What’s this? Jazz bass bridge/pickup strip

[Thunderpaws]

Hi everyone. 
 

just browsing the guitarguitar website and saw this stunning jazz bass...anyhoo, noticed this strange strip running between the bridge and bridge pickup...any ideas what it is?

 

 

[hubrad]

Earthing strip.

[mybass]

5 minutes ago, Thunderpaws said:

Hi everyone. 
 

just browsing the guitarguitar website and saw this stunning jazz bass...anyhoo, noticed this strange strip running between the bridge and bridge pickup...any ideas what it is?

 

 

Yep, earthing strip or 'wire', and in case you weren't aware........now usually found under the bridge as a wire going through a hole drilled through to the control cavity earthing the bridge/strings to the bas's earth output on the jack plug.

[Thunderpaws]

Thought it might have been but haven’t seen it done like that before. Wonder why it’s not internal like all of their other models. 

[hubrad]

I always think of it as the old school method. Is it some vintagey model?

[Thunderpaws]

Nah, seems fairly modern to me. 

https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/190110337308008--fender-rarities-flame-ash-top-jazz-bass-plasma-red-burst

 

[Reggaebass]

The fender 62 reissues came with a grounding strip , they didn’t do anything they were decorative, the wire was under the bridge 

[Thunderpaws]

25 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

The fender 62 reissues came with a grounding strip , they didn’t do anything they were decorative, the wire was under the bridge 

Not “form follows function” then 😂

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

Sorry, you’re all wrong. This was originally a feature to prevent passing slugs from taking a shortcut to the other side of the body under the strings between the pickup and bridge. It doesn’t happen now of course, so the strip is unnecessary but it was a common occurrence in the early 60s.

[hubrad]

20 minutes ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

Sorry, you’re all wrong. This was originally a feature to prevent passing slugs from taking a shortcut to the other side of the body under the strings between the pickup and bridge. It doesn’t happen now of course, so the strip is unnecessary but it was a common occurrence in the early 60s.

Of course, you're right.. before the advent of electricity, the term grounding (from the old Norse Grundig) referred to impeding the passage of slugs. Maybe Leo Fender had viking blood?

[TheGreek]

21 hours ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

Sorry, you’re all wrong. This was originally a feature to prevent passing slugs from taking a shortcut to the other side of the body under the strings between the pickup and bridge. It doesn’t happen now of course, so the strip is unnecessary but it was a common occurrence in the early 60s.

 

21 hours ago, hubrad said:

Of course, you're right.. before the advent of electricity, the term grounding (from the old Norse Grundig) referred to impeding the passage of slugs. Maybe Leo Fender had Viking blood?

People are so knowledgeable on this forum...and generous in sharing their knowledge...

I didn't know this..😉😉