Fender Blacktop Club

[bassandkeys42]

Nah it's black. I just hadn't taken the plastic off yet.

 

[alfoders]

I've got the exact one and I LOVE it. The 5 string Ibanez in my profile pic just sits in the corner these days as I jam on my one true luv - my white, pearlescent Black Top with the flat-wound D'Addario Chrome strings making beautiful music together with me!!!

 

[finetops]

Looks cool with the cover, I may do that myself.
I have a white chrome pearl Jazz, and really like it.
Feels very solid.
I concur about the volume knobs, almost useless, it seems to be at 10, or 9.. and then off.

I did not like how the strings were too tinny sounding, and just put on DR flatwounds last night, and never played flats. I hate the strings, and am learning to slap, and obviously this was a mistake!

Maybe need to try some ground wounds.

Here are pics of mine.

Whats the deal with the cool block inlays?! Never seen this before, whats the exact model or are those stickers?

 

[stgabhas]

Finally got mine:
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[ShadowVampyre]

Whats the deal with the cool block inlays?! Never seen this before, whats the exact model or are those stickers?

I got the block inlay decals from Creative-Cuts on Ebay.. awesome stuff
creative-cuts on eBay

 

[Squittolo]

Here's mine.. with Fender Roger Waters maple neck installed on it! May I have a number, please?

 

[Kala Knut]

Get em while you can. These are being phased out by Fender. They are no longer available at Guitar Center and other retailers

 

[Malak the Mad]

Get em while you can. These are being phased out by Fender. They are no longer available at Guitar Center and other retailers

Do you have something to verify that, like an article, statement or a press release? I ask for two reasons;

1. I got mine from Guitar Center two years ago. Even then, it was "On Backorder", so they had to call Fender directly to place a special order.
2. They're still listed on the Fender website. I'm pretty sure they only take items down when they've been discontinued.

 

[Kala Knut]

If you search over the Internet you will see they are no longer available. Here are just 2 of dozens of sites. If you go on guitar center and type in fender blacktop precision or jazz bass they are no longer available

 

[Malak the Mad]

If you search over the Internet you will see they are no longer available. Here are just 2 of dozens of sites. If you go on guitar center and type in fender blacktop precision or jazz bass they are no longer available

Huh, would ya look at that!

I can see two or three possibilities. Either Fender has indeed started discontinuing them (hope not!) or that they're no longer shipping them to stores and will only be selling them directly through their website (probably just wishful thinking on my part). It's even possible that both are the case and they'll keep the Blacktops visible and available on their site until they run out of stock.

Whichever it is, I guess this means I'll have to invest in a White Chrome Pearl Jazz body now. Stratosphere, here I come!

 

[alfoders]

I kinda hope they ARE discontinued. My beautiful white BT just became a collectible! However...it is NOT for sale! I want to be buried with my baby!

 

[gfen]

Or the factory is turning out a run of a different product and the backlines are empty.

So, you can also hold out for a new production run.

 

[Sleeq]

I think all Blacktops except the basses and one Jag have been cut. That's due to the Am. St. and Mex. St. guitars getting the HH / HSS treatment.

 

[stelles75]

Okay, Blacktop folks... very serious question/concern I have...

I have a Blacktop P. I got it as an upgrade to my Ibanez SR300. I was totally smitten with it, especially after rewiring and replacing the pots and getting a fancy new pickguard. Then, some months later I bought a used Peavey Fury that I modded.

Total cost of the modded Fender: ~$600
Total cost of the modded Fury: ~$175

The Fury is like the greatest thing ever. The action is perfect. It's growly as hell after installing some Dimarzios. I'm madly in love with it. I've been using it in practice up through our first gig and she performed beyond admirably. I have another Fury that I'm going to take to a luthier. I have a suspicion that the neck might be warped, but I'm hoping it just needs a real proper setup. Assuming she's good to go, I'm going to mod her the same way. Absolutely the most perfect bass (for me) that I've ever played.

But I got that pretty Fender Blacktop P and I wanted to split time with my basses, so I brought it to practice last night.

By comparison, the (stock) pickups on the Fender put out maybe 2/3 of the gain. I have to crank my amp up just so it cuts through the rest of the band. The tone is good, especially with both pickups cranked, but it's too quiet. Additionally, I noticed that depending on how/where I press down on the frets, occasionally the notes are DOA. It's as if the bass doesn't make any noise at all. I'm pretty sure this is an intonation thing, right? Probably just needs an adjustment, right?

I guess my main question is: Can I replace these uniquely styled pickups on this P without having to modify the body of the bass?

If not, she's getting sold.

 

[pastorjamesc]

Don't mod it sell it. I'm not trying to be a smart A**. The unique tone of the blacktop P coming from using humbucking jazz pickups. If you replace them then you have a completely different tone. Oh and humbucking is usually a quieter pickup. I have to adjust gain anytime I switch basses. The blacktop up a bit, my '57 reissue P down a bit, and my Ibanez hollow body down a whole lot. especially when on single pickup. Oh and once I get the tone I want with the gain then I crank the volume to an appropriate level to who I'm playing with.


Is your action super high on the Blacktop? That can effect your gain as well coming off the bass?

 

[stelles75]

Don't mod it sell it. I'm not trying to be a smart A**. The unique tone of the blacktop P coming from using humbucking jazz pickups. If you replace them then you have a completely different tone. Oh and humbucking is usually a quieter pickup. I have to adjust gain anytime I switch basses. The blacktop up a bit, my '57 reissue P down a bit, and my Ibanez hollow body down a whole lot. especially when on single pickup. Oh and once I get the tone I want with the gain then I crank the volume to an appropriate level to who I'm playing with.


Is your action super high on the Blacktop? That can effect your gain as well coming off the bass?

Why would I think you were being a smartass? You bring up a very good point and it isn't something I was thinking about. Maybe I just don't like the tone and it's not for me, but I'll make some adjustments with my amp and pedals and see how that goes. I'm having to turn my Fender Rumble 350 up to an 8, though, where my Fury would be at a 5 and still doesn't quite cut through enough.

The action to me seems fine, but I'm no expert. I did notice that the G is ridiculously close to the bottom most pickup and I probably need to screw that down a tad. I haven't touched the pickups at all for the record. I only replaced the wiring for the jack and pots, as well as the jack and pots, and I did notice a significant improvement in overall tone once it was modded.

But for one moment, humor me... Is there another type of pickup that would fit in those cavities?

 

[pastorjamesc]

none that I know of. You might be able to get a soapbar (musicman style) to fit but it'll take some cutting. You might also try raising the pickups up a bit. closer to the string. I also replaced the pups. and like the tone a great deal. BUT it is now where as thick as my regular P. I like it for pop kind of sounds and so I punch up the gain. OH and for full disclosure I'm a hack bass player and spend my time recording and live sound so I have a "blend what you have" attitude much more than the "quest for the perfect tone". LOL

My sale comment is what I wanted to not come off as bad. There are so many good/great basses out there with so many different tones if you don't like one rather than sink a bunch of dough into modding it. Sell it to someone who digs it and get you a bass you really dig.

 

[stelles75]

So you did replace the pickups?!

What did you use?

It's not really the search for perfect tone. It's more that I'm still discovering what suits me personally. In this particular scenario, the Fury feels better in my hands and is more a joy to play, but if I could get a more beefed up tone on the Fender, I could live with some of the tactile "deficiencies" that I notice.

I think worst case, I could sell it and get very close to retail with the mods I got in there, pay off that balance on the Sam Ash card and wait until I have a chance to play some other basses to find a better fit.

 

[pastorjamesc]

Nope, just the pots.

 

[funkometer]

Guys I picked up my blacktop jazz here on TB (SOLD - Fender Blacktop Jazz Bass | TalkBass.com any suggestions on adding a blend pot? The pots have been modded as described in the posted thread by the previous owner, but they are still basically on/off, not much play in them.