Want to add a Jazz pup to my FrankenP

[Gintaras]

Last year I had parts laying around and started to get the rest of the pieces and put together a P. The outcome was beyond what I expected and it turned into a project. I have a G&L SB-2 P pup and using DR Jonas Hellborg's with it. Absolutely love the sound. I would like to expand on this project and add a Jazz pickup. The SB-2 is a very hot pickup. I have considered a Dimarzio J or a Nordstrand NJ4.

Any recommendations for expansion to a PJ

[blendermassacre]

I think the main challenges are : 1 correctly routing out for the pickup. 2: I never quite understand how people drill to accommodate the pup wiring. 3, re wiring for VVT, or whatever your fancy is, which means 4 new pickguard or modding the old one.

all in all it's not a bad idea at all.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by blendermassacre

I think the main challenges are : 1 correctly routing out for the pickup.

I've done it freehand, but you are better off using a template like this:

http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/product/1111

2: I never quite understand how people drill to accommodate the pup wiring.

You use a long drill bit. They are usually about 18" long. You can find them in hardware stores.

3, re wiring for VVT, or whatever your fancy is, which means 4 new pickguard or modding the old one.

I converted a Hondo II P bass into a P/J once. I just added another hole for a 4 position rotary switch. Another time I moved the jack to the side and used the existing three holes for VVT.

One thing you want it a fairly hot J pickup, as the P can overpower some of them.

[JFace]

Originally Posted by Gintaras

Last year I had parts laying around and started to get the rest of the pieces and put together a P. The outcome was beyond what I expected and it turned into a project. I have a G&L SB-2 P pup and using DR Jonas Hellborg's with it. Absolutely love the sound. I would like to expand on this project and add a Jazz pickup. The SB-2 is a very hot pickup. I have considered a Dimarzio J or a Nordstrand NJ4.

Any recommendations for expansion to a PJ

The dimarzio model J is a great pickup, but it does have a hard time keeping up with a P pickup in terms of output. It is very polite and musical.

[M0ses]

Originally Posted by blendermassacre

4 new pickguard or modding the old one.

You wouldn't need to mod the PG. You could just use a stacked knob for volume control of each pup where the volume is no, and leave the master tone and output where they are. On dual pup basses I like to also put a push-pull pot in for tone and use it to switch parallel/series or in/out of phase, but that's just me.

[Gintaras]

I am going to have this done professionally. I should have mentioned that. The luthier is either going to use a stacked knob or use the Jack hole for the third pot and drill for a side jack. I am trying to decide on a J pickup to use that would match with the SB2 pickup that is presently in the bass. I also thought about using a Nordstrand Big Single for the bridge pickup