Jaco Tribute Bass Build

[ExaltBass]

Looks like a great strap! You're going to love the epoxy board. I did that on a jazz neck in the 70s - TOTAL mwah factor I should have it done to my RW fretless neck.

Are you going to have Dan relic your case too?

 

[5string5fingers]

Hope you know we're going to be expecting to see your jaco skills now

 

[bassgod76]

Hope you know we're going to be expecting to see your jaco skills now

Still laughing. My skills are just above, "suck". I wish my playing skills mirrored my building skills.

 

[gzarruk]

Cavity is done!

For what exactly is that thing??? I saw on Fender.com that the tribute and the standard Jaco have it but a friend have the standard and it doesn´t have it... did it make tone difference or something???

 

[bassgod76]

For what exactly is that thing??? I saw on Fender.com that the tribute and the standard Jaco have it but a friend have the standard and it doesn´t have it... did it make tone difference or something???

This was talked about in this thread already. Back in the early 60's Fender grounded its bridges with a brass strip. I guess they got rid of it soon after that.

 

[ghostjs]

dude looks great so far! maybe someday i'll hire you to customize a fender for me someday

 

[bassgod76]

Wow, thanks for the compliment. My knowledge would have to increase ten fold before I sold my work.

 

[J. Crawford]

Updates?

 

[bassgod76]

No parts have arrived in the mail, so I'm at a standstill.

 

[draftsmann]

Thanks! It was a lot of fun, but I will need a break, after this. The Jaco is my final build for 2009.

2010, I'm rolling out an Ibanez SR 300/EMG/Hipshot refurb. Thinking about changing the boring dark blue body to International Orange!

Also, I'm doing a boogey woogey wonderland 70's"ish" Jazz in Olympic white body (CBS era pickup spacing), maple neck with maple fretboard with white paerloid block inlays. Audhere preamp, Nordstrand Nj4se, and old school Hipshot HB2 tuners, Hipshot vintage bridge. Back pickguard.

Late 2010 I will be trying my hand at a James Jamerson tribte bass.

Stay tuned!

This thread has converted me to the "tribute bass" idea.

If I might make a suggestion for a future project based on an iconic bass, how about a replica of Herbie Flowers' blue Jazz Bass? That bass must have featured on more recordings than almost any other over at least 4 decades. I doubt there'll ever be an official signature model on account of the man's modesty and reserve (British, y'see... )

Just a thought.

Adrian

 

[Bernin]

I love that bass!
It's a '59 stack knob jazz, which to some may not exist but that's the legend
It was finished in white, then fiesta red, then LPB and all of it's worn and chipped through in various places so you can see all three colors

 

[bassgod76]

I love that bass!
It's a '59 stack knob jazz, which to some may not exist but that's the legend
It was finished in white, then fiesta red, then LPB and all of it's worn and chipped through in various places so you can see all three colors

That would be a very complicated finish. I doubt I would even do it any justice by copying it.

Just got word that the my Jaco neck job would take a month to complete. Hopefully it will be ready by Christmas.

 

[PasdaBeer]

lookin good

 

[Demonator]

That is sweet.

 

[Jools4001]

If only I could get Jaco tribute fingers from somewhere

 

[bassgod76]

Uh oh! I got my pickups and grounding plate in the mail! Pics to be posted tonight!!!!

 

[nutso42]

Waiting patiently!

 

[sloasdaylight]

This thread has converted me to the "tribute bass" idea.

If I might make a suggestion for a future project based on an iconic bass, how about a replica of Herbie Flowers' blue Jazz Bass? That bass must have featured on more recordings than almost any other over at least 4 decades. I doubt there'll ever be an official signature model on account of the man's modesty and reserve (British, y'see... )

Just a thought.

Adrian

That bass and Jaco's are the two basses that I would probably sell a testicle each for.

 

[draftsmann]

That would be a very complicated finish. I doubt I would even do it any justice by copying it.

Ah, go on. You know you want to!

 

[bassgod76]

Yesterday saw the arrival of my pickups and grounding strap plate.

I was itching to solder, but I had to check the fit of not only the pickups, but the grounding strap and plate, as well.

With some light sanding via Dremel, the pickup cavities easily accomodate the pickups and shielding.

Dryfitting the pickups.

Taking a look at the pickups, I was amazed that they even aged the wires. Note the color difference between the pickup wire and new cloth wire.

I went to fit the grounding strap pickup plate and I ran into my first snag. The plate was just a hair too big, and its sharp edges would tear up my shielding job.

Removing the foam.

There is a nook routed out in the pickup cavity, so I plan to flip this plate over. This way the solder point is out of the way and closer to the entrance hole in the cavity.

The plate is too big.

So, I shave down the plate and round the corners. Presto! She fits.

Now that I have dry fitted the plate, I solder the bridge strap. The solder joint is good, but for added security, I add a piece of shielding tape.

Grounding strap installed!

Now that I secured my ground, and finished shielding the bridge cavity, it's time to install the pickup. The pickup goes in with little effort, and everything looks good. I go to open the fastner pakage, and while I'm impressed with the screws, the foam inserts have me scratching my head. They're all different sizes!

I take both sets of inserts from each pickup, and try to best match the same sizes up.

Along with the bridge pickup, I attach the bridge. However, I needed to relic the mounting screws, first.

Before/after.

Bridge and pickup istalled.

Shielding the neck pickup.

Both pickups installed with great success. Sorry, that was a ripoff from Borat.

Using a muli meter to check resistance and any shorts from the pickups being in close proximity to a shielded cavity.

Done!

Soldering tonight!