Fender 60th Anniversary Jazz Bass

[Congo_Guy]

Hi all on this forum. New member here and was happy to stumble upon you guys when I was searching about this Fender 60th Anniversary Jazz Bass. Just recently on a Sunday, 19th February, 2023, was I able to purchase this amazing bass, with my wife's approval believe it or not! The store said that they didn't know they had this bass in stock and I was the first and only guy who asked about it if they have it. Only then they found the bass, still in it's box, and when I saw it, wow! She was beaut!
The neck felt amazing, as expected from US made bass, the build, the paint quality was top notch. My only complaint is, when i removed the pickguard, I was hoping to see a clean surface underneath. But since it was kept in the shop for 2-3 that no one knew they had stock, the paint finish came off and got a bit stuck on the pickguard. (please see attached picture) I'm not worried as I'll be changing it to Alperious Custom Pickguard soon.
My question is, Is it a MUST to change the default pickup to Fender Custom Shop 60's PUs? Or Lindy Fralins ones? Hope someone still is active on this forum.

 

[Jinobass1]

Hi all on this forum. New member here and was happy to stumble upon you guys when I was searching about this Fender 60th Anniversary Jazz Bass. Just recently on a Sunday, 19th February, 2023, was I able to purchase this amazing bass, with my wife's approval believe it or not! The store said that they didn't know they had this bass in stock and I was the first and only guy who asked about it if they have it. Only then they found the bass, still in it's box, and when I saw it, wow! She was beaut!
The neck felt amazing, as expected from US made bass, the build, the paint quality was top notch. My only complaint is, when i removed the pickguard, I was hoping to see a clean surface underneath. But since it was kept in the shop for 2-3 that no one knew they had stock, the paint finish came off and got a bit stuck on the pickguard. (please see attached picture) I'm not worried as I'll be changing it to Alperious Custom Pickguard soon.
My question is, Is it a MUST to change the default pickup to Fender Custom Shop 60's PUs? Or Lindy Fralins ones? Hope someone still is active on this forum.

Change the pups and you’ll thank me later! Alnico 2 is too weak and not enough mids and low end.
alnico 5 CS is great ,Lindy Too! Paint coming off is unheard but good luck!’

 

[C Stone]

Not sure what happened there but the rest of the screws/hardware look clean.
I would clean it up the best I could before the custom pickguard install…
As far as the pickups go play it! See after a while if it’s not giving you what you are looking for as far as tone and you could always boost the mids with your amp or preamp, I don’t own one for a real world comparison. Congratulations on your new bass and welcome to the TB forum!

 

[Pet Sounds]

Hi all on this forum. New member here and was happy to stumble upon you guys when I was searching about this Fender 60th Anniversary Jazz Bass. Just recently on a Sunday, 19th February, 2023, was I able to purchase this amazing bass, with my wife's approval believe it or not! The store said that they didn't know they had this bass in stock and I was the first and only guy who asked about it if they have it. Only then they found the bass, still in it's box, and when I saw it, wow! She was beaut!
The neck felt amazing, as expected from US made bass, the build, the paint quality was top notch. My only complaint is, when i removed the pickguard, I was hoping to see a clean surface underneath. But since it was kept in the shop for 2-3 that no one knew they had stock, the paint finish came off and got a bit stuck on the pickguard. (please see attached picture) I'm not worried as I'll be changing it to Alperious Custom Pickguard soon.
My question is, Is it a MUST to change the default pickup to Fender Custom Shop 60's PUs? Or Lindy Fralins ones? Hope someone still is active on this forum.

The stock pickups are from Fender's Pure Vintage line, which are highly regarded by many players, so it's definitely not a given that you'll need to change them out. I like them, personally. Pickup choice, like so many things, is highly subjective.
Welcome to TalkBass, and enjoy that Jazz Bass!

 

[Congo_Guy]

Not sure what happened there but the rest of the screws/hardware look clean.
I would clean it up the best I could before the custom pickguard install…
As far as the pickups go play it! See after a while if it’s not giving you what you are looking for as far as tone and you could always boost the mids with your amp or preamp, I don’t own one for a real world comparison. Congratulations on your new bass and welcome to the TB forum!

Thanks for the welcome! Yes the drilled holes looked like it kinda got over heated and a slight browning due to friction or nearly started a fire? I'll try to clean it when I get home later. I did try cleaning it using water and tissue but it really got stuck into the finish and afraid to use other methods but I'll try it again later.

 

[Congo_Guy]

Change the pups and you’ll thank me later! Alnico 2 is too weak and not enough mids and low end.
alnico 5 CS is great ,Lindy Too! Paint coming off is unheard but good luck!’View attachment 4976092

I do trust you guys more than the sales reps here in Hong Kong, it's where I'm "bassed". It's either Fender CS 60's or Lindy Fralins. Oh! Do you guys have wiring diagram for our stack knobs too?

 

[Jinobass1]

Hi all on this forum. New member here and was happy to stumble upon you guys when I was searching about this Fender 60th Anniversary Jazz Bass. Just recently on a Sunday, 19th February, 2023, was I able to purchase this amazing bass, with my wife's approval believe it or not! The store said that they didn't know they had this bass in stock and I was the first and only guy who asked about it if they have it. Only then they found the bass, still in it's box, and when I saw it, wow! She was beaut!
The neck felt amazing, as expected from US made bass, the build, the paint quality was top notch. My only complaint is, when i removed the pickguard, I was hoping to see a clean surface underneath. But since it was kept in the shop for 2-3 that no one knew they had stock, the paint finish came off and got a bit stuck on the pickguard. (please see attached picture) I'm not worried as I'll be changing it to Alperious Custom Pickguard soon.
My question is, Is it a MUST to change the default pickup to Fender Custom Shop 60's PUs? Or Lindy Fralins ones? Hope someone still is active on this forum.

Sorry to state my opinion about changing the pickups.
Welcome to TB,it’s a life changer and Congrats on a great Bass!
I own bunch of real vintage Pre-CBS‘63,’64,’65,and CBS ’66&’67,’77,’78 and a lot more Jazz Basses.
Played Jaco’s Both Basses (use to live with him)and Bunch of real,61’s and ‘62’s and so on…
I felt that this bass needed PUP change to meet my standard (Recordings,Gigs&Tours…)
and it may not be for you….
but I felt the same way about Flea’s MIM pink shell ‘61 Jazz Bass too…
Alnico 2 Magnets whether it’s pure vintage or not it’s missing something in my Opinion…..
that’s my 2cents,So yes CS or Fralin would be a good choice,I got my brother Mas Hino to hand Wound mine and it’s like night and day!

 

[Congo_Guy]

Sorry to state my opinion about changing the pickups.
Welcome to TB,it’s a life changer and Congrats on a great Bass!
I own bunch of real vintage Pre-CBS‘63,’64,’65,and CBS ’66&’67,’77,’78 and a lot more Jazz Basses.
Played Jaco’s Both Basses (use to live with him)and Bunch of real,61’s and ‘62’s and so on…
I felt that this bass needed PUP change to meet my standard (Recordings,Gigs&Tours…)
and it may not be for you….
but I felt the same way about Flea’s MIM pink shell ‘61 Jazz Bass too…
Alnico 2 Magnets whether it’s pure vintage or not it’s missing something in my Opinion…..
that’s my 2cents,So yes CS or Fralin would be a good choice,I got my brother Mas Hino to hand Wound mine and it’s like night and day!

Wow! You're THE man! You have lived with Jaco and living proof of the history of jazz basses today! Mas Hino? Does he have link or he's your personal friend?

 

[Jinobass1]

Wow! You're THE man! You have lived with Jaco and living proof of the history of jazz basses today! Mas Hino? Does he have link or he's your personal friend?

He’s actually My Big brother,first and a Luthier Bassed (lol got U back!) in NYC (Makes His own and all the Labella Olinto Precision Basses and bunch of other stuff)
Just go to instagram and type in Mashinonyc and DM him and tell him what you need,U can say I sent you if you want,good luck!

 

[Congo_Guy]

He’s actually My Big brother,first and a Luthier Bassed (lol got U back!) in NYC (Makes His own and all the Labella Olinto Precision Basses and bunch of other stuff)
Just go to instagram and type in Mashinonyc and DM him and tell him what you need,U can say I sent you if you want,good luck!

Dam bro! Your brother's set of PUs are more than Fralins!? US$349 a set. But "BASSED" (lol) on his profile and website, he's really got a history on him! I'll message him there to ask more about it. I guess his PUs are better than Fender's CS 60s and comparable to Fralins?

 

[Grinderman]

Unless you have a USA 60th Anniversary Jazz, which is wired different to mine, you are mistaken. I'm not an expert in electronics, but I don't see any resistors in this circuit. When the volume is up or open for more than one of the pickups, each tone control will affect both pickups. That is one of the quirks of stack knob Jazz Basses, and why some people prefer to simply have a VVT.

This is correct, the other person is mistaken. New or contemporary Fender Jazz Basses with VTVT pots, including FCS, are not made with summing resistors, as they were in '60 and '61.

 

[Pet Sounds]

Sorry to state my opinion about changing the pickups.
Welcome to TB,it’s a life changer and Congrats on a great Bass!
I own bunch of real vintage Pre-CBS‘63,’64,’65,and CBS ’66&’67,’77,’78 and a lot more Jazz Basses.
Played Jaco’s Both Basses (use to live with him)and Bunch of real,61’s and ‘62’s and so on…
I felt that this bass needed PUP change to meet my standard (Recordings,Gigs&Tours…)
and it may not be for you….
but I felt the same way about Flea’s MIM pink shell ‘61 Jazz Bass too…
Alnico 2 Magnets whether it’s pure vintage or not it’s missing something in my Opinion…..
that’s my 2cents,So yes CS or Fralin would be a good choice,I got my brother Mas Hino to hand Wound mine and it’s like night and day!

I, for one, appreciate your informed opinion! The CS and Fralin pickups are outstanding. (I've had basses with both.) My point was simply that pickup choice is very subjective, and one player's trash is another one's treasure.

 

[Jinobass1]

This is correct, the other person is mistaken. New or contemporary Fender Jazz Basses with VTVT pots, including FCS, are not made with summing resistors, as they were in '60 and '61.

I got them altered to Summing resistors,
different caps for front and rear pups!

 

[Congo_Guy]

I got them altered to Summing resistors,
different caps for front and rear pups!

Any chance of you sharing a pic of the upgraded / changed circuitry?

 

[Jinobass1]

Dam bro! Your brother's set of PUs are more than Fralins!? US$349 a set. But "BASSED" (lol) on his profile and website, he's really got a history on him! I'll message him there to ask more about it. I guess his PUs are better than Fender's CS 60s and comparable to Fralins?

Not better, just different.
If you have a relationship with someone who makes
pickups,you can tell them your favorite gauge size and under wound for more lows and for more mids/hi you tell them to over wound (+5,+10)and So on.
Fender CS is great &
so is Fralins They sound great and you’ll definitely notice it right away.
Good to record your sounds before and after to fully notice the difference.
(Front pup,rear pups,Tone to 0,tone to 50% so on experiment,have fun!)
Never knew how important pickups were before,
thought of tone wood was the biggest factor.

 

[Jinobass1]

Any chance of you sharing a pic of the upgraded / changed circuitry?

Ok I’m out da door (Tokyo)
Now but After gig I’ll get to it!

 

[Grinderman]

Any chance of you sharing a pic of the upgraded / changed circuitry?

This is the original pre-CBS '60-'61 wiring with two 220K resistors. There's a compromise either way, with or without the summing resistors. With the summing resistors a bit of the top end of the output is lost from both pickups.

 

[Congo_Guy]

Ok I’m out da door (Tokyo)
Now but After gig I’ll get to it!

Can't wait sir! Yes! Thank you!

 

[Congo_Guy]

This is the original pre-CBS '60-'61 wiring with two 220K resistors. There's a compromise either way, with or without the summing resistors. With the summing resistors a bit of the top end of the output is lost from both pickups.

View attachment 4976744

View attachment 4976745

View attachment 4976747

Well, well, well! All great mind think alike! I have that exact same wiring diagram that I did on my mim project bass 3 years ago! I was kinda new to the bass scene but my dad was the inspiration on doing these circuit thing! Take a look on my take on the wirings. The copper shield was overkill but it looked nice. Had to double check on all wirings and it did work, but the PUs I used wasn't good. So went back to VVT.

 

[Congo_Guy]

This is the original pre-CBS '60-'61 wiring with two 220K resistors. There's a compromise either way, with or without the summing resistors. With the summing resistors a bit of the top end of the output is lost from both pickups.

View attachment 4976744

View attachment 4976745

View attachment 4976747

Here was how it looked before i switched back to VVT. Those DiMarzios weren't good enough.