New BEAD PJ build electronics options

[AvianSavara]

Hello all!

The Context : As this 2020 quarantine affects us all in different ways, I now have more time on my hand than I've had in years, but no income. The upside is I now can safely plan out my next bass project without the temptation to impulse buy parts until it's ready. I now have the leisure of changing my mind a zillion times without paying dearly for each mistake. (Can't waste money if you don't have any!)

The Plan : Until my next significant windfall, I have been preparing a parts list for a souped-up 4-string Precision PJ bass in BEAD

• Body/neck : Squier Affinity, VM or CV, it all depends on what I'll be able to find / afford in my local listings but the main point is : to me Squiers are like the Honda Civic of the bass/guitar world - made to be retrofitted . But if I can land a used MIM Fender without breaking the bank, I'll be even happier.
  
• Strings : slightly middle-of-the-road flatwound strings like the LaBella DTB Flats 1954 0760MB (.073, .095, .110., .128T) I like my strings tighter and larger but not like tow cables, y'know?
  
• Bridge : Hipshot Kickass Bridge (I like it mostly for the customisability, especially when it comes to string spacing).
• Pups : I am hoping for a matched set of P/J Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound pickups (pricey, but my ears love them in every example I've heard them in).

The Self-Critique : Most of my parts choices cumulatively lead to a darker/warmer sound already. I'm a flatwound player, and I DO so love me a strong fundamental + clearer 1st/2nd order harmonics with moderate overtones. I'm very fond of the QP pickups HOWEVER, I know that they are very dark and mid-scooped (nothing a little EQ can't help, but as a former audio technician, I was trained to cut rather than boost). So I have to take all of the above in consideration before casting my final vote on electronics.

The Question : Am I painting myself into a corner here? Am I burying my tone a little too much? Should I mitigate this by selecting a brighter bridge pickup? Should I go even further use a 500k pot on the bridge volume or tone in order to retain some of those highs? Or will I be totally fine and should stop worrying?

Thanks in advance for any and all comments and for putting up with the wordiness. You are hereby free to coddle OR pillory me as you see fit.

 

[PotsdamBass8]

Personally, I don’t think a bridge is going to make a big sonic difference, especially compared to strings and pickups.

I find it’s easier to add low frequencies to a mid forward sound than to add mids to a scooped sound. I would be worried that the setup you chose would have too much in the low end and not enough mids to give clarity or complexity, but it’s all preference. I would recommend keeping the stock pickups in until you have everything else assembled, and then make a decision. You might like the stock pickups, or at the very least, have a better idea of what direction to go in.

 

[AvianSavara]

I would recommend keeping the stock pickups in until you have everything else assembled, and then make a decision. You might like the stock pickups, or at the very least, have a better idea of what direction to go in.

Y'know what, that's absolutely true. Thanks!