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NMD - New Mods Day (Squier VM P5 content)

skyline_01

skyline_01

Endorsing artist: Nordstrand Audio, Tsunami Cables
Nov 14, 2006
1,905
2,669
Lebanon, OH
jsnichols2.wixsite.com
#1
Just got this back from my tech today after a two-week visit. I had done the KickAss bridge, CTS/Sprague/Pure Tone harness, and tort PG before I sent it to him. He did:

- Routing and installation of American Deluxe P5 humbucker (he had to make his own template too). A friend gifted me this pickup - he ended up installing a different bridge pickup in his bass.
- V/T stack with '62 Jazz knob setup (other knob is blend)
- Full setup

I won't lie, it was expensive, but now I have a one-of-a-kind instrument that looks killer and sounds damn good. I have a feeling it will serve as more than just a backup.

IMG-0869.jpg IMG-0870.jpg
 
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#8
Looks great!love the stacked jazz nob.
I had this P bass and I remember how good it sounded but the neck was too wide for me.
I also had another P that had a humbucker in the bridge and I always though it worked better than a J pickup on a PJ.
 
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#10
These are really good basses for the money. The only fault was the original bridge did not have enough travel/length on the B and E saddles for certain gages or brands: The cinch wind and/or the silk would end up in the saddle. Hipshot makes that drop-in replacement (6 screws, exact match, cures it, painless installation), and I'm getting one for mine soon.

Before I had mine, I wondered what it would be like, and it really, really is in stock form a P Bass with an extra low string. It just works, and aside from that extra B string, you'd never know it was anything except a nice P Bass. Amazing. One of those Squiers that really makes me wonder why I'd shell out a thousand dollars more for the American version.

These were very good to begin, and it's one of those Squiers that you can hot rod smartly and turn into a real contender. Nice work, Skyline.
 
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#11
skyline_01 said:
Just got this back from my tech today after a two-week visit. I had done the KickAss bridge, CTS/Sprague/Pure Tone harness, and tort PG before I sent it to him. He did:

- Routing and installation of American Deluxe P5 humbucker (he had to make his own template too). A friend gifted me this pickup - he ended up installing a different bridge pickup in his bass.
- V/T stack with '62 Jazz knob setup (other knob is blend)
- Full setup

I won't lie, it was expensive, but now I have a one-of-a-kind instrument that looks killer and sounds damn good. I have a feeling it will serve as more than just a backup.

View attachment 3840409 View attachment 3840410
Click to expand...
Looks great to me. Been looking at some expensive mods for my jazz bass. Mainly a new fretless neck. And I’ve spent a lot of money on pickups and pre amps over the years. So don’t feel bad about the expense. If you like it you like it. Sometimes a mod can make the difference between a bass being a player and rotting away in a closet
 
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#14
JW56789 said:
These are really good basses for the money. The only fault was the original bridge did not have enough travel/length on the B and E saddles for certain gages or brands: The cinch wind and/or the silk would end up in the saddle. Hipshot makes that drop-in replacement (6 screws, exact match, cures it, painless installation), and I'm getting one for mine soon.

Before I had mine, I wondered what it would be like, and it really, really is in stock form a P Bass with an extra low string. It just works, and aside from that extra B string, you'd never know it was anything except a nice P Bass. Amazing. One of those Squiers that really makes me wonder why I'd shell out a thousand dollars more for the American version.

These were very good to begin, and it's one of those Squiers that you can hot rod smartly and turn into a real contender. Nice work, Skyline.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much! It really turned out way better than I even thought it would. I foresee it going to many a gig in the future. I'm telling you - the tone and feel is really close to some US P basses I've played.

My tech kept the Kickass bridge where I had mounted it but he shortened a few screws and springs to make the strings intonate properly. He does really nice work.
 
#15
eastcoasteddie said:
Awesome! Glad you went ahead with it!
How does the bridge pickup blend with the P? Sounds good? Same output?
Click to expand...

Thanks! Honestly, the output from both seems to be fairly equal, and the humbucker punches like mad. I have a thrown-together demo that I was planning on posting later tonight maybe.
 
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#16
skyline_01 said:
Thank you very much! It really turned out way better than I even thought it would. I foresee it going to many a gig in the future. I'm telling you - the tone and feel is really close to some US P basses I've played.

My tech kept the Kickass bridge where I had mounted it but he shortened a few screws and springs to make the strings intonate properly. He does really nice work.
Click to expand...

Well Jeremy . . . . since I'm getting one of those new bridges for mine soon, wouldja remember which strings and their saddles/springs he fine-tuned ? ?
 
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#17
JW56789 said:
Well Jeremy . . . . since I'm getting one of those new bridges for mine soon, wouldja remember which strings and their saddles/springs he fine-tuned ? ?
Click to expand...

I just looked at the invoice and it just states that he changed the screws and springs (for all strings I assume?) but that he had to cut the B string screw. I can try to get clarification from him but it may take a few days.

Hipshot does include some alternate springs and screws (but I forget how many) with the Kickass bridge so you may be able to use those and make it work?
 
#20
As promised, here's that thrown-together demo I mentioned earlier. Straight to interface, no external EQ, tube compressor plug-in.

1st pass = both pickups, tone 100%
2nd pass = neck pickup, tone 100%
3rd pass = bridge humbucker, tone 100%
4th pass = both pickups, tone 0%
 

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