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Installing Super 55's in Squier Vintage Modified, newb questions...

B

BluesHolyMan

Sep 28, 2013
31
15
#1
I have a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass '70s and I am doing the electronics upgrade: Super 55 pickups, CTS pots, orange drop cap, and for good measure, nut replacement with tusq (if I can get it out) while strings are off.

A couple questions:

1) Pulling the old (Duncan Designed) pickups out, they have wax-cloth-covered wires - is that normal? wouldn't expect it on a $300 bass, maybe its a "vintage" thing - just struck me, as the new more expensive pickups have vinyl covered wire - go figure.

2) The old pickups had springs on the bottom with a foam surround, the Fender Super 55s came with separate sponge/rubber pads with a sticky side. I am assuming I put the pad, sticky side to the wood, under the pickup as a cushion/spring - is this correct? The issue I am seeing is the wire connector sitting on the underside of the super 55 will have a lot of stress put on it from the pad if the pickups screws are cranked down - is this ok?

Appreciate the help -- can't wait to plug this thing in.
 
#4
It shouldn't. I have Super 55 pickups (love 'em!) in my avatar J bass, and I paid attention to how the connector would rest when the pickup is in place, and I concluded the connector wouldn't be stressed with the foam pushing on it.

I used the foam with the adhesive to the bass, not the pickup, though. Adhering the foam to the pickup would make it tricky to undo the connector if you ever want or need to.

One suggestion -- as you are wiring, leave about an inch of slack in the pickup leads. That will make installing the pickups a lot easier. If you don't have that slack, it's a real bugger to connect the pickup in the pickup route.
 
#6
The Super 55 doesn't have the typical wiring most pickups have. There is a three pronged connector at the bottom of the pickup. The pickup wire plugs into that, and then you solder the other end like normal. The connector comes out of the bottom at one end, and does an immediate 90 degree bend parallel to the bottom of the pickup. That's why there's a question of if it can handle the stress.

(In case you didn't already know. It's a unique configuration in my experience, but perhaps my experience is limited and that style of pickup connector is more ubiquitous than I imagined.)
 
#7
BlueTalon said:
The Super 55 doesn't have the typical wiring most pickups have. There is a three pronged connector at the bottom of the pickup. The pickup wire plugs into that, and then you solder the other end like normal. The connector comes out of the bottom at one end, and does an immediate 90 degree bend parallel to the bottom of the pickup. That's why there's a question of if it can handle the stress.

(In case you didn't already know. It's a unique configuration in my experience, but perhaps my experience is limited and that style of pickup connector is more ubiquitous than I imagined.)
Click to expand...

This?
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Those handle stress just fine. It's not a lot of pressure.
 
#8
BlueTalon said:
It shouldn't. I have Super 55 pickups (love 'em!) in my avatar J bass, and I paid attention to how the connector would rest when the pickup is in place, and I concluded the connector wouldn't be stressed with the foam pushing on it.

I used the foam with the adhesive to the bass, not the pickup, though. Adhering the foam to the pickup would make it tricky to undo the connector if you ever want or need to.

One suggestion -- as you are wiring, leave about an inch of slack in the pickup leads. That will make installing the pickups a lot easier. If you don't have that slack, it's a real bugger to connect the pickup in the pickup route.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice - how would you describe the sound of these pickups? I see a lot of comments like yours, but no youtube demos and not as many "it sounds like..." descriptions. Feel like I am flying little blind going with these but my gut is firmly on the trigger (as you can tell, since I got them and am doing the swap.)
 
#9
line6man said:
This?
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Those handle stress just fine. It's not a lot of pressure.
Click to expand...

Yup, thats the one. That spongy pad seemed pretty substantial, just making sure.

I agree with BlueTalon on the foam arrangement though - seems a more functional way to install. Any reason specifically you recommended foam to the pickup? As BlueTalon suggested, that will make access to the connector, in the future, [more] difficult.
 
#10
BluesHolyMan said:
Yup, thats the one. That spongy pad seemed pretty substantial, just making sure.

I agree with BlueTalon on the foam arrangement though - seems a more functional way to install. Any reason specifically you recommended foam to the pickup? As BlueTalon suggested, that will make access to the connector, in the future, [more] difficult.
Click to expand...

Foam always goes on the pickups. That's the traditional way of mounting.
 
#13
BluesHolyMan said:
Thanks for the advice - how would you describe the sound of these pickups? I see a lot of comments like yours, but no youtube demos and not as many "it sounds like..." descriptions. Feel like I am flying little blind going with these but my gut is firmly on the trigger (as you can tell, since I got them and am doing the swap.)
Click to expand...
I'm not going to be much more help because I suck at describing the nuances of tone or comparing pickups, but I absolutely love them. I would say they are gutsy and articulate. The lows don't boom, the mids don't honk, and the highs don't pierce your ears.
 

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