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.
Actually an MZ2xxxx. You are spot on about the shielding.… with that bridge, and pickguard, and with an MZ3xxxxx serial number, you likely have a Classic Series 60's Jazz bass there, not a MIM Standard, very different basses …
The pickups in the Classic Series 60's Jazz are the 58358/9 set of alnico's, used in a LOT of very good Fender basses, both MIM and MIA … your issue is likely shielding, of which there will be none …
-sheild yes. I've had plenty of problems with interference, sounds like you have too! It's cheap, easy, and kind of satisfying.
So do I, but I used a dremel to wisen the route just enough. The body was far from pristine anyway. It has the wonky route they used for the pickguard without control plate. Still, there’s something about this neck and body I love. Could be that I love poplar more than alder.
It sounds like you like the weight of the bass, if it is not TOO heavy for you, have at it to make it the way you like … I have had many of these, I do not keep them if they are over about 8.75 lbs, that eliminated most for me … I do not consider these light basses in general ...
The 'very high action' triggers a red flag for me on these, as I have came across a handful that had neck issues, they bowed badly … I fixed a couple in a jig with pressure and time, but I passed on a couple that were real bad … FWIW, the issue seemed to run in this model during the '06-'08 run, so you should be ok … the ones I usually kept were from '01 and '02, the first two years of these for some reason really seemed sweet … I only bring it up to make sure you are aware of it before you go spending $$ on it … you sound like you have been around the block, so you can tell if the action is correctable and not a neck issue … I actually started using Reggie Hamilton bass necks on these bodies, exact same neck, only the Reggie had a 9.5" radius board vs. the 7.25" on the 60's … vintage fret wire and all ..
If it bothers you, absolutely shield it … I never shielded any of these, but I almost always matched volume settings, and if I came into a room that was an issue with lighting, etc, I would just use something else …
I am a moderate fan of these pups, have one USA bass here currently with them in, they are a very inexpensive set by most standards .. it surprises a lot of people that they are used in so many models over the years … MIA early Hwy 1's, American Specials, Classic Series 60's and 70's Jazz, and even in the Road Worns (Fender adds a 4 to the neck part # and a 5 to the bridge # which designates the relic applied) ... I believe this is also the pup that they are using in the MIM Geddy since they moved production in July of 2012 …
I am not a fan of active J's … passive with either LaBella or Sadowsky flats
BTW, if you haven't had the pickguard off, you may be in for a pleasant surprise … no channel routing
I’ve tried all manner of replacement pickups and drop in preamps in MIM J basses and i’ve come down to a set of Dimarzio Area J pickups in one bass for country and Americana and such, and another bass with a set of Dimarzio Model J pickups for when i need to summon the thunder god for blues and RR. Both basses have stock 250K CTS solid shaff pots, but i did wind up with different tone caps. I’m sorry to say i can’t remember what those cap values are, but they are plain old ceramic disk caps. I tried several boutique caps, orange drop, Russian oil in foil, etc, and none of them sounded better than the plain old round brown caps. Unless you just prefer active basses, give some Dimarzio stacked humbuckers a spin, you might be surprised at what you hear.
IME, shielding is not an issue with humbuckers like the Dimarzio sets. I’ve had all the J offerings from them and they are all dead quiet. I’ve currently got a couple MIM J’s with Dimarzio pickups and i use them more than any other basses i own.
I have a 2001 and the pups were identical. Replaced with Duncan Bass Lines Vintage ‘62 pups. They still hum a little.
Ahh.....there’s the rub. Dining both pups would probably reduce the hum to almost nothing. Shielding could help and it’s pretty cheap and easy to DIY. Make sure the bridge is grounded. If you absolutely can’t get rid of the hum, say because of the fluorescent lights, turn your playing position slightly until you find a null point.
When I got my p bass I got some terrible hum at my rehearsal space, and again at this bar we play. I was pretty discouraged when the p bass was humming worse than my jazz bass! Shielded it up and havent heard a peep. Guess i could just wait and see, I am strongly considering a jazz w dimarzio for a backup bass.
I’m not sure why i’ve never had any noise issues with humbuckers in my J basses. The first MIM i installed Dimarzio pickups in i did the copper foil thing and it was dead quiet, but i was out of foil when i installed the Dimarzios in the second bass so i went with just the pickup swap and resolved to shield it when i made my next parts order. I was very pleasantly surprised when the second bass was as quiet as the shielded one.
