I'd just buy a Sire. 
They are a Squier until you get remove the decal. Then they are a mislabeled Squier.
They are a Squier until you get remove the decal. Then they are a mislabeled Squier.
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Once a Squier, always a Squier?
- Thread starter Jamvan
- Start date
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
I was about to cite the grandfathers axe tale which is in that wiki post (handle and blade both replaced twice).
I think that if nothing is left except the original body (all hardware electronics and neck replaced) then it has ceased to be a Squier. The practical matter of the markings on the headstock are only part of the story. To me the neck is what makes a good bass a good bass. The body (within reason) is more about looks and holding everything together, so I would not ascribe any more importance to the body than I would to the hardware or electronics.
I think it works both ways though. Put a Squier neck on a Fender or a Warmoth and you now have a Squier bass.
From the time Chevy started making V8s (1955), hot rodders started putting them into Fords, from '20s Model Ts to '40s coupes and sedans. We still called them Fords. Some called them hot rods, but they were still Fords(it even said so on the titles and registrations). The term "rat-rod" is pretty recent in comparison and refers to hot rods that are left in rough finish, sometimes even rusty.
Back in the day you could have called my old Chevy-powered '39 Ford Coupe a "bastard" if you wanted to, but in many cases you would have been choking on its dust when you said it.
IMO a "hot rod" bass built on a Squier body and neck is still a Squier, regardless of how many third party parts are in it. It's the best way to identify it visually, as it was with our hot rods that had different manufacturers' engines in them. I've got a Squier with more money in parts than the bass originally cost (it's pretty easy to do), and it's still a Squier.
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Let's go esoteric. It takes between 7 to 10 years to completely replace every cell in your body. That's what I call a complete overhaul. Now, are you still you?
:***:
You can change as many components as you want. What you have will be a modified Squire. This applies to any brand.
Good to see someone that knows that...Syntax corrected: </thread>
You're welcome.
Programmer?
"What's that you're playing?"
--"Um... Modded Squier with a Fender neck, Seymour Duncan pickups, Hipshot tuners, after market wiring harness, Gotoh bridge, Warmoth TORT pick guard and FLATS." (CAPS added for emphasis. I'm not yelling).
"But how does it sound?"
--"You tell me."
"Like a P bass?"
--"Yup."
--"Um... Modded Squier with a Fender neck, Seymour Duncan pickups, Hipshot tuners, after market wiring harness, Gotoh bridge, Warmoth TORT pick guard and FLATS." (CAPS added for emphasis. I'm not yelling).
"But how does it sound?"
--"You tell me."
"Like a P bass?"
--"Yup."
![[skyraider]](/data/avatars/l/270/270200.jpg?1620016349){kind=avatar}
I'm in the process of doing almost exactly the same thing to my Squier Vintage Modified Jazz 5. I think I bought the body on TB, replaced the white guard with a tort, added a Precision bass neck that I got cheap, just finished installing an Audere JZ-3 preamp, routed a battery box in the back. I'm really loving it; it plays nice, sounds and looks great. It's hanging on the wall next to my Roscoe, Peavey Cirrus USA, and Spector Rebop.
But the thing is, if you stick a Jazz neck on a Precision body, does that make it a Jazz bass or a Precision bass? I think it makes it more of a Precision because the neck will make it feel and play differently. If you stick a Warmoth neck on a Fender body, I'd call it a Warmoth, not a Fender. Because the neck is really the most important element of the instrument. If you have a good neck you have a good instrument. If you have a crappy neck you have a crappy instrument.
It will stay the same no matter what. My EB-0 has original body, neck, tuners, bridge, pickguard, back plate and screws. Everything else has been replaced. It's still an Epiphone and will always be one.
This is all Squier except for the decal, wiring harness, pots, knobs, pickups, bridge, string tree hold down (it's a coin) and body finish which is DIY. So to me it's still a Squier and if I sold it it would be labeled Squier with many upgrades as it was labeled when I bought it here on TB..
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View attachment 788551 View attachment 788553 View attachment 788555 This is all Squier except for the decal, wiring harness, pickups, bridge, string tree hold down (it's a coin) and body finish which is DIY. So to me it's still a Squier and if I sold it it would be labeled Squier with many upgrades..
I love the look of your bass! OP here and I have a very similar experience and would do the same. Even though I've purchased Squier necks (admitted blocked and bound fetish) that have Fender slides on them, I still do consider them Squier basses. My three primary culprits:
Im gonna be doing a neck swap here in a few days on my Matt Freeman I'll send you pics...
Wasn't Ship of Thesus one of those early prog rock bands? Didn't know Squier was around then.
