Mod Ideas

Goober1206 · #1 03-01-2010, 09:05 PM

Hey everyone, I've got a Fender Jaguar and I've been modding it for a bit and I'm itching for more lol so, do any of you guys have ideas that I could use?

Before Shot:

After Shots:

List so far:
1. Weighted Precision Bridge Ash Tray - I put some led wights on the underside of it to help with neck dive. Didn't have enough money for lighter tuners.
2. Closed pickup covers- I tend to hit the strings hard, helps block some tap noise.
3. Jazz Bass four hole control plate
4. Concentric Volume/Tone knobs
5. Concentric Bass/Treble knobs - I moved these from the Preamp Control Plate area since I hate those wheels.
6. Blend Knob - Also works as on off switches.
7. Jazz Bass Knobs
8. New black pickguard - I had to sand some of it to accept the new pickguard, though I didn't sand it perfectly there is a small gap.
9. Fender Custom Shop 60's Jazz Bass Pickups
10. Copper Shielding
11. Strap Locks
12. Bridge copper shielding strap
13. Three switches uses changed.. Here the new set up

Series Parallel Switch (Rewired)
Pre-amp on/off switch (moved from preamp control plate)
Kill Switch (Replaces the on/off switches for pickups)

Future Ideas:

1. Carbon Fiber Pickguard - Need one shaped perfectly to accept jazz plate, and it will cover the preamp area since I have moved all those to the other two control areas. My brother might make the PickGuard for me.

2. Magnetic area to hold metal picks - Since there is no preamp area i can put a magnet inside it attached to the backside of the pickguard then i can put a metal pick on the pickguard and itll hold it for me.

3. Nordstrand 2B Pre amp - need money lol so this one will be on my list for a long time.

Thank you Grissle for the blend idea and some help.
Thank you WvBass, GlennW, and walterw for helping me with the three switches.
and thank you in advance for any help you guys give.

hope i put this in the right place..

HogieWan · #2 03-02-2010, 09:50 AM

maybe not useless, but I'd like to see the finished product, a before, and maybe some incremental steps

Goober1206 · #3 03-02-2010, 12:04 PM

I'll post some pictures when I get home ortonight lol got ideas?

ninefingerbass · #4 03-02-2010, 12:47 PM

Cool ideas but perhaps you should have gotten the preamp first since might have to change them when you get it. Just a thought.

I don't get why you put a switch to shut your preamp off but later on you mention there is no preamp so you'll attach a magnet. Maybe you should think of keeping your picks in your pocket, wallet, on top of amp or in a little case. I don't play with picks so whatever entails in having one close by is Greek to me.

For the most part replacing the preamp will do a big change to your design and what you plan on doing.

For example, when I had my 6 string built for me I had a 2 and 3 way switch for the preamp. Now I installed an Audere preamp and had to get new knobs and the switches are still there. I haven't had the motivation to patch the preamp to the switches for options but I will eventually. Do you plan on keeping those switches in your system when you get your new preamp?

By no means is this an attack, just trying to give you a better look at things in the long run. Modding is awesome and fun too. When you mod try to think of what your ultimate goal is. Waiting is hard but it's worth it when you finally have it. Good Luck and let's see some pics.

lunarpollen · #5 03-02-2010, 12:57 PM

How about a neck pickup to make it a 3-pickup bass!

Goober1206 · #6 03-02-2010, 02:42 PM

No, jaguars come with a preamp. There are three control plate areas on a jaguar. One is for knobs, one for switches, and one for the preamp. The knob section has a master volume and mastertone. In my new section, they are stacked to save room. The switch area comes with a parallel series switch, a bridge pickup on off switch and then another for the neck pickup. The preamp area has an off on switch, a bass wheel acting as a knob, and a treble wheel. I transfered the two wheels into knobs and put them into the knob section, thn took the on off switch, and put it into the switch section. So then you'd say "four switches?" it's still three. Sincei have a blend knob too, I don't need the seperate on off switches since a blend knob can do that, so I replaced the two on off switches with a kill switch. Soyhen it's three switches. I haven't lost any features on my bass. And as for the picks, some songs I play I play chords inthe chorus and then a bassline in the verse. But I like how chords sound with a pick but hate using one for abassline. So I pick one up and put it down mid song.

Goober1206 · #7 03-02-2010, 02:48 PM

Well, as for the neck pickup, jaguar basses have a cavity under the pickguard for the preamp chip and lots of wires pass through too so there isn't really room for another pickup. But thanks for the suggestion

Goober1206 · #8 03-02-2010, 07:32 PM

Pics will be posted soon!

Goober1206 · #9 03-02-2010, 10:09 PM

Pictures posted

Goober1206 · #10 03-03-2010, 12:32 PM

Anybody?

Diogenes · #11 03-03-2010, 01:32 PM

I'm at work right now so a lot of stuff is filtered...especially photo bucket type sites so, sorry but I can't give you any input at the moment.

As for a mod idea... how about cutting off the headstock, installing a string clamp and then a tuning bridge? I did it with one of my J basses and really love the feel/balance of the bass.

Goober1206 · #12 03-03-2010, 01:43 PM

Now that's a crazy idea lol I love the idea that it would fix the neck dive but I like the old fashioned look of a jazz headstock. What kind of tuning bridge and string clamp dud you use? I'd like to look it up

Diogenes · #13 03-03-2010, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goober1206

What kind of tuning bridge and string clamp dud you use? I'd like to look it up

I machined my own based on a Steinberger licensed bridge I used on another headless bass I assembled. But here's a nice little unit... and affordable too!

http://www.allparts.com/4-String-Hea...b-0340-010.htm

And then there's the gorgeous Wilkinson/Hayashi:

Goober1206 · #14 03-03-2010, 02:18 PM

How do they work exactly?

Beej · #15 03-03-2010, 06:06 PM

Your trussrod access is at the headstock - not advised to turn it into a headless.

This thread should be in the Basses subforum IMHO...

Goober1206 · #16 03-03-2010, 06:12 PM

Yeah I figured that out about the truss rod after a few minutes lol

Diogenes · #17 03-03-2010, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goober1206

Yeah I figured that out about the truss rod after a few minutes lol

No reason to be concerned. A hole drilled into the string clamp plate allows me to access the truss rod nut. That's how it is on most headless basses I've played.

Goober1206 · #18 03-03-2010, 09:07 PM

Hmm I think it's too expensive and I'd prefer it how it is anyways. Though one day I'd like to buy a status headless bass lol thanks for the idea though

Goober1206 · #19 03-04-2010, 06:52 PM

anyone? im sure theres tons of ideas out there.. share! lol

Beej · #20 03-04-2010, 06:55 PM

Okay, now I'm going to sound like a wanker, but you need to spend time reading threads instead of bumping this one...