I'm with most people that I would use a jazz bass only with all three controls at 100%. There are a few times I'd use just the bridge pickup soloed with tone all the way up. I never use the neck pup soloed..I'll use my P-Bass for that
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Fender Jazz bass
- Thread starter Scotty DelMar
- Start date
You kind sirs are seriously under utilizing the versatility of this instrument, but if it floats your boat thats all that matters. To me the jazz sounds best when one pickup is rolled back 25% or so, it becomes louder and punchier. Roll back the neck for a little burp and bite (my fave), roll back the bridge for growl and thump.
Well, the folks I play for aren't going to agree with the assessment that I'm under-utilyzing my Jazz bass. But that's fine. As you said...
Thanx and take care...
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,961
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Yep, a J's beauty is that it's complex compared to a P. (stand away from the flame-throwers, I own and love both!) Meaning.., that there are many options of tonal possibilities because of 1) 2 pu's and 2) 3 knobs (or those other versions out here). Full-up on all three)? - yes! Neck only? - yes! etc, etc. etc. Add a pre like an Audere JZ3 (super J) and the tonal possibilities are endless (within reason!) - love the J!
Hello- Don't mean to hijack, but I also don't want to start a new thread on a topic that has been so exhaustively discussed in the past. Longtime lurker, first timer with a problem. In any event, I have a Fender Jazz Bass (Mexican - early 90's) with a persistent 60hz hum. It makes no difference if I'm touching the strings or not, where the volume pots are at. The tone, when turned up, makes it more prominent, but otherwise you can hear it at both ends of the spectrum. I have shielded everything with copper tape, both pickup cavities and grounded everything. The bridge is well grounded as I can get darn near perfect continuity from the strings themselves to any part of the shielding. Still hums.
The one thing I've noticed is that when changing my orientation to the amp cabinet it will occasionally cause it to disappear, which leads me to believe that there is a magnetic (or more so an electromagnetic) issue at play with the pickups themselves. I've searched high and low for anyone with a similar issue and I'm fairly certain that I've arrived at the conclusion that there is something wrong with the pickups themselves, but I don't want to drop ~$120 just to test a theory.
Note- It is more than the standard SC hum that is indicative of a jazz bass. I've played on a newer JBass and been able to get the hum out by matching the coils at the volume pots and I've used other basses with these cables and amps. I am confident there is an issue in the bass itself. This hum is constant no matter what, save for the orientation trick. Unfortunately, it's not always feasible to face magnetic north while playing.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
The one thing I've noticed is that when changing my orientation to the amp cabinet it will occasionally cause it to disappear, which leads me to believe that there is a magnetic (or more so an electromagnetic) issue at play with the pickups themselves. I've searched high and low for anyone with a similar issue and I'm fairly certain that I've arrived at the conclusion that there is something wrong with the pickups themselves, but I don't want to drop ~$120 just to test a theory.
Note- It is more than the standard SC hum that is indicative of a jazz bass. I've played on a newer JBass and been able to get the hum out by matching the coils at the volume pots and I've used other basses with these cables and amps. I am confident there is an issue in the bass itself. This hum is constant no matter what, save for the orientation trick. Unfortunately, it's not always feasible to face magnetic north while playing.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
I've heard earlier MIMs have pickups that are not reverse wound like they are now. They also are the same size, which is no longer the case on current MIMs.
I've had this issue too
I should mention that the pickups both have yellow and black wires. I've noticed in wiring diagrams one set has white/black instead. Possibly indicating a different winding? Is it possible to reverse the polarity on the pickups by swapping the wiring of one side?
Lowendtech
Happily trending in my own peculiar direction.
I have a '94 MIM J and it is shielded now with SD 1/4 pounders and while it is better, I can still induce some hum standing close to the amp, with halogens on dimmers, fluorescent lights, and just now, standing next to my humidifier in my music room.
I don't know how bad yours is but mine is tolerable even with the pup volumes not matched. There are better pups than what I've got that should fix this but I'm still debating the necessity. SC's are what they are and next time I'll spend my money wisely on them.
Lowendtech
Happily trending in my own peculiar direction.
My old MIM 2001 has the same coloured wires too. Measure your pickups and see if both are the same size.
I had replaced my old MIM with Geddy Lee pickups before selling them. I didn't shield the bass but the hum definitely went away for the most part
Mine also had black and yellow. In any case, black is always ground and the other is hot. FYI.
And no, if what I think is the problem turns out to be true, then swapping them won't do anything.
IF they ARE the same size, then that means they're both neck pickups, both wound the same way.
What I did was open up the bridge cavity a bit to fit the new Geddy Lee pickups into them. I did a messy and terrible job, but it worked.
Something to check on is an obvious ground failure. Just open the control cavity, and if you see the grounding wires (in black) and they're all still wired to their respective places, give them a very light pull where they leave the cavity. If they come along, you may have a bad ground in the system.
As for shielding, I've found that most folks who DIY shield, don't shield the entire bass, as they neglect to also shield the inside of the pickup covers. Is it necessary to do this? That's really up to the individual. I personally don't on my basses, but have shielded several completely, and it did make an audible difference, especially in single-coil mode in a noisy environment, or under the OttLite on my workbench, for example. That thing will make an unshielded bass sing the song of it's people.
As for shielding, I've found that most folks who DIY shield, don't shield the entire bass, as they neglect to also shield the inside of the pickup covers. Is it necessary to do this? That's really up to the individual. I personally don't on my basses, but have shielded several completely, and it did make an audible difference, especially in single-coil mode in a noisy environment, or under the OttLite on my workbench, for example. That thing will make an unshielded bass sing the song of it's people.
Lowendtech
Happily trending in my own peculiar direction.
Both pickups were the same size on the MIM's of this era.
Mine are 6.58 K ohm Bridge
6.85 K ohm Neck
Not a lot of difference. AFAIK they could be the same Pup.
Someone else may know better than I.
Lowendtech
Happily trending in my own peculiar direction.
If they are somehow linked to the shielding (for example, by the screws that go through the pickguard and some of the copper foil shielding), then they are linked to the ground, and you're right, that will help audibly.
Lowendtech
Happily trending in my own peculiar direction.
Good eye. I'm not sure if I intended that when I did it but now that you mention it, the neck one is for sure. Not so much the bridge cover unless it is actually touching the bridge which I don't think is the case.
I'm very confident that all components are grounded correctly, the one thing I have not tried is using the pickup guards (they're currently off) and grounding them to the guitar. That's an interesting thought. I've played with the guards on and off and no effect was noticed with regard to the constant humming.
Sorry for the multiple reposts there, my internet service was cutting in and out.
Thank you for the replies thus far!
Sorry for the multiple reposts there, my internet service was cutting in and out.
Thank you for the replies thus far!
Here's the fun part, though. Your bridge pickup is not top-shielded unless the cover (your ashtray) is somehow linked to the shielding or the bridge. You can make it link with a piece of copper foil tape that connects to the internal shielding and either runs to the place where the ashtray is screwed down, or runs to the underside of the bridge, ala some of the older Fender jazz basses.
