• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Mexican Jazz Bass Replacement Hardware and/or Pick-Ups?

I

idontplaybass

Jan 20, 2008
15
0
Gaithersburg, MD
#1
I have a Fender Jazz Bass (Mexican) and I was hoping to switch out the bridge and potentially the tuners and machine heads. I'm having a lot of trouble finding vendors who distinguish between parts that will fit a American Vs. a Mexican. I'm trying to avoid finding original Mexican parts. Third party parts are welcome (badass, etc.)

Is there a place where I can find better hardware and parts that will definitely fit a Mexican Fender J?

Any extra information regarding Mexican J Basses or J Basses in general would be awesome.
 
#2
Any bridge with a five hole "Fender Pattern" will fit just fine. There's the BAII, Hipshot Vintage, Wilkinson, Gotoh, etc. They're not hard to find. In fact, Hipshot is now producing their A and B style bridges in a five hole configuration that will fit your bass. You can get the A style cheap here Link Removed You can order either one direct from Hipshot, just call and ask for it. They're really cool to work with. If you get the Xtender, you'll probably want a Graphtech self lubricating nut too.

Tuners - Hipshot HB7 tuners/BT7 Xtender - Specifically made for Mexican Fenders. The Hipshot 3 String Retainer is cool too, and pretty unnecessary, but it does look awesome and keep your A string from riding too high and flat over the nut.

Pickups - If it's a newer Mexican, and the bridge pickup is a little wider than the neck one, it shouldn't be a problem. You can pretty much take your pick from DiMarzio, Fender, Fralin, Seymour Duncan, etc.

The market on this stuff is frickin' huge. In addition to the stuff listen in my sig, I've got Schaller Strap Locks, a Hipshot 3 String Retainer, Tortoise shell pickguard, Vol/Blend/Tone control setup and I'll be adding the Drop D Xtender and one of the Hipshot bridges soon - I haven't decided which one.
 
#4
If you enjoy modifying it, then it's wise. I enjoy tinkering and trying to make my bass into exactly what I want almost as much as playing. A Mexican Fender is a great place to start because it's a competent instrument right out of the box, it's easy to find parts, easy to do most modifications yourself - I have ZERO experience with electronics and building things, but I can take out some screws, stick something different on and put the screws back in - and it's inexpensive. So, you can go gradually, use quality parts, and end up with a nice custom bass that's not quite like anybody else's, all while having a buttload of fun and making a real connection with your instrument. Worst case, if you don't like it, you can sell the parts, put it back together with the original stuff, sell the bass and start over. Then, you've lost a little cash, but aside from that, where's the downside?

By the way, Hipshot's website is www.hipshotproducts.com Poke around there, and Link Removed You'll have a wishlist as long as your arm before you know it.
 
#5
The Hipshot HB7 tuners are a drop in replacement, but they're heavy. I tried this, but sold the tuners as the bass still had poor balance (not trying to get flamed here, but stock fenders DO neck dive, enough to annoy me at least.)

I've replaced the HB7's with hipshot ultralites, and the balance is amazing. If one was a D-tuner, I think the balance would still be good.

Hipshot, BAII, or gotoh bridge, they're all good. The Gotoh is the cheapest, and works very well.

haven't tried a ton of pickups, but I can tell you that EMGs are ok, but sound kinda fake. Of the few I've played, Fender 62RI pickups have been the best sounding.
 
#7
Yeah. I'm realizing that for all of the hipshot four string fender a series bridges, they provide only 3 screws. Drilling and putting in new screws isn't an issue for me as long as the fit isn't an issue.

I'm definitely just trying to make the bass more "homey". I am looking forward to trying out all kinds of parts.

I was trying to entertain the idea of putting an Xtender for every string. Any issues aside from weight (which is seldom an issue for me)?

Thanks a lot, everyone.
 
#8
idontplaybass said:
Crap.

Thats awesome. Thanks a lot for all the info. Is it wise to modify a Mexican J-Bass this much? I'm thinking its not a bad idea.

Is HipShot the way to go?

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

It's totally acceptable to mod a Mexi. I would be willing to bet over half of the MIMs owned by forum members have had SOMETHING swapped out. Here's my laundry list of mods to my Mexi, which was bought specifically to mod:

  • New pickguard (pretty much a gimme; white pearl for the stock white)
  • Dimarzio Ultra Jazz pickups
  • AllParts high-mass bridge (it was cheap and available immediately; may swap again for a BAII or Gotoh 201)
  • Here's a big one; I bored a 3/4" hole in the side for a side jack plate.
  • With the extra hole on the control plate, I wired the bass for VVTT.

The tuners are fine for now; I like Fender's big elephant-ears and I think the "kipper key" style just looks wrong on a Fender headstock. The quality's not terrible either. I will probably have a new nut cut at some point; the current one's spacing is a little off.
 
#9
Do it if you want to do it, as it won't hurt a thing...it will just cost you money.

You should answer these questions first.....

1) What's wrong with the factory bridge, and what specific advantage will you gain from changing it?

2) What's wrong with the factory pickups, and what specific advantage will you gain from changing them?
 
#10
i just modded my Mexican FSR Jazz with a preamp. Details in another thread.

I'm with Ric5 on the J-Retro. Amazing Preamp for the FSR.

I thought about swapping the pup, the bridge and the tuners, but came to realize it was simply Mod frenzy after having
such success with the J-Retro.

i did swap out the pick guard from tort to black.

i swear, after adjusting the trim pots on the J-Retro, the evenness of the string response is pretty amazing.

i MAY experiment with a bridge PUP, but i am extremely satisfied now.
 
#11
To follow up - I had a MIM Jazz (about a 2000 model) for some years and I couldn't fault any piece of hardware on it, including the pickups.

Don't make changes because you just want to do something - it's all money and you may end up with no better, just "different."

I confess that I did make two changes: 1) a black pearloid pickguard; 2) bridge and pickup covers.

Why? Simply cosmetics. I thought it looked great that way, and so did everyone in my band.

PB070026.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: frederic b. hodshon and 96tbird

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back