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SX Jazz Surgery

#42
Eric618 said:
Thanks! :)

I scored the nut direct from the Graph Tech website. It's not plastic, it's a man made ivory. It feels very bone-ish.


Man, all this talk of nuts and bones, I'm outta here!!! :ninja:
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LOL

I think the stock one on my SX is plastic, I noticed last string change it was starting to have some problems with the slots "fraying".

I'll have to check Graphtech and check it out, do you remember the number?

I put a Tusq nut on my Tele, and really like them so was thinking of getting one for my SX. Did you have any trouble getting the old one out?
 
#43
RedsFan75 said:
LOL

I think the stock one on my SX is plastic, I noticed last string change it was starting to have some problems with the slots "fraying".

I'll have to check Graphtech and check it out, do you remember the number?

I put a Tusq nut on my Tele, and really like them so was thinking of getting one for my SX. Did you have any trouble getting the old one out?
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I just tried to access the "Products and Ordering" page on the Graph Tech site to check the PN, but that page is down. I have NO idea where the receipt is, either. :(

The old nut was not very friendly in the removal process. lol. I had to remove it in pieces.
 
#44
The original pickguard was sent out today to Pickguardian for duplication in 3-ply white pearloid. Even though the Audere control plate only had a slight difference from the original, I still provided Tony from Pickguardian with the tracings necessary to make it exact. He said the modifications wouldn't be a problem at all.

So, the new one *should* be a perfect fit. :hyper:

I'll throw pics up when I get it back...
 
#46
Rick Blanc said:
Got a part number for the bridge?
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Chrome Schaller Roller Bridge, model 3-D5

bridge_close.jpg


full-1.jpg
 
#47
Thanks.
Two more questions if you don't mind.
1) How did you know where to place the bridge since it's not a direct replacement.
2) do you have a link to where I can get that bridge?

Thanks
 
#48
Rick Blanc said:
Thanks.
Two more questions if you don't mind.
1) How did you know where to place the bridge since it's not a direct replacement.
2) do you have a link to where I can get that bridge?

Thanks
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Not a problem...

The saddle range of motion on this one and the original was very close, so I was able to mount the new one in the same spot. I did drill and dowel the old bridge screw holes first, then re-drilled the new mounting holes for the Schaller.

I got my bridge off e-Bay. They pop up fairly frequently on there. I just checked and there's actually black, gold, and chrome 5-string bridges up now, all from the same seller, and all new and pretty cheap!

Good luck!!!
 
#50
schillzilla said:
Don't forget to shield under the pickup and (if possible) along the route the wire will lay in en route to the control cavity. I forgot once on my first mod and man it irritated me.

zilla
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Sometimes that's difficult. On a top-routed bass like this, shouldn't be a problem, but I recently shielded a Yammie rear-rout that had tunnels for wires. Shielding those is next to impossible; if you really felt you had to the best way to do it would be to clip the pickup signal lead short and replace it with shielded wire.

Whatever you do when replacing the pickups, do NOT twist the wires. It may make it easier to route wires and it may look neater, but the twisted pair will introduce noise from the ground side to the hot side.
 
#51
bassnyc1 said:
This project is great! I can't wait to see it finished!

Just wondering: Did you consider a Badass bridge? I'm wondering what you think the difference is.
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Thanks! I can't wait to see it finished either. :p

I don't have any reason for not using the Badass. I was initially going to use a Hipshot A (my favorite), but wanted something different, and I think the Hipshot would have strayed too far from a typical Fender look (if that makes sense). I always wanted to try one of the Schallers, and I like the look of them. Also, with the issues of strings not perfectly lining up over pole pieces on some SX basses, the adjustable spacing will make that easy to address. Also, the Badass is just too big and bulky, IMO.

Thanks again for the compliment! :)
 
#52
Liko said:
Sometimes that's difficult. On a top-routed bass like this, shouldn't be a problem, but I recently shielded a Yammie rear-rout that had tunnels for wires. Shielding those is next to impossible; if you really felt you had to the best way to do it would be to clip the pickup signal lead short and replace it with shielded wire.

Whatever you do when replacing the pickups, do NOT twist the wires. It may make it easier to route wires and it may look neater, but the twisted pair will introduce noise from the ground side to the hot side.
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Yeah, on this it was no problem. The cavities (as well as drill holes) have all been shielded with copper tape. I was initially thinking I'd have to use paint on the drilled areas, but I was able to route tape through them as well, which I was thrilled about. I wrapped the tape around a #1 Phillips head screwdriver shaft, adhesive side out, and routed it through the holes.The new pickguard will also be shielded before it's thrown on.

The shielding turned out very thorough! :bassist:

BTW, thanks for the advice on twisting the wires!!! :)
 
#53
dude,, that bass looks great,,, looks like it'll be a player for shure.

hey, i just completed a simple mod on my ibanez srx-400 that you should also do on this sx,, made a huge difference in the sustain.

went down to the local ace hardware, & picked up four 10-24 flat head socket cap screws, four 10-24 screw in brass inserts.

took me like a half hour to dramatically inprove the tone, ( i also glued in the screw in inserts ) the neck is solid as ****, & absolutely no dead spots,( when there were before the mod ).

don't put in those wimpy screws :ninja:
 
#54
It's all together!!!!

The Audere preamp sounds GREAT... And that's with old flats I had lying around. VERY pleased thus far.

All I'm waiting for are the white pearloid pickguard, DR Hi-Beams, a thorough setup, and a Trem-Nut nut. I have a Tusq nut on there now, but I decided I wanted the black Trem-Nut instead (to match the bindings).

Regarding the battery placement, that's temporary... There is a battery box on order! :D

SO... All told, and including all shipping prices, we've got:

SX Jazz 5-string (B-stock, originally fretless) - $93.05
Maple block neck from fellow TB'er Azoore - 80.00
Audere Jazz Deluxe 3-band pre - $159.50
Chrome Hipshot Ultralites - $104.90
Chrome Hipshot string tree - $14.99
Chrome Dunlop flush mount strap locks - $16.47
Chrome Schaller roller bridge (used) - $34.00
Custom cut White pearloid pickguard - $56.00
GraphTech Trem Nut - $13.95
Flush-mount battery box - $17.94
Shielding tape - $14.99
_________________________________
Grand total - $605.79

Completed pics will be up once it's COMPLETELY done, but for now...

Comments are requested!!!!! :bassist:

full-2.jpg


full2.jpg


close-1.jpg


close2.jpg


bridge.jpg


down.jpg


headstock-2.jpg


headstock_rear.jpg
 
#57
Herrlster said:
That is awesome.
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Thanks!!! I can't wait to gig with it!!!! I'm guessing a few more weeks until the other parts come in and it's set up.


dinghy said:
No pickguard?

I'm hyperventilating... WHERE'S THE PICKGUARD?!?!?!
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Pickguard is being made... I had to send out the original as a baseline template for the new one to be modeled after. Pics of pearloid bliss will be up as soon as I get it back!! :)
 
#59
LzeroKI said:
I'd love to hear some sound clips with that pre-amp, Im debating about putting an audere in my SX 5er


That bass looks real awesome, and the pearloid pickgaurd will make it look like a million bucks.
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Thanks for the comments, bro. :)

I'll try and get some clips up as soon as it's complete. Based on preliminary ear measurements, GET THE AUDERE!!!! It's reasonably priced for what sounds like an awesome, transparent preamp, and *almost* perfectly fits up against the pickguard. Close enough that probably only you would ever notice a difference.

Thanks again!
 

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