Dr.Suess Posted May 15, 2004 Share Posted May 15, 2004 Hi, I just purchased this mojo gem and it arrived today. It has greasy 30 year old smoked filled, beer soaked Dimazio's that is great for funk. However, the electronics don't maximize the natural tone of this bass. http://xush.net/mywebpages/Xush%20Basses_files/funkafizer/funka.htm I am modifying the bass and putting in a J-Retro preamp for more sonic choices. I was also thinking of experimenting with the pickups. I have always liked Bartolini's in fretless basses (though I am open to suggestions) but esthetically, I like the look of the cream pick up covers. I have never seen pickup covers in this colour for Barts. Do they make them or any 3rd party companies make cream coloured covers that fit with Barts? Any good sites for these kinds of accessories would be welcome. Last question - If you were going to put new pickups in this bass...which ones and why? (We all have our tastes when it comes to tone....just curious.) Thanks in advance for your consideration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted May 15, 2004 Share Posted May 15, 2004 Nice ax. Congrats! J-Retro, eh? That should be nice. Doesn't it have a couple of toggle switches? Will you (or your tech) be drilling holes for those? Do you know which DiMarzios are in there now? If they're UltraJazz p'ups, you might find the DiMarzio Model Js more fretless friendly (and could still do the cream covers). I've heard that the Model Js aren't quite as aggressive sounding as the UltraJazz. Also, you could investigate the Steve Bailey fretless system (p'ups and preamp) from Seymour Duncan -- I don't think that they do cream covers though. Also, I think the p'ups are soapbars -- but maybe they're available in a jazz shape? Aero will do wood covers for their pickups. They might do some wood covers for you, even if you'll be using them for another company's pickups, which would give you another aesthetic option other than black. However, Barts would be nice. I have some Bart Classic Jazz dual in-line humcancelling Js in my Carvin fretted that I like very well. Anyway, just trying to throw some other options your way. I bet you'll enjoy that bass! Peace. --SW spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted May 15, 2004 Share Posted May 15, 2004 The bass looks great! Leave it alone! If you didn't like what it sounded like, why did you buy it? At least call up Karl Hoyt and let him do the work to it, it's one of his babies. He lives on Cape Cod if you didn't know already. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted May 15, 2004 Share Posted May 15, 2004 Originally posted by jeremyc: At least call up Karl Hoyt and let him do the work to it, it's one of his babies. This is a fine idea. Karl would be just the right person to discuss this with. Doesn't fearless moderator Bob G own a Hoyt bass that he loves? From the pictures it appears that the DiMarzios aren't the original pickups that Karl put in. Maybe you can find out what those were from Karl. spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Suess Posted May 15, 2004 Author Share Posted May 15, 2004 Originally posted by jeremyc: The bass looks great! Leave it alone! If you didn't like what it sounded like, why did you buy it? At least call up Karl Hoyt and let him do the work to it, it's one of his babies. He lives on Cape Cod if you didn't know already.Hi Jeremy, I spoke with Karl prior to the purchase. I also spoke with 2 other people that owned the bass over the years. Each said it was an great sounding bass but some little changes could make it an outstanding bass. I bought the bass from the Dudepit. As I live in Montreal I had to take a chance and buy the bass without listening to it. The only minor change would I who have to put in a toggle switch for the preamp. Other than that it will look the mostly the same. However, I am very cautious about any changes to this bass....it deserves respect!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcr Posted May 15, 2004 Share Posted May 15, 2004 Some super good info about the J-Retro here . It does have two toggle switches, however they are mounted on the jack plate that comes with the unit. It should be just a drop-in mod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Hoffman Posted May 16, 2004 Share Posted May 16, 2004 niiiice bass i would like to try out fretless someday. first, though, i think i'll master walking on the fretted line. i guess goin fretless is kinda like takin off the training wheels... "The world will still be turning when you've gone." - Black Sabbath Band site: www.finespunmusic.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig S. Leyh Posted May 16, 2004 Share Posted May 16, 2004 I would think the Dimarzio's should be fine. If you do change them I have to say the Barts. I have a set in fretless Jazz and they are awesome. Thank you, Craig S. Leyh CraigLeyh@Buffalo.com WWW.FrameBand.com "Lucky 7" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Phil Posted May 16, 2004 Share Posted May 16, 2004 wow that J-Retro unit looks awesome!! DO IT!! Your GAS is making you!! http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
music-man Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 Wow - I'd be really sad to see you do a thing to the top of that instrument. I love the classy look of it, with just plain knobs, pups, and the board. I think I might contact Roger Sadowsky or Hoyt to see if there's a way to preserve the top, instead of slapping a plate around the knobs. IMHO, the knob plate doesn't make visual sense on a bass that has no pickguard. And there are a lot of other OB pres and pups out there ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Suess Posted May 17, 2004 Author Share Posted May 17, 2004 Originally posted by music-man: Wow - I'd be really sad to see you do a thing to the top of that instrument. I love the classy look of it, with just plain knobs, pups, and the board. I think I might contact Roger Sadowsky or Hoyt to see if there's a way to preserve the top, instead of slapping a plate around the knobs. IMHO, the knob plate doesn't make visual sense on a bass that has no pickguard. And there are a lot of other OB pres and pups out there ...Hi Music-man, Not to worry. I totally agree with you. I am speaking with John East who makes the J-Retro and he is building me one with no plate. The only thing will be a toggle switch will have to be drilled. I am going to order knobs for the J-Retro from this company and match the knobs to the wood ( see website link). They can even do the toggle switch to match. http://www.thgknobs.com/ What do you think? I am going to leave the pickups as is for now until the preamp is in....one step at a time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcr Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 Originally posted by dcr: It does have two toggle switches, however they are mounted on the jack plate that comes with the unit. It should be just a drop-in mod.Ooops, my home connection was too slow so I only now looked at the picture...I stand corrected. Nothing to see here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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