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Post subject: Squier jazz bass
Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 12:47 pm
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I recently got my hands on a project bass, its a squier jazz bass. It's missing the "pots" and PUs couple tuners, control cover, etc.. What are some of your suggestions for pots, wiring, and PUs (Duncan 1/4 lb or fender noiseless)? I am having trouble figuring it out. Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks again.


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Post subject: Re: Squier jazz bass
Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 5:34 pm
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Welcome to the forum, dedicateddeadguy. Good first post. Are you going to do all the work yourself, and how much do you want to spend? It wouldn't be prudent to pump in more $$$ than that bass is worth used, or about $150.00

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Post subject: Re: Squier jazz bass
Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 6:59 pm
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Thanks! Yes, I will be doing the work myself. I am looking to upgrade the PUs and pots and wiring. Goal is to better the sound and performance.


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Post subject: Re: Squier jazz bass
Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 8:19 pm
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Partly what pots/cap to use depends on what pickups you go with.

Typically a Jazz is wired Volume/Volume/Tone using 250k audio taper pots with a 0.05 or equivalent tone cap. Diagrams for that are easily found online, including on my website.

However, if you use any sort of split-coil or stacked coil pickup pair, then I might set it up with brighter sounding 500k audio taper pots instead of the darker flavored 250k's. As a rule the noiseless pickups sound inherently darker than true single coil pickups and the 500k pots will help brighten them up some.

What tone cap to use depends on the amount of edge/harmonic distortion you would like in the basic sound of the instrument. So that partly depends on your type of music, your amp/processing setup and how you play it.

Guitar Parts Resource and others sell wiring kits. These include pots, cap, jack and wiring. The ones from GPR use CTS pots, which are the same ones Fender uses for USA/MIM instruments. These wiring kits can be a good buy when on a budget. The tone cap with these kits are Poly Orange-Drops which are sort of middle of the road caps with less distortion than a Ceramic Disc or import Poly but more distortion than a Mylar Orange-Drop or a Vitamin-Q Type Paper In Oil cap. If you buy pots separately I'd get CTS brand and you'll need some wire and the vintage-style cloth covered is very easy to worth with.

Linnin is correct. You don't want to invest more in setting it up than it is worth. This sort of limits you on pickup selection. A new set of Fender or Seymour Duncans is going to be at least $120. If it was me, I'd look for USED Fender USA stock Jazz Bass pickups or the Fender Original Jazz Bass pickup set on eBay or maybe a set of used Duncan single coil pickups along the lines of the Vintage ones. I would also consider the Duncan Quarter Pounder set but I know what they sound like and that sound isn't much like a traditional Jazz Bass. I'd for sure buy used if I could find a good used set somewhere reasonable, say $60 for the pair. See what pickups you can get a good deal on in either Fender or Duncan variety. There are economy pickups out there brand new for like $50 to $60 a pair but they will not be Alnico and won't sound as good as Alnico. For the same reason I'd skip any Squier or similar economy pickup set in favor of a used Alnico set.

I prefer single coil pickups on a passive Jazz as it sounds more vintage correct. I also would copper shield to ground both pickup cavities, the control cavity and the back of the pickguard to reduce the RFI sensitivity of the single coils. That will add about $15 to the cost of the overhaul plus a couple of hours to do the shielding...but will totally be worth it. If you go with stacked coils, split coils or "noiseless" type pickups you can skip the shielding job.

The Duncan stacked coil Jazz pickups are really nice as you can add a switch for humbucking or true single coil operation...but I wouldn't consider putting such an expensive setup in a Squier Jazz.

Find a used set of Fender or Duncan or whatever pickups you want first, then go from there and tailor things to the pickups you get. I don't think I'd buy new ones unless I could not find a used set. I just checked eBay and there are lots of them.

Also you'll need pickup mounting screws and mounting foam plus knobs. Lots of people sell those items online along with the control plate you'll need.

Keep us posted on your progress!


Last edited by brotherdave on Wed Jun 26, 2013 9:55 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Squier jazz bass
Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 8:26 pm
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Welcome to the forum dedicateddeadguy.

I changed out all the electronics on my Squier VM V with brotherdave's help.
Here's a link to the thread I posted; http://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=82450

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Post subject: Re: Squier jazz bass
Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 9:50 pm
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Should mention that there are both split shaft and solid shaft pots. The knobs that go with each type are different. Again, see which knobs you can get cheaper, usually it is the push on variety that is cheaper and those work with the split shaft pots.


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Post subject: Re: Squier jazz bass
Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 5:21 am
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This is great! Thank you everyone! I was happy to add this to my collection of basses. I am looking forward to doing all the work to make it my own. Brotherdave it already has the copper shielding done! I play out of a ampeg head and fender cab or a 70s peavey head with a custom cab or a fender combo. Mainly play punk/hardcore/jazz. I appreciate all of your help very much! I wish I joined this years ago!


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Post subject: Re: Squier jazz bass
Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 5:37 pm
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If you are playing pick style for the punk/hardcore stuff you might find the Noiseless pickups will work fine if you decide to go that route. Good that it is already shielded. Just be sure to ground the shielding. You got a head start there. Normally I'm not a big proponent of Noiseless/stacked/split coil Jazz pickups but for punk with a pick they work good. A Precision is usually the first choice for Punk with a pick. So you will probably want to go for a darker tone than a traditional Jazz Bass tone.


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Post subject: Re: Squier jazz bass
Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 8:22 pm
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Funny you should say that! My primary bass is a 2003 fender precision! I really appreciate the help and I will be sure to keep asking questions as they arrive!


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Post subject: Re: Squier jazz bass
Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 8:35 am
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Keep us up to date on your project and please post pics. :D

They're easier to read than words! :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Squier jazz bass
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 10:32 pm
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dedicateddeadguy wrote:
Funny you should say that! My primary bass is a 2003 fender precision! I really appreciate the help and I will be sure to keep asking questions as they arrive!


In that case I'd make the Jazz as "Jazzy" as possible so you will cover more tonal territory. You can use the P-Bass for the Punk picking. That means no Noiseless and no stacked coils and no split wound. It does mean traditional vintage style single wounds, 250k pots and a 0.05uF vintage Ceramic Disc capacitor.

Here's your wiring diagram link: http://guitarnucleus.com/gitschems/FenJacoJazzSchem.pdf


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Post subject: Re: Squier jazz bass
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 3:25 pm
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I play an affinity series Jazz bass. I bought it last July. It is my first bass. I love playing it. My friend who is a pro helped me set it up and it sounds pretty good but I noticed I get a buzzing noise when I turn the tone up. It comes in after about a quarter turn. Would this be a shielding issue or a pot issue? Thanks

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Post subject: Re: Squier jazz bass
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 11:40 am
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Copper shielding will help some with that buzz. It won't eliminate it completely but might help a great deal. Often when you put both pickups on full volume that helps too. Make sure the bridge ground wire is making good contact. That ground wire under the bridge is a frequent source of buzz. Single coil pickups sound great! I prefer them! However they are apt to buzz more.


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