NDB '71 Fender Jazz

LM Bass

LM Bass

Jul 19, 2002
1,791
562
5,026
Vancouver, BC
#1
I just got this sweet '71 Jazz from a store called "Exile" here in Vancouver. It has an alder body, that was re-finned by Wilkins. All original parts otherwise, and it's about 9.5 lbs. When I originally played it, the strings were dead and the action was far too high, so I wasn't really sure about it, but then I had them put some D'addario XL's on (the store only had Nickel strings). Much better, but not quite there yet. . . I went to Long and McQuade and got some DR high beams- now THAT'S more like it! The bass came alive, with that sound we all know. The neck has a some great flame figure, to boot. Last night I played a show with Good Noise Gospel Choir, and it rocked! Today I had a "bass geeking" session with some trusted friends, and it was well received by all. (The last photo shows the fine selection of Fender flavours on offer today). So, let the honeymoon begin!







 
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#6
Update! The plot thickens!

So I got the corroded bridge pickup back from re-winder Tom Brantley, who did a great job. Shipping across the border to Canada always adds a week or two, but I was super patient while I waited (kinda) :) Yesterday, I excitedly wired in the repaired bridge pickup, and installed the original neck pickup. . . That's where it gets weird. Here we go: neck pickup sounds great by itself, bridge sounds good by itself. . . But the equal blend was out of phase and humming like a single coil!

So I made another trip to local bass repair hero Dave Reimer. He figured out that both my original pickups had been rewired a long time ago (before the failure), and, get this- my "neck" pickup was actually a 70's Jazz "bridge" pickup! I had TWO bridge pickups! Tom had now rewired the busted one to to factory specs, exposing my "original" neck pickup as a bridge pickup! :(

Anyhow, Tom was great, and Dave Reimer is fixing me up a new neck pickup (a real neck pickup) to match the now re-wired and wonderful bridge pickup. I've gotten very used to the Reimer pickups that Dave lent me for the last while, and he's gone above and beyond the call in helping me out with my new baby. I honestly, can't wait to hear this thing when he's done!
 
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#7
LM Bass said:
Update! The plot thickens!

So I got the corroded bridge pickup back from re-winder Tom Brantley, who did a great job. Shipping across the border to Canada always adds a week or two, but I was super patient while I waited (kinda) :) Yesterday, I excitedly wired in the repaired bridge pickup, and installed the original neck pickup. . . That's where it gets weird. Here we go: neck pickup sounds great by itself, bridge sounds good by itself. . . But the equal blend was out of phase and humming like a single coil!

So I made another trip to local bass repair hero Dave Reimer. He figured out that both my original pickups had been rewired, and, get this- my "neck" pickup was actually a 70's Jazz "bridge" pickup! I had TWO bridge pickups! The pickup Tom rewired was to factory specs, exposing my "original" neck pickup as a bridge pickup! :(

Anyhow, Tom was great, and Dave Reimer is fixing me up a new neck pickup (a real neck pickup) to match the now re-wired and wonderful bridge pickup. I've gotten very used to the Reimer pickups that Dave lent me for the last while, and he's gone above and beyond the call in helping me out with my new baby. I honestly, can't wait to hear this thing when he's done!
Click to expand...

That bass will be more or less perfect after all of that pickup work!
 
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