Pimp My Squier: Low Budget Version

[schismpunk]

I play in the Oregon Marching Band and bought a black Squier P-bass for rainy days (it rains in Oregon, occasionally...). My idea was to mod by applying a black pickguard, black bridge, black knobs and a big yellow O around the pickups. I bought a new bridge, and I'm having a bandmate make cut me out a pickguard. My questions are:

My new bridge has different screw holes than the stock. I'm thinking I remove the stock, fill in the screwholes with woodpaste, and redrill. Is this the normal method?

Is the stock bridge likely to be glued down? If so, how would I go about removing it?

And I'm sure this is a stupid question: How do I remove the knobs? Just pull? I've tried, but I feel like I'm going to pull out, or bend the pot if I do this. Suggestions?

The bass doesn't sound half-bad with the stock pickups, but I'm curious how dramatic putting in a Basslines quarterpound would be?

Thanks all.

[spudmaster34]

the bridge probably isn't glued on, I would use toothpicks to fill the old holes, just pull the knobs, good luck.

[Saetia]

Do the knobs have small set screws in them that you can losen to take them off?

How different are the new bridge holes placement from the old ones?

Will there be any overlap of holes or are they in such a place that they will be in completely different locations?

Peace

-Benny

[62bass]

If the old bridge mounting hole will be covered by the new bridge, then don't bother filling them. Just drill pilot holes for the new bridge. Measure first to make sure you mount the bridge in the right place. The old bridge will not be glued in, but may feel like it is because it may be stuck to the finish. Tap it gently with a wooden block and it should pop off once the screws are removed.

As mentioned above, look for set screws on the knobs and if there are some, back them off and pull the knobs off. If not, gently pull the knobs straight up to remove. Sometimes they get gunked up and stick a bit.

The Basslines Quarter Pounder will make quite a dramatic difference in the sound and is what I prefer. Bigger and ballsier but still with that P bass flavour.

Good strings and a proper set up will also make a big difference. I like Thomastic flatwounds myself. Expensive compared to other brands, but they last a long time. I'm at 7 years on the set on my Fender P and they still sound good. They sound just as good as the 6 month old set on another bass. Probably be a great choice for a marching band.

[schismpunk]

Thanks for all the response. It looks like I'll just have to fill two holes. Do I just do my best to align the new saddles to the position of the old? Is there a technique for this?