New pickups in MIM Jazz make no difference.

[Pilgrim]

If it's not a bad pickup, I'm wondering about the strings. A set of Labella flatwounds adds a lot of depth and removes the zing.

 

[Houston]

Strings - that's an interesting thought. I've got a set of flatwounds that have been waiting a good reason to be installed. I haven't used flats since about 1979 or 1980, but they just might make this bass have a desirable personality. Actually, I got these to get a sort of (believe it or not) Gene Simmons sound without buying a Gibson bass.

Anyway, I'm going to try flipping the wires again and see what happens.

Thanks again!
Joey

 

[Houston]

I played a bit tonight with fresh ears, and its not as bad as thought it was. Its not great, but its not bad. I still bugs me that the volume pots make such a radical change. Instead of a gradual lessening of the bridge pickup (as I turn it down from 10), going from 10 to 9 is like flipping a switch. Do the MIM basses have the same pots as the American basses?

Anyway, I'll flip the wires again and plug it in tomorrow night when I can make some quality noise.

 

[PilbaraBass]

...I still bugs me that the volume pots make such a radical change. Instead of a gradual lessening of the bridge pickup (as I turn it down from 10), going from 10 to 9 is like flipping a switch. ...

by replacing linear taper pots with audio taper (log B) pots, you'll get a lot more linearity between your volume levels and your pot positions...

personally, I've learned to live with it on my P/J

 

[4Mal]

The stock MIM's I've seen or worked on came with audio taper pots. Definately check that out!

 

[Houston]

I believe most of my problem lies in these pots, which must be audio taper. Since I've been playing with it, I can get a pretty fair sound out of it if I roll the bridge volume back to 9 or 9 1/2. Any more than that and the neck pickup just dies.

I'll know a lot more when our band practices anyway. Whatever it sounds like to me in the garage will sound way different with a couple of guitars and a drummer.

Thanks again!
Joey

 

[GlennW]

One of my basses does the same thing. When both volumes are on 10 it's quieter than when either one is on 10 and the other on 9 - a pretty big difference. They're old CTS pots.

I wouldn't start swapping pots until you've adjusted pickup-to-string distance.

I think the flats will be a step in the direction you want to go.

 

[PilbaraBass]

I believe most of my problem lies in these pots, which must be audio taper. Since I've been playing with it, I can get a pretty fair sound out of it if I roll the bridge volume back to 9 or 9 1/2. Any more than that and the neck pickup just dies.

I'll know a lot more when our band practices anyway. Whatever it sounds like to me in the garage will sound way different with a couple of guitars and a drummer.

Thanks again!
Joey

don't get confused...

the problem you have described is consistant with LINEAR taper pots...

it's certainly easy enough to check out with an ohm-meter.

 

[4Mal]

One of my basses does the same thing. When both volumes are on 10 it's quieter than when either one is on 10 and the other on 9 - a pretty big difference. They're old CTS pots.

What you are describing is normal behavior for a J. Hint: setup your rig for both pickups on 10, then when you need a little goose, roll off the neck pickup a bit. You get volume and mid range bump. This is one reason that the J has been a mainstay for so long... Yes it's a quirk - but it can be used to your advantage.