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reverse precision pickup and potential *chambering* of a squier precision bass

So I have an old squier II precision from india. Lovely bass but growing old and I hardly play it. I thought maybe reversing the pickup might give me more variety compared to my more expensive precision bass. I was wondering if anybody had done this on a bass of their own. Did you fill in the old pickup hole or just go with a "swimming pool" route? Which leads me to my next question as to if anybody has ever cut a significant chunk of wood out from under the pickguard to save on weight? Any insight into these topics would be appreciated
 
<== I installed a reverse P (Seymour Duncan SBP-2) and just routed whatever was necessary to fit the pickups in the reverse orientation. I did not fill in the original routs. I love how it sounds, but did not do a regular vs reverse sound comparison. There is a video on Youtube comparing the reverse vs regular P pickups in two BC Rich Eagles (I think Eagles, some kind of BC Rich). I could hear a difference, but I also think it looks cooler to have reverse P pickups. My eyes may have heard the difference.

When I add bridge pickups to my other two Precisions, I will put them in the reverse orientation, but leave the neck pickups in the standard orientation so I don't have to order or make a custom pick guard because I am cheap. SPB-3 pickups are great for the bridge position. The split between the two pickup halves is in the 60's jazz position. I think the P pickup in the bridge position is way better than a jazz pickup.

I have never routed or removed other material from beneath the pick guard area, so I can't comment about the effects of doing that.

Good luck with your mods!
 
Exactly.
Try something like a Lace Sensor Man O' War P pickup instead.
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I suppose. Not a super inconvenience, really just like 45 mins of my time and a custom pickguard.

<== I installed a reverse P (Seymour Duncan SBP-2) and just routed whatever was necessary to fit the pickups in the reverse orientation. I did not fill in the original routs. I love how it sounds, but did not do a regular vs reverse sound comparison. There is a video on Youtube comparing the reverse vs regular P pickups in two BC Rich Eagles (I think Eagles, some kind of BC Rich). I could hear a difference, but I also think it looks cooler to have reverse P pickups. My eyes may have heard the difference.

When I add bridge pickups to my other two Precisions, I will put them in the reverse orientation, but leave the neck pickups in the standard orientation so I don't have to order or make a custom pick guard because I am cheap. SPB-3 pickups are great for the bridge position. The split between the two pickup halves is in the 60's jazz position. I think the P pickup in the bridge position is way better than a jazz pickup.

I have never routed or removed other material from beneath the pick guard area, so I can't comment about the effects of doing that.

Good luck with your mods!

Very cool. It's a more popular configuration on the 5 strings to brighten the low b but I don't really play anything more that a 4 string. I can still appreciate its application on a 4, if nothing else it'll look different and I've actually read people like it because it moves the d/g coil out from under your fingers if you use the (b)e/a coil as a thumbrest. Where did you get your pickguard? or did you just order a blank one and cut it yourself?
 
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I got the pick guard from Invalid Link Removed. I sent them a tracing of my old pick guard on 11x17 paper with the location of the pickups and screw holes indicated. I sent the tracing with the current pickup location and asked them to reverse the P.

If you are buying a pickguard from someone else, wait to do the routing until you have that completed pick guard in hand. They moved the location of the pickup forward by ~1/4 inch, which wasn't a big deal since I hadn't routed the pickup holes in the body before the pick guard arrived.
 
The change in tone will be so minimal you probably won't even hear it. Not worth the hassle in any way.

Could not agree more. I have an 80s MIJ Squier P and a 1983 BC Rich NJ Eagle with a reverse P pu (I think its a DiMarzio). I love them both but there is really not much difference. I actually prefer the Squier because it has the classic P sound.