I have a Fender MIM jazz bass (a year 2000), and I've had it for about a year or so. I've replaced the the bridge with a gotoh series, put on a new pickguard, etc.. However I never quite feel as though the bass is as bright sounding as I'd like. The bass has always felt a little "dull" to me no matter what changes I make to it. Not to mention it's also very heavy weight-wise. As I've now become more interested in funk and music which requires a brighter and more involved sound, I stand at a crossroads. I'm not sure if I should take the final leap of faith with this bass and add new pickups to achieve a better sound or if I should sell it and buy a new bass (looking at the "SX Ursa 2 Hum MN BK" on rondomusic specifically). What do you guys think? Should I try again with my potentially bland Fender or should I sell it and give an SX bass with a Music Man style pickup a chance?
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Not sure if I should replace pickups or sell bass?
- Thread starter ceruer
- Start date
- Jun 28, 2012
- 131
- 2
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Luna Guitars, Ashdown Engineering, Cactus Picks
I've personally found that pickups can completely change the sound of a bass, the bridge and other hardware not so much IME.
I'd buy some pickups from the classified and think about gabbing some nice pots, jack and caps(not sure what's in a MIM, if there the same as US then skip that)
Like the poster above said: Pickups will make the biggest change. If that gives you the sound then later buy some Hipshot tuners. If not put the old pickups back in, sell the pickups separately and the bass.
Like the poster above said: Pickups will make the biggest change. If that gives you the sound then later buy some Hipshot tuners. If not put the old pickups back in, sell the pickups separately and the bass.
I completely understand. I have a mim jazz that i never bonded with. I had enough money for one pickup and got a dimarzio model j to put in the bridge position, no neck pickup. I instantly loved the sound. I recently bought a geddy lee jazz and wasnt excited about the stock pickups. Put in a set of dimarzio...BAM! Love the bass now. This isnt a commercial for dimarzio, just a recommendation for a pickup swap.
What kind of strings are on it?
I ask because I had a Squier Standard Jazz that, despite putting in a Quarter Pounder pickup, was underperforming. At the same time I'd also put on some very light flats (40-95's) on it figuring they'd compliment each other well. Like I said, it was not performing well and thoughts of selling it came on strong. But to be sure it would be the right decision I tried out a set of Cobalt roundwounds on it (50-105's) and it came alive like never before.
To make a long story short, try changing up the strings before making a hasty decision. It's far from the most expensive way to confirm it as a viable bass guitar.
I ask because I had a Squier Standard Jazz that, despite putting in a Quarter Pounder pickup, was underperforming. At the same time I'd also put on some very light flats (40-95's) on it figuring they'd compliment each other well. Like I said, it was not performing well and thoughts of selling it came on strong. But to be sure it would be the right decision I tried out a set of Cobalt roundwounds on it (50-105's) and it came alive like never before.
To make a long story short, try changing up the strings before making a hasty decision. It's far from the most expensive way to confirm it as a viable bass guitar.
I'd say yes to new pickups, which are notoriously weak and dull in MIM Fenders.
Roundwounds, new pickups and make sure you have 500K pots.
If you really like the bass already, and it's playability, it's worth upgrading rather than changing.
Roundwounds, new pickups and make sure you have 500K pots.
If you really like the bass already, and it's playability, it's worth upgrading rather than changing.
If you decide to swap pickups, double check to see if it has two neck pickups or if the bridge pickup is bridge width. I'm not sure what year it changed. Just throwing that out there.
Good advice all around, I appreciate it guys. I currently have some pretty new roundwound strings on it, but it would appear that the pickups are indeed the problem. I'm a bit hesitant still with this bass, but I'm definitely going to look around for some pickups.
Strings are cheaper than pickups, and often the right strng makes all the difference. If you've tired a few different strings, then pickups would be the next thing to try. If you want really bright and punchy, I wouldn't go with humbuckers, though.
The older MIM's didn't have great pickups in them. They almost always needed an upgrade if one wasn't happy with the sound.
My experience, of course.
My experience, of course.
Acoustically, the bass sounds fine. The only inherent problem barring the electronics is probably the weight of the bass. I've tried 3-4 different type of strings, rounds and flats, and it almost seemed to me as though bass was naturally more conducive to the flatwounds (although that isn't quite what I want at this point in time).
Could anyone expand upon what WoodyG3 said about not going with humbuckers if I'm looking for a bright sound?
Could anyone expand upon what WoodyG3 said about not going with humbuckers if I'm looking for a bright sound?
Go to local music shop and let them know your issues. Tell them what strings you are using and see what they suggest. I purchased a set of Curt Mangan Nickel roundwounds at the recommendation of the salesman for a MIM Active jazz at our church. It sounded great, even acoustically. I also just changed from GHS pressure wounds to Dunlop nickels on a bass that I recently acquired, totally changed the sound!!! Strings are much cheaper and more easily reversible than any other option, and if they don't do what you want, you can always sell them to someone else to recoup some of your $$.
Try some new strings like D'Add Prosteels - if that doesn't help you might consider selling it. New pickups won't add value nor will it help with the weight issue. They are so many other basses out there to try ... or check out the TB classifieds.
Sounds like I'm in the minority, but I was in the same dilema you were. I have a MIM Zone that always sounded weak so I decided to go all in and replace the PUP's and Preamp with Nordstrands. There was an improvement, but the E string still sounded weak and just never "did it" for me. A lot of money and research for a less than stellar outcome. I bought a new Stingray last week and everything just feels and sounds better. The Zone will hopefully be sold in the near future...YMMV
Thanks for the input everybody. I'm going to sell it if I'm able. I just don't feel as though the bass is worth the effort after further thought on the matter. Hopefully I'll be able to find something a little more lovable this time.
A local player here has the same bass and put some Duncan's in it and it rocks. He also has a baddass bridge and the pickups are wired to a killswitch and got rid of the tone and volume pots. His bass is actually a bit over the top when it comes to being punchy IMO
If lack of brightness is the only issue, you might want to try changing the tone pot to a 500k, maybe even a TBX. The 500k is an inexpensive, fairly easy swap and may be exactly what you need. The TBX requires a little more soldering, but would give you more variation - roll one way cuts treble, the opposite way cuts bass. Standard tone pots only cut treble.
SX's seem to get mixed reviews here. Some people love them stock, others completely gut them and replace the components with their preferred materials, essentially using the neck and body as blanks.
Personally, I would swap the tone pot first. Sometimes the little things make a big difference.
SX's seem to get mixed reviews here. Some people love them stock, others completely gut them and replace the components with their preferred materials, essentially using the neck and body as blanks.
Personally, I would swap the tone pot first. Sometimes the little things make a big difference.
