Copper strip on Jazz?

[Bridgehouse]

A quick question for the assembled...

 

When (if ever!) and for how long did Fender use a copper strip for earthing in between the bridge and the bridge pickup on Jazzes?

 

I've got one on my new Custom Shop (62 spec) and I can't seem to recall seeing one on any other. Swapping the pickups out today, there's a copper plate under each of the Bridge and Neck pickups and the strip going back to the bridge.

 

Anyone know anything about the history of doing this?

 

Pic to show you what I'm blabbing on about:

 

 

[Velarian]

I don’t know the history but I have a MIJ 62 reissue Jazz bass which has a copper strip so that would suggest it’s a feature of that era (along with the threaded saddles on the bridge). 

[Geek99]

Standard 62 era feature - I used copper tape to get the look and do same job on my stack knob build 

[Velarian]

On reflection I think the strip is actually brass rather than copper. From I’ve been able to find out it was in use up to around ‘62 and presumably discontinued after that in favour of a ground wire routed through a hole. Jazz basses of that era were supplied with the huge ‘ashtray’ bridge cover which extended up to the bridge pickup and covered the strip so, aesthetically it wasn’t a problem and presumably easier to implement from a manufacturing point of view. 

Edited November 16, 2021 by Velarian
Typo

[Burns-bass]

Yeah just a grounding strip which was then internally routed in late 62. They’ve gone proper on the authenticity!

[NikNik]

That wide strip isn't even period-correct. The little skinny ones Fender Japan used are.

[Hellzero]

This brass (or sometimes copper on the reissues) strip must be soldered to the brass (never copper) plate of the bridge pickup as it's the grounding of the bridge.

 

Check if there's a grounding wire under the bridge if you want to remove it as it might be purely aesthetic.

 

That said, it wasn't centered on the original pre 1962 Jazz Basses as it needed to run between the screws of the damping system, so I guess this one is an add-on to look like the original.

 

It was abandoned when Fender started putting 3 separate knobs (volume, volume, tone) instead of the 2 stacked knobs (volume, tone for each pickup) of the early Jazz Basses.

[Reggaebass]

I’ve had quite a few 62RIs with the grounding strip and they were just for show , as there was a wire under the bridge, one I bought the strip was in a separate bag 

[Crusoe]

My '91 Squier Silver Series Jazz has one. I've no idea if it's functional or decorative, though and don't intend taking the bass apart to find out as I'll never get it set up properly again.

[Reggaebass]

[Jus Lukin]

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Edited March 15, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[Supernaut]

CS pickups not good enough? 

[Lfalex v1.1]

2 hours ago, Jus Lukin said:

100% genuine bent bit of brass- accept no imitations.

Perfect match for the BBOT original bridges..

[Bridgehouse]

18 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

CS pickups not good enough? 

 

Wrong question - CS pickups not quiet enough? would be better.

 

Swapped them for a set of Lindy Fralin split coils to eliminate hum. 

[Bridgehouse]

Well, this genuine bent bit of brass is just for show as well, as the bridge is wired up separately. 

 

Tho interestingly it's soldered up and attached to the plate under the bridge pickup and also to the bridge itself. 

[Grahambythesea]

I suspect it worked better than the later little bit of wire grounding strip. When I ha one (a ‘96) the hum under some lights was terrible, leading me to believe the earth strip didn’t work very well.

[Jus Lukin]

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Edited March 15, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[Bridgehouse]

So the consensus of opinion is Fender did it for a bit in the early 60's when the rear ash tray was so huge that it hid the thing in its entirety. Fair enough. 

 

I don't mind it actually, sort of adds to the look I think. 

[Hellzero]

5 hours ago, Bridgehouse said:

 

Wrong question - CS pickups not quiet enough? would be better.

 

Swapped them for a set of Lindy Fralin split coils to eliminate hum. 

If you make a total copper shielding with each parts interconnected and the whole to the ground, you'll be amazed by the silence of the original single coils pickups and the loss of the typical Fender buzzing when not touching the strings.

 

People buying my basses are always amazed by their silence, but it's really simple to achieve.