Squire jazz bass upgrade project... Options?

thebass905 · #1 10-14-2011, 10:38 AM

Have a newish squire jazz bass that I'd really like to upgrade to better parts on to really he a handle for instrument repair but also for sound as well. Essentially it sound like garbage. The pickups are clacky and dull sounding and terra no resonance to the sound. I also believe the nut Is loose. So would an upgrade or repair be worth it for the instrument? The neck and body are solid but are American made fenders made of different wood? And most importantly what kind of repair or replacement would give me the biggest upgrade in sound?

JLS · #2 10-14-2011, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebass905

Have a newish squire jazz bass that I'd really like to upgrade to better parts on to really he a handle for instrument repair but also for sound as well. Essentially it sound like garbage. The pickups are clacky and dull sounding and terra no resonance to the sound. I also believe the nut Is loose. So would an upgrade or repair be worth it for the instrument? The neck and body are solid but are American made fenders made of different wood? And most importantly what kind of repair or replacement would give me the biggest upgrade in sound?

Frankly, I think you'd be polishing a turd. Get a better bass.

stratovani · #3 10-14-2011, 11:34 AM

First of all, realize that you're doing this for love, not money. Even with upgraded parts, you won't get much if you sell it, unless you sell the parts separately. Secondly, the most important part of the bass you have is the neck and frets. Is the neck straight and not badly bowed? Does the truss rod work? Are the frets in good condition, with no high spots or fret sprout? If the neck is in good shape, then you should be good to go. Replace all the electronics with good quality parts (use the Search function here on TB for threads about types and brands of pickups), clean all the crud on the bass, if any, make sure the tuners work as they should, and you should be good to go.

cobra314 · #4 10-14-2011, 11:52 AM

I have a Squier Jazz that I am currently upgrading. I have had people say, "why don't you just buy another bass?" Essentially I am...I'm just doing it with the parts and paint color that I want. I have done a lot of reading on here. Basically I am:
1. refinishing with Guitar Reranch paint. (this stuff is awesome to work with)
2. Gotoh 201 bridge
3. SD 1/4 pounder pickups (neck pickup will be a P instead of J pickup!)
4. All black hardware

I will be starting a topic on it soon.

sanderic · #5 10-14-2011, 11:58 AM

Only if you are happy with the body and neck should you spend too much money on upgrades. The Squier is made of a thinner less expensive wood. There is a huge difference in an American Standard and a Squire. I am not knocking the squire, I own a Jazz fretless squire, it is a good quality functional bass, but it is not, in any way, the quality of my American Standard Jazz.

soulman969 · #6 10-14-2011, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLS

Frankly, I think you'd be polishing a turd. Get a better bass.

+1 Yep!

thebass905 · #7 10-15-2011, 07:21 AM

Thanks for the honesty guys! Also the turd thing made me laugh. I've definitely got a lot more to consider now!

treekiller · #8 10-15-2011, 07:31 AM

You can pick up a used MIM pretty cheap and upgrade it to your heart's content. The necks are very close to the Am. Std., the profile is identical. I have 2, including a P that I swapped the guard, dropped in a 62' RI p-up, CTS pots, etc. It has been my main gigging bass and a pretty close second to my MIA, which stays at home.

SVTFretless · #9 11-14-2011, 11:23 AM

What strings are you fretless players happy with? I play a fretless Jaco Jazz and have been using various nickel platted round wounds. I have been breaking the occasional G string at the bridge.

chrism2sych · #10 11-14-2011, 11:33 AM

Don't play them on my frettless but la bellas are great I have them on a pbass and people (guitards ). Rarely notice that I have them on as they are pretty bright and distinct but still kind of warm and soft at the same time. That maybe a hard to understand without hearing for yourself but regardless they're great strings.

F-Clef-Jef · #11 11-15-2011, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanderic

Only if you are happy with the body and neck should you spend too much money on upgrades. The Squier is made of a thinner less expensive wood. There is a huge difference in an American Standard and a Squire. I am not knocking the squire, I own a Jazz fretless squire, it is a good quality functional bass, but it is not, in any way, the quality of my American Standard Jazz.

All the Squier bodies I've ever owned have had the same thickness bodies as the MIM (and probably the USA) bodies. Not thinner, probably multi-piece laminated body, same routings as any other Fender-type body. Any aftermarket neck or hardware should fit just fine, at least they have for the basses I've built (okay; assembled really) so far. Upgrade parts as you can afford them, you'll eventually end up with a pretty nice bass. I'd put my latest frankenstein'd jazz up against any "expensive" bass. With a Warmoth neck, Gotoh and Schaller hardware, still messing with pickups (EMG - DiMarzio - Duncan's so far...). It's fun to mess with all these combinations, and I still only have about $500 into the bass. Some turds polish up just fine!

I've bought Squier jazz basses just for the body, because it
was cheaper to buy a whole Squier Jazz than it was to buy an aftermarket body (then again, I'm a "body wood doesn't matter much" sort of person)

BTW, the first upgrade you should do is put a good set of strings on it. Your dull clacky sound may just disappear with the old strings.