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NBD (Some Assembly Required)

2cooltoolz

2cooltoolz

Supporting Member
Nov 12, 2009
3,167
5,456
73
Portland, OR
#1
Finished my 2012-2013 American Standard Jazz Bass V today! I say finished because it's an assembled parts bass.
All New! Entirely, absolutely, 100% American Standard parts.....except for the Lindy Fralin standard wound, single coil pickups. I originally intended to use an Audere pre-amp I had pulled off another project bass, but decided to keep it true and go with CTS and Switchcraft on a Fender plate. Why Fralins, then?? If you have to ask...

So, basically...Before:

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And After:

sunburstandmaplejazzv.jpg


The pics were taken before the set-up, by the way, and the string spacing has now been sorted out.

So why do it myself, instead of just buying one? Well, there are a couple of reasons. One, Fender doesn't offer this color/neck combination in the V. Another; it was fun!! Already planning my Precision!
Most important:

"This is my bass. There are many like it, but this one is mine."
 
#2
I used copper tape from Stew-Mac for shielding:

am_jazzv_shielding.jpg


and went with the standard Fender Tort pickguard with the Maple board. Shooting for "Classic":

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I previously owned an MIM Fender Jazz V. I wanted to defend the B string on that bass when the topic came up on TB, but just couldn't. It was definitely a different feel and sound from the other strings, but I had almost no experience with 5ers and just assumed that was to be expected.

The B on this bass IS just one more, albeit lower pitched, string. Yes, the gauge is different, but it is articulate, musical, and blended, every note, down to B.
 
#5
2cooltoolz said:
I used copper tape from Stew-Mac for shielding: and went with the standard Fender Tort pickguard with the Maple board. Shooting for "Classic":

I previously owned an MIM Fender Jazz V. I wanted to defend the B string on that bass when the topic came up on TB, but just couldn't. It was definitely a different feel and sound from the other strings, but I had almost no experience with 5ers and just assumed that was to be expected.

The B on this bass IS just one more, albeit lower pitched, string. Yes, the gauge is different, but it is articulate, musical, and blended, every note, down to B.
Click to expand...

Burst, tort....Yeah can't miss!

Well a Jazz V B string (especially pre-2008) IS hard to defend. I've got a MIM Deluxe V (2002) and it took a LOT of work to get it decent. It's not bad now but still could be better with say an Am Std. body like yours instead of the MIM 12 piece jobbie.

Yeah, mine is burst, tort and I think it even has flats right now.

Really cool project bass that is obviously worth the effort. I don't know why Fender has taken all these years to figure out that a really decent 5 string Fender-style bass is something worthwhile to own.

Totally cool "real" Bass!
 
#9
Nice bass! I've got a Precision and Jazz that I did the same thing with a while back. It's funny b/c I decided to put Fender Custom 60's PUP's in my basses before Fender did in their 2012 line. It was a lot of fun to do, especially with quality parts that just work. A bit costly though...

Anyway congrats!
 

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