dudi8 Posted November 21, 2016 Posted November 21, 2016 Hi all! i just bought a vintage icon fretless bass (jaco style), and I'm thinking of modifying it any advice how? (which pickups, preamp,epoxy coating) Thanks! Quote
MrCrane Posted November 22, 2016 Posted November 22, 2016 It all rather depends on what you want to achieve. I've got one, and beyond changing the strings and giving it a good setup, the only thing I'd do is refinish the body (I'm not a great fan of relicing, but for the price, the bass was too good to pass up). Quote
BassApprentice Posted November 22, 2016 Posted November 22, 2016 From my experience, Vintage basses are very well put together and the Wilkinson parts they use are well thought of around here. I wouldn't go replacing the electronics unless they really aren't giving you the sound you want, but at the end of the day it is your bass and you can do whatever you please Happy modding! Quote
bubinga5 Posted November 22, 2016 Posted November 22, 2016 [quote name='dudi8' timestamp='1479756275' post='3179049'] Hi all! i just bought a vintage icon fretless bass (jaco style), and I'm thinking of modifying it any advice how? (which pickups, preamp,epoxy coating) Thanks! [/quote]My first bass was a Vintage V something or other. I can't remember the model number. But it was a 5 string and it was made of Bubinga. You can guess the rest. They are superb instruments. Mine was before the Wilkinson pickups were available. It had a jazz bass and a P pickup. Sounded huge. Does it have a preamp.? If not just change the pickups to Dmarzio ultra jazz. It will sound great. I put a Dmarzio jazz and a Lollar P pickup in my old Vintage and it sounded very cool. I wouldn't worry about epoxy. Don't bother. Quote
SisterAbdullahX Posted November 23, 2016 Posted November 23, 2016 [quote name='dudi8' timestamp='1479756275' post='3179049'] Hi all! i just bought a vintage icon fretless bass (jaco style), and I'm thinking of modifying it any advice how? (which pickups, preamp,epoxy coating) Thanks! [/quote] Super glue! https://youtu.be/MyBsbNf9-p8 Quote
Grangur Posted November 23, 2016 Posted November 23, 2016 [quote name='SisterAbdullahX' timestamp='1479930807' post='3180422'] Super glue! https://youtu.be/MyBsbNf9-p8 [/quote] He only uses super glue for showing up the low spots on the neck though. The finish the guy in the video uses is a lacquer. Quote
SisterAbdullahX Posted November 23, 2016 Posted November 23, 2016 [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1479931651' post='3180432'] He only uses super glue for showing up the low spots on the neck though. The finish the guy in the video uses is a lacquer. [/quote] Er, you sure? Quote
Grangur Posted November 23, 2016 Posted November 23, 2016 [quote name='SisterAbdullahX' timestamp='1479932386' post='3180435'] Er, you sure? [/quote] Yes. At 6:27 to 6:39 you see him sand the super glue off to the point of only showing up a few low points. At 7:09 to 7:17 he is buffing up the high gloss cyanacrylate finish. Quote
SisterAbdullahX Posted November 23, 2016 Posted November 23, 2016 (edited) Super glue IS Cyanoacrylate. Edited November 23, 2016 by SisterAbdullahX Quote
Grangur Posted November 23, 2016 Posted November 23, 2016 [quote name='SisterAbdullahX' timestamp='1479936155' post='3180466'] Super glue IS Cyanoacrylate. [/quote] Doh!!! You live and learn. Thanks Quote
SisterAbdullahX Posted November 24, 2016 Posted November 24, 2016 [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1479942322' post='3180539'] Doh!!! You live and learn. Thanks [/quote] No problem! Quote
dudi8 Posted November 24, 2016 Author Posted November 24, 2016 I ordered Seymour Duncan weather report pickups, and I will make an epoxy coat for the fingerboard Quote
drTStingray Posted November 24, 2016 Posted November 24, 2016 (edited) [quote name='dudi8' timestamp='1480027828' post='3181211'] I ordered Seymour Duncan weather report pickups, and I will make an epoxy coat for the fingerboard [/quote] You only need the epoxy if you're going to use the roughest of all rough stainless steel roundwounds on it!! But as a Jaco tribute it's important I suspect - and would help you not to wear holes in your fretboard before too long if you're going to use the strings Jaco was said to have used. Edited November 24, 2016 by drTStingray Quote
Geek99 Posted November 25, 2016 Posted November 25, 2016 [quote name='SisterAbdullahX' timestamp='1479936155' post='3180466'] Super glue IS Cyanoacrylate. [/quote] Originally created by accident by a chemist trying to make optically clearer canopies for fighter planes Quote
dazza14 Posted November 25, 2016 Posted November 25, 2016 [quote name='dudi8' timestamp='1480027828' post='3181211'] I ordered Seymour Duncan weather report pickups, and I will make an epoxy coat for the fingerboard [/quote] I'd be interested in those pickups you're removing, I had the same bass and those pickups were lovely. Quote
dudi8 Posted November 25, 2016 Author Posted November 25, 2016 [quote name='dazza14' timestamp='1480076655' post='3181467'] I'd be interested in those pickups you're removing, I had the same bass and those pickups were lovely. [/quote] cool, i will talk to you when the weather report pickups arrive (aprox 2 weeks) Quote
SisterAbdullahX Posted November 28, 2016 Posted November 28, 2016 [quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1480062608' post='3181316'] Originally created by accident by a chemist trying to make optically clearer canopies for fighter planes [/quote] Well, I never knew that! Learn something new everyday. Quote
Geek99 Posted November 28, 2016 Posted November 28, 2016 [quote name='SisterAbdullahX' timestamp='1480356852' post='3183670'] Well, I never knew that! Learn something new everyday. [/quote] He was testing blocks of perspex and one recipe batch wouldn't set - he threw those in a pile and found a few minutes later that they had stuck together - the first intended use was on the battlefield gluing wounds together to keep them clean till a proper exam could be done - when I cut my face they stuck the edges together with glue Quote
dudi8 Posted December 19, 2016 Author Posted December 19, 2016 First stage is complete, polyester coating, looks great and sounds even better! the weather report pickups should arrive this week To be honest, the bass straight out of the box sounded wayyyy better than i expected, thats a lot of bass for the cash! Quote
dudi8 Posted January 7, 2017 Author Posted January 7, 2017 the bass is complete! the pickups are amazing! can't believe i didnt know them before... they are a big improvement, they give a really authentic vintage sound and a big one Quote
Grangur Posted January 7, 2017 Posted January 7, 2017 Great to hear it's all gone well and good to see the pics too. Looking at the "relic" job I'd give it a refin too. But it's your bass. Good luck with it. Quote
uk_lefty Posted January 8, 2017 Posted January 8, 2017 How did you do the polyester coat? What has it brought to the sound? Quote
dudi8 Posted January 9, 2017 Author Posted January 9, 2017 i didnt do it, i gave to a luthier to do it, i find it brings more mwah , its very thick, i like the sound and feel it gives, i had also epoxy on my fender jaco signature and custom one which had the same effect [quote name='uk_lefty' timestamp='1483906806' post='3211065'] How did you do the polyester coat? What has it brought to the sound? [/quote] Quote
dudi8 Posted January 9, 2017 Author Posted January 9, 2017 [quote name='uk_lefty' timestamp='1483958159' post='3211335'] Interesting... Is it a costly job? [/quote] probably depends on the luthier but here the average price was about 55 pounds Quote
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