Build Thread: "JazzMan" Bass

#21
Custom JazzMan pickup arrived from Nordstrand on Saturday!

Looks like I need to make the pickup cavity about 1/2 inch deeper and also do something to close the space between the fingerboard extension and the body (it's meant to go over the top of a pickguard).

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#26
Couple more pics. One shows the relative position of the pickup vs a Jazz bass. Still working on the setup but it's getting close.

The fretboard extension really makes it easy to see when the neck isn't 100% fully/properly seated in the pocket. I had to drill out the holes in the body so that the body holes aren't threaded. Even though the neck looked and played fine, the fretboard wasn't flat against the body until I allowed the screws to float in the body holes.

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#27
Very nice. 2 comments...

What is the point of the extended fingerboard? It seems that you wouldn't be able to play it except maybe for some tapping or something unusual.

I really like those Babicz Bridges but wish they wouldn't stamp that giant advertising on the tail. Considering this bass has an elegant and understated look without a pickguard I feel like it ruins some of the visual imagery of it.

Othewisr, looks great, would love to hear a sound sample.
 
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#28
FingerDub said:
Very nice. 2 comments...

What is the point of the extended fingerboard? It seems that you wouldn't be able to play it except maybe for some tapping or something unusual.

I really like those Babicz Bridges but wish they wouldn't stamp that giant advertising on the tail. Considering this bass has an elegant and understated look without a pickguard I feel like it ruins some of the visual imagery of it.

Othewisr, looks great, would love to hear a sound sample.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Hope to do sound clips soon. Fingerboard extension is as much for looks as anything. I think it looks good with the single pickup design.

The Babicz logo doesn't bother me, but I understand what you are saying. When using top quality parts I don't mind them being branded. They have come out with more options on the guitar side (more of a vintage look and smaller logo). Maybe at some point they will do that for bass too.
 
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#29
Shown here with accessories, ready for a new home, but that's not happening until some time in 2017. I'm going to enjoy this one for awhile before moving on to the next build.

Tweed case is by Pro Rock Gear, strap is Levy's and matching premium cable was made by TB'er Dave Lowe. Reversible strap is beige suede on one side and smooth black leather on the other side.

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#31
Ok here's the first sound clip. The playing is embarrassingly bad. Please focus on the tone and not my horrible solo playing and recording skills.

I used the USB interface in my Phil Jones BigHead. Everything flat. Recorded using Audacity free version.

First section is neck side, second is both, third is bridge side. After that I pan through all four tone controls.

To my ears when both sides are on full you get the characteristic jazz bass mid scoop but it's at a slightly higher frequency because the coils are closer together.


 
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#35
Gorn said:
I'm not hip either so I don't know. Not insulted though.

Wait a second. Last night when I played the sound clip it was just an open E played over and over. Now it's noodling.
Click to expand...

Open E is at the end of the clip where I panned the tone controls with one hand and played the E with the other hand.
 
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