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Squier "Perfect Fit Replacement Parts" Mega thread

#581
Bad news: I wanted to change the pickguard on my amber Squier VM P from black to tort, so I ordered Warmoth's standard "Fender P" pickguard. Warmoth's printable cutout looked close enough, and it should be a standard 13-hole P pickguard, right? Wrong. After it took almost three weeks to get here, it finally came today, and when I tried to fit up the new pickguard, the cutout for the neck is 1/8" to 1/4" (ish) too shallow, so nothing lines up. :(

Good news: the Zero Mod PB-1 thumb rest for Fender P basses fits my Squier VM P perfectly. Invalid Link Removed

On order: EMG GZR P pickup. :)
 
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#582
I replaced the pickups on my Matt Freeman sig with Dimarzio Model P. I had to trim the PG slightly. Big difference over the stock as the originals are voiced with emphasis on the mids. They sounded great but I require more low-mids which is where the Model Ps shine.
I also swapped the tuners with Hipshot HB-1s. It was almost a direct replacement except for the ferrules. The cutouts on the bass were slightly too big and the Hipshot ferrules were loose. So I used the stock ones which seem adequate. Not sure if I need to investigate further.
Oh, the reason I swapped the tuners was because someone else on this site said the HB-1s weighed 50 grams each. Not true. It was more like 82 grams. I was looking to eliminate some head-dive. The stock ones weigh 85 grams (screws included while weighing both models). So I kinda blew $100. But they are a bit nicer. The cloverleaf shafts are a bit shorter. the screw patten is identical.
 
#586
Malak the Mad said:
Which specific model is it? Vintage Modified?
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The VM Jazz 5 string (in Olympic White). Really nice neck with no sharp frets, leveling seems good, plays and sounds like a nice jazz bass and the pickups are quiet, no hum. My only gripe really is the pick guard plastic is really soft. So I figured I'd drop in a Fender guard if it fits since they are more durable.
 
#587
I understand that there are companies which will cut you a custom pickguard to fit your old one, but I've never dealt with one to know. As noted a few posts above, I had a bad experience with a Warmoth guard on my Squier VM P, so don't assume your VM is a "standard Fender" by their standards without checking carefully first.
 
#588
NortyFiner said:
I understand that there are companies which will cut you a custom pickguard to fit your old one, but I've never dealt with one to know. As noted a few posts above, I had a bad experience with a Warmoth guard on my Squier VM P, so don't assume your VM is a "standard Fender" by their standards without checking carefully first.
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Yeah I saw your post and the others in this thread, maybe I'll see if my local shop carries Fender replacements and try one on over the existing guard.
 
#589
I had an Affinity V and the MIM V pick guard fit with a minimal amount of gap at the bottom of the heel, maybe 1/8" or less.
Barely noticeable.

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Remember the American V has the slot for truss rod adjustment at the heel. MIM does not. I don't know how these fit the VM's or CV's, though...
 
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#590
Malak the Mad said:
On a related note for the entire thread, I just had some routing done to my Squier Standard Jazz. Specifically, I had the bridge-route enlarged a wee bit by my local and highly-talented Guitar Center tech. I'll post some pics to show everyone just how much needed to be taken off to fit a properly-sized bridge pickup. And what, might you ask, is going into it? Why, the aforementioned Super 55's, of course! :smug:
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Before I install the Super 55 split-coils into my Squier Standard Jazz, I have to decide what to do with the wiring harness. One one hand, I could just keep the existing harness. (no fuss…no muss) On the other hand, I could replace the pots with ones that could potentially work better with the new pickups. Unfortunately, the latter opens up one of my oft-talked about "can o' worms" when modding a Squier Standard.

The last time I tried modding a Standard Jazz wiring harness, I was informed that the pots' shafts were too wide for the control plate's holes. It turned out the original harness used mini-pots and the control plate was sized for smaller pots only. In other words, it was yet another case of the Standard Series being made up of parts that make modding an exercise in frustration. :banghead:

So, let's say for the sake of this scenario that I'm keeping the control plate, but still want new pots that will make the most of the Super 55's. What brand, type, value and supplier should I consider? Here's some links I've checked out first, but if there's something else worth consideration, please point me in that direction. Thanks in advance! :thumbsup:

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250K Mini Audio Pot | Allparts.com

250K Metric Linear Mini Pot | Allparts.com
 
#591
Not quite. Metric pots are slightly smaller (7mm) than good old American pots(3/8, 10mm). Squiers are made in a metric country; the Control plates have metric holes. American (big) standard pots don't fit. Drilling the holes is the solution and not a big deal. They can be a tight fit in the route sometimes because the Asian made instruments are routed smaller simple because they use small pots.
 
#594
Woofer said:
Meh, control plates are really cheap. I'd save the headache of of drilling holes or trying to source smaller pots and just go with the easily sourced standard CTS pots and get a new plate.
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Not quite as easy as you think. A Fender plate is shaped differently than a Squier. The top point is rounded and there'll be a gap where it meets the pick guard. Some people wouldn't put up with that.
 
#595
Woofer said:
Meh, control plates are really cheap. I'd save the headache of of drilling holes or trying to source smaller pots and just go with the easily sourced standard CTS pots and get a new plate.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, it may not be that simple. As I've stated several times across this and other threads, the Squier Standard line had drifted in away from the standardized Fender blueprint in many, little, annoying ways. So little, in fact, that at first glance everything looks like it should match and swap-out with ease…that is, until you actually try to install something. Then all those wee little inconsistencies start throwing up all sorts of frustrating roadblocks.

Right now, I have an extra control plate from a fairly-new (c.2011 or so) MIM Standard Jazz. I will check if it's a match without the need to start fillin' & drillin' new holes. If it fits with both the existing holes and up against the pickguard, that'd be awesome. I'll just use standard pots. But, if this one is like every other Squier Standard I've dealt with, it won't be a perfect fit. We'll see and I'll report my findings here.

96tbird said:
Not quite as easy as you think. A Fender plate is shaped differently than a Squier. The top point is rounded and there'll be a gap where it meets the pick guard. Some people wouldn't put up with that.
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A small gap wouldn't bother me. It's having to shave down the pickguard at the points where it meets the control plate and the neck heel. (Another hard-learned experience!)

Believe me…I've considered going a more radical route and simply replacing the control plate and guard with MIM Standard parts, complete with the requisite fillin', drillin' and dremelin' all the necessary points to shoehorn it into fitting. But I want to keep all my options open, and that includes the ones that require the least amount of headaches. That's why I wanted to know if anyone could recommend a set of pots that will fit a Squier Standard's differently-shaped control plate.
 
#596
As memory serves, Warmoth offers replacement control plates in two different variations: a "Fender" spec'ed one in terms of where the plate meets the guard, and a "Warmoth" spec that is either more or less pointy (I think less, but you can check the site). Might be a good option if your plate varies that much from standard Fender spec.
 

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