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Hahaha... i knew someone would say that! I don't have a smartphone or a camera, but visually it just looks like a bog standard Jag. The sharp-eyed might notice the tuners look slightly different, and they might spot the Seymour Duncan writing on the pickups, but otherwise it looks like every other one.Pictures or we ain't going to believe you,.
I picked up the Hipshot tuners in the classifieds, here is the info
SOLD - Hipshot Joe Osborn Reverse Bass Tuners (long stem)
Aww man...they don’t make these anymore. I will call them and check. You never know. If no, I am going to have to hunt some down.
Thanks!!!
quick question for those that have modded 70's VMJ bass - is there yet a consensus on pickups that get both ends of the tonal range right? Quarter-pounders? one of the several Barts? or leave it alone? I know some of you went through Fralins, Fender Custom noiseless, etc etc and ended up saying none significantly Better than the original pups? i don't want to try out a dozen....
*Sigh*
That's just as subjetive as to what color you like. IMO there will never be a consensus. I had one VM Jazz and modded the F out of it. In the end I settled on SD Quarter Pounds. But tried other great pickups: SD SJB-1, Fender Custom Shop (the ones on the last generation of American Standards), Fralins. If you want right tonal range get a set of whatever brand but a set.
@sgtpepper is correct, "right" is a very subjective term, so please give us a little something more to go by. Can you tell us what you consider to be "right"? Is it a vintage tone you're seeking? Modern? Mellow or aggressive? Can you site some examples of artists or recordings? In other words…
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My brother gave me this Squier Affinity PJ cause he had no use for it. I hadn't planned on doing much with it other than set it up and use it for practice here at home. But I slapped a Seymour Duncan QP SB-3 I purchased here on TB, for another project that I changed my mind on, and added an ashtray from my parts stash. I did have to shim the neck to get the string height where I like it and the tuners are meh BUT it now sounds pretty good and plays just as well. Not exactly tricked out but it is modded so... Thinking this may just be my go to bass for venues where the crowd is separated from the stage by chicken wire. 
Edited for half asleep typing mistakes
Edited for half asleep typing mistakes
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no! Actually had nothing in mind other than that my 2 are mostly stock, and I'm wanting to mess with the blonde one. Couple of years ago I wrote to Bartolini and was wanting a much bigger bottom end, for detuning to D and they suggested something... buried in my files now. The stock pickups have a lot of trumpet-like upper mids to my ear. I just knew that you guys have experimented a lot on this one by now and may have reached some faves. I see the QP's mentioned a lot, almost no Barts, a good many fralins....@sgtpepper is correct, "right" is a very subjective term, so please give us a little something more to go by. Can you tell us what you consider to be "right"? Is it a vintage tone you're seeking? Modern? Mellow or aggressive? Can you site some examples of artists or recordings? In other words…
no like "shimmed the neck"... why? pickup too tall?
My brother gave me this Squier Affinity PJ cause he had no use for it. I hadn't planned on doing much with it other than set it up and use it for practice here at home. But I slapped a Seymour Duncan QP SB-3 I purchased here on TB, for another project that I changed my mind on, and added an ashtray from my parts stash. I did have to shim the neck to get the pup height where I like it and the tuners are meh BUT it now sounds pretty good and plays just as well. Not exactly tricked out but it is modded so... Thinking this may just be my go to bass for venues where the crowd is separated from the stage by chicken wire.
View attachment 3478424
Meh I wrote that wrong. It was first thing in the morn and wasnt totally awake yet lol. I shimmed the neck because I couldn’t get the string height where I like it.
My brother gave me this Squier Affinity PJ cause he had no use for it. I hadn't planned on doing much with it other than set it up and use it for practice here at home. But I slapped a Seymour Duncan QP SB-3 I purchased here on TB, for another project that I changed my mind on, and added an ashtray from my parts stash. I did have to shim the neck to get the string height where I like it and the tuners are meh BUT it now sounds pretty good and plays just as well. Not exactly tricked out but it is modded so... Thinking this may just be my go to bass for venues where the crowd is separated from the stage by chicken wire.
Edited for half asleep typing mistakes
View attachment 3478424
That's a nice looking bass for sure. I've always said that ashtrays are such a cheap trick to make a cheap bass look decent. I'd say, go for some good tuners! Wilkinson makes some great tuners at a reasonable price. If budget is not a problem go with Gotoh or Hipshot.
Quarter Pounders are very bright and aggressive sounding. One might say "bold" or "brash", even. That's why I wanted to know what you were looking for. I, for one, wouldn't want to steer you towards something like Duncan Quarter Pounders if you were hoping for a more vintage-styled sound.
I haven't had a chance to try Bartolini's Jazz-style pickups, but late last year, I used one of their "Classic" model soapbars and really dig the sound. (Based solely on consumer product demos, my ear seems to prefer their "Classic" models over the "Original" type pickups.) Because of that positive experience, I recently picked up one of their Classic Precision pickups and am waiting to try out in a P/J Jazz of mine.
Yeah I thought so too! I thought about putting a jazz cover on instead but I like to anchor on the bridge pup sometimes when I’m digging in. Definitely will look into some tuners but for now I lubed em up which helped with the feeling of the gears grinding, and maybe upgrade the pots as well but until I get it out and play live, see if it’s good enough, I may not.
Oh how things have changed in a few short years...due to playing difficulties associated with recovery from a minor stroke a year ago that messed up my right side and arm/hand I have further modded my Broncos mentioned above to those below.
They both still have the Strat dual rail humbuckers. One has a CIJ Mustang neck with Gotoh GB350 Res-O-Lite tuners and Musicmaster bridge modified for top loading and the other has a shorter scale Ibanez Mikro neck (recently modded with Gotoh GB350 Res-O-Lite tuners), a Mikro bridge and CIJ Mustang control plate with a modded Bronco pickguard.
I've been gigging the one with the Ibanez neck more since it's the least painful for me to play.
I don't care to bend toward brighter. The stockers are a good blend to my ear - and I can get a good 'snap' that has a more modern edge to it when appropo, but when I want a really dynamic bottom to make a "Point", I'd like more drama than what the stockers have. I had a lovely CV bass with those 60's style pups, and it was very bassy, but also muddy to my ears. sorta monodimensional.
I'd like to hear from you when you mount that Bart Classic in your P/J. I need to pickup one of the P basses out there and give it some attention.
I'd like to hear from you when you mount that Bart Classic in your P/J. I need to pickup one of the P basses out there and give it some attention.
Hey group.... I wanted to ask a question. I bought a MiM Squier and I'm trying to determine value - I have a choke at the 15th fret and can't drop my action, so I think I'm dealing with 'ski ramp' on the neck. Is it likely fixable or even WORTH fixing or just replacing the neck?
I've already added a number of upgrades, including Tort Celluloid pickguard and updated electronics.
Have a quick look and feel free to offer advice and opinions - thanks!
JD
I've already added a number of upgrades, including Tort Celluloid pickguard and updated electronics.
Have a quick look and feel free to offer advice and opinions - thanks!
JD
options: keep it and play it down low?
shim the neck a little?
hire a company to fix it?
rip out the frets in the offending zone and play it jaco style up there?
shim the neck a little?
hire a company to fix it?
rip out the frets in the offending zone and play it jaco style up there?
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