridge there is for a Fender!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Chuck some EMG's in the Vibe....

The pickups are weak and can feedback in a band situation, you'll upgrade the wiring in the process and the EMG's have a particular voice that seems to come through no matter what bass you put them in (IMHO)

My EMG loaded classic vibe sounded brilliant in a band, easily a match for a run of the mill USA Jazz

ATB

Mark

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...