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Post subject: Change PickUp for Fender Jazz Bass (MIM)
Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 1:17 pm
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Hi man! This is my first post here and I am writing from Italy. I apologize in advance for my bad English... sorry :D

I have a question for you, and I hope to be helped.

I, my singing and my bassist player instruments Fender. Now, we are updating our musical instruments. The bassist has a "Fender Jazz Bass" made in Mexico with a serial MN1 104696, then a bass built in 1991-92 and It wants change the old pickups with new pickup. I have tried lot on the site of the fender and the web, but I don't found anything that can help me to figure which pickup mounts it's bass.

Could you help me? ...are weeks that I try, but nothing...

I can change the old pickups with "Fender Original Vintage Jazz Bass" or better with a "Fender Custom Shop '60s Jazz Bass pickups", or I need to know necessarily what pickup mounts in origin?

Thanks in advance for any help

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Post subject: Re: Change PickUp for Fender Jazz Bass (MIM)
Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 3:25 pm
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all 4 string Jazz pickups will fit any 4 string Jazz bass. ( I hope)---- Fender Pick ups are good. Duncan Pick ups are good. Dimarzio, Fralin, many others are good too. What kind of sound do you want?


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Post subject: Re: Change PickUp for Fender Jazz Bass (MIM)
Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 3:46 pm
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Hi Stroke and thank for your response.

We currently playing the Dire Straits (cover band) but mainly, the sound is blues/rock/jazz.

Now, I play the guitar (Fender naturally :) ) and I had no problems in the research and
assembly of my pickup (69 neck, 50fat middle, texas special bridge), but I have a lot of difficulty in finding news for the bass pickups (my bass player wants them strictly Fender)...if the bass had been built in the U.S. everything was easier...

Thanks again

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Post subject: Re: Change PickUp for Fender Jazz Bass (MIM)
Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 5:42 pm
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I have ran into pickup cavity fit issues with some Jazz Basses that have slightly smaller bridge pickups that neck pickups.

Might consider the Fender Original Vintage Jazz Bass pair, merely because I really like the Fender Original Vintage P-Bass pickup a lot.

I tend to use stock Jazz Bass pickups for the most part as rarely keep a Jazz Bass long enough to feel the need to modify it. I buy Jazz Basses, but usually don't keep them long.


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Post subject: Re: Change PickUp for Fender Jazz Bass (MIM)
Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 8:38 pm
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oops I frogot about the "slightly smaller" thing. I'll never let that happen again I swear.


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Post subject: Re: Change PickUp for Fender Jazz Bass (MIM)
Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 1:21 am
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Accordingly , it's possible that I must modify the bass? ...mmm... however, my choice goes to the "Fender Original Vintage Jazz Bass"...

What do you think?

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Post subject: Re: Change PickUp for Fender Jazz Bass (MIM)
Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 4:57 pm
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GO FOR IT !!!!! Then plug that baby in and ROCK !!!!


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Post subject: Re: Change PickUp for Fender Jazz Bass (MIM)
Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 12:13 am
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Hahahahaa!! Ok man :D

Since I've got to put hand to the bass, you have any additional tips or trick to improve the sound?

I look forward to :D

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Post subject: Re: Change PickUp for Fender Jazz Bass (MIM)
Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 1:37 pm
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Brother Dave is the sound specialist on here. He knows what capacitors and pots and what not to use and what to use. He will give you examples and he can type fast.


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Post subject: Re: Change PickUp for Fender Jazz Bass (MIM)
Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 4:12 pm
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Thanks stroker :) I hope in Brother Dave :D

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Post subject: Re: Change PickUp for Fender Jazz Bass (MIM)
Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:16 pm
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Check what kind of tone capacitor is in it. Sometimes a tone capacitor change helps nail a targeted tone. There are lots of capacitors used in guitar tone circuits. Fender has used several over the years. I recommend the following very stable varieties for different purposes.

If you want a lot of grit and drive in an instrument's basic tone use a VINTAGE ceramic disc. These were used in Fender's "Golden Era" instruments, which are similar to the ones (but not IDENTICAL to the ones) currently stock in USA and MIM basses. There are tonal differences between the larger vintage ceramic discs about the size of a penny and the pea sized ones being used today by Fender. Look for the vintage ones as they sound crazy cool and are not expensive at all.
Image

If you want slight grit use Poly caps such as Poly Orange Drops.
(note the overall roundish barrel shape indicating it is Poly, not Mylar)
Image
These Poly Orange Drops are the ones sold by most aftermarket parts companies online. Not my first choice though.

Also there are various other styles of Poly caps like the "Chicket" style caps that Fender Japan uses. Chicklets sound about like the Poly Orange Drop ones, but can have a little more or little less edge depending on the maker. Radio Shack sells some that sound pretty interesting too for next to nothing.
Image

Smoother sounding are the Mylar Orange drops. (Note these are boxy shaped which indicates it is Mylar, not Poly.) These are almost as smooth as the far more costly Vitamin-Q's.
Image

Smoothest most distortion free caps are the "Paper In Oil" SPRAGUE BRAND VITAMIN-Q and other Vitamin-Q style caps made by other brands. That also includes the Soviet ones that are quite good copies. Some people like the Soviets better actually. You just have to experiment. The Soviet ones actually are very affordable. The Sprague Vitamin-Q variety are natural aluminum colored and are usually covered in clear plastic insulation which is cool to have as it limits the possibility of shorts. The real Sprague Vitamin-Q caps will cost you $10 to $20 each while the Soviet ones are $3 to $6.
Image
Sprague also made these same caps under contract to companies like Raytheon and Philco.
The Soviet Vitamin-Q TYPE are usually dark green or deep red.
Image

When changing pickups is an ideal time to re-evaluate the tone cap. I currently use all Vitamin-Q's because I have a Tech 21 Bass Driver and other pedals to dirty things up if I need to. If I was plugging directly into an amp I might go back to a vintage ceramic disc for some things. Keep in mind that you can always dirty up a clean basic tone with pedals, but you can not clean up a dirty basic tone.

Basically I use two types. The super clean Paper In Oil Vitamin-Q or the super gritty VINTAGE Ceramic Discs. No in-between for me.


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Post subject: Re: Change PickUp for Fender Jazz Bass (MIM)
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 10:16 am
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WooWW Thanks brotherdave :D Really very kind ! I know new things :)

Today I opened the bass, and I took a picture of the circuit:

Image

The type of capacitor, is good or not? If all goes well I'll leave that, on the contrary, the change following the advice ;)

While I was working with the pickup, I had a problem and I stopped: I remove the 4 screws bu the pickup appears "stuck"... is normal?? I've try to remove it, but nothing does not come off... It 's the first time I try to replace the pickups of bass (no problem with my guitar) and I don't want to damage it...

Image

Before removing the pickup, I tried to adjust the height, but go down, not up ... From Fender Owner's Manual...

"[...]Note: When adjusting a pickup higher, it may be necessary to physically pull the pickup up into its raised position, as the
foam spacer under the pickup typically compresses over time and will need the lift to help it expand and fill the void
.[...]

I tried the suggestion but nothing... :shock: Advice?

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Post subject: Re: Change PickUp for Fender Jazz Bass (MIM)
Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 6:46 pm
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That cap is the poly film Asian. Fender was using those before switching to the small ceramic disc they are using now. As whether or not it is good depends on what tone you want. It is cleaner than a vintage ceramic disc but a might dirtier than a Sprague Poly Orange Drop.

What cap to use depends largely on what tone you are after. A cap change from one type to another type does make a subtle difference as a rule, but the difference between a vintage ceramic disc and a Vitamin-Q Type Paper In Oil is downright striking. It all depends on how much grit (inherent fundamental tone and harmonic distortion) you want in your tone. For example if you are doing heavy metal or hard rock, I'd go with ceramic disc. If you want a good all around tone with just a touch of distortion, many in the higher notes then a Poly Orange Drop works. If you want to go cleaner try a Mylar Orange Drop. If you want the ultimate clean tone with the very least distortion possible try a Paper In Oil Vitamin-Q cap.

Some people try a Paper-In-Oil and miss the grit very much. These people wind up going back to ceramic disc or Poly Orange Drop. Once you get conditioned to having an edge and never knowing what a clean tone sounds like, when you have a real clean tone some people think that their instrument sounds dull. It is a personal preference!

There's no rule, so try several different ones. They are relatively cheap, except for the USA made Vitamin-Q type Paper-In-Oil ones. That is because there will be no more of them made in the USA. Eventually they'll all be gone. As supply goes down, price goes up.

Do not change so much as the tone cap on a vintage instrument! Breaking even one original solder joint will hit your appraisal value worse than heavy finish wear.


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Post subject: Re: Change PickUp for Fender Jazz Bass (MIM)
Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 4:54 am
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I don't understand the pickup being stuck unless it is a really tight fit in the cavity or unless the mounting foam is stuck to the pickup and to bottom of the cavity. On some vintage Jazzes (real USA vintage and some USA Vintage Reissues) the pickup is attached to foam that is sticky on both sides and the foam goes between the pickup and a brass shielding plate. I don't think these have ever been used in MIM Jazzes. Even with the brass plates it should lift right out. They may have used double sided sticky foam.


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Post subject: Re: Change PickUp for Fender Jazz Bass (MIM)
Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 9:39 am
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brotherdave wrote:
That cap is the poly film Asian. Fender was using those before switching to the small ceramic disc they are using now. As whether or not it is good depends on what tone you want. It is cleaner than a vintage ceramic disc but a might dirtier than a Sprague Poly Orange Drop.

What cap to use depends largely on what tone you are after. A cap change from one type to another type does make a subtle difference as a rule, but the difference between a vintage ceramic disc and a Vitamin-Q Type Paper In Oil is downright striking. It all depends on how much grit (inherent fundamental tone and harmonic distortion) you want in your tone. For example if you are doing heavy metal or hard rock, I'd go with ceramic disc. If you want a good all around tone with just a touch of distortion, many in the higher notes then a Poly Orange Drop works. If you want to go cleaner try a Mylar Orange Drop. If you want the ultimate clean tone with the very least distortion possible try a Paper In Oil Vitamin-Q cap.

Some people try a Paper-In-Oil and miss the grit very much. These people wind up going back to ceramic disc or Poly Orange Drop. Once you get conditioned to having an edge and never knowing what a clean tone sounds like, when you have a real clean tone some people think that their instrument sounds dull. It is a personal preference!

There's no rule, so try several different ones. They are relatively cheap, except for the USA made Vitamin-Q type Paper-In-Oil ones. That is because there will be no more of them made in the USA. Eventually they'll all be gone. As supply goes down, price goes up.

Do not change so much as the tone cap on a vintage instrument! Breaking even one original solder joint will hit your appraisal value worse than heavy finish wear.


+1 Bro!

Thanks for deep and thorough response. Mainly the our sound is Blues/Rock. Let's say that it sounds of the bass is okay. Only one thing is wrong: The sustain is very short (in comparison with a Precision Bass) and has not "mordant". Also the volume general is a bit weak. While I waiting to arrive new pickup (Fender Original Vintage Jazz Bass) I wanted to understand how intervene to improve the sound. Now, Thanks to your explanation, I manage to find my way better ;) Thanks again :D

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