Aero Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 Let this be a lesson to you all. GAS can creep up on you without you realising and, before you know it, its too late. It started with a bargain pair of EMG PJ pickups and EMG BTC-preamp that I was lucky enough to pick up on Gumtree a few weeks ago. Perfect for upgrading my Aerodyne Jazz bass. But....... I had the bass signed by Norman Watt-Roy and the rest of the Blockheads and I'd have to chop it up a bit to get the bridge and battery compartment in etc. Maybe I should put them in another body and just re-use the neck and hardware, 'bound to find one on E-bay'. Bit of luck, finally succumbed to lovely Non-export Aerodyne Jazz body in US Gunmetal Blue, and closed the deal today. Sorted? Not quite As if Barclaycard had been watching my every move on Ebay, a letter arrives 'within an hour' saying they've decided to increase my credit limit. Ooohhhh Noooo. Big time GAS Well, now I've got this far I may as well find a decent neck to put on it and leave the the other bass intact. Hmm Should I wait to find an Aerodyne Jazz neck with matching colour headstock (My favourite neck shape at the moment) or ...maybe ... a Status graphite Jazz neck? (Screw it, I might as well put in that Schaller bridge whilst I'm at it). [url="http://schaller-guitarparts.de/hp135112/Bass-Bridge-2000-4-strings.htm?ITServ=CY31684c1aX126ec7c3665X4124"]http://schaller-guitarparts.de/hp135112/Ba...26ec7c3665X4124[/url] Anyone with experience of the Status Jazz neck your comments would be welcome. It should look similar to this (the US Gunmetal Blue one) [url="http://kenji-cij.blogspot.com/2009/04/ajb-jazz-aerodyne.html"]http://kenji-cij.blogspot.com/2009/04/ajb-jazz-aerodyne.html[/url] So, be careful when doing simple mods like changing pickups, GAS may get you in the end. I'll post pics once the parts arrive. cheers Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey R Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 [quote name='Aero' post='751975' date='Feb 20 2010, 05:39 PM']So, be careful when doing simple mods like changing pickups, GAS may get you in the end.[/quote] But remember, the pickups were still a bargain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 (edited) I don't have any experience with Status Jazz necks but I do with S2/S2000 necks and I love them. The jazz necks should be built to the specs of the original. Rob Green can always add a tint to the process or even paint it a colour of your choice. Edited February 20, 2010 by BassBus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aero Posted February 21, 2010 Author Share Posted February 21, 2010 [quote name='BassBus' post='752012' date='Feb 20 2010, 06:19 PM']I don't have any experience with Status Jazz necks but I do with S2/S2000 necks and I love them. The jazz necks should be built to the specs of the original. Rob Green can always add a tint to the process or even paint it a colour of your choice.[/quote] I've got the headless Status 1000 and used to have an S2 which I 'HAD' to sell (sob!). and I do luv the graphite necks. I hope the Status Jazz is as thin as the Aerodyne cos that one is gorgeous. I've managed to locate a Status Jazz neck. If I can do the deal then the bass should be up and running in a couple of weeks. the bridge is going to be another problem as the standard replacements won't fit in the recess. Cheers Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aero Posted March 4, 2010 Author Share Posted March 4, 2010 Hi, Just an update on the project so far. I managed to source the Status Graphite neck, apair of EMG JV pickups and a John east preamp/control panel from SparkyMark, here on Basschat. I hadn't intended to go fretless on this bass but until I find the fretted Status J neck, this'll do nicely. (thanks Mark) I found the Schaller 2000s bridge from a great store called [b]Applestone Music & sound [/b] in Torquay [url="http://www.guitar-parts-and-spares-uk.com"]http://www.guitar-parts-and-spares-uk.com[/url] Not only did the stuff arrive next day but they phoned up within the hour to sort out an out of stock pickguard. Great service In fact the pickguard was the most difficult part to buy, not least because there are many pickguard variations over the years With Ernie Ball flatwound strings from Stringsdirect (nextday delivery and good prices) and a pair of schaller straplocks she's almost complete. I'm going to have to rout the body to take the J pickup in the neck position and for a battery compartment in the back. The schaller bridge is beautiful and is likely to be a standard mod in the future. I've had to shim it up with a steel plate because of the curved top of the body. Hopefully I'll have the finished article by the weekend. Meanwhile here are photos of the parts. cheers Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aero Posted March 10, 2010 Author Share Posted March 10, 2010 Finally got phase one of the project finished. I decided to stick with the Fretted Aerodyne neck until I can get the fretted Status Jazz neck. That'll be Phase two. The John East J Retro preamp is unbelievable. There are so many Tonal variations and the passive switch puts the mind at rest should the battery die mid gig. Thanks to SparkyMark for the bits. Here are a couple of pics Cheers Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7string Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 Looks brilliant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 It does look really rather awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleblob Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 That looks really nice - great job ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 Tasty stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throwoff Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 Looks amazing, really GASing over it! always had a soft spot for the aerodynes and it looks simply stunning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 I'm a bit board with jazz basses these days but this is definitely an axception. Great job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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