It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:25 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 36 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Installing Custom Shop pu's in Road Worn Jazz
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 5:44 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2011 6:00 pm
Posts: 55
I decided to do this install myself for a change, but I have a couple of questions: (1) Where should the ground plate wires under each pickup be soldered, and (2) I have one of those old ground straps that goes from the pickup cavity to the bridge. I'd like to put that on as a vintage thing....or....could it be functional ground instead of the plates under the pickups? It's pretty obvious I'm clueless but if you folks could give me a suggestion or two, I'd really appreciate it. I swore to my tech guy I was going to do this thing without his help. Thanks a lot. Ed

_________________
edfritzjr Image

Image

1923 hand held pizzelle iron (needs fire)
1915 Palco army canteen (holds Sidecar)
1976 P-bass (was shot)


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Installing Custom Shop pu's in Road Worn Jazz
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 7:22 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:01 am
Posts: 2842
Ground plate wires to back of potentiometer usually. It's hard to get those to solder properley on the back of a pot. Someone can clue you in on that who can type faster and explain it better. You can actually run them to a grounded lug or to another ground wire etc as long as it's a good ground that ends up going to the jack as a ground.

You don't need the flat Jazz type out of body ground. The RW already has a ground coming from the bridge into the electronics cavity and it should already be soldered to the back of a pot.

If you have never "soldered- in" a pickup- you need to make sure you are soldering the right way so you don't mess up the pots. You also may want to draw a picture of the stock wireing so you will always know what goes where.

There are alot of things about soldering and wireing etc you need to know if you have never done it. Maybe you should have your guy do it and have him let you watch him do it and explain it to you before you try. You'll see how much solder he uses, how to prepare the wires to be soldered and other little stuff like removing the stock wireing-- it all important to do a good job-

- next poster please.............. :D


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Installing Custom Shop pu's in Road Worn Jazz
Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 1:52 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2011 6:00 pm
Posts: 55
Thanks a lot for all the info. I really appreciate that, and it was very helpful. I should have said that I've soldered lots of stuff; just not guitars.

After removing the stock road worn pickups I went ahead and put the included Custom Shop ground plates in the pickup cavities, (routed them with the pickup wires at the same time, otherwise they won't fit) and soldered them to the jack, which is grounded to the bridge. Then I just soldered the pickup leads to the same spots the as the stock ones and it's all good!

The difference in tonal range, clarity, and the noiseless factor is mind boggling, especially after throwing a set of Roto 66 45-105's on it and doing a quick setup, greatly helped by adjusting pickup heights. This thing kicks. If anyone's thinking of doing this, I'll be happy to describe the process in more detail. I recommend it highly. I got the Custom Shop PU's for $114, so it's not a big investment. I'm mainly a p-bass guy (I've got four from '64 up) and this is my only Jazz, but I'll keep it around now.

The Lounge is great, and thanks again. Ed

_________________
edfritzjr Image

Image

1923 hand held pizzelle iron (needs fire)
1915 Palco army canteen (holds Sidecar)
1976 P-bass (was shot)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Installing Custom Shop pu's in Road Worn Jazz
Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 8:25 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:01 am
Posts: 2842
great job edfritzjr-- I see you ride the Rotosound frieght train. Hammer down!!!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Installing Custom Shop pu's in Road Worn Jazz
Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 11:43 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2011 6:00 pm
Posts: 55
Thanks for the props, Stroker. Yeah, I've been using Rotos continuously on at least one bass since I found out the Ox was using them back in the '70's. I'd gladly post a pic or two of the '64 ( it ain't exactly pretty but I'd still like to show it off) but I can't get the board to accept them. I've been playing with the image tab in the reply window but can't get a simple JPEG to show up in the preview pane. What's the trick? Thanks for the help. ed

Oh, and I'll get a clue. Just get me past this picture thing.

_________________
edfritzjr Image

Image

1923 hand held pizzelle iron (needs fire)
1915 Palco army canteen (holds Sidecar)
1976 P-bass (was shot)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Installing Custom Shop pu's in Road Worn Jazz
Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 12:25 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2011 6:00 pm
Posts: 55
http://s1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb457/edfritzjr/

Here's a couple pictures of the '64.

_________________
edfritzjr Image

Image

1923 hand held pizzelle iron (needs fire)
1915 Palco army canteen (holds Sidecar)
1976 P-bass (was shot)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Installing Custom Shop pu's in Road Worn Jazz
Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 2:12 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2011 6:00 pm
Posts: 55
I love it just the way it is, which is pretty much the way I found it. It would be great if it was all original and not stripped, but then I never could have bought it, or would have had to had armed guards and snarling dogs to play it out. This way the average bar thief thinks it's junk....a good thing. The neck is just amazing, best p-bass neck I've played ever, and over 30+ years that more than a few. The back of the neck is perfectly finish worn and smooth. The thing weighs under 8 lbs! The headstock was doweled when one of the previous owners saw the always present crack near the E tuner, so it should likely survive another 46 years. Think I may swap out the Duncan pickup for a stock Fender Original (not a '64; can't afford one). Any thoughts on that?

This forum is great; just have jumped in years ago. Thanks for all the replies...much appreciated.

_________________
edfritzjr Image

Image

1923 hand held pizzelle iron (needs fire)
1915 Palco army canteen (holds Sidecar)
1976 P-bass (was shot)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Installing Custom Shop pu's in Road Worn Jazz
Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 5:56 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2011 6:00 pm
Posts: 55
Thanks for the tip on the Duncan. As far as the '64's originality, it goes like this: All original tuners, which work just fine, been refretted at some point; beautiful job-virtually no wear. Nut appears to be original. Pickguard, tugbar, strap buttons, including headstock are likely original. As for the interior, pickup is a '70's era Duncan. Actual '64 pickups run as high as 2K, so I thought maybe I'd put in the new Original Fender I had lying around (I have three other p's and a lot of parts) until I could get a real '64 policed up. Jack is original, as is capacitor.

Did I miss anything? Oh yeah. The case is original. The latches are ok. Cool thing is there's a New Riders decal on it, and one of the bands I play with opened up for them twice in the last four years. Really nice guys, BTW, if any of you are as old as me and remember that band. I'm probably older than all of you.

One pot is a '64 NOS just put in, the other is circa '80's. I have two more correct NOS pots I just bought since, so I'll replace both of them since the dates match on the new ones.. Headstock decal and neck plate are right for L series.

I'm not planning to sell it, but if anyone's interested, talk to me. At this point in my life I never say never. I also have a mildly modified, heavily reliced '76 beat up the old fashioned way...by playing the crap out of it. Nearly mint '77 with A (jazz width) neck, and parts bass I built with USA '62 RI body, '57 USA RI neck, Fralin pickup.

I'm really liking talking to you guys. Ed

_________________
edfritzjr Image

Image

1923 hand held pizzelle iron (needs fire)
1915 Palco army canteen (holds Sidecar)
1976 P-bass (was shot)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Installing Custom Shop pu's in Road Worn Jazz
Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 6:51 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:01 am
Posts: 2842
The 64 P bass I had the luck of playing was an amazing sounding bass. This was in like 75. It had the perfect sound. It had been stripped and painted white. It had the tortoise guard too. The guy who owned it would lay it up on top of his Ampeg amp after the gig (no case) and go home. He would leave it there untill the next night and so on-- Now that I think about that I have to be amazed it never got pinched. It's not like it was a nice bar.

I never knew what happened to that bass or the guy. He never really took very good care of the bass. He did know how good it sounded. He wouldn't sell it. Hey it was 75 before the whole blowout with vintage stuff happened. Back when a bass was just a tool pretty much.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Installing Custom Shop pu's in Road Worn Jazz
Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 1:05 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Oct 29, 2010 10:22 am
Posts: 789
What a beautifully beaten axe.

Has anybody ever noticed how "Mint" condition vintage guitars/basses etc sound like crap next to the "Heavily Worn" ones?

Stay Brown,
Rev J


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Installing Custom Shop pu's in Road Worn Jazz
Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 11:11 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Oct 29, 2010 10:22 am
Posts: 789
I'm already getting a thumb "divit" right next to the bridge pickup under the B-string on my new Steve Bailey Jazz Bass. I've got alot of Drama going on right now otherwise I'd post pics. I've also noticed how my technique has changed. So it's like the bass and I are adjusting to each other.

Stay Brown,
Rev J


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Installing Custom Shop pu's in Road Worn Jazz
Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 1:48 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2011 6:00 pm
Posts: 55
I agree with you guys on the worn better sounding thing, but as I stated in an earlier post, the wearing of the '64 was mostly all done before I got it. If you want to see one I hammered myself, I have an ash '76 P with maple fretboard that looks like it was dragged from Houston to Santa Fe behind a '47 F-100 Ford pickup. I picked it up in a pawn shop in Tampa about '78; hardly a mark on it, then. Unlike a lot of post-CBS Fenders of that era, it always played remarkably well and still does. It actually got shot in the headstock with a .25 pistol once during a gig in the early '80's, when I was playing country just to work during the disco days. It got plugged during a break while it was sitting on a stand, thank God, but the wood putty I patched it up with is still there.

Oh, the stories us old guys tell...and this one's real. I actually left a big part of it out.

_________________
edfritzjr Image

Image

1923 hand held pizzelle iron (needs fire)
1915 Palco army canteen (holds Sidecar)
1976 P-bass (was shot)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Installing Custom Shop pu's in Road Worn Jazz
Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 3:17 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2011 6:00 pm
Posts: 55
Sabre--I'd really like to see pics of your build. The .25 that shot my bass was, in fact, a women's gun wielded by same. I told you there was more to the story. No, she was not shooting at the bass (or me.) I'll take some updated pics of the '76 and post the rest of the story tomorrow or Sat when I have more time.

I think the "war story" idea is a good one. Should just start a new post like you suggested? Someone else lead off and I'll catch up with the rest of mine. I'm sure there's enough out there to write a book, but I doubt we'd best Keef's auto. Now that was a good read. Anyone else partake?

_________________
edfritzjr Image

Image

1923 hand held pizzelle iron (needs fire)
1915 Palco army canteen (holds Sidecar)
1976 P-bass (was shot)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Installing Custom Shop pu's in Road Worn Jazz
Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 4:38 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2011 6:00 pm
Posts: 55
Yes, It was Keith Richards' autobiography, "Life." I had some doubts when I bought it hardback when it was released in December, I think. The whole story with all the vignettes included was one of the top three autos I've read...had to do most of it twice. I gave my copy to a very ill friend and musician who loved it. It's in paperback, so grab a copy no matter what your feelings on Keith are. If you do like music, and that's granted or you wouldn't be hear, and you also have a broad-based slightly (or more) off-track sense of humor, you will love the book.

I'll propose something here. If you buy the soft cover book, and I don't care a whit whether you hate the Stones individually or collectively. If you don't like it (and I'll post my address) you can send it to me, All you have do it show me receipt and I'll refund your money (less postage..) Am I'm not even selling them! If some come back I'll send them to Wounded Warriors most likely. So buy, read...enjoy. And my disclaimer...I am in no way affiliated with the Stones on any level. Don't even know the lads. Have at it!

_________________
edfritzjr Image

Image

1923 hand held pizzelle iron (needs fire)
1915 Palco army canteen (holds Sidecar)
1976 P-bass (was shot)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Installing Custom Shop pu's in Road Worn Jazz
Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 6:26 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Oct 29, 2010 10:22 am
Posts: 789
I haven't read that one but I have read "What Would Keith Richards Do: Daily Affirmations from a Rock and Roll Survivor." I have since found myself asking that question quite often and my Liver hurts every time I do ask it.

Stay Brown,
Rev J


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 36 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: