you scored! great setup for fretless. and yes Kubicki electronics; hope you find the knob.
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you scored! great setup for fretless. and yes Kubicki electronics; hope you find the knob.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,978
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
So, basically this is the story:
This bass is a Fender Jazz Plus (1990) in Gunmetal Blue (I guess), and it was belonging to a service stage company, in Italy.
In fact, this was used during an important live in Rome, 1st of May 2000 (Worker's Day) and he saw a lot of big names: Alanis Morrisette, B.B. King, Sting, a lot more and also some famous Italian bands.
After that live it was kept in his original case for 16 years, when a guy bought it to add it to his own collection, but this bass had a curved neck due tension string during these years, so the guy had the neck repaired to a luthier (I guess they changed truss rod because this one seems single action) and (I don't know why) they replaced the Kubicki preamp for a 2+1EQ (2EQ+trimmer onboard for mids) from Magnetics™, a custom guitar company in Italy (the owner is a very rude guy...).
Then one month ago the bass owner gave this bass to my mom (during work she was talking about me being 2 years into bass so he wanted to give it away for cheap to help me improve my skills, not knowing I'm not a Jazz fan: I love my Stingray Classic, but a gift is a gift so...) and she wanted to give it to me as a present.
Now I played this beauty in one live and he was owning the stage, but I'm not a lot happy with those pickups and preamp, so I'm planning to mod this thing. Only fact is I think the J-TONE preamp from John East (Volume/Blend, Treble/Bass and Push-pull tone pot for active and passive mode, which will help giving more tonal choice) will not fit into this peculiar bass, because it's designed for a standard J bass. I think I'm gonna get the dimarzio relentless J pickups, but we'll see...
What do you think about it?
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,978
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Cool story - sometimes the Fender/Kubicki 9v preamp will come up for sale on eBay or Reverb. I bought a couple over the years and so have two basses using them. I've owned a J+, and both the 18v & 9v Ex-Factor and actually prefer the 9v. Anyway - whatever you do will probably end up with a nice sounding bass, although nothing sounds like a Kubicki.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,978
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
beware blaming the fishing pole if you ain't catching any fish. B in use here ...
Beware assumptions, I used it a ton and always found it muddy and unbalanced. I’m picky!
Fine tuning knob for PBass Plus Deluxe Fender/Schaller bridge.
I’ve lost one and they seem no longer to be available either from Fender or Schaller. Does anyone know whether any of the fine tuning knobs from trems would work here or where I might find an original?
Thanks!
I’ve lost one and they seem no longer to be available either from Fender or Schaller. Does anyone know whether any of the fine tuning knobs from trems would work here or where I might find an original?
Thanks!
3/16" fits mine, with a small amount of play .... but that could be a sloppy nut from previous owners.
So I've had my '93 Jazz Plus a little over a week. There are a number of things I really like about it. Obviously, the Kubicki 9v preamp was #1, but I remember playing one of these many years ago in the used bass section at Sam Ash. I really liked the feel of the neck and the changed body shape and size. I've never been a huge fan of the traditional Jazz body. They look great, I just think they feel large and cumbersome.
I was not familiar with then, and still wasn't so much when I bought this one, with the Lace Sensor pickups. However, I was right at home with the whole electronics package being my ExFactors are my #1 players, and particularly the 9v. I don't plan on changing anything about the electronics. Those Lace Sensor pickups sound just fine in my book.
The bass weighed in at 9lb. 1oz, and though it was suprisingly balanced standing with a strap on(standard el cheapo Ernie Ball 2" nylon), I could definitely feel the weight of those massive tuners trying to pull the headstock to the floor while sitting. Although I'm more a fan of the traditional Fender headstock, perhaps this slimmed down version helped at least a little with the balance.
Being familiar with those particular early American Jazz Deluxe tuners, I already had the remedy in the works. In 1998, a much smaller and lighter tuner made by Schaller for Fender was introduced on the Jazz Deluxe. The American Standard/American Series still had those big heavy monsters up until 2000 at least, evidenced by my example Y2K Am Series, though they were about .4oz lighter each since dropping the cast 3D key and going for the modern flat stamped key. I was able to shave off over a half pound, all at the headstock end of this bass by swapping to a set of modern American Standard tuners that weigh 2.6oz each, bringing the bass down to a very manageable 8lb. 7.5oz.
Unfortunately, the locating pins for the lighter tuners are at the opposite end of the tuner assembly, therefore new holes needed to be drilled. Jigs are available out there for this. Stu-Mac is one source, but I got mine from a seller on ebay ... BASS Guitar Tuner Installation Tool - Pin-mount - Drill Jig - Fender | eBay
I've used it on a few basses and it works great. Note that the old pin holes are visible. If you're lucky enough to have a spare set of Am Standard tuners from 2013 or so laying around, they are almost as light, but have a footprint large enough to cover the old holes.
That brings me to the bridge. Aside from the Kubicki preamp, this is the best thing about this bass..... okay, I love the neck and body too, but this bridge is a marvel. I gotta wonder if this was the first hi mass bridge fender produced...other than that hideous claw thing that was out there for a while. I also gotta wonder why it wasn't continued on later basses. I love the smooth contours and sleek appearance. quite elegant IMO. I don't think you'll find a quick string change feature on ANY fender bass produced before or since. They even thought to build in a slight rise in the baseplate to accommodate the neck radius. If there's anything that might be an improvement, it would possibly be the addition of multiple frooves in the saddles to allow variations in string spacing..... but it works just great as it is for me.
Ahhh.... what a great bass!
I was not familiar with then, and still wasn't so much when I bought this one, with the Lace Sensor pickups. However, I was right at home with the whole electronics package being my ExFactors are my #1 players, and particularly the 9v. I don't plan on changing anything about the electronics. Those Lace Sensor pickups sound just fine in my book.
The bass weighed in at 9lb. 1oz, and though it was suprisingly balanced standing with a strap on(standard el cheapo Ernie Ball 2" nylon), I could definitely feel the weight of those massive tuners trying to pull the headstock to the floor while sitting. Although I'm more a fan of the traditional Fender headstock, perhaps this slimmed down version helped at least a little with the balance.
Being familiar with those particular early American Jazz Deluxe tuners, I already had the remedy in the works. In 1998, a much smaller and lighter tuner made by Schaller for Fender was introduced on the Jazz Deluxe. The American Standard/American Series still had those big heavy monsters up until 2000 at least, evidenced by my example Y2K Am Series, though they were about .4oz lighter each since dropping the cast 3D key and going for the modern flat stamped key. I was able to shave off over a half pound, all at the headstock end of this bass by swapping to a set of modern American Standard tuners that weigh 2.6oz each, bringing the bass down to a very manageable 8lb. 7.5oz.
Unfortunately, the locating pins for the lighter tuners are at the opposite end of the tuner assembly, therefore new holes needed to be drilled. Jigs are available out there for this. Stu-Mac is one source, but I got mine from a seller on ebay ... BASS Guitar Tuner Installation Tool - Pin-mount - Drill Jig - Fender | eBay
I've used it on a few basses and it works great. Note that the old pin holes are visible. If you're lucky enough to have a spare set of Am Standard tuners from 2013 or so laying around, they are almost as light, but have a footprint large enough to cover the old holes.
That brings me to the bridge. Aside from the Kubicki preamp, this is the best thing about this bass..... okay, I love the neck and body too, but this bridge is a marvel. I gotta wonder if this was the first hi mass bridge fender produced...other than that hideous claw thing that was out there for a while. I also gotta wonder why it wasn't continued on later basses. I love the smooth contours and sleek appearance. quite elegant IMO. I don't think you'll find a quick string change feature on ANY fender bass produced before or since. They even thought to build in a slight rise in the baseplate to accommodate the neck radius. If there's anything that might be an improvement, it would possibly be the addition of multiple frooves in the saddles to allow variations in string spacing..... but it works just great as it is for me.
Ahhh.... what a great bass!
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- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,978
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Nice - thanks for posting the pics and your insights. They are great basses. Are you interested in selling the original Schaller tuners? I don't really have a bass to put them on but I've always liked their design.
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I sold them in the classifieds and shipped them out yesterday. They were identical to a set that that I pulled off a '97 Suhr era Jazz Deluxe that I sold a few months ago. If I score another bass with those tuners I'll let you know. The only set I have available right now are the ones off of the Y2K Am Series Jazz that I mentioned in my post. Flat keys instead of the big cast ones. I'm wondering now if Schaller M4S would be a better choice if they're nearly as light and don't require re drilling the locating pins.Nice - thanks for posting the pics and your insights. They are great basses. Are you interested in selling the original Schaller tuners? I don't really have a bass to put them on but I've always liked their design.
I scored another Jazz Plus over the last couple of weeks. This one is a 1990. My '93 has a rosewood fb, while this one is maple. it weighs a little under 8.5lbs even with those boat anchors on the headstock. Again, surprisingly balanced standing but a little neck heavy when sitting. Not terrible though, so I might keep these tuners for a while. I'll let you know if I swap them out or come into another set.Nice - thanks for posting the pics and your insights. They are great basses. Are you interested in selling the original Schaller tuners? I don't really have a bass to put them on but I've always liked their design.
Are you keeping tabs on the whereabouts of that gorgeous midnight wine example that you use to own? Any chance I can sweet talk the current owner into a trade or sale? I think I've found my favorite active Fender in these Jazz Plusses.
Pardon my messes.....
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,978
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Black & maple is always good.
As far as the Midnight Wine J+, I doubt the owner will want to part with it - he joined tb just to contact me in the classified section. Enjoy your new bass. 
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,978
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Oh no - tuners of any variety have zero effect on how a guitar or bass sounds. Their only function is tuning and staying in tune.
