Is it worth upgrading this bass?

Manfred-Klose

I got a very old samick bass, but aint got no serial numbers or anything.
The bass plays real nicely.

I was wondering is it worth upgrading this bass, like putting in new pickups and electronics?
Everything else is still ok.

its a maple neck and fretboard, but cant seem to identify the tone wood, its about 10-15 thin layers of wood glued together, like those chinese type production guitars.
I got the bass for really cheap 2 years ago

Is it worth putting in new pickups, or should i just get a better bass?

anyway here is pics:

AlanRatcliffe

Early '90s by the look of it - when Samick were making all the Washburn stuff. The cutaways are very Washburn.

Yes you can improve it with a set of good pickups, but you can only take it so far. I'd probably save up two or three grand and wait for something decent to pop up secondhand then sell off the Samick.

Manfred-Klose

I'd probably save up two or three grand and wait for something decent to pop up secondhand then sell off the Samick.

yeah, that was my original idea also.
I am looking at something like a cort bass perhaps.

besides:
"you cant polish a turd" ? ha ha

thanks.

AlanRatcliffe

Manfred Klose wrote: "you cant polish a turd" ? ha ha

Oh you can - but you'll never get a high gloss finish.

Heath

Oh Contray , mythbusters proved you can get a good high gloss finish off polishing a turd ........

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/mythbusters-polishing-a-turd.html

Now that we have that resolved , how about them upgrades.......

AlanRatcliffe

? Maybe so, but it's still only a high gloss turd - kind of like a Gibson. <ducks>

RobK

So would now be a good time to bring out the popcorn and enjoy the show? ?

Explorerlover

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: ? Maybe so, but it's still only a high gloss turd - kind of like a Gibson. <ducks>

HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!

Got the coke and popcorn already, time to sit back and start clicking the "Show unread posts" link over and over

Manfred-Klose

this is becomming a very interresting topic.

Now that we have that resolved , how about them upgrades.......

I am also left with another option, to build a better tonewood body and get good pickups, but if i take the amount of time it will take and money it will cost, id rather go a buy a good 2nd bass and spend my time playing the thing.

So yeah , i can polish this turd, but with lots of effort.

Jwaters

i like it. but then again i have pretty low standards.
if you've got the cash, than i'd say go for it.

FatBoy

Manny, I bought a fairly cheap bass a while back, new for like R1300. I was at the store the other day and I see they have new stock of those things in.

I don't know much about bass guitars, or guitars in general for that matter, but a couple of bassists I know have tried it and was pretty impressed with it at that price, maybe it would be a better platform to mod?

You are welcome to borrow it and fiddle with it if you want, at the moment it's just hanging on my wall .

http://www.crafterguitars.com/gallery_cruiser/jb_450_bk.php

Manfred-Klose

thanks fritz.

I got a really good 2nd hand bass:
http://www.guitarforum.co.za/your-gear/my-new-(old)-ibanez-bass/

And it sounds really good on recordings