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Washburn t24 pickups replacement

R

Randomguy

Guest
Jun 13, 2017
33
9
#1
Hello all,

Recently bought a Washburn t24 and I really like everything about that bass especially for the price I got it for but I just really am not digging the pickups. However I had read that they don't use standard size jazz bass pickups (read this after I bought it or I wouldn't have bought it). Is this true and if so does somebody make pickups in the size they are? Thanks for any insight
 
#2
Been through this some 10yrs ago.
I ended up by choosing a PU pair of my choice (soundwise) and re-routed the body as to be able to install them (afaik it was a neck+bridge pair of DiMarzios UltraJazz having Fender's typical dimensions).
If you really want to pull your hair trying to find a direct replacement,I suggest a good measuring of the existing ABT PUs.If I remember correctly,the PUs have the same dimension no matter of the position.Don't forget to measure the distance between the screws!The DC resistance is also identical if this is of any importance to you.
Next,take a look at the rather non-typical J PU's such as Seymour Duncan,Bartolini,etc (there are a few brands that nowadays offer the same PU construction in a variety of housings).
Good luck!
 
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#3
Hey somebody finally responded. Thanks a million for that.

Dimensions are as follows:
4" from end to end
1.75" from center of screw to center of screw latitudinally
.75" wide
7/8" wide from center of screw to above center of screw.

I google standard jazz bass pickups demensions and it doesn't match up.

Preferably I would like to have bartolinis in there but am flexible.

Really I am at a crossroads with this bass. I was wanting to get back into playing after a ten year hiatus of life and speed bumps getting in the way. I found the t24 on eBay and bought it and then I went to guitar center and got a sterling by music man sub ray 4 and my wife says I can only have one. I like the jazzy sound out of the t24 and it's very comfortable to play with its wider neck and light weight and body shape, but the thing keeping me from sticking with it is that with current pickups it's just not nearly as versatile as the sub ray 4 is tonally. And that is a big thing, and if I decide I want to upgrade the neck or the pickups or anything on it really, well it's just a matter of making up my mind on what I want of the many choices whereas that is definitely not the case with the Washburn.
 
#4
Hi again and sorry for the delayed reply.
As I can understand your frustrations regarding the initial wish to upgrade the T24,it's necessary to make some clarifications:
1. T24 and MM Sterling.,two completely different beasts.Not to be compared in any way.
2.I bought the T24 because it's inherent mod possibilities-body routing included.Frankly,I wanted it for the wood only and this is what I really got,a NTB mahogany construction with a good balance and ergonomy (thank you Jerzy Drozd for the shape concept!).Later on,as the T24 went through different mod stages,it proved to be a great mod platform for everything in the PU/preamps/bridges/strings range of gimmicks.Obviously,it's not yourcup of tea to buy a "comeback" bass just for making it a Frankenstein (like I did). ;)
3.As the ìnfamous,original ABT PUs went back and forth on this bass,I can say that,in fact,they're not as bad as it seemed on the first glance.Neither lacking "versatility".The woodenry,ergonomics and neck confort have their character(s) and it's all about "the beauty in the beholder's eye".
4.For the most comfortable and hassle-free upgrade,I suggest leaving the ABTs on place and upgrade with an onboard preamp of your choice.This option saves you alot of time spent for finding PU replacements and eventually routing the body for adapting some more common PU standardized dimensions.
5.Speaking of the above,you'll have to choose from a rather wide plethora of products.What you'll have to decide is closely related to the character you aim to (keeping the inherent T24 tonals or drastically change the whole story - a good choice can bring out the utmost,whereas an inadequate one can ruin everything).
Feel free to ask further if you're not very familiar with what I already said.
 
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#6
Currently I have installed the Seymour Duncan STC-3P preamp.I choose to stick with it because the current PU's are the South-Korean licensed Bartolini MKI soapbars (rescued from a Cort) and it sounds like a good tandem (despite of the contradictory oppinions as found on this forum...in fact,the MKI PUs are not THAT bad,it's the MKI preamp that really stinks).Other soapbars I tried:Aguilar DCB (too much "Aggie character" but ,otherwise,great sound) and Seymour Duncan Phase I and Phase II (borrowed them for testing purpose,not my cup of tea in this specific bass-they're much more suited in a maple body).
Before routing the body for fitting the soapbars,I tried every J+J I could find.The SD STC-3P made the best figure w/ the original ABT's,preserving the mahogany/NTB character of the T24.
The other preamp option I tried and was "au pair" with the SD (though not as transparent BUT with a lot of growl) was the Aguilar OBP-3 (check it out,there are alot of wiring options - you'll need the "4-pot" if you intend to preserve the initial no. of pot holes).Aggie has some features that SD doesn't:active/passive switchable and also switchable mids.Great preamp.
As I said,I stayed with SD because the STC-3P features are what I considered to be appropriate for the T24 AND my needs:always active,push/pull slap switch.Again,it's a matter of personal taste.
If you intend to upgrade to active preamp (or even if you choose to stay passive),please consider to make an appropriate shielding of the pots' hole as well as the PU's holes,using some copper tape.On this forum you'll find all the necessary infos.If you're not sure about your skills,let a pro to do it.
Other mods I made:tuning machines as well as the bridge from Schaller,took off the entire finish and treated the bare wood with 7-8 layers of Tung oil (it happens to love the oil finishes),buffed at the end with Carnauba wax.
(...i warned you....my T24 became a Franken...something! ;) )
 
#7
Do you still have it? Can I see it. Yours sounds like what I want mine to be like. I love bartolinis mk1 soaps and that's what I had on my old fender that I used to have and really missed that sound. I would like to make it have a volume for know for each pickup and a push/pull or switch for active/passive and a pot for bass/mids/treble. That with the shape and feel of the body would make it a perfect bass for me
 
#8
I borrowed the modded T24 to a friend,it should be returned in 2-3 weeks.Also,I don't have any pics of it,sorry.
What you said...MKI's in a FENDER?...especially,an OLD Fender?It sounds like a blasphemy ;)
On a more serious note,please try first installing a preamp of your choice,using the existing ABT PUs.The DC resistance is almost the same for the ABT and Barts MKI (ok,although both are passive,construction-wise they are different:ABTs are "old-school" single coils - w/one magnet bar across,meanwhile MKIs have split coils-hum cancelling).ABTs with the proper preamp might fill your needs.Remember,if you start with routing the body as to be able to install the soapbars,there's no return.At least,with the ABTs you'll know if "yay" or "nay".
About the preamp itself,I'd suggest a PU blend (double) pot instead of two separate (Vol-Vol) pots.Though there's plenty of room in the electronics' cavity,you might encounter some difficulties when installing the preamp module IF you're having too many pots to put in there.
 
#9
we'll when I say old I mean like it was my old bass that I used to have before I went and sold it when I was young and strapped for cash. It wasn't anything special at first but I had my friend who was into making electronics do all the soldering and wiring for me that needed to be done so that I could have my ideal setup. It was just an MIM j bass 5 but after all was said and done it played real sweet
 
#11
Avsha said:
I know this thread is pretty old, but did anyone.manage to find a pair of pups that fits the t24?
Click to expand...
It depends on two things.

The early 2004 series Vietnamese Tauruses had the longer pickups.
The current Chinese ones don't.
They are shorter.
But I don't know if they are the same size as a Fender J.
But they sound different than the 2004 long pickups.

Which ones do you have?
 
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#12
Watchootognbout said:
It depends on two things.

The early 2004 series Vietnamese Tauruses had the longer pickups.
The current Chinese ones don't.
They are shorter.
But I don't know if they are the same size as a Fender J.
But they sound different than the 2004 long pickups.

Which ones do you have?
Click to expand...
I have a 2017 one. Mesured the pickups and they're both the same dimensions as a bridge jazz pickups. I have been stalking the t24 forums beliving that my bass is the weirdest thing ever. I got a new MIA jazz since, but I will always be a gearhead, and I don't mind a "custom" t24. Thanks anyway!
 

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