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Post subject: Changing pickups hurt the value of my American Jazz?
Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2013 7:35 pm
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I have a beautiful 2003 or 2004 American Jazz bass, maple neck and transparent red body -- the prettiest Jazz I've ever seen. I also own a Mexican Jazz of similar vintage that has active electronics. I'd like to move the active electronics on the American bass, which will require drilling on the back of the bass to add a battery box. Will this affect the value of my bass?


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Post subject: Re: Changing pickups hurt the value of my American Jazz?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 12:47 am
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IMO yes.


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Post subject: Re: Changing pickups hurt the value of my American Jazz?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 1:24 am
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stratele52 wrote:
IMO yes.


+1

Any possibility of relocating the battery to beneath the control plate on the front of the bass?

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Changing pickups hurt the value of my American Jazz?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 5:44 am
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googam wrote:
Will this affect the value of my bass?
Absolutely. No question about it. Personally, I won't mod any MIA (bass or guitar) beyond cosmetic changes like knobs and pickguards. If it leaves a permanent mark it doesn't get done. If it disturbs factory soldered connections it doesn't get done. I'll buy a used MIA that someone has already hacked up or I'll buy a MIM or MIK if I want to make serious changes.

YMMV.

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Post subject: Re: Changing pickups hurt the value of my American Jazz?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 5:56 am
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I think if somebody want a Fender bass with active pickups he will buy an original one . Good luck to sell it in fews years


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Post subject: Re: Changing pickups hurt the value of my American Jazz?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 8:01 am
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BMW-KTM wrote:
Absolutely. No question about it. Personally, I won't mod any MIA (bass or guitar) beyond cosmetic changes like knobs and pickguards. If it leaves a permanent mark it doesn't get done. If it disturbs factory soldered connections it doesn't get done. I'll buy a used MIA that someone has already hacked up or I'll buy a MIM or MIK if I want to make serious changes.


+ 1000 I'm the same,....I wouldn't do any mod that would leave a mark or disturb factory soldered connections. ... :) but to each his own...


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Post subject: Re: Changing pickups hurt the value of my American Jazz?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 8:40 am
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Who Cares? Do What You Like - Like What You Do!

Did T-Bone Wolk care about 'value' when he irreversibly routed out his pre-CBS Precision and installed a hot DiMarzio jazz p'up at the bridge? Did he worry about disturbing factory solder joints?

HELL NO!

My hot rodded '76 Precision is worth a fortune to me, and I don't give a ratsass what it's worth to you.

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Post subject: Re: Changing pickups hurt the value of my American Jazz?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 11:10 am
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Hence my final qualifying remark of YMMV. What other people do with thier own equipment is their bidness but the answer to the original question is still yes, it will affect the value.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.


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Post subject: Re: Changing pickups hurt the value of my American Jazz?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 1:27 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
Hence my final qualifying remark of YMMV. What other people do with thier own equipment is their bidness but the answer to the original question is still yes, it will affect the value.


+1

Just as with those miscreants armed with belt sanders and ice picks who crave the relic vibe without a single thought as to the diminished value of an instrument once they've had their dastardly way with it.

:wink:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Changing pickups hurt the value of my American Jazz?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 1:32 pm
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linnin wrote:
Who Cares? Do What You Like - Like What You Do!

Did T-Bone Wolk care about 'value' when he irreversibly routed out his pre-CBS Precision and installed a hot DiMarzio jazz p'up at the bridge? Did he worry about disturbing factory solder joints?

HELL NO!

My hot rodded '76 Precision is worth a fortune to me, and I don't give a ratsass what it's worth to you.


Actually when he did it nobody cared much. It was a different time and a 64 P-Bass was not worth $500, much less 10K.


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Post subject: Re: Changing pickups hurt the value of my American Jazz?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 4:33 pm
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Yes, it will trash the value. Period.

However, I ran across a jazz a while back, and I just double checked and it is still being listed, that had been modified active. The description is below.

Fender Jazz Bass - 1968 / 69 Orig CAR Match Head - Body refin - all parts 100%

Ok now! This bass was a factory custom color and the original custom color neck is still intact. Orig neck, 69 dated pickups, 6614 harness, 221xxx serial, parchment guard etc etc, still has the OHSC and weighs UNDER 9 pounds! All the parts are there, 100%! When we got the bass it had a J-retro sorta control and the cavity was widened just a skutch to hold a 9volt. It’s a small widening under the pots. The original control plate, pots, knobs etc were in the case and have since been reinstalled. The body was refinned back to the orig CAR and other then the body finish, the bass is all there! OHSC

If you wanted to go through with modifications, this would be a nice bass to do it with for around $3500, with the hard stuff already done. (about a third the cost of an original 68, which is what modifications and refins do to value) but still a very cool piece for what you want to do.

If you are interested, PM me and I will give you the dealer name.

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Post subject: Re: Changing pickups hurt the value of my American Jazz?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 5:45 pm
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I'd only be ok with modding something MIJ.


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