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Jazz Bass Makeover opinions please!

What pickguard for this guy?

  • Black pickguard - full dark!

    Votes: 10 26.3%

  • Tortoiseshell pickguard - dark pimp!

    Votes: 19 50.0%

  • Other - please post it below :)

    Votes: 9 23.7%
  • Total voters
    38
sotua

sotua

Sep 20, 2004
1,657
1,344
Somewhere in time
#1
Hi!

I have this ugly-ass Fender Jazz Bass:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

(Notice the guitar-like full pickguard and white strat knobs. :spit: )

It's going to the shop for a refret (don't have the time or inclination to keep playing fretless) and, if it's a good refret and I fall in love again with this bass after it comes back, it's a keeper. But if I keep it, I need to do something about that ugly-ass pickguard.

So, please lets hear your ideas about it. I've listed the two ideas I have as a poll, but please post any alternative I haven't considered. It will probably be just a pickguard and metal control plate change, can't afford to refinish it or something like that.

Oh, and there's a question, too: Regular pickguards don't fit the exact screw holes - it wouldn't affect tone to have some extra holes, right? They would be something like two or three unused screwholes under the pickguard, and a couple new ones drilled and screwed.
 
#4
I'm at work and can't see the pic, but if I understand you, your J doesn't have the "normal" pickguard butted up against a metal control plate that holds the pots?

If that's the case, I would change it over to the normal pickguard/control plate configuration and change the knobs to the standard knurled J knobs. Color sort of depends on the color of the bass, which I can't see right now. But I will say that I do like white guards on LPB Js (that's what I have on mine). But for bursts, I like black or tort better.
 
#5
dabbler said:
I'm at work and can't see the pic, but if I understand you, your J doesn't have the "normal" pickguard butted up against a metal control plate that holds the pots?

If that's the case, I would change it over to the normal pickguard/control plate configuration and change the knobs to the standard knurled J knobs. Color sort of depends on the color of the bass, which I can't see right now. But I will say that I do like white guards on LPB Js (that's what I have on mine). But for bursts, I like black or tort better.
Click to expand...

Hi,

that's right, it doesn't have a normal pickguard and control plate. It has a 1-ply white plastic pickguard that covers all the area covered by a regular pickguard AND the control plate. Knobs are strat-type white ones. Body color is solid black. I would love to convert it to vintage white + tort, but I can't afford the white refinish.

regards,
sotua
 
#7
Looks like its one of the mid 90's MIM Fender jazz basses. I'd go for a swap as well as I allways thought the "one peicer" wasn't as asthetically pleasing of varation as compared to the norm. You are correct, that the pickguard and control plate screw holes will not line up. I dont think You'd harm it at all tonally by drilling for new screw holes. Even though they should be hidden by the new guard and plate, the existing holes could be easily filled in various ways.
 
#8
JMac4strngr said:
Looks like its one of the mid 90's MIM Fender jazz basses. I'd go for a swap as well as I allways thought the "one peicer" wasn't as asthetically pleasing of varation as compared to the norm. You are correct, that the pickguard and control plate screw holes will not line up. I dont think You'd harm it at all tonally by drilling for new screw holes. Even though they should be hidden by the new guard and plate, the existing holes could be easily filled in various ways.
Click to expand...

Thanks. It's indeed a mid-90s, but Japanese, not Mexican.
 
#9
sotua said:
Thanks. It's indeed a mid-90s, but Japanese, not Mexican.
Click to expand...

Rock on! MIJ gets a lot of love, and the MIM stuff of that era wasn't too shabby either. Should be a beast of a player and then some, with the new fret work You're planning on getting done. With the new guard, plate and knobs, It'll be a real looker as well.
What size frets are You looking at going with?
 
#10
sotua said:
Hi,

that's right, it doesn't have a normal pickguard and control plate. It has a 1-ply white plastic pickguard that covers all the area covered by a regular pickguard AND the control plate. Knobs are strat-type white ones. Body color is solid black. I would love to convert it to vintage white + tort, but I can't afford the white refinish.

regards,
sotua
Click to expand...

Ahhh, but there's nothing wrong with a black J and white guard either! I have one. Tort does make it look a little more up-scale, but the black/white is a classic look!
 
#12
JMac4strngr said:
Rock on! MIJ gets a lot of love, and the MIM stuff of that era wasn't too shabby either. Should be a beast of a player and then some, with the new fret work You're planning on getting done. With the new guard, plate and knobs, It'll be a real looker as well.
What size frets are You looking at going with?
Click to expand...

Don't I know it. I defretted it ten years ago and still regret it to this day! :rollno:

I'm thinking medium-jumbo. Got them on a Squier VM jazz and like them a lot. I also have a OLP MM2 that has thinner frets and I also like those. Probably will go with something not too tall... I have until a couple of hours to decide, I'm dropping it off at the luthier's shop for the refret :hyper:.
 
#13
sotua said:
Don't I know it. I defretted it ten years ago and still regret it to this day! :rollno:

I'm thinking medium-jumbo. Got them on a Squier VM jazz and like them a lot. I also have a OLP MM2 that has thinner frets and I also like those. Probably will go with something not too tall... I have until a couple of hours to decide, I'm dropping it off at the luthier's shop for the refret :hyper:.
Click to expand...

Win.... Hope that fret job turns out great.
 
#16
whatever you decide, there is a local TB resident looking to replace his broken one piece p/g like you have .. I cant remember who, but check the 'Wanted to Buy" section ... just a heads up to help out a neigbor
 
#18
72LML said:
About halfway down the second page in this link you can see pictures of one that I "dressed" up that used to have the 1 piece pickguard. It's the only bass that regret selling to this day. Loved the neck on that one.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/dress-up-my-mim-jazz-739272/index2.html

You'll have to drill holes for the new pickguard and control plate but it's not too hard to do.
Click to expand...

The Black/tort looks beautiful! Well done... The extra holes don't make any difference at all... Peeps have extra holes on their Jazzes from ashtray and pickup covers, as well as thumb rests and tug bars.

I'd like to add black on black looks nice too... That's how my P is set up!:bassist:
 
#20
JMac4strngr said:
Win.... Hope that fret job turns out great.
Click to expand...

I hope so too! I went with small frets, the guy showed me his own guitar (it looked and felt super-awesome :)) and I loved them tiny frets... looked as tall as fender medium jumbos (that is, not very), but thinner. I like to feel closer to the wood, I've had a couple of basses with big frets and feels too much like playing only metal on metal.
 

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