P and J welcome, but the Squier Affinity Bronco is what I want to hear about. Anyone have experience? Anyone try modding?
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Squier Affinity Basses
- Thread starter bigmuff113
- Start date
If anyone wants to know what I would like to do to it, I would like a new bridge, new tuners, probably a new but, new pickup, maybe new pots.
my main for 4 years has been a affinity jazz. all i did was change the pots, jacks and add a gibson style 3-way mechanical selector to make it more down my street
I have had two Squier basses--an Affinity P-bass as my first and Standard P/J as my second...
The Standard neck was pitiful. I did not like the taper at all, and the finish didn't seem better at all to the Affinity. When I found out the truss rod was broken, I had an Affinity P-neck swapped onto it.
From my experience it seems like the weak spots of the Affinity models are:
-Electronics are WEAK. The volume pot in mine went out within a year, and the grounds are poorly soldered. Also changed the 250K on the P-bass pickups to 500K. Sounds better to me.
-Fit of other Fender parts is not that great...I added a Black pickguard and had to use a dremel tool/sandpaper to file down the edges of the pickup holes to get everything to fit, and some of the screw holes did not line up properly.
-Bridge sucks. I didn't use a Leo Quan Badass, but a Wilkinson. Much better quality.
I wouldn't buy a Squier used, personally...my P/J was used and has been nothing but trouble since. Luckily, I've finally got it to a good and reliable level, but I've spent about as much as I would have spent for a new one.
The Standard neck was pitiful. I did not like the taper at all, and the finish didn't seem better at all to the Affinity. When I found out the truss rod was broken, I had an Affinity P-neck swapped onto it.
From my experience it seems like the weak spots of the Affinity models are:
-Electronics are WEAK. The volume pot in mine went out within a year, and the grounds are poorly soldered. Also changed the 250K on the P-bass pickups to 500K. Sounds better to me.
-Fit of other Fender parts is not that great...I added a Black pickguard and had to use a dremel tool/sandpaper to file down the edges of the pickup holes to get everything to fit, and some of the screw holes did not line up properly.
-Bridge sucks. I didn't use a Leo Quan Badass, but a Wilkinson. Much better quality.
I wouldn't buy a Squier used, personally...my P/J was used and has been nothing but trouble since. Luckily, I've finally got it to a good and reliable level, but I've spent about as much as I would have spent for a new one.
Why purchase an instrument that requires a major electronics replacement??
It seems to me that if you can spend a little more money for a bass that has the electronics you desire, (seeing that you are ready to expend money for replacement electronics), would negate the expenditure value of purchasing a less expensive instrument.
The cost of electronics replacement combined with the original purchase price of the less expensive instrument would be comparable to the purchase of a bass that has the electronics you desire, don't you think?
It seems to me that if you can spend a little more money for a bass that has the electronics you desire, (seeing that you are ready to expend money for replacement electronics), would negate the expenditure value of purchasing a less expensive instrument.
The cost of electronics replacement combined with the original purchase price of the less expensive instrument would be comparable to the purchase of a bass that has the electronics you desire, don't you think?
That's definitely true. The P/J was literally handed to me by a friend because he didn't want it anymore, so it's not like I bought it just to upgrade it. I've had it for several years, and got it within a year of starting out...
And as for the other one having a bad pot within a year, I didn't know much about basses as it was my first bass. I just keep it in good shape because I don't want to be another one of those "Man, I really wish I hadn't sold my first such and such" kind of people, you know?
Quality pots aren't that expensive either--WD Pots are similar to Alpha pots, which can be found at websites like Mouser or Small Bear for 1/10th of what you pay from WD. By the time you pay shipping for 2 or 3, you've only spent about 10 bucks or a little more.
Preamps are another matter.
Preamps are another matter.
You buy it for the body and neck ($150), and then replace everything on it with better stuff.
The end result is a custom bass to your liking.
Yuck, and not compatible. Try a Hip-Shot with adjustable saddles.
Here is a list of parts.
Pick-ups:
Good.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Best.
http://www.aeroinstrument.com/musicmasterer.html
Bridge:
http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=114
or Bronco style.
http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=209
or you can use a Mustang bridge, but string spacing (.669?) is the most important issue.
Tuners:
http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_list&c=5
Choose from the list of 3/8. You will need to enlarge the holes for the bushings.
Pots:
CTS 250K is my recommendation.
Some "MusicMaster" parts may be compatible, like bridges and possibly pickguards.
Custom "Bronco" pickgards are not readily available as far as I know.
Pick-ups:
Good.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Best.
http://www.aeroinstrument.com/musicmasterer.html
Bridge:
http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=114
or Bronco style.
http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=209
or you can use a Mustang bridge, but string spacing (.669?) is the most important issue.
Tuners:
http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_list&c=5
Choose from the list of 3/8. You will need to enlarge the holes for the bushings.
Pots:
CTS 250K is my recommendation.
Some "MusicMaster" parts may be compatible, like bridges and possibly pickguards.
Custom "Bronco" pickgards are not readily available as far as I know.
If you buy a bridge, be sure to sand/file off some of the plating underneath for the ground wire to make good contact...may be overkill, but better safe than sorry.
I modified my $60 Bronco. (Petey)
Petey was economical to upgrade ($13)
It cost $13 for a cheap pickguard that I
made a pickup ring out of.
I already had a nice P bass pickup and
stuff to wire it with. I had some used
tuners and shielded the body cavities
with thick aluminum foil.
The bridge doesn't really need to be
changed. (I don't care what "they" say)
I filed the fret ends and dressed up the
frets.
His name is Petey and he has a crush on
Betty Boop,
You can spend $500 and not get it much
nicer than Petey. He sounds very good.
Tabdog
Petey was economical to upgrade ($13)
It cost $13 for a cheap pickguard that I
made a pickup ring out of.
I already had a nice P bass pickup and
stuff to wire it with. I had some used
tuners and shielded the body cavities
with thick aluminum foil.
The bridge doesn't really need to be
changed. (I don't care what "they" say)
I filed the fret ends and dressed up the
frets.
His name is Petey and he has a crush on
Betty Boop,
You can spend $500 and not get it much
nicer than Petey. He sounds very good.
Tabdog
Hay Bigmuff, good to see you.
My late wife bought my son an
Affinity P bass when he was 12
years old. He abandoned that
bass long ago. He hated the neck
on it.
I spent over $200 upgrading it.
I put a real thin 22 fret neck on it
and moved the bridge closer to the
pickup. That made it more punchy.
I rewired it and put a Fender 62 pup
in it.
I gave it back to him. He loves it
now. He said they just did some
recording with it and one of his
bands.
I can't wait to hear it,
Tabdog
