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Post subject: 1972 Jazz Bass output
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 4:43 am
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So years after I started a post about this issue I have finally decided to look into fixing the low volume output that my original 1972 Fender Jazz was experiencing. In order to accurately diagnose the pickups I had to de-solder them from the volume pots in order to hook them up to an ohm meter. (I had been debating doing this for years, but unless this issue is addressed this bass is just a glorified "wall hanger" and not a player.) Here is where the mystery continues. When hooking each pickup separately to the ohm meter I could not get anything to register for either pickup on the Jazz. Yes the person doing this job for me has experience swapping out pickups so certainly qualified for this level of diagnostic. We even had two other standard Fender basses that would give output readings so I know the the meter was functioning properly and was hooked up correctly. It should be noted that without using a meter the 72 Jazz has around half the volume output of my other Fender basses. My question is what next? Should I remove the pickups and assume they need to be rewound, could there be an issue with the magnets? On a side note, the volume/tone controls work perfectly. I want this bass to be more then a collectors item so I am thinking about getting the originals rewound through Lindsay Fralin.(as many of you have recommended) My fear is... Could I be missing something else that would cause no reading on the ohm meter. Everything is grounded properly. Looking for your ideas. Lastly, I live in upstate NY and I would not be opposed to sending this bass out to a reputable Fender repair person but this goes beyond our local guitar luther's expertise. Anyone know someone through this forum that might be able to look into this problem. Please help! This bass is such an amazing playing bass with an amazing neck. I just want the sound to match.


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Post subject: Re: 1972 Jazz Bass output
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 7:40 am
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scheil442 wrote:
So years after I started a post about this issue I have finally decided to look into fixing the low volume output that my original 1972 Fender Jazz was experiencing. In order to accurately diagnose the pickups I had to de-solder them from the volume pots in order to hook them up to an ohm meter. (I had been debating doing this for years, but unless this issue is addressed this bass is just a glorified "wall hanger" and not a player.) Here is where the mystery continues. When hooking each pickup separately to the ohm meter I could not get anything to register for either pickup on the Jazz. Yes the person doing this job for me has experience swapping out pickups so certainly qualified for this level of diagnostic. We even had two other standard Fender basses that would give output readings so I know the the meter was functioning properly and was hooked up correctly. It should be noted that without using a meter the 72 Jazz has around half the volume output of my other Fender basses. My question is what next? Should I remove the pickups and assume they need to be rewound, could there be an issue with the magnets? On a side note, the volume/tone controls work perfectly. I want this bass to be more then a collectors item so I am thinking about getting the originals rewound through Lindsay Fralin.(as many of you have recommended) My fear is... Could I be missing something else that would cause no reading on the ohm meter. Everything is grounded properly. Looking for your ideas. Lastly, I live in upstate NY and I would not be opposed to sending this bass out to a reputable Fender repair person but this goes beyond our local guitar luther's expertise. Anyone know someone through this forum that might be able to look into this problem. Please help! This bass is such an amazing playing bass with an amazing neck. I just want the sound to match.


Sorry but if you are getting readings with other pickups using the same meter and method then it really sounds like the coils are broken and need rewinding.

While Lindy Fralin without a doubt does good work and is highly regarded there are others who can wind them properly. Curtis Novak might do it or might not because his pickup business exploded to the point he no longer does refinishing, and a little shop called Brandonwound Pickups will do rewinds cheaper than any other online rewinding service I know about.

Time was that about any of the better shops who worked on guitars did pickup rewinding and likely you can still find someone very close by that does it. Fralin's shop builds great pickups. Seymour Duncan does too. Both Fralin and Duncan will rewind if you pay enough money. I use pickups from each but neither is the alpha and omega of pickup rewinding in my book because they charge as much or even more to rewind as they charge for a new pickup, and that is just being greedy. Chances are a local shop won't charge nearly as much and do just as good a job.

Many good rewinding services are out there that YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD OF! For example, have you ever heard of Tom Brantley? Geddy Lee uses Tom Brantley for his Jazz rewinds. He is in Southport NC. Here is his contact info: tombrantleyrewinds@gmail.com or 804-467-5887
Tom Brantley charges less than HALF what Fralin's shop charges and has a strong reputation and yet you never heard of him. Same for Brandonwound who does good work. Jason Lollar will also rewind but I don't know his fees.

Whether the magnets need re-magnetizing or not if you are not getting an impedance reading then the coils are broken and re-magnetizing won't help.


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Post subject: Re: 1972 Jazz Bass output
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 7:54 am
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Great resources for pickup rewinding. Thanks and I will definitely do some research!

Assuming it is the coil which sounds likely because I am experiencing a change in volume when I use the tone control, Is it possible both pickups can have a broken coil? I noticed the neck pickup is stronger then the bridge pickup. The bridge pickup is most affected by a change in volume when using the tone control. The neck pickup far less. The bass is lacking bass. :-)


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Post subject: Re: 1972 Jazz Bass output
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 12:30 pm
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One factor not mentioned yet is if your pickups were installed out of phase. Many jazz basses had this done either intentionally or by mistake. The result is that the low end drops when both pickups are turned up to the same volume level. This is very confusing to diagnose if you are not familiar with the sound of " out-of - phase" pickups.

If you increase the volume of one of the pickups it will immediately dominate the sound of the bass.
Since you did test the resistance of each pick-up, this may be irrelevant, but I mention it for those with jazz basses that are wired out of phase.

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