Setup Questions

1. It's possible. Is it a distortion or a buzzing (fret buzz)? Another possibility is a bent or twisted neck (?) or not enough downward tension on the string at the nut. Is the string wrapped around it's post properly, with each "new" winding on the bottom of the "old" windings? The windings are supposed to force the string down into the nut slot and keep it there.

2. You should be able to raise the strings and set the intonation yourself. Raising the strings is just a matter of turning those two top screws on your bridge saddle until you get the height where you want it. Once the string is where you want it, be sure the saddle sits evenly on the bridge plate. I personally have my strings set at about 1/8" at the 12th fret (with the string open and measured from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string).

If you would need to set the intonation (so that the 12th fret matches the open string exactly), you can do that too: If the note is sharp at the 12th, move the saddle away from the nut. If it's flat, move it toward the nut. This may take some time to get right, but it's easy enough to do.

These kinds of things are simple enough to do and help you "get to know" your bass.

3. I think the guy's an idiot. I've noticed a difference in both the fit and the finish of the Squier versus the MIM.

EDIT: Welcome to TalkBass!

 

I'd say your pc aint up to the input. Ya know, a bass pup produces a lot of current - lot!
If it's OK with a bass amp: don't bother messing with it.
If it still distorts with a bass amp, and you like the string action: lower the pup at that end, just slightly (tighten the screw). This will also reduce gain.

And, if I failed to mention it earlier: play through a bass amp.

 

One should be suspicious any time something that used to work OK no longer is OK.

Your bass is not producing any new frequencies. But I suspect that, since the E string is lower, it may be closer to the pickup and is now producing a hotter signal than it did before the setup (assuming that before and after the setup job, you were playing into the PC with the bass's volume control wide open). If this is the case, you should be able to remedy the situation by turning down the bass's volume control. Try that. If you still have distortion thru the PC, then your sound card or PC spkrs may have changed for some reason.

 

It kinda depends somewhat on when it was made; thay have made Squiers in several countries, including their Mexican factory.

It also depends on luck! The quality control on Squiers can vary quite a lot (and to a lesser degree MIM Fenders). I had one that was excellent, I've seen others that looke like the frets were levelled with a belt sander.

 

Sorry. I'm NW burbs, and I never had much to do with the lessons biz...

How's the string-to-string volume balance on the bass now? Through the amp, that is. If the E is louder than the others, you can crank down the E side of the pickup to even 'em out.

 

Remember that if you raise the action substatially, you may have to readjust the intonation.

 

You won't overstress the string by raising the saddle while the string is tuned to pitch; but it will go sharp, so you'll need to retune it, of course. And yes, raise both sides of the saddle.

 

Hey... if you can't get help from another bass player... nobody else even knows what you're talking about, right?