discreet Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 (edited) HB PB-50 - Modded! v2.0 https://soundcloud.com/arkaymith/modded-hb-pb-50/s-7y2HZ Latest experiment in modifying a cheap bass to make it punch way above its weight - this is the second HB PB-50 I've modded. Basically it's had the headstock reshaped, neck tinted, pickup upgraded, bridge replaced and the pickguard resprayed so as to resemble a 54/56-type P Bass. It also has Fender Mex RW wiring, pots and jack output, Fender-style control knobs and a Fender string tree. The stock strings were iffy rounds, so I upgraded to LaBella 760FS flats. I've said this before, but the difference a good set of strings makes, even to a more affordable bass, is astonishing. Given that the necks on these are surprisingly good, the strings and the pickup (a Herrick Tele '51' Bass Single Coil) make the bass a joy to play and it sounds great. Compared with my last effort, the headstock is a much more accurate shape and of course the new pickup makes a huge difference. I knocked the gloss off the bodywork and hardware with a Scotchbrite pad as I don't like 'new' basses. I don't like the Angle-Grinder School of bass relic work either, so it's fairly subtle. I didn't tint the back of the neck as the stock satin finish plays very well as it is. I may yet replace the tuners as the tuner posts are the 'hourglass' type that force you to have the string resting in the middle of the post, whereas I prefer to wind the string down to the bottom of the post to get a better break angle over the nut. It would also be an opportunity to get the reverse vintage type which of course would be more in keeping with the vibe. Thanks to Davie (kodiakblair) for the headstock template and John (KiOgon) for the control knobs. Edited February 6, 2018 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 Thumbs up there :good: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazBeen Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 Surprisingly nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naxos10 Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 That's really nice modded bass discreet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machinehead Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 Lovely. I'm inspired to (try to) do the same thing. Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledum Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 Sounds good! (Looks good, too.) Here's my HB-50 mod: I stripped the body and sprayed it gold and installed a Harley Benton lefty Jazz Bass neck to get closer to a Dusty Hill kind of vibe. I like the Wilkinson pickup. It sounds pretty good actually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 23, 2017 Author Share Posted August 23, 2017 (edited) [quote name='Tweedledum' timestamp='1503487871' post='3358600'] Here's my HB-50 mod: I stripped the body and sprayed it gold and installed a Harley Benton lefty Jazz Bass neck to get closer to a Dusty Hill kind of vibe. I like the Wilkinson pickup. It sounds pretty good actually. [/quote] That is suh-weet! I want to do a body refin on the next one. I only changed my pup because HB don't fit a Wilkinson any more... Edited August 23, 2017 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donnyboy Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 Nice one - out of interest what happened to your last effort ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 23, 2017 Author Share Posted August 23, 2017 (edited) [quote name='Donnyboy' timestamp='1503490444' post='3358637'] Nice one - out of interest what happened to your last effort ? [/quote] I moved it on shortly after finishing it as I didn't really need it at the time. Plus I wanted to do another at some point. I think this one's a keeper though, especially after the time investment. Plus it's not worth much, so there's less chance of it ending up in the pawn shop... Edited August 23, 2017 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 Sounds and looks amazing, well done. Modding one of these is on my 'to do' list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 Looking and sounding great. Makes me want another one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 24, 2017 Author Share Posted August 24, 2017 [quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1503523850' post='3358977'] Looking and sounding great. Makes me want another one [/quote] How many have you got?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted August 24, 2017 Share Posted August 24, 2017 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1503600299' post='3359622'] How many have you got?? [/quote] I briefly had 3. 1 was a "deko" bought for parts,quick fix later and it went to a pal's lad. Sold my 1st one,with the lovely roasted maple type grain on thefretboard, last month to a BC'er. Just my trusty Peavey SF powered PB-50 left Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 [quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1503603754' post='3359658'] Just my trusty Peavey SF powered PB-50 left [/quote] Super-Ferrite..? My brief experience with those was very favourable, I can only imagine your SF PB-50 is a winner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 The PB-50 with Super-Ferrite/TI jazz flatscombo definitely is a winner Mind you the fact my PB-50's all had great necks,working tuners and decent bridges helped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 [quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1503669488' post='3360184'] ...the fact my PB-50's all had great necks,working tuners and decent bridges helped. [/quote] That's the thing, if you're happy with the nut width and fairly chunky handful, the PB-50 necks play very nicely. Great value, imho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LewisK1975 Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1503669854' post='3360189'] That's the thing, if you're happy with the nut width and fairly chunky handful, the PB-50 necks play very nicely. Great value, imho. [/quote] Couldn't agree more, the neck on mine is excellent too. The fit in the neck pocket is what amazed me the most for a Bass of this price point, it's super tight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 [quote name='LewisK1975' timestamp='1503670408' post='3360194'] ...The fit in the neck pocket is what amazed me the most for a Bass of this price point, it's super tight! [/quote] I'm guessing those Chinese CNC machines are on the money... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 That sounds awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted August 26, 2017 Share Posted August 26, 2017 [quote name='Tweedledum' timestamp='1503487871' post='3358600'] Sounds good! (Looks good, too.) Here's my HB-50 mod: <pic> I stripped the body and sprayed it gold and installed a Harley Benton lefty Jazz Bass neck to get closer to a Dusty Hill kind of vibe. I like the Wilkinson pickup. It sounds pretty good actually. [/quote] How well did the HB Jneck fit the pocket? Decently, I'm guessing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfoxnik Posted August 27, 2017 Share Posted August 27, 2017 [quote name='eude' timestamp='1503671066' post='3360201'] That sounds awesome! [/quote] +1 Really nice playing too!😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledum Posted August 27, 2017 Share Posted August 27, 2017 [quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1503742519' post='3360634'] How well did the HB Jneck fit the pocket? Decently, I'm guessing. [/quote] Fits nicely into the pocket. Only the screw holes in the neck heel were slightly misaligned so had to fill them and drill new ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted August 28, 2017 Share Posted August 28, 2017 [quote name='Tweedledum' timestamp='1503855306' post='3361195'] Fits nicely into the pocket. Only the screw holes in the neck heel were slightly misaligned so had to fill them and drill new ones. [/quote] Cool. Thank you. Time for some plotting... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 That's a nice looking bass. Sounds good on your sound cloud too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted September 5, 2017 Author Share Posted September 5, 2017 (edited) [quote name='Tweedledum' timestamp='1503487871' post='3358600']Sounds good! (Looks good, too.)[/quote][quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1503523073' post='3358968']Sounds and looks amazing, well done.[/quote][quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1504622306' post='3366118'] That's a nice looking bass. Sounds good on your sound cloud too. [/quote][quote name='eude' timestamp='1503671066' post='3360201']That sounds awesome![/quote][quote name='silverfoxnik' timestamp='1503852949' post='3361182']Really nice playing too![/quote] Thanks for all the positive comments, folks. Next up: v3.0 will be a 68 Telecaster Bass-alike. I've even got a two-saddle bridge and string ferrules on order... Edited September 5, 2017 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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