My Squire and my Sier (NBM)

I got a new bass this month, it received a knock in transit and damaged the finish and a small dent at the strap button at the base(not really sure why they ship with the button in) so waited on Thomann's response and received a little compensation. Then used to super glue to fix the finish (with the strap in place it's not noticeable. But I didn't do a NBD post as a result, so NBM

I've had my Squier for over 5 years now, I ordered it with a Harley Benton Tort guard and switched out the stock black straight away. GHS flats went on about 4, which I love. It came with black plastic knobs and they went about a year later for Harley Benton chromes. With the environment here, metal seems to attract grime, and the stock bridge was a pain to clean, and had some dents from where the saddles were set up before I intonated. When I saw a fender hi-mass for 30 quid I went for it. It's easier to set up, and clean, but I also found it more comfortable to palm mute on. No idea if it sound different, but I'm happy with it. A year before my VM Jazz, they stopped coming with 'Duncan Designed' pickups. I wanted the old school sound still and went DiMarzio Area J. They sound very similar, but more presence and bark when digging in. Another move I'm happy about. Last week I changed the pots for push/pull paralell/series. One of the stock knobs had some funny movement at the end of travel, so I wanted to change before it became a problem, and I though parallel/seres would add to the versatility, but so far they stay pushed in. I think I'm done, the tuners are fine, I do have the a small desire to make an all in one pickguard control plate and get it anodised in blue or dark red. I love this bass.

I've wanted a a P for a while and a PJ just seemed to make sense, in hindsight I think I would have got a P to start with, after learning that most of the old school music I like tends to be P not J, not that I regret the J. And I wanted a 5 string to explore chords. So when I saw about a year ago the Sire p7 as a 5 string PJ with active and passive, it seemed a good compliment for the J. I didn't like the plastic knobs, so I ordered Harley Benton's domed chrome knobs with it.

I've never been able to slap on the J, unsure if it was the bass, the dead flats or my technique. I wanted to also create access to more tones from both basses, and I wanted the P to have flats. So I've just put GHS flats on the Sire, and pressurewound on the Squier. My first attempt at slap on the jazz and 'there it is!', but it's also there on the flats on the P, so I think my old strings were too dead.

Initially I didn't like the strings on either bass and was worried pressurewounds was a mistake and the pick up was too bright on the Sire for the flats. Both had a horrible metalic brightness. Another reason for my late posting, I was waiting become accustomed to the sound before posting about my new bass. But just a week in, the strings have both settled downed and boy am I happy with the basses now. Despite have a brand new 5 string PJ, I haven't stopped picking up my Jazz.

Now I just need to build a cab

 

I have an acoustic too, with GHS tapes. PIcked it up when my speakers had blown and knew the replacmnet was months away. It was unplayable in the shop, strings flat against the neck and the shop was uncooperative about adjusting until after I paid. So I gambled and did the set up myself. Ordered the tapes months later with the speakers ad a couple of years later installed K&K pure pickups and wired via the piezos pre-amp. I hated the piezo sound, and the K&K seems a great match. The piezo is still in place, just disconnected (it has to be or I'd need to make a new saddle (It's and integrated saddle))

One day I may take the frets out.

 

Yeah, it's Squier too, not Squire. I was just playing with the common spelling mistake of Squier