Fender standard jaguar - bridge never grounded, what to do..

[Westenra]

I bought this beaut back in summer of last year and she's served me well, that is until recently. I swapped out the old pups for the much acclaimed EMG GZR PJ set and ever since then the jazz pup wont shut up unless I turn it all the way down. I opened her up once more to see what was wrong and it was around this time that I noticed the bridge wasn't grounded at all, in fact it's completely isolated from the cavities. I've purchased some copper tape to shield all of it, but regarding the bridge...I'm thinking of drilling a hole from it straight into the cavity and connecting it with a wire. Before I do this I just want to ask is there any other alternative for trying to ground it? I've only owned 4 basses in my life and this is the first I've opened one so I'm unsure as to if this is an isolated to this specific model or if its common.

Any help or advice is appreciated, us standard Jaguar owners seem to be far and few between sadly.

 

[EVerderame]

it's hard to give any precise feedback - i am far from a specialist, but wonder if your connections are right (not sure if them got +/-) positions. try to swap them first.
there is also many topics in Talkbass you could research, including about Geezer pick ups.
besides: Invalid Link Removed
good luck, pal

 

[LoveThatBass]

I bought this beaut back in summer of last year and she's served me well, that is until recently. I swapped out the old pups for the much acclaimed EMG GZR PJ set and ever since then the jazz pup wont shut up unless I turn it all the way down. I opened her up once more to see what was wrong and it was around this time that I noticed the bridge wasn't grounded at all, in fact it's completely isolated from the cavities. I've purchased some copper tape to shield all of it, but regarding the bridge...I'm thinking of drilling a hole from it straight into the cavity and connecting it with a wire. Before I do this I just want to ask is there any other alternative for trying to ground it? I've only owned 4 basses in my life and this is the first I've opened one so I'm unsure as to if this is an isolated to this specific model or if its common.

Any help or advice is appreciated, us standard Jaguar owners seem to be far and few between sadly.

Pull the bridge off and drill at a downward angle into the closest cavity. In my case on a bass I had to drill into the bridge pickup cavity and route the wire thru there to the control cavity

 

[96tbird]

Alternative? Go all retro up in there.

Fender Jazz Bass Bridge Grounding Strap

 

[Hopkins]

Alternative? Go all retro up in there.

Fender Jazz Bass Bridge Grounding StrapView attachment 869303

Ughh, I really hate that ground strip. It is the laziest, most bandaid way I have ever seen to solve a simple problem.

 

[Westenra]

Pull the bridge off and drill at a downward angle into the closest cavity. In my case on a bass I had to drill into the bridge pickup cavity and route the wire thru there to the control cavity

I think I have to do this as having an exposed strip running from the bridge would stick out like a sore thumb with the black body.

 

[96tbird]

Ughh, I really hate that ground strip. It is the laziest, most bandaid way I have ever seen to solve a simple problem.

He asked for alternatives. Although what you say is true and if it was a feature on any other than RI basses in the 21st century it's not acceptable, on an old Fender or as a statement mod, it still has it's charm to some.

Kind of like my old Honda 500 four that the plugs fire at the top of every stroke. Power and exhaust.

 

[Hopkins]

He asked for alternatives. Although what you say is true and if it was a feature on any other than RI basses in the 21st century it's not acceptable, on an old Fender or as a statement mod, it still has it's charm to some.

Kind of like my old Honda 500 four that the plugs fire at the top of every stroke. Power and exhaust.

If I had any bass other than an extremely vintage Jazz with that ground strip, I would remove it and drill a ground channel. If it wasn't for the value of a vintage instrument I would do the same.

 

[Hopkins]

I think I have to do this as having an exposed strip running from the bridge would stick out like a sore thumb with the black body.

Are you absolutely sure the bridge isn't grounded? That seems like an unlikely oversight to me.

 

[skwee]

My Jag is really loud when I have it in J-bass mode. If I turn down the tone it helps, and I just never go active when I'm in that configuration. P-bass mode sounds great, though.

 

[Lownote38]

There's no hole under the bridge???? Is it a Fender? That's a major oversight if so!

 

[Westenra]

Are you absolutely sure the bridge isn't grounded? That seems like an unlikely oversight to me.

Aye, there's no hole or wire from the bridge. The original jazz pup was grounded to a bent up metal strip within the main cavity but that's it. There's hardly any wiring/photos online either of them to compare with. There's an influx of the Squire ones, just not the MIM. Curious to know if mine was a one off or if they're all built like thos.

My Jag is really loud when I have it in J-bass mode. If I turn down the tone it helps, and I just never go active when I'm in that configuration. P-bass mode sounds great, though.

I've only got the standard one which isn't active, this be her;

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[Hopkins]

Aye, there's no hole or wire from the bridge. The original jazz pup was grounded to a bent up metal strip within the main cavity but that's it. There's hardly any wiring/photos online either of them to compare with. There's an influx of the Squire ones, just not the MIM. Curious to know if mine was a one off or if they're all built like thos.



I've only got the standard one which isn't active, this be her;

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All you need to do is get a 12" long 3/16" drill bit and drill at as shallow of an angle possible into the control cavity. If you have basic skill with tools it shouldn't be much of a chore.

 

[LoveThatBass]

All you need to do is get a 12" long 3/16" drill bit and drill at as shallow of an angle possible into the control cavity. If you have basic skill with tools it shouldn't be much of a chore.

Good idea. Here is one place to get the bit: DEWALT DW1604 3/16-Inch by 12-Inch Extra Long Black Oxide Drill Bit - Jobber Drill Bits - Amazon.com

Also check Lowes

 

[Gluvhand]

Hold up. Isn't there a noise/hum issue with some of the J pickups in the Geezer sets? EMG is taking returns and sending out replacements. Check the dedicated thread.

 

[1stnamebassist]

Hold up. Isn't there a noise/hum issue with some of the J pickups in the Geezer sets? EMG is taking returns and sending out replacements. Check the dedicated thread.

I was just getting ready to post that! Don't go too nuts until you find out if you have a bad J pup. They did have issues and are correcting it for owners I believe with a new proper pickup. In fact if you go to the pickup and electronics page right at the top they give a link to deal with the issue. Good luck!

 

[Westenra]

Finally took the bridge off and what did I see? A half drilled hole going into the main cavity, which is understandable although the jazz one is of course nearer. I completed drilling the half assed hole, ran a wire through it to my ground wire, did her all back up and boom, most of the humming is gone. When the jazz pup is all the way on though I'm getting a constant ticking from my amp, I suspect this is a shielding issue (I live in a block of flats with plenty of dimmer switches), which I'll get on as soon as my copper tape arrives.

Hold up. Isn't there a noise/hum issue with some of the J pickups in the Geezer sets? EMG is taking returns and sending out replacements. Check the dedicated thread.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll check it out if the shielding doesn't null it, fingers crossed.