SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
That's nice I forgot to see what that other one ended up at when I last checked it was over $700.
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- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,980
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
ended at $700 + shipping
and another 5'r w/BIN in Blue-burst (no affilliation)
1992 Fender 5 String Jazz Bass Made in USA | eBay
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THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!! I've owned by plus since 1991 and never had the Owner's Manual!!
So yeah, I've had my bass since 1991! My mom bought it for me when I showed up at her place on leave from university with a beat up old fretless I had found in the school music closet.
It's a blue burst, Maple neck 4 string. 1990 build, serial # N0 00547. I loved it when I saw it because it looked sort of like a modern version of what I thought a Jaco bass should look like, (which looking back is sort of silly). I loved it when I tried it because I slapped out the opening lines of RHCP "Higher Ground" and it was perfect! Then I played my "solo" version of "Black Orpheus" high up and the bass sang clear and true. Took it everywhere with me for a couple of years....vacation, girlfriend's parents house for the weekend etc....
Played: Rock, Country, Big Band Jazz, small group and duo jazz for many, many gigs.
In '99 I bought an F bass, and the Plus was my backup. But my drummer always preferred the bottom of my $600 blue Jazz Plus. It's huge, and really good for country.
The neck has always been amazing both in its ability to stay straight and obviously, to play. The bridge is an impressive piece of hardware and the electronics are very versatile.
I have strung the bass for many years with Dean Markley Blue Steel, 45-100. I like a thinner string on this bass, the electronics and bright maple neck don't need a heavy string to sound big when asked.
The maple neck has yellowed with age but everything else is great.
My last gig with it was in June, at a fundraiser for my daughters' school.
I have owned and let go of quite a few basses (including P's, never could appreciate them like Js) but this Plus I'll always keep a) Cause Mom bought it for me and b) It's fun to play and sounds great and c) I'll never get what it's truly worth.
The Plus series seems to have been a real bargain and is a standout in the Fender book of basses.;
Fun reading y'alls stories and tips and thanks to JIO for getting it started!
It's a blue burst, Maple neck 4 string. 1990 build, serial # N0 00547. I loved it when I saw it because it looked sort of like a modern version of what I thought a Jaco bass should look like, (which looking back is sort of silly). I loved it when I tried it because I slapped out the opening lines of RHCP "Higher Ground" and it was perfect! Then I played my "solo" version of "Black Orpheus" high up and the bass sang clear and true. Took it everywhere with me for a couple of years....vacation, girlfriend's parents house for the weekend etc....
Played: Rock, Country, Big Band Jazz, small group and duo jazz for many, many gigs.
In '99 I bought an F bass, and the Plus was my backup. But my drummer always preferred the bottom of my $600 blue Jazz Plus. It's huge, and really good for country.
The neck has always been amazing both in its ability to stay straight and obviously, to play. The bridge is an impressive piece of hardware and the electronics are very versatile.
I have strung the bass for many years with Dean Markley Blue Steel, 45-100. I like a thinner string on this bass, the electronics and bright maple neck don't need a heavy string to sound big when asked.
The maple neck has yellowed with age but everything else is great.
My last gig with it was in June, at a fundraiser for my daughters' school.
I have owned and let go of quite a few basses (including P's, never could appreciate them like Js) but this Plus I'll always keep a) Cause Mom bought it for me and b) It's fun to play and sounds great and c) I'll never get what it's truly worth.
The Plus series seems to have been a real bargain and is a standout in the Fender book of basses.;
Fun reading y'alls stories and tips and thanks to JIO for getting it started!
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SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
Great story I would love one with a maple neck. I need to buy one so I can have spare electronics my Plus has prevented me from even looking at another Jazz
It's funny, the first Plus I saw apart from mine was the fellow I bought my upright bass from. The year was 2001. He had a rosewood fretboard. His bass was filthy. I took it from him, cleaned it up, tightened a tuner and restrung it, out of pity. It was the first time I had noticed Fender had the rosewood fretboard as well. I liked how it played, and began to appreciate the uniqueness of the Plus series....
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
+ 1 I always point to the plus series when people complain about Fenders from the 90's I'll put my plus up against any Fender from any era these basses are so unique and the build quality is exceptional.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,980
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
The Fender/Kubicki electronic harness was nearly the same as in the Factors. I've owned a few Ex-Factors and prefer the Fender/Kubicki 9v variety. (the Factors were 18v and had more settings) Sound-wise, eyes closed, one would be hard pressed to tell them apart. (Fender Plus vs Kubicki Factor) But it's not a classic Jazz bass sound - which is why some people either like them or not. Studio engineers always liked the way my Kubicki sounded because it was focused and dynamically present in the mix - it made their job easier.
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
I forgot to ask what strings dd he recommend? I just got my baby back the other day the jack was loose and some wires broke the tech fixed the wires and used locktite so no more loose jack. People are always amazed when they hear these basses and so am I. I keep thinking about getting a passive Jazz but after playing this baby I can't justify it.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,980
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Phil sold strings under his name, most likely made by an established string maker/company. He sold both nickel and ss, and only rounds I think. They show up as NOS on eBay now & then. The set I sent were Dean Markley half-rounds if I remember correctly.
Don't let the "passive aggressive" peeps catch wind of your preference of active basses - they'll start firing up their torches!
I started working with a power trio recently and should bring my J+ to see how it works in the mix. The thing that bass does really well is adding big fat bottom (feel) with high-end cut-through (articulation distinction) flavored with nice mid-range. It's a pretty spot-on combination!
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
Phil sold strings under his name, most likely made by an established string maker/company. He sold both nickel and ss, and only rounds I think. They show up as NOS on eBay now & then. The set I sent were Dean Markley half-rounds if I remember correctly.
Don't let the "passive aggressive" peeps catch wind of your preference of active basses - they'll start firing up their torches!
Thanks and you are spot on with your description and congrats on the power trio that sounds like fun. I thought that active/passive thread was one of the craziest in awhile the OP seemed obsessed with finding an answer he agreed with.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,980
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
Anyone else notice the spot on the circuit board that says "ground" I was reading in a Fender forum where someone ran a wire from there to another point on the bass and eliminated 99% of the hum he also mentioned checking the ground wire underneath the bridge.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,980
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I would also be interested as the buzz is the only thing about that pre-amp that isn't ideal. I recall someone mentioning a 'fix' but I can't recall what it was. I checked my bridge ground and it checked out A-OK.
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,980
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I just installed a Jazz Plus Fender/Kubicki (9v) pre I bought a while back from a tb'r Chris (who lives in Pacifica) in an Epi T-bird w/Wilkinson MM style buckers and at first it had the buzz thing going on. My cavities were all shielded (carbon paint) and so I laid copper tape on the floor of each pu cavity and star grounded it to the control cavity floor and finally to the jack ground. The result - silent operation. I'll eventually try this on my '93 Jazz Plus and anticipate the same result.
As far as that 'ground' spot on the circuit board, the one on my Jazz Plus has a short wire attached but is hanging free (from the factory), and on the one I just installed (pic below), the spot was empty (no wire). Not sure what goes on in either case but following the circuit line it's the same path as where the black ground wire from the jack is connected, so it would seem redundant to have it grounded again there. Could be something to bring up on "The Kubicki Factor" fb page to Mike who does work on Phils basses. He's good about responding to questions.
Here's my R&R Frankenstein - with the Kubicki pre, it roars! I had a generic 3 band pre in it for years, but it never sounded as good as it does now. Phil himself was quoted saying the way a bass sounds starts with the electronics/pu's and then the neck and lower on the list the body. I just reaffirmed his assessment through this upgrade.
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SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
I just installed a Jazz Plus Fender/Kubicki (9v) pre I bought a while back from a tb'r Chris (who lives in Pacifica) in an Epi T-bird w/Wilkinson MM style buckers and at first it had the buzz thing going on. My cavities were all shielded (carbon paint) and so I laid copper tape on the floor of each pu cavity and star grounded it to the control cavity floor and finally to the jack ground. The result - silent operation. I'll eventually try this on my '93 Jazz Plus and anticipate the same result.
As far as that 'ground' spot on the circuit board, the one on my Jazz Plus has a short wire attached but is hanging free (from the factory), and on the one I just installed (pic below), the spot was empty (no wire). Not sure what goes on in either case but following the circuit line it's the same path as where the black ground wire from the jack is connected, so it would seem redundant to have it grounded again there. Could be something to bring up on "The Kubicki Factor" fb page to Mike who does work on Phils basses. He's good about responding to questions.
Here's my R&R Frankenstein - with the Kubicki pre, it roars! I had a generic 3 band pre in it for years, but it never sounded as good as it does now. Phil himself was quoted saying the way a bass sounds starts with the electronics/pu's and then the neck and lower on the list the body. I just reaffirmed his assessment through this upgrade.
Holy Cow is that sweet!!!! Thanks for the grounding tip I'm going to get my copper tape out and get busy.
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- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,980
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Thanks! It was a Fenderbird project bass from years ago. Epi T-bird body, late 80's NOS Saunders P-width neck, late 80's small plate/big clover Fender tuners, brass nut, Hipshot Supertone aluminum bridge w/string-thru, and Wilkinson MM style pu's. When I star-grounded it I switched-out the poled bridge pu w/another non-poled one (like the neck). I have it strung w/GHS Progressives, but pre-ordered a set of D'Addario #NYXL's for it. I have a test-pilot set on my '93 A/S J and love them.
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