GT Bass mod. Through Body Stringing.

Thinking of this for a while. Thanks corsair, spurred me into it.... 


Mark the holes


Masking tape to stop the paint chipping

Bit of cardboard to protect the back from the drill plate



Drill holes for the ferrules. One slightly pissed, oops! So were Tele's for years. No big deal.

Always use masking tape when drilling into a painted surface, stops chipping.






Sounds fine, just need new strings...

Oh, nice!! Link me for the ferrules, Damian; I think I'll do that as well!

My Kingdom for a drill press...makes life so much easier.
But apparently you still have to line up the holes.

Nice mod Damian.

Bid 'em $4 you'll get them.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150962751582?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Need a 10mm drill bit for the holes.


What I always find with this type of pickup, is that the foam needs replacing or beefing up with a layer of new stuff.

They need to be closer to the strings. Definately!

Barry wrote:
But apparently you still have to line up the holes.

That's what she said.....

Just like the snooker player............didn't know whether to go for the pink or brown.......

Westbone wrote:...didn't know whether to go for the pink or brown..

Ain't touching that line!

Barry wrote:My Kingdom for a drill press...makes life so much easier.

Inherited from my Grandfather.
Don't get many like this anymore. Give it a good drillin'!!!

Wow, she's a beauty. Love the convenient speed changing.

Good for drilling, milling and it takes about 10 sec. to change the speed...   It's 'king heavy though.

Fantastic Damian, great mod.

have you played it much and do you notice any difference in feel or sound, depending how you set-up the strings?

The action is just as it was before the mod.

It needs a new set of strings.

Sustains for a good while, about 20 sec.

Nice move with the tape.  I'd still be worried not to have a little tear out even with the tape but looks to have come out nice and clean.  Had you thought about recessing the ferrels?  On my next Tele build I was thinking of attempting to recess them as they sometime hook on a belt buckle.

Know what you mean.
A lot easier to do when not painted.

The position of the ferrules on the bass doesn't really come into play as on a Tele.

As for the tape, that old trick  has been used for donkey's years.

What year Spectrum is it Westbone? Looks identical to my 1985, same color. Yours looks to be in a bit better condition than mine

This is why it needs new strings.
The extra length of the through body has dragged the taper of the E + G strings into the nut.




Will also add or replace the foam under the pickups. They're at max. at the mo. Need to be a lot closer to the strings.