First Bass Remodel!

[Silas Caldwell]

Hello! Thanks for viewing!

My father once saw his friend play a cheap red bass with the frets ripped out of it. My father knew that playing bass is what he wanted to do for his life. He bought the bass and that was his first bass. That friend recently reunited with my father and gave him an identical bass for me! It's a 80's Samick Artist Series Bass (P Bass). It's red with a black pick guard. The action is crazier then the music that gets released today and the truss rod is sticking out haha! I'm considering turning this bass into an absolute monster. For example (Replacing Bridge with Fender P-Bass Bridge) and making really cool mods to it. Is it worth it? I already have a "nostalgic" feel for this bass and am wondering what your thoughts are! Thanks for reading!

 

[kodiakblair]

For example (Replacing Bridge with Fender P-Bass Bridge)

Unless the existing bridge is faulty there'd be no benefit other saying "hey it's got a Fender bridge."

When you say "the truss rod is sticking out", do you mean at the headstock ? If so then it's a "bullet" style truss rod , the nut is meant to protrude.

Get the bass set up properly, put some new strings on it, play it while investigating different amp settings. No point in changing anything until you it's strengths/weaknesses.

 

[Silas Caldwell]

Unless the existing bridge is faulty there'd be no benefit other saying "hey it's got a Fender bridge."

When you say "the truss rod is sticking out", do you mean at the headstock ? If so then it's a "bullet" style truss rod , the nut is meant to protrude.

Get the bass set up properly, put some new strings on it, play it while investigating different amp settings. No point in changing anything until you it's strengths/weaknesses.

Thanks for the reply! Yes the bridge is extremely rusty and worn from four decades of gigging haha. I had no idea about the neck, but upon further inspection it seems like you were right! Thanks.

 

[kodiakblair]

Yes the bridge is extremely rusty and worn from four decades of gigging haha.

Steep it in oil and try to get the gunk out the grub screws. As long as it holds the strings and you can set the string height + intonation, it'll do the job every bit as well as any other bridge

Make double sure you have metric keys before adjusting the TR. Fender used 1/8th but Samick being Korean are metric.
Should be a 4mm key.

Get that bass playing sweet

 

[JimmyM]

I'd wait and see how it is stock before modding it.

 

[RSBBass]

There is no reason to replace anything until you have it setup and tried it. if you do choose to make some replacments, make sure they will fit. A standard Fender bridge may not fit, allow for the neck angle, etc.