Advice for modding my Jag Bass

timmyG · Little Guppy Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 34

I got a Fender Jaguar Bass a while back, and I must say that I love it, except that, unlike a J-bass, you can't blend the pickups, just turn one of them off. Initially I was thinking of putting on stacked controls on it, like on a '62 J-bass, but I have since shot that idea down as I've considered making it fully active in the future, and a Master Volume-Pan-Tone system would be easier to translate into fully active (just swap the tone out with a mid-range control).

With that in mind, I now have two questions:
1) What type of pot can be used for a Pan control?
2) Should I get a custom made control panel or should I find a luthier and get the jack mounted on the side?

Rd_Artist · Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 2:41 am Post subject:

I assume when you refer to the blend control on a Jazz, you mean an active Jazz. I would think that the concentric knobs would be the way to go, I personally don't like to mods that can't be reversed, but ultimately, the decision is yours.
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timmyG · Little Guppy Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 34

Jaguar Bass, and it can be switched from passive to active.

The reason I shot down the concentric knobs was that while it was the more attractive (though not physically, I like the J-bass style knobs) option for the immediate, I was thinking down the road to if I ever wanted to make it fully active, at which point two tone pots would do me little good.

Though I am inclined to agree with you about the mods that can't be reversed, so I think I am going to go with getting the custom plate.

timmyG · Little Guppy Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 34

I still have questions though, such as the first one I asked. Also, does anyone know if a pan control will work on passive pickups? I ask because I have never seen a passive bass with one.

Rd_Artist · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 5:58 am Post subject:

I have never seen that either, so I will assume that since passive pickups are not powered a blend control will not work.
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"I'm not a man who likes to swear, but I never cared for the sound of being alone."

timmyG · Little Guppy Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 34

I talked to a guy at the local music shop earlier today, and asked him. He said that it he actually has one that's passive with a pan, although he could have misinterpreted what I said.

timmyG · Little Guppy Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 34

Continuing on along this discussion, I figured that I might as well ask this question. I like the tone of the stock J-bass pickups, but I want to upgrade to something that's gonna have a little less noise and a little more volume. Any suggestions for quite (noise wise) passives that sound like stock, only louder?

Rd_Artist · Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 6:38 am Post subject:

I don't know about being louder, I installed a set of Dimarzio DP123's on my Jazz, they are a stacked humbucker and have a nice tone IMO, tone is very subjective so it's hard to give good advice on this topic.
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"I'm not a man who likes to swear, but I never cared for the sound of being alone."

timmyG · Little Guppy Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 34

True, I've heard good things about lace, but not necessarily that they are louder. Have you heard anything like that?

Rd_Artist · Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 2:46 pm Post subject:

Honestly you get your volume from your amp, I have heard that the Fender Lace pickups are ok, a lot of players prefer the vintage pickups. Another school of thought also is that the tone is in your fingers.
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"I'm not a man who likes to swear, but I never cared for the sound of being alone."

oogie boogie · Little Guppy Joined: 27 Oct 2008 Posts: 31

here's a quick piece of advice: instead of getting a blend knob, use individual volume for each pickup. You get WAY more control and tonal variation.

However, with that said, my main axe just has a switch to switch between one, the other or both pickups and it works great for any gig I have.

timmyG · Little Guppy Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 34

Yeah, but this way I don't really have to worry about the volume changing when I change the balance between the two, as it should stay constant. And I don't think I'd mind not having it so much if it wasn't for the fact that the J-bass has the ability to blend.

oogie boogie · Little Guppy Joined: 27 Oct 2008 Posts: 31

timmyG · Little Guppy Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 34

Hmm, thanks for that, I'll keep that in mind, but first I've got to figure out this stupid wiring diagram that doesn't make any sense. WHY IS THERE ONLY ONE WIRE ON THE TONE POT (aside from the ground and the one going to the cap)?

Rd_Artist · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 8:17 pm Post subject:

Actually he got it backwards, the bridge pickup has a higher output because of less movement in the strings and the neck pickup has the lower output, that is why you don't put a bridge pickup in the neck because the balance would be off.
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"I'm not a man who likes to swear, but I never cared for the sound of being alone."