Add P-bass PU to Jazz
- Thread starter john5959
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ItsaBass
New member
Re: Add P-bass PU to Jazz
It used to be done all the time before companies just started making basses that way.
Easiest way is to get a Jazz Bass pick guard that is cut for a P Bass pickup. (They are common. You should not need to have it custom made.) Remove the old pick guard and middle pickup, and install the new guard. Use the pickup hole in the new pick guard as a guide to rout out the hole.
Be prepared for the P Bass pickup to dominate volume-wise, especially with a Quarter Pounder. However, you might find the addition of a series/parallel switch to give you a good use for the remaining Jazz Bass pickup. You also might find switching to a stack knob setup is a good option. And then you have an unused hole in the metal control plate that you can use for that series/parallel switch.
It used to be done all the time before companies just started making basses that way.
Easiest way is to get a Jazz Bass pick guard that is cut for a P Bass pickup. (They are common. You should not need to have it custom made.) Remove the old pick guard and middle pickup, and install the new guard. Use the pickup hole in the new pick guard as a guide to rout out the hole.
Be prepared for the P Bass pickup to dominate volume-wise, especially with a Quarter Pounder. However, you might find the addition of a series/parallel switch to give you a good use for the remaining Jazz Bass pickup. You also might find switching to a stack knob setup is a good option. And then you have an unused hole in the metal control plate that you can use for that series/parallel switch.
Last edited:
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Add P-bass PU to Jazz
I'd ditch the guard and put it in between the 2 J bass pickups...
I'd ditch the guard and put it in between the 2 J bass pickups...
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Add P-bass PU to Jazz
Check under the scatchplate first. On some J Basses, the rout is the exact size of the pickup. On others, it is a generous rectangle, big enough to accept some "soapbar" style bass pickups. In this instance, the rout would need only minor modification to accept a P style pickup.
Check under the scatchplate first. On some J Basses, the rout is the exact size of the pickup. On others, it is a generous rectangle, big enough to accept some "soapbar" style bass pickups. In this instance, the rout would need only minor modification to accept a P style pickup.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Add P-bass PU to Jazz
IMO, the P pickup works best where Leo put it. Too much either side and it gets messy. Unfortunately, a JJ pair works best with the pickups at the correct distance apart to get those notch filtered tones. In a PJ combination, the P is the main sound whilst the LJ just provides the honky blends. By itself, the LJ will seem extra feeble.
Arranging the pickups as SJ, P, LJ is what Stu Hamm did. The P pickup needs to be set comparatively lower than either J.
IMO, the P pickup works best where Leo put it. Too much either side and it gets messy. Unfortunately, a JJ pair works best with the pickups at the correct distance apart to get those notch filtered tones. In a PJ combination, the P is the main sound whilst the LJ just provides the honky blends. By itself, the LJ will seem extra feeble.
Arranging the pickups as SJ, P, LJ is what Stu Hamm did. The P pickup needs to be set comparatively lower than either J.
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