NBD:Guitar Center score!

[mbell75]

Been looking for an older, white Fender or Squier P bass that has that natural aged look to it for quite awhile. This is a 1998 MIM Squier P bass. I didnt even know they made any Squiers in the Mexico plant, but they did briefly for a few years in between Korea and the move to China. From what I have read, they are MIM Fender necks and bodies with hardware from overseas.

They had it listed for $179 which would have been a great deal IMO anyways, but this also has a Duncan Quarter Pound and upgraded pots and capacitor! I just did this to another bass of mine and know it cost $140 for the parts and labor which I would have done to this too. So I basically paid $39 for this bass. Its in really good condition for its age, only a small chip by the arm contour. Feels and plays awesome, probably the best playing Squier Ive owned or played aside from an older MIK one I played years ago and should have bought.

They also had this red 1994 Fender black label, Squier series Jazz (pictured below) for $399 which I snagged too and put on hold. They only made these for about 4-5 years I believe. Played this back to back with a new Players series Jazz today and actually preferred the black label one. Louder and more aggressive sounding. Today was a good day!

 

[jd56hawk]

You forgot to buy a blue bass.

 

[bearfoot]

Now that is a true player bass, never meant to sit on a shelf or rack. Very fine score indeed. And there is something satisfying about the vanilla bean aesthetic.

The strings look new. Are you going to keep the rounds on it, or do you have alternate stringing plans for this beast?

 

[mbell75]

Now that is a true player bass, never meant to sit on a shelf or rack. Very fine score indeed. And there is something satisfying about the vanilla bean aesthetic.

The strings look new. Are you going to keep the rounds on it, or do you have alternate stringing plans for this beast?

Agreed! The strings are indeed brand new. Had EB Hybrid Slinkys put on right before I took this shot. I’m pretty sure I will add a HiMass bridge and thinking about swapping the pickguard for a pearloid white or possibly tort and ditching the thumb rest. I kinda like the white knobs, might keep those over the traditional silver knobs. Or I may put the silver on the P bass and keep the Jazz Bass with the white knobs.

 

[bearfoot]

This might be the only configuration in which I would keep the plain white pickguard. It gives the bass a smooth, mostly matte, almost monochrome look.

 

[mbell75]

This might be the only configuration in which I would keep the plain white pickguard. It gives the bass a smooth, mostly matte, almost monochrome look.

You might be right and I might keep the thumb rest although I’ll never use it. It kinda fits the vibe of the rest of the bass.

 

[mbell75]

Did some more digging and found more info on these black label Fenders. The bodies and necks were indeed made in the US and shipped to Mexico because the Mexico plant did not have CNC machines at the time. There was also the fire at the Mexico plant in Feb of 1994 which destroyed everything including the wood for all the instruments. They have Squier hardware on them though to keep the price down on this budget Fender line. Also, these have 7.5” radius necks as opposed to the standard 9.5” radius and they larger frets.