Is it possible to convert a 5 string jazz bass to a Precision

[5StringWolf]

I have a jazz bass, And when i bought It, I was a little uneducated about bass guitars. And I hear the sound of a Precision bass, and i like the sound much better than a jazz bass. So is it possible that i could modify it?

I know this is a stupid question. But I want to know.

 

[Kael]

Take it to a tech. Have them route it and fit it with a 5 string P pickup in the neck position. While this won't give you a P bass, it will get you the P tone. In addition, you will still have the bridge pickup to blend as you see fit.

Note: You'll need a new pickguard as the hole in the old one will be in the wrong location not to mention the wrong shape for the new pickup.

 

[jmain]

Throw it up for trade or sell and get a P5, although there aren't a lot of options. Take into account the cost for the mods and see where you're at.

 

[bassbenj]

I have a jazz bass, And when i bought It, I was a little uneducated about bass guitars. And I hear the sound of a Precision bass, and i like the sound much better than a jazz bass. So is it possible that i could modify it?

I know this is a stupid question. But I want to know.

Yeah, we wish! Sure my Jazz deluxe 5 string is OK, but I'd really like to have a nice precision 5 string too! Gosh, doesn't Fender make a nice affordable 5 string precision? Well "used to" is the operative phrase. For reasons unknown they canceled the line. Now all you can do it lay out about a grand and a half for an American Standard precision 5 string!

So like you I got the idea maybe I could modify my Jazz 5er. Well the neck is thinner ( but I'd like that better) and the body shape is a bit different (but not THAT different) so why not? Well first you'd have to score a 5 string P-bass pickup. Some of the boutique pickup makers do have them but they cost quite a bit. In my case I was lucky to score p-bass 5 string pickup from Fender through some surplus outfit that bought them up after the big discontinue. OK, how to install it? Here's the rub. If you start measuring where the pickup goes on a P bass and compare it to a jazz bass you discover that it's in a perfectly "wrong" spot! It is too close to the Jazz neck pickup so my dreams of having a switchable jazz-p-bass set up evaporated. You have to choose one or the other or move the pickup which would change the sound. And even worse the P-bass pickup falls right on the EDGE of the pickguard so you'd have to design a new one of those too. Just turned out to be a bad idea.

The best idea is still my original idea: A second affordable 5 string p-bass! Too bad Fender fixed that one. What are they thinking anyway?

 

[iamoldschool]

 

[darkstorm]

You could even have tech route the bridge pup cavity to for P pup set to so you have double P bass, bridge and neck position P pups. Extra nice P pup bass then. Lol.

 

[gjbassist]

I have a jazz bass, And when i bought It, I was a little uneducated about bass guitars. And I hear the sound of a Precision bass, and i like the sound much better than a jazz bass. So is it possible that i could modify it?

I know this is a stupid question. But I want to know.

Try a simple mod first by installing a series/parallel switch. It won't make it sound just like a P bass but switching the pickups from parallel to series will increase output and give a fuller sound.

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[IotaNet]

I have a jazz bass, And when i bought It, I was a little uneducated about bass guitars. And I hear the sound of a Precision bass, and i like the sound much better than a jazz bass. So is it possible that i could modify it?

I know this is a stupid question. But I want to know.

It's do-able but it will cost you a few bucks. I had it done with a Lakland a few years ago. I no longer have the bass but the project turned out great.

Check out the process here: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/found-beef-301494/

 

[hands5]

Get a P 5 and call it a day if you can find one.

 

[GeoffByrne]

Trade the Jazz for a Yamaha BB415 & you get some cash back too.

 

[Unrepresented]

Try a simple mod first by installing a series/parallel switch. It won't make it sound just like a P bass but switching the pickups from parallel to series will increase output and give a fuller sound.

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+1.

Cheapest solution that will maintain the bass' resale value. If you don't like it, you can always go with one of the more extreme options provided here (selling, routing) after.