Squier Affinity Jaguar Bass...H?!

[Doctor Morbius]

Lots of folks have replaced their stock pickup, which is hardwired in series, hence why it sounds dark.

This explains a lot. Thank you.

 

[kevmac]

I've read and listened to reviews that indicate the stock pickup is a bit dark & bassy. Has anyone installed a different pickup, and specifically was it able to bring some stronger highs and midrange punch? I'm used to using a neck and a bridge pickup together in basses to get that sort of sound, so I'm wondering if there is any way to achieve it on this bass with a brighter/punchier pickup?

Thanks for any advice, I am trying to decide if this would be a good purchase with the intent of upgrading the pickup right away to achieve this sort of tone.

 

[kevmac]

I put on a Stellar MM pup and it improved the tone expedientially

 

[Sharko]

I put on a Stellar MM pup and it improved the tone expedientially

Is that like a combination of exponentially and expediently?

 

[blizzard]

I played one of these the other week and really liked it. Kind of want to get one as a cheap mod project and add a second mm pickup in the bridge as close to the current pickup as possible. Hard to justify as I don't get to play much anymore but I do love tinkering.

 

[Sharko]

I just got mine in the mail, and I gotta say I’m disappointed. I’ve been playing the Squier Jag SS for the last year or so and comparing these side by side there is nothing about the H that I like more. I do like the pickup overall, but I can’t get it as focused and punchy as the PJ setup on the SS. The biggest disappointment to me is the neck. I knew the neck heel would be bigger than the SS due to the longer scale, but what surprised me is how much wider the neck is than it needs to be to accommodate the string spacing. On my other basses the E and G strings are close to the edge of the fretboard, but on this bass I have 1/4” of extra fretboard on each side. Near the headstock that feels fine, but by the 12 to fret the neck feels so wide and flat it feels like a wooden floorboard rather than a guitar neck, it’s just doesn’t fit my hand. I am going to try to fit an SS neck onto it ( and move the bridge) to see if I can salvage it, otherwise it’s going back.

if I can fit the SS neck, then I’d like to keep it as a mod project and wire it like the SBMM short scale ray.

 

[kevmac]

Is that like a combination of exponentially and expediently?

Result of not checking auto spell lol.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Ain't she sweet? I've had mine awhile now and it is so comfortable to play and the tone is on the mark out of the box but my nature being a modder,I felt compelled to change out the pickup with a Sentell MM.I also installed a. 3 way switch wired to take advantage of the different tones offered by the pup.That's an easy and cheap mod I can recommend to any owners of this bass.

Is the Sentell a drop-in? I'd like one, but I'd just as soon not do any carving.

 

[kevmac]

Is the Sentell a drop-in? I'd like one, but I'd just as soon not do any carving.

It dropped in perfectly in mine.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

It dropped in perfectly in mine.

As I am capable of idiotic mistakes, we’re talking about the MUSICMAN REPLACEMENT pup?

 

[kevmac]

As I am capable of idiotic mistakes, we’re talking about the MUSICMAN REPLACEMENT pup?

Yep.

 

[CostaMoses]

My shell pink is on the way! 7lbs 4oz.
Going to swap my black pick guard and add a white pickup cover.

If anyone wants to buy a blue one, let me know.

 

[Doctor Morbius]

^^^ Absolutely LOVE that shell pink!

I more or less bought mine (charcoal metallic) as an impulse purchase as it was about $204 after taxes on sale. I'm definitely going to have to swap out the stock pickup as I don't care it ... AT ALL. I know there are people who do like them. I'm just not one of them. I also have a Gotoh 201B-4 sitting around I haven't put on anything yet. That may spiffy it up a bit.

 

[SubSpec]

Got mine last month and just finished up the last of the mods I had in mind for it. There is absolutely no justification for the amount of money and, even more so, time that I put into this thing, but damn I'm happy with it.

I kind of went for polar opposites tonally with the MEC. Where the stock pup was dark and super hot the MEC has a nice top-end that is both bitey and silky at the same time (reminiscent of Warwick of course) and has a ton of dynamic range. Am definitely pleased with the sound of it.

I'm not generally a fan of gold hardware, but am a sucker for it when paired with white or blue so I went all in on it here.

First time making a custom pickguard, well, I made one out of wood before but it was a very different process and followed the original shape as a template. It's not perfect but came out better than I expected it would.

 

[kevmac]

^^^ Absolutely LOVE that shell pink!

I more or less bought mine (charcoal metallic) as an impulse purchase as it was about $204 after taxes on sale. I'm definitely going to have to swap out the stock pickup as I don't care it ... AT ALL. I know there are people who do like them. I'm just not one of them. I also have a Gotoh 201B-4 sitting around I haven't put on anything yet. That may spiffy it up a bit.

Love it.I bought mine at the beginning of the first release when they couldn't be kept on the shelf so I settled for Charcoal.I had to have it being the impulsive type.I swapped out the pup for a Stellar MM and went with the Gotoh bridge same as you.This is a great bass, like buttah in my hands.

 

[Doctor Morbius]

I'm finally bonding with my Jag-H in a big way.

Firstly, I had to EQ the heck out of my Rumble 40 to get a sound I liked. The highs are boosted quite a bit and the mids are cut using the contour button. I also lowered the bass side of the pickup about as low as it can go.

Today I spent some time doing a setup and have the action quite low. I may even be able to take it lower on a string or two IF the neck adjusts a bit overnight. I loosened the truss rod a skosh as it was just a little tight as there was an ever so slight back bow. Now the downside is my palm will get cut up because of the saddle screws sticking out of the top. A very small price to pay for low action, IMO.

I noticed while doing some slides my fingers have been getting a little dirty. I wiped all of the strings down with alcohol and a white rag, but the strings looked very clean. Hardly any corrosion. After the wipe down I'm still getting dirty fingers. Not a big deal as I will eventually change out the strings. Just something I found a bit odd. I don't have a very corrosive touch and can leave strings on for quite a bit longer than many people. Balanced PH levels maybe.

I also cleaned up the fretboard with Dunlop lemon oil, which took care of that dry look and gave the wood some luster.

Not a bad deal for about $204 out the door.

 

[Jebberz]

Just got mine!

Needed a spare bass (just in case) and also use it to teach my son who's interest in playing music just grows.

So far, I like it very much, I plan to probably add a Hipshot X-Tender, and maybe do a pick-up change, add a Stellartone... time will tell.

 

[LowEndLobster]

Got mine last month and just finished up the last of the mods I had in mind for it. There is absolutely no justification for the amount of money and, even more so, time that I put into this thing, but damn I'm happy with it.

I kind of went for polar opposites tonally with the MEC. Where the stock pup was dark and super hot the MEC has a nice top-end that is both bitey and silky at the same time (reminiscent of Warwick of course) and has a ton of dynamic range. Am definitely pleased with the sound of it.

I'm not generally a fan of gold hardware, but am a sucker for it when paired with white or blue so I went all in on it here.

First time making a custom pickguard, well, I made one out of wood before but it was a very different process and followed the original shape as a template. It's not perfect but came out better than I expected it would.

THAT LOOKS KILLER! Ridiculously well done.

 

[SubSpec]

There is absolutely no justification for the amount of money and, even more so, time that I put into this thing

THAT LOOKS KILLER! Ridiculously well done.

Well, maybe it wasn't justified but it certainly feels good having Lobster's endorsement on it

Thanks for the kind words, I am a big fan!

 

[kevmac]

Well, maybe it wasn't justified but it certainly feels good having Lobster's endorsement on it

Thanks for the kind words, I am a big fan!

Where'd you get the gold pup? I know a thing or two about going overboard with upgrades.This imo is a cheapo that warrants it though.