No-mod, retrofit Jazz control plate pre with quick-change battery compartment?

[Temcat]

Is there such a thing as no-mod, retrofit control-plate Jazz preamp with a quick-change battery compartment so you don't have to unscrew the control plate every time you want to change the battery and don't need to route your bass? I do realize it would be pretty cramped even for 2 bands, but still.

 

[tb-player]

If you don’t have a dedicated battery compartment, most likely you’re unscrewing the plate to get to the battery. If you can live with that, Trickfish just released a drop in pre that is VERY intriguing.

 

[jeff62]

The answer is an obvious no but you can limit the need to unscrew the control plate by using a good 9v lithium battery. Someone on here has a John East pre for sale in the classifieds. His pre is the best.

 

[BGroovy]

You’re likely only changing it once a year. Set a calendar reminder. Use it as a spa day for the bass. Clean your fretboard, clean and polish the body, change the battery.

 

[ahbass2500]

Agree with the above two posts. A quick change compartment built into the control plate would have way too many compromises involved to save you 2 minutes every time you need to change the battery (which is probably annually unless you are leaving your bass plugged in all the time).

Also East preamps are excellent.

 

[seedokebass]

I'm surprised no one has made a Jazz bass plate with USB-C charging port. It would need a plug to keep the dirt and grime out but that would be easy.

PM me so I can receive my royalty checks for this idea.

 

[ahbass2500]

I'm surprised no one has made a Jazz bass plate with USB-C charging port. It would need a plug to keep the dirt and grime out but that would be easy.

PM me so I can receive my royalty checks for this idea.

It has been done (though I am not aware of one with a Jazz plate). East made a rechargeable precision circuit, some of the Fishman Fluence setups have it, Lightwave pickup system had it, probably several more I am missing.

There have been a few external power options for active setups too. EMG still offers one: Invalid Link Removed

 

[Geri O]

There’s two more drop-in Jazz control plate/preamps available these days.

Audere makes some nice ones with a few variations and Trickfish has the new J Core preamp. Both of these come with a battery holder for a single 9-volt.

Am much as I love the John East J Retro, I dropped in (sorry) an Audere Jazz Plate because I needed a replacement preamp very quickly and I could get it a lot quicker than the J Retro.

It’s actually a very good-sounding preamp. It’s not quite as transparent as I had heard about, which is fine.

I found out about the Trickfish J Core the day after I ordered the Audere. I am very curious about the J Core based on my experience with the IPA preamp. It’s arriving today and I’ll write more about it tonight.

Again, I love the John East preamps, but it’s quite the wait for one to arrive to here in the states. Worth the wait, if you have the time.

 

[Peteyboy]

I'm surprised no one has made a Jazz bass plate with USB-C charging port. It would need a plug to keep the dirt and grime out but that would be easy.

PM me so I can receive my royalty checks for this idea.

The USB-C port is the sole thing that would make me consider this modification.

 

[Lardass5000]

No

 

[LAST_C]

I'm surprised no one has made a Jazz bass plate with USB-C charging port. It would need a plug to keep the dirt and grime out but that would be easy.

PM me so I can receive my royalty checks for this idea.

I was just going to suggest this. There's got to be a battery somewhere, that's slim enough to fit inside the cavity and charge it via USB. Let's say you have to plug in your bass every week or two but we already do that with most of our electronic equipment. Seems a no-brainier to me.

 

[fhm555]

A better way to go is find a Deluxe J body. It has a battery compartment for a single 9V, but you can work on it a little and get a couple of 9V batteries in if needed.

 

[Saetia]

Can vouch for John East. Soo good.

Lusithanddevices seems to have a WW drop on Jazz plates. They have both front jack and side jack and they even have a Jazz Plate with a GK 800 RB in it. No experience with em.

 

[CoughSyrup]

If I had a drill press and was in this situation, I would drill out the screw holes in the body and glue in threaded inserts that would let me use machine screws for the control plate instead of wood screws. It wouldn't be "quick-release" but it would keep you from wearing out the screw hole from taking the control plate off and on constantly.

 

[bigtone23]

You’re likely only changing it once a year. Set a calendar reminder. Use it as a spa day for the bass. Clean your fretboard, clean and polish the body, change the battery.

This. My hungriest preamp needs a battery every 8 months or so. However, it's an 80s era design and not as efficient as the more modern preamps (including a J Retro). These can all go 2 years if you are diligent with unplugging when not playing. I do the once a year battery change, too. I just pick the first week of the new year to do so.

 

[paskisti]

If I had a drill press and was in this situation, I would drill out the screw holes in the body and glue in threaded inserts that would let me use machine screws for the control plate instead of wood screws. It wouldn't be "quick-release" but it would keep you from wearing out the screw hole from taking the control plate off and on constantly.

That would be top notch mod and give a piece of mind for many, including me.

Quick release would be with magnets. A bit like Dingwall fastened their battery compartment cover.

However, both need at least slight modification to bass, just like adding preamp to bassive bass already is