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Fender 2018 MIM Player Series
- Thread starter OllyW
- Start date
It was good stock but the upgrades I did made it as good as my far more expensive basses.
Changed the tuners for Hipshots
Put in a fralin.
Changed pots and electronics, capacitor
Changed knobs to vintage style
Fender tort guard.
Controls: Volume, PU balance, Tone (installed by previous owner);
Bridge PU: DiMarzio UltraJazz (installed by previous owner);
Neck PU: CUSTOM SHOP '62 PU (according to previous owner);
Fender Hi-Mass bridge (original bridge kept G string at the edge of the fret-board);
Strings: TI JF 344
Curious what electronics pots did you change to? and Where did you get the vintage knobs?
Also has anyone felt the urge to upgrade the bridge?
I put in cts pots and a switchcraft jack. The orange drop came w the fralin and the knobs are fender standard vintage style. I got the art of sound taos kit on ebay and the knobs too
D
I reached the point where I couldn't control GAS anymore and got the buttercream P-bass. I'm not exactly blown away but it's certainly a decent instrument. The G-string tuner on mine is very sluggish, bordering on defect. The E-string saddle keeps lowering itself from vibrations. There's a couple of minor flaws in the finish/wood. One of the split coils doesn't fit properly inside the plastic cover so it sits a bit lower than it's supposed to. Looks a bit off but works fine.
Except for that there are no issues. The neck is a bit chunkier than I expected for a "modern" c but it's fine. Decent fretwork but not amazing. The pickup actually sounds great and is probably the most significant upgrade on the previous Standard series IMO. That plus more interesting color options.
The fact that there are no serious defects or design flaws puts it above any of the current MIA series I've tried but I still think pre-2018 Squiers were better value than this. Good but not great sums up this Player-P for me.
Except for that there are no issues. The neck is a bit chunkier than I expected for a "modern" c but it's fine. Decent fretwork but not amazing. The pickup actually sounds great and is probably the most significant upgrade on the previous Standard series IMO. That plus more interesting color options.
The fact that there are no serious defects or design flaws puts it above any of the current MIA series I've tried but I still think pre-2018 Squiers were better value than this. Good but not great sums up this Player-P for me.
Yeah I’d say the tuners are the most obvious weak spot on these basses. I do have a slight flaw in the wood on the back of the neck that has been finished over but nothing super noticeable.
These aren’t some huge improvement over the CV squier so for several hundred less you’d have an equally decent bass with the same areas begging for an upgrade. In any case I love the color and think it sounds really good the pickups are very capable.
These aren’t some huge improvement over the CV squier so for several hundred less you’d have an equally decent bass with the same areas begging for an upgrade. In any case I love the color and think it sounds really good the pickups are very capable.
I help the guys who bought my Player P do simple setup and install a set of labella LTF4A from EB 2814.
Since the stock pup not impressed me in past, but I have to change my mine this time. She sound beautiful woody and classic warmth with labella LTF4A( The fresh LTF4A already has 80% broken in sound. )
Overall stiffness are very even and comfort on hand, stiffer than Ti flat and much better balance than GHS 3025. Great for you guys who looking comfort low tension bass string ( pretty close to nickel round 7250L tension)
Highly recommend string for your Player P.
And don't waste your money for GHS 3025, she just make your Player P sound like shxt ！！
Since the stock pup not impressed me in past, but I have to change my mine this time. She sound beautiful woody and classic warmth with labella LTF4A( The fresh LTF4A already has 80% broken in sound. )
Overall stiffness are very even and comfort on hand, stiffer than Ti flat and much better balance than GHS 3025. Great for you guys who looking comfort low tension bass string ( pretty close to nickel round 7250L tension)
Highly recommend string for your Player P.
And don't waste your money for GHS 3025, she just make your Player P sound like shxt ！！
I have to say I put La Bella FX .039, .056, .077, .096 on the P bass and ended up putting the Fender NPS 45-105 back on because they sounded punchier and deeper to me. I also wasn't impressed with fender flats but these nickel rounds are not bad strings imo. My favorite rounds are Galli Nickel 45-105 but these are decent.
Oddly I'm actually considering leaving this pretty much stock with only a tuner change and just purchasing another pbass body to muck about with. I mean it can't hurt to have two precision basses right?
Oddly I'm actually considering leaving this pretty much stock with only a tuner change and just purchasing another pbass body to muck about with. I mean it can't hurt to have two precision basses right?
D
I actually put the Fender NPS 7250 back on mine too. To be precise I installed a new set because there was an issue with the E on the stock set. That's the first time I've ever actually paid for a separate set of 7250s, lol. They are usually ripped off any new Fender/Squier I buy and thrown into the garbage bin within 5 minutes of unboxing.
I've never been a huge fan of the 7250 but being installed on every new Squier/Fender it's such a generic sound that it's practically a classic by now. After blind testing myself on recordings I've realised that I actually like how they sound once they're properly broken in (some would say half-dead...) but I will never like how they feel under the fingers. I'm normally more of a TI/Pyramid fan, plus the occasional Rotosound.
I will also leave the rest of my Player 100% stock (unless that dodgy G-tuner breaks down). Just a drop of loctite on the E-saddle and it's good to go. This will be my "generic" P-bass and cheap enough to not worry about air travel. No rosewood so until the new CITES amendments are implemented around the world I have found my new travel bass. My Chinese 70s CV Squier was purchased for that role but it's simply TOO good to risk air travel (I've had some bad experiences...).
This will get you noticed!
Should be popular with Kawasaki owners.
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Should be popular with Kawasaki owners.
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Man, that color is nuts! It kinda hurts my eyes... but very cool.This will get you noticed!
Should be popular with Kawasaki owners.
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-ScottM
Too light for Team Green. That would be kool though.This will get you noticed!
Should be popular with Kawasaki owners.
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I'll be joining your guys soon. Should get my Sonic Red Precision tomorrow. Looks like they discontinued that color huh? I always loved pastel Fender colors. I wonder how close it is to Fiesta Red? Looks like it might have a tad less pink in it.
Anyways, it has a replacement tort guard on it for that Pino look, but I ordered a mint green guard for it, love the mint green with fiesta red, so I'm curious on how it'll turn out.
Anyways, it has a replacement tort guard on it for that Pino look, but I ordered a mint green guard for it, love the mint green with fiesta red, so I'm curious on how it'll turn out.
Yup saw it. Nice list of upgrades. I might put EMG GZR on it, but I’ll play a while without modding it for now. Otherwise, tuners, bridge (I like the 70s and 60s Fender ones) and pickup swap are potential mods. And mint green guard.
