Terry M.

I'm picking your brains a bit because I'm learning from this discussion. Hope you don't mind. How does a bridge contribute to tuning problems?

I think it would still. I'm playing my 2001 Broadneck Thumb 5 right now coincidentally. All stock of course 😊

What is it they fail to do after a while? I'd like to hear of other experiences. Scratchy pots and having to replace the jack socket I've experienced,both minor fixes.Never broken a battery wire but I can see how it can happen. I've even yet to break a string. Maybe I'm too soft on my gear 😂

Wow I've never heard of that model till now. Appreciate the heads up but it's missing a string for me 👍

Absolutely gutted. Turns out my Skyline DJ5 had a frozen truss rod. I took it back to Guitar Guitar and their tech guy couldn't shift it. I opted for a refund and they were really good about it. Concerns me that it's back for sale on their website in that very same condition. Only had it 14 days but I'm really gonna miss all 11lbs 3oz of it 😢

Good argument. I have however seen claims of pickguard swaps being upgrades along with stuff such as scrubbing off a Squier decal for a Fender one. Even attaching straplocks and adding a different design of fretboard dot markers. But I do like your point about the engineering aspect.

Interesting. I would lump them all under "modified" just based on my personal experience over the years. I've never (from memory) had a bass that had tuners and a bridge that didn't do what they were designed to do. My issue if I had one had always been some other aspect. Again this is only my experience. I don't play and hold notes long enough for sustain to be a concern of mine. I understand this is one reason for bridge swaps.

This.

This must happen so much after making changes 🤔

But I'm sure you can appreciate that not everybody likes Aguilar pickups or Sadowsky preamps? Which is why I think "upgrade" should be replaced with "modified." Either way it's good it worked out for you 👍

Let us know how you get on with it? 😂

True enough. I once modded a bass to the point that I wondered if it was still even a bass!! Of course I'm exaggerating but the point is it still sold. These days however I stay away from modding and would rather buy used basses as they left the factory. The exception is white pickguards. I really can't get on with them aesthetically so I tend to change them out and when I move them on I always include them.

This.

Agreed.

A lot of "collectors" can't and don't play. It's for investment purposes. I've met individuals personally who don't play yet have quite a collection. How many art collectors can even draw a stick man? Hence why I said "actual" players.

Nope I definitely won't disagree with that 😊

I agree with this. A touch of relief makes the bass feel like it's "talking" to me. I know it sounds weird 😊

I was told that it's collectors rather than actual players that have contributed to the rising prices of old gear. No idea if that's the case or not but it would make a degree of sense if so.

You can still play exuberantly and overplay without digging in. In fact I think it's easier to 😊

These guys do ALL my set ups. Forensic is an excellent description of their set up work. I'm not sure how they achieve it but I'm glad they do. Martin and John are NOT allowed to ever retire 😂

Wow that's crazy 😂

Valid point 👍 My set up gives me the most comfort which in turn enhances the playing experience and inspires me without worrying about fatigue over longer playing periods.

I noticed that dropping from a 130 gauge B string to 120 along with my light touch and low action gave me NO less fundamental whatsoever. Just my experience. So it's been 40-120 for me ever since.

Low action has to work in conjunction with individual technique. Buzzing is generally accepted as TOO low unless it's a part of one's sound. I find buzz intolerable so the action needs to be low but just outside of Buzz City. It works for many people but again, technique comes into play. And then some basses are easier to achieve this than others. Lakland basses (for example) are great for low action fans. I don't use them but there must be a reason ramps are popular to those who choose them.

The 3 individuals you mention are just 3 individuals with an opinion. Anthony Jackson apparently uses a low action,as does Victor Wooton,as did Jaco Pastorius and countless others. Just do what works for you. It really doesn't matter what works for anybody else whether famous or not.