Fender Squier Sonic Series

[nickpc]

I have a Sonic Precision inbound on Monday. I'll be changing out the bridge (Fendrer High-Mass) but not the electronics (the demos of the stock pickup sound great to me!), but am wondering if I should just go ahead and shield the electronics cavity while I'm working on it. I have the copper tape, so it's just a time investment.

Anyone with one find they needed shielding?

 

[dougjwray]

Looking at the Sonic with the laurel fretboard - got interested in it due to the slim 1.5" neck.
How are the tuning machines on this - need replacement? What kind/size of tuning machines should I look for, Gotoh, Hipshot?

Tks

I believe the Hipshot HB7 tuners are a direct replacement.

 

[ollimac73]

@nickpc I did shield my Sonic P with some aluminium tape, just remind to ground it properly since shielding could pick in some cases ground noise. The cavities on the Sonic are quite simple to tape, so it would be a quick job.

​

 

[Barmy]

This has probably been answered already somewhere in this thread, but I have a Chinese Sonic P and I just replaced the pickup with a MIM Fender Player II pickup for $50. I like the way it sounds but the tone control is not offering the contrast I would have expected... just a little rolloff on the high end.

My question: the Stratosphere is offering a complete loaded Player II pickguard for $100, which has the same pickup I bought but different pots. Does anyone know if I'd get more tonal variety by returning the pickup I installed and just replacing the entire loaded pickguard? Does anyone know with certainty if the new pickguard would even line up and fit (I've read different opinions about this)?

If you're wondering, I'm not crazy about the tone of the Geezer Butler or I might have tried that. Thanks, everyone.

 

[MadJack]

This has probably been answered already somewhere in this thread, but I have a Chinese Sonic P and I just replaced the pickup with a MIM Fender Player II pickup for $50. I like the way it sounds but the tone control is not offering the contrast I would have expected... just a little rolloff on the high end.

My question: the Stratosphere is offering a complete loaded Player II pickguard for $100, which has the same pickup I bought but different pots. Does anyone know if I'd get more tonal variety by returning the pickup I installed and just replacing the entire loaded pickguard? Does anyone know with certainty if the new pickguard would even line up and fit (I've read different opinions about this)?

If you're wondering, I'm not crazy about the tone of the Geezer Butler or I might have tried that. Thanks, everyone.

Why not get a different wiring harness. Better pots and cap will likely have better taper and more tonal range. For about on Reverb.

 

[Barmy]

Why not get a different wiring harness. Better pots and cap will likely have better taper and more tonal range. For about on Reverb.

It’s a good option but the fender pickguard is also a much nicer-looking 3-ply— however, I will check that out. Thanks.

 

[nickpc]

It’s a good option but the fender pickguard is also a much nicer-looking 3-ply— however, I will check that out. Thanks.

The pickguard is the one thing I'm not impressed with on my Sonic P. It's not nice enough for Fender/Squier to have put a protective plastic film on it. I have a 3-ply WBW that I'll probably go with (and shield the cavities in the process).

 

[MadJack]

It’s a good option but the fender pickguard is also a much nicer-looking 3-ply— however, I will check that out. Thanks.

eBay has numerous pickguards, with a much greater selection and pricing. I got my gold anodized aluminum pickguard for my Seafoam Green Sonic P, the only hole I had to drill was for my thumb rest. The rest was a perfect match. They normally come with the pot holes for imperial sized controls and jack.

 

[timendous]

eBay has numerous pickguards, with a much greater selection and pricing. I got my gold anodized aluminum pickguard for my Seafoam Green Sonic P, the only hole I had to drill was for my thumb rest. The rest was a perfect match. They normally come with the pot holes for imperial sized controls and jack.

Can you link which seller you got it from? Thanks!

 

[MadJack]

Can you link which seller you got it from? Thanks!

My bad the Gold Anodized pickguard came from Reverb.

I have bought others from eBay. A favorite from eBay has been earlpilanz.

 

[timendous]

My bad the Gold Anodized pickguard came from Reverb.

I have bought others from eBay. A favorite from eBay has been earlpilanz.

Thanks!

 

[MadJack]

My second Sonic Precision has shipped. I broke weak on the sale. I got the Graffiti Yellow Limited Edition. I'm thinking all black hardware and call I my "School Bass." I might have to find some appropriate decals to dress it up.

I'm going to see how it does tuned to BEAD.

 

[PDW30]

My second Sonic Precision has shipped. I broke weak on the sale. I got the Graffiti Yellow Limited Edition. I'm thinking all black hardware and call I my "School Bass." I might have to find some appropriate decals to dress it up.

I'm going to see how it does tuned to BEAD.

Any decision on strings yet, or will you start with factory?

 

[jpaulo]

Apart from maybe the Hipshot HB-7, which light tuners fit the Sonic? What is the post size, standard Squire?
How happy people are with the pickups?

Tks

 

[MadJack]

Any decision on strings yet, or will you start with factory?

Until I get them in, I'm starting with the stock strings. I did just order a set of Blacksmith 5 string nickel wounds. I used the free-bee set of Blacksmith's I got from SonoJono after NAMM earlier this year. They sounded as good as any other nickel set I've used.

 

[shirojiro]

Apart from maybe the Hipshot HB-7, which light tuners fit the Sonic? What is the post size, standard Squire?
How happy people are with the pickups?

Tks

I’ve left the pickups so far. They sound pretty good to me.

They’re very hot though. They overdrive some of my pedals.

I’ve played them side to side with a P bass with Hi-A pickups, a PJ basses with SD QP, and a 50sClassic MIM Pbass with its stock pickup ( I think it’s a MIA P bass pickup from the same timeframe.)

The Squier Sonic pickup was about as hot or a little hotter than the QP, but I didn’t measure pickup height and the strings aren’t the same so take all of this with a grain of salt.

The tone is a little harsher, but the strings on the Squier are new round wounds and my other P basses have either Cobalt flats or dead nickel rounds.

The tone control gets pretty dark when rolled all the way off. I didn’t measure the tone cap but I suspect it’s a fairly high micro farad value.

 

[MartinB]

My black Sonic Precision ('23, China) has the following measurements:
Pickup: 9.43 kΩ
Tone cap: 22 nF
Pots: 250 kΩ

Holes in the headstock for tuners are the common 11/16" ~ 18mm size

 

[lowplaces]

What's the consensus on the Sonic P stock pickup ? Is it ok or in real need of upgrading ?

How about the neck profile ? Is it thin, medium, or a tad chunky ?

I'm thinking about running out to GC and checking one out but if the pickups are lacking in any way I might forget about it.

Edit : I know it's best to just go play one and see how I like it but just curious what you guys and gals think

 

[MadJack]

My second Sonic P came in today. I got one of the Graffiti Yellow that were on sale. No surprises, it was what I was expecting in a decent budget bass.

This one was made in Indonesia and was about the same quality as my Surf Green MF FSR one. It was set up the same, dead flat neck, with no relief, the action was relatively low, but not drastically low. The pickup was set a bit too close to the strings. @lowplaces the pickup is a relatively hot ceramic. I'm not a big fan of ceramic pickups, they're just not my taste. The strings are bright and clank-y and will dirty your fingers. They've got the colored ball ends, like Fender strings, but they sound like plain steel. The nut is plastic and a couple of the strings were sticking in the slot. I rubbed some pencil lead (graphite) in the slots, and the strings started moving more freely. I played up and down the neck and found no high frets nor dead spots. When I get around to it, I'll go over it with my fret rocker to check more closely, but for now it plays well. The neck is the expected 1-1/2" wide nut, and moderately thin front to rear. The thin satin finish is smooth. The neck is the stark white maple color, but so was my Surf Green Sonic P's. I did put it outside for a couple days sun and it has added a slight amber tint. I could probably put it out for a few more days, along with this new one.

I am planning on swapping the pickups, pickguard and hardware with black and stringing it up in BEAD tuning.

Stock:


with Black pickguard overlayed:


I have a set of Guitar Madness PB Thumpers, which I'll likely put in it for now, but I will likely get a Bill & Becky Lawrence Wilde Pickups P-46s, as they are some of the most articulate pickups and supposedly work great with BEAD tuning.

A handy little tip: While I was working on things, I did finally get around to taking a couple pics of how I remove the press on knobs (NOT the set screw style knobs!) I use a short length of 550/Paracord. cut to about 1 foot. Remove the inner white strings, so you just have the colored outer wrap. Singe the ends (after removing the inner cords). This allows the cord to lay flat enough to go under most knobs. Wrap the cord around the base of the knob and work it under the knob with each end opposite of the other. Pull it snug around the center post, under the knob. Pull upward rocking back and forth and the knob will slowly work it's way up off the center shaft, without pulling too hard on the pot.

 

[jpaulo]

Got mine in the mail now, xmas gift
Won’t get it until next week…
New year resolution bass, want to make it my rock bass, sort of a poor man’s nate mandel but more comfortable.

I like the idea of the thin 1.5” neck - just wonder how heavy the bass is and if there is a neck dive.
Also liked that the pickup maybe hot - as I was thinking of adding a quarter pound to it and that may not be needed.

May exchange the tuners for lighter ones and get some low tension strings - have to try the dunlop super bright.

Don’t care much for changing the bridge, though. Being around TB for a while, will definitely need to add a tort shield…

Will report when I get it!