Covering an ugly pickup route

[bolophonic]

They report the the sound is "smoother"
Adding the MM pickup would make more sense to put it in the right location though - but the ugly route is too close to the bridge.
View attachment 929380

I would be willing to bet that NOBODY can honestly discern the difference between two different pole positions. I mean.... It's a magnetic field.

 

[Korladis]

I would be willing to bet that NOBODY can honestly discern the difference between two different pole positions. I mean.... It's a magnetic field.

Pickup position matters quite a bit, though.

 

[Spirit of Ox]

Enlarge the route for a soapbar pickup like EMG35 or Thunderbird. Don't do an MM. I tried that and IMHO it sounded unbalanced.

 

[Bill Fatty]

The routing isn't THAT bad. It'd be fine if you put back the J-bass pickup and if you put a J-bass pickup bezel around it to cover the rough edges. Like the one Ric5 posted a pic of.
Anything else might look a bit odd - the P-J thing is a pretty standard look.

 

[LT131]

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If you decide to go this route you may be disappointed in the sustain. Try installing the P/U under the strings. You'll be glad you did.

 

[Korladis]

Enlarge the route for a soapbar pickup like EMG35 or Thunderbird. Don't do an MM. I tried that and IMHO it sounded unbalanced.

Thunderbucker!

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

The routing isn't THAT bad. It'd be fine if you put back the J-bass pickup and if you put a J-bass pickup bezel around it to cover the rough edges. Like the one Ric5 posted a pic of.
Anything else might look a bit odd - the P-J thing is a pretty standard look.

I agree

 

[themarshall]

Turn it into a tiny aquarium ala ^

 

[PluffMudQueen]

I would probably make a nice wood veneer cover but putting in a pickup is the next best thing.

 

[Canadian APII]

I recently picked up a bass that started life as a very good bass (a 1979 Yamaha BB1200 -Sir Paul played one) and it still is a great playing bass but someone in the past tried to route for a bridge pickup with a chisel. Now, I'm all for rat basses - and I bought this knowing it was a rat project and didn't pay a lot. It had a nice Jazz pickup in there but I already have two BB2000 (same bass but designed as a PJ) so I really just want this as a P only the way it was originally.

Since I never plan to use the bridge pickup, I want to cover the ugly hole.

I know I could fill it and paint or stain it ... but I'm wondering about just simply painting a design over the patch. Or putting a sticker there (yeah - there was a recent thread about stickers and lots of hate for them).

Here's the ugly route done, apparently, with a chisel:
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For fun, I made a couple of stickers to see what they would look like. I grew up in the 50's-60's so I've got some Pink Floyd and Robert Crumb themes showing my age.

BigAss Comics:
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Freak comics:

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Dark Side of the Moon:
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Or I could leave the gaping hole
Or I could fill it with similar woods
Put the J pickup back in and just play the thing

Build a ramp.

 

[troy mcclure]

If you aren't in need of changing the pickup for sound, I would probably get a nice pickup ring made and disconnect it.

 

[MattZilla]

, about the size of your puphole

hehe! Ahem.

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WINNER WINNER!

 

[tubedude]

Inlay an E-bow or Fernandez sustainer.