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Can my Squier ever be like my Lakland?
- Thread starter GassieBall
- Start date
What are you pickups specs in regards to distance from the strings? How do they sound when played solo'ed A/B to each other?
You should be able to lower your neck pickup, and use that pickup as your bottom tone, then adjust the bridge to bring out the highs you want.
Try as a starting point at 5/64" for the bridge pickup, and at least 8/64" for the neck. Also, start with the pickups flat, then listen for volume across the strings. Adjust treble closer as needed to bring it in as needed. Run both volumes max, and then rolled off about 10%. Rolling them off a little will take a little top away, and bring out some mids.
With 500k pots don't be afraid to roll the tone knob off about 30-50%. 500's let all the top end brittleness in. 250k pots would make a subtle difference, and are not expensive, or hard to do, should yo decide to go that way.
You should be able to lower your neck pickup, and use that pickup as your bottom tone, then adjust the bridge to bring out the highs you want.
Try as a starting point at 5/64" for the bridge pickup, and at least 8/64" for the neck. Also, start with the pickups flat, then listen for volume across the strings. Adjust treble closer as needed to bring it in as needed. Run both volumes max, and then rolled off about 10%. Rolling them off a little will take a little top away, and bring out some mids.
With 500k pots don't be afraid to roll the tone knob off about 30-50%. 500's let all the top end brittleness in. 250k pots would make a subtle difference, and are not expensive, or hard to do, should yo decide to go that way.
When I first got the bass, the action was terrible. I did truss rod tweaks and saddle adjustments and redid the intonation. At that point, the pickups were too high and angled too much. The G string was getting that farty-clacky sound. I reset the pickup heights to close to your specs. Also moved them up and down to compare. Unfortunately, those adjustments helped but didn't change the overall tone.
Your suggestions about rolling off the volunes and the tone knob so far have been the most productive adjustment. When I was A/Bing my Lakland vs. the Squier at practice this past weekend, that is exactly what I had to do to take the brittleness off.
In the end, I think I don't like the pickups. I may prove to myself that I might not be able to get the bass to sound the way I want regardless of the pickups, but at least I learned a bit trying
Your suggestions about rolling off the volunes and the tone knob so far have been the most productive adjustment. When I was A/Bing my Lakland vs. the Squier at practice this past weekend, that is exactly what I had to do to take the brittleness off.
In the end, I think I don't like the pickups. I may prove to myself that I might not be able to get the bass to sound the way I want regardless of the pickups, but at least I learned a bit trying
Which one is the Squier
Haha just kidding.
LOL! Most everyone here at Talkbass could tell which one is which, but I think to most people who are at a bar and don't know the difference between a bass and a guitar, I don't think they know the difference between my Squier and my Lakland!
I also have both a Lakland DJ (Aeros) and a Squier jazz.
I put a heavier bridge and Barts in the Squier, but it is and always will be a complete tone wimp compared to the Lakland. I suppose it would work for greasy bars where the tone isn't going to matter much anyway.
Thing is, I'd probably like the sound of the Squier if I didn't have the Lakland for comparison.
I put a heavier bridge and Barts in the Squier, but it is and always will be a complete tone wimp compared to the Lakland. I suppose it would work for greasy bars where the tone isn't going to matter much anyway.
Thing is, I'd probably like the sound of the Squier if I didn't have the Lakland for comparison.
i'm getting really really bad gas for a squier modded jazz now i think i may have to buy 2 just incase
The heavier bridge helps w/ sustain = less whimpy.
I have to agree that you will need new pups. Or like my earlier post, you could try a outboard pre... if you can find an affordable used one, but I'd do the pups if I were you.
About the Barts... isn't it popular opinion here on TB that Bart jazz pups are "mellow", some would say "bland". I love the Barts in my 55-94, so I'm not a "Bart-hater". But I think the OP wants the DJ tone which IMO/IME is a more aggressive, modern tone. I have Aeros in my DJ5 and Fralins in my JO5. The Aeros are probably more what the OP is looking for, Fralins are great too, but more "vintagey". As far as budget replacements... maybe some used Duncans mellowed a bit w/ nickels.... opinions???
I have to agree that you will need new pups. Or like my earlier post, you could try a outboard pre... if you can find an affordable used one, but I'd do the pups if I were you.
About the Barts... isn't it popular opinion here on TB that Bart jazz pups are "mellow", some would say "bland". I love the Barts in my 55-94, so I'm not a "Bart-hater". But I think the OP wants the DJ tone which IMO/IME is a more aggressive, modern tone. I have Aeros in my DJ5 and Fralins in my JO5. The Aeros are probably more what the OP is looking for, Fralins are great too, but more "vintagey". As far as budget replacements... maybe some used Duncans mellowed a bit w/ nickels.... opinions???
Yeah, it was somewhat better with the Barts and better bridge. It's probably on par with a typical decent $500 bass now. Whimpy is relative to the Lakland which is just a loud beast.
Oh yes please... Aeros and Fralins. I'd love to do that. But those would probably go in my Lakland first!!!
Perhaps if I rephrased the question: what pickups are most similar to the (new) stock Lakland pickups?
I think the force is strong with Jedi Bass. I'm really looking into the SD basslines. I think they look like good bang for the buck. Perhaps the Hot Jazz SJB-2 because it would be the reverse of the scooped sound that the stock setup has.
Perhaps if I rephrased the question: what pickups are most similar to the (new) stock Lakland pickups?
I think the force is strong with Jedi Bass. I'm really looking into the SD basslines. I think they look like good bang for the buck. Perhaps the Hot Jazz SJB-2 because it would be the reverse of the scooped sound that the stock setup has.
Ah yes, the SD hot jazz.... just what i was thinking. I haven't played 'em, but they sound similar to what I've heard of the Lakland pups.
Your Squier can be just like your Lakland! Case in point: A friend of mine was faced with a wife inspired moratorium on new guitar purchases. She had put her foot down, and there were to be no more large guitar related purchases. Over the course of a few months, my pal discretely, one by one, purchased the most expensive boutique components for a custom strat. He then, part by part and over a period of time, replaced every bit of his Lake Placid Blue Tokai Strat copy with parts by Fralin, Warmoth, Callaham..... including a gorgeous Mary Kay Blonde swamp ash body from Warmoth. When the transformation was complete, he brought the guitar to a gig. During a break his wife came up, complimented the band's sound, and asked her husband "Is that a new guitar?" and he, in all seriousness replied, "No Babe, this is my blue Strat."
So, based on this experience, in short any guitar or bass can easily be mad to sound and look like any other guitar or bass, either over a period of time, or in one quick swap.
Like the ship of Theseus, a famous philosophical conundrum dealing with identity over time.
4StringTheorist: So if my Squier were somehow made to be teleported into some parallel hyperdimensional construct and became reconstituted in our particular space-time continuum, but were somehow corrupted by interminglings of subspace interference, it might somehow morph into a projectional image of my Lakland?
Put some Aero Type 1s, this (Link Removed), a new bridge, and I don't see why the tone should be that different or worse. Of course the Lakland will feel a lot better, but the pickups should be the root of the tone. The higher quality wood in the Lakland will be noticable, but not that much. This is IMO and IME.
I think a new set of pickups will make a big difference if you are not digging the general tone. Although I do agree that Squiers can be all over the place QC-wise. My 70s VM is a good one- no huge deadspots and decent sustain- and pretty lightweight and nice looking wood as well. Some I've played have been truly cheap looking and sounding...
It won't ever sound exactly like your Lakland, but thats not neccesarily a bad thing. If it plays well and resonates well, then it should at least be serviceable- pickups will help you adjust the voice somewhat towards what you are looking for. I just won a set of Aeros on Ebay (with a whole set of pots AND knobs) for just over $100 shipped. If you have the money, the used market right now is your friend!
Karl
It won't ever sound exactly like your Lakland, but thats not neccesarily a bad thing. If it plays well and resonates well, then it should at least be serviceable- pickups will help you adjust the voice somewhat towards what you are looking for. I just won a set of Aeros on Ebay (with a whole set of pots AND knobs) for just over $100 shipped. If you have the money, the used market right now is your friend!
Karl
New pickups and pots should bring it alive. Try the nordstrand nj4 70's wind on it. With the 70's locations, it should really bark and bite and might sound better than the lakland in the end.
I picked up a used VM 70's for a good price. Previous owner had a little setup work done on it. I added a Gotoh I had left from a project that didn't happen. I bought it to bring to festivals for campfire jams. It already had a ding and the price reflected that.
Dern thing plays pretty nicely and I have the action med-low with no buzzes. The bridge did help with sustain. You do have to tweak the tone control a little or it gets a little ganky and brittle. (Due to maple body also?)
All in all a decent bass for campfires and for learning slap lines - so I don't kill my frets in other basses.
I may go with some Dimarzio Ultra Jazz. The NJ4 70's are also on my radar; although the spacing is 60's on the bass.
Dern thing plays pretty nicely and I have the action med-low with no buzzes. The bridge did help with sustain. You do have to tweak the tone control a little or it gets a little ganky and brittle. (Due to maple body also?)
All in all a decent bass for campfires and for learning slap lines - so I don't kill my frets in other basses.
I may go with some Dimarzio Ultra Jazz. The NJ4 70's are also on my radar; although the spacing is 60's on the bass.
I don't know what era that Strat was from, but my mid-80's Tokai P-Bass does everything for me that an Am Std Fender P-Bass ever could. He may have started with an already very nice instrument.
KO
KO
Your Squier can be just like your Lakland! Case in point: A friend of mine was faced with a wife inspired moratorium on new guitar purchases. She had put her foot down, and there were to be no more large guitar related purchases. Over the course of a few months, my pal discretely, one by one, purchased the most expensive boutique components for a custom strat. He then, part by part and over a period of time, replaced every bit of his Lake Placid Blue Tokai Strat copy with parts by Fralin, Warmoth, Callaham..... including a gorgeous Mary Kay Blonde swamp ash body from Warmoth. When the transformation was complete, he brought the guitar to a gig. During a break his wife came up, complimented the band's sound, and asked her husband "Is that a new guitar?" and he, in all seriousness replied, "No Babe, this is my blue Strat."
So, based on this experience, in short any guitar or bass can easily be mad to sound and look like any other guitar or bass, either over a period of time, or in one quick swap.
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