Jazz bass pickups and strings alignment

I would set it up so that all the strings line up between the pole pieces like the D string is in your photo.

Bassically, Michael

 

It looks like your bridge saddles have ridges for adjustable string spacing. Just detune the strings and align them on the saddles to your liking, then retune. Be sure to set you witness points .

Also, the “correct” string spacing is whatever you want within the parameters of the bridge saddles. That’s the advantage of adjustable string spacing.

 

I strongly recommend checking out this thread

Why don't pole pieces line up with strings?

 

Don't worry about the strings being over the poles yet. Your neck has shifted. If you look at the 19th fret and dot, you can see that the strings are no longer centered on the neck properly. Those necks can move sideways fairly easily from a bump. Loosen the screws on the back of the neck a half turn or so and move the neck to center the strings back up on the neck. Re-tighten the screws. Now you can concern your self with the pickup alignment.

 

Based on the photo, your E and G string need to be moved outward on the bridge. One notch. Then, your strings should be about 19 to 20 millimeters apart measured about one inch or so north of the saddles.........measuring from the dead center of each string to the dead center of the next string (not the from the edge of each string!).

Although your saddles are notched, and this is a good thing, the better saddles to use and you should be able to swap out the saddles alone, are the threaded saddles used on Fender's Pure Vintage bridges. The '63 and the '58 bridges. The '58's saddles are the better because they are a finer thread.

You should be able to improve your "string to magnet pole" alignment to an acceptable level............there's not such thing as perfection.

It's difficult to explain this verbally but it's all pretty easy to do for a DIY set-up.

My first concern is that the measurement from the edge of the E & G string to the edge of the neck @ the last fret are fairly much the same and lined up with the magnets..................... and then I adjust the string spacing from this starting point. I get very acceptable string/magnet alignment.

Good luck. Nice J! And you're not too far off from having your strings lined up plenty good enough.

Here's the best bridges.....................(the '58 being the better 'cause of it's finer threads = better string spacing.)

Genuine Fender Pure Vintage Bass Bridge Assembly 099-0804-100 NEW 717669740863 | eBay

PURE VINTAGE FENDER 4 STRING 5-SCREW '58 PRECISION BASS BRIDGE 009-5613-049 New | eBay

 

From the picture you shown, i believe the string to string spacing are quite even.
Try play it , if the E and G string output sound are balance (without lourder) with the D and G, that could be fine.
In my opinion on flat pole magnet piece jazz pup, if bass string adjust to line up with the pole piece, i will get louder sound on E and G string than A and D. But if i make the E and G off like yours, i get better balance string to string output.

My2Cents

 

As long as the strings are 3/16 of an inch one way or the other from center between the dual pole pieces, it'll be fine. There's nothing of any precision to agonize over here. I would be more concerned spacing the strings for playability.

 

^^^^ This. It's incredibly easy to do, and nearly every Fender bass I've owned needed to have this done.

 

No, don't move the neck more. The first time you need to adjust the neck you will discover it is easier to loosen the neck to adjust the truss rod and then do this whole thing again.