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Fender Jazz Bass Special - Circa 1984-87
- Thread starter Bullitt5135
- Start date
Glad I found this thread. I have an '87 JBS that I have played and gigged with regularly since '88.. Bought it new in '88 for $475. While the pickups and tuners could be better it's still my favorite bass. I especially love the 7-1/4" neck radius and low frets. It works flawlessly, like it always has. Mine is black with an unpainted neck back, with skunk stripe. Wish I knew how to post a pic.
I'll never sell it. It's a part of who I am. I play it more than my American Jazz Bass.
I'll never sell it. It's a part of who I am. I play it more than my American Jazz Bass.
Having some trouble locating parts, questions about the Schaller bridge stock on my JBS and I was wondering if anyone else had a solution? Mostly, finding replacement 4 Bolt Bridge/Saddles or retrofitting modern Schaller roller bridges to the old bridge? See here:
Schaller Bridge. 4 Hole Mount. Options and Parts?
Schaller Bridge. 4 Hole Mount. Options and Parts?
Question for JB Special players - my bridge Jazz pickup has a lot less volume than the P pickup. Tried raising without much improvement. Anybody else have this issue?
I wouldn't say mine is "a lot" less but i think the general consensus is that the stock bridge pickup on the JBS is a pretty thin crappy tone unless you're doing Jaco stuff. I put quarter pounders in my fretless because I wanted to have more flexibility. My fretted one is 100% stock and pretty much a P bass in my eyes but I like the scooped tone I get with both pickups on when I need it, especially with a pick.
I think all J bridge pups are pretty thin. I have 3 basses (non JBS) that have the large pole pups and they sound great. The P will always be louder than the J. I ALWAYS raise the J up high as i can before the strings hit the pole pieces and i drop the P way down. I keep the A and D poles higher than the E and G
Hi everyone, first post here found this thread looking for info about my MIJ Jazz special. Just got it, only my second bass after a recent switch from guitar. First one was a Peavey Cirrus BXP, never really gelled with it and I'm liking this one much more. Picked it up off facebook locally, it's the 535 with the angled pickups, black neck and an "A" serial so '85-'86. She was in need of a clean and fret dress. Shes a bit worn, but I like that, a bit of history!
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Welcome to talkbass!! Beautiful!!! Guard those knobs!!! They are 3× as rare as that bass. I almost just sold mine and bought a squire lol
Hey all, looking to clean up my S/N I000XXX MIJ JBS.
Can anyone measure the radius of the fretboard, or quote the measurements from a Fender resource? I need to resurface my fretless fretboard to get rid of roundwound dug ruts and dead spots.
Can anyone confirm the high-mass bridge is of Schaller origin and that theyve successfully retrofitted newer Schaller 'Roller' saddle pieces arranged in reverse?
Also did these later JBS' come with a Neck (P) Pickup that was attatched to and with a lead soldered thru a shielded mount? Trying to determine the provenance of my pickups. The bridge is almost certainly an old SD Jazz Power Stack...
Can anyone measure the radius of the fretboard, or quote the measurements from a Fender resource? I need to resurface my fretless fretboard to get rid of roundwound dug ruts and dead spots.
Can anyone confirm the high-mass bridge is of Schaller origin and that theyve successfully retrofitted newer Schaller 'Roller' saddle pieces arranged in reverse?
Also did these later JBS' come with a Neck (P) Pickup that was attatched to and with a lead soldered thru a shielded mount? Trying to determine the provenance of my pickups. The bridge is almost certainly an old SD Jazz Power Stack...
Not 100% sure but I don't think any bridge that came stock on the JBS were ever Schaller Roller Bridges. I have only seen the original typical Fender type and then the high-mass bridge but I don't believe the high mass was a Schaller.
+1 on that; it's similar to a Schaller but I've only ever seen it on MIJ/CIJ Fenders. IIRC the fingerboard is the good 'ol vintage 7 1/4" but you may want to double check first. Not that you couldn't sand it down to whatever radius you like and adjust the nut and bridge to suit.
Yeah so many guys say 'use rounds on a fretless it won't cause any damage'.
Not true.
Just in case anyone's interested I've still got the Jazz Bass Special listed in my signature and I've got it listed on Reverb too, but have a lower price on it here.
Here's a couple new pics of it.
Here's a couple new pics of it.
Bump for my latest acquisition:
Cool, and thanks - I'm digging the stock electronics - I like them way better than the EMGs that are in my Jazz Bass Special fretless:
I agree. The electronics in these are awesome! I had swapped mine out for quarter pounders and after a few months I put the originals back in. They were better sounding to me.
Yeah, if I could find some in decent shape for a reasonable price, I'd put them in my Fretless...
Ok, I've got a minor tone problem. My 89 JBS has the small pole pups; the P just doesn't quite do the P thing and the J gets all honky. Working the TBX only helps a little. Adjusting height isn't having a big effect (and I've tried from bottomed out low to brushing the strings high).
Debating new pups, trying different types and/or values of tone caps, or just adding a resistor across the jack to darken things. Probably going to try orange drops first for cheap mojo.
Debating new pups, trying different types and/or values of tone caps, or just adding a resistor across the jack to darken things. Probably going to try orange drops first for cheap mojo.
