Too rare to mod?

[dBChad]

I have been wanting to get a 6 string for a while now, and found a decent deal on a Peavey TL-6 with a red/blue iridescent finish. I haven't pulled the trigger yet (I'm sure someone will talk me into doing so), but I've also been looking for a 6 string with a maple fretboard (purely because I like the aesthetics; call me shallow).

While there are a few models of the Cirrus that would be a fine option (would have to play the waiting game for one to come up for sale), The TL-6 has a whole lot of cool factor. It's a made in U.S.A Peavey with a graphite reinforced 7 piece neck, carbon fiber overlaid headstock, great bridge, unique pickup combination, and unique finish. I have watched enough reviews of these basses to like the tone, I already play Peavey basses enough to have an idea on what to expect for ergonomics; this bass has a lot going for it.

Being as these are kind of rare, would it be a bad decision to purchase a pre-slotted birdseye maple fretboard and install it? I have a set of Luminlays that I could use with it as well. I have sufficient handy skills to remove the old fretboard and install the new one, but would have to pay someone to do the fret work.

Is this a bad choice which would render a rare instrument worthless if I ever tried to sell/trade it in the future, or would it even matter? It's a lot of sweat (and potentially money) for a cosmetic change, but I think it would be cool to have the only one.

 

[fretno]

Yeah no forget that just get the bass. 5 bucks says you’ll forget about that fingerboard idea for awhile but I wouldn’t do that mod.

 

[garp]

Is this a bad choice which would render a rare instrument worthless if I ever tried to sell/trade it in the future, or would it even matter? It's a lot of sweat (and potentially money) for a cosmetic change, but I think it would be cool to have the only one.

I'm all for unique, one-of-a-kind instruments, but trade/resale value almost always goes down the toilet. Should you decide to part with it, the reaction likely won't be "Wow – a TL-6 with a maple fretboard!" but rather "Wow – a very butchered TL-6." So, I'd encourage you to view the potential purchase with this aspect in mind.

 

[JRA]

make the ax play the way you want. "looks" are for kids. "resale value" is for dabblers and collectors. good luck with your project!

"too rare to modify" for playing?

 

[Axstar]

Go for it, it is a Peavey!

 

[Geri O]

First, definitely get that TL6.

Next, and if you can do the fingerboard replacement or have it done properly, I’d do that replacement as well. I much prefer maple fingerboard, too, except on my fretless basses.
How much it affects the value depends entirely on who is looking at it.

 

[Scottgun]

Rare in this case doesn't mean it's market value is likely to explode sometime in the future had you left it alone, so I say mod without fear or guilt. You are a player. If you were a collector, you wouldn't even be asking.

 

[Clark Dark]

Once you purchase the bass you can do whatever you want to it but the way you describe getting a maple board before you even have the bass in your possession is like reaching for the salt before you even tasted the steak.

 

[jd56hawk]

If you do, how soon will you be selling it after the mod?
Is it a collector bass without the mod?
Will the value depreciate by $100 or more?
Some people wouldn't bother doing it, but most people wouldn't do this, either.

 

[Rabidhamster]

No don’t ruin it just buy what you want instead leave the fretboard alone.

Let’s assume you don’t value your own time at all and you already have the materials and tools.
Let’s also assume you have a piece of fretboard wood that’s been aged similarly and as long as the Peavey has - you don’t want new wood on an old neck, one isn’t done moving or probably won’t be moving the same way as what you intent to pry off. Reminds me of putting new wine in old wine skins.

So once you’ve done that and the resale value of the bass is gone, you’ll turn around and spend another $400 on fretwork. Hopefully it will be playable when done, and you probably lost a lot of the finish on the neck prying the fretboard off so there’s that also. But that’s ok - you used a maplefretboardso you have to refinish the whole neck anyway. More time and money


Seems like a terrible choice.

 

[mellowgerman]

I think that once you've owned any instrument for a while and have decided that it's a keeper, modifications are fine. That said, I would keep in mind that an instrument's unique voice is a combination of a lot of factors. The way it resonates, sustains, and timbre in general are affected by the specific pieces of wood it's comprised of. Taking off the fretboard and replacing it, will affect the sound, not necessarily because it's maple vs. rosewood, but mainly because they are two completely different pieces of wood. Even two rosewood boards from the same tree may differ quite a bit based on density, grain, knots, but also the exact way they are attached (type of glue, amount of glue, time clamped, etc.). Might be a barely noticeable difference or it might result in new dead spots... you won't know until the fretboard is swapped. So if it's purely for aesthetic reasons, I personally would not do this mod.

I just added a mini-toggle switch and moved the output jack to the front of my 1970 Guild Starfire bass. The switch is a bass frequency cut for the bridge pickup that adds a whole new tonal dimension when blending the two pickups. The output jack was moved because I play this bass every day at home, mostly sitting down. My skinny legs make it so that the rear/side of the bass (where the factory input jack was) is right down on whatever surface I'm sitting on. When plugged in, even a right-angle jack would put unnecessary pressure on the wood there and the cable, not to mention upward pressure there, pushes the headstock downward. Anyway, both of these mods required me to drill a new hole to mount the components, but it was done for practical, utilitarian purposes, that suit me as a player, so I have no reservations about doing it. Of course I planned it out carefully, even pinpointing the placement for what I considered the best aesthetic results. Either way, I will never sell this bass, so resale value does not factor into my decision.

At the end of the day though, if it's your instrument, it's up to your discretion

 

[ahadl2500]

Thoughts on modifications and rarity...

If you are keeping it anyway... who cares do what you want.

If you might one day sell it... There is a stigma that modifications decrease the value of a bass. This can be true. That said, well done modifications with quality parts/install may not harm the value of the bass. Case and point, I sold a modified Peavey Millennium Plus on here for the same price that unmodified versions have been selling at. Bass had Bartolini Pickups and an Audere preamp installed. Original pickups were not included in the sale.

Where do I think modifications can get you into trouble... On a particularly desirable bass (rarity can be a factor in desirability, but does not dictate desirability). At this point in time, most Peavey basses do not fall in this category (B Quad is probably the only one I would put in this category). I can appreciate the quality of an American made Peavey (I own a GV and had a Millennium, have played several others). However, the market seems to undervalue them (IMO) and I doubt that changes. If you buy the TL6 and want to mod, do it... just make sure it is done with quality parts and installed correctly.

 

[gln1955]

It's not a Holy relic (i.e., Pre-CBS Fender). Make it what you want. So many people are so hung up on this hypothetical future relsale value that they play basses they are not totally happy with.

 

[Picton]

I wouldn’t, but then I wouldn’t buy something that old intending to mod it in the first place. All my mods tend to be temporary, like bridges and pickups and such.

On another note... bro, if you’ve got the skills to do a good FB swap, you’ve certainly got the skills to dress the frets yourself...

 

[walking Bass]

Don't. If it plays well as it is, leave it and buy something else.

 

[yodedude2]

it won't sound the same. the difference will be subtle, but you will notice.

 

[bolophonic]

Buy the bass now and decide later if you really need to mod it.

 

[smcd]

What you're thinking of doing is removing the fretboard from a $600 bass and replacing it with a fretboard of a different material. Performing major surgery all for aesthetic purposes. And doing the removal/replacement yourself.

Taking the financial effects into account is absolutely positively a legitimate concern. Too bad most people who do mods like this don't think about it a little harder beforehand. So let's do the math...

The bass is worth around $600. After you've put in who knows how many hours removing and replacing the board, you're going to spend at least $400 for the fretwork and setup. Now you're $1,000 into a bass that will never be worth more than $300 (on a good day). You're $1grand into a $300 instrument.
Think about it this way - would you spend $1,000 on a $300 bass?

Of course, if you're got money to burn, then that's another story. The TL-6 is more uncommon than rare (although that Eerie Dess finish is very rare). If you want to burn $700 because you want something to look different, go for it.

 

[TonyP-]

I modified much more expensive instruments.

If you feel it’s sometimg you really want to do, then just do it.

 

[cableguy]

If you own the bass, you're free to do whatever you want to it......