NBD Squier Classic Vibe Jazz

[InstantEctobass]

I'm smitten, and I'm not even a Jazz guy Well, I prefer offset bodies, but you can't beat that P sound. This CV Jazz is a monster though, and the tone with everything on full and then rolling the bridge PU off a touch is great.

If you ever put a split P on the neck position, please replace the bridge with a dual coil humbucking J pickup
PJs with 3 coils is what i hate the most haha

 

[Malak the Mad]

I'm smitten, and I'm not even a Jazz guy Well, I prefer offset bodies, but you can't beat that P sound. This CV Jazz is a monster though, and the tone with everything on full and then rolling the bridge PU off a touch is great.

Not that I have any problem with the stock CV-J pickups, but if you're ever looking for a "beefier" and hum-free Jazz sound, you might want to track down a set of Fender Super 55 split-coil pups. (Silly, naughty Fender for discontinuing those awesome pickups! )

If you ever put a split P on the neck position, please replace the bridge with a dual coil humbucking J pickup
PJs with 3 coils is what i hate the most haha

I did exactly this when I turned my Mighty Mite J-bod into a P/J, all while using the aforementioned Super 55.

Originally, I tried pairing it with a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder because of all the rave reviews they get here on TalkBass. Unfortunately, it was too powerful, even for the likes of the Super 55.

So, I replaced it a Fender-Japan standard split-coil which was a much more balanced pickup suite.

You might notice the different positioning of the split-coil pickup. That's where my "Reggie Hamilton" suggestion comes in. The first time I had it re-routed, it was using a Fender Blacktop Jazz pickup for it's positioning. It was fine and all that, but I'd read about all the engineering put into Reggie's signature Fender Jazz, so Invalid Link Removed

Violá! Moving the pickup a smidge closer to the bridge brought it much, much closer to that classic "Precision sound" every P-Bass lover chases. Go team!!

 

[4sight]

Not that I have any problem with the stock CV-J pickups, but if you're ever looking for a "beefier" and hum-free Jazz sound, you might want to track down a set of Fender Super 55 split-coil pups. (Silly, naughty Fender for discontinuing those awesome pickups! )

No hum problems here at all, the factory shielding job is excellent too.

 

[InstantEctobass]

No hum problems here at all, the factory shielding job is excellent too.

You're mislead, my friend, but no worries that's a common mistake. Huming comes from electromagnetic noise and therefore no shielding/grounding job can prevent that noise. Only a pair of coil on opposite pole positions, or using a dummy coil... etc.

What Malak the Mad refers too is a noise that happens on mostly every single coil pickup. Any double J pickup jazz bass is hum free while running the two coils at the same volume (approx) but buzzing (which is electrostatic noise) can still happen without a proper shielding job.

Cheers!

Not that I have any problem with the stock CV-J pickups, but if you're ever looking for a "beefier" and hum-free Jazz sound, you might want to track down a set of Fender Super 55 split-coil pups. (Silly, naughty Fender for discontinuing those awesome pickups! )


I did exactly this when I turned my Mighty Mite J-bod into a P/J, all while using the aforementioned Super 55.

View attachment 3316033

Originally, I tried pairing it with a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder because of all the rave reviews they get here on TalkBass. Unfortunately, it was too powerful, even for the likes of the Super 55.

View attachment 3316034

So, I replaced it a Fender-Japan standard split-coil which was a much more balanced pickup suite.

You might notice the different positioning of the split-coil pickup. That's where my "Reggie Hamilton" suggestion comes in. The first time I had it re-routed, it was using a Fender Blacktop Jazz pickup for it's positioning. It was fine and all that, but I'd read about all the engineering put into Reggie's signature Fender Jazz, so Invalid Link Removed

View attachment 3316035

Violá! Moving the pickup a smidge closer to the bridge brought it much, much closer to that classic "Precision sound" every P-Bass lover chases. Go team!!

View attachment 3316036

Your bass is freaking beautiful. Beautiful choices. <3

 

[soulman969]

As nice as the bridge is, the whole hi-mass thing is more of a 70s vibe. I know the bridge holes don't line up with standard Fender compatible drop ins - how far off are the screw holes? Total fill/drill required? Tempted to go with a threaded saddle replacement.

I don't know how true that may be of some of the other aftermarket bridges but it's been my experience that a CV Bass is made 100% to MIA Jazz Bass Specs.

I've replaced the pickguard and the pickups in mine and the Babicz FCH Bridge is a simple drop in replacement for a CV or any Fender 5 hole mounting.

I had no problem at all making these upgrades with any item designed to fit an MIA Jazz Bass.

Babicz FCH-4 Bass Bridge

My CV Jazz with Babicz FCH Bridge and Bill Lawrence/Wilde J45 "air gap" noiseless pickups.

 

[4sight]

I'm well aware of the causes of single coil "buzz" thanks, as I said, it's not something I'm experiencing a problem with. Yes, two single coil pickups will hiss a little at less than full volume on both, but it's minimal on my bass, and completely inaudible when playing with a couple of guitarists and drummer

 

[Malak the Mad]

@InstantEctobass; Thanks for explaining "60 Cycle Hum" far better than I could.

As nice as the bridge is, the whole hi-mass thing is more of a 70s vibe. I know the bridge holes don't line up with standard Fender compatible drop ins - how far off are the screw holes? Total fill/drill required? Tempted to go with a threaded saddle replacement.

There is another option. It doesn't require any filling, but you will need to drill a couple extra holes. If you look at the bridge on my "Projekt Blue" bass, I'm using a Fender bridge used for their current American Standard/Deluxe/Professional/Elite basses. I went with that one both for it's slightly higher mass, the threaded saddles and it's rather elegant design.

It's a three-hole system, so all you have to do is screw down the center hole while making sure it's level across it's Y-axis and drill two, new holes. Boom…done!

 

[4sight]

@InstantEctobass; Thanks for explaining "60 Cycle Hum" far better than I could.

I live in the UK, so it's actually 50 cycle hum

And inherent in the design, and not a problem for me.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I live in the UK, so it's actually 50 cycle hum

 

[petrus61]

Yup ... I have seen these all tend to run on the heavy side, the VM's of the same time frame with the agathis bodies are consistently lighter ...

Both James Johnston’s I had were incredibly heavy, the Matt Freeman not so much. I’ve said it before but the CV’s had some of the nicest looking rosewood across any Fender line.

 

[InstantEctobass]

I live in the UK, so it's actually 50 cycle hum

And inherent in the design, and not a problem for me.

Pickup are not only affected by 50 and 60 Hz hum but any hum. I tried to live 2,5km (1,55343 miles) from an airport and believe me, I had a whole range of huming frequencies causing my headaches and impossible to play without a solid made humbucker.

I don't know how true that may be of some of the other aftermarket bridges but it's been my experience that a CV Bass is made 100% to MIA Jazz Bass Specs.

I've replaced the pickguard and the pickups in mine and the Babicz FCH Bridge is a simple drop in replacement for a CV or any Fender 5 hole mounting.

I had no problem at all making these upgrades with any item designed to fit an MIA Jazz Bass.

Babicz FCH-4 Bass Bridge

My CV Jazz with Babicz FCH Bridge and Bill Lawrence/Wilde J45 "air gap" noiseless pickups.

View attachment 3316079

View attachment 3316080

Finally a CV 60s JB with a different pickguard!! Just ordered one! Did it fit well?? Thanks

 

[Vinnie Boombatz]

I picked up a 2009 a couple weeks ago for $150. Mine weighs 9.5 lbs. and is in incredible condition. Strung it with some Fender flats and gave it a setup and see absolutely no reason to change or mod anything on it, including the pickups.

 

[4sight]

I picked up a 2009 a couple weeks ago for $150. Mine weighs 9.5 lbs. and is in incredible condition. Strung it with some Fender flats and gave it a setup and see absolutely no reason to change or mod anything on it, including the pickups.

Pretty much my experience, down to the strings I have a few ounces on you, but anything sub 10lbs is fine with me. Pickups are great, plenty of grunt and surprisingly defined high end.

 

[soulman969]

Pickup are not only affected by 50 and 60 Hz hum but any hum. I tried to live 2,5km (1,55343 miles) from an airport and believe me, I had a whole range of huming frequencies causing my headaches and impossible to play without a solid made humbucker.



Finally a CV 60s JB with a different pickguard!! Just ordered one! Did it fit well?? Thanks

Just as well as any other I've tried. I went with a Fender black pearl for starters but Olympic White has some yellow and brown in it so the match wasn't as good as it would be with a pure Arctic White. Then I tried a mint green before settling on the vintage pearl.

IIRC both the mint green and the vintage pearl were ordered from EY Guitar Parts so they're less expensive MIC imports but made to US specs so they aligned just as well as the far more expensive Fender model did.

I've also purchased from EY Guitar Parts and The Stratospshere for my Teles and all of the pickguards I've bought have aligned well on MIC, MIM, and MIA guitars or basses.

 

[soulman969]

I live in the UK, so it's actually 50 cycle hum

And inherent in the design, and not a problem for me.

You guys get a discount on hum!!!!

 

[InstantEctobass]

Just as well as any other I've tried. I went with a Fender black pearl for starters but Olympic White has some yellow and brown in it so the match wasn't as good as it would be with a pure Arctic White. Then I tried a mint green before settling on the vintage pearl.

IIRC both the mint green and the vintage pearl were ordered from EY Guitar Parts so they're less expensive MIC imports but made to US specs so they aligned just as well as the far more expensive Fender model did.

I've also purchased from EY Guitar Parts and The Stratospshere for my Teles and all of the pickguards I've bought have aligned well on MIC, MIM, and MIA guitars or basses.

I'm glad cause I just ordered a purple pearled pickguard and it should fit then!! I was hesitant with a red one but they are harder to find.

 

[soulman969]

I live in the UK, so it's actually 50 cycle hum

And inherent in the design, and not a problem for me.

And for those who do experience some annoyance with hum when the pickup volumes aren't balanced I might suggest those Bill Lawrence/Wilde J45s I use. They're an air gap noiseless design so hum free.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

The J45s and the P46 PBass pickup are by far the best I've ever used on a Fender bass and quite reasonably priced as well considering their hand built small batch quality. They are that good.

 

[Yammybass]

Not that I have any problem with the stock CV-J pickups, but if you're ever looking for a "beefier" and hum-free Jazz sound, you might want to track down a set of Fender Super 55 split-coil pups. (Silly, naughty Fender for discontinuing those awesome pickups! )


I did exactly this when I turned my Mighty Mite J-bod into a P/J, all while using the aforementioned Super 55.

View attachment 3316033

Originally, I tried pairing it with a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder because of all the rave reviews they get here on TalkBass. Unfortunately, it was too powerful, even for the likes of the Super 55.

View attachment 3316034

So, I replaced it a Fender-Japan standard split-coil which was a much more balanced pickup suite.

You might notice the different positioning of the split-coil pickup. That's where my "Reggie Hamilton" suggestion comes in. The first time I had it re-routed, it was using a Fender Blacktop Jazz pickup for it's positioning. It was fine and all that, but I'd read about all the engineering put into Reggie's signature Fender Jazz, so Invalid Link Removed

View attachment 3316035

Violá! Moving the pickup a smidge closer to the bridge brought it much, much closer to that classic "Precision sound" every P-Bass lover chases. Go team!!

View attachment 3316036

Very classy looking. All i can say is one day lol.

 

[Stranger Danger]

I'm well aware of the causes of single coil "buzz" thanks, as I said, it's not something I'm experiencing a problem with. Yes, two single coil pickups will hiss a little at less than full volume on both, but it's minimal on my bass, and completely inaudible when playing with a couple of guitarists and drummer

It's a trip when people think they know more about your instrument that they've never played than you do. Talkbass Syndrome.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Very classy looking. All i can say is one day lol.

Thanks, Yammy! I'm very proud of my concoction, which is still a bit of a "work in progress". I scored a G&L MFD Precision-style pickup, so we'll see how well that works in conjunction with the Super 55 bridge pup. If it's too powerful, like the Quarter Pounder was, I'll just swap it out again with one of the others I've used that blend properly.

I have a full rundown on this build here, but don't hesitate to hit me up with any questions you might have;

• Unveiling ~ Part Two: Projekt Blue II