Ever feel like you jazz bass is lacking? Don't think it cuts through enough? Not enough low-end? Well, i have the ideal modification for you. This is a modification i had been thinking about for a while. I was going too put it in my fretted jazz but i have just put passive EMG's in it and it sounds smoooooooth. So, when i was offered a fretless AXL jazz bass, i couldn't say no.
On too the modification:
Step 1:
Depending on your jazz bass you may need too do some routing, now to be honest, only the more expensive jazz's will need routing. This is what cheaper jazz basses have underneath the scratch plate.
Yes, a nice big routed out pocket, which, surprisingly will fit a soapbar near enough perfect.
Step 2:
Now, my AXL bass had a set of AXL passive EMG's in it. I took these out and put them in my fretted jazz bass. I then took my Duncan designed bridge pickup and soldered it into the bass like so:
And:
Step 3:
Now, with this done, go find a a Soapbar that will fit into your bass. I didn't have too do any routing, but with the pickup I chose, i would have in my fretted jazz. I found mine on ebay for £15 inclu P+P. It also arrived this morning. Here:
I then measured up the pickup, added the E-string and G-string (Bottom and top) the measured the distance from either side until it was even, marked it off, and screwed it in. (Sorry, i don't have any pictures of the placement of the pickup) This is what you should have:
And:
Step 4:
With this done, i then unscrewed the control plate and soldered it in like a normal jazz pickup. (Please Excuse the bad soldering) The yellow wire is the cable coming from the pickup, i soldered the live cable into the middle tab on the first volume pot and just soldered the earth wire too the top.
Step 5:
I put the control plate back on, re-string, set-up the pickups with a screwdriver and your done
Ofcourse, if you wanted a scratch plate it would be a good idea too have a jigsaw and too do some templates ect so you can cut too fit. This is the end result:
And:
And there you go =) I don't currently have the equipment too do a few recordings of it but, it sounds great, especially on a fretless. I will get some sound clips ASAP.
Cheers!
On too the modification:
Step 1:
Depending on your jazz bass you may need too do some routing, now to be honest, only the more expensive jazz's will need routing. This is what cheaper jazz basses have underneath the scratch plate.
Yes, a nice big routed out pocket, which, surprisingly will fit a soapbar near enough perfect.
Step 2:
Now, my AXL bass had a set of AXL passive EMG's in it. I took these out and put them in my fretted jazz bass. I then took my Duncan designed bridge pickup and soldered it into the bass like so:
And:
Step 3:
Now, with this done, go find a a Soapbar that will fit into your bass. I didn't have too do any routing, but with the pickup I chose, i would have in my fretted jazz. I found mine on ebay for £15 inclu P+P. It also arrived this morning. Here:
I then measured up the pickup, added the E-string and G-string (Bottom and top) the measured the distance from either side until it was even, marked it off, and screwed it in. (Sorry, i don't have any pictures of the placement of the pickup) This is what you should have:
And:
Step 4:
With this done, i then unscrewed the control plate and soldered it in like a normal jazz pickup. (Please Excuse the bad soldering) The yellow wire is the cable coming from the pickup, i soldered the live cable into the middle tab on the first volume pot and just soldered the earth wire too the top.
Step 5:
I put the control plate back on, re-string, set-up the pickups with a screwdriver and your done
Ofcourse, if you wanted a scratch plate it would be a good idea too have a jigsaw and too do some templates ect so you can cut too fit. This is the end result:And:
And there you go =) I don't currently have the equipment too do a few recordings of it but, it sounds great, especially on a fretless. I will get some sound clips ASAP.
Cheers!
his.
