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Leak? Squier Paranormal Rascal Bass HH

I just hope this means the WR humbuckers will be easier (and cheaper) to source.

When Fender was making the Modern Player starcaster bass & HH telebass those pickups were being sold for about $80-$90, then seemingly overnight they were gone.

Only options now are from a few boutique makers, and their price reflects that.


I sold a '70s bass WRHB about ten years ago for £70, and thought I did well. I had a reissue from a Starcaster bass and sold that cheaply as well. Like you I hope these new ones turn up on the market.
 
As for the long distance between the rear of the body and the bridge, as the original Rascal was made with lipstick pickups I'm guessing that it was built with a Dano vibe. Vintage Danelectros were designed so that the body could be used for a guitar or bass. IMHO.
 
I read that the original Rascal was a custom one off from a Fender master builder which then went into a production instrument. As such, I don't think any part of it is a design error, though I suppose the success of putting two WRHB in the same space as three lipstick tubes remains to be seen. I play nearer the neck than the bridge anyway, so I don't think the forward bridge placement will cramp me.
 
rascal.png


Fixed the pickguard. Haha!
 
As mentioned by others, that bridge placement looks much too far from the end of the body for a good balance or reasonable overall size for a short scale instrument.
Do those designers at Fender actually play bass guitar?
I totally agree.

I tried a Rascall (the 3 pickups version) in a store, and my conclusion is that the lesft han reach is the same as a long scale bass, and the natural plucking position of the plucking hand was behind the bridge.

Too bas, I'd love to love this bass, but too akward to play.
 
Still no release date? If they're made in China by Yako like the rest of the Paranormal series I'll definitely want one. My only complaint about Yako is the glassy finish they always seem to use these days, especially on the neck but that's easily fixed.

If they're made in Indonesia made by Cort or Samick like the rest of the Squier range I won't buy one without testing it first. Most of the Indonesian Squeirs are very good for the price but some of them are pretty awful.
 
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that is awesome, and would bring the thunder. My SS Starcaster bass with those pickups is the hottest signal with the most authoritative tone I have heard in a bass.

Are they the same pickups?

The Squire guitar versions of the Fender CuNiFe Wide Range pickups sound kinda weak compared to the real thing from what I've seen online.

I hope that's not the case here.
 
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Are they the same pickups?

The Squire guitar versions of the Fender CuNiFe Wide Range pickups sound kinda weak compared to the real thing from what I've seen online.

I hope that's not the case here.
As it's Squier's bottom shelf line, it's a good chance they may simply be WR shaped objects. Then again, they may sound great. I hope they do.
 
As it's Squier's bottom shelf line, it's a good chance they may simply be WR shaped objects. Then again, they may sound great. I hope they do.

I wouldn't call them "Squier's bottom shelf line". The Paranormal Series instruments are priced only slightly below the CV Series which is Squier's "top of the range" line. I've played quite a few of both and in my opinion the Paranormals are generally better instruments than the current CVs.

The only things I didn't like about the Paranormals I've played was the weight (every single one I've played had a VERY heavy poplar body) and the too glossy/glassy, cheap looking finish, especially on the necks. I still went ahead and purchased the "54" Jazz Bass and an Offset Tele. Both were easily as good as MIM Fenders, or maybe even better. It's so close that it's really more a matter of personal taste/specs than objective quality IMO.

Every Paranormal I've seen so far was made by Yako. I have no idea if this is also the case with the new 2023 Paranormals but Yako generally make very good instruments for the price (and could probably make even better instruments if someone paid them to do so...). They're not quite as good as the first generations CVs made by Grand Reward but better than the current CVs made by Cort/Samick IMO.

Of course, anything can happen in this price range. I REALLY want one of those green Rascals but after my stupid decision to buy the shockingly poor Epiphone Newport bass online without testing I will definitely try before I buy another cheapo.

Do we have a release date yet? I can't find any information out there...???
 
Are they the same pickups?

The Squire guitar versions of the Fender CuNiFe Wide Range pickups sound kinda weak compared to the real thing from what I've seen online.

I hope that's not the case here.


You can make a guitar WRHB facsimile by changing up the cover design and flipping polepieces, which is what Fender and Squier have done in the past. Gutless, overwound PAF-type humbuckers with a bit of set dressing, drowned in paraffin wax.

Bass WRHB pickups can't be created by modding anything from the standard pickup catalog. I've handled both a '70s original and Fender MIC reissue from a Starfire bass. The reissue pickup is very close in terms of construction, right down to the stuff under the cover you don't normally see. They are less microphonic than the originals and have the same vowel-y rounded tone.

I don't imagine Fender have commissioned a totally new pickup from the OEMs when they have used reissue bass WHRB pickups on both Squier and Fender basses across the last decade.
 
In the market for a Shortscale for a while. Hit the Andertons site [ready to drop £1300] to see if the JMJ mustang was available and there’s the Rascal. Hmmm, third the price and something a bit different. Definitely pause for thought.

For all the spec, speculation chat above, see below. It’s poplar and Yanko made [CY serial no]


Specifications
Body
  • Body Material: Poplar
  • Body Shape: Bass VI
  • Body Finish: Gloss Polyurethane
Neck
  • Neck Material: Maple
  • Neck Shape: "C"
  • Neck Finish: Gloss Urethane
  • Neck Joint: Bolt-On
  • Scale Length: 30" (762 mm)
  • Fingerboard Material: Laurel
  • Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)
  • Number of Frets: 21
  • Fret Size: Narrow Tall
  • Position Inlays: Offset Pearloid Dot
  • String Nut: Synthetic Bone
  • Nut Width: 1.5" (38.1 mm)
  • Truss Rod: Single Action (Head Adjust)
Electronics
  • Pickups: Fender Designed Wide-Range Bass Humbuckers
  • Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
  • Pickup Switching: 3-Position Toggle: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge And Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup
Hardware
  • Bridge: 4-Saddle Mustang Bass Strings-Through-Body
  • Tuning Machines: Vintage-Style
  • Pickguard: 3-Ply Mint Green
  • Control Knobs: Knurled Flat-Top
  • Hardware Finish: Chrome
  • Strings: Nickel Plated Steel (.045-.105 Gauges)