2001 MIM Jazz Bass Help

[Johnny the Kid]

I'm going to be purchasing the bass at my school for $20. It's a 2001 MIM Jazz Bass. The reason why I'm getting it so cheap is because the neck is completely warped, and the electronics don't work. I'm going to get a Mighty Mite J-bass neck for $100. As for electronics, I'm going to replace the whole thing with an EMG JX set. However, when I was viewing EMG's website for information, I noticed that their bridge pickup is longer than the neck pickup.

Does anybody know the dimensions of that year's Jazz Bass pickups, or have there always been slight differences between the neck and bridge pickups? I want to know, so I can see what I'm getting into. I'm really liking the active pickups on my basses (I replaced my 5 string MM's pickup with an EMG), but I want to be prepared to carve out a little on the pickups for these to go in.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: 2001 MIM Jazz Bass Help

Don't be so quick to toss the neck. Let's take a look at it first! It could just need a rod adjustment.

As for the pickups, I don't know specifically...however, I don't think a little wood removal would be anything to fret over on a $20 bass.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: 2001 MIM Jazz Bass Help

+1 for attempting to sort the neck before dumping it.

Fender MIM Jazz Bass pickups have always been of equal (short/neck position) length. Any other long/bridge position J pickup will not fit into the standard cavity without modification.

Luckily, EMG did offer a special order JJ pickup pair for MIM basses. I have only ever seen mention of this as the original J model, never the JV or JX.

You could just order yourself two EMG-SJX pickups.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: 2001 MIM Jazz Bass Help

On the topic of the neck, I have attempted to adjust the truss rod. When I did that, the neck was bent at a different angle, so I'm thinking that the rod is bent as well. At this point it's only good for kindling. The band teacher wanted me to try to fix it so that he's not spending $200 for a bass.

I might just carve out the wood around to fit the pickup in. It shouldn't be a major amount, and I'm planning on doing a refinish anyways, so I think that solves the problem. I just didn't want to go in there expecting a quick change, and I don't get one.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: 2001 MIM Jazz Bass Help

What colour is the bass? From a distance, the modifications around the edge of the bridge PU rout will not show - especially not next to a pickup with a black cover.

Truss rod adjustments do not take full effect immediately. The wood can take days to settle in to a new curvature. For your instrument, it might be worth slackening off the rod completely, resting the neck and, only then, attempting to reset it under string tension.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: 2001 MIM Jazz Bass Help

Even if the neck is twisted, you may find it'll straighten out given time in its new environment. If it was stored in less than ideal conditions, that could account for its current condition.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: 2001 MIM Jazz Bass Help

What colour is the bass? From a distance, the modifications around the edge of the bridge PU rout will not show - especially not next to a pickup with a black cover.

Truss rod adjustments do not take full effect immediately. The wood can take days to settle in to a new curvature. For your instrument, it might be worth slackening off the rod completely, resting the neck and, only then, attempting to reset it under string tension.

The bass is white, but I want to paint it red. I'm going to use paint striper and I'll carve out the bridge pickup. I'd rather not spend $350 ($175 a set) on two sets of pickups because I'm only going to use half of each set. I'll try that with the neck and let u know how it goes. I'm gonna need to replace the nut as well, so would suggest using a graphtech tusq or get a bone on cut out?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: 2001 MIM Jazz Bass Help

I'd rather not spend $350 ($175 a set) on two sets of pickups because I'm only going to use half of each set.

You do not need to. The special EMG-J pair intended for MIM basses is two short pickups. All EMG pickups are (theoretically) available singly.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: 2001 MIM Jazz Bass Help

You do not need to. The special EMG-J pair intended for MIM basses is two short pickups. All EMG pickups are (theoretically) available singly.

ok. would I have to special order them from EMG.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: 2001 MIM Jazz Bass Help

Speak to your local stockist.

http://www.emgpickups.com/products/category/30/2

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: 2001 MIM Jazz Bass Help

Speak to your local stockist.

http://www.emgpickups.com/products/category/30/2

Oh thanks so much man. I really appreciate the help with this. I'm gonna go get it sometime this week, and then I'm gonna start working on it. I'll let you know how the neck turns out.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: 2001 MIM Jazz Bass Help

Some of the refinishing nuts have mentioned ReRanch. Much depends on whether you want clear coats over stained wood or coloured coats between clear sealant and top.

I am in the tradition of Fenders wearing their battle scars with pride. Unless you are obsessed about nitro-cellulose or the original poly is coming away in chunks, I would leave it. You will always have the story of how cheaply you got your bass and a giggable instrument.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: 2001 MIM Jazz Bass Help

Some of the refinishing nuts have mentioned ReRanch. Much depends on whether you want clear coats over stained wood or coloured coats between clear sealant and top.

I am in the tradition of Fenders wearing their battle scars with pride. Unless you are obsessed about nitro-cellulose or the original poly is coming away in chunks, I would leave it. You will always have the story of how cheaply you got your bass and a giggable instrument.

I might just do that. I do wanna personalize it somehow, so I'll probably spray paint something on there, like some racing strings or something. I've got some neon orange paint in the garage, and that'd probably look pretty cool.