NOBD - MIM JazzRay

[CiaranQ]

Hey all,

This bass started life back in 1999 as a Standard 3TS MIM Jazz Bass. Then, in 2005 I routed in the Bartolini MM pickup and installed an NTMB preamp. I also shot some Olympic White-ish paint over the burst. I didn't know it at the time, but that's how Fender used to make new colours with their burst bodies, but got lucky with that accidental choice. Some real relic-ing is starting to happen.

Ripped out the NTMB last year, as the balance between the stock neck PU and the Bart MM just never sat well with me. Went passive for a bit, but the mismatched impedances of the pickups also never worked for me.

So, finally I got a new PG cut that deleted the neck PU, and installed an Aguilar OBP-2.

It doesn't quick have the MM level of snap, but it's got a very distinctive tone. And the preamp warms up the bridge-pu to offer some dubby-tones when needed.

I'm happy with it, maybe I'll stop modding now, but probably not.

 

[bassist4dalord]

Very cool! All the looks and comfort of a Jazz with a tone all its own. Looks like a very cool beast!

 

[HeavyJazz]

We all need a "project" bass. Cool!

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I kind of did the same thing...
I have had a couple different electronic/wiring configurations until I settled on what is below:
Pickup wired as Bridge coil/Parallel/Neck coil via 3-way switch. Neck pickup is a MIA Fender Jazz V (non- Vmod). Using a 2-band Duncan Blackout preamp.

First iteration is below, pickup wired in Series and a high-output QP neck pickup.

I switched to lower output neck pickup and Parallel wiring because I wanted to be able to split the coils and not have the impedance mismatch issue.
Parallel and this exposed-pole alnico pickup have a very Stingray-ish vibe, but not nearly as aggressive. Bringing in the neck pickup doesn’t change the tone, just brings in more bottom.