Upgrades for Basses

[VinOnBass]

Hi,

I'm intending to upgrade my Standard MIA Jazz with S-1 switch.

a very general question that I would like to know is if it's worth it to upgrade a MIA jazz or issit better to just invest the money on a higher end bass?

If upgrading is the choice,

Can I put in a J-retro pre-amp and still keep the S-1 switch function?
What are the recommended bridges and tuning heads for a jazz bass? (string through body)

What about pickups? nordstrand?

thanks a million!

[cherns]

What are you hoping to do with upgrading your bass? It'll be easier to make recommendations with the end goal in mind

[shinobi]

S-1 was introduced in the past and was quickly discontinued... it appears to me like a less-than-successful technology

if i had a J-retro onboard, i'd screw the S-1. but that's just me

[mingrong]

Originally Posted by cherns

What are you hoping to do with upgrading your bass? It'll be easier to make recommendations with the end goal in mind

Ha ha trust Cherns! Hmm I thought the S1 switch was quite a smart idea and it sounds pretty sweet if you ask me (but probably more likeable for the convenience of your jazz bass being able to acquire that humbuckly sound).

[yuujin]

I'd say you wouldnt need to change your tuner heads, I changed mine cause 1 of them was too loose (keeps detuning after 1-2 songs).
I'd recommend the badass II bridge. Hipshot vintage only if you want the matte black colour (its also brass but alot less mass, and alot pricer. imho, if you're going for chrome, get the badassII.) The MIA Jazz is a very very good bass, id say if you can go for a good onboard pre (the j-retro is a good choice, others would include the audere and sadowsky). if you want to keep the jazz passive then get an outboard pre (id recommend the sadowsky pre+di.)

[VinOnBass]

thanks for all the quick replies!

"What are you hoping to do with upgrading your bass? It'll be easier to make recommendations with the end goal in mind"

oh, I'll be using that bass as my main axe. Hoping that it''' look awesome too. haha!

"if i had a J-retro onboard, i'd screw the S-1. but that's just me"

Actually, i'm ok with doing away with S-1

[cherns]

But again, that doesn't answer anything apart from upgrading the looks of your bass.

Here's some ways you can upgrade your bass
1. EQ flexibility: You want to boost/cut frequencies to cut through the mix, or to enhance the tone of your bass. Solution? Onboard preamp (e.g. Audere, Nordstrand, ACG...)

2. Better tone: You don't really like the way your pickups sound and want to try something else. Solution? Pickups (e.g. Nordstrand, Bartolini, EMG, Fralin...)

3. Increase sustain: You want your notes to ring longer. The general consensus is that high-mass bridges will help, and some people specifically recommend the BAII bridge for this... though I think they just buy it because it looks cool

I personally think the Hipshot style-A looks better... but that's IMHO

[VinOnBass]

I think the most important part that I'm looking at will be the EQ flexibility bah.

as for pickup, I'm actually quite happy with how it sounds now. Haven try it on big stage yet so I dont really know how it'll response on big stages.

It's a string-through body, does it mean that it's good enough and thus a BA-2 is not needed?

Thanks thanks!

[yuujin]

but note the A style bridges are not retrofit bridges!

[VinOnBass]

haha pardon me for not knowing some of the terms that are used here.

I've personally seen and played A style before and like it alot but what do you mean by retrofit?