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Mod my gift G&L JB-2 Tribute??

SteveC

SteveC

Supporting Member
Nov 12, 2004
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#1
So I have a really nice for what it is G&L JB-2 Tribute jazz bass. Passive single coil (hum) pups and V/V/T controls. It was a gift from my wife and like I said, a nice bass. I used to have flats on it and used it for jazz/pit gigs. Worked well. I didn't like the TI Flats but thats another story. My jazz gigs are usually a summer thing so I put rounds on it ti have as a backup for my cover band gigs where I usually use a Roscoe 5 but could get by with a 4 just fine if I had to.

Anyway, much as I want to have a passive 4 string jazz bass, I just don't like the hum and prefer V/B/T for controls. So, do I put install new pups and preamp which will cost more than the bass did originally, or just leave it as is and use it once in a while for jazz gigs and noodling at home.
 
#2
Where are you going to put the preamp?

put two SB-2 bridge pickups in there:

upload_2017-11-2_11-2-52.png
 
#3
Have you thought about wiring it in series to see if it might get rid of any of the single coil hum? I'm not sure if it would, but I've heard people say that it does.
 
#6
There's certainly no "moral issue" with it. The only question to me when deciding whether or not to spend money on a bass is "How does it PLAY?" If it plays like buttah, go for it. If it's just sort of "meh", save up for a better backup and noodle with that G&L in front of the wife every now and then so she thinks you really dig it. :D
 
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#9
SteveC said:
Brong

Bring it somewhere...
Click to expand...
Well, you can always try it. If you can't get it wired back up correctly then take it to the shop. You could end up saving a lot of money and learning something new that you will no regret learning.

I have to agree with @two fingers about wether you should mod it. That's solid advice.
 
#10
Yeah, I'm torn. I did sell a previous gift from her a few years ago, a Yamaha BB414, so there is precedent, but it does work pretty well as an occasional jazz/pit gig bass so maybe Maybe I'll just leave it as is, try a different set of flats for that use, and just have it in the truck as a backup for cover band gigs, just in case. Then it leaves the house as well. :cool:

I like it ok, just not sure if it's enough to add $300 worth of electronics. Guess I answered my question.
 
#11
Just my .02 but a passive jazz is a nice thing to have around. If I were looking to upgrade without soldering, I'd go with a Richter JB passive control plate and a pair of Dimarzio Ultra Jazz pups. New that setup can be had for $200 or less and you can throw them in yourself. If you can find those used, you can get away even cheaper.
 
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#12
I just got yet another Trib JB2 myself (hoping this one sticks) for backup and string/tuning experiments. I actually like the pickups in the Trib JB2s better than those in the US JB2s (weird, I know) and will be adding the series option to this one. I will also be adding DiMarzio Model Js to it in the future because the adjustable pole pieces have become a must for me (and I like them pretty well in my US JB2). So I'm pro modifying a Trib JB2 although my personal prefs are passive so my cost doing it is less than yours since I don't need a preamp.

One thing to note if you do decide to swap in some different pickups is that the Trib JB2 has identical size pickups like an older MIM Fender J and not different size pickups like pretty much every other J-style bass in the world (including the US JB2).

I have a couple of nice basses that were family gifts for decade birthdays, and those are never getting sold - they are getting inherited. I have had a less expensive bass as a gift (a Hadean uke bass) that I ended up not liking and selling - so I guess I'd say whether to keep/sell based on the gift thing depends on how your wife would take it.
 
#14
They are 3.6” pups. Bartolini makes a matched bridge short pair that are wound like a traditional neck/bridge set for like $150. Might be an option. I don’t need a preamp if I can get rid of he single coil hum.
 
#16
two fingers said:
There's certainly no "moral issue" with it. The only question to me when deciding whether or not to spend money on a bass is "How does it PLAY?" If it plays like buttah, go for it. If it's just sort of "meh", save up for a better backup and noodle with that G&L in front of the wife every now and then so she thinks you really dig it. :D
Click to expand...
Yep yep yep +1
 
#18
SteveC said:
So I have a really nice for what it is G&L JB-2 Tribute jazz bass. Passive single coil (hum) pups and V/V/T controls. It was a gift from my wife and like I said, a nice bass. I used to have flats on it and used it for jazz/pit gigs. Worked well. I didn't like the TI Flats but thats another story. My jazz gigs are usually a summer thing so I put rounds on it ti have as a backup for my cover band gigs where I usually use a Roscoe 5 but could get by with a 4 just fine if I had to.

Anyway, much as I want to have a passive 4 string jazz bass, I just don't like the hum and prefer V/B/T for controls. So, do I put install new pups and preamp which will cost more than the bass did originally, or just leave it as is and use it once in a while for jazz gigs and noodling at home.
Click to expand...

Honestly? If the "hum in the drum" is the primary complaint, I'd grab a pair of split-coil humbucking J pickups (DiMarzio "Ultra Jazz" and "Area J", Seymour Duncan "Apollo Jazz", Delano "JC 4 AL/M2"... I'm pretty sure there are others out there, too), mount them into your bass, and call it a day. I'm personally not a big fan of putting a battery in a control cavity instead of a standalone battery box-- stripped holes where the wood screws secure the control cavity cover are not fun-- but that's your call.
 
#19
3.6" set. Sucks that EMG can't find it in their hearts to sell the SJ (short) pickup separately!
(Well, maybe they would sell you a couple if you asked nicely...)

They do sell the LJ as a single, and also as a PAIR (for Mexican jazz)
 

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