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Post subject: Replacing pickups, what to leave inside the pickup holes
Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 7:33 am
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Hi all, I have some EMG JVX pickups shortly being delivered for my 1974 Jazz Bass. I have removed the stock pickups but not entirely sure if I should leave behind the metal plates that are in each of the pickup recesses and also the little padded bits beneath the pickups (I have only removed the bridge pickup metal plate and padded bit as per the photo)

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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups, what to leave inside the pickup holes
Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 10:30 pm
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the pad is needed so you can adjust pickup height-- AND you can't just use any old stuff to do that with. It needs to be of the same ridgidity as what you took out. Are you sure you can do the install? Sounds like you've never done this stuff before. You may be better of to take it to someone who knows what they are doing. It's not hard to screw up a bass . I t would be hard to explain it all to you here. But maybe you know what you are doing so excuse me if I'm making you out to be a novice or whatnot. BTW EMGS from what I remember are not exactly the same as regular J pickups. They are taller I beleive. I could be wrong. They may have many different styles. All that junk plays into how you go about doing a good job on the bass.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups, what to leave inside the pickup holes
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 4:44 am
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Thanks for that. The new pickups are completely solderless and just plug into the new controls. I was more concerned about the metal plates that are used in each recess. Looks to me like some kind of common earth, but I guess the new pickups don't need these.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups, what to leave inside the pickup holes
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 1:28 pm
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Those metal plates are for shielding the original single coil pickups to reduce hum (RFI) and you are correct they do connect to ground.

As to whether or not to leave the grounding plates in, with the EMG JVX set and preamp it probably isn't necessary as these pickups are already very quiet with high RFI rejection which is part of their appeal. If you left them in you'd need to ground the plates or they wouldn't be doing much of anything anyway. Since you are going with these solderless pickups I'd remove the plates and keep them with the stock pickups.

In reality I actually would not be modding this instrument, unless it had been modified from stock previously.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups, what to leave inside the pickup holes
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 8:12 pm
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You may not have to but I've had to enlarge the holes in the pick guard to fit in aftermarket pickups- don't be surprized.

Are the EMG's active?


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups, what to leave inside the pickup holes
Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 2:23 am
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Thanks for your advice. I will be prepared for any hole enlargement ;-) I appreciate your comments about not wanting to mod it, but this bass plays and looks great, but I need a brighter/funkier tone like my 2005 deluxe.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups, what to leave inside the pickup holes
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:35 pm
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Well put some Rotosound round wounds on it and a Dimarzio model J- that will do the job for you. EMG's blow anyway I think but that's just me. I've put umpteen EMG's in basses and I end up ripping them out after a short time. They just don't do one thing for me. You can love them and it doesn't bother me at all though.

I must add that I don't think there is any way you can make a 74 J sound like a 2005 deluxe. Ain't gonna' happen. No way. The 74 should always sound better.

If you would let me set it up I could prove it. But I guess that won't happen but I feel pretty sure about 74 "sounding" thing. THAT IS unless your 74 is a dud. There are duds out there you know?
:| BTW my 1974 Precision blows all my other newer Precisions away. Just sayin'.


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