redstriper

[quote]if you roll off the volume on one Jazz Bass pickup by about a quarter and the other by about an eighth it is an old trick that some bass players use makes them kind of out-of-phase , and that does attenuate the treble , similar to rolling off the tone control a bit. [/quote] I only use the neck pick up with the tone off. There is a marked increase in treble and upper mids with the volume on full. It isn't the same tone as using the tone control, which adds higher frequencies. [quote]I am glad that you the peace of mind of knowing that the pickups are all original on your old bass, but it isn't the end of the world if old pickups have been rewound [/quote] It gives me no peace of mind at all, I'm not bothered either way but I just happen to know they are original, unlike much of the bass that has been replaced over the years. [quote]All pickups wear out eventually, and most the ones on the market today sound better than vintage ones ever did, once you strip away all the hyperbole. I've played and owned a lot of old Fenders , and I've never played an old Jazz Bass that had pickups that sounded as good or had the kind of output of the current off-the-shelf Fender Custom Shop Vintage '60's Jazz Bass pickups . Those pickups are overwound ( extra wire) and sound magnificent , [b]to my ears anyway[/b]. If someone had an old Jazz Bass with duff pickups a set of those CS ones would be a good replacement . [/quote] I wonder when mine will wear out? They've done over 50 years so far I have only played a few pre CBS Fenders and they have all had very powerful, juicy sounding pick ups. I have owned and played some modern US and Mexican Fenders, but no CS models (yet). The pick ups have sounded weak in all of them compared to my old beast. It's a shame because I would love to find a new bass that could give me the same depth of tone. It is all subjective of course and I know my taste tonewise is not like most player's.

Was this part of the inspiration? [media]http://youtu.be/v2yCgO1vRT8[/media]

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1396021197' post='2409142'] Passive basses do indeed always sound best ( or at their fullest and most dynamic, let me put it that way) with the volume on full . [/quote] [quote]Maybe it's just me (and I have no idea of the science behind this, if there is any!) but when I reduce the volume on any passive bass (and especially a P-type bass) there appears to be a loss of tone too..[/quote] There is science behind this, but I can't remember the explanation. Basically, the full tone of the pick ups comes through with the volume on full, while reducing the volume also attenuates the upper frequencies. I don't like the tone with the volume on full. I play reggae and I keep the volume under 75% to reduce the treble and upper mids that are present on full volume. I haven't noticed any loss of dynamics, just a much warmer old school tone. [quote]Well, presuming that you are right and the pickups on your bass wern't rewound( or changed completely) prior to your ownership ( as far as I know, without dismantling the pickup it can be hard to tell if it has been rewound or rebuilt ) one reason for the hit and miss nature of vintage Fender pickups is the slightly haphazard way in which they were wound in the olden days.[/quote] I know the history of this bass and the pick ups are original and never rewound. [quote]The truth is that no one gave it much thought at the time. The idea that these guitars would become holy relics would have been laughed at. More wire on a pickup will make it louder, but also reduces the high frequency response, and some magnets stay magnetized better than others. . [/quote] I don't think of it as a holy relic at all, just a working instrument that happens to suit me perfectly tone wise. They must have used a heck of a lot of wire, because it's the deepest sounding Jazz bass I've ever heard. TO the OP - Sorry for derailing your thread. I understand your problem because I don't like weak pick ups. Be careful replacing them though, as a lot of new pick ups are also weak IME.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1395942413' post='2408275'] Vintage Fender pickups, especially Jazz Bass pickups, can indeed start to give a lower output over time and become increasingly microphonic, and may eventually need rewinding , renovating or replacing. It comes with territory with vintage basses, I'm afraid. [/quote] Do you know how this happens? My '63 Jazz has never had any work done to the pick ups afaik and it has been used heavily throughout it's life. The pick ups are as loud and clear as when I got it in 1980, they are much louder than any modern passive bass that I've tried. Is it just luck, or should I expect them to die off any time soon?

My band's got loads but we've already had one done, (the first one I think). Let me know if you want another. Cheers, Steve.

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1395768717' post='2406055'] There is a Silver Series Squier Jazz in the classifieds at the moment. These have a great neck. Wider than usual Jazz - 40mm at the nut. These final MIJ Squiers are very good - I've had Silver Series Jazz and Precision, both exceedingly good. The Precision, particularly. [/quote] I've got a mid 90s Silver Series Squier Jazz and it's a superb instrument - closest to my '63 Fender that I've found. I sold a modern Mexican Fender and Squier CV and VM Jazzes when I got it, because it's better than those for me. But I still prefer the '63 so it never gets played and I'm thinking of selling it to help fund a Fender custom shop model.

The pick ups in my 63 Jazz are louder than any other passive bass I've played. I've also played a 65 and 66 Jazz bass and both had powerful pick ups, while the 63 Hofner Senator was even louder, so I don't think vintage basses are normally quieter than equivalent modern ones. Maybe your 68 pick ups have a problem or need rewiring - just a thought, I don't know anything about the technical side

Nice one - say hello to Spike from the Holyhead massive

I've used Pyramid Golds and [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]D'Addario ENR71S half rounds, but my experience is limited to a few hours with each.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]The Pyramid Golds are the closest to TIs, with very similar feel and tone, just a bit more tension - t[/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]hey are also expensive though.[/font][/color] The [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]D'Addario ENR71S half rounds are also nice strings, but higher tension again. [/font][/color]

Maybe your pic is too large, I'm not sure if there is a size limit but it might be worth trying it with a reduced image. BTW Mike I pmd you about the silver series

Cliff bought my fretless Jazz in a trouble free transaction. He's a diamond geezer - deal in confidence.

Just to show it's not all about the clank: [media]http://youtu.be/neXuVL_7n5Y[/media]

I know just how you feel. I've lost count of how many basses I've bought and sold since joining this forum, but I always go back to my old favourite. On paper it's an awful bass - ugly, heavy and butchered beyond recognition. I have bought much 'better' basses and loved them for a while, only to sell them on when I pick up the old beast again. Nobody else likes it and I don't know what it is that makes me love it, but it feels and sounds just right for me, which is what really counts. That's not to say I won't keep looking........

It goes to show that you don't need to spend big money to get a great bass these days

Yeh man get it bought, guilt is for losers

So it's a tribute band that needs a Ric and only in London....... The Jam?

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1393455235' post='2380655'] Aesthetics? Picture Lemmy with a Steinberger, Flea with a Hofner, Jaco with a Bongo and Mark King with a Ric.....? [/quote] Do you really think those players are only successful because of the brand of instrument they play? I don't feel strongly about what bass or basses you sell or buy, as long as they look good in London

London my arse - make your own style and fashion innit... What's the worse that can happen if some cock doesn't like how your bass looks? And you want to pander to these people....... c'mon Chris get a grip man