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Fender Jazz MIM bridge pickup routing enlargement - Anyone done it?


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I recently decided to replace the pickups on my 1999 MIM Fender Jazz - the model with both pickups the same size (neck PU sized). I knew this would mean enlarging the bridge pickup slot slightly to fit the new one, but now it comes to the crunch I'm a bit apprehensive. I've had this bass since new and I'm not too precious about it, but wanted to see if anyone else has done this job so I don't fall into any traps I haven't foreseen!

 

I've replaced the neck PU and tone cap already and it sounds incredible with the Fender CS60 compared to the stock one, so I'm keen to install the bridge PU. 

 

My current plan is to use small files to enlarge the hole, but I'm wondering if pre-scoring the finish would prevent unwanted damage/chipping. Also not sure how to make the modification look even and clean around the curves where the PU retaining screws are.

 

Advice/warnings/ideas for other approaches from the BC clusterbrain are most welcome!

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Are the screw lug positions in the same place on both too? On a regular J the screws are further apart on the bridge pickup too, it's not just the overall size of the pickup, the carve-outs for those lugs are in different positions too. You're going to have an ugly and misshapen hole no matter how you go about it.

 

Were I in your position, I'd just buy two humbucking neck pickups, or a second CS60 neck pickup like the one you already have and, as you won't get RWRP noise-cancelling with both pickups on, spends some quality time shielding. Unsheathing the chisel is not something I'd be considering, to be honest.

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Thanks for flagging this as a possible issue @Doctor J. I offered up the new pickup cover this morning, paying special attention to the lugs based on your advice.

 

The lugs appear to line up ok in this instance. I'm not sure if I've been lucky, but I just needed to remove a small amount of material (primarily paint and rough bits of wood) from the short edges of the routed pickup slot. 

 

For anyone interested in doing this in future, I removed the globs of paint and any rough wood with a small chisel. I then made incremental changes by flat scraping with a very sharp knife - similar to how one might use a cabinet scraper, but with a knife normally used for relief carving. 

 

 

I'm happy with the result overall. Just need to hook up the wiring and give it a whirl!

 

20240605_121726.jpg

20240605_121008.jpg

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