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Tailoring a Squier Affinity Jazz Bass... My build thread.

#21
I got off work early today and played a Jazz just like yours at a local music store.

I hooked it up to a Rumble 200. It sounded and played great. The neck was very good and the the frets
were nice and smooth. I really liked the color, too. I can see why you wanted this bass.

I checked out your blog site, very nice. Looking at your wood shop, I am sure that you'll have no problems doing whatever mods you want to your bass.

I am looking forward to seeing your finished project.
 
#22
Tad said:
I got off work early today and played a Jazz just like yours at a local music store.

I hooked it up to a Rumble 200. It sounded and played great. The neck was very good and the the frets
were nice and smooth. I really liked the color, too. I can see why you wanted this bass.

I checked out your blog site, very nice. Looking at your wood shop, I am sure that you'll have no problems doing whatever mods you want to your bass.

I am looking forward to seeing your finished project.
Click to expand...

I didn't think I linked the blog to here... Trying to avoid conflict of interest, but yeah, I'm set up. I guess you can tell I prefer to get what works and mod the snot out of it... I did something similiar to a Harbor Freight 14" band saw that will run circles around a high dollar Powermatic... No resale value, but by the time that's important I will likely be dead anyway...
 
#23
Big Hoss said:
Depends on what the paint vendor comes up with...

Looking at Guitar Reranch website, it looks like Nitrocellulose lacquer. Any recommendations for masking tape, and a clear to use with this? Would brush on type lacquer work as a clear or do I need something special?
Click to expand...

If you're looking for a good clear coat in a rattle can that is compatible with Reranch nitro, check out Minwax lacquer. I use the gloss (black can), and it's available at most big box stores. Reranch clear is great too, but if you want to save a few bucks, the Minwax is the way to go. You shouldn't need more than one can for the headstock (and make sure you buy the lacquer, not the polyurethane).
 
#24
friskinator said:
If you're looking for a good clear coat in a rattle can that is compatible with Reranch nitro, check out Minwax lacquer. I use the gloss (black can), and it's available at most big box stores. Reranch clear is great too, but if you want to save a few bucks, the Minwax is the way to go. You shouldn't need more than one can for the headstock (and make sure you buy the lacquer, not the polyurethane).
Click to expand...

I've got 3 cans of the black can Minwax Lacquer... I think I am good...
 
#26
Big Hoss said:
Well, the pickguard I had selected, and paid for apparently will not ship from the wonderful supplier in China, Ebay seller "Friendstore1682010" apparently had sold out prior to my purchase, and kept the listing up anyway... I WILL keep Talkbass posted on whether or not I have to challenge them via Ebay and PayPal...
Click to expand...

The Ebay seller refunded the money promptly. Still a bit cheesed that they had an item up on auction and were able to cancel the sale because they didn't really have any of the item to sell.
 
#27
Big Hoss said:
Digging around online, it seems that no matter the "series" Fender makes running changes on their instruments seemingly between each instrument... I will have to do a tracing and find someone that makes a good pick guard at a good price from my tracing... Going to give Danny D's a shot first...
Click to expand...
You may want to try Mike Quick of Quick Guards also. He did custom guard for my Lakland DJ5 and it was perfect..good luck with your mods, waiting on the finished product.
 
#28
I found another Ebay supplier for the pick guard, they "claim" it fits the Affinity 4 string Jazz, so we'll see about that... 30 return policy, but it was cheap enough, sending it back might cost more than the purchase price... As long as it is close enough to do some minor shaving I have no problem with it... It's a Classic Vibe 60s PG that allegedly is a takeoff from a previously customized Affinity Jazz... The holes are the right number and appear to be in the correct locations so that's a start anyway...

I did some measuring at the prompting of TJH, and wanted to reiterate my findings here. On the current 2015 Production Affinity Jazz Bass 4 string, the bridge pickup is ~3/16" longer than the neck pickup. Meaning the DD, and other "standard" Jazz Pickup sets are a direct drop in replacement.

So far the status of gathering my materials is...

#1. DD pickups, wire, solder etc. Delivered and in inventory.
#2. Copper foil tape shielding tape. (Okay slug and snail tape) out for delivery. Should be at my doorstep when I get home tonight.
#3. Classic Vibe 60s High Mass bridge with brass saddles. Tracking shows delivered.
#4. Alder hardwood stock and plug cutters to fill and drill to mount the bridge. In my inventory.
#5. Squier by Fender Jazz Bass waterslide decal. Ordered, pending manufacturing / shipment.
#6. Burgundy Mist aerosol Nitrocellulose Lacquer paint. Pending notification of return to stock so I can order it.
#7. Clear lacquer (Minwax, black can) 3 in inventory.
#8. Classic Vibe 60s pick guard. (Allegedly installed on an Affinity Jazz and removed, still with plastic covering) ordered, shipping notification received.
#9. D'Addario XL EXL170s 45-100 Nickel round wound strings. In inventory. It seems I am standardizing on these strings lately!

My time over the next several weeks, literally until April 30 is going to be BRUTALLY used up with work. I am going to eke out what little time I can for playing the bass, and family, so not a whole lot of time to work in the shop on modding my Affinity, but fret not (get it, fret not?) the project WILL move forward, piece, by piece. I am not rushing anything, this is going to be done 100% right and by the time this gets done, this will, barring any twisting neck stupidity or something like that, most likely end up being a bass I will play for the next 20 years or so...

On the finishing issue. I am a bit curious about 2 things and they both revolve around the lacquer...

#1. What primer works well with the lacquer?
#2. What masking tape can I use that will provide a clean mask without damaging the lacquer?
 
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#30
jd56hawk said:
You might try
Invalid Link Removed

Unique pickguards instead of the same old same old.
Click to expand...

I actually have something specific in mind, a classic. The plain white is okay, but I REALLY like the look of the particular pattern I ordered...

Having said that, if I end up hating it in the long run, I can always order one from this guy too. He has some pretty nice unique patterns too!
 
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#31
So the project parts and supplies cache is growing and stepping ever so carefully closer to being done...

Looking at the markings on my lumber stocks, the alder pieces I had appear to have taken a vacation on me, but stock is available at Rockler. No worries...

However, shipments have started arriving...

So to go back to where we started...

Our project instrument is a 2015 Squier Affinity Jazz Bass.

20150401_201341.jpg


Since I am doing the shielding job, and I found a set here on the classifieds at a good price, I am upgrading my Affinity J pickups for a set of Vintage Modified Duncan Designed pickups. They came in yesterday and are ready for me to put the touches on them...

20150406_213240.jpg


Today's delivery brought the Classic Vibe 60s High Mass bridge with the brass saddles.

20150408_190734.jpg


The copper foil tape arrived as well. I have tested the adhesive and it is not conductive. I will have to solder the overlaps.

20150408_190750.jpg


Of course there's the in inventory supplies, 22 ga wire by the spool and rosin core solder, along with a soldering iron...

20150408_190814.jpg


The supplies needed to refinish the headstock are still pending. I am still working on sourcing up the Burgundy Mist as reranch is currently out of stock.

The waterslide decals, and pick guard are ready to go...
 
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#33
Okay so the bridge pickup shielding is done. I lined the top of the pickup shell with copper foil and made my holes, not as cleanly as I would have liked, but hey, it should do the trick.

20150408_211833.jpg



Then seeing as the coil windings are encapsulated in these DD pickups, I taped copper foil to the coil frame, non conductive adhesive side in, careful to avoid the magnet poles and the solder joints where the wires connect..

I brought copper foil tape wrapped around the mount lugs and at least 1/2" into the pickup cavity. The pressure of the pickup cover provides great contact and I have full continuity through the foil, I have no continuity between foil and wires, and I have continuity across the leads measuring 8.99 ohms. From what I understand from the manual, is spec, or at least close to it.

20150408_213327.jpg


It's getting late, I need a shower and to get ready for another day. Maybe, with any luck, tomorrow night I can get the bridge pickup completed...
 
#35
marko138 said:
I really don't know...but somewhere in my mind I swear I've read that you shouldn't shield the inside of the pup covers like that. Again...I really don't know.
Click to expand...

I'm fixin to find out... I've seen conflicting reports on it... I know I need to be careful with conductive materials touching anything, well conductive in the coils and connections. not sure about who's right, and at the cost of these, it is an affordable experiment...
 

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