Hot Rodding a Precision

ryankself · Newbie Alert Joined: 25 Nov 2006 Posts: 2

I've got a '95 American Fender Precision that I'm interested in hot-rodding by putting a jazz bridge pickup in. I want to keep the whole thing passive, and I'm interested in the tone I get from my Geddy Lee Jazz, but still want that Precision sound, too. Really, I love my Precision the way it is, but I'd love to be able to give it a little bit of jazz kick and grind when I want to. I've done some searching on the forums and don't really see anything negative being said about a hot-rodded Precision.

That being said, I have a few questions. Which jazz pickup would work best in the bridge so that the precision pickups don't completely overpower the bridge? I'm assuming that I can still get pretty close to the original tone by turning the jazz pickup's volume down, but has anyone not been able to do that (i.e. had negative results with just the precision pickups on) with this kind of bass? The original pickups are still in the bass and it's still completely stock.

Any input you could offer would be most appreciated.

Ankhanu · Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 6:25 am Post subject:

You shouldn't have problems with one pickup overpowering another if you adjust their distance from the strings to get the output you want from each pickup. My fender Jazz Aerodyne is a P/J style and I had to adjust the P-pickup to reduce its output so that it didn't overpower the J. It just requires a little tinkering and fine tuning to get it as you want it.

As for the actual J pickup to use, well, get something similar to your Geddy's pickup if that's the sound you're after from it. I might suggest something like a hot Seymour Duncan for a good jazz growl.

ryankself · Newbie Alert Joined: 25 Nov 2006 Posts: 2

So, would something like this do well in there?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Noiseless-Bridge-J-Bass-Pickup?sku=301641

It's a Fender noisleess bridge pickup. I'm assuming a noiseless pickup will help, what with the two precision pickups canceling each other's hum and the jazz being the odd man out (and therefore humming).

Ankhanu · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:28 pm Post subject:

Don't see why not.