Hi all,
I have a not-quite-stock Fender Deluxe Jaguar Bass, with a Status neck and a mirror pickguard being what make it not-stock. It does play fine (though I'm still troubleshooting the volume and tone knob...), but I'm not entirely satisfied with the sound out of it. I'm wondering about upgrading the hardware [bridge] and/or pickups.
For reference, my primary bass is a late '80s Ric 4003, which I haven't done anything to beyond changing strings. I play heavy distortion at times, and the pick attack and clarity are vital to me, and I like the percussive pick attack this bass has, and would like to go further that direction with the Jaguar bass.
I don't want the Jaguar to sound like the Ric. I don't need two Rics. [want a second Ric....? That's a different matter...] But the pick release on the Jaguar is considerably softer/duller than the Ric, and I'd like to end up with a hard/crisp snap/click from my picking.
What would be best to go after first: Bridge, or pickups? I've been looking at titanium saddles, or... ten tons of other options... Pickups-wise, I'm being curious about Kent Armstrong Hot Lips, or Delano JMVC, or Lace Alumitones. If I should be looking at bridges first, I can rattle off the ones of those I've been looking at.
thanks,
- Justin -
I have a not-quite-stock Fender Deluxe Jaguar Bass, with a Status neck and a mirror pickguard being what make it not-stock. It does play fine (though I'm still troubleshooting the volume and tone knob...), but I'm not entirely satisfied with the sound out of it. I'm wondering about upgrading the hardware [bridge] and/or pickups.
For reference, my primary bass is a late '80s Ric 4003, which I haven't done anything to beyond changing strings. I play heavy distortion at times, and the pick attack and clarity are vital to me, and I like the percussive pick attack this bass has, and would like to go further that direction with the Jaguar bass.
I don't want the Jaguar to sound like the Ric. I don't need two Rics. [want a second Ric....? That's a different matter...] But the pick release on the Jaguar is considerably softer/duller than the Ric, and I'd like to end up with a hard/crisp snap/click from my picking.
What would be best to go after first: Bridge, or pickups? I've been looking at titanium saddles, or... ten tons of other options... Pickups-wise, I'm being curious about Kent Armstrong Hot Lips, or Delano JMVC, or Lace Alumitones. If I should be looking at bridges first, I can rattle off the ones of those I've been looking at.
thanks,
- Justin -
