{"id":12240,"date":"2018-05-07T09:13:02","date_gmt":"2018-05-07T14:13:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bestbassgear.com\/ebass\/?p=12240"},"modified":"2018-05-07T09:34:55","modified_gmt":"2018-05-07T14:34:55","slug":"used-bass-upgrade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bestbassgear.com\/ebass\/article\/used-bass-upgrade.html","title":{"rendered":"Before upgrading a used bass, have this skill"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shopping for used basses is fun. Upgrading it is also fun. Of course, we have all the pickups<\/a>, preamps<\/a>, bridges<\/a>, tuners<\/a> and so on<\/a> you could ever want. We also have open-box gear<\/a> too for you bargain hunters out there.<\/p>\n

But there’s one thing we can’t sell you, and that’s basic fret repair<\/b> skills.<\/p>\n

Many people sell used basses simply because the frets are slightly worn down<\/h3>\n

When shopping around for used basses, you’re going to see some amazing deals and ask yourself why some that are so good are selling for so cheap.<\/p>\n

The answer is that more often than not, when the frets start showing wear and the instrument starts sounding bad, that’s when the owner puts it up for sale because he does not have basic fret repair knowledge.<\/p>\n

Fret shaping (leveling, crowning, dressing)<\/h3>\n

When talking about fret leveling, fret crowning and\/or fret dressing, this all refers to fret shaping. When repairing frets, you are shaping (or rather reshaping) the frets so that they are all level with no sharp edges.<\/p>\n

Before getting more into that, there is also fret sprouting<\/a> (which sometimes can be cured with simple fretboard moisturizer,) and fret lift where the fret needs to be reseated from raising out of its slot. <\/p>\n

This is a video on how to identify and repair fret lift. Yes, it’s about banjos, but the same applies to electric guitar and electric bass fretted necks. It is 8 minutes long but absolutely worth your time to watch it<\/b>:<\/p>\n