Just bought a Squier 40th anniversary jazz bass and p bass. Thinking of changing everything but the color scheme and body. These are picks with the Badass bridge added and a comparison of potential necks. Warmoth Ebony on left and Fender maple (Vintera) on right. Will be swapping pickups for custom 60s and electronics for new pots and bumblebee capacitor. Ideas?
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Squier Revamp
- Thread starter Fenderz2015
- Start date
Leave it stock & enjoy as it is . Switch to your favorite strings. These are nice basses.
Order a body & neck from Warmoth and hand pick & specify every part down to screw threads & screw head style. Make it your own personalized perfect custom build.
Just a thought.
Order a body & neck from Warmoth and hand pick & specify every part down to screw threads & screw head style. Make it your own personalized perfect custom build.
Just a thought.
Why do people think that this level of Squier (40th Anniversary) or any of the better grade Squires for that matter automatically require pickup swaps, electronics swaps etc? Buy a Fender Player series and you get all that for pretty much the same investment without screwing with it if that's what you're looking for. Like @TN WOODMAN said these are perfectly fine instruments stock. You'll very likely not make much difference in sound or performance but you'll certainly be out more $$$.
I was wondering exactly the same thing. Back in January I picked up a couple of the updated 2021 Affinity basses. Even on that very entry level model lineup, there's absolutely nothing that needs changed out whatsoever, IMHO. I've played them out, and they sound great, hold their tuning, and play consistently. I have a couple Classic Vibe basses, a Vintage Modified, and a Paranormal Jazz that are even nicer. I can only imagine how fantastic the 40th anniversary models are, and couldn't imagine why on earth anyone would want to change anything out. From the videos reviews I've seen, these 40th models are killer.
The Squiers these days don't need any of that stuff. Maybe a little touch up on the frets, tighten up the jack, make sure the nut is cut properly, and play.
If you're buying one just for the body that you're going to slap a bunch of aftermarket stuff on, might as well just buy a lone body somewhere, rather than disassembling a perfectly fine instrument.
If you're buying one just for the body that you're going to slap a bunch of aftermarket stuff on, might as well just buy a lone body somewhere, rather than disassembling a perfectly fine instrument.
@Fenderz2015 I thought of something like this with with 40th year gold editions too. I love the gold hardware and pickguard alone but don't like the Squier decal 
I hope your Badass is gold to keep the color scheme as you said and I believe the Fender headstock will look better with gold tuners because of darker color.
I'd suggest a different pu though If you really want to upgrade. Stock pickups seems really responsive and characterized, lot better than previous Squier series. 40th anniversary pickups to custom 60's won't be a drastic change in quality. I'd go the boutique route, Aero, Nordstrand, Delano etc.
I hope your Badass is gold to keep the color scheme as you said and I believe the Fender headstock will look better with gold tuners because of darker color.
I'd suggest a different pu though If you really want to upgrade. Stock pickups seems really responsive and characterized, lot better than previous Squier series. 40th anniversary pickups to custom 60's won't be a drastic change in quality. I'd go the boutique route, Aero, Nordstrand, Delano etc.
Aero pickups in a Squier without even using the stock ones? They will cost more than the bass .. bah .. it doesn’t make a lot of sense IMO@Fenderz2015 I thought of something like this with with 40th year gold editions too. I love the gold hardware and pickguard alone but don't like the Squier decal
I hope your Badass is gold to keep the color scheme as you said and I believe the Fender headstock will look better with gold tuners because of darker color.
I'd suggest a different pu though If you really want to upgrade. Stock pickups seems really responsive and characterized, lot better than previous Squier series. 40th anniversary pickups to custom 60's won't be a drastic change in quality. I'd go the boutique route, Aero, Nordstrand, Delano etc.
I concur but he wants to ''upgrade''
I really believe 40th anniversary squier pickups to custom 60's will have no effect.
The pickups are perfectly fine! I have the Gold Edition P bass in black. The only upgrade I would consider is maybe a darker tone cap. Other than that, its way cheaper to counteract the lower output by turning up the amp volume by 1 or 2 notches. The overall sound of the pickups are fine
I did throw a set of LaBella Gold flats on mine. They match the color scheme, but more importantly they sound great
I did throw a set of LaBella Gold flats on mine. They match the color scheme, but more importantly they sound great
My grandfather was a builder and had a fantastic hammer. They don’t make ‘‘em like that any more. Had it for 50 years, changed the head twice Coz the claw wore and wouldn’t pull nails and the handle 4 times Coz it broke with the amount of use it got but you won’t get a hammer these days that’ll last that long Coz they are built like sh*t now. just like a bass. Once you buy it, once you’ve replaced the body, neck, pickups and tuners it’ll probably be almost as good as when you started.
I don't believe It but I read from few other threads that the LaBella Gold flats have low output, is that the case for you? Can you compare It to any other known flat? I have a set ready but paused myself untill I get some feedback
I don't believe It but I read from few other threads that the LaBella Gold flats have low output, is that the case for you? Can you compare It to any other known flat? I have a set ready but paused myself untill I get some feedback
Here is the review that sold me on them. Yes they are a bit stiff and a bit brighter than other flats. But man they are divine after the break in period. I have found that once installed they can be sticky, but just a quick rub with a microfiber cloth solves that. I have a set on my Squier Anniversary P bass gold edition and my Jack Cassidy. I'm considering getting one of the Gold edition Jazz basses to put a set on as well. They are THAT great!
If someone decides they want to upgrade, I've found that there's not much you can do to talk them out of it. However, in this situation, I'd likely do as someone said above and start from scratch with a full Warmoth build.
So you bought two basses that retail for about 600 bucks each and now you're ready to replace the neck, which is 90% of the feel and a lot of the sound of the bass, plus everything else?
You have a lot more money than me for sure but you also bought inferior wood, inferior hardware, cheap electronics etc. which will all be hard to sell used for a good price, let alone for a profit.
Most importantly, you ask a bunch of strangers whose knowledge, experience and tastes you don't know and who in turn know nothing about your music, tastes and preferences.
Really the textbook definition of an exercise in futility.
Call my words harsh, no chill or tough love. Doesn't matter.
I suggest you play them for a few weeks, both at home and in the field, and only then decide if anything needs a touch up, a fix or a replacement.
I haven't played the 40th anniversary basses but my Jazzmaster has a fantastic neck and pickups.
You have a lot more money than me for sure but you also bought inferior wood, inferior hardware, cheap electronics etc. which will all be hard to sell used for a good price, let alone for a profit.
Most importantly, you ask a bunch of strangers whose knowledge, experience and tastes you don't know and who in turn know nothing about your music, tastes and preferences.
Really the textbook definition of an exercise in futility.
Call my words harsh, no chill or tough love. Doesn't matter.
I suggest you play them for a few weeks, both at home and in the field, and only then decide if anything needs a touch up, a fix or a replacement.
I haven't played the 40th anniversary basses but my Jazzmaster has a fantastic neck and pickups.
I bought a Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster guitar last year. I put a Warmoth neck on it but the only reason I did that was because I wanted something wider for my large hands. The original neck was perfectly fine.
I had a Fretless Warmoth neck but no body for it. I bought a Squier Jazz and installed the Warmoth neck on it. Cheaper than buying a body, pickups, and hardware.
I had a Fretless Warmoth neck but no body for it. I bought a Squier Jazz and installed the Warmoth neck on it. Cheaper than buying a body, pickups, and hardware.
Yeah I saw that review, the guy is cool but compared with different basses etc. so no real info for me and the demo at Labella site is too good to be true lol
Thanks for the info though, you are the second guy that said they liked It well enough to put It on multiple basses. I'll put It on my bass with gold hardware too and evogold frets 
Somr things I ran into on my 40th anniversary bass worth attending to.
1. Loose nut that simply falls out when strings are removed.
2. Not a scrap of shielding in the cavities.
3. No problems with the mini pots, but some people don't like them.
4. P bass needed a fret level. Haven't gotten that far on the J yet (noise issues)
5. Look carefully at the finish. J bass has a hairline crack connecting the bridge and bridge pickup cavity
Mine are both vintage series. If you have Gold series might be different.
Also Stratosphere Guitar Parts sells these bodies. You could return the bass and buy a loaded or unloaded body from them.
Example
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1. Loose nut that simply falls out when strings are removed.
2. Not a scrap of shielding in the cavities.
3. No problems with the mini pots, but some people don't like them.
4. P bass needed a fret level. Haven't gotten that far on the J yet (noise issues)
5. Look carefully at the finish. J bass has a hairline crack connecting the bridge and bridge pickup cavity
Mine are both vintage series. If you have Gold series might be different.
Also Stratosphere Guitar Parts sells these bodies. You could return the bass and buy a loaded or unloaded body from them.
Example
[This invalid link has been removed]
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Why?
I mean that sincerely and not as a rhetorical device. What do you expect the "upgrades" to add? As others have pointed out, today's "flagship" Squiers (generally) do not need anything other than better strings than they arrive with. If you do proceed with the changes, know that no one and I MEAN no one is going to care how much money you threw at a Squier if/when you go to re-sell it.
I'm not knocking Squier at all. Heck, I got back into playing bass with an Affinity PJ which had great tone, correct fretwork, and a lovely Brown-burst finish.
I love to mod. I usually stick with very low priced instruments so no loss and a lot of personal gain. I’m old and have nothing better to do. But I love how it doesn’t cost much for a great sounding and playing axe. Resale value $0 fulfillment 100%.
I would definitely not change the wiring harness. Make sure the pots and jacks are tight and go for it, unless you have a preference for specific tone cap or pot values. Pickup wise, the Fender CS pickups do not sounds better than the Squier pickups, but YMMV. Bridge can make a difference, go with that. Neck is a waste IMO, unless the necks on your instruments are messed up, in which case I would probably return anyway. If you enjoy the act of modding an instrument, I’d say you do you, but as far as “necessary” mods, those basses don’t need any.
