Pickups - Fender Japan Precision Bass

BadMonk · #1 06-04-2007, 08:55 AM

I own two Precisions made in Japan. A 70 RI and a 57 RI. They're both great basses. I really connect with the 57 RI (maple neck)...it just feels especially good in my hands. Anyway, the pickups for both are advertised by Ishibashi as being USA Vintage,. However, I've heard that really means that the pickups could be anything. I doubt that their using the 1962 pickups that I've heard good things about. Any ideas about CIJ pups?

BadMonk · #2 06-04-2007, 12:59 PM

(bump)

punkbassistfc · #3 06-04-2007, 02:04 PM

I was wondering the same thing. I have the 70ri cij and i must admit, the pups dont look like Us one's. But they sound awesome so that's all that matters.

BadMonk · #4 06-04-2007, 02:09 PM

You're probably right. I should just be happy with it as is cuz I really like the CIJ RIs.

Of couse, after doing more research, I'm reading that the pups are ok but the bass could benefit from a change of pots.

punkbassistfc · #5 06-04-2007, 02:18 PM

Yeah, i have replaced the bridge on mine and would not mind changing the input jack soon. Whats wrong with the pot's?

BadMonk · #6 06-04-2007, 02:37 PM

Yeah, the input jacks are a bit flimsy on both of mine.

Seems like a lot of folks change the pots to CTS (which as far as I understand actually makes Fender's pots

). And, it's such a cheap 'fix' (cheaper than strings) that I can't imagine it would do all that much...but that's what I've been reading. The more I read the more confusing it gets...I'll probably leave then as is before I wreck them.

punkbassistfc · #7 06-04-2007, 02:41 PM

So do you mean the actual Knobs? Or the bits under the knobs? You could always just gut the thing and get it re-wired with new pup's. I am thinking of doing thie with some seymour duncan pup's.

BadMonk · #8 06-04-2007, 06:42 PM

Yeah, yeah...the bits under the knobs...pots or potentiometers. I'd like to redo the whole thing like you...pups and pots. I hear good things about S D, DiMarzios and the Fender 62s.

punkbassistfc · #9 06-05-2007, 08:46 AM

Yeah, I was going to put some basslines in it. I think that they are great basses. Alot better then some of the Mia p's imo.

**michele** · #10 06-05-2007, 10:15 AM

I've recently done some changes in my CIJ 62RI P-Bass and at the moment I'm waiting for a Nordstrand NP4.
The stock pickup (marketed as U.S.Vintage model) isn't that bad tonewise but it has an annoying hum noise that I hope to get rid of. Of course the Nordie should also be an improvement tonewise ...

basadam · #11 06-08-2007, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michele

The stock pickup (marketed as U.S.Vintage model) isn't that bad tonewise but it has an annoying hum noise that I hope to get rid of. Of course the Nordie should also be an improvement tonewise ...

If that hum is related to shielding, changing pups won't help IME. I had the same thing with my CIJ '70 P, and after shielding, the noise is gone.

As for the stock pups, I really like them a lot and I prefer them over Fralins and Lollars I tried. I wish Fender would sell them separately.

**michele** · #12 06-11-2007, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basadam

If that hum is related to shielding, changing pups won't help IME...

No, it's not shielding related because I had the control cavity fully shielded with aluminum foil. I also upgraded the pots to CTS and checked bridge grounding and everything. It got to be pickup related ...

punkbassistfc · #13 06-11-2007, 07:58 AM

I have the same problem with my 70 p. It has this really annoying buzz, I will be doing a few things to it so i can tour with it at the end of the year. I will be re-wireing the whole thing, new pot's, sd quarter pound pups, a new input jack, and shielding the thing. that will make it a ripper bass i think.

Levi@Classic · #14 06-11-2007, 08:20 AM

I have a 1990 MIJ 62P RI. The stock PU is not like those on today's CIJ. After upgraded with Badass II bridge.
I looked on the PU, well,trying Duncan Basslines SPB3, SPB3 is kinda morden tone but I prefer vintage tone. So I turned to SPB1. Then I found the SPB1 has a great vintage tone, but the output is a little small.
Is this the problem with the stock pots? I am confused...

I want a vintage tone, but a little strong and with bigger output, just like 70s P Bass, like the old skull punk bass players'.
So, Lindy Fralin and CTS pots can help?
Any ideas from you guys?

**michele** · #15 06-11-2007, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by punkbassistfc

I have the same problem with my 70 p. It has this really annoying buzz, I will be doing a few things to it so i can tour with it at the end of the year. I will be re-wireing the whole thing, new pot's, sd quarter pound pups, a new input jack, and shielding the thing. that will make it a ripper bass i think.

When I had the control cavity shielded the luthier didn't do the same to the pickup cavity because I had already planned a pickup change, so he'll do that when my NP4 will arrive.
He also changed all the wires (except the ones from the pickups of course) as he noted they were poor, thin plastic covered wires (the same for the pickup wires).
At this point I changed everything inside the control cavity except the pickup and the cap ... I don't think the cap could play a role as far as noise but someone more educated correct me if I'm wrong.

RMay · #16 05-02-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadMonk

I own two Precisions made in Japan. A 70 RI and a 57 RI. They're both great basses. I really connect with the 57 RI (maple neck)...it just feels especially good in my hands. Anyway, the pickups for both are advertised by Ishibashi as being USA Vintage,. However, I've heard that really means that the pickups could be anything. I doubt that their using the 1962 pickups that I've heard good things about. Any ideas about CIJ pups?

I doubt these are USA Vintage. I recently measured their resistance at 9.85 ohms and the USA Vintage measured at 10.5 ohms or more. The Japan version has cheap 26-28g bell wire fragile compared USA cloth wire and the 22-24g thin covered wire that i've seen. These pickups Do Not appear to be USA Vintage to my suspicious eyes, perhaps the bobbins' and copper wire are USA made

. thanks for hearing me out.

nemo · #17 05-02-2008, 12:45 PM

I was in the same boat. I ended up with Fender 62RI pups in my CIJ P.

Soundclips of stock "US Vintage", 62RI and NP4 here

Mystery of CIJ stock pickups revealed here

davidak · #18 03-21-2012, 04:35 AM

Maybe those pictures of "US Vintage" pickups from my 70RI japanese precision will be useful:

gigslut · #19 03-21-2012, 04:46 AM

Don't the '62 have a brass back plate for shielding?

SGD Lutherie · #20 03-21-2012, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gigslut

Don't the '62 have a brass back plate for shielding?

Forget the brass back plate (which you can see in the body). These are plastic bobbin pickups like in the Mexican basses. Except these have alnico rod magnets instead of steel poles and ceramic magnets.

That's not to say that it won't sound good, but it's not a regular P bass pickup.

A real P bass pickup looks like this. This is vintage, but they all look the same.