P-bass Pots

cbass · Post by **cbass** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:42 pm

I'm rewiring a P-bass That has had the electronics Mutilated.Whats the best value for a p-bass.250k? Stock 70's pickup I belive.

Also I've never setup a bass before.How much neck relief do most bassist like.I'd be open to any other advice on setting up a bass.

Structo · Post by **Structo** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:50 pm

http://www.fender.com/support/articles/ ... tup-guide/

http://support.fender.com/service_diagr ... A_SISD.pdf

Reeltarded · Post by **Reeltarded** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:52 pm

I make the necks as dead flat as I can without any terrible buzz buddy, jusss anything else.

A lil buzz can be ok, or even good. A tiny amount of buzz will be good in a week if the neck is stabile.

cbass · Post by **cbass** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:59 pm

I got some old CTS 250kA Looks like about 10% taper.

Should I charge the customer since I've never settup a bass before.
Not to blow my own horn but I think I'm pretty good at setting up guitars.At least better than the other guys around here.Wich isn't sayin much.

I always include cleaning and polishing in a settup.Am I giving away too much or is that a standard deal?

Structo · Post by **Structo** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 5:02 pm

What to charge a customer is always a dilemma for me.

My wife says I don't charge enough.

There is a thought that if you charge too little, some people might think you are not that good.

I think for a bass setup including a new pot and setup, (new strings?) I would charge at least $50.

cbass · Post by **cbass** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 5:05 pm

Structo wrote:http://www.fender.com/support/articles/ ... tup-guide/

http://support.fender.com/service_diagr ... A_SISD.pdf

Thanks Tom That gives me a good starting point.I'm doing this for a young man.That has a ton talent but not much experince.He really doesn't no what he wants or likes as far as a settup.

He brought a set of used strings to put on it.

I said I'll give you some new ones at my cost

Don't worry I didn't hurt him.

cbass · Post by **cbass** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 5:09 pm

Structo wrote:What to charge a customer is always a dilemma for me.

My wife says I don't charge enough.

There is a thought that if you charge too little, some people might think you are not that good.

I think for a bass setup including a new pot and setup, (new strings?) I would charge at least $50.

I'm replacing all the electronics cept for the pickups.

I was gonna charge around 65.I think thats pretty reasonable.The strings set me back almost 20 bucks.

Reeltarded · Post by **Reeltarded** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 5:14 pm

That is reasonable plus the price of strings. It's totally worth it and he'll appreciate it even more next time someone else works on it and scares him with the bill for something simple.

tribi9 · Post by **tribi9** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 5:43 pm

older strings sound better on basses IMO.

Phil_S · Post by **Phil_S** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 7:45 pm

cbass wrote:Should I charge the customer since I've never set up a bass before.

Well, I'm in a different line of work, but the idea is the same. If I get into something where I'm in foreign territory, I turn off the billing meter. Then I guess at what it would have taken if I was experienced and proficient at that particular thing, and that is what I use to bill the client for time. This is known in many professions as "value billing." In the auto repair world they use flat-rate manual billing. It is the same concept, basically charge what it's worth. You contribute the other time and in exchange you learn something new. That's fair AFAIK.

So, if it takes you 30 minutes to do a guitar setup and you charge $60/hr (I'm just guessing here, please don't take offense), the setup is worth $30. I imagine bass set up is more or less the same. Of course, for this one, you have time and materials on the electronics. As long as you aren't fooling around and keeping your head into the work, that's straight time.

When you are done, if think it is too much, you can always cut your bill. One nice thing about self-employed is that you can charge what your conscience allows you to charge and still sleep at night. Besides, word travels and we all know that overcharging is a sure way to ruin your business.

cbass · Post by **cbass** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 8:31 pm

Got it all done.
Ended up with about 2.5 hours in it not including a trip to the hardware store for some free toothed washers.

Replaced all the electronics.Did a light fret dressing and polished it up real good.

I had to leave more relief in the neck than I would have liked.the nut slots were a bit low and I knew the kids dad wasn't gonna go for the price of a new nut.I don't have nut files for bass anyway.

Intonated up nicely and plays good.

I was really suprised but it sounded real good through my concorde type thing with an oversized sealed 2x12 cab.I was really shocked by the amount of headroom from two el34's

Actually it was easier to set up than a guitar (2 less strings to fiddle with)
And a hell of a lot easier than a floyd rose deal.

cbass · Post by **cbass** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 8:49 pm

Probaly took longer than it should of.I probaly had half an hour of crap like where in the hell are my wire strippers.Digging trough and measuring pots going and taking the puter back from the kids so i could look specs up.

So I think 65 bucks w/strings is a fair deal.You have to relize that a damn good job around here might pay 12-15 bucks an hour if your lucky.

Down here where we're at everybody is equally poor.

billyz · Post by **billyz** » Sun Feb 24, 2013 3:00 am

I charge $100 for a set up with fret level/dress crown and polish. $45 for a for a standard setup, Plus parts .
I get my parts wholesale and sell them retail. You could lift the nut and shim it . instead of replacement. I include that in the setup. If they insists on a new nut( they seldom do) I charge alot more .

I charge for my experience and knowledge, not the time it takes me to do a job.

The whole job would take me under an hour. But I have all the tools at hand a real time saver.

Z

cbass · Post by **cbass** » Sun Feb 24, 2013 3:21 am

Well I'm not a pro.I think I get very good results though.I'm not real organized so I'm sure it takes me a lot longer than someone that does it everyday. I've never been taught by anyone that knew what they were doin I just started Tearin up guitars when I was kid.I would love to watch some of you guys work.

I wanted to get the neck totaly flat like Miles suggested but I couldn't without buzz on the low E.That was the only slot that was to low I think the relief and action was in spec with what fender suggested.

I also rewired the whole thing also new pots and jack

The kid was thrilled and I got payed.So I think it worked out good

I wouldn't even take jobs like this if I didn't feel like the other guy in town did piss poor work

cbass · Post by **cbass** » Sun Feb 24, 2013 3:34 am

Billy what would you use to shim a nut?Paper?

Tube Amp Archive

P-bass Pots

P-bass Pots

Re: P-bass Pots

Re: P-bass Pots

Re: P-bass Pots

Re: P-bass Pots

Re: P-bass Pots

Re: P-bass Pots

Re: P-bass Pots

Re: P-bass Pots

Re: P-bass Pots

Re: P-bass Pots

Re: P-bass Pots

Re: P-bass Pots

Re: P-bass Pots

Re: P-bass Pots