Just curious: has anyone built this yet?

[jrfrond]

Jazz Bass with a single MM in the sweet spot and passive electronics, most likely swamp ash and maple neck. Something I have in mind as a project. Mostly curious about the passive MM HB in this application and position. The goal is pretty much a "P-Bass with balls", a sound somewhere in between the P-Bass and J-Bass bridge sound, with the added guts and growl derived from the humbucker.

[fenderslaper]

Sounds cool. Go for it!

[losergeek]

This is exactly what I was hoping to get from the Blacktop Jazz bass. I've also thought about replacing one of the single coils in my J bass with a MM style pickup

[tabdog]

"P-Bass with balls", a sound somewhere in between the P-Bass and J-Bass bridge sound

The pup location should be moved south a little to assist
this kind of sound.

I got this effect in a different way.

I put a 22 fret Pilot neck on a P bass body. This moved
the whole neck 5/8ths inch north. That caused the bridge
to move 5/8ths inch closer to the pup.

Result is a neck thinner than a Jazz or even a Ibanez and
the upper strings are much easier to access. The sound is
more punchy and aggressive than a P bass. But it still sounds
nice and bassy if I pick close to the neck.



There is a small gap at the bottom of pocket, but it is not
noticeable,







I'm working on them holes,

Tabdog

[4mal]

Try a Lakland 44-02. It has the Bart preamp but has passive mode as well. The neck is in the 1 5/8ths range that to me is a real sweet spot.

[jrfrond]

Yeah, but this is my own build. I already have it priced out (around $500) and ready to order parts. This is what's going in:

- Warmoth J-Bass body, swamp ash
- Allparts JMO J-Bass neck
- Gotoh 201 Bridge
- Hipshot HB2 machines with a BT2 Bass Extender
- MM HB bass pickup (brand yet to be determined, but I might start with GFS Alnico) with series/parallel/split switch and passive volume + dual-action tone
- Side jack in an Electrosocket

No pickguard, natural nitro over TruOil on body and neck (perhaps only TruOil on neck with nitro headstock). Nice, simple, elegant. If I decide it needs to be active, there's plenty of room in the rear control cavity.

[tabdog]

Originally Posted by jrfrond

Yeah, but this is my own build. I already have it priced out (around $500) and ready to order parts. This is what's going in:

- Warmoth J-Bass body, swamp ash
- Allparts JMO J-Bass neck
- Gotoh 201 Bridge
- Hipshot HB2 machines with a BT2 Bass Extender
- MM HB bass pickup (brand yet to be determined, but I might start with GFS Alnico) with series/parallel/split switch and passive volume + dual-action tone
- Side jack in an Electrosocket

No pickguard, natural nitro over TruOil on body and neck (perhaps only TruOil on neck with nitro headstock). Nice, simple, elegant. If I decide it needs to be active, there's plenty of room in the rear control cavity.

OK,

But I don't see how that equals;

"P-Bass with balls", a sound somewhere in
between the P-Bass and J-Bass bridge
sound, with the added guts and growl
derived from the humbucker.

I see two different animals here.

Tabdog

[jrfrond]

Originally Posted by tabdog

OK,

But I don't see how that equals;

"P-Bass with balls", a sound somewhere in
between the P-Bass and J-Bass bridge
sound, with the added guts and growl
derived from the humbucker.

I see two different animals here.

Tabdog

Not at all. I am basically taking a single-pickup Fender platform (J or P, it really doesn't matter) and substituting a higher-output humbucking pickup for the P pickup, and moving it about 1.5" back toward the bridge for more "cut", while the increased output increases sensitivity and "guts". Sounds like a plan to me.

Ironically, I saw this bass in Sam Ash today: http://www.bcrich.com/shape/zombie/bass/20

While I think it is one of THE most hideous things I've ever seen (and dared not let anyone see this ol' guy playing it), it is essentially what I want to build with a different shape, and I liked the sound alot. I will be wiring the pickup for coil switching capabilities, but essentially, it's what I want sonically.

[JimmyJam]

@ jrfrond:
Wow
That is hideous, but if you can make it work; then more power to you.

I bet it would sound great. Just the appearance may be questionable.

[jrfrond]

Originally Posted by JimmyJam

@ jrfrond:
Wow
That is hideous, but if you can make it work; then more power to you.

I bet it would sound great. Just the appearance may be questionable.

Well, THAT appearance may be questionable, but I am building it with a J-Bass body and neck. Quite a different story, don't ya think?

[davmac]

I've not long finished making this one. Not a jazz body, but I'm really happy with how it turned out and I just love the MM pickup.



And a brief demo of the sound (with construction pics). Apologies in advance for the playing but I'm used to having two more strings.

[dlb1001]

I think G&L made something similar, either L-1000 or L-1500.