Routing Bridge J for MM Style Pickup

Of course it's possible, the MM is about 6 mm wider than the jazz pickup, but it shouldn't be a problem to just dig from the existing route and broaden towards the neck.

A template is still a very good idea, whichever way you look at it.

 

Subbed.
I'm planning the same thing with my squier P/j.

Hopefully you'll post pics of your ideas/progess.





O..theres a little info on this thread:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=700723&highlight=

 

While the MM route is 6mm longer overall, it doesn't completely cover the footprint of the J bridge route. See here:

 

I did this on an old Hamer body, and the MM route did not completely mask the old J rout. I didn't really care since I was using a MM pickguard too (and it was a hacked together project from a set-neck that had been otherwise destroyed) so I just over-routed. But I did set out to try to get it to be a direct replacement, and it wasn't going to work (without filling, etc.). Not all pups are the same AFAIK, so your next step might be to measure the existing rout, and compare the pup you want to use...

 

Check with this guy about a MusicMan trim ring. It will cover the gap.

http://www.fretsonthenet.net/other_parts.htm#MusicMan_Trim_Rings_

 

I'm surprised he's charging so much for such basic black, $16??...metal, sure.

I did find these templates:

http://www.bestbassgear.com/bass-pickup-routing-templates.htm

so for $9, you could rout the cavity first, then you could rout out a cover of your own to hide any gaps left by the J...assuming you're comfortable with a router

 

Assuming you already have a router, correct bit, pick guard material, plus whatever else is needed...

 

Looks to be machined by hand, good price if you ask me.

 

Either way, The J/MM is an extremely good combination, I can personally vouch for that as my main bass has that configuration and the tone spectrum is massive.

 

Yeah...temporarily out of stock on the MM though.


.

 

You can get one from here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pickup-Cavity-R..._Accessories&hash=item483bf3587b#ht_500wt_922

Just tell him template #14.

 

Those templates will work well with a top-bearing template following bit. Any other type of bit will melt the plastic. I like to use the plastic template to make another one out of 1/2" MDF. I've used the MDF templates with straight shank bits and they work OK. I've heard of folks painting superglue onto the bearing edges of the MDF templates to harden them and make them last longer. Using MDF templates will also let you keep the plastic ones as masters.

 

Good tip.