Question about jbass electronics

[Antisyzygy]

Well it's two things. First off, the bass was a gift and I don't want to sell it. Second, the resale value of a Mexican j bass is probably like 300 bucks. For the pickups, wiring harness, bridge, new maple neck, and fresh strings I'm looking at 700 total. So for 700 I can have it exactly the way I want it or sell the Mexican for 300 and pay for a body....then throw the 700 into a neck, pickups, wiring harness, bridge etc haha. If the resale was higher I guess I would understand but a Mexican jazz doesn't go for much used.

Well, figure you could get a body for 100-200 dollars so you could come out a bit ahead selling the whole bass. If it sells for 300 and you find a 100 dollar body, boom! 200 extra for your other parts.

However you could also sell your current neck and all the other parts and make about the same back. The only problem is it's a hassle, you don't always get what it's worth when parting things out, and you might be waiting a long time for it all to sell. There are some businesses that make money parting out Fender instruments however they have the ability to sit on their inventory for months on end waiting for buyers.

Of course, all up to you. No need to defend yourself to us!

 

[Musicman1901]

Well, figure you could get a body for 100-200 dollars so you could come out a bit ahead selling the whole bass. If it sells for 300 and you find a 100 dollar body, boom! 200 extra for your other parts.

However you could also sell your current neck and all the other parts and make about the same back. The only problem is it's a hassle, you don't always get what it's worth when parting things out, and you might be waiting a long time for it all to sell. There are some businesses that make money parting out Fender instruments however they have the ability to sit on their inventory for months on end waiting for buyers.

Of course, all up to you. No need to defend yourself to us!

That is true, I guess I didn't realize how cheap a body is. I suppose part of it is that my dad bought it for me a long time ago and I would feel bad selling it. But dismantling it seems reasonable to me I guess hahahaha

 

[Antisyzygy]

That is true, I guess I didn't realize how cheap a body is. I suppose part of it is that my dad bought it for me a long time ago and I would feel bad selling it. But dismantling it seems reasonable to me I guess hahahaha

I completely understand! I ended up selling the first bass and guitar my parents bought me and I regret it still.

It can help with resale later if you keep the original neck as well, so yeah, lots of ways to go about it. It just depends on what you want to do.

 

[Musicman1901]

Yeah I will save all the parts for sure. Thanks for all the help and info guys

 

[Chrisk-K]

hey guys, so I have a Mexican jazz bass and I have recently decided I'm gonna do all kinds of upgrades to it. Planning on getting lollar pickups, badass II bridge, and an all maple neck.

Even with all the upgrades, your bass will be still a MIM. Sell the MIM, save money for the upgrades, buy a MIA J and play it.

 

[sub-commandante]

I completely understand! I ended up selling the first bass and guitar my parents bought me and I regret it still.

It can help with resale later if you keep the original neck as well, so yeah, lots of ways to go about it. It just depends on what you want to do.

Glad i hung on to mine, even if it only gets love once a year. Short scale sunburst sears japanese jazz, still have the cardboard box it came in.
Thx for that harness link, looks interesting for the project tweaker. Price is great for the parts/labour for sure.

 

[pudgychef]

If you have 700 to spend on parts etc...maybe just save another 50-100, buy a nice used (post 2008) MIA Jazz and keep your MIM, as is, as a nice back up. Works from a $ and sentimental stand point. The classifieds here will give you some good options. Really a post '12 has such nice PUs, great bridge...lovely neck (with rods) and killer build quality

Additional 2 cents (not asked for, yet offered) a BA II is a lot of cash for an 'arguably not' upgrade ...

What year is your MIM?

 

[mikeyjm2]

I suppose part of it is that my dad bought it for me a long time ago and I would feel bad selling it.

Speaking as a 48 yr old guy who still has his first bass ('76 Mustang - bought by my father for me in a pawnshop in Toledo, OH) I completely understand that. No way would I EVER sell that bass. I would sell every other piece of musical equipment I own before I sold that bass. My wife would beat me bloody if I sold that bass. Seriously.

 

[sikamikanico]

Between selling and replacing practically all the parts, there's imo not much of a difference from the sentimental standpoint - you end up without the bass you got as a gift.

From the ROI standpoint, you're probably wasting your money. Best bang for buck in terms of tonal changes are strings. Unless you're set on what brand/model you want, I'd look into trying a few sets, see how the tonal characteristics of the bass change. It's often more than what pickup swaps can do.

That being said, updating the wiring seems like a good upgrade if you prefer blending, though some people realize that a blend pot does not work that well on a passive bass. Give it a try, it's been done, and that eBay guy seems to offer some good options. While you're at it, look into getting caps of different values (perhaps even switchable), that can affect the tonal capabilities of the bass. And maybe a series/parallel switch.

Or, just find a good used jazz bass that you like for $700, and keep both.