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Essex jazz mod project! **PICS ADDED!**

brian v2.0

brian v2.0

Supporting Member
Oct 28, 2003
906
581
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Cincinnati, OH USA
rubatophoto.com
#1
i just bought this used essex jazz 5:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=321173

and a few parts to modify it. so far i decided to go with black hardware and bought new black hipshot ultralights and a black badass V bridge. i also snagged an audere preamp. i'll probably eventually change the nut and depending on the pickups i may swap them out too.

i plan on buying a tort pickguard as well.


i know many of you are probably cursing me for ridding the bass of it's geddy aesthetic but i really wanted to make it something more personal to me, not geddy.

any other ideas for modding?

b.
 
#4
LOL...you're mod parts list sounds EXACTLY like what I was planning on doing to it. If you add some Dimarzio Ultra J 5's to your list, it would be dead on.

I already have a cheap Jazz-style 5 w/block inlays that I dig: Cort GB75 - I can it the "Marcus Lite". I've got some Nordstrands going in it and probably an Audere as well. It will be getting a new black Badass V and black knobs/tuners as well. :)

I think you'll be happy with the SX...I was pretty amazed by the quality on this and the Brice Jazz 5 I had previously.
 
#5
jtlee said:
LOL...you're mod parts list sounds EXACTLY like what I was planning on doing to it. If you add some Dimarzio Ultra J 5's to your list, it would be dead on.

I already have a cheap Jazz-style 5 w/block inlays that I dig: Cort GB75 - I can it the "Marcus Lite". I've got some Nordstrands going in it and probably an Audere as well. It will be getting a new black Badass V and black knobs/tuners as well. :)

I think you'll be happy with the SX...I was pretty amazed by the quality on this and the Brice Jazz 5 I had previously.
Click to expand...


sweet! it was pleasure doing busine with ya. i'll be sure to get some before and after pics and sound clips.

b.
 
#6
mods:

hipshot ultralites (black instead of chrome)
audere jz3 preamp
badass bass V bridge
tort pickguard


the pickguard is a cheap one that i got off of ebay and didn't fit perfectly so i did some poor modifications to make it fit. i'll be ordering some pickguard material from stewmac and making one that fits soon.

here are the pics!
 

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#10
jtlee said:
That is just HOT...I have a 4-string parts jazz just like it. Soooo much better than before. How do you like it (playbility/sound)?
Click to expand...

i was really taken back by the insanely narrow (to me) string spacing, but once i got the badass V on it made it more comfortable to me. i also sanded off te finish on the back of the neck to make it more comfortable. i may reshape the neck as well but i haven't decided yet.

the audere pre sounds phenomenal. unfortunately the control cavity wasn't deep enough to house the battery so it took some coaxing with a router to make room for it.

all said and done i'd say it went very well for my first modding project.

b.
 
#16
jtlee said:
LOL...you're mod parts list sounds EXACTLY like what I was planning on doing to it. If you add some Dimarzio Ultra J 5's to your list, it would be dead on.

I already have a cheap Jazz-style 5 w/block inlays that I dig: Cort GB75 - I can it the "Marcus Lite". I've got some Nordstrands going in it and probably an Audere as well. It will be getting a new black Badass V and black knobs/tuners as well. :)

I think you'll be happy with the SX...I was pretty amazed by the quality on this and the Brice Jazz 5 I had previously.
Click to expand...

That's part of what I did with my mod project.

I took my '89 or so MIJ Fretless Fender Jazz Standard and turned it into two basses. I bought a Geddy sig just for the neck. I put the Geddy neck on the Antique white body where the fretless neck used to be. I replaced all the hardware with black stuff: Hipshot tuners and a Badass II bridge. Black knobs on a chrome plate, black pearl pickguard.

Then I took the fretless neck, and had it coated with CA glue. I bought a three tone sunburst Jazz body from AllParts and put in Nordstrand NJ4SE's and an Audere pre with a Badass II and Hipshot tuners. No pickguard.

I strung them both up with Sunbeams and I'm good to go.
 

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