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Post subject: About my fender Jazz bass Plus
Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 6:59 pm
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I picked up a Fender Jazz Bass Plus yesterday. The original pickups and knobs were not functioning and were replaced with Duncan passive Jazz bass pickups. From what I have been able to gather, the original electronics were active, and the knobs functioned very differently. I am looking for more information about which pickups would have been in the bass originally, where can I find them today and perhaps any information about the knobs -brands and where to find them. I'd be interested in restoring this bass to original if possible.

Also looking for an owner's manual. There isn't one available yet on the fender web site but was hoping someone who owns one might see this and be willing to scan it to .pdf.

Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: About my fender Jazz bass Plus
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 7:53 am
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The J Plus had Lace Sensor pickups and Kubicki preamp electronics. I think the pickups are still being made. I've also seen the Kubicki preamps on ebay. You may want to contact Phil Kubicki to see if he has one laying around. I don't know about the knobs, but the Plus 4 string had Schaller hardware.

Good luck to you...these weren't exactly mass produced basses.


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Post subject: Re: About my fender Jazz bass Plus
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 1:09 pm
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Yep it had Lace Sensor pickups and a Phil Kubicki designed preamp which had a passive option too and featured three stacked controls instead of the more common Kubicki twin stacked knob and active-only arrangement of the day. If you really want to put it back to original factory trim then go to the SUPPORT tab and click CONTACT. Then send in your serial and model name requesting the Parts & Wiring diagram plus the user manual PDF. They'll probably send it. Once you have the part numbers you can probably find about everything online brand new except maybe the preamp and the exact knobs. The wiring diagram is of course essential.

I applaud your interest in restoring it to original stock configuration. But to be honest, while the preamp was a top quality preamp in the day very significant advances have been made in preamp design in the two decades since. So, I'm not sure I'd go with the original preamp, but if I lucked into a known good one I might because they sounded fine as I recall. I would want it passive/active for sure. The main advantage to a more modern preamp would be much longer battery life. Also in buying one used and untested it would stink to finish the project only to find out you bought a dud preamp and some of them are over 20 years old now which makes them more prone to failure of course. I'd suggest seeing what preamp connections you need and find a new modern preamp that will accommodate them exactly. There may even be a modern Kubicki design that would work perfectly as he's still making preamps for his own bass line now. There are other preamp brands too that should also work fine.

I'm not partial to active basses myself but I'm sure someone who favors them knows exactly which preamp would be perfect for an update to the Jazz Plus as they've been in the same boat.


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Post subject: Re: About my fender Jazz bass Plus
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 6:19 am
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There were problems with regular production workers installing the Kubicki preamps..which were originally intended for the Custom Shop 40th Anniversary Precision. The Plus I owned didn't work right, either. Everything worked, except for the treble boost. I've seen other Jazz Plus' with the same problem...

The only active circuits and stuff I can recommend would be Alembic Activators. If I were in your boat I'd just stick with a passive setup.


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Post subject: Re: About my fender Jazz bass Plus
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 2:51 pm
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I have an original Jazz Plus. It has Lace Sensors and the Kubiki preamp has multiple settings on the selection knob:

Passive, active, active boost, and OFF, which is handier than you may think.

I wouldn't want to try to replace my preamp because it is probably harder to find than a hen's tooth and I am sure it would cost a lot.

The one area you may try is repair shops. There may be a Kubiki preamp kicking around some guitar repair shop's storage bin and if you find the pickups with it- You have scored a big victory!


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Post subject: Re: About my fender Jazz bass Plus
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 12:28 pm
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I have a 92 Jazz bass plus. Wrote to Fender and got a reply from them plus a schematic sheet with part numbers. My bass hums too. It's not bad in passive with the treble boost down, but in active mode it's unbearable. I always take a passive bass out when I take the JB plus out. Unfortunately, the original parts are not made anymore and Phil Kubicki passed away sometime in 2013 from what I read.
I want to keep the pickups and replace the preamp with no modifications. Anybody have any suggestions on a direct fit replacement active electronics? The original pots are not available. Fender said to use part number 0992052 for the TBX. Here's the original part numbers for the pots: 036090, 030670, 036075. 036092 is for the 4 position rotary switch. The PCB is 0036153.. Hope this helps.
If anybody can help me out with a direct fit active pre, please let me know.
I'll even settle for going passive with new parts.


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Post subject: Re: About my fender Jazz bass Plus
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 1:42 pm
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As much as I applaud your efforts to restore your bass with an aftermarket pre-amp that will go along with the stock Lace Sensor pickups. I would actually rec. that you replace the pickups with an EMG Jazz Bass setup.
The reason is that your LACE sensors did use the Kubiki Pre-amp and that pre-amp is very hard to find.
A set of EMGs would of course be compatible with any one of their Pre-amps as well as the built in pre-amp that comes with their pickups.

I am only suggesting this because you may never find the original parts to restore this bass.

The EMGs would get you playing sooner IMHO.


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Post subject: Re: About my fender Jazz bass Plus
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 7:09 pm
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Thanks for your reply. Haven't decided what I'm going to do. I'm still hell bent on keeping it original though.


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Post subject: Re: About my fender Jazz bass Plus
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 2:56 pm
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For all you Jazz Plus owners who have noise issues, had my 92 Jazz Bass Plus operated on by an electronic tech. This is what he found: Check the ground wire under the bridge. Most Fenders have the ground wire mashed into the finish with 1 strand of wire exposed to the bridge. That's all mine had. Lace Sensors need to be grounded to the body, according to Lace Sensor schematics. Mine was not. Check the PCB where the Pups connect with quick connects. There's a hole marked GRND, mine had nothing connected to or from it. My tech said he played around with alligator clips on certain spots till he found the right spot. I guess he grounded it from there. Tech said it's 99% quieter now. Picking the guitar up tomorrow. Guess I'm not swiping the electronics out after all!!!!


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Post subject: Re: About my fender Jazz bass Plus
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:49 am
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Are you saying that the bass still had the original pre amp and the only changes were that Duncan pickups were installed?

If that is the case then you only need to find a set of Lace Sensor pickups to make it original. If it works well with the Duncan pick ups, play it as it is.

Have some fun with it.

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Last edited by BCbassman on Mon Feb 23, 2015 1:16 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: About my fender Jazz bass Plus
Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 11:20 pm
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If you havent located the parts you need yet I have both original Lace pickups and perfectly working Kubicki preamp and knobs out of my old jazz deluxe. Was going to list the set on ebay for $250. If your interested let me know ill give you all my info and send pics.


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Post subject: Re: About my fender Jazz bass Plus
Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 11:32 am
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Hi Xjbear, I might be interested in your set, if the Kubicki preamp and knobs are in perfect working condition... Would be nice to test the original setup of one of my favourite basses.


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