Squier P-bass modding ideas?

[bassbully]

I'm in the if it's not broke don't fix it group. Mod's can be good or bad and at time can cost more than they are worth. For a Squier maybe pups if the tone is so-so.
The tuners are usally decent and if they hold tune leave them. Wiring and pots are also something to look at but be warned.

I has a late 90's Squier P special a few years ago that I bought used. It was really beat up but had a killer neck and tone. One day I decide to have a guy I know put in Quarterpound P and J pups, cloth wiring, Brown molly cap, new CTS pots and swithcraft jack.

Like a dummy I traded off the pups before I got the bass back from the shop. The bass was never the same...good but it lost its stock sound and no matter how I tried I could never get it back so I sold it.

 

[ejaggers]

Do the mods yourself. You will learn a lot about your bass, have fun, and develop a sense of pride for it. My AFN P is one of my favorite basses because of this. It came with a sweet neck so the rest was just gravy. I paid more than twice the price for a short scale Jag and have spent about the same amout of $$$ without any mods, trying to get it to play right. Long story short, when you get a good Squier it is worth modding it to the hilt. Here’s what I’ve done to my P so far, and may not be through, but read this at you own risk!!!

***WARNING*** Modding Can Become Addictive: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/hi-im-name-goes-here-im-mod-aholic-860203/

Here’s some more ideas: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/modifying-affinity-w-o-breaking-bank-599652/

BTW, replacing the neck, tuners, and bridge is unnecessary and will not improve the sound, in my opinion; but these mods will make it look better. But if yours have the closed back tuners, get rid of them ASAP, or else people will talk... )


057912

 

[Ulysses McGill]

I picked up a Squier Affinity P-bass and went crazy with it. Stripped it down and filled in the cavities with wood blocks and bondo to fill. Carved the tele-style headstock by hand with chisels and sandpaper. Routed out a space for an old school SD single coil pickup. Found a 3-hole plate on eBay, pick guard on reverb, and took a really long time refinishing the surface. Still waiting on my Hipshot drop-d thingy. I always make sure to put a permanent notification that it’s a custom/not original build, but bottom line: I love this thing!

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

Well you could replace everything and end up with a whole new bass.
I would suggest strings a setup then play it a while.
In time you will either find that some part just isn't quite right for you
or
you will find that you get used to it as is and like it just fine that way.
Either approach saves spending a lot of money just because you can.