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Upgrading a MIM Fender Jazz Bass

W

Waxhead

Apr 16, 2009
80
0
Probably surfin Merewether Pt
www.soundclick.com
#1
G'day guys,

I've got a 2008 MIM Standard Fender Jazz bass and have bought Dimarzio Model J PUP's and a Badass II bridge for it off Ebay. Will get em in a few days.

Just wondering what kind of tone improvements I should expect from this upgrade - minor, major, massive. What do you reckon ??

Any issues I should be aware of for installing them or playability afterwards ???

thx :D
 
#2
The Badass won't do much more than the standard bridge. Might make it a tiny bit brighter. But the Dimarzio pups are a good choice. Very hot pups and great for rock. Both should be pretty much drop in replacements. Especially if you have a soldering gun. :D
 
#3
I'd say major. I got a very different sound out of my badass. You will have to file out string slots on the bridge, but it's easy. The badass sound is awesome for rock. I have no experience with DM's but I've heard no bad news! Have Fun!
 
#4
Yea its going to be a BIG sound difference, there pick ups willa dd alot of different tone dimensions and the bridge will brighten it up a bit

if your looking for a brighter sound get some 500k pots

how do your tuners hold tune? my MIM tuners hold tune great some people told me to replace them but i see no reason
 
#6
I have the same setup on this bass

FretlessIV.jpg


The sound is huge! I hope you will love it as much as I do!
I will recommend that you get push pull pots and wire them series/parallel. Best of both worlds! I went with the 500k pots as well.
 
#8
Nice post/thread. I'm also contemplating if there is a need to 'upgrade' my 2008 Standard (MIM for those who prefer the country of origin) Jazz. If the BA II bridge would produce a brighter sound, how about the gotoh bridge? I'm leaning towards a thumpier sound. What are the replacement pups needed to achieve that? Or should I ditch the Jazz and get a Precision instead?
 
#9
^ I'd keep the Jazz. I dunno about the gotoh. Save yourself from replacing pickups. If you want the thumpier sound, put it a series/parallel switch. You can make it a switch, or on a push pull pot. Best $1.20 i've ever spent. It's really easy to wire, and when it is in series, you get a slight volume boost, and that classic P-thump. Check it out, you can PM me if you have any questions.
 
#10
i did the same change on the pickups for my MIM Fender Jazz. the model js are pretty amazing. expect something thumpier and heavier. With the model js, your tone controls actually have an audible effect on the tone (compared to the stock pickups). make sure you have some good strings because i had a crappy set of ernie ball super slinkys and i wasn't liking the sound i got from it. got a part of DR Fat Beams and i like the sound im getting. congrats.
 
#11
southernrocker said:
I'd say major. I got a very different sound out of my badass. You will have to file out string slots on the bridge, but it's easy. The badass sound is awesome for rock. I have no experience with DM's but I've heard no bad news! Have Fun!
Click to expand...


BAIIs are now available with the slots in them stock. I would make sure you buy one rather than waste your time with the old Dremil tool! :-)
 
#12
qroon said:
Nice post/thread. I'm also contemplating if there is a need to 'upgrade' my 2008 Standard (MIM for those who prefer the country of origin) Jazz. If the BA II bridge would produce a brighter sound, how about the gotoh bridge? I'm leaning towards a thumpier sound. What are the replacement pups needed to achieve that? Or should I ditch the Jazz and get a Precision instead?
Click to expand...

The Gotoh 201 is a very good bridge and can be had for a lot less $ than a BAII. Sadowsky uses the Gotoh stock on his basses, so that is a pretty good recommendation.
 
#13
LCW said:
Yea its going to be a BIG sound difference, there pick ups willa dd alot of different tone dimensions and the bridge will brighten it up a bit

if your looking for a brighter sound get some 500k pots...
Click to expand...

:rollno:I would only change the PUs (e.g. Nordstrand 4J '70ies wound) to acchieve the brilliance. A change of the pots to 500k will not only enhance the treble but also reduce the bass punch considerably:rollno:.
 
#14
this is my first post on this site! have lurked for a while and find the discussions really interesting.

I also have a MIM Jazz that I'm contemplating upgrading but for a very specific reason that I haven't seen other's talking about so much here...the hum from the PUPs is bad. Depending on what i plug it into (different amps, different locations) I get a bad hum that diminishes slightly when i touch the strings. Other than this, the bass seems/plays really great--fantastic neck, tuners that stay in tune, no apparent problems with the bridge.

Do all single-coil PUPs like the ones on MIM jazzes, have this issue? Is the only way to correct it to replace them with humbucking PUPs?

thanks for feedback about this, hoping to be hum free.
 
#15
hiddenline said:
this is my first post on this site! have lurked for a while and find the discussions really interesting.

I also have a MIM Jazz that I'm contemplating upgrading but for a very specific reason that I haven't seen other's talking about so much here...the hum from the PUPs is bad. Depending on what i plug it into (different amps, different locations) I get a bad hum that diminishes slightly when i touch the strings. Other than this, the bass seems/plays really great--fantastic neck, tuners that stay in tune, no apparent problems with the bridge.

Do all single-coil PUPs like the ones on MIM jazzes, have this issue? Is the only way to correct it to replace them with humbucking PUPs?

thanks for feedback about this, hoping to be hum free.
Click to expand...

The hum is a problem with single coil pickups. You can shield the cavity or go with humbuckers. I've had good luck with Duncan/Basslines vintage stack pups.
 

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