Fender Blacktop series

[descendent22]

A couple years back I remember being interested in the Fender blacktop p bass in the color silver. Just more of a phase I went through I think, but these blacktop series were pretty unique. You got double jazz bass pickups on he p bass, a vice Versa on the jazz. I never actually got to play one and now I'm pretty sure they're out of production. What sparked my interest about posting on the thread is lately I been on a kick of learning the Descendents & ALL songs. Karl Alvarez being the bassist and one of my favorites/influences, I was on YouTube and saw him playing a blacktop p bass in some concerts. Alvarez is leans more to playing jazz basses these days and the blacktop p bass has those double jazz pickups. Does the blacktop p bass sound more like a Jazz bass then a p bass? And does the blacktop jazz sound more like a p bass then a jazz? Do you think these were good basses and will ever be in production again?

 

[Benko]

A couple years back I remember being interested in the Fender blacktop p bass in the color silver. Just more of a phase I went through I think, but these blacktop series were pretty unique. You got double jazz bass pickups on he p bass, a vice Versa on the jazz. I never actually got to play one and now I'm pretty sure they're out of production. What sparked my interest about posting on the thread is lately I been on a kick of learning the Descendents & ALL songs. Karl Alvarez being the bassist and one of my favorites/influences, I was on YouTube and saw him playing a blacktop p bass in some concerts. Alvarez is leans more to playing jazz basses these days and the blacktop p bass has those double jazz pickups. Does the blacktop p bass sound more like a Jazz bass then a p bass? And does the blacktop jazz sound more like a p bass then a jazz? Do you think these were good basses and will ever be in production again?

Hi, you misunderstood, the Blacktop JAZZ is the one that have the double precision pickup, the Blacktop PRECISION has some sort of an humbucker.

I had the JAZZ, it was killer, I though the double P works actually really well, I sold it and I regret it deeply even though I have much more high end bass now.

I suggest you post in the Blacktop Club thread :
Fender Blacktop Club

 

[nlmcguire91]

I have a Blacktop P bass that I've modified to have 3-mode switching capability. One switch toggles both pickups to run humbuckibg in series or parallel, or single coil mode (northfor the neck pickup, south for the bridge, for widest tonal range). I like it a lot, it's very versatile now with switching capabilities, and very comfortable to play. I think they both have their own unique voicing, given the differences in body shape, neck thickness, pickup placement, etc... I know my P sounds like a darker Jazz. As for whether they'll be produced again... I don't think it's likely. I'd chalk it up to an experimental phenomenon on Fender's part. But you never know, public demand might yield a reissue? They'll go where the money is.

 

[descendent22]

Hi, you misunderstood, the Blacktop JAZZ is the one that have the double precision pickup, the Blacktop PRECISION has some sort of an humbucker.

I had the JAZZ, it was killer, I though the double P works actually really well, I sold it and I regret it deeply even though I have much more high end bass now.

I suggest you post in the Blacktop Club thread :
Fender Blacktop Club

Yea... I shoulda specified more after I said vice Versa but thanx for clearing that one up.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I can't comment on the Blacktop Precision, but the Jazz is a killer beast! Something about the dual split-coil configuration…and probably a bit of the pickup placement, too…spawned a seriously aggressive bass. But despite that characteristic "ROAR", it can still be mellowed out with some judicious volume/tone adjustments. So if I had to summarize it in as few words as possible, I'd have to call it "aggressive, yet versatile".

Too bad it was such a short-lived model. It only lasted about three years…2011 to 2013, I believe.

 

[octa colombo]

I have a Blacktop P bass that I've modified to have 3-mode switching capability. One switch toggles both pickups to run humbuckibg in series or parallel, or single coil mode (northfor the neck pickup, south for the bridge, for widest tonal range). I like it a lot, it's very versatile now with switching capabilities, and very comfortable to play. I think they both have their own unique voicing, given the differences in body shape, neck thickness, pickup placement, etc... I know my P sounds like a darker Jazz. As for whether they'll be produced again... I don't think it's likely. I'd chalk it up to an experimental phenomenon on Fender's part. But you never know, public demand might yield a reissue? They'll go where the money is.

How did you make this modification? It sounds really interesting

 

[drod1985]

I have a Blacktop P bass that I've modified to have 3-mode switching capability. One switch toggles both pickups to run humbuckibg in series or parallel, or single coil mode (northfor the neck pickup, south for the bridge, for widest tonal range).

How do those pickups sound in parallel configuration? Stingray-ish? Anywhere I can hear some clips?

 

[nlmcguire91]

How did you make this modification? It sounds really interesting

I used a collection of wiring diagrams I found via google, and a lot of trial and error. One critical component of this mod was the 3-position 4PDT switch

 

[nlmcguire91]

How do those pickups sound in parallel configuration? Stingray-ish? Anywhere I can hear some clips?

They basically sounded like the single coils, but no 60-cycle hum when soloed. And sorry, I don’t know of any places to hear any clips. Unfortunately I had to sell this bass a month after posting due to financial hardship

 

[Nowhereboy8]

Greetings,

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?