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Good starter mods for an MIM Jazz
- Thread starter stewart8980
- Start date
What are the odds: I have a MIM jazz in midnight wine with a replacement neck, as well as a b/w/b pickguard...anyway, for a bridge upgrade I would check out the first one on this page:
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I recently put one on my MIJ precision, and maybe it's just in my head but the sound seems to be a bit improved. Looks cool if nothing else, and can't beat the price.
Link Removed
I recently put one on my MIJ precision, and maybe it's just in my head but the sound seems to be a bit improved. Looks cool if nothing else, and can't beat the price.
These are all very interesting suggestions. Unfortunately I have to run to class right now, but I'm going to go through them all in detail later. Thanks guys.
Out of curiosity, why is there that little strip of copper between the bridge and the pickup?
I just bought a 2007 MIM here. http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=646200&highlight=mim+jazz
I just ordered a set of 60's Custom Shop Pickups, Going to swap the bridge to a Gotoh 201, swap the p/g to tort and change the tuners to Hipshots (with a D-Tuner.)
I just ordered a set of 60's Custom Shop Pickups, Going to swap the bridge to a Gotoh 201, swap the p/g to tort and change the tuners to Hipshots (with a D-Tuner.)
that copper looks like its for grounding.
so far, i've only added a badass II bridge to my mim jbass.
i think it made a huge improvement in the sound and feel of the bass. i don't think the stock pickups are all that bad, but there is a lot of hum, which is why the next mod i do will be the pickups.
the stock bridges on these things aren't even flat, so they don't make good contact with the body at all.
so far, i've only added a badass II bridge to my mim jbass.
i think it made a huge improvement in the sound and feel of the bass. i don't think the stock pickups are all that bad, but there is a lot of hum, which is why the next mod i do will be the pickups.
the stock bridges on these things aren't even flat, so they don't make good contact with the body at all.
tension is determined by the vibrating length between the bridge saddle and the nut.
Badass bridges are ok, but they are not the best choice IMO: bottom plate is too thick and may require shimming of the neck, and it is a heavy bridge if you like light basses. I am in the thin, light and simple camp!!
I had an MIM Precision with fretless Jazz neck for awhile, and I thought the Gotoh 201 bridge was a big improvement, and I believe it's less expensive than the Badass. The Duncan SJB-2 Hot for Jazz pickups are overwound versions of the SJB-1, and probably will deliver more thump, but the S-1 switch (or any other series/parallel switch) will also thicken the tone when the pickups are in series.
IMO, if you're going to change pickups, go noiseless. DiMarzio Model J's are inexpensive and noiseless, and from what I understand they'll thump. I'd also be curious about the newer Area J's, which supposedly provide classic vintage tone without the hum. I'd really like to try those in my Jazz V.
IMO, if you're going to change pickups, go noiseless. DiMarzio Model J's are inexpensive and noiseless, and from what I understand they'll thump. I'd also be curious about the newer Area J's, which supposedly provide classic vintage tone without the hum. I'd really like to try those in my Jazz V.
the DiMarzio Model J's are what i'm thinking of using. i heard them in another mim jbass a couple weeks ago and they sounded great.
Yeah, I would say that new pickups are absolutely essential if you're looking to change up the tone on-board. With the original pickups, I wasn't able to turn on pickup louder than the other without an incredibly annoying buzz / hum. I love being able to blend the two pickups how I see fit, and I actually end up changing it a lot during a set. Endless possibilities without the crazy hum.
As for the bridge, the only reason I got a new one is because it was nearly impossible to intonate. That and the new one just looks so much better.
As for the bridge, the only reason I got a new one is because it was nearly impossible to intonate. That and the new one just looks so much better.
Ok, well I've decided on the Gotoh 201, simply because it is reminiscent of the stock bridge, but has more substance. The BadAss to me is too big and chunky. I'm also planning on getting a set of flats, and new pickups. The pickups, I'm looking at all of you have mentioned. As for strings, I want flats that are med-high tension. I might be mistaken but the LaBella flats are pretty lose are they not?
i kinda like those halfwound strings or whatever they're called more than flatwounds. flats always felt/sounded too dead to me.
The mods I suggest for a MIM J that are in-line with build quality and money invested in a stock MIM are: DiMarzio Ultra or Area J pups and Audere JZ3. After $250 and about 30 minutes of NO SOLDER lovin you will have a solid workhorse.
For the tone I was looking for I went with a MIM Sunburst, the Audere preamp, Ultra J pups and GHS Flats. Tested and still testing each mod over time to make sure they stick before moving on. I am leaning towards the Gotoh 201 bridge and S/P switch. Just wanted you to know I'm playing on the stuff I'm recommending.
Two things that I'm NOT liking so far:
1) The Ultra J set is a little TOO thumpy for me. I'm thinking of swapping out the bridge pup for an Area J to get a little bit more air. Not touching the Ultra J neck pup tho. That honey brings the yummy. So, again, I think the Ultra J set is what you are looking for.
2) GHS Flats = Ugh so far. My first excursion into flats so it may be that I am not a flats guy or these strings suck. I dunno. I am trying to be patient and let these guys break in. So the battle rages on. I just suggest you get a set of flats on and decide for yourself if that is the tone you've got cooking in the ol gulliver.
FWIW, I did have some EB Regular Slinkies 50-105 on for awhile and this pup/preamp combo with roundwounds is lively as hell. That Audere preamp gets you a tonna tone choices. And with burley Slinkies on there it was a kick in the pants to play. Too bad those strings give up the ghost so quickly. Fresh out the pack they are a blast.
So get a tone in your head and work towards it. But I strongly rec the Audere / DiMarzio combo. The price and labor are perfectly in-line with the MIM and they improve the tone over stock a hundred times IMO.
For the tone I was looking for I went with a MIM Sunburst, the Audere preamp, Ultra J pups and GHS Flats. Tested and still testing each mod over time to make sure they stick before moving on. I am leaning towards the Gotoh 201 bridge and S/P switch. Just wanted you to know I'm playing on the stuff I'm recommending.
Two things that I'm NOT liking so far:
1) The Ultra J set is a little TOO thumpy for me. I'm thinking of swapping out the bridge pup for an Area J to get a little bit more air. Not touching the Ultra J neck pup tho. That honey brings the yummy. So, again, I think the Ultra J set is what you are looking for.
2) GHS Flats = Ugh so far. My first excursion into flats so it may be that I am not a flats guy or these strings suck. I dunno. I am trying to be patient and let these guys break in. So the battle rages on. I just suggest you get a set of flats on and decide for yourself if that is the tone you've got cooking in the ol gulliver.
FWIW, I did have some EB Regular Slinkies 50-105 on for awhile and this pup/preamp combo with roundwounds is lively as hell. That Audere preamp gets you a tonna tone choices. And with burley Slinkies on there it was a kick in the pants to play. Too bad those strings give up the ghost so quickly. Fresh out the pack they are a blast.
So get a tone in your head and work towards it. But I strongly rec the Audere / DiMarzio combo. The price and labor are perfectly in-line with the MIM and they improve the tone over stock a hundred times IMO.
what do you mean by the ultra j's being too thumpy?
i'm in the process of deciding which dimarzio's i want to try out.
i'm in the process of deciding which dimarzio's i want to try out.
Well, for my taste and the tone I was going for the Ultra J set doesn't have the treble I'm looking for when I need it. The set sounds more like a P IMO. FWIW I flat out my combo amp and do all my tone and volume adjustments on-board. When I had the stock buzzers on there with the Audere it was WEAK in the lowend, but had a nice ring when I went up high. When I put the Model Js on I got the PERFECT lowend but I lost that ring.
Also for comparison I had a Jazz Deluxe Active for a short while that had the Fender (not really) Noiseless and she had a stellar ring above the 12th fret.
So in reading stuff here and elsewhere I'm thinking the Area J in bridge position will give me that little sumptin above the 12th that I'm looking for while still voicing well with the Ultra J in the neck position so I can maintain the lowend I've come to love.
In context, I play a lot of Joy Division/New Order and Cure and other post-punky type stuff. Peter Hook plays above the 9th fret n the D and G strings A LOT. So it is important to me not only to have some thump (simon gallup) but also some tingle for Peter Hook stuff.
Like they say here, your mileage may vary. I'm just writing from my journey. FWIW, the Ultra J set with the treble down and a thumb roll off the low E will make your neck hair tingle. Seriously.
tension is determined by the vibrating length between the bridge saddle and the nut.
Then how do you explain the reasoning behind the string anchoring design that Birdsong basses and Mike Lull 5 string basses use? Birdsong uses a double-string-through-the-body design to compensate for the tension lost due to their extremely short scale, and Mike Lull 5 strings top-load EADG yet string-though the B
