Any bass players here that can offer up some advice?

MaxGoldenrod
MaxGoldenrod Posts: 1,341
edited June 2013 in Musicians and Gearheads
So I decided to pick up a used, early 2000s MIM jazz bass.

As cheap as I was able to get it for, I kinda want to make it my "project" bass.

Any suggestions for replacement pickups and a bridge?

I'm leaning towards the Quarter Pounders and a Babicz bridge, but am open to suggestions!

Thanks!
"Then the Spirit of God hovered over the water, and God said, Let there be music, and there was Pearl Jam."

Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • trp313
    trp313 Posts: 2
    There are a lot of good "High Mass" bridges on eBay if you look around. That would be my first move. I don't understand why more manufacturers don't put a few more bucks into such vital parts of their basses. Badass was the gold standard years ago. But there are many decent ones made overseas that work well. I have this one on my Mike Dirnt Squier bass.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-4-String-Vi ... 2327cb101c

    My other two mods are a Hipshot drop D tuner. And a Brass nut.

    As far as electronics go, it really depends on what you are doing? What sorts of music (Aside from Pearl Jam tunes of course :D ) you're going to play...
  • MaxGoldenrod
    MaxGoldenrod Posts: 1,341
    The music is a mix of everything from 60s and 70s classic rock to more modern 90s and beyond rock. Throw in some blues for effect.

    Pretty much anything but jazz, country, and funk. And no slap or tap style either.

    I've read about the BAii and iii bridges, but they seem to be in limited supply. The Babicz seems to be well liked, and I like how everything locks into place and there is no drilling new holes in the body. Also considering a Hipshot, but I'm curious how strong the connection to the body is only using three of the 5 holes for the screws.
    "Then the Spirit of God hovered over the water, and God said, Let there be music, and there was Pearl Jam."

    Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?
  • trp313
    trp313 Posts: 2
    If you really want to try something different and cool, keep an eye on eBay. From time to time people post Spector pickups that will fit Jazz basses. Very cool tones and versatile.

    The bridge I posted should fit the bass just fine and isn't reasonably priced. It has the standard 5 screw hole config.

    I love my Hipshot drop D tuners. Have them on 3 of my 6 basses. Two of them are open gear Fender style and one is on my Spector. Well worth the $50-$75 you can pick them up for.
  • MaxGoldenrod
    MaxGoldenrod Posts: 1,341
    The Babicz came in the mail today.

    Now to decide on new pickups...leaning towards the SD Quarter Pounders (I have a few gift certs to Sweetwater), but have been looking at the SD Hot for Jazz as well. If I was in an active band and/or playing out more often, I would consider something like a Fralin or Nordstrand etc.

    The Duncan's are in my price range for a project MIM Jazz Bass! :D
    "Then the Spirit of God hovered over the water, and God said, Let there be music, and there was Pearl Jam."

    Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?
  • AndyVanSlyke
    AndyVanSlyke Posts: 183
    I'm in this same process right now. I started with a standard Jazz Bass about 10 years ago and recently purchased and Epiphone Jack Cassidy which is awesome! However, I have a J-Bass that hasn't been used much and am looking to do some mod work.

    Check out the site www.justpickups.com. They are from a store in the Pittsburgh area that specialize in Fenders. I went to the shop for the first time and they were extremely helpful and friendly. They actually gave me a catalog of Fender's entire product line which is nothing short of Guitar Porn haha

    Their site is http://www.lawrencemusic.com/

    I hope this helps. I'll keep you posted on what I find
    Pittsburgh 2003/Pittsburgh 2006/Outside Lands 2009/Bridge School 2010/Pittsburgh 2013
  • All Those Yesterdays
    All Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    MaxGoldenrod wrote:
    So I decided to pick up a used, early 2000s MIM jazz bass.

    As cheap as I was able to get it for, I kinda want to make it my "project" bass.

    Any suggestions for replacement pickups and a bridge?

    I'm leaning towards the Quarter Pounders and a Babicz bridge, but am open to suggestions!

    Thanks!


    Did you ever get that Peavey Bass you were looking at?
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

    https://www.facebook.com/aghostwritersapology/
  • MaxGoldenrod
    MaxGoldenrod Posts: 1,341
    Nope. I just couldn't get that sweet sound I was looking for out of it. It weighed a ton, and had sustain for days, but the single p/u just didn't do it for me. Plus they wouldn't come down any on the price.

    So I recently got the jazz bass for a heck of a price, and after some new strings and a good cleaning, it's good to go. Kinda.
    "Then the Spirit of God hovered over the water, and God said, Let there be music, and there was Pearl Jam."

    Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?
  • STAYSEA
    STAYSEA Posts: 3,814
    Project bass? Pull every fret out of it. Go fretless. Flea would smile.

    Peavy is good... why did you buy a Fender?

    I don't really care. It a musicians choice.

    I have some wicked bass cables and pedals if you are interested?

    Sorry music people ... owning a fender is like buying a TV from Walmart.

    I'm not a gambler, but I bet it was made in China....
    image
  • All Those Yesterdays
    All Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    MaxGoldenrod wrote:
    Nope. I just couldn't get that sweet sound I was looking for out of it. It weighed a ton, and had sustain for days, but the single p/u just didn't do it for me. Plus they wouldn't come down any on the price.

    So I recently got the jazz bass for a heck of a price, and after some new strings and a good cleaning, it's good to go. Kinda.


    i understand... I have had a love hate relationship with Jazz Basses over the years. I went the longest time with having flat wounds on my '62 reissue. And to me that was the only way that thing sounded good. But recently I restrung it with wound strings, and have also pulled out my Jag bass, with the Jazz pick up set up and finally have those things dialed in for a lot of stuff..

    And just in case, the P-Bass is always ready to go... The Peavey T-20 gets pulled out on special occasions, and still sounds killer.

    I've also made the switch to Lava's coiled cable for the bass. I don't like what they do to the tone on the guitar rig, but on the bass rig, it seems to fit perfectly.
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

    https://www.facebook.com/aghostwritersapology/
  • MaxGoldenrod
    MaxGoldenrod Posts: 1,341
    All Those Yesterdays wrote:
    MaxGoldenrod wrote:
    Nope. I just couldn't get that sweet sound I was looking for out of it. It weighed a ton, and had sustain for days, but the single p/u just didn't do it for me. Plus they wouldn't come down any on the price.

    So I recently got the jazz bass for a heck of a price, and after some new strings and a good cleaning, it's good to go. Kinda.


    i understand... I have had a love hate relationship with Jazz Basses over the years. I went the longest time with having flat wounds on my '62 reissue. And to me that was the only way that thing sounded good. But recently I restrung it with wound strings, and have also pulled out my Jag bass, with the Jazz pick up set up and finally have those things dialed in for a lot of stuff..

    And just in case, the P-Bass is always ready to go... The Peavey T-20 gets pulled out on special occasions, and still sounds killer.

    I've also made the switch to Lava's coiled cable for the bass. I don't like what they do to the tone on the guitar rig, but on the bass rig, it seems to fit perfectly.

    You're not the first person to tell me that the flatwounds were the way to go on the jazz bass. I may have to pick up a set to replace the strings I'm using now when I pop off the old bridge and put on the Babicz.
    "Then the Spirit of God hovered over the water, and God said, Let there be music, and there was Pearl Jam."

    Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?
  • AndyVanSlyke
    AndyVanSlyke Posts: 183
    I know you're thinking of fixing up your bass but I hear GREAT things about this box

    http://www.amazon.com/MXR-Band-Graphic- ... s=Bass+MXR
    Pittsburgh 2003/Pittsburgh 2006/Outside Lands 2009/Bridge School 2010/Pittsburgh 2013
  • MaxGoldenrod
    MaxGoldenrod Posts: 1,341
    AndyVanSlyke wrote:
    I know you're thinking of fixing up your bass but I hear GREAT things about this box

    http://www.amazon.com/MXR-Band-Graphic- ... s=Bass+MXR
    I've heard the same, but I'm pretty happy with my amp's onboard eq. Between that and the tone knobs on the basses, I can pretty much get the tone I'm looking for.
    "Then the Spirit of God hovered over the water, and God said, Let there be music, and there was Pearl Jam."

    Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?

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