What is this on my bass and can I remove it?

[Zooberwerx]

It's the "third rail". Don't touch it while handling the mic stand....you'll light up like a neon sign.

Riis

[Silver Blues]

Why don't you Sharpie it? If you really don't like the look, you'll hide it, and the ink is nothing a good hit of iso won't remove if you want the resale value.

--Silvie

[Matt Lake]

Take the bridge off and see if there is a hole to run a ground wire to the bridge . I got a jazz bass once that hummed real bad. It turned out the wires in the control cavity had been pulled on so much that the wire pulled out from under the bridge. They aren't attatched, just held down by the bridge. If yours is drilled for a ground wire you could route a ground wire through that hole and screw the bridge back down on top of a few strands of the wire. Don't twist the end of the wire or it will hold the bridge up. Spread the strands out into a fan.
If there isn't a hole, you could drill one if you plan carefully. It only needs to be big enough to pass a wire through, like 1/16". Then connect it to the rest of the ground wires in back.

[WoodyG3]

Originally Posted by StrangerDanger

Earth = Ground?

Yep.

[thisSNsucks]

I'm 99% sure that you can actually remove that as Fender used them on a lot of reissues just for the cosmetic aspect. It's probably still grounded like a normal, modern Jazz.

[Stilettoprefer]

I like the look of bridge grounds going over the body!



That's my main bass!

[SJan3]

As a teenager, I bought a new '66 Jazz Bass. Later on, as I started tinkering with the thing to see how it worked ( in total ignorance), I removed what I now realize was the ground wire. Soon I discovered that the bridge pup no longer worked. I never put it together that the "stray wire" I removed was probably the culprit... until today! I sold that '66 Jazz for $300 just to get rid of it. Live and learn.

[Bluelephant4]

Originally Posted by Stilettoprefer

I like the look of bridge grounds going over the body!

That's my main bass!

Ooh what kid of bass is that?

[1SHOT1HIT]

Yep definitely an easy thing to deal with.
Sharpie was a great idea.
And yep it's permanent until you use isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) (as mentioned) or other chems that are overkill really.

I'd explain further but everyone has already done a fine job!

Here's another pic of what it attempts to capture from my 62 Jazz !
I say leave it alone it looks good.




Gotta look close it's hiding in both pics.

[GreaserMatt]

I used to own an 'E' code ('84-'87) MIJ fender jazz bass w. the same thing; I guess at the time they wanted to emulate the early 60's design, from what I've read anyways...

[GreaserMatt]

Originally Posted by thisSNsucks

I'm 99% sure that you can actually remove that as Fender used them on a lot of reissues just for the cosmetic aspect. It's probably still grounded like a normal, modern Jazz.

D'oh! LOL

[Stilettoprefer]

Originally Posted by Bluelephant4

Ooh what kid of bass is that?

One of my parts builds

[AdamR]

Id just cover it with a strip of black electrical tape

[mystic38]

UK Earth = USA Ground

practically speaking i would never try to ground a bridge in the UK..

...the wire would need to be 3500 miles long, so its best to earth it.

Originally Posted by StrangerDanger

Earth = Ground?

[jmclearnon]

Technically Both UK and USA are labelled as ground and on components it is gnd, Got the nickname from the fact that the ground wire is placed in the ground getting the name "earth"

[Abaroa]

..just leave it alone..

It looks very, very cool and, most important, if your bridge / strings are not properly grounded you could get a nasty shock when touching a mic stand or amp.

Also, there are still Fender Japan model with it.. just check their website..