• 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.

Precision Bass Project, help needed!

Morson93

Morson93

Jan 27, 2009
167
7
#1
I have just bought a squier vintage modified precision bass with duncan designed p pickup, finished in white, black scratchplate. £100

I want to change most parts on this to get a good punk tone, but i'm a little stuck.

Neck
I don't know anything about necks really, so i was wondering what i should do about it?
The frets are worn, but i think i could still get some use out of them, but i want to replace the neck for a maple neck anyway, simply because i think it looks better. Should i buy a fender neck 2nd hand or are there any brands that immediately spring to mind where i could get one just as good.

Pickups
The only pickups i have looked at are Seymour Duncan Quarte Pounders, and i like the sound of them from what i've heard, but are there any other pickups that people have prehaps had experience with in the punk genre?

Bridge
Is it worth replacing? i was thinking of drilling and reaming 4 holes and making it a string thru, but is this really worth it? Where could I get a good fender bridge from?

Tuners
What tuners should i get? ones that people can recommend and will stay in tune?


I want to get the bass sounding awesome, i would like to use for gigging and recording also. I plan on buying more basses when i have a job, but for now, i want to get this as my primary bass.

Thanks people
Morson
 
#2
Hey Morson, those VM basses are pretty darn good out of the box. Perhaps instead of replacing everything indiscriminately you should look for things that NEED to be replaced or could be improved. For example, why replace the tuners? Is there something wrong with them? Do they go out of tune more than you would expect? What are you trying to gain by replacing them? I have a VM Jazz, never had a problem with the tuners, I wouldn't spend time or money to replace them.

Now, if it were me, I would replace the bridge with a Gotoh 201 or other high mass bridge, I wouldn't bother drilling holes through the body.
I would put some strap locks on it so you don't drop it.
The pickups sound pretty good to me, think twice before replacing unless you want to make it active or something.

The neck is pretty nice as well, now if yours is twisted or something, or since you like maple better, you could swap it out.
I have experience with Allparts and Mighty Mite. The allparts neck was finished very very well, had a nice light balance, but was very expensive (I'd say MIJ or MIA equivalent). The mighty mite was a satin finish, has a nice feel, not quite as high quality, came with a nut installed but not a great one, but was about half the price (MIM equivalent I'd say). If I had it to do again, I'd say I got more bang for my buck with mighty mite, but your results may vary.
I also did a bass with a used p-bass neck from craigslist once and my advice is not to buy a used neck sight unseen. The thing was twisted and heavy as a car engine, it was unusable.
 
#3
The tuners are ok, i will probably reuse them, but i want one of those drop D tuners, do you know if they come in the vintage fender style? i don't like the look of the gotoh, i like the classic fender looking bridges, and i want the best one. Mighty mite necks seem nice, i'll have a thorugh look when i'm more awake, i've already ordered some strap locks, it's kindof a rule for all my guitars/basses.
 
#4
Morson93 said:
i like the classic fender looking bridges, and i want the best one.
Click to expand...

This is exactly my point. It's a flat piece of metal bent at a 90 degree angle, how is one going to be "better" than another?

Hipshot D-tuners are available in many styles so that you can match the rest of the tuners on your bass without having to replace them all. Look closely at the pictures, there isn't just one "vintage style fender" tuner, there are like 7 to 10 slightly different varieties so make sure you get the right one unless you want to be drilling new holes.
 
#10
I used this bass stock in a punk band, it was great out of the box. IMO I would put the gotoh 201 bridge on it, leave the tuners and PUPs which are really great already as they are Seymour Duncan. Buy a bridge cover to hide the gotoh if you don't like the look of it because that bridge and nickel super bright strings will make it so punchy lol

Serious the name is squier but its about as good or better then MIM fenders. Don't ruin it by making it something it's not.
 
#11
recreate.me said:
I used this bass stock in a punk band, it was great out of the box. IMO I would put the gotoh 201 bridge on it, leave the tuners and PUPs which are really great already as they are Seymour Duncan. Buy a bridge cover to hide the gotoh if you don't like the look of it because that bridge and nickel super bright strings will make it so punchy lol

Serious the name is squier but its about as good or better then MIM fenders. Don't ruin it by making it something it's not.
Click to expand...

May i ask, whats this supposed to mean? i don't care if it's squier, i just wanted a new neck cause this one won't be lasting much longer, i was going to upgrade other things but now i don't think i will, although i may invest in a hipshot drop D tuner and a gotoh 201
 
#13
You are talking about buying a bass and replacing everything except the body. I don't get it, honestly. Unless, of course, you are just doing it for the fun of trading parts around. There's nothing wrong with that, but if you are hoping to get the perfect sounding bass by just trading parts around, it's not likely to work out IMO.

You say you want to change most parts on this to get a good punk tone, but I think that the Squier should already be an excellent bass for punk. The Squier is just what you are looking for as is, IMO.
 
#14
Definitely swap the pickups. I suggest those Duncan Quarter Pounds. It will make a difference.

As for the bridge, I put a Bad Ass 2 bridge on my jazz project. I don't notice any tonal differences or anything...its weight just adds for "oomph" to the bass in my opinion.

If you feel like you want to change tuners...I suggest hipshot.
But its always nice to have really nice hardware in my opinion.

I'm also looking for an all maple P-bass neck. Doing so will brighten your tone a little bit. and its a denser wood than rosewood so it will be heavier.

But I'm in your boat..on my Jazz project I've swapped everything except for the body. (Which I'm refinishing) XD
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back