Jaguar Bass preamp mod

[Brendan5]

I'm going to do this with the Suhr pre amp once I can get the routing done and body refin on my ss. Debating colors but I think I want white. Gonna be sweet!

 

[darthplagis]

well after seeing this sweet mod on its initial posting my jag is about to be modded like this.

only im going to move the passive pots to the rollers and have eq at the main plate..... oh and its gonna be refinnished too sherwood green-ish with matching head (ive sourced decent decals too so it will look sweeeeet)

 

[JoeWPgh]

Pickgaurds for this are a beeeatch. I bought one from Greasy Groove that was a no go. 2 holes were complete misses and 1/2 the others were just off. It didn't meet the control plates very well either. I'm going to send them a tracing and see what they can do.

 

[Sleeq]

The relaunched model has a different pickguard layout; the tort guard I got from ebay did not fit my 2011 Jag 100%

 

[darthplagis]

i was gonna use a custom order place, as when i looked into getting one when the jag first landed it was crazy hard......... plus i fancy some lights in it

 

[chriskuff]

super bump.

john, do you have a link to the pots you used? i just ordered an OBP2 pre for my jag. looking forward to doing the swap but wanna make sure i have pots that will fit.

rawk.
c

 

[darthplagis]

OBP use 50k linear tapers.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

well after all this time i have pulled my finger out and got a new pre for my jag (artec se3p-a).... will be installing it this week

now the hunt for stack knobs in the jazz bass style in the UK

 

[Jaga]

Hi All!

I'm thinking for several years to implement this modification.

The thing is I'm using the bass with EBS Valvedrive Preamp to add some distortion. I might change the preamp, but I'll definitely will be using some pedal for distortion purpose.

Is such mod with preamp mentioned in this thread worth implementing while using with distortion preamp?

What can be some other uses of roller knobs rather than Bass and Treble controls for internal preamp?

Thank you for your opinion.

 

[RedJag]

Just thought I'd add some info for those curious looking through this thread. I bought an OBP-1 Pre to install in my jag, only to find that the 25k audio taper mini pots sold by allparts don't fit. However after much digging I found pots carried by Mammoth Electronics that should work perfectly. I'll know for sure once they get delivered.

Link Removed

 

[RedJag]

Forgot to add, the pots worked perfectly, but I had to use a tapered reamer to open up the thumb wheels a bit to accept the posts on the pots.

 

[SquareWaveSymph]

Hey, guys,

sorry to bump this old thread, but I'm currently looking to replace my Jaguars PU's. I am all about low mid heavy sounds and would like some PU's that offer a boost around 500hz. So far I've layed my eyes on the DiMarzio Area J's and Model J's and the Seymour Duncan Hot Jazz Bass. Does anybody have some experiences with those and knows if they offer what I'm after?

Also, is there a preamp that just offers two bands, one of them being low mids? I'd like a new preamp but don't want to drill new holes into my jag and I doubt there's enough space to fit spare pots beneath the pick guard.

Thanks in advance!

Alex.

 

[RedJag]

Hey, guys,

sorry to bump this old thread, but I'm currently looking to replace my Jaguars PU's. I am all about low mid heavy sounds and would like some PU's that offer a boost around 500hz. So far I've layed my eyes on the DiMarzio Area J's and Model J's and the Seymour Duncan Hot Jazz Bass. Does anybody have some experiences with those and knows if they offer what I'm after?

Also, is there a preamp that just offers two bands, one of them being low mids? I'd like a new preamp but don't want to drill new holes into my jag and I doubt there's enough space to fit spare pots beneath the pick guard.

Thanks in advance!

Alex.

Why not just put in some quarter pounders?

 

[SquareWaveSymph]

Why not just put in some quarter pounders?

I actually haven't tried those before. The EQ-curve looked like they were pretty mid-scooped. Kinda sucks, that they don't get a little more specific with the frequency output of the PU's.

 

[Sir Nose]

Inspired by this thread, I recently took the plunge and installed an Aguilar OBP-2 preamp into my Deluxe, replacing the stock unit. I replaced the stock thumbwheel mini pots (stamped 500K) with 50K minis per the OBP-2 wiring diagram, and I found that the Allparts EP-4992-000 50K Linear Roller Pot was a perfect replacement fit - no center detent, though. While I was huffing flux, I also rewired the active/passive switch per JohnK's post here, works like a champ. If you want to do this, I would recommend having some extra wire to extend leads to the switch, as the OBP-2 preamp leads aren't really long enough for some of the Jaguar wire routing. I'm not a whiz with the soldering iron though, so you might be better able to do that than I could. I also used a 1.5mm hex key for the set screws on the thumbwheels, so you might want to have one of those handy. Physically the OBP-2 is a bit of a tight fit in my existing preamp cavity, but I was able to convince it to stay put.

The end result is now the bass has a more transparent, cleaner preamp sound, and the thumbwheel tone controls actually seem to be useful throughout their range, as opposed to just having an impact in the last quarter of their travel. Whether that's what you're looking for in a preamp is clearly something that is left up to personal taste, but I will say that the OBP-2 has objectively less hiss than the stock preamp. Which is definitely something I was hoping to accomplish, so I'm happy on that front.

 

[Sandrow]

Hi all there,

I'm trying to install BTS + VMC in a Jaguar Bass Classic vibe.
Routed the body in order to install treble/bass control plate, switches plate and preamp.

Then wired following these two schemes except:
- the two rollers pot which have been wired according to BTS instructions
- the upper control plate switch - See second picture

And this for the DPTD

I guess i've done something wrong, because if both pickups are engaged and i switch on the preamp i have a feedback only.

Just to avoid eventual misunderstandings about the second picture ( the upper plate switch):
- "from Jag volume control" means to me to be wired to the Center leg of the master volume pot ( blue wire on the upper scheme)

- "To Output Jack" means to me to be wired straight to the tip of the output jack.

I guess BTS is routed fine, but how to wire the VMC ???

Both pickups are Seymour duncan Quarter Pounds, PJ config.

Moreover, I'd like to eliminate the overall tone pot and have a Neck Volume + Bridge Volume + VMC on lower plate ( output jack has been already removed for control plate and located on the lower side with a Switchcraft inlet).


Any idea?

Thank a lot,
Best,
Sandro.

 

[Sandrow]

Another bump on this thread to ask a question about switches.

Modded jag sound really great, and i'm in love with it.
Only one annoying thing:

I've placed two DPDT switches in order to Engage/Bypass the two preamps ( BTS and VMC ) each preamp has its dedicated switch.
But when i toggle them it sounds like removing/inserting back the jack into bass making a big and loud noise.

Asked to Derek ( EMG tech support ) and it confirmed me this:
"You need to use a make before break switch. Flipping the DPDT switch is doing the same thing as pulling the 1/4 cable out of the jack and plugging it back in really fast."

The question is:
Do you know a kinda "Make before break" toggle with suitable shape for Jaguar Bass, and where to find it?

Thanks.
Best,
S.

 

[RedJag]

Now that mammoth electronics is shut down, I thought I'd provide a current link to the pots I used for the preamp wheels

Alpha 16mm A25k potentiometer

 

[RedJag]

Just to avoid eventual misunderstandings about the second picture ( the upper plate switch):
- "from Jag volume control" means to me to be wired to the Center leg of the master volume pot ( blue wire on the upper scheme)

It depends on exactly how you want things routed, but in general you want the pre-amp to be after the volume control. So ideally the 'output' (center leg) should go to your switch/preamp. This would also mean your tone control happens before the pre-amp, which is fine. You're basically taking the output of an otherwise passive bass and optionally feeding it through a pre-amp circuit prior to sending it out.

- "To Output Jack" means to me to be wired straight to the tip of the output jack.

Yes. If your volume pot and tone pot are before the preamp, the preamp/switch should go direct to the output.

Moreover, I'd like to eliminate the overall tone pot and have a Neck Volume + Bridge Volume + VMC on lower plate

You should be able to just remove the tone pot. It's just connected via one leg of the volume pot.

 

[Sandrow]

It depends on exactly how you want things routed, ...

Hi Redjag, Everything is fine and sounds great, issues were due to a faulty switch.

Now a newer switch question posted above:
Where to find a Make-before-break DPDT in order to avoid loud audio Pops when flipping the toggle?

Thanks again.
best,
s

 

[secondbestcody]

@johnk_10 - I have a few questions for you, if you remember how you did this 11 years ago. I was checking it out on your website and you said you wired in an extra capacitor to ground. Where exactly did you add that in? Also, what hf settings did you use on the preamp?

I’m doing this exact same mod to my jaguar and I’d like to get as much info as possible before I start. Thanks!