Inoming! Used Dirnt Squier - improvements?

1bassleft · #1 02-16-2013, 12:12 PM

Just got one for my son, should pick up this week. Obviously, will have a lengthy noodle and do any necessary setup but I'm always up for a good mod. Anybody already done anything that they're glad they did? I've got the VM P tb and the tuners seem reasonable enough at the price level but anything else?

micgtr71 · #2 02-16-2013, 02:21 PM

I got one of these for my son a few years ago and he decided that he was not going to be a bass player. I already have a MIA Jazz, so I decided to have a little fun with it and it became a killer axe that I can not put down.

I took the frets out because it was not the best fret job

Replaced the pickup with a Seymour Duncan SPB-3 QP

My tech redid the pots and jacks with cloth wiring and an orange drop cap

Not in the pic, but it now had the flat top barrel knobs.

Next, I am going to have my tech fill in the frets with maple strips. I am going to replace the tuners with an upgrade/not sure what yet...it is a Squier. I think I am going to leave the bridge alone. If I change it I may just go to a standard Fender bridge.

This bass sounds amazing and plays extremely well. The agathis body is extremely light and the neck is smooth. I can not believe that I have around $250-$275 (including the price of the bass) into it. Best of luck and enjoy the modding.

1bassleft · #3 02-16-2013, 06:47 PM

Thanks for the reply; I wish I were a lefty who could play righty, I'm having GAS by proxy which is not the same fun. I don't think I'll defret, that'd be a bit harsh on the lad, but any re-pup (quite likely at some point) would also see the pots and cap replaced. His OLP 5er is modded to quite a high output so I was wondering about something more vintage but he really likes the sound of the OLP so, if the feel of the Dirnt is good for him, the 1/4 lb might be a good choice.

One idea that I'm thinking, but only if the holes match up, is swapping the rosewood neck onto the VM P tb (especially if it withstands the tension of the flats better) and the maple onto the (white version) Dirnt. It has dome knobs? Oh, I want the flat-tops, for sure.

Many thanks again, and for your best wishes.

micgtr71 · #4 02-16-2013, 07:27 PM

One thing that I was impressed with regarding the original pickup was the volume. It put out a good amount, but the sound was a bit weak. I have to say that I settled on the Duncan because of the price and what people said about the frequency range. I originally wanted to put a Fralin or a Bart in there but I had a difficult time justifying a $150 pickup for a bass that I paid $179 for. In the end I am glad I chose the SD because it does have the p-bass growl.

The bass does come with the push on dome knobs. The pots are weak and the wiring was ok. Even though the bass was only a couple of years old there was a lot of noise in the pots. I would definitely recommend doing the pots and definitely the jack. The orange drop makes the tone roll off nicely...more noticeable than my American Jazz.

I don't think that you will be able to swap out the neck. The neck pocket is more square than that of the Jazz and P necks. As far as flats, I have no idea how well the bass will hold them. Right now I have very light nickels on mine. When I had my tech set it up there was a severe backbow that straightened out easily.

I love the bass. The white one looks fantastic. Please keep me posted with what you do.

**cfsporn** · #5 02-16-2013, 07:31 PM

I love my Squier Mike Dirnt! Mine only weighs 6.5 pounds and has an amazing tone. Kinda more like a Wal or a Stingray than any other P bass I have ever played. Seriously, this thing is LOUD!

If I could change one thing about mine, it would have to be the neck. I think mine sat unplayed for too long because I have never been able to get the action low enough, and I like high action! Also, (and this something that will matter to about .05% of you) my neck is way too thin. Almost Ibanez thin. Once I justify spending $300 for a new neck for a bass that I only payed $100 for, then my Alembics better start trembling.

1bassleft · #6 02-16-2013, 09:28 PM

Mic, if I can just clarify my terribly unclear previous (my apols; the time diff in England makes for posting @ stupid o'clock).

The Squier VM Precision tb he now owns is the Telebucker-equipped bass that also has the square, '50s heel with a maple board. It has the flats; I would stick to rounds with the Dirnt. My thinking was partly that the rosewood board/Telebucker, and maple board/P pupped, swap might be interesting but, much more importantly, whether the Dirnt neck might be lucky and stand up better to the tension the flats are exerting on the VM bass's neck.

What you and cfs say is very interesting. When I got the tb, the bow and action were incredible - I couldn't believe the seller had been gigging with it. I tweaked and tweaked ad nauseum with the truss rod, little by little, over several weeks and, thanks to advice on another thread, did a little shim. Like cfs, I don't mind a highish action but my op was that these Indonesian necks must be as soft as soft stuff. Almost worth a "how soft is your Indonesian neck?" thread. I have a Korean Jazz neck that took 45-105 flats with no issue and - back on my other thread - I was advised to restring the VM with 40-95s. I'll do that once I've built a bass around my 70s Japanese neck and transfer the flats onto it (I love ancient flats) as I'm willing to bet it'll take a 1/4 turn and stay straight.

Seems like 40-95s are going to be a feature of these basses; good job they're my son's as I'm a real 45-105 bloke. Oh, and I'm one of the 0.05%, cfs - I've noticed the Jazz-like nut width and prefer a good club of a P neck myself.

1bassleft · #7 02-19-2013, 08:44 PM

I have the Squier Dirnt back at my house. Unfortunately, the seller works nights so he very quickly demoed it on the 35W Ibanez bass combo included (i.e., it works) and I got back here nearish midnight so I haven't played it full on yet (update tomorrow). However, I paid particular attention to the neck and I'm happy to report that (unlike the VM P tb I got earlier) this one is pretty nearly set up spot on.

The neck bow is exactly right when holding down at 1st and 15th frets. Action is not bad and I reckon the saddles can be lowered further without any buzz except for the E. The nut has been filed, not by a tech to my eyes, and the E is a touch too low. Even so, that can stay as is with the others taking a small drop. Intonation is a tad sharp at the 12th for all strings but this is probably the best set up of the basses I've grabbed cheap off the 'bay.

Lots of small dings to the body and 'guard (no prob) and a few on the neck that can be felt but not a serious annoyance. Best of all, a replaced and not-matching dome knob so a "case dismissed" excuse for buying in a pair of flat-tops. I'll tell you what I think of the elecs tomorrow - I did my habitual unscrew of the control plate and, crikey, the body's gripping the screws like I'm stealing a Scottish guy's wallet. Never had to work this hard before.

Overall, and feeling especially lucky with the neck, first impressions great.

**cfsporn** · #8 02-23-2013, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1bassleft

Mic, if I can just clarify my terribly unclear previous (my apols; the time diff in England makes for posting @ stupid o'clock).

The Squier VM Precision tb he now owns is the Telebucker-equipped bass that also has the square, '50s heel with a maple board. It has the flats; I would stick to rounds with the Dirnt. My thinking was partly that the rosewood board/Telebucker, and maple board/P pupped, swap might be interesting but, much more importantly, whether the Dirnt neck might be lucky and stand up better to the tension the flats are exerting on the VM bass's neck.

What you and cfs say is very interesting. When I got the tb, the bow and action were incredible - I couldn't believe the seller had been gigging with it. I tweaked and tweaked ad nauseum with the truss rod, little by little, over several weeks and, thanks to advice on another thread, did a little shim. Like cfs, I don't mind a highish action but my op was that these Indonesian necks must be as soft as soft stuff. Almost worth a "how soft is your Indonesian neck?" thread. I have a Korean Jazz neck that took 45-105 flats with no issue and - back on my other thread - I was advised to restring the VM with 40-95s. I'll do that once I've built a bass around my 70s Japanese neck and transfer the flats onto it (I love ancient flats) as I'm willing to bet it'll take a 1/4 turn and stay straight.

Seems like 40-95s are going to be a feature of these basses; good job they're my son's as I'm a real 45-105 bloke. Oh, and I'm one of the 0.05%, cfs - I've noticed the Jazz-like nut width and prefer a good club of a P neck myself.

I know the neck on mine dents easier than any of my other basses. Perhaps some of them snuck out of the factory with soft maple necks.