• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Fender Blacktop Club

#1,101
Greetings Bass Brothers,
1417FAB4-6F4C-4D0C-BABB-7190EDC74F08.jpeg

I am an owner of a Blacktop Precision Bass. I have modified it with Hipshot Tuning machines, Bass Xtender that goes from B to A on the 4th string and replaced the stock bridge with a Kickass bridge.



Now I want to upgrade the pickups but it is not the usual set up or shape for a bass pickup. I love the output I got from Seymour Duncan when installed the Quarter Pound model on my other bass. I have found that the Seymour Duncan NYC to have the closest as a replacement for the stock pickups but the mounting screws of the NYC are in different position. Is there a way to install the NYC pickups?
1417FAB4-6F4C-4D0C-BABB-7190EDC74F08.jpeg
D262A8CD-2D54-4A58-9286-135362F8B65E.png
 

Attachments

  • A02F76ED-B55F-4154-B579-BDF87EE46935.png
    A02F76ED-B55F-4154-B579-BDF87EE46935.png
    326.9 KB · Views: 39
  • Like
Reactions: Graeme D and Malak the Mad
#1,102
Nowhereboy8 said:
Greetings Bass Brothers,
View attachment 3788771
I am an owner of a Blacktop Precision Bass. I have modified it with Hipshot Tuning machines, Bass Xtender that goes from B to A on the 4th string and replaced the stock bridge with a Kickass bridge.



Now I want to upgrade the pickups but it is not the usual set up or shape for a bass pickup. I love the output I got from Seymour Duncan when installed the Quarter Pound model on my other bass. I have found that the Seymour Duncan NYC to have the closest as a replacement for the stock pickups but the mounting screws of the NYC are in different position. Is there a way to install the NYC pickups?
View attachment 3788771 View attachment 3788772
Click to expand...
Welcome aboard!

A question about the bridge. I'm curious why you felt the need to replace it. After all, it's a damn fine hunk o' steel. Was it a matter of function (i.e.: left-to-right string adjustments) or aesthetics?

As for the pickups, if you can get the NYC's to fit, I think that'd be awesome. I've seen their demos and they sound great. So what if the screws go into the body at different positions? As long as the casings will fit within the space, I can't see any reason why you can't screw them down and wire them into the circuit.

According to the specs, the NYC bridge and neck pups are both exactly 3.5 inches wide. How wide are the Blacktop's doubled single-coils?
 
#1,103
Nowhereboy8 said:
View attachment 3788772
Click to expand...
Judging from the dimensions on Seymour Duncan's page for this pickup, and Delano's page for the direct replacement pickup, the SD pickups will easily fit in the holes. SD = 3.5" x 1.51", Delano = 3.62" x 1.69"

Question: I'm not sure I understood why you want to replace the pickups. You said upgrade, but what specifically? More output? Different sound? More grind? More clarity? One of your concerns is "closest as a replacement," you mean the shape?
 
#1,104
Malak the Mad said:
Welcome aboard!

A question about the bridge. I'm curious why you felt the need to replace it. After all, it's a damn fine hunk o' steel. Was it a matter of function (i.e.: left-to-right string adjustments) or aesthetics?

As for the pickups, if you can get the NYC's to fit, I think that'd be awesome. I've seen their demos and they sound great. So what if the screws go into the body at different positions? As long as the casings will fit within the space, I can't see any reason why you can't screw them down and wire them into the circuit.

According to the specs, the NYC bridge and neck pups are both exactly 3.5 inches wide. How wide are the Blacktop's doubled single-coils?
Click to expand...

I changed my bass’s hardware to preserve the stock parts and .135 gauge string does not fit in the stock bridge so I had it replaced.

Looks like the pick ups are 3.7” wide.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Malak the Mad
#1,105
BlueTalon said:
Judging from the dimensions on Seymour Duncan's page for this pickup, and Delano's page for the direct replacement pickup, the SD pickups will easily fit in the holes. SD = 3.5" x 1.51", Delano = 3.62" x 1.69"

Question: I'm not sure I understood why you want to replace the pickups. You said upgrade, but what specifically? More output? Different sound? More grind? More clarity? One of your concerns is "closest as a replacement," you mean the shape?
Click to expand...


Well I'm going for a "Clear Low-end" with a smidge of "dirt" from the humbuckers and out put can be a bonus

When it comes to the Seymour Duncan NYC, I just want to know if it can be installed easily without changing anything internally or do I have to change its casing?

Thank you for the suggestion, Delano has been the answer given to me from the other threads. Ordering a pair would be a handful though since they don't have distributors in the Philippines.
 
#1,106
Nowhereboy8 said:
I changed my bass’s hardware to preserve the stock parts and .135 gauge string does not fit in the stock bridge so I had it replaced.

Looks like the pick ups are 3.7” wide.
Click to expand...
That makes sense. The grooves of that stock Fender Deluxe High Mass bridge are cut deep and have a raised border around them, so I can see how it wouldn't take a fat B-string.

As for the pickups, it sounds like you have plenty of room for them to sit in the preexisting pickup routes. If it were my bass, I'd take it a step further. I'd replace the volume pots with push-pull pots and have each pickup wired to switch between series mode and humbucking mode…but that's just me. ;)
 
#1,107
Nowhereboy8 said:
When it comes to the Seymour Duncan NYC, I just want to know if it can be installed easily without changing anything internally or do I have to change its casing?
Click to expand...
If you do install them, bear in mind the extra space you'll have around each pickup. Make sure you line up the strings and pole pieces before you start drilling. Here's an easy way to do that…
  1. Install the pickup foam or springs, whichever you prefer.
  2. Lay the pickup down on the foam without installing the screws and re-string your bass.
  3. Adjust the pickups so they're lined up properly.
  4. Use a strip or two of masking tape to hold them firmly in place.
  5. Check to make sure they're still in the right position and not crooked. ("Measure twice…cut once!)
  6. Install the screws and do a victory dance! :hyper:
 
#1,108
Malak the Mad said:
That makes sense. The grooves of that stock Fender Deluxe High Mass bridge are cut deep and have a raised border around them, so I can see how it wouldn't take a fat B-string.

As for the pickups, it sounds like you have plenty of room for them to sit in the preexisting pickup routes. If it were my bass, I'd take it a step further. I'd replace the volume pots with push-pull pots and have each pickup wired to switch between series mode and humbucking mode…but that's just me. ;)
Click to expand...

Actually, a push pull pot is a great idea. I was considering that since the NYC has more to offer if it is to be wired more than one way. I was actually avoiding to drill holes for the switches.

What if I use the stock pickup casings or fabricate pickup casings and put in the internal parts of the SD NYC? Just to keep it the size
 
#1,109
Nowhereboy8 said:
What if I use the stock pickup casings or fabricate pickup casings and put in the internal parts of the SD NYC? Just to keep it the size
Click to expand...
To me, new casings sound like a lot of work and/or expense for very little reward. As for the original pickup covers, I'd be surprised if the pole pieces match up to let them peek through the plastic.

In the end, it's your decision to make, but if it were my instrument, I wouldn't be too bothered by a tiny, little gap between the pickups and their routes.
 
#1,110
Malak the Mad said:
To me, new casings sound like a lot of work and/or expense for very little reward. As for the original pickup covers, I'd be surprised if the pole pieces match up to let them peek through the plastic.

In the end, it's your decision to make, but if it were my instrument, I wouldn't be too bothered by a tiny, little gap between the pickups and their routes.
Click to expand...


Thank you very much. I just wanted to make sure before buying the SD's. I still have to make up my mind between the SD's or Delano haha
 
  • Like
Reactions: Malak the Mad
#1,111
Nowhereboy8 said:
Thank you very much. I just wanted to make sure before buying the SD's. I still have to make up my mind between the SD's or Delano haha
Click to expand...
I can't speak for the Delano's, but the product demos for the NYC's have had me GASsing over them for some time. The only reason I haven't bought a pair is because I don't have a bass that could fit them without additional routing. That being said, now that I know they'd fit a Blacktop Precision, I'm sure they'd drop right into one of Fender's discontinued Modern Player Jazz bass bodies. (Thanks for reigniting my GAS for one, ya jerk! :banghead: :D)

lg_0241600539_frt_wlg_001.jpg
 
#1,112
Malak the Mad said:
I can't speak for the Delano's, but the product demos for the NYC's have had me GASsing over them for some time. The only reason I haven't bought a pair is because I don't have a bass that could fit them without additional routing. That being said, now that I know they'd fit a Blacktop Precision, I'm sure they'd drop right into one of Fender's discontinued Modern Player Jazz bass bodies. (Thanks for reigniting my GAS for one, ya jerk! :banghead: :D)

View attachment 3789013
Click to expand...
Enjoy GASsing hahaha
 
  • Like
Reactions: Malak the Mad
#1,114
Malak the Mad said:
It's difficult to capture the texture of almost any metallic finish in a photograph, even more so when it's…
  1. …a light grayish-white whose color value changes depending upon the available light.
  2. …shot through with that cool/weird pearlescent effect.
As for an abalone pickguard, most assuredly it will visually "pop" well over that finish. But, since "a picture is worth a thousand words", I did a quick mockup in Photoshop for you, as well as the rest of the thread. ;)

View attachment 3788442
Click to expand...
Thank you SO much. This is exactly what I need for reference :)
 
#1,115
LEMMYFAN said:
Thank you SO much. This is exactly what I need for reference :)
Click to expand...
And you are very welcome! I'm glad I could help, but the person who should ultimately get the most credit is my wife. She's the Photoshop Wizard, the Mighty She-Conqueror of Pixels and Filters, who taught me everything I know about the using the program. ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: LEMMYFAN
#1,120
The Blacktops, submitted for your approval. I need to re-edit the sparkle orange...it looks brown in this version of the photo, which it assuredly is not.
Orange is a difficult color to photograph. Also, I'm still a bit annoyed in the variance in those Aerodyne necks. Definitely prefer the first one.
Blacktop Basses 03-14-20.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Malak the Mad

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back