MusicMan Pickups on a Jazz bass?

[JChurch_Bass]

I was wondering if it is possible to install a musicman pickup in the bridge position on a jazz bass. I know if i attempted i would have to cut out room for one of these pickups and routing and stuff but i want to know is, has it been done before? What does it sound like? Is it easy?
I may sound stupid but ive always wanted to play with one of these pickups but cant afford the amazing musicman basses.

 

[JChurch_Bass]

I was wondering if it is possible to install a musicman pickup in the bridge position on a jazz bass. I know if i attempted i would have to cut out room for one of these pickups and routing and stuff but i want to know is, has it been done before? What does it sound like? Is it easy?
I may sound stupid but ive always wanted to play with one of these pickups but cant afford the amazing musicman basses.

Aside from th musicman pickup is it possible to add any soap bar pickup into a jazz bass bridge or neck position?

 

[thombo]

no, the musicman body is the ONLY body that can handle the musicman pickpup. the body was specially designed to handle the resonant frequencies of the humbucker. using a different body will result in explosions... or at least splinters.

 

[millsbass5]

Lakland has been doing the MM/J pup conf. since their inception. As a matter of fact,there's few companies that don't offer that option.

 

[Basso54]

Anything is possible with a router and sufficient testicular fortitude.

 

[saxnbass]

I'd be more interested in hearing what it would be like if you put the MM pickup in the neck position and left the J pickup at the bridge.

 

[JavierFarias]

 

[DWBass]

Man, that must sound sweet! Those large pole Delano pickups have some serious booty!

 

[JChurch_Bass]

Thats what i had in mind

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Some variations I have done.

Link Removed

(the customer picked the loud pickguard patterns, not me!)

 

[JChurch_Bass]

Some variations I have done.

(the customer picked the loud pickguard patterns, not me!)

Holy crap, how do those sound?

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Holy crap, how do those sound?

They had ceramic Basslines MM pickups, and the Basslines preamps. They were very bright sounding. Reminded me of a G&L.

The same guy had me do all those, and a few others too, like these. Most of them were Squires.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Link Removed

 

[kasbrey]

Man, that must sound sweet! Those large pole Delano pickups have some serious booty!

As that's my bass I feel qualified to comment

It does sound good but the problem you may encounter is the width of the existing jazz pickup rout. The MM pickup is not as wide so there would be a gap around it. You could minimize this by careful placement but personally I feel this could have a negative effect on the sound.

 

[JChurch_Bass]

I dont mean to sound like im complaining but whenever i come here for help or advice i always end feeling lesser of a bassists. You guys know way too much, im jealous.

 

[Chuck Sylvester]

Just saw this old thread. Here's a question: Anybody ever tried to add a MM pickup to a P-bass? That way, you's be able to have a P-bass sound, and then switch over to the punchy MM sound (or anything in between). You also would be able to make a nice clean rout, since there's no pickup there. I've been thinking about doing this for some time now.

Chuck

 

[droppedurpocket]

Just saw this old thread. Here's a question: Anybody ever tried to add a MM pickup to a P-bass? That way, you's be able to have a P-bass sound, and then switch over to the punchy MM sound (or anything in between). You also would be able to make a nice clean rout, since there's no pickup there. I've been thinking about doing this for some time now.

Chuck

Yep, there is one for sale in the classifieds here. I believe Masterbass! Is selling it. I'm sure he would answer any questions about how it sounds.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Just saw this old thread. Here's a question: Anybody ever tried to add a MM pickup to a P-bass? That way, you's be able to have a P-bass sound, and then switch over to the punchy MM sound (or anything in between). You also would be able to make a nice clean rout, since there's no pickup there. I've been thinking about doing this for some time now.

Chuck

Yup, tons, here the first of many results from google, this one is from TB.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

It does sound good but the problem you may encounter is the width of the existing jazz pickup rout. The MM pickup is not as wide so there would be a gap around it. You could minimize this by careful placement but personally I feel this could have a negative effect on the sound.

A gap around the pickup will not affect the tone. Why would it?

All you really have is a small gap between the two screw tabs on the bass side.

If you look at some basses with the pickguards removed, you can see a big rectangular rout around the pickup that you don't see with the pickguard on. The size of the pickup rout has nothing to do with how the pickup works.

 

[Cougmeister]

Man, after reading this thread I kinda want to buy a cheap project bass to try this out.