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Should I modify my Squier or upgrade to another bass?

I

Inconnu

Nov 1, 2005
2,407
1,148
Montreal, Canada
#1
I'm a bit in a dilemma. Not a big one, but still…

As a very secondary bass, I've acquired a Squier Affinity PJ, 5 years ago. Second hand (ex-store rental), strung with flatwounds. It's light. The fretboard is actually rosewood (and a nice one too), the inlays are shiny pearl dots, neck is straight (never needs adjustments), frets are all right, action, intonation, nothing bad to declare. OK, I barely take it out of home and I bought it specifically to have a bass with flatwounds on it (not my regular sound).
The only downside I see to that bass is the electronics, including the pickups. Before investing more money on parts than what the bass cost me, I'm evaluating if I'd be better off selling it and getting a "better" instrument. I do like the Squier I've got, but it's not "love", if you see what I mean…

I've tried many new basses lately, including MIM Fenders, and aside from the Sire D5 I really liked, I was quite unimpressed by the quality of new mid-priced instruments these days.

But still, assuming there's pretty much a $100 difference between a Sire D5 and the cost of my Affinity + mods… Well, be the voice of my conscience, please!

Note that the D5 is an example here, I'm not set on that specific bass all ready… but almost.
 
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#2
For me it's the neck.
Does your bass feel good to you? And remember there's no best because everybody has different hands except me. If the bass feels right to me, that's where I am ok upgrading to my preference.
I would not consider resale or cost if upgrade vs cost of difference instrument once I decide the neck is "for me". Those Squiers are a perfect modding platform. If it fits you, make it yours.
 
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#3
Killing Floor said:
For me it's the neck.
Does your bass feel good to you? And remember there's no best because everybody has different hands except me. If the bass feels right to me, that's where I am ok upgrading to my preference.
I would not consider resale or cost if upgrade vs cost of difference instrument once I decide the neck is "for me". Those Squiers are a perfect modding platform. If it fits you, make it yours.
Click to expand...
I've acquired two Squier P basses in the last ten years for a whopping total of $85. One for $85 and one for free. Those are the only basses I have seriously modded for "proof of concept" mods - routed one for a bridge pickup and routed one for a double P config. I wouldn't dream of modifying my "official" basses like that. I knew there would be very little resale value with them anyway and I really wanted to see how those configurations sounded. The thing with those two Squiers though was that the geometry was off on both. Both needed neck shims and the bridge mounting was laterally a tad off, and pickup mounting screw holes were angled.
 
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#5
Mentioning upgrading Squier pickups…

One prominent YouTuber recently had a video upgrading stock Chinese Squier Affinity pickups in a Jazz V, replacing them with something like EMG's (I don't remember exactly which pickup) and adding a 3-band preamp…
Afterwards, doing an A/B on tone…I actually liked the sound of the stock Squier set up better…

So think really hard on what you "think" is better and why.
Best case, I would maybe replace the control pots for CTS (not for tone, but for long-term reliability), which means you'd most likely have to get new knobs, too.
But sometimes if you get vintage-voiced AlNiCo pickups to replace the "lesser" Ceramic stock pickups, they'll have leas output and have a softer attack, and you might not like that feature.
 
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#6
If this was your main player, then I'd splurge and get a higher end instrument, but since this is your backup/secondary bass, I'd just upgrade the pickups.

That's what I did, myself. My main bass was around $1,000 and I love everything about it. But my secondary bass is an Ibanez GSR 200 that I bought used for $75 (they sell new for $230).

It feels good, the neck is very stable and everything works as it should, but the pickups were garbage, so I upgraded to EMGs for $180 and now I have a decent instrument that plays easy and sounds fantastic for very little money.

Of course there are many different pickups available at all different price points. You can find used pickups for $50 or so. .
 
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#9
The ceramic pickups in Affinity basses are rather poor IMO. I know some people like the "stiffer" response and hot output of these pickups but to me they sound sterile and give the instrument poor articulation. Pretty much ANYTHING will be a massive improvement if you're looking for a more classic Fender tone/feel.

If the neck feels great I would keep the bass and get new pickups. Affinity basses can be excellent instruments... apart from those nasty pickups.
 
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#10
Probably not that much to lose by putting new pickups in it, especially if you get them from the classifieds here or wherever. If you don't like the pickups you can sell them, probably for what you paid, and try some others. If you keep the original pickups you can put those back in when you get rid of the bass and keep the upgraded pickups if you like.
 
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#11
You're not going to get much in a sale. If you like the way it feels in your hands, mod away and have fun doing it!
images.jpg
 
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#12
For me also, it's all about the neck - other than changeable things like pickups. If I had an Affinity that had what I felt was a great neck - and yeah it definitely happens! - I wouldn't hesitate to put some SPB-1's or something like that in. Other stuff I wouldn't hesitate to upgrade if there was an issue, but only if there was an issue, are tuners, bridge, pots, jack, and nut.

I had a great Affinity Jazz a while back, the neck was an absolute blast to play, but I traded it against a NOS Fender Pro p bass.
 
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#14
Inconnu said:
I'm a bit in a dilemma. Not a big one, but still…

As a very secondary bass, I've acquired a Squier Affinity PJ, 5 years ago. Second hand (ex-store rental), strung with flatwounds. It's light. The fretboard is actually rosewood (and a nice one too), the inlays are shiny pearl dots, neck is straight (never needs adjustments), frets are all right, action, intonation, nothing bad to declare. OK, I barely take it out of home and I bought it specifically to have a bass with flatwounds on it (not my regular sound).
The only downside I see to that bass is the electronics, including the pickups. Before investing more money on parts than what the bass cost me, I'm evaluating if I'd be better off selling it and getting a "better" instrument. I do like the Squier I've got, but it's not "love", if you see what I mean…

I've tried many new basses lately, including MIM Fenders, and aside from the Sire D5 I really liked, I was quite unimpressed by the quality of new mid-priced instruments these days.

But still, assuming there's pretty much a $100 difference between a Sire D5 and the cost of my Affinity + mods… Well, be the voice of my conscience, please!

Note that the D5 is an example here, I'm not set on that specific bass all ready… but almost.
Click to expand...
If this bass feels and plays great then I'd go with the pots and pups route.

You can find a better bass with better electronics but how your bass currently plays and feels is to me a deciding factor on upgrading or entire replacement. Especially if you'll be doing the upgrades yourself.

Just my $.02 worth.
 
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#15
Mod away if you like the neck on that Affinity and pickups are a great way to upgrade if you know what you are after.

I have a couple of them and use both as knock-around/back-up basses, one is an '04 P another is a 2013 J bass both have hot ceramic pickups (which I like) and I use them quite a bit. I have had others that were not worthy, they did not stay…
 
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#17
Inconnu said:
It's light. The fretboard is actually rosewood (and a nice one too), the inlays are shiny pearl dots, neck is straight (never needs adjustments), frets are all right, action, intonation, nothing bad to declare.
Click to expand...

I'm probably being redundant since I'm going with the flow. But it seems if you like all these items you are pretty close to "love" for this bass. My vote is to mod it and enjoy it.
 
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#18
Mod it, but your mods don't have to be expensive. You can get a set of AlNiCo pickups for ~$50 these days, and a presoldered CTS jazz bass wiring harness for about the same. So for about $100 you can have a bass that can hang with the mid level basses all day long.

For pickups, I've used Guitar Madness pickups (seller on eBay) and I've been very happy with all of them. guitarmadness | eBay Stores
 
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