Fender Blacktop Club

[pastorjamesc]

Black metal Domes are a real possibility. I was going to go with domes either way, chrome or black.
Yes, mama ordered that for me from WD for Christmas.

 

[pastorjamesc]

PS, I think it may have just been me. Now that I gave it a rest, and played around on it the tone is working very much to my satisfaction. ??? (250k pots with the original capacitor.) VERY good volume control for each set of pickups so that they blend better.

 

[gfen]

I came to find out that the stock pots and jack were pretty awful. Anyone who happens to be serious about this bass should consider replacing the pots and wiring.

I don't understand wiring, pots, and the like enough to understand how it all works, but I'd really like to emulate the layout in my BC Rich, which is V/V/T with a selector. The Blacktop doesn't have, to my ears, the same snarl as the Mockingbird does.

 

[Malak the Mad]

PS, I think it may have just been me. Now that I gave it a rest, and played around on it the tone is working very much to my satisfaction. ???

"Let me sleep on it. Baby, Baby…let me sleep on it."

 

[stelles75]

I don't understand wiring, pots, and the like enough to understand how it all works, but I'd really like to emulate the layout in my BC Rich, which is V/V/T with a selector. The Blacktop doesn't have, to my ears, the same snarl as the Mockingbird does.

Me neither. That's why I had a friend do it for me.

I posted the schematic for the V/V/T setup a page or so back, I think. I'm no electrical engineer, but if the wiring harness that comes off the pickups is the same configuration, which it probably is (pos, neg and a ground, right?), the pots would need to be wired the same... I think!

 

[pastorjamesc]

"Let me sleep on it. Baby, Baby…let me sleep on it."

And now I'm praying for the End of Time to Hurry up and Arrive...

 

[EriktheRed]

I started this thread in another forum, but nobody has answered yet.

Anyone here know of good pickups to replace the stock ones in the BTP which could just drop in without any mods to the ody or pickguard?

 

[hillerup]

I started this thread in another forum, but nobody has answered yet.

Anyone here know of good pickups to replace the stock ones in the BTP which could just drop in without any mods to the ody or pickguard?

Why on Earth would you do something like that???

Isn't the double humbucker setup on the Blacktop P the reason for buying one of these?

 

[Malak the Mad]

Anyone here know of good pickups to replace the stock ones in the BTP which could just drop in without any mods to the ody or pickguard?

Why on Earth would you do something like that???

Isn't the double humbucker setup on the Blacktop P the reason for buying one of these?

@hillerup brings up a very good point. Except for the somewhat unique (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) pickups, a BT-P is basically an MIM Precision.

@EriktheRed, do you find something lacking in the stock pickups? And if there are no similar drop-in replacements, wouldn't installing a pre-amp be a less-drastic mod to change the sonic landscape?

 

[hillerup]

@hillerup brings up a very good point. Except for the somewhat unique (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) pickups, a BT-P is basically an MIM Precision.

@EriktheRed, do you find something lacking in the stock pickups? And if there are no similar drop-in replacements, wouldn't installing a pre-amp be a less-drastic mod to change the sonic landscape?

Or maybe just exchange pots and cab to something better/different - Like a TBX Tone circuitry or similar?

 

[Sleeq]

As promised here's my BTP, with a vintage twist; a 62 MIJ reissue neck. Can I get a number please? Thanks!

 

[EriktheRed]

@hillerup brings up a very good point. Except for the somewhat unique (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) pickups, a BT-P is basically an MIM Precision.

@EriktheRed, do you find something lacking in the stock pickups? And if there are no similar drop-in replacements, wouldn't installing a pre-amp be a less-drastic mod to change the sonic landscape?

I'm not trying to get away from the double humbucker setup, I just want to see if I can get a better sound out of it with different pickups. I still like it overall, but I'd like to get a deeper sound out of it. I also have a regular MIM P-bass, which sounds more like I'd like this one to sound and it has a Dimarzio split-rail in it.

 

[hillerup]

I'm not trying to get away from the double humbucker setup, I just want to see if I can get a better sound out of it with different pickups. I still like it overall, but I'd like to get a deeper sound out of it. I also have a regular MIM P-bass, which sounds more like I'd like this one to sound and it has a Dimarzio split-rail in it.

I'm sorry, but I just don't get it...

You've got a MIM P-bass that you really like the sound of, and now you want to modify your MIM Blacktop P, which has radically different pickups so it sounds just like your regular P-bass?

Why not keep the BT as it is, since you already have the sound you want covered by an almost identical bass?

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I guess I am lucky, my American JP-90 with Precision & Jazz pups has an output almost as hot as my Precision Blacktop.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I'm not trying to get away from the double humbucker setup, I just want to see if I can get a better sound out of it with different pickups. I still like it overall, but I'd like to get a deeper sound out of it.

Maybe you could try the Dimension Humbuckers...

 

[aksteve]

Here it is! Finalltly

 

[aksteve]

Well that post didnt work lol here is my new Blacktop P! It came with Fender Tapewounds. So far I like em. It's the first time I've played Tapewounds.

Can I get a number now

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I like the coated or tapewound strings. There were Black Beauties on a LTD B-50 that I had for a while.
I also had coated DR strings on my Strat for a while.

 

[aksteve]

I'm digging em. I thought they wouldn't have any growl to em, but they seem fine with the tone dialed up on this, and I still can get the warm mellow tones as well

 

[Malak the Mad]

So, given the number of people who are asking for numbers all of a sudden, it's time to update the Master List!

#1 StrangerDanger
#2 ShadowVampyre
#3 Fair Warning
#4 unclebass
#5 StephenDaRacket
#6 Johnnywad
#7 hillerup
#8 Auspex
#9 Paradog
#10 VoodooMagicBoas
#11 emdsd
#12 Mmoore2490
#13 Malak the Mad
#14 Rich McCoy
#15 Fernandino
#16 Plectrum72
#17 Aetheriac
#18 Tom-Phil
#19 TimboZ
#20 Rabidrasbora
#21 Karkfum
#22 TheOnlyJuan
#23 Jookbox
#24 Tbone76
#25 gfen (formerly held by oysteivi)
#26 stavros911 (him and his "Aegis"!)
#27 kingofbogarts
#28 ExaltBass
#29 mizzou541 (plastic film and all)
#30 dodokns
#31 Graeme D
#32 BlueTalon
#33 Wallygator
#33.5 AbstractLunatic (So what if it's a Tele…it's still a Blacktop! Here's your honorary number with my compliments!)
#34 pastorjamesc
#35 Petesurvival
#36 MikeyV
#37 Huge
#38 BlkMt
#39 Neil2094
#40 ivorytower
#41 mmukav
#42 Chains
#43 javi_bassist
#44 Fernando Costa
#45 Big Mikey
#46 SCOMan
#47 Princedead
#48 AlarmClock314
#49 xrockstrongox
#50 Top Timmy
#51 EriktheRed
#52 Scungilli
#53 stelles75
#54 fastvee
#55 ynotnv

Scored my Blacktop Jazz last night for $280. Really excited to put some work into this beauty. Pictures will be posted Before/After.

Chris, I'm still waiting for pics. It's kind of a rule 'round here.

BTJ is great bass. Sounds like a '70s Jazz on steroids. Its free of pickup hum like in a jazz, and has this smooth, thick tone. Fender scored a winner with this one.

Hey T., I didn't see you ask for a number. Post a pic and I'll fix you up.

I'm keeping it, and thus I'm in.

gfen, I'm gonna give you oysteivi's slightly-used-but-still-minty Number #25. Great pics by the way! You rockin' something with a macro lens?

As promised here's my BTP, with a vintage twist; a 62 MIJ reissue neck. Can I get a number please? Thanks!

No problem whatsoever, Sleeq! You're Number 56!!

Here it is! Finalltly

Ask and Ye shall receive! Number 57 is yours!!