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Leak? Squier Paranormal Rascal Bass HH

#302
skycruiser said:
Has anyone checked what's under the pickup cover yet? Are these basically P-bass pickups in a humbucker cover? Or are they more like double-single humbuckers with 2 coils that run across all 4 strings? You can see 4 poles in a split-P type pickup but maybe they are hiding more poles under the cover...
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Based on pics of the guitar reissue version posted here: The Wide Range Humbucker and The Genius of Seth Lover — Lawing Musical Products
and my pic of the underside of the Squier bass version, they appear the same with 2 full coils that span all 4 strings. Indeed the polepieces are inverted on the 'covered' sections.

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#303
#304
skycruiser said:
Awesome, thanks! Now I know this bass is definitely not for me. Really cool bass but I don't need or want an HH.
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It's firmly in humbucker land! There is brightness on tap (in fact, these are bright humbuckers), but the pickups are very high output and arguably less "dynamic/nuanced" like a good single coil.

I cranked the pickups in mine down considerably from where they were shipped & it's still my highest output passive bass.
 
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#305
scotch said:
It's firmly in humbucker land! There is brightness on tap (in fact, these are bright humbuckers), but the pickups are very high output and arguably less "dynamic/nuanced" like a good single coil.

I cranked the pickups in mine down considerably from where they were shipped & it's still my highest output passive bass.
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these are definitely high output. I had to lower mine significantly also so I wouldn’t clip inputs downstream.
 
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#306
A few more notes for perspective buyers:

I'm also impressed withtl the piece of laurel used for my fretboard. Obviously not rosewood, but has its own charm! Plus, actual inlaid dots, not stickers or painted on.
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I DID have to reinstall all 4 string ferrules on the back of the bass. Each one fell out immediately upon changing strings. Easily fixed, but noteworthy.

The neck shape is unique. Small 'C' shape bordering on 'U'. Narrow like a jazz neck, but deeper front to back.

The pickups sound great! Really high output that you have to stay aware of when gain staging, but controllable. I put flats on mine (medium scale D'Addario Chromes fit perfectly) as I want this to be more of a "motown on steroids" vibe, but there is plenty of clarity. The bridge pickup brings some nasal bark that blends nicely with the neck pupl but is still very usable solo'ed. The neck pickup sounds big and round but not woofy or muddy like a Gibson EB-*.

My pickup selector switch was intermittent out of the box. I've fixed many of these types of switches on Epiphones by carefully bending the contact reeds a little more concave, but do so at your own risk- there is potential to break those metal reeds/tabs! It functions perfectly now.

The tuners feel cheap, but seem to work just fine. I see no need to swap them out.

I like the Mustang style bridge. It stays put, has plenty of adjustment, looks cool, and gets the job done. The pickup poles even line up nicely on mine!

Body shape is comfy, but neck does dive if you care about that. I personally don't have an issue with neck dive but I acknowledge many folks do. This bass may not be for you if that's the case!

Tones are really unique and immenently useful in a mix. I played along with some projects I'm working on & not unlike my Mustang bass, the Rascal occupies a bandwith space that works great with guitar/keys/drums contexts. I'm kinda seeing this as an alternative when I reach for my Mustang but want a little bit deeper, bolder sound.

Really digging the first impressions of the Squier Rascal! Btw, Shell Pink is the sleeper color choice!
 
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#307
Agreed to everything Scotch said. I took delivery of mine earlier this week and it's been a blast to play. The action was a bit high when I got it and the intonation was off. I swapped out the stock roundwounds for some Labella flats today and the action is now in a much better place. The stock strings were fine, but these flats really get the bass sounding special.

My previous impression of Squires was the junk sold under their name in years past, but this Rascal is a very nice piece of work. The neck and fretwork is great and I'm amazed this bass is priced where it is. I haven't had a chance to play it with a band or through a PA yet, but it's been a blast to noodle around on for the past few days.

I love the green, and if anyone out there has a tort guard they want to swap out for a mint one, let me know.
 
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#313
Just had a bridge pickup failure on mine. Jiggled the switch and it came back. Now I’ll have to take it apart to investigate and correct.
This bass doesn’t sound like it has any shielding so guess it’s time to do that while I’m at it.
 
#314
klattman said:
Just had a bridge pickup failure on mine. Jiggled the switch and it came back. Now I’ll have to take it apart to investigate and correct.
This bass doesn’t sound like it has any shielding so guess it’s time to do that while I’m at it.
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Probably not the pickup failing, but the switch. Very common with these cheaper toggle switches! Replacing it with something like a short Switchcraft 3 way toggle will prevent this from happening.

Pretty much every import guitar or bass I own with a 3 way toggle occasionally has intermittent contact. Cycling the switch a few times generally fixes it for a while, but that's obviously not a permanent "fix". I have had some luck gently bending the contact leaves, but they do break easily.
 
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#316
klattman said:
Just had a bridge pickup failure on mine. Jiggled the switch and it came back. Now I’ll have to take it apart to investigate and correct.
This bass doesn’t sound like it has any shielding so guess it’s time to do that while I’m at it.
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Quite often the metal tangs on the switch are slightly bent out and aren't making good contact. To correct that gently bend them closer, being careful that they maintain a separation when switch away from that contact. It could also be oxidation on the contact points on the switch. A quick shot of Deoxit and flip the switch back and forth will usually clear it up.

Link Removed
While this picture is of a Switchcraft, the stock ones are usually similar. The thin metal piece in the middle it the contactor. Sometimes the can get bent outwards. You can very gently bend them inward to make better contact.

This happens on the Switchcraft switches too, but not as often. I find usually the Switchcraft oxidize, while the cheap copies (as used by Squier) can be bent and/or oxidize.

If you have the PCB/Box style switch, just replace it, if it happens too often.
 
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#317
So I just bought one of these few questions for everyone. What do these pickups sound like? Is this more Gibson sg type? Does it get into a more fatter p bass etc. how does it sound with effects? I play a lot of grunge type music stuff like sonic youth brand new mewithoutyou pixies etc this bass looks the part of what I’m playing I think of sonic youth when I see it because of the jazz masters they use I have mods in play with this when it comes in. I love offset instruments and this is definitely different haha. Plus being an inexpensive instrument I’m not going to be sad abusing it if I ever do.
 
#318
anthony w Jaber said:
So I just bought one of these few questions for everyone. What do these pickups sound like? Is this more Gibson sg type? Does it get into a more fatter p bass etc. how does it sound with effects? I play a lot of grunge type music stuff like sonic youth brand new mewithoutyou pixies etc this bass looks the part of what I’m playing I think of sonic youth when I see it because of the jazz masters they use I have mods in play with this when it comes in. I love offset instruments and this is definitely different haha. Plus being an inexpensive instrument I’m not going to be sad abusing it if I ever do.
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To my ear, the pickups are not as muddy/mudbucker like as I expected them to be, but they are vintage sounding. If you need a modern clanky sound, these are probably not going to get you there alone.
 
#319
klattman said:
To my ear, the pickups are not as muddy/mudbucker like as I expected them to be, but they are vintage sounding. If you need a modern clanky sound, these are probably not going to get you there alone.
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I use a svt with a 2x12 cab with a sans amp for more clarity it brightens my sound a lot hoping I don’t have to add more to it but also not worried since I do use a hx stomp for anything else
 

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