Upgrading my MIM jazz

Anderson81 · #1 12-25-2008, 03:04 PM

This weekend i will be the proud new owner of a MIM Standard Jazz bass (chrome red, wooohooo!!).
First off, it's blatantly obvious to me that I should replace the bridge on this. I see a great deal of people putting badass bridges on them, but it seems alot of people have to do some filing to get the strings to sit right. Anyone have any experience with this?
I'm also curious about going string-thru on it. I've generally avoided bolt on insturments for sustain reasons, would this help? Is there any drawback with converting it to string-thru? Any and all bridge suggestions are appreciated.

Pilgrim · #2 12-25-2008, 03:58 PM

I have a 2000 MIM...and the bridge is fine. No need to replace it at all. If you WANT a BA bridge, install it, but don't assume that it's needed. It's not.

You also don't need string-thru or anything else at first. What I suggest you DO need is a few weeks to play the instrument and get used to it.

If you want to change something after that, strings are your first choice. Any other changes should have a reason based on your own observations. (I should admit that I still have the factory rounds on my 2000 MIM Jazz - the obnoxious "zing" has left them and they sound better.)

stuonbass · #3 12-25-2008, 04:11 PM

I had a 94 MIM Jazz (bought new, sold in 06). It was a great playing bass. The feel of the neck, frets, and sustain were very good. My only problem the pickups sounded lifeless and weak. For $120, I dropped in Bassline 1/4 Pounders, and it was like a different bass.

It was sold when I got my Geddy.

Anderson81 · #4 12-25-2008, 04:27 PM

what exactly are the advantages to installing a BA or Schaller bridge?

sedan_dad · #5 12-25-2008, 04:36 PM

Those companys make more money.
Thats the biggest advantage to swapping out the bridge.
The single biggest improvement you can make to your bass would be to change out the pick-ups.
I recomend Lindy's.

cynical1 · #6 12-25-2008, 05:15 PM

sedan_dad makes a very good point. Bada$$ and $challer both make their money in the aftermarket, for the most part.

The Badass I and II required you to file the saddles prior to installation. This is not brain surgery, but you do need to be careful and watch your string spacing and the width and depth of your cut...and the nut files recommended to make these cuts can cost as much as the bridge. I believe the latest version of the Badass offers pre-grooved saddles.

I had to replace a bass bridge a while ago when the intonation screws went off playing with my cat and never came back... I picked up a used Schaller roller bridge on eBay for about $30.00. I personally would rate it higher then the Badass. You don't have to file anything, you have adjustment for intonation, string height and string spacing. I needed the underlay to clear the pickups, so there's more then enough meat there.

I also agree with the previous posts that replacing the pickups and performing a proper grounding and shielding of the bass will do more to improve the sound then the bridge. Lindy's are very nice. Rio Grande is nice too...but I don't want to open the pickup flood gates here...

Happy Trails

Cynical One

bassbully · #7 12-25-2008, 10:55 PM

Play it first and see if there is anything that needs changed at all. I gigged a 03 MIM jazz for a few years and all i changed was the cheezy pickguard. The bass was great as is. On bridges i feel BA is a bad chosice. To heavy/bulky and not much gained for the $ spent. You have to adjust the string height etc. I used an Fender american reissue bridge $30.00 drops right in works great. Strings and pups can be the best upgrade if needed as outlined here. The bottom line is if it is good leave it.

jellymax · #8 12-25-2008, 11:37 PM

i was a bit skeptical about changing bridges, i have been going for a more
old school sound quite often. bolt on neck, stk fender bridge, etc...
my 60's classic jazz bass came stock with great pickups. i recently switched
to a badassII. it really richened the tone. also the lows got deeper & more
pronounced, clear. yes there is more sustain but i had no complaints about
sustain to begin with. what i did not expect was the sustain of bass
frequencies was much improved----i love it!
if your pickups are terrible, do that first
then get a badassII and set it up properly

Anderson81 · #9 12-26-2008, 02:36 AM

I would like to thank everyone in thread thread for all the excellent advice. =]

Oric · #10 12-26-2008, 06:29 AM

I would play it for awhile without modding. My first bass was a MIM Jazz, and I played it for about five years without doing a thing except changing strings. (well, it was really because I had no money, but it turned out to become a good thing) It allowed me to really get to know the tone my bass makes, and that plus research on here allowed me to make more informed mods- just a new bridge (partially because one of the saddle screws kept falling out) and pickups. I don't feel that anything else needs changing. And my Squier VM fretless Jazz is pure stock, except for halfwounds, and it's staying that way.

mrhardy · #11 12-26-2008, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anderson81

This weekend i will be the proud new owner of a MIM Standard Jazz bass (chrome red, wooohooo!!).
First off, it's blatantly obvious to me that I should replace the bridge on this. I see a great deal of people putting badass bridges on them, but it seems alot of people have to do some filing to get the strings to sit right. Anyone have any experience with this?
I'm also curious about going string-thru on it. I've generally avoided bolt on insturments for sustain reasons, would this help? Is there any drawback with converting it to string-thru? Any and all bridge suggestions are appreciated.

Like a couple others have said, I'll repeat.

Put the screwdriver down and keep your money in your pocket. I say that as a person who tinkers with his basses. I have put a BAII on and off my standard, and my Geddy a few times.

Do a good (GOOD) setup on the bass, be very picky, and then play it. The time spent to really get the bass dialed in makes all the difference in the world.

My 02 standard jazz has great sustain, and wears a vintage bridge with threaded saddles. The Geddy has the BAII back on it, but thats another staory.

I'm not a fan of MIM pickups, but mine still has them installed, after 6 years of owning the bass. If I was going out right now and replace them, I would probably go with Fender originals, or SD vintage, or the HOT. The SD hot are pretty close to the Fender CS pickups, but cost far less.

One thing I do change on my basses is the nuts. I put a good nut, and get rid of the cheap plastic one. Thats just my preferance though. I do it myself, so the cost is minimal. Takes me about 3 hours to cut a nut from a blank, or less with a precut unit, that I only need to fine tune.