cclowend Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 I have just bought a beautiful MIM Fender jazz and although it sounds like a choir of angels/barry white, I was wondering about possible upgrades without losing the jazz sound or butchering an aftermarket bridge on. I may not even bother if it sounds as good through my gig rig as it does through my home rig. Ta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 You may consider swapping out the pickups (many options and opinions on that), but as you say I'd gig with it first and see if it needs to be messed about with. I'm guessing it won't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cclowend Posted April 7, 2014 Author Share Posted April 7, 2014 Yep, it sounds great but I do like to fettle! I have noticed that my 1001RB has stopped clipping since I stopped using my old 4 string ray. It was a bit shouty mind! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okusman Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 Audere Pre-amp, some Barts and a Babicz bridge... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cclowend Posted April 7, 2014 Author Share Posted April 7, 2014 I am going to keep it passive but was looking at a Gotoh bridge and maybe a set of lightening rods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cclowend Posted April 7, 2014 Author Share Posted April 7, 2014 Hmmm, after some research I have found out that lightening rods are for active basses. Doh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 I went for, Shaller tuners, SD QP PUPs, Badass bridge and a custom pickguard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlapbassSteve Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 Definitely keep the original pickups! I had one a while back and upgraded the pickups to something fancy and expensive, and it lost all it's character to the point of barely sounding like a jazz bass so much as just a fancy set of pups. To this day my main bass(upgraded squier jazz) has a pair of stock 2003-2008 MiM pups installed and sounds perfect. If you like how it sounds already, leave them as they are. Badass II/Gotoh 201(/203... whichever's the heftier one) is the only upgrade you'll ever need, for just a little extra heft... but again, if you're already happy you're better off leaving it alone for now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damonjames Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 I have fitted mine with a gotoh 201 and dimarzio dp123's and it sounds huge, and VERY hot for a passive. I am running a gk 1001rbii and with my stingray it used to clip very easily, as well as my Jazz at the same levels. I just run it with the pad on and problem solved. I couldn't stand the thin sound of the stock pickups and nearly sold the bass as a result! Swapped some parts and love it now, so go for it, You can always swap back if you don't like it. Only advice with adding a high mass bridge ole a gotoh or badass, you will need to pack the neck a couple of mm to account for the the thickness of the new bridge, but not a big problem. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocco Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 I modded my much missed Japanese jazz with a set of custom pickups and a bad ass 2. It was definately money well spent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cclowend Posted April 14, 2014 Author Share Posted April 14, 2014 I am now looking for a gotoh 201 bridge. I play quite hard and the g string keeps shifting. Anyone know of one going cheap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Rumble Posted April 14, 2014 Share Posted April 14, 2014 My mim jazz now sports babicz bridge Audere pre and wizard pickups and it sounds great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted April 14, 2014 Share Posted April 14, 2014 (edited) Before you look at replacing pickups or installing a preamp, try changing the pots for different values (250k is standard on a Jazz, try 500k for a brighter sound) and the tone capacitor (.047uF is standard on a Jazz, try .1uF for a bassier sound with the tone control rolled off), and try adding a pickups-in-series switch if you want a beefier sound. It's easy to find a schematic for it online and it's a simple mod to do. These are much cheaper modifications and can bring out some very different sounds from your existing pickups. Maybe you don't really want/need aftermarket pickups. Also, buy a good compressor. See if that's the sound you're looking for. Edited April 14, 2014 by thisnameistaken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cclowend Posted April 20, 2014 Author Share Posted April 20, 2014 Gotoh fitted. It sounds much wider. Can't believe that stock bridge. Its like an ashtray! Sadly my hartke 4.5xl is playing up so Fridays gig might sound a bit sketchy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cclowend Posted May 4, 2014 Author Share Posted May 4, 2014 so, I have been trying to find some passive emgs for a mim jazz. Its a bit of a minefield. Help!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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