Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

So I have a MIA Fender Jazz Bass that needs some TLC. It's a '05 standard that I gigged with for about 4 years.

It's been a looonngg time since I've played bass, so I need some help bringing her back to life. I recall having issues with the stock pickups sounding terribly bland. I had a MIM p bass that played just as good and sounded much better sadly. I switched the pickups around a couple times and ended up joining the military shortly before completing the project. Stopped playing music entirely. Years have gone by and the bass needs some attention!

I'm looking at the SD lightning rod set, antiquities, or the quarter pound SJB-3's as far as pickups (looking for a versatile set). What are some options to upgrade the bridge (string through)? Don't think it needs it, but might as well look into it if I'm dropping cash into it. Thinking about changing the pickguard to either brown tort. or pearloid. Any suggestions? Bass rig is a SVT-3 pro with 410HLF cab.

Many thanks.


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[Diminished Triad]

Re: Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

I think you are going to be happy with your work. I do recommend though you really should try this
Hot Stack Jazz Bass pickup for neck: http://www.seymourduncan.com/pickup/hot-stack-jazz-bass-neck
and this Hot Stack Jazz Bass pickup for Bridge: http://www.seymourduncan.com/pickup/hot-stack-jazz-bass-bridge

Good Luck!

 

[jtougas]

Re: Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

I built a Jazz around the QPs that sounded great, but I couldn't gel with the Jazz body, so I sold it to a friend, and he loves it. They're worth a shot (I plan to build a Precision routed for two singles, and use the Jazz QPs).

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

Hey, thanks for the replies. I've narrowed it down to either the hot stack or the QPs as far as pickups. Still unsure about the pickguard.

Many thanks again.

 

[jtougas]

Re: Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

Pickguard? White or tortoiseshell... maybe pearloid (white or silver).

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

Pickguard? White or tortoiseshell... maybe pearloid (white or silver).

Lol, sorry. Hey, did you put a standard bridge on that jazz you built or did you go high mass or anything different?

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

Qp's and a gotoh bridge.
Whatever pickguard...its just for looks anyway.

 

[jtougas]

Re: Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

Lol, sorry. Hey, did you put a standard bridge on that jazz you built or did you go high mass or anything different?

I originally put a Babicz on it, but (odd as it sounds) I thought it made the bass sound too full and thick. I have one on my Precision, and I will *never* take it off. Sounds amazing. On a Jazz, it kinda took away why you go with a Jazz, y'know? Still worth a shot, see if you like it. It's screw compatible, so if you decide to scale back to a BadAss, there's nothing stopping you.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

Whatever pickguard...its just for looks anyway.

On a Fender Am Std Jazz Bass of that period, the pickguard is necessary to cover the rout where the conductors pass between the pickup and control cavities and the over-sized rectangular pickup cavity.

 

[bjeans79]

Re: Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

I love that yellowed look on the maple board. I've played the SJBs and they are great. I put a hipshot bridge on my MIM and I really like what it did for me. Of course I also put the tort pickguard on it too (it is 3 color sunburst.). I've got pics and info you can check out here: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?302476-Fender-Jazz-Bass-2015-Mexican-overhaul-(pics)

Besides polishing the frets and checking that they are level, new pickups (if you don't like the current ones) and maybe a new bridge, looks like you have a nice bass there!

If you end up wanting to get rid of the stock pickups ( and they are working original american pickups) let me know.

Glad you are getting back into it!

 

[Mincer]

Re: Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

the Quarter Pound (I just got some, on their way) or the Apollo Jazz would be my choice. I would leave the bridge until you hear it with the new pickups. There might be no reason to change. I like the idea of a pearloid pickguard, too.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

On a Fender Am Std Jazz Bass of that period, the pickguard is necessary to cover the rout where the conductors pass between the pickup and control cavities and the over-sized rectangular pickup cavity.

Funkfingers is correct on the oversized neck cavity/control route.

I know the pickguard color can be somewhat visual and mirror in detail, but I'm trying to start on a clean slate with the bass. The "bland" sound of the stock pickups/s1 switch just left a bad taste for the bass' tone. I always preferred using my p bass w/ '70s dimarzios) for gigs like noted before. Hopefully, the new bass "look" will leave a positive impression.

If you end up wanting to get rid of the stock pickups ( and they are working original american pickups) let me know.

Glad you are getting back into it!

Don't have the stock pickups anymore. That's why I don't have the control plate on the bass at the moment. I think these are either MIM or MIJ.

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm actually going start taking Jazz lessons on guitar soon. I'm just "restoring" the bass for sentimental value/to doodle around.

Touché on spacing the bridge upgrade. Will get a feel for the pickups beforehand. Think I'll be going QP.


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[PFDarkside]

Re: Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

If you like a P with Dimarzios, Quarter Pounders are definitely the way to go. Great, aggressive tone. I'd do a black guard again, I really like it with the amber neck. If you do end up going "white" at least do parchment or aged white.

Good resource: http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/bpickguard_jazzgenuine.htm

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

^^ Sweet, it's settled then. Will be ordering the QPs soon. Thanks; the neck is beginning to tint nicely from being played/age.

Appreciate all the replies


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[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

Bit of an update:

Instead of starting a thread for every little thing (like a certain pedal crazed friend of ours), I decided to resurrect this one. I went ahead and bought the sjb-3s and various components to restore the bass. I got an Emerson kit (a bit pricer than a DIY job, but curiosity kills).

I went ahead and stripped the bass of the poly finish. It's been shipped to MJT who happen to do really great work with nitro and relics. While it may be blasphemy to some, I decide to go with a light relic on the body (similar to what wear it had). The bass was heavily played/gigged with for 4-5 years. I want it to show some age along with the neck. Three piece body. I suspect it weighs about 4.5 lbs. It had bubble wrap on it when weighed at the UPS store, so it's a guesstimate.

Pic from a previous thread

This is what I'm shooting for in the end result. A slightly more aged version that is.

More updates to follow within 3-4 weeks. I suspect I should swap out the tubes in the ol' svt 3-pro (pardon the typo) while I wait.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

Wow, nice! I'd love to see pics of the progress, and hear it when it is finished...

 

[mannydog]

Re: Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

Hey. I just upgraded a '00 mim jazz. Ended up going with Dimarzio 123's. Tried the 149's but to much low and especially high end. 123's much better, and not quite a direct drop in, but very close. Also put a Gotoh 201 on her. Great bass in mint, but can't get into the jazz sound, singer loves it. Needless to say it's up for sale and got a '99 mim p bass..much better sound..to me. Be careful with buying pickups, make sure to buy from company with no question asked exchange ie dimarzio, S/D...save my butt...lol

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

Soon enough.

 

[ginormous]

Re: Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

Tort on white? Me likey!

I was gifted some SD's, provenance assured... I think handwound by MJ herself. (please, Big Guy? Pretty please?)
Slap monster, and very thick Jaco-ness.

<--- (that's a net grab, but it's the same fretboard and body color)

It was beat on when I got it, so I didn't bother. It just plain jams.
I'm not sure about the Emerson kit. Is that passive (cap and resistor), or does it need a 9v?
The only reason I'd boost the output would be for lower noise, because otherwise this thing brings it home.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Help me restore my Fender Jazz Bass

It's a treble bleed mod on the vol. pots. I like the taper on these, very similar to Bourns pots. CTS makes these to their specs. I've never really dived into experimenting with bass components, so the cap value and treble bleed will provide new stuff to hear. Simple things to remove if I don't like them.

Nice. I'm very tempted to just get a badass II and top load the strings. Gotoh also makes reasonably priced high mass bridges. I love their Tuners and other bridges. We'll see. For now, I'll keep the stock bridge.


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