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NBD: OG Vintage Modified 77 Jazz

kmon

kmon

Supporting Member
May 11, 2009
3,012
5,205
Chocolate Disneyland
#1
This thing was a disaster when I picked it up on FB for $100. Filthy, stickers, and a BOWED neck.

Now I've had plenty of used finds with necks bowed to hell and back and I've always been able to dial them in. This one was tricky though and I ended up clamping it with some heat pretty aggressively. That got things almost there, but even maxing the truss rod I couldn't quite get the action where I wanted it, and if I lowered the strings too much I got some hellacious buzz on the E and A, just the second fret. Basically the neck was still a little wonky.

So I shimmed it just a bit, tweaked the truss rod just a bit more, and we have arrived. Normally I would have given up a ways back, but the fact is that this thing sounded bloody great. So good, in fact, that I was willing to deal with a less-than-optimal setup, but that seems to have resolved itself.

I added the Fender knobs and the hi mass bridge, bout $40 or so. I'm glad I stuck with this one. For the money, it's turned out absolutely great and I think it looks cool as hell.

IMG_2441.JPG


IMG_2440.JPG
 
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#6
kmon said:
This thing was a disaster when I picked it up on FB for $100. Filthy, stickers, and a BOWED neck.

Now I've had plenty of used finds with necks bowed to hell and back and I've always been able to dial them in. This one was tricky though and I ended up clamping it with some heat pretty aggressively. That got things almost there, but even maxing the truss rod I couldn't quite get the action where I wanted it, and if I lowered the strings too much I got some hellacious buzz on the E and A, just the second fret. Basically the neck was still a little wonky.

So I shimmed it just a bit, tweaked the truss rod just a bit more, and we have arrived. Normally I would have given up a ways back, but the fact is that this thing sounded bloody great. So good, in fact, that I was willing to deal with a less-than-optimal setup, but that seems to have resolved itself.

I added the Fender knobs and the hi mass bridge, bout $40 or so. I'm glad I stuck with this one. For the money, it's turned out absolutely great and I think it looks cool as hell.

View attachment 7440042

View attachment 7440041
Click to expand...
The first run VM 77J with Duncan design pickup.
 
#9
I have one of these VM Jazz. I got it as a back up. Cheaper than my first bass that I learned on and about 100x better. It sounds great, and I was able to dial in a very low action.

I gig it any time we play a bar. At first I did that because it's replaceable, but now because it sounds good. I'd be sad to see something happen to it.

I half planned to mod it, but it's so good I didn't bother. I did put on a different pickguard I had laying around. Mine has a bent plate bridge, so maybe yours was swapped.
 
#10
Congrats! Looks great

My VM Squier Jazz -- It's definitely not OG anymore, from tuners pickups electronics and bridge. I do have a truly OG unmolested version of a lined fretless,

Hipshots and EMG. But basically a solid playing bass with a slightly finicky B and only prefers certain strings ( Finicky as in Intonation compared to a EBMM Stingray 5 for example ) MY workhorse bass for community ( Non experimental non improvisational ) gigs. Bar and rough spots bass :D

1772041964442.png
 
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