1966 Jazz - compatible scratch plate and potential electronics replacement?

[Dancj]

Hello all,

TLDR: what scratch plate for a 66 jazz and controls replacement to originals?

Bit of an odd one but I'm sure someone here will be able to help or at least point me in the right direction!

My old man is a bass player and for years since I started playing at the ago of 15, I've had my eye on the family heirloom - his 66 jazz. Finally I've been given the "you're ready son" talk and come February it's mine!

Issue is: he lives in Italy and during the move from the UK, the scratch plate, hardware and original controls (which were changed during his EMI days for something with more variety) are packed in a box somewhere that is yet to be unpacked (damn).

As this will likely not be located until sometime late this year, I was hoping if someone could suggest a suitable scratchplate placeholder? I'm under the impression a standard one won't fit right due to pick up location but please correct me if wrong!

A slight fear of mine is that dad won't be able to find the original controls, which would be a real shame but such is life - never gonna sell it so it's not about value. If I can't get the original controls, anyone put me in the direction of a reliable expert who can source replacements and put it all back together as it should be?

Thanks for reading and look forward to any help that can be provided!

Dan

Edited January 4, 2017 by Dancj

[therealting]

Get in touch with John at Bravewood.

[Dancj]

First of all guys, cheers for the replies! Never planning to get the original electronics of my dad can't find them to be fair, it was more just having VVT - not bothered as long as it works and is fender really - I don't think I'm up for the task... The scratch plate I was just curious if the location of the pickups was different to a modern one, so that I could just get a modern plate for temporary cover. I've seen 66 ones go for silly money

Edited January 4, 2017 by Dancj

[therealting]

Count the holes and you're most of the way there. It's the bridge pickup that moved between the 60s and 70s. I still think John does the best aged Fender pickguards - I have three instruments from him, two with Bravewood repro pickguards and one with a vintage guard. They're incredible!

[mikeswals]

The pickguard was the same series vinyl/tort from 66-72. The earlier ones will fit but will cost 50-60% more.

The Jazz pickguard screw patterns are the hardest to match.

Look for your old one, but if the guard has already been off and sitting in a box it will have shrunk and the holes will likely no longer or barely line up anymore.

[rodney72a]

[quote name='mikeswals' timestamp='1483579984' post='3208494']
The pickguard was the same series vinyl/tort from 66-72. The earlier ones will fit but will cost 50-60% more.

The Jazz pickguard screw patterns are the hardest to match.

Look for your old one, but if the guard has already been off and sitting in a box it will have shrunk and the holes will likely no longer or barely line up anymore.
[/quote]

Only if it was an old nitro guard. By 1966 the vinyl ones were generally used and they don't shrink much.

[Dancj]

That's all really super useful - I will deffo contact John and see what he charges. I'm hoping my dad will find the original but I have a fear it was just cast aside back in the day (he removed it for aesthetics but personally, never thinking he'd have a son that would ruin is career and then want his bass WITH the guard ...)

If i get modern controls/pots put back on it, will John also be a good guy to go for?

[therealting]

[quote name='Dancj' timestamp='1483616688' post='3208660']
That's all really super useful - I will deffo contact John and see what he charges. I'm hoping my dad will find the original but I have a fear it was just cast aside back in the day (he removed it for aesthetics but personally, never thinking he'd have a son that would ruin is career and then want his bass WITH the guard ...)

If i get modern controls/pots put back on it, will John also be a good guy to go for?
[/quote]

Yup, I have CTS and spragues on two of mine.

[Dancj]

Wicked - would you recommend one over the other? Noob when it comes to pots/knobs knowledge I'd probably just want the one closest to vintage/original...

[therealting]

CTS tend to be the pot manufacturer of choice, with Spragues being the capacitors.

[Dancj]

UPDATE:

John at Bravewood is in the process of moving and as such is not taking on any new work for the time being.

Anybody have other suggestions?

Dan

Edited February 6, 2017 by Dancj

[GuyR]

Martin at The Gallery in Camden. You can't go wrong.

[prowla]

It is easy to wire up a Fender bass control assembly - they are very (ahem) basic...

If you were looking to go active, the John East units are designed to slot straight in; I've got one in a J- and it has a quite staggering range of tones. (Not exactly "vintage" though!)

[Sammers]

I'd have a look at Joseph Kaye Guitars, he does a lot of restoration work on vintage guitars.
I've not used him myself but follow his stuff on facebook and it looks like very tidy and true to the original spec!
He also built Norman Watt-Roy's current bass, so that's gotta be worth something right?

[url="http://www.josephkayeguitars.com/"]http://www.josephkayeguitars.com/[/url]

Edited February 7, 2017 by Sammers

[Dancj]

Thanks for all posts all.

I've sorted everything out bar the scratch plate. Waiting for the old man to look for it in a box somewhere before I shell out on a custom one!

This bass sounds awesome and i fear for my stingray!


[url="https://www.dropbox.com/s/v2ofjm78dwxjmz0/Photo%2013-03-2017%2C%2021%2021%2026.jpg?dl=0"]P[/url]S no idea how to share pictures on here...

Edited March 15, 2017 by Dancj

[Dancj]

Maybe this will work...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4vcd7z4o2iiybix/Photo%2013-03-2017%2C%2021%2021%2024.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/v2ofjm78dwxjmz0/Photo%2013-03-2017%2C%2021%2021%2026.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6kb2xg9djnz9zvk/Photo%2013-03-2017%2C%2021%2021%2025.jpg?dl=0

[Telebass]

Lollipop tuners too! Excellent.

[Dancj]

Cheers man - guessing the picture sharing worked... JUST NEED A SCRATCH PLATE

[Owen]

Spitfire in the US make a nice vintage scratchplate.

[Happy Jack]

[URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Just%20Stuff/Music%20and%20Musicians/Tortloaf_zpsthpgfi7s.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Just%20Stuff/Music%20and%20Musicians/Tortloaf_zpsthpgfi7s.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[Dancj]

^lol