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What to Upgrade First?

#21
Thanks guys! Sounds like I got a few options.

I played around with the pickup heights last night. I recorded the measurements where they were at and then kind of went nuts setting them all over the place. I found a couple heights that seemed to open up a couple more sonic doors while still retaining the overall, stock vibe.

I’m liking the idea of trying out 500k pots, a VBT plate, with push/pull series/parallel. Now I just need to see if there are any kits prewired to do a quick drop into the bass.
 
#22
jmattbassplaya said:
That’s an idea right there. I was just playing my Jazz. The volume pots behave like this:

100% open - full volume
95%-99% - 80% volume
30%-94% - 10% volume
0%-29% - off

There isn’t much play. The tone pot is a bit better but not by much. There just isn’t a lot of usable sweep.
Click to expand...
You may already know this, but... keep in mind that a volume/blend combination offers fewer options. With a blend knob, you are limited to a combination of volume for each pickup where the total cannot exceed 100%. For example: neck at 60% and bridge at 40%, neck at 30% and bridge at 70%, etc. With two separate volume knobs, each one can be anywhere between 0% and 100% - for example neck at 70% and bridge at 80% - you cannot do this with a blend knob.
 
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#26
A John East J-Retro preamp will fix it right up. Drops right in, no mods necessary. :thumbsup: https://www.east-uk.com/product-category/j-style/?v=7516fd43adaa.

J_retro-white-back-1200-3-1.jpg
 
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#32
smtp4me said:
You may already know this, but... keep in mind that a volume/blend combination offers fewer options. With a blend knob, you are limited to a combination of volume for each pickup where the total cannot exceed 100%. For example: neck at 60% and bridge at 40%, neck at 30% and bridge at 70%, etc. With two separate volume knobs, each one can be anywhere between 0% and 100% - for example neck at 70% and bridge at 80% - you cannot do this with a blend knob.
Click to expand...

That’s only true if you choose an A/C taper blend pot. Because of this, most passive blends are done using a M/N taper blend pot, which does offer a full 100%/100% blend in the center position.
 
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#33
jmattbassplaya said:
Good morning TB,

I have a 2015 AmStd Jazz bass that is one heck of a player but really seems to suffer in the electronics department. It really only has 2 usable sounds - both pickups full on or the neck at 100% with the bridge cut back just a smidge to bring the mids more to the front. Otherwise, there’s not much play room in the pots between being on and off.

In addition to the pots opportunity, the overall tone doesn’t do much for me anymore, either. These should be CS 60’s pickups. To keep it simple, I just find the sound a bit generic and kind of boring. I’d love something burpier/bubbly up top and growlier and deep down low - more akin to R&B and gospel tones.

I saw a couple neat looking prewired pot sets by both Mojo Tone and Emerson. Would it be worth trying to upgrade the electronics first to see if that help open up tonal opportunities, or should I upgrade the pups instead? Both? I’ve tried throwing several different string sets on them and the DR Pure Blues helped a bit, but the electronics still offer little in regards to variety, and I’m still not getting the burp or growl that I want.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I threw in a set of EMG JV-52’s into a Squier VM70’s Jazz and it gets plenty growly or thumpy depending on how it’s dialed. To me, that setup does what a Jazz should do.

FWIW, I have tried three different strings on that bass and all of them sounded great. For the past year I have settled into using DR Legends and have no intention of taking them off but, the Pure Blues and Sunbeams sound great, also.
 
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#35
jmattbassplaya said:
Those prices really aren’t too bad consider how good his products are. I’ll find some sound samples :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, quality gear for certain. Not that there aren't other preamps for less that sound good, there are. I also have a Noll, Delano and Audere that all sound pretty good. The East just sounds better to my ears.

As I was looking through the classifieds here on TB last weekend and noticed there are a couple Retro-Js for sale. No affiliation, just happen to see them.

Best of luck on your tonal endeavors
 
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#38
I also prefer linear volumes on my basses, especially a VVT.
500K linear volumes and 500K audio tone, or at least the 500K audio tone with 250K linear volumes.
Adding the series/parallel switch is a nice addition to give another useful tonality to a J.
 

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