Modding a MIM Jazz...is there a cure for my stupidity???

[scootron]

I found a late 90's MIM Jazz with a flawless body (Lake Placid Blue?) and a superb neck, and was able to get if for next to nothing. I put on new tuners and a new bridge, leaving the pickups as the last big item to improve.

I really like the sound of Duncan Basslines, so I bought a set of the AJJ-1 active replacement pickups. I completely forgot that the bridge pickup of the Duncans is larger than the bridge hole on the MIM Jazz. (The MIM jazz stock pups are the same size.)

My first thought was to rout out the bridge hole, but I am worried that I will wind up damaging an otherwise flawless body. My other idea was to simply put the neck pup in the bridge hole and vice versa. They will fit that way, but I researched TB carefully, and there are lots of threads that say this will create problems with hum cancelling, string excursion, pole positioning, etc. But, since this is a matched set, will the polarity or hum cancelling issues make a difference?

Any good ideas on how to handle this? Do I just need to sell the pups I just bought and start over?

Any suggestions would be truly appreciated. I think this will be a sweet bass when I finish, and a nice backup to my MIA Fenders.

Thanks in advance.

[Mushroo]

Hi Scootron, to cancel the hum, the pickups need to have opposite polarity. (You already know that.) Any custom pickup maker should be able to make two neck-sized pickups with opposite polarities for you. I have also heard that it is possible to reverse the polarity of a pickup. I'm sure someone will chime in soon with the details...

I agree, I would not route an otherwise flawless body if there were a less invasive alternative

[wordsmith4u]

Bartolini make a true PU set for MIM basses with same-size PUs. It's the 9J#1 S/SB - Split Coil Hum-Cancelling Pickups

You can see them at http://www.bestbassgear.com/bartolin...-j-pickups.htm

(And, no...I'm not affiliated with BestBassGear.)

[scootron]

Thanks for the input.

Any more ideas/input?

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by wordsmith4u

Bartolini make a true PU set for MIM basses with same-size PUs. It's the 9J#1 S/SB - Split Coil Hum-Cancelling Pickups

You can see them at http://www.bestbassgear.com/bartolin...-j-pickups.htm

(And, no...I'm not affiliated with BestBassGear.)

That's what I put in my Yamaha to get rid of the hum - and I like bartolini tone. They are great - especially paired with a Bart 5.4 A/P preamp.

[GlennW]

You could sell the bridge pickup and buy another neck pickup. You'd have to get the polarity of the magnets on one pickup reversed, and reverse the leads when you solder it in...not a big deal. Just make sure the two neck pickups are the same polarity before you have one changed.

[knakama]

I have put Duncan SJB quarter pounders in both neck and bridge positions on my MIM J with no problems

[chicago_mike]

sometimes...sometimes..you can get away with a file and slowly filing what needs to be taken away..if the size difference is not too drastic. MIM jazzes are perfect for modding. Kinda like those RC cars that some guys go nuts over modding.