Good starter mods for an MIM Jazz

[recreate.me]

I had this issue i had a Squier VM jazz and was looking for that growl of a Precision (which i just bought today) but the first thing i did was raised the neck pickup and lowered the bridge. This (in my case) gave me a thumpier, fuller sound without having to play to much with any other settings. Also i tried to play more towards the neck.

I found it was a really good emulation in my case, but the VM jazz bases already have duncan designed pickups so i never really thought of changing them.

 

[johnk_10]

IME, the best way to make a J bass sound like a P is to use a the neck pickup ONLY. (and NO s-1 switch, or bridge pickup with it). there are way too many phasing issues with two, even if they are in series.

to get more thump, i'd try using flatwounds. (less harmonics and more fundamental)

IMO, the best pickup for a 'vintage sound is the duncan SJB-1N, but if that hums too much for you (since you won't get the hum-bucking advantage from running two pickups) the duncan hot stack jazz bass pickup, or a fralin split coil (side by side) are both good choices.

the hot stack isn't any louder than a standard p bass split pickup and it can sound pretty close. and the same goes for the fralin.

 

[darkstorm]

Baddass bridge if wanting to retain all the treble of original plus add a little low end. Or other himass bridge if mainly wanting little increase in bass and heavyness of tone. Baddass bridges can have a habbit of imparting a treble zingyness that can be good or annoying.

Adding a basslines blackout 2-band eq could be nice too. The higher treble setting of the two choices it gives with mini switch is best sounding one to me. Basslines pups to if wanting pup upgrade. O, and all black knobs for visuals. Lol.

 

[xjeremiahx]

sound clips sound clips sound clips.
i would KILL for some soundclips of all these different preamp/pup configurations.

everybody describes these things as "thumpy, warm, fat, smooth, brupy(my personal fav)" but what does it alllll meeeeeeeaaaannnnn(mad scientist voice)

but seriously, I'd love to hear some clips of these different configurations, as I'm in the process of deciding what to drop into my CM Fretless Jazz

 

[Donte]

Great thread with good info.

 

[funkasaurus]

I love my 2000 MIM Jazz. It is my first bass. I'm the original owner and will never sell her. Over the years I've made these mods:

Sadowsky Single Coils
BadAss II Bridge
Copper shielding
Replaced original knobs with vintage style knobs
Straplocks

Before the Sadowsky pups I had the Dimarzio Model J's. The Sadowsky's are definitely more my taste. IMO changing the pups will have the most effect on the tone.

She plays like buttah and it's a shame I don't play her more.

With Sadowsky's:

With Model J's:

 

[The_NoBody]

Since we are talking about mod on a MIM Jazz Bass (V in my case):

That's stock, the Gotoh GB7 like tuners on a V*?*I think yes, since there are no others hole around the tuners.

 

[Herbie Chesnutt]

Hey, just reread my rants from yesterday and realized I continuously flubbed the make of DiMarzio pups I have in my 2008 MIM Jazz. Not sure why.

I kept saying Ultra J and I actually meant Model J. I have the Model J set. The ones with the black screw pole pieces. They have less treble and more of a P sound than stock MIM.

Sorry for the senior moment and any confusion.

later