Should I modify my Squier or upgrade to another bass?

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I don't like the idea of modifying something with hopes that I'll like it better, unless it's purely a cosmetic mod.

It has to sound and feel right from the start.

I would sell and buy something I like everything about . Life is too short to settle . Buy what you like and want the first time and save yourself time and money .

 

[jj.833]

My experience:
- buying better pickups (etc) won't satisfy what you are missing in the Squier now. What's not there, won't get there.
- Sire jazz basses are really pretty cool instruments (haven't played D5 yet), soundwise fully comparable with my '77 Fender jazz.

 

[Inconnu]

OP here.

I didn't expect that thread to reach 4 pages!

There's a few questions along the way and I'll try to answer in general.

I'll slightly rephrase part of what I said yesterday (4 pages ago). Objectively, the bass doesn't have any issues. I consider it to be 100% of what it's designed to be (meaning I don't see any construction flaws… it's made like you'd expect it to be). I still feel it's exceptionally ordinary. It's a perfectly executed ordinary bass (to me). It still feels like a bass of its range, but just very well made. I just have to figure out if I'd use it more if modified or not. It would sound better, but feel the same. It's very simple in the end.

Thanks all!

 

[Bassmike62]

OP here.

I didn't expect that thread to reach 4 pages!

There's a few questions along the way and I'll try to answer in general.

I'll slightly rephrase part of what I said yesterday (4 pages ago). Objectively, the bass doesn't have any issues. I consider it to be 100% of what it's designed to be (meaning I don't see any construction flaws… it's made like you'd expect it to be). I still feel it's exceptionally ordinary. It's a perfectly executed ordinary bass (to me). It still feels like a bass of its range, but just very well made. I just have to figure out if I'd use it more if modified or not. It would sound better, but feel the same. It's very simple in the end.

Thanks all!

Personal experience: I love Stingray basses, but find the neck a bit too large for my comfort. So I got a SBMM ray24ca and modified the heck out of it, by putting in a Seymour Duncan 3-band preamp and a Seymour Duncan Alnico V pickup and also had the bass refinished in a walnut dress. It is still a SBMM in body and hardware (save for a Hipshot bass xtender), but with those mods, that thing sounds pretty darn good and can take whatever I throw at it. I chose to stick with something comfortable to play and add sizzle to it to make it what I want. Worked out well for me.

 

[41Hz To Go]

OP here.

I didn't expect that thread to reach 4 pages!

There's a few questions along the way and I'll try to answer in general.

I'll slightly rephrase part of what I said yesterday (4 pages ago). Objectively, the bass doesn't have any issues. I consider it to be 100% of what it's designed to be (meaning I don't see any construction flaws… it's made like you'd expect it to be). I still feel it's exceptionally ordinary. It's a perfectly executed ordinary bass (to me). It still feels like a bass of its range, but just very well made. I just have to figure out if I'd use it more if modified or not. It would sound better, but feel the same. It's very simple in the end.

Thanks all!

invest in some Fralin pups and new pots. You could always take them out and use them in a different bass.

 

[CallMeAl]

You got a lot of replies here, but I'll take a crack at it…

first, have you ruled out it's not the flats you don't love?

second, you seem to like the feel and other features of the bass. Which makes this a good candidate for a pickup swap. Buy used on the TB classified and if you don't like it, resell losing only pennies on the dollar. It's a gamble, but seems like a pretty safe bet to me.

My main bass is a Squier and I put a Seymour Duncan pickup in it. (And swapped the neck, but that's another discussion.) it was only a minor improvement imho, but I really love the tone of this bass, wouldn't bother switching the pickup back and in the end I deemed it worth it.

 

[Pops OB]

Never listen to naysayers. If you have the ability/competency to mod it, do it. Don't like the mods? Try something else or restore it.

 

[SteveHeissner]

Keep the Squier as a back-up. Don't spend money modding it at this time. Instead, put that $$ toward the Sire bass you like.

 

[jd56hawk]

You don't love it?
Sell it to someone who might or keep it in case of emergency.
Other than that, as far as mid-priced basses go, find one of these.. .I'm betting you'll be impressed.

 

[Ethereal Thorn]

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

Some of the newer squier affinity basses are alot closer to the classic vibe and vintage modified basses in quality the hardware and parts on all of those basses have gone down and their prices have gone up considerably. Plus now that rosewood is considered rare/protected that alone can add value. Personally if you are gonna swap almost all the parts out on them anyway I'd rather do it on a $200 bass over a $500+ bass. The potential to buy a upgraded body later and swap all the upgraded parts over to it is still a possibility too.

 

[xI Jonathan Ix]

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.

I posted something similar the other day. If it plays well physically and the neck/body have good alignment and feel for you, I say mod those pickups! I'm doing the same thing, waiting on the 2nd pickup and a new preamp to be delivered now. I think it's gonna be beastly.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

My turn again, here comes the tough one. Will you be OK with it saying Squier on the headstock? Will you be making excuses or reasoning with everyone?
I had a Squier VM Jag, played at a gig as a fill in, hoping for a more playing time. Played pretty good to have never played any music with them. Afterwards the guy kept looking the headstock then back to me. I did not get to play with them any longer. I felt like it saying Squier was a deterrent. I went and found a Fender P, sold the Squier.. It could have said 'DG' for Dollar General and may have gotten a better review. I play a $299 Sterling for the past 25-30 gigs, sounds good. No funny looks. I do occasionally bring my nicer basses.

 

[DwaynieAD]

I put Seymour duncan spb1s in my affinity, but I also really liked my affinity p before hand. I also hate pj's sound. I would spend the money on some Duncan's personally

 

[JRA]

I just have to figure out if I'd use it more if modified or not. It would sound better, but feel the same. It's very simple in the end.

i think a lot of us interpreted that you liked the feel but that you were "meh" about the sound. you wrote:
"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....The only downside I see to that bass is the electronics, including the pickups."

@Killing Floor covered it in the first response to your OP. and micguy and a bunch of others.

I didn't expect that thread to reach 4 pages!

yeah, who knew!?

seriously, after getting all of the points of view: what are you inclined to do? TIA

 

[Inconnu]

seriously, after getting all of the points of view: what are you inclined to do? TIA

After 5 pages of replies, I owe it to you all to share my conclusion!

First step will be to hear how the bass sounds with roundwounds. It's a no brainer I know, but it's what I'll do. I'll play with it for a while as is and see how it turns out. I've been comparing apples and oranges, sort of, you know?

From there, I'll figure out if it's worth it to have fun and mod it. I think I might do it. I actually really like to do mods. I guess if I sell that one, I'll end up looking for a mod project and might not find one as good as that one.

 

[aprod]

Do not sell it. It will actually appreciate in sellable price. If the bass can be setup to your liking, install quality strings and ultimately a good pickup set. I put Fender Original 62, and Seymour Duncan SB-1 pickups in my Vintage Modified Squier P's. They play and sound every bit as good as my more expensive (not necessarily better) basses. The pots on your Affinity are mini pots and if they work well, then leave them.

Do not sell it. It will actually appreciate in sellable price. If the bass can be setup to your liking, install quality strings and ultimately a good pickup set. I put Fender Original 62, and Seymour Duncan SB-1 pickups in my Vintage Modified Squier P's. They play and sound every bit as good as my more expensive (not necessarily better) basses. The pots on your Affinity are mini pots and if they work well, then leave them.

A squier will never appreciate in value. Its a budget entry level bass.

 

[bassliner50]

A squier will never appreciate in value. Its a budget entry level bass.

Sorry Sir, I must disagree. I have 2 Squier Vintage Modified Precisions, which I purchased used for about $100 each, I now see them offered for sale for at least 3 times as much. I also bought a Squier Classic Vibe Matt Freeman model used but like new for $200. Go ahead and price it out now, and get back to me.

 

[thunderstation]

Squier's are well constricted and reliable instruments. Because of it's price, I think they're perfect for modding out.. Modify it to your hearts content. You won't be gambling on wrecking a higher rated Instrument and you could end up with #1 go-to bass. I own an Affinity and love it. I also own a 1973 Fender Precision which I would never modify, not even a sticker.

 

[C Stone]

A squier will never appreciate in value. Its a budget entry level bass.

A Squier Affinity MAY never appreciate in value. Its a budget entry level bass…

Many other Squier models are regularly selling for 2-3 times their original price.

 

[selowitch]

Don't forget MIJ Squiers, which absolutely do appreciate in value over time. That's because it's unlikely there will ever be new MIJ Squiers on the market—and the MIJ Squiers are considered to be very high-quality.