Fender Blacktop Club

[Broham]

I bought an Epi Jack Casady half a year ago. Everyone said that I should try flats on it, so I gave them a shot. I didn't like them.
I only played the Casady at home because of the flats (I tried it with my band and didn't cut the mix). So, two days ago I decided to removed the flats and put some rounds on it. And I looked at my Jazz Blacktop and I thought "why not trying the flats with the Blacktop". It sounds amazing! I love it. Best idea ever. Do some of you guys put flats on your Blacktops?

Yes! They do sound awesome.

 

[Broham]

Maybe I'm necroing an old thread, but wanted to brag a bit: I just picked up a blacktop jazz to round out the collection. It ships in a few days max, so I'm pretty much done with all my life goals now. Taking suggestions for the end of the world.

Play them all, as often as you can, until The End comes.

 

[djciano]

Solid plan. I'm gonna have to rearrange the playroom. They were destined to be together!

 

[djciano]

And here they are together, separated by a jealous warwick. I'm definitely going to put in new pots for the roll off and blend, since the 0-60 in a single touch does bother the crap out of me, and it's a little clacky so I'll probably go with 250k per the info on here (vintage jazz per shadow, I believe). The jazz came with flatwounds but I hate hate hate them... But whatcha gonna do?

I have roto 66 40-90 on the p, and DR hi-beams 45-105 on the jazz, but I think I'm gonna change those to rotos as well.

Apart from the minor issues, I love them both!

One issue I'm having with the jazz: the A string doesn't want to stay seated in the nut, so I'm thinking the DRs might be too thick? I'm not sure. Anybody run into this?

And I know it's been a long-ass time but are we still giving out numbers?!

 

[Ghoul76]

What's a good price on a white w/ black pick guard jazz? I saw one for sale locally.

 

[Ramonesfan59]

What's a good price on a white w/ black pick guard jazz? I saw one for sale locally.

Here's one from Reverb (at a price I consider too high) along with their price guide.
Fender Blacktop Jazz Bass Black

 

[Ghoul76]

Here's one from Reverb (at a price I consider too high) along with their price guide.
Fender Blacktop Jazz Bass Black

Thanks. I'll see what kind of deal I may be able to make. I think it's a 2011. It's white with the black pick guard. Has a chip on the back near the plate. Other than that it looks good. The person is asking $500 with a case.

 

[djciano]

With a case that's a pretty decent price provided everything works as it should. They're becoming more rare from what I can tell since they stopped making them in 2013 or so.

 

[Ramonesfan59]

With a case that's a pretty decent price provided everything works as it should. They're becoming more rare from what I can tell since they stopped making them in 2013 or so.

There was a price surge a few months ago, but I think that's settled down a bit.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Thanks. I'll see what kind of deal I may be able to make. I think it's a 2011. It's white with the black pick guard. Has a chip on the back near the plate. Other than that it looks good. The person is asking $500 with a case.

With a case that's a pretty decent price provided everything works as it should. They're becoming more rare from what I can tell since they stopped making them in 2013 or so.

Agreed. That is a pretty fair price, especially when you add the case into the deal. The one that @Ramonesfan59 linked is way too high. Used ones that show up on Guitar Center's used database rarely go for over $500.

 

[Lee Kirkham]

I do not own a Blacktop Precision, but I own the bridge used on that model. I have two basses with which I have the Blacktop bridge installed. Easily my favorite Fender-branded high mass bridge for bass!

 

[Ghoul76]

Agreed. That is a pretty fair price, especially when you add the case into the deal. The one that @Ramonesfan59 linked is way too high. Used ones that show up on Guitar Center's used database rarely go for over $500.

I still have my eye on it. I'm interested not only because it's an unusual setup, but it seems like it would be good for some heavier music.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I still have my eye on it. I'm interested not only because it's an unusual setup, but it seems like it would be good for some heavier music.

Oh, it most certainly is! If you dug back into older posts on this thread, you'd see me state, "It is easily the most aggressive sounding passive bass I've ever encountered!" or something to that effect. It's a beast, but is still capable of being mellowed-out by working with the controls.

 

[Ghoul76]

Oh, it most certainly is! If you dug back into older posts on this thread, you'd see me state, "It is easily the most aggressive sounding passive bass I've ever encountered!" or something to that effect. It's a beast, but is still capable of being mellowed-out by working with the controls.

It's still for sale in my area. Do regular Fender jazz pass parts fit these? Like control plates and stuff like that? I'm still working my way through the older posts.

Is the pearl white or black any more rare than the other?

 

[djciano]

I still have my eye on it. I'm interested not only because it's an unusual setup, but it seems like it would be good for some heavier music.

Not sure if this was posted, but there's a black on black one on reverb right now for a reasonable price: Fender Blacktop Precision Bass 2011 Black Fender Blacktop Precision Bass 2011 Black

 

[Malak the Mad]

It's still for sale in my area. Do regular Fender jazz pass parts fit these? Like control plates and stuff like that? I'm still working my way through the older posts.

Is the pearl white or black any more rare than the other?

The Blacktops are effectively MIM Standard Jazzes and Precisions with different bridges, pickups and pickguards, so except for those bits o' hardware, anything MIM-compatible should fit just fine.

I can't say which is more rare, but I can say I've seen a bit more of the black ones across various used markets.

 

[Ghoul76]

The person finally got back to me about the white one. Said there's two buyers ahead of me, so I won't hold my breath. I think I found a new one for $500, but it's black.

 

[djciano]

Here's another if you're still looking. I'd ask for a soft case to be thrown in tho.

Fender Blacktop Precision https://applink.reverb.com/item/15095275-fender-blacktop-precision

 

[djciano]

And here's your white one!

Fender Blacktop Precision Bass White Chrome Pearl Fender Blacktop Precision Bass White Chrome Pearl

 

[chrisred214]

coped a black top j bass at a pawn shop. $220.00!! snatched it., the pickups a bit noisy but the tone, man. can be in beast mode and blues mode with a few adjustments.