Experience with Mighty Mite Jazz Body

Muckaluck · #1 08-30-2010, 09:55 AM

Hi everyone,

I have a Classic Vibe 60's Jazz bass that got a huge ding in it the other day. I've looked into refinishing the body but then thought about just buying a new replacement body. Musician's Friend has the Mighty Mite Jazz bodies for $150 so it seems like a pretty good deal.

A few questions:
- I've heard people having trouble fitting the jazz bridge pickup into the mighty mite route. Would this be a problem for me with the squier pickup?

- Would you foresee any problems with the squier neck fitting into the mighty mite neck pocket?

Thanks for your help!

yellofury · #2 08-30-2010, 10:54 AM

Personally I would call it giving the bass "personality" and just leave it alone
my Jazz has several bits of mojo that has accumulated over the last 13 years

I never used a Mighty Mite body
but I have attached a Mighty Mite neck on a Squier body
and it was a tad tight but it fit perfectly
if anything you may get a very slight gap in the neck pocket (1mm tops)
but it wont affect playability
I dont know about the pickup route

I cant see any pics of the finishes on MF

Muckaluck · #3 08-30-2010, 04:30 PM

Yeah there's a bit of a gap in the pocket now anyway.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm really debating on replacing the body vs. living with the wear. I suspect there could be some sonic benefits by replacing with an alder or swamp ash body and I really like the look of the Mighty Mite vintage white; but I don't want to spend too much on this thing (ie. Warmoth or Allparts $300 bodies).

If I knew that the Mighty Mite would be a simple transfer of electronics and a cheap knob plate I'd be all over it. I just don't want to buy into any headaches and potentially be stuck with a $150 body I have no use for.

THORRR · #4 08-30-2010, 04:46 PM

I recently sold a Jazz bass because the tail strap slipped off and the bass bounced on the concrete chomping off a chunk down to the wood. I was so bummed I put it on Craigs List & got rid of it - Then bought a pristine Fender Active Deluxe Jazz on CL for $270

. I no sooner got it home, than another one of my guitars slid off where I leaned it, and crashed into my new Jazz -

Aaaauuuugh! So now it's got 5 dings right there on its front.
I'm keeping it though - I really like the instrument. and the dings are small enough to call it "character" "mojo" "road worn" or what have you.

No experience with other bodies to offer, but I have considered it, and from what I hear, Mighty Mite is a good quality product. There's a guy on ebay who sells swamp ash MM bodies for $97. He buys a bunch of them at a time from the factory which is near where he lives.

THORRR · #5 08-30-2010, 04:48 PM

Here's a pic of the chunk that drove me to sell

jumbosilverette · #6 08-30-2010, 05:14 PM

I would've touched that up with a little nail polish and lived with it, but I guess I'm a slob.

perkidan · #7 08-30-2010, 05:18 PM

I would have dropped it again to get a matching set

Jaco D · #8 08-30-2010, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muckaluck

- I've heard people having trouble fitting the jazz bridge pickup into the mighty mite route. Would this be a problem for me with the squier pickup?

Fender bridge pickups are wider than neck pickups. I have a Squier fretless and the the bridge pups are wider than the neck pups as well. This however may not be the norm. Some cheap parts makers, to cut down on production costs have the bridge and neck pickups similarly sized. I suggest you compare specs just to be sure.

Bijoux · #9 08-30-2010, 05:32 PM

Oh, there is nothing wrong with that... if nothing else it adds character.
at least i couldn't justify spending $150 for a new body.

EagleMoon · #10 08-30-2010, 06:39 PM

Only thing about those bodies is that I believe you have to drill the bridge holes. I don't think you'd have a bit of trouble with fitting the pickups or the neck.

ghostdog93 · #11 08-30-2010, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THORRR

Here's a pic of the chunk that drove me to sell

If it was mine, I would leave it. To me, that's not a $150 chip. I'd call it character. Then again, I haven't washed my truck in 18 months because the dirt gives it character, so take that from where it comes.

Think of it this way...$150 will buy a lot of beer (or strings) instead.

Muckaluck · #12 08-30-2010, 06:59 PM

Yes it appears that the bridge holes need to be drilled. I should be able to do that if I take the exact measurements from the existing bass.

I don't see any measurements on the web site. I think I'll email them tomorrow and get their measurements.

Thanks for the replies!

Muckaluck · #13 08-30-2010, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghostdog93

If it was mine, I would leave it. To me, that's not a $150 chip. I'd call it character. Then again, I haven't washed my truck in 18 months because the dirt gives it character, so take that from where it comes.

Think of it this way...$150 will buy a lot of beer (or strings) instead.

Ah yes, $150 can buy a lot of nice stuff! I think that's a good way to look at it. At this point I sit back and ask myself is my sanity worth $150 as I keep fixating on that chip!