Active "Power Jazz Bass Special" (Fender)

[Skyblue977]

Just been palying mine- the Ric will not be gigging tonight!

[Darkstrike]

Sorry it took me so long to get back to this, but PilbaraBass sent it to me, and well, here it is!

[Stealth]

Thank you, Darkstrike, the schematic's very cool.

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by Stealth

Thank you, Darkstrike, the schematic's very cool.

Yes, thanks for putting that up for us...

Note that the switch terminology is different…

and the passive tone control is not shown…I suspect the tone control is before the preamp (that’s where I would put it)…but it would work on the output, as well…

Quite an easy preamp to build, I think…Instead of a unity-gain follower on the output stage, however…I would probably put an inverting “R1/R2 + 1” type stage and put in a shunt cap for stability…

[Darkstrike]

No bother at all, thank you Pilbara for sharing it!

[kerenn]

Thanks PilbaraBass

[Stealth]

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

Quite an easy preamp to build, I think…Instead of a unity-gain follower on the output stage, however…I would probably put an inverting “R1/R2 + 1” type stage and put in a shunt cap for stability…

This might be a silly question, but why exactly would we need an inverting R1/R2 + 1 type stage (I assume the R1/R2 + 1 denotes the total gain)? Is the output already inverted while passing through this preamp?

(the question comes from someone who understands basic op-amp usage, but never took the electrotech courses and instead swerved to compsci).

[frootbooty]

A black Power Jazz Special was my first really decent bass. I used to have four of them, white, silver, black and red. Now I have none. They have a fantastic tone. They are a bit noisy though.
I ended up getting rid of my last one when I played it live and found it was totally lost in the mix.
I kind of miss it now

[DHawk320]

I bought my Power Jazz Special in 1989 and have treated it like its made of gold. Mine is in a high gloss metal flake red that looks awesome with the black hardware and one or two nicks not withstanding looks like I bought it last week instead of 20 years ago. I have 10 basses of many a make and model and still have not found one that sounds or plays better and that list includes G&L, Warwick, Dean, and Epiphone.At one point many years ago I thought about putting a thumb rest on it but my guitar player and good friend told me I would be a fool if I did. Now I'm seriously glad I listened. I had the opportunity to play one of the Duff McKagan basses a few months ago and was not impressed after having played the real deal for 2 decades. If you can actually find someone willing to part with one you will certainly not regret the purchase even if you do have to sell your car to do it!

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by Stealth

This might be a silly question, but why exactly would we need an inverting R1/R2 + 1 type stage (I assume the R1/R2 + 1 denotes the total gain)? Is the output already inverted while passing through this preamp?

(the question comes from someone who understands basic op-amp usage, but never took the electrotech courses and instead swerved to compsci).

Inversion of the output from the pickups is really inconsequential…

The use of two inverting amps saves on components, and is just as effective.

[rkingly]

Several years ago my bass playing older brother made Christmas very
special for our niece & nephew's. He totally hooked them up.
After playing that Fender Power Jazz Special, I wanted one bad.
I can't remember what he paid but not long after I found one on ebay
for $350.00 BIN, & snatched it up. Mine is sorta green/turquoise.
Pics of mine on on another computer, will post.

[rkingly]

Here's mine, minty fresh...& with a couple 80's J Bass Specials

[rkingly]

Another pic of my nephew & his bass

[heb9_28]

For what it's worth guys, I've got a Power Jazz I'm thinking about trading/selling. So if anyone has any offers, check out my post in the classifieds and let me know!

[Richard G]

i know a guy selling one for 400.00 its that funny green looking one in mint condition im kinda thinking about it.....i think these were the ones the guy from guns n roses was using....

[guyman1966]

I picked up one of these from a music store in Ft Laudredale. I like it, but the sound is not as deep as my MIA Jazz. I'm wondering if I should swap out the PUPs

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by guyman1966

I picked up one of these from a music store in Ft Laudredale. I like it, but the sound is not as deep as my MIA Jazz. I'm wondering if I should swap out the PUPs

The power jazz is more mid-focused in sound than your basic jazz bass. The lows are still there, just not as dominant. Try scooping out a little of the upper mids, and allow the low-mids to come out.

You'll find in a live setting that the power jazz will sound more up-front in the mix than a jazz. Depending on what you're after is may work for or against you.

I tend to change pickups as a last resort. I've only ever had to do this once in 8 basses.

[kerenn]

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

The power jazz is more mid-focused in sound than your basic jazz bass. The lows are still there, just not as dominant.

I find my POWER Jazz Bass to be very 'beefy'. While the "Frequency Sweep" knob is turned fully 'off' (probably boosting lower frequencies) the sound is very bassy - in both 'active' modes (micro switch in the middle or towards the bridge).

I think that you can compare the passive mode (which is sort of like a passive P/J bass) to one of the active modes:
Turn the freq. sweep knob "off" (like when you turn off the volume - but with the frequency sweep knob), then change the small switch from passive mode (switch towards the neck) to the middle position. You'll hear the difference immediately...

[guyman1966]

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

The power jazz is more mid-focused in sound than your basic jazz bass. The lows are still there, just not as dominant. Try scooping out a little of the upper mids, and allow the low-mids to come out.

You'll find in a live setting that the power jazz will sound more up-front in the mix than a jazz. Depending on what you're after is may work for or against you.

I tend to change pickups as a last resort. I've only ever had to do this once in 8 basses.

Thanks for your input. After A/B testing and having other bass players give it a run, it just seemed like the pickups were "thin" sounding. It's just an old bass and the pups seem tired. I put in Seymour Duncan/Basslines Pro Active for both the P and the J. WOW - its a bit less "crunchy" in the P settings, but combined it has an almost Musicman type sound. I'm digging it! I went for a more modern sound over the classic. I still have the old pups if I ever want to switch back, but so far so good.

[lowendgenerator]

Wow, I was about to list mine on Craigslist, but after reading this thread (ZOMBIEEEEEE) I'm seriously gonna dig it out and play it again. Thanks Wine Guy for the history, I really didn't know what I had!