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Fender Blacktop Club

#701
Malak the Mad said:
Not too long ago, I also joined the sorta-short list of Blacktop owners who've replaced their necks.

It was not my original intention do to so, but at the time, finances dictated I "liquidate and monetize some of my assets". (For the record, I despise business-speak with a burning passion!:vomit:) Ultimately, I sold my BT-J's neck and the body of a Classic '70s Jazz. The latter really, really stung as it was an awesome bass. However, it was the '70s neck that I adored the most…binding, pearloid blocks on a rosewood fretboard and, most importantly to me, a super-curvy 7.25" vintage-style radius. Now, in a fantastic twist of irony, I have one of the most expensive Mexican-made necks matched with one of the least expensive MIM bodies! :smug:

It's also worth noting, I went and bought an un-modded Blacktop Jazz pickguard. As much as I love the dye-job I did on my original guard, I feel the black/white/black effect works better with the binding and blocks.

So, without further ado…I present my "'70s Blacktop Jazz"! :cool:

DSCF0443_zps2nobu3oq.jpg

DSCF0434_zpss4tyfrlh.jpg
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Is that neck from one of the 70's Style basses? I've thought about trying to put that neck on my BTB but I didn't think the neck pockets would be the same.
 
#702
Malak the Mad said:
Greetings All!

Again, I apologize for the delays, procrastination and whatnots. I'm here now, full of motivation and organizational intent. But enough of my rambling, because…

…it's time for our newest additions!

...Hey, Bro! I see you have a BT Jazz as your current avatar, but I don't see you on the Master List. Did I miss you or are you traveling under a new ID? Please let me know and I'll make the appropriate corrections. ;)

---end of line---
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No, you didn't miss me. I just picked mine up a couple of weeks ago.
 
#704
Broham said:
Is that neck from one of the 70's Style basses? I've thought about trying to put that neck on my BTB but I didn't think the neck pockets would be the same.
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Yes, the neck is from Fender's "Classic" series…Invalid Link Removed, and it fit like a dream! On a related side-note, the '70s Jazz the same body as the MIM Geddy Lee signature Jazzes, so it's more-than-likely the necks between the two and the Blacktops are interchangeable.

Broham said:
No, you didn't miss me. I just picked mine up a couple of weeks ago.
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Got it! I've gone back and added you to the Master List.

By the way, you have your attached picture labeled "The Last Blacktop Jazz at the Fender Factory". Is there a story behind that?
 
#705
Malak the Mad said:
Yes, the neck is from Fender's "Classic" series…Invalid Link Removed, and it fit like a dream! On a related side-note, the '70s Jazz the same body as the MIM Geddy Lee signature Jazzes, so it's more-than-likely the necks between the two and the Blacktops are interchangeable.



Got it! I've gone back and added you to the Master List.

By the way, you have your attached picture labeled "The Last Blacktop Jazz at the Fender Factory". Is there a story behind that?
Click to expand...

Yes there is. I purchased the bass new, off ebay about three weeks ago. Unfortunately, the seller found a Standard Jazz in the box when they took it out for inspection before shipping it to me. I was pissed, but I kept my cool and said thanks, but I really wanted a blacktop jazz. He told me he could call the factory to see if they had any left and I said sure, give it a try. He got back to me the next day saying they had ordered the last one at the Fender factory and they could ship it to me direct. I was pretty dang happy, to say the least.

Out of curiosity I call Fender and asked if they had any more and after checking inventory the guy confirmed they had no Blacktop Jazz basses in stock. He also told me that my bass shipped from the Fender factory in April. Yatzee! So if the legend is true, I am now in possession of the last Blacktop Jazz Bass to ship from the Fender factory.
 
#706
Malak the Mad said:
Yes, the neck is from Fender's "Classic" series…Invalid Link Removed, and it fit like a dream! On a related side-note, the '70s Jazz the same body as the MIM Geddy Lee signature Jazzes, so it's more-than-likely the necks between the two and the Blacktops are interchangeable...
Click to expand...

I love the neck on my 70's Jazz, but I hate the uneven volume of the strings. That is one of the reasons I loved the idea of two P-Bass pickups with a Jazz neck. I could adjust them so the volume of the strings was even after I got my tone where I wanted it. Switching necks makes a lot of sense though, because the relatively flat neck on the blacktop would help even out the sound of the jazz pickups.

One thing I found with my 70's Jazz neck is that it didn't like the extra tension of the flatwounds I like to use. I had to drop the gauge of my Chromes down from 45-100 to 40-95.
 
#707
I found that my 2014 jazz doesn't have the volume issues others are experiencing, I purchased it at the end of 2014 from Zzounds received it first week of 2015. Although, my 2013 P bass does have those issues. So I'm going to rewire the P. I've found that WD is the place for pickguard, as I have found no problems with fit on the four I've bought from them. Does anyone know of direct drop in for tuners other than the hipshot hb7's? Just don't want to pay a hundo for tuners.
 
#709
Was just on the Fender site, Blacktop P bass is no longer listed under the Standard section. The Jazz is however still there but only in black. What does this mean? Maybe as someone stated earlier it gives it a collectible appeal and or value.
 
#713
Killed_by_Death said:
My two Mexicans.

View attachment 614659
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Number 67 goes to bdwgml!

Nice collection…nice pics…nice backdrop…and I love how you managed to keep almost all of your reflection from showing up in those supah-shiny pickguards. On a personal note, I'm seriously diggin' the mirror-chrome guard on the BT-P. It reminds me of the old Squier Standard line's Limited Edition Black & Chrome Precision Bass Specials. :thumbsup: Invalid Link Removed
 
#714
bassstrangler said:
That is indeed a conundrum. I went to Fender.com just now and found what I posted earlier. Who wants to contact Fender and ask?
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I think it depends upon where in the world you are situated - I live in Denmark, and when visiting the Fender website, I get re-routed to their international site where you can see both Blacktop basses.

I suppose what you are seeing is the US version of thier website...
 
#715
hillerup said:
I just don't get it...

When I visit the international Fender website I see both the BT Jazz and BT P available in both colors...

Invalid Link Removed

If you click on either bass you get to the individual pages where you have both color options.
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They might be there on the website, but you cannot add them to the cart & purchase.
 
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#717
Yes, the Modern Player, but they suck IMHO. The older ones have the same pickups as the Blacktop, but the new ones have these fake pickups.
They look like they have pole pieces, but it's really just a cover for a blade style pickup. If it's one of those with the 4th knob for coil tapping the pickups, then it's the one with crappy pickups.

I tried an older MP & loved it, but I like the price of a new one & the finish. When it arrived, I couldn't adjust the truss rod properly, so I took it back. I did notice the pickups were nothing like the Blacktop & was filled in on their design by another bass player.

Also, the MPs are made in China.
 
#718
bassstrangler said:
I found that my 2014 jazz doesn't have the volume issues others are experiencing, I purchased it at the end of 2014 from Zzounds received it first week of 2015. Although, my 2013 P bass does have those issues. So I'm going to rewire the P. I've found that WD is the place for pickguard, as I have found no problems with fit on the four I've bought from them. Does anyone know of direct drop in for tuners other than the hipshot hb7's? Just don't want to pay a hundo for tuners.
Click to expand...

I found that the volume problem with my classic 70's bass was directly related to the radius of the neck. The 7.25 radius on the classic neck created a greater difference in string-to-pickup height. I put the blacktop bass's neck on the classic 70's body and the volume problem went away.
 
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#719
Anybody else have a crazy heavy blacktop jazz? Sweet Jesus, that thing is heavy. I have an old Yamaha BB1200 bass and those are well known for being heavy (and awesome sounding :), and it is. But my blacktop jazz is even heavier.
 
#720
Broham said:
Anybody else have a crazy heavy blacktop jazz? Sweet Jesus, that thing is heavy. I have an old Yamaha BB1200 bass and those are well known for being heavy (and awesome sounding :), and it is. But my blacktop jazz is even heavier.
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Any idea how heavy yours is?

Mine was a reasonable 9lbs-2oz when I first bought it. Now that it's sporting the heftier '70s RI neck, it's up to 9lbs-12oz. Plus, it will likely gain an ounce or two when I get my Hipshot BT2 detuner installed.
 

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