Buying a crap Squier P-Bass

jbrady · #1 10-12-2009, 08:53 PM

Found a Squier Special ( I want the P-J setup) for 80 bucks on craigslist, but the guy said there is a crack where the neck meets the bass, so I"m assuming it's between one of the screwholes and the top. Can this be epoxied? Or should I go for the next cheapest one I can find, at a music go round, for 150.

I'm planning a full overhaul (neck, pickups, tuners, bridge), so I just don't want to waste it all and have the body fail.

Thanks

Pilgrim · #2 10-12-2009, 09:29 PM

First, if you think Squiers are crap, don't buy one. They're decent instruments and worthy of being considered as such.

Second, most cracks are repairable, but preferably NOT with epoxy. Check out the crack - some cracks are just in the finish and don't involve wood. In that case, play it. If the crack does involve the wood, I suggest:

- Remove the neck and strings
- Force the crack open JUST enough to insert a syringe
- Use Titebond wood glue and mix in enough water to get about a 2/3 glue, 1/3 water mix - pour it into a syrings (get a couple at the drugstore)
- Inject the Titebond into the crack in as many places as possible, as deeply as possible
- Clamp the body for 30+ hours to give the glue a chance to set. This is where it is better NOT to use epoxy or super glue, because Titebond takes a while to set, which gives you time to manipulate the body and get clamps on it. Super glue and epoxy may set too fast, and if you get them on the finish you may have a hard time getting them off.
- Make sure to use a wet paper towel to wipe off as much glue as possible, and put wax paper between the glue joint and the clamping materials so you won't glue them to the bass.
- Of course, use scrap wood between the clamps and body of the bass so you never clamp directly onto the body. This protects it from clamp damage.

One more word - why buy an $80 bass and put $300 to $400 in parts into it? Buy the bass you want the first time. if you buy this bass, play it and don't invest hundreds in it. You can buy used MIM Fender basses for $300 on Ebay.

lethargytartare · #3 10-13-2009, 01:41 AM

Echoing Pilgrim's sentiments, and something I posted in another thread -- buying a squire and then investing in a bunch of upgrades is not really a great bang-for-the buck route. IME, squier necks are terrible, and would be the weak link no matter what else you put on the bass, and the bodies will probably be ply. Better you invest the same money in a slightly better instrument that only needs, say, one upgrade (like the pickup). There are instruments just a step up that are really not that expensive, and will give you a starting point that requires less modification.

That said, you CAN have fun modding a squier -- I just wouldn't suggest a bunch of quality/pricey mods. With a squier, go guerrilla, find used parts, etc.

Whatever you do -- post pics!

Cheers!
ltt

jbrady · #4 10-13-2009, 11:32 AM

I don't know all squier's, and definitely am not knocking them, I am saying that this particular squier is crap due to the crack.

I already have a quality neck (50 dollar brand new mighty mite), XL Black Beauty strings that I got BOGO with the ones I have on my current bass, and Gotoh bridge from a friend's almost project. The thing is, the bridge is black and I'm looking to make a rad guitar around vintage white body, all black other parts. Pickguard and tuners would be the remainder of my buy.

Since, at this point, it's cheaper to get: A whole bass and sell parts I don't want, or a bass body and build bottom up.

The crack may just end at the finish, but it looks kind of deep, and when I put the neck on I don't want the whole thing to split and be a waste.

I'm pitching for opinions/experience on whether it'd be better to spend the 150 and know there is no damage, or spend 80 and worry about it.

Pilgrim · #5 10-13-2009, 11:39 AM

Spend the $150. The crack will be fixable but your posts convince me that you have absolutely no interest in doing the work to fix it (nothing wrong with that, either)...so just buy the one you know works.

Twincam · #6 10-13-2009, 06:09 PM

Keep all your old parts from the upgrade. When you're ready for project #2, throw all the old stuff back onto the first one and sell it. Use the upgrade parts again on #2.

jbrady · #7 10-13-2009, 07:26 PM

Thanks guys for your opinion, and I was set on doing what you said Pilgrim (i need your decisiveness in my life...), however he just sent close up pictures and it isn't at the screwhole, but at the inside of the cutaway closest to the neck (see pictures).

Does it seem like an easy fix, something that doesn't matter much besides cosmetic? Or does it look like something that will kill tone and make it snap in half after reconstruction?

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1033/2ndxz.jpg

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/1286/bestv.jpg

BigDaveyTwinkle · #8 10-13-2009, 07:43 PM

Buy the Squier and mod it. I think you would be able to tell if the crack was structural and not just in the finish. I just picked up a $65. Squier p-bass dog off evilbay (had sand in the control cavity) and replaced tuners, pickup, bridge and pots. The band I am playing with like the refurbished Squier p-bass far better than the high dollar Warmoth, swamp ash, Jazz Bass I was playing. The neck is definitely the weakest link and I am hoping Santa will bring me a nice Jazz neck to go on this thing come Christmas. I went with the Fender '62 Original P-Bass pickups and find them absolutely the boss.

gruda · #9 10-13-2009, 07:53 PM

ill buy it !

Steve · #10 10-13-2009, 08:04 PM

I've seen more than one Sadowsky stress crack in the paint exactly like that over time because the neck pocket is so tight.

jbrady · #11 10-13-2009, 08:40 PM

Well if that stress crack is no big deal, Steve, then you're saying it's a good buy.

Unless your follow up post includes a picture of a pile of busted basses, I think I'll go ahead and get it.