Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
The first thing to do is assess what you don't care for.
I know that sounds obvious but if the action is low and it "plays like butter" with no buzz, then doing a setup might not make much difference. That said, a lot of times a $100 bass could use a setup. Relatively easy to do yourself if you watch some youtube videos.
Strings can make a big difference. If they are rounds and old, or if you like flats or tapes, or a lighter/heavier gauge, then a string change can make a big difference and be relatively cheap. Personally, my life changed when I discovered TI Jazz Flats. They aren't for everyone(and they're expensive), but they last forever. The feel and tone for ME are unmatched. You might hae them though, it's very personal.
The electronics/pots are sometimes pretty flimsy on cheap basses, so if there are issues in this area, it makes sense to get that squared away.
A pickup change is a maybe, some Squier's have good pickups and some less so, and of course this can vary a lot with an individual's taste. I had a Squier classic vibe P that I liked the sound of, but I swapped the stock pickup for a roadworn pickup and it was a very noticeable difference. Even my wife in the next room said "hey is that bass sounds better than the one you were playing a half hour ago", and you'd be hard pressed to be any less of a tone nerd than her! A few months later I changed to a large pole MV Atlas pickup and liked it even better.
I know that sounds obvious but if the action is low and it "plays like butter" with no buzz, then doing a setup might not make much difference. That said, a lot of times a $100 bass could use a setup. Relatively easy to do yourself if you watch some youtube videos.
Strings can make a big difference. If they are rounds and old, or if you like flats or tapes, or a lighter/heavier gauge, then a string change can make a big difference and be relatively cheap. Personally, my life changed when I discovered TI Jazz Flats. They aren't for everyone(and they're expensive), but they last forever. The feel and tone for ME are unmatched. You might hae them though, it's very personal.
The electronics/pots are sometimes pretty flimsy on cheap basses, so if there are issues in this area, it makes sense to get that squared away.
A pickup change is a maybe, some Squier's have good pickups and some less so, and of course this can vary a lot with an individual's taste. I had a Squier classic vibe P that I liked the sound of, but I swapped the stock pickup for a roadworn pickup and it was a very noticeable difference. Even my wife in the next room said "hey is that bass sounds better than the one you were playing a half hour ago", and you'd be hard pressed to be any less of a tone nerd than her! A few months later I changed to a large pole MV Atlas pickup and liked it even better.
