How to Modify a Fender Jazz Bass

Leo Fender's now iconic Jazz Bass design defines cool chic: with its sleek body curves and bold yet simple layout, no wonder the best-selling Jazz has been the workhorse of many bassists since its inception in the early 1960s. Modifying a Jazz Bass is almost a rite of passage for bass players. Common choices, such as pickup upgrades, bridge exchanges, strap lock installation, and custom pickguard artwork will be covered in this article.

Things You'll Need

• Electric drill/screwdriver Polish cloth Bass bridge (Leo Quan BadAss 2 or 3 popular choices) New set of strap locks New set of J bass pickups (active or passive) Soldering iron New pickguard in preferred color, or clear (optional) Piece of regular sized heavy stock paper (optional) Scissors (optional) New set of bass strings

Instructions

1. Remove and discard the old strings. Unscrew and remove the pickguard. and the bass bridge. Wipe away any dust or debris. If you purchased a Leo Quan BadAss 2 or 3 bass bridge, the drill holes should line up with the bridge's screw holes. If so, simply screw on the bridge, screwing until firm. If not, mark the new holes and drill accordingly with the appropriate bit.

2. Unscrew and remove the strap buttons. Replace the new strap lock pins and screw until firm. Finish replacing the locks according to the package's directions.

3. Unscrew and remove the pickups by cutting the wires and pulling the pickups gently from their cavities. Make sure you have purchased the appropriate pickups, either active or passive, according to the old pickups (replacing passive with actives requires additional work outside the scope of this article). Install and solder the pickups according to the diagram supplied with the new pickups.

4. Using the old pickguard as a template, trace around the perimeter of the pickguard, then cut out with scissors. Decorate the paper pickguard to taste, position it onto the bass and cover it with the clear pickguard, and screw down until firm. If desired, simply decorate the new or old pickguard with acrylic paint or stickers and reattach.

5. Re-string according to the directions on the string package. It is common for basses to need setup following a string change. After tuning your bass, check each string for buzzing or rattling. If necessary, take your bass to a qualified instrument retailer.

Tips & Warnings

• Jazz Basses are famous for the their "60 cycle hum," a buzzing noise created by the pickups when one pickup's volume is favored over the other. Simply laying a folded sheet of foam underneath the pickups when installing them will lessen the buzz or rid your bass of it entirely.

• Making modifications may void the manufacturer's warranty. Consult your Fender dealer for further information prior to attempting any mods.

References

• Tips on Jazz Bass Pickup Replacement
• Online Source for Bass Parts & Accessories

Resources

• Fender Product Info