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I'm sure I saw a thread on here somewhere ages ago where all 3 were compared. I believe it's mainly the thickness? And the USA has a sanded neck rather than a gloss finish?
Last year, I bought a '78 natural that has, like yours, EMGs, a BadAss II and a drop D tuner -- all the stereotypical mods of the day! It actually sounds great, though it weighs a ton. My plan is to install a Lindy Fralin set for '70s Jazz basses that I've had sitting around for a few years. I may also ditch the BadAss to save a little weight. I've never used Fralins in a Jazz, but I loved the P-Bass Fralin in my old Lakland Skyline Duck Dunn.Well, as long as I got a number now...... Might as well get another.
2, 76 Jazz basses in 10 days.
I just picked up the Olympic white bass today.
I actually played that one before I got the sunburst last week.
The sunburst was a much better deal. Completely original/stock.
The white one was far from it. But it was at the local Guitar Center......
Came with Schaller tuners, a Badass bridge and ugh.... EMG's
The push over the edge was it came with a Hipshot Detuner.
I would NEVER put one of those on a vintage Fender, but if it's already on there....
It did have the original wiring harness in the case as well as the bridge cover.
What kind of pickups should I put in the Olympic White???
View attachment 7461928 View attachment 7461929
From what I’ve read here, plus a little hands-on experience, the MIJ’s are the thinnest, the USA’s being the thickest and the MIM’s are in-between. (On a purely personal note, the MIJ has an almost pencil-thin neck. It might work for some, but I could tell it would be a bit of a pain for my fretting hand.
So, more for everyone else.)
Good info. I have large hands, but some trouble with my thumb joints. Standard profile Warmoth P necks are uncomfortable for me, though I can manage fine with the J's. Definitely prefer the slim taper on both. OTOH, never had issues with the MIM J necks. I'll have to get all scientific and stuff and go measure. Haven't tried the MIJ.From what I’ve read here, plus a little hands-on experience, the MIJ’s are the thinnest, the USA’s being the thickest and the MIM’s are in-between. (On a purely personal note, the MIJ has an almost pencil-thin neck. It might work for some, but I could tell it would be a bit of a pain for my fretting hand.
My local Guitar Center had a used item a ways back. I'd heard about their relative thickness/thinness and was curious. After a little noodling around, I could tell it simply wasn't the bass for me or adapting to it would be an uphill slog.
Definitely, yes. I felt like Will Smith in "Men In Black"; I feel like I'm gonna break this damn thing!
Well, here I go futzing around with my Geddy Sig again. I've tried a few different pickup sets in this bass since I've had it. The originals are in my Player series fretless now, which was a big improvement for that bass. This time around for the Geddy I installed a set of DiMarzio Ultra Jazz pickups along with their J Bass wiring harness with the 500K volume pots and 250K tone pot. It was an easy peasy swap out, and I've had them in for a few days. I'd been interested in trying the 500K ohm volume pots for awhile now, having read about here on TB. They do seem a little bit darker, which is fine. The pickups seem like they're a little bit similar in tone to the SD Hot Stack Jazzes, but not as middy. They're definitely series humbuckers, though. Having had a few now I can tell the difference between those and the 'vintage' style single coils. I do like these, I've been exploring preamp settings just to see what sort of voices I can get out of this bass with these now. I'd post pics but basically they look just like jazz bass pickups, just with black screws. The pole pieces are radiused as well, which is highly cool.
If anyone else in here has these pickups with or without the wiring harness I'd like to hear your thoughts on them.
If anyone else in here has these pickups with or without the wiring harness I'd like to hear your thoughts on them.
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My Geddy is the MIM version. That neck is pretty darned thin, and I think it's a nice change of pace when I want one after using the modern C of the Player II series jazzes I own. How stable is yours? Do you have to adjust the truss rod a lot? I check mine when the weather changes in the spring and fall, unless I notice it needing adjusting before then. 99% of my neck's movement has been it getting a little bit of a back bow as opposed to the banana syndrome, which is cool by me. Loosening is better then tightening and the rod getting all pinned to the point that there's no adjustment left.Definitely, yes. I felt like Will Smith in "Men In Black"; I feel like I'm gonna break this damn thing!
I noticed your new Mod Shop thread, too. I'm watching it, but I'll just shut up in there since my mods are just on basses I already own, i.e. pickups, hardware, pickguards, etc. Cool thread, though.
Oh, I do not own a Geddy-sig neck of any make or model, just a CV '70s Jazz neck that lands close to one. Sorry for any confusion! I just had a chance to try an MIJ out once. I'd heard how thin they were, but the reality of having one in my hands is a whole 'nother thing. Hokey-smokes, it was probably the thinnest bass neck I'd ever sampled!My Geddy is the MIM version. That neck is pretty darned thin, and I think it's a nice change of pace when I want one after using the modern C of the Player II series jazzes I own. How stable is yours? Do you have to adjust the truss rod a lot?
Thanks, MrB! Feel free to chime in should you ever get a part or whole Mod Shop bass!I noticed your new Mod Shop thread, too. I'm watching it, but I'll just shut up in there since my mods are just on basses I already own, i.e. pickups, hardware, pickguards, etc. Cool thread, though.
In the meantime, I'll take this opportunity to
My 2 Jazz Basses. Both are Player II's
Have any of you peeped these yet? Binding, blocks, 7 1/2" radius, 3 decent colors. Pretty cool. There's an early 60s version, too.
www.fender.com
Vintera® III Early '70s Jazz Bass®
The Fender® Vintera III series delivers meticulously crafted vintage recreations that capture the authentic look, feel, and tone of iconic Fender guitars from the '50s, '60s, and '70s. The Vintera® III Early '70s Jazz Bass® features an alder body and maple neck with maple or rosewood fingerboard...
www.fender.com
That's purty. Glad to see CAR come back.Have any of you peeped these yet? Binding, blocks, 7 1/2" radius, 3 decent colors. Pretty cool. There's an early 60s version, too.
Vintera® III Early '70s Jazz Bass®
The Fender® Vintera III series delivers meticulously crafted vintage recreations that capture the authentic look, feel, and tone of iconic Fender guitars from the '50s, '60s, and '70s. The Vintera® III Early '70s Jazz Bass® features an alder body and maple neck with maple or rosewood fingerboard...
I just got theHave any of you peeped these yet? Binding, blocks, 7 1/2" radius, 3 decent colors. Pretty cool. There's an early 60s version, too.
Vintera® III Early '70s Jazz Bass®
The Fender® Vintera III series delivers meticulously crafted vintage recreations that capture the authentic look, feel, and tone of iconic Fender guitars from the '50s, '60s, and '70s. The Vintera® III Early '70s Jazz Bass® features an alder body and maple neck with maple or rosewood fingerboard...
It's the neck on the Sunburst that has my attention. Finally, Fender is offering an all-maple, bound & blocked Jazz neck with a vintage-style radius. If I like their feel, I might purge a bit of extraneous gear to get an unloaded one for a Projekt bass. (Hello, Stratosphere? Let's talk…
)
Hah, I've already got a saved stratosphere search.I just got theshameless advertisementemail notification.
It's the neck on the Sunburst that has my attention. Finally, Fender is offering an all-maple, bound & blocked Jazz neck with a vintage-style radius. If I like their feel, I might purge a bit of extraneous gear to get an unloaded one for a Projekt bass. (Hello, Stratosphere? Let's talk…
Looks great and with rosewood! Whoever came up with the product description, it’s really amazing. Super cool that the saddles will provide rock solid intonation and the straight tuning shafts will enhance tuning stability. 
My contribution to this club... This has become one of my favorite basses. It's a Fender American Professional II Jazz 5 in Mystic Surf Green. It's 8.75lb and feels as good, if not better than FSOs I've owned that cost 3x as much. Just really, really great to play. Absolutely love it.
