Should I modify my Squier or upgrade to another bass?

[Lava]

Keep it. You can do quality pickups and pots for under $200 and be left with a great playing and sounding bass. I'd look for a set of used DiMarzio Quarter Pounder pickups in the the classifieds right here on TB. That's a good start.

 

[Koog]

Sometimes all a player needs is a platform to end up with a great bass that brings a lot of satisfaction. It sounds to me like you have one.

I'd go for the high quality pots and the electronics of choice.

I've found over many years that economics aren't always the most important issue in a given circumstance.

Koog

 

[selowitch]

I'd look for a set of used DiMarzio Quarter Pounder pickups in the the classifieds right here on TB. That's a good start.

Quarter Pound pickups are a Seymour Duncan product, not DiMarzio.

 

[groovepump]

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.

I have an affinity Jazz bass that, as you say, is a blast to play. WONDERFUL neck. Smooth frets. super tone. I don't play 4's anymore, but I really hate to part with this bass 'cuz it's just so well made and has very adjustable tone, and loud pickups. Affinity basses can be great players. I think the OP should try, as others have said, adjusting the amp EQ, or using an outboard pre-amp / pedal to alter the tone, if that's the issue.

 

[dalkowski]

It will actually appreciate in sellable price.

IMHO and with all respect to you brotherman, I don't see an Affinity appreciating all that appreciably.

 

[selowitch]

I have tried many Affinity basses that I was expecting to be only okay-at-best. To my surprise, I found many of them very lightweight, playable, and good-sounding. The fretwork was iffy in some cases, but that's often true of USA Fenders costing many hundreds of dollars more.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I'd upgrade to a nice Lakland bass.

 

[J Posega]

Put new electronics in the bass you have if you like the way it plays and feels.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

Mod it,,,,,So for about $100 you can have a bass that can hang with the mid level basses all day long.

Nnoooo!!! It's all in the name !!! The better the name, the better the sound!!!

 

[retslock]

I'd replace the electronics. The hardest part to get right are the neck and general ergonomic feel of an instrument. If that's all good then new pickups are a breeze to install and the result will be much better. You say it's not love. Is that because of the sound or the feel? If it's sound, do the modifications that will get the sound you want. If it's the playability then go for a better bass.

 

[bassliner50]

I have an affinity Jazz bass that, as you say, is a blast to play. WONDERFUL neck. Smooth frets. super tone. I don't play 4's anymore, but I really hate to part with this bass 'cuz it's just so well made and has very adjustable tone, and loud pickups. Affinity basses can be great players. I think the OP should try, as others have said, adjusting the amp EQ, or using an outboard pre-amp / pedal to alter the tone, if that's the issue.

IMHO and with all respect to you brotherman, I don't see an Affinity appreciating all that appreciably.

I was making the assumption that it was bought used and on the inexpensive side. But you are correct in absolute terms.

 

[Auspuff]

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.

Upgrade.

 

[micguy]

If you love the neck, its stable, and it doesn't have a pronounced dead spot, then your bass is a good candidate for parts swapping. I don't say "upgrades", because you can't be guaranteed than any particular parts swap will be better. About the only parts swaps where it's predictable are things like hum cancelling pickups (which will reduce noise) and lighter weight parts like tuners (which will reduce weight). Other than that, it's a crapshoot - you might like it better, you might not; only time will tell.

 

[mrjim123]

OP, you really haven't explained what exactly is wrong with the Squire. Until we understand what you're looking for any recommendations here should be taken with a grain of salt.

 

[J Wilson]

A complete rewire with Bournes or CTS and a good jack is not expensive.

I'd only give my standard caution: You want to keep the spend in line with what most people would expect to pay for a used Squier Affinity. You could load it up with expensive pickups, better keys, bridge, etc., and when the time comes to sell it . . . . guys are going to expect a price in the neighborhood of what used Squier Affinity should sell for. People pay for the name on the axe, and it's easy to lose money on something modded way past its normal used range.

 

[selowitch]

A Switchcraft jack is a great choice. I also like these: Pure Tone Multi-Contact Jack.

 

[bassGtar]

As a very secondary bass, I've acquired a Squier Affinity PJ, 5 years ago.

What does "very secondary" mean to a person with seven basses? Second? Seventh? Eighth?

If it is fun, do it. Otherwise, this this is great advice:

It's irrelevant if the electronics cost more or less than what you paid for the bass. The value of a bass is the music you make with it, not how much you can sell it for.

 

[chris_b]

Upgrading to a better bass brings many benifits, so my vote would always be for another bass.

 

[Bodeeni]

I am modding the crap out of a Bronco right now that I have gigged with. Not my #1 but it gets a lot of use and it is my only short scale. I have not upgraded because I dig the neck and the little thing rocks.
I think the Squire is a great upgrade platform if the neck is good

 

[MCF]

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.

Put a set of Wilde pickups in it.