Squier Contemporary Jazz V: No Love?

[jd56hawk]

A lot of people complain about the pickups and preamp, but I'm betting they haven't tried tapewounds or flatwounds.
Other than that, plenty of fans on Facebook.

 

[Bevan777]

They are P2 size soapbars, I suppose.
https://bartolini.net/application/p2/

Read following TB threads:
Mods for a Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass
Squier Contemporary Active Jazz 5 preamp swap?

And some samples with changed pickups and/or preamp:
Love Theory- Squier Contemporary Jazz w/ Barts
In the Midst-Byron Cage (Squier Contemporary Jazz V w/ Bartolini (the same bass but look at the mods!)
Squier Contemporary Jazz Bass 5 with nordstrand fat stacks
Nordstrand Big Single Pickups + Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH - Sound Demo

Very useful links thanks!

It’s happening. Just filed the pot holes a little larger and now the preamp is going in.

 

[Blues Bass 2]

Pickups are P2 size . I put Nordstrand Big Blades and an Audere 3 band classic pre in mine , sounds wonderful . I changed the bridge to a Hipshot A style aluminum bridge and Hipshot clover ultralites . Blacked out the knobs , string retainers . With the Ash body and Maple neck this thing sustains forever and the B string is really focused . The knobs from the stock bass fit the Audere pots perfectly so that was a plus . This bass is a beast and that is what I call it .

 

[Bevan777]

It is done. Initial impressions are excellent. So much more transparent and clear. Will do a proper post when I have more time.

 

[Bevan777]

Pickups are P2 size . I put Nordstrand Big Blades and an Audere 3 band classic pre in mine , sounds wonderful . I changed the bridge to a Hipshot A style aluminum bridge and Hipshot clover ultralites . Blacked out the knobs , string retainers . With the Ash body and Maple neck this thing sustains forever and the B string is really focused . The knobs from the stock bass fit the Audere pots perfectly so that was a plus . This bass is a beast and that is what I call it .

View attachment 7094570View attachment 7094571View attachment 7094572

Nice job. Looks great!

I might copy you on the hipshot bridge, it looks very nice.

 

[Smokas]

It is done. Initial impressions are excellent. So much more transparent and clear. Will do a proper post when I have more time.

Well done, it's confirmed that pickups work as passive.

 

[Smokas]

[...] I changed the bridge to a Hipshot A style aluminum bridge and Hipshot clover ultralites . [...]

Is it .669" (17mm) string spacing?

 

[Blues Bass 2]

The bridge was supposed to be 18mm but it was just a tad narrower with the B and G saddles all the way to the outside . The strings are well spaced for the neck size and with the blade pickups the spacing isn't critical . I got the bridge from the Talkbass classifieds .

 

[tom-g]

Changed pickups and preamp on mine:

Nordstrand Zen Blades, 2 Switches (series, parallel, single), Audere 3 Band and Luminlay side dots.

Edit: and a battery LED.

 

[Smokas]

There are some informations on problems with preamp change in Squier Contemporary PH:
NBD!!! Squier Contemporary Active Precision PH V - page 3

 

[Joel T]

My 5-string Contemporary Jazz Bass is fretless. Originally fretted, I was able to find someone that was nice enough to make this bass fretless. I took it to a local Sam Ash music store last year, as their guitar tech was able to get the job done beautifully. This is probably one of the last fretless conversion projects done by that Sam Ash store before it was closed down. I went to the Sam Ash music store in (NJ Route 27) Edison, NJ. If I'm correct, it was one of the last of the Sam Ash music stores to remain open in the country. The one in nearby Springfield (off of U.S. Route 22) closed a little later.

R.I.P. Sam Ash music stores 🕊️

 

[Bevan777]

I made a couple of videos with mine. It has the John East Pre.





Not the best sound demo as I’ve got some effects there.

 

[Bevan777]

Ok I think I really managed to capture this basses tone on this video: