Took apart my 72 Jazz and found this....

[birminghambass]

I wonder if there is any possibility that there was actually a prototype for a different pickup configuration and a couple of those bodies got out??

Yes this is definitely what it is! Value just jumped $1000....

 

[jwilson67]

Yes this is definitely what it is! Value just jumped $1000....

Hey - just trying to entertain possible silver linings!

 

[jwilson67]

You never should have advertised this to Talkbass and pretended what you saw wasn't actually there if you intended to sell it. This whole thing could have just been between you and that pickguard!

 

[birminghambass]

You never should have advertised this to Talkbass and pretended what you saw wasn't actually there if you intended to sell it. This whole thing could have just been between you and that pickguard!

247 positive feedbacks
0 negative feedback
I'd rather take a hit on the value.

 

[jd56hawk]

If you always have the pickguard on - what difference does it make?

Exactly! I can understand momentary disappointment, but unless this discovery somehow changes the tone of what I can only assume is a bass the OP's enjoyed playing for many, many years, shouldn't it be a non-issue?

 

[Tom Howland]

Did the seller to you know about the route ?

 

[jwilson67]

247 positive feedbacks
0 negative feedback
I'd rather take a hit on the value.

You know I was just joking!

 

[devnulljp]

Would have been epic if there actually WAS some in there when he took the pickguard off!

I found ... something interesting ... in an old fuzz pedal once.

 

[swafran]

Would have been epic if there actually WAS some in there when he took the pickguard off!

Actually he should check if the extra routing allows you to smoke the bass like a pipe. Wouldn't be surprised.

 

[birminghambass]

Did the seller to you know about the route ?

It was 22 years ago. No idea, wasn't a friend or even acquaintance of mine.

 

[jnsnj]

This is where you hide your drugs

 

[jubl]

Maybe it's a Monday bass. Dude comes after getting hammered on the weekend, boss's comes out, yells at him "It's Jazz day not Strat, stop or it'll come out of your pay", Sorry man", finishes up as a bass. Also, avoid Friday, back then they're were TGIF'n to get hammered. Wait, maybe that's what my dad told me about American cars.....

 

[jwilson67]

Actually he should check if the extra routing allows you to smoke the bass like a pipe. Wouldn't be surprised.

Yes - it was the limited edition Fender Bong-o Bass.

 

[Twocan]

Look on the bright side - it makes the bass lighter

 

[ThePresident777]

Um:

?

 

[Matt Dean]

I appreciate you sharing this as it is rather interesting and worth discussing.

 

[ThuzzleFump]

Eh, just a curiosity. Like buying an old car or house. You will eventually uncover lots of weirdness. I recommend you not worry.
If if was mine I would at least consider whether there might be a use for it.

 

[Antisyzygy]

Ugly route under the pickguard. I could vomit.

I've owned it for over 20 years, changed out the pickups a few times but never had to remove the pickguard. Not happy.
Here she is fully clothed.

I'd consider using the route for a dummy coil. These can be used for hum-cancelling when you solo the neck or bridge pickup.

You could remove the magnet from a cheap strat pickup and shove it under your pickguard in that route. Then wire it to a 3-way switch that is ON-OFF-ON. Middle is dummy coil off and out of the circuit, then the two extremes could be for different phases. I.e. so it hum-cancels with the bridge pickup or the neck pickup respectively.

 

[bobalu]

Well, now if your '72 Jazz bass could be "remotely and indirectly" traced back to......mmmmm, I don't know......someone like Geddy Lee say, as a back up bass or something, than it would be very desirable with that route, no? Just sayin'

 

[chungweishan]

The weirdest coincidence is that I bought a trombone 19 years ago and it had a single-coil pickup hidden in the bell. I mean, why even bother?