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Post subject: Jazz Bass Special MIJ 80's - Check out the Wiring/Shielding!
Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 3:20 am
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Hey everyone-

Check out my wacky 80's MIJ Jazz Bass Special- It dates to 84-87 per the serial lookup I believe. Has a P/J pup setup, and has a Jazz neck, and P body. Kind of the best of both worlds I think.

I lovingly call this one my "Duff" bass, because even though Fender makes a Duff bass, this one is the original.

Anyway, take a look at the wiring with the copper shielding! Is this something a previous owner added, or did they do this at the factory? I'll tell you this- it's quieter than a monastery at 3 am! Sounds great too. Also, something else I noticed- the pole pieces on the pups are super fat. Do fatter magnets = fatter sound? This one sure sounds fat to me. Great tone. It's the only instrument I have where I wouldn't change a thing.

Got it on eBay years ago for a great deal- I believe I paid $400 shipped, with a Fender hard case, and an Epiphone headjammer headphone amp. Which incidentally sounds pretty nice for practice too. Even came with a new set of GHS boomers.

Check out the photos-

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The only thing that bums me out is the hardware is starting to get a little corroded. Any fix for that? (other than replacement) I really like this bass. If I could only own 1 bass, this would be it. Feels/plays great- sounds great- looks cool.

Oh, I lied- I think I will change the knobs though. I changed the tone knob to a black barrel knob (kind of a round/domed Tele style knob I had laying around) because the "F" insert fell out some time ago and looked like crap. I think I'll just change the other 2 out to match.

Also, be sure to say hi to my monkey! :lol:

Edited to add- Yes, I'm left handed as my username would suggest- but I play 'right handed'- for an explanation, please see my intro thread.


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Post subject: Re: Jazz Bass Special MIJ 80's - Check out the Wiring/Shield
Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 4:25 am
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The shielding job isn't all that wacky. I do that on P/J's, Jazzes and first generation Precisions and any other instrument with one or more single-coil pickups. That is not a factory shielding job, but was done aftermarket done with copper shielding tape.

That's a VERY nice example of an instrument that lately is somewhat uncommonly seen for sale. Very nice indeed.


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Post subject: Re: Jazz Bass Special MIJ 80's - Check out the Wiring/Shield
Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 7:04 am
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brotherdave wrote:
The shielding job isn't all that wacky. I do that on P/J's, Jazzes and first generation Precisions and any other instrument with one or more single-coil pickups. That is not a factory shielding job, but was done aftermarket done with copper shielding tape.

That's a VERY nice example of an instrument that lately is somewhat uncommonly seen for sale. Very nice indeed.


Thanks BroDave.

Maybe "wacky" wasn't the best word to use. :lol: More like, unusual.

Do you by any chance know if the pups & wiring are stock to this model? The fat pole pieces seemed like something custom maybe.

Anybody know much about this model? Does it look stock?

I'm mostly just curious. Again, I really like it and have no plans on doing anything to it. Unless something breaks! But, then again, I wonder what I should do about the corroded tuning machines & bridge.


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Post subject: Re: Jazz Bass Special MIJ 80's - Check out the Wiring/Shield
Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 9:14 pm
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Duncan Quarter Pounder pickups have large poles like that- there are prob other companies that have the big poles too. I do the same kind of shielding on some of my basses- some don't need it. I think that's a cool bass.


BTW I like how you lay the guitar on a pillow like that. I've seen pics where guys take their basses outside and lay them down on concrete patio pavers and whatnot. I'm more of a pillow guy myself.


Could those be ROTOSOUND strings I see there??? NICE !!!

The rusted parts --- I (personally) would take utmost care in getting them off the guitar and then taking them apart----CAUTION -- you may know that the little rusted tuner screws could break as soon as you try to unscrew them. If that happens it's not a fun job. I would put a drop of oil or a drop of WD on them first and let them sit for awhile taking caution not to get oil on the finish-- same with the bridge stuff. I'd do things like dig out the screw tops so the driver will fit better in them. Then I'd put some Mineral Spirits in a jar and drop the rusted parts in and let them soak at least overnite. Then comes the toothbrush for scrubbing and so on and so forth--- If you've never done that stuff before you might want to take the bass in to a shop OR instead of cleaning up old parts (which may still have a little rust on them anyway when cleaned up) just get new replacements.. Once you do take things apart you may find that the small parts (saddles, height screws etc) may need to be replaced anyway. You know what I mean??

With that bridge I'd prob just take it off the body and spray it down with WD 40 before I did anything else to it. (before working on it)...... anyway it's late- I hope I'm making sense.......

*very good/clear pictures you took.


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Post subject: Re: Jazz Bass Special MIJ 80's - Check out the Wiring/Shield
Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 1:11 am
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The pickups on these had larger poles exactly as pictured. Those pickups look stock Wiring should be passive Volume/Volume/TBX passive tone circuit with a 3 way switch. Other than the knob it looks original. The knobs are nearly impossible to find but sometimes pop up on eBay.

Here's one said to be all original in Burgundy Mist Metallic and it has the same larger pole pickups. Where did Seymour Duncan got the idea for the quarter-pounder things? Was it here?

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As for the hardware, the bridge, neckplate and tuners on these are seem amazingly prone to rusting. It is something about the ionized black finish and it is common on this model so it isn't just yours. Also it is rare to find one where all the knobs have the "F" inserts intact. I'd try to keep it original if possible and try to find a replacement knob eventually. The advice given for preserving the hardware was good and will help a lot. The best thing is to keep them clean and dry too. The "F" knob inserts all eventually fall out if you don't intentionally remove them and superglue them in. The knob inserts that fall out and the proclivity of the hardware to spontaneously rust did not make this model Fujigen's finest hour exactly, but otherwise it is an extremely good instrument and definitely worth having. The black neck back ones like yours are the most desirable. The wiring looks correct and is possibly original. I don't think much has been done to yours other than the shielding job and the incorrect knob being added.


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Post subject: Re: Jazz Bass Special MIJ 80's - Check out the Wiring/Shield
Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 3:25 am
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Stroker- Thanks for the info- I'll give it a shot taking apart the hardware and cleaning it. Worse case, I'll get a replacement, and keep the original parts. Thanks for the nod on my photography. I got a new camera recently, and I'm trying to learn photography.

BroDave- I honestly can't remember if the tone knob had the "F" insert when I got the bass. I had that black knob laying around, and thought it might look good as a replacement. I think I'll replace the others with similar knobs. I kept the other knob, and will of course keep the originals as well. I just like the look and feel of metal knobs. Though, the rubber gasket that lines the knobs on the originals is kinda nice.

I liked the look of the all black! The painted headstock/neck and the body & hardware looked really cool, and I saw Duff playing a very similar bass at a gig, and really dug it.

The black hardware kind of reminds me of gun blued steel- the kind you see on an old revolver. It actually looks really nice up close, corrosion notwithstanding! This is a good sounding bass too. I really like the PBass sound, and love the Jazz neck & body, so this bass really is the best of all worlds for me. Lucky for me, the action was set perfectly for me.

As far as strings, I could have sworn they were Boomers. 8)


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Post subject: Re: Jazz Bass Special MIJ 80's - Check out the Wiring/Shield
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 2:39 pm
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Nice bass. I always have a few elite knobs around. They are so tough to find, I buy them when I see them. The blacks show up more than whites, so you might find one.

If you don't score one online, let me know. I would enjoy seeing that bass complete.

Steve

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Post subject: Re: Jazz Bass Special MIJ 80's - Check out the Wiring/Shield
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 5:06 am
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Very nice bass - I also have one of those, except it's an unlined fretless, came with EMG pups, and isn't in nearly as good of condition... Mine had two original tuners, and two chrome replacements - so, I bought a set of Hipshot black lollypops that fit correctly... They don't have the glossy black chrome look of the originals, but I like them just the same...


- georgestrings


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Post subject: Re: Jazz Bass Special MIJ 80's - Check out the Wiring/Shield
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 9:35 pm
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affprod wrote:
Nice bass. I always have a few elite knobs around. They are so tough to find, I buy them when I see them. The blacks show up more than whites, so you might find one.

If you don't score one online, let me know. I would enjoy seeing that bass complete.

Steve




Somehow I've ended up with some of those elite knobs. I have 3. I have no idea where they came from-- but it WAS somewhere.


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Post subject: Re: Jazz Bass Special MIJ 80's - Check out the Wiring/Shield
Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:20 pm
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Stroker, send me a PM if you don't want or need them.

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