Wilco

Another one for Excel spreadsheets here. Everyone suggests an agreed number of songs at a time. Everyone then scores everyone elses songs; 1 (no way) 2 (It's ok) or 3 (yep, like it). Highest scoring songs go into set. A bit clinical, but no arguments have ensued using this system as it's a very democratic process!!

To a degree, I guess it would depend on what level Fender you have. My experience has been that the MiA's are definitely the best - definitely wouldn't ditch one of those for a Squier. I've had a couple of Jap Fender's & again, wouldn't have ditched those for a Squier either. Between a MiM & a Squier? Possibly, but that would probably come down to individual instruments.

Here's my modded CIJ Geddy Lee Jazz bass. Mods are:- - Entwistle Neo pickups - Hipshot HB2 tuners - High quality capacitor - Alchemy amalgamation symbol - Geddy Lee holographic neck plate (a bugger to photograph!) - Fender straplocks Now it rocks!! Pictured with my only other bass.

Now that is a bloomin' lovely looking bass - you're quite right to have a big grin going on!!

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1419884774' post='2643646'] I've popped a pair of these in my Squier VM jazz and got the same result as yourself. Only gripes are that they're a little bit deep (!) so can't sit as low down as I'd like and they don't sound very vintage to me. But if I turn the VPF filter up on my markbass combo I can get that vintage sound. [/quote] A good shout on their depth - I'd forgotten about that. They were a couple of three mm's taller than the stock pups I took out. Funnily enough though, I had to pad the cavity on the GLJ to raise the stock ones closer to the strings. I actually left that extra padding in when I installed the Entwistles. I guess the routing is deeper than on your VM? I've got a Markbass Superbooster pedal with both the VLE & VPF filters on. I've left them at the same settings for ages now, & stupidly hadn't thought of adjusting them, so that's another good shout! (although it's the VLE filter that needs to be boosted to increase the vintage tone)

Got these as a crimbo pressie & they are now installed. Only the second pickup 'upgrade' I've done, & as the first one was a big disappointment (SD Quarter Pounders into a MIM Jazz V - just made a bad bass sound just as bad but louder...), I wasn't inclined to spend much (£39.99 for these). To be fair, the CIJ GLJ pickups sound sweet enough, but 1) after reading a couple of posts on here about their low output, 2) a 'mere' Squier Silver Series Jazz I owned for a short while sending a hotter signal to the desk than my GLJ & 3) the GLJ did not sound as 'dynamically' lively as my two MIA's, I decided to take the plunge given the reasonable cost. The pickups came well packed in a small plain cardboard box with each pickup rolled in bubble wrap & with a clear wiring diagram. On the face of it, they looked very tidily made indeed, with neat inscribed covers & the pole pieces etc also looking well manufactured. The only give away visually on the price (other than the plain packaging) was the thin wiring, but they were neatly cut with (I think) pre-tinned ends for soldering. So far so good then. So, after installation the moment of truth..... My God - I've gone from one extreme to the other! The output on these things is HUGE!! They've taken my GLJ to another level & it just feels 'alive' when you pick it up. Jazz's are not renowned for their 'thud', but my Jazz has now got a thud in spades! Married up to the tonal flexibility of having two pickups, it now sounds stunning. I would say it's lost a little of it's vintage sound, but I can go from a deep dubby bass right round to Geddy trebly punchiness with no problem at all, & even at lowish home volumes, my cab is moving a lot of air! The sound is very clean & with possibly more mids than before. Very, very pleased all told then. I wouldn't say these are the pickups for every style of music & for every player, but if you are sporting a Squier, a MIM or even a CIJ/MIJ Jazz, I would suggest they are worth a punt for the modest outlay. I'm currently between bands, so I haven't tested them in a band environment yet. I think my challenge when I do, will be trying to reign things in a bit! However, Geddy's glorious Clockwork Angels bass tone finally feels within reach. (shame my standard of playing falls very well short of his though! )

I've tried stringing my bass whilst standing on my head & honestly, it does make it really, really difficult......

The worst Fender instrument I've owned (& I've had a few inc Squiers & MiJ) has been a MiM Jazz. It was a 5 string and admittedly it was a 2000 model so the newer ones could be better. There was no life to it at all, even after a decent pickup upgrade... The U.S. Fenders I have tried have been the better instruments.

Ah, relicing - always a subject that causes a healthy debate! I thought it was just me, but I agree with thebassist's comment above in reference to a reliced bass not comparing favourably (aesthetically) to a much older instrument. For example I look at Andy Baxters website often (will never have enough funds to buy, but the basses are interesting) & when I look at reliced instruments all I 'see' is an (overly) battered new bass!! There's another comment on this thread about having a bass with your own mojo on it. I agree with that too. I'm really careful with my basses, but they will still get the odd knock & ding. But that's my history with the bass, my story with it. Far more interesting than an instrument that has just had some tools taken to it to knock it about a bit.... Relicing seems inherently linked to Fender instruments (btw - I'm hugely impressed with my three) . It seems you could buy a used US/Jap P or J on here for very reasonable money & cheaper than a relicced version. Why not buy one, keep it for a while & it will naturally relic over time in a more realistic way? You've probably guessed I'm not an artificial relicing fan - in fact I find the whole thing a bit bizarre & a complete nonsense. However that is just my opinion & if other people like the concept, then that's fine too. Life would be dull if we all thought the same way...

I've just done a very unscientific experiment with my three basses. Stood up with them strapped on, & then lent forward so they were away from my body. Gave the E string some good tugs & put my hand on all four 'corners' of the body & the neck. There was a clear vibration (resonance) from all five touch points - possibly slightly stronger on the necks, but really quit difficult to tell. All the bodies resonated well but interestingly the P was strongest (ash, stained), followed by the H1 (alder, nitro) & then GLJ (alder, polyester) I'm really not sure what the above proves, if anything at all.....!!! (Other than I really need to find a worthwhile activity to make Wednesday evenings more interesting!) Worthwhile Wednesday's work wonders when we want.... Ok, Ok, I'll stop there!!

I'll post again once they are installed, but someone is going to give them to me as an Xmas present so that will be early in Jan.

Thanks for the info Conan. I spotted a thread on here about the Entwistle JBXN pickups with neodymium magnets, so have purchased a pair especially as they are so well priced. Hoping the strong magnets will give the bass even more Geddy oooomphh!!

Anybody upgraded a Jazz with these? If so, worth doing? I'd be particularly interested to know the results if anyone has put these in a CIJ Geddy Lee. Thanks, Wilco

First gig with this bass last Saturday night. Very comfortable to play & it sounded superb - got some excellent feedback. For the money, a right result!!

Actually a belated NBD as I've had this a few weeks now. Hadn't really given this model much thought, until I had the opportunity to have a go on this one wich was up for sale locally via BC. Have recently had a go on an American Special which I believe replaced the H1, but that didn't really float my boat, where as this did. With the Badass bridge, satin nitrocellulose lacquer body finish & graphite supported neck it's a well thought out spec for the price point with a nice vintage vibe. I've added a more interesting neck plate for aesthetics & some Fender strap locks. Was bought as a back up, but actually it might have relegated my Geddy Lee to that position!!

Thought the MiM & the US 98 sounded virtually identical - really nothing noticeable in it & no difference you would hear in a band context. The MiJ sounded a little 'muted' to me. Hands down winner was the Ash bodied / maple necked 77 - superb. Excellent video btw.