I just got a Squier Vintage Modified P bass-- the Tele model. I planned on just changing the pickups-- I just wanted a Tele bass, and I loved the neck on it.
I've read a lot of complaints about the pickup is too hot, it has no high end, etc etc. It truely lives up to the name "Mudbucker."
Anyways, I took the pickguard off and discovered the pickup has 4 conductor wiring. Very rare for basses in this price range. The pickup actually looks very high quality overal-- just very hot, and very dark. It's actually very cool sound if you use distortion.
I decided to try wiring the pickup in parallel. It was very, very easy to do. The bass actually sounds much, much closer to a regular P bass now-- and a good one, at that. The lows are still solid, but the mids and highs are much better now. I was going to put 2 Darkstars in it, but now... I don't think I need to. Plus, everyone's doing that. Still might do one in the bridge.
I suppose you think you'd like instructions? It's very easy.
If you take the pickguard off, you'll see the wire from the pickup. The green wire will be attached to one of the lugs of the volume pot-- the black will be attached to the back of the pot.
You'll see a red and white wire tied together. Just separate them. Solder the red wire to the back of the pot with the black wire. Solder the white wire to the lug where the green wire is.
That's it. And it sounds GREAT. I actually like the stock sound, though. I'll probably install a switch to go between them-- eventually.
I apologise, I don't have a decent way to get sound clips.
I've read a lot of complaints about the pickup is too hot, it has no high end, etc etc. It truely lives up to the name "Mudbucker."
Anyways, I took the pickguard off and discovered the pickup has 4 conductor wiring. Very rare for basses in this price range. The pickup actually looks very high quality overal-- just very hot, and very dark. It's actually very cool sound if you use distortion.
I decided to try wiring the pickup in parallel. It was very, very easy to do. The bass actually sounds much, much closer to a regular P bass now-- and a good one, at that. The lows are still solid, but the mids and highs are much better now. I was going to put 2 Darkstars in it, but now... I don't think I need to. Plus, everyone's doing that. Still might do one in the bridge.
I suppose you think you'd like instructions? It's very easy.
If you take the pickguard off, you'll see the wire from the pickup. The green wire will be attached to one of the lugs of the volume pot-- the black will be attached to the back of the pot.
You'll see a red and white wire tied together. Just separate them. Solder the red wire to the back of the pot with the black wire. Solder the white wire to the lug where the green wire is.
That's it. And it sounds GREAT. I actually like the stock sound, though. I'll probably install a switch to go between them-- eventually.
I apologise, I don't have a decent way to get sound clips.
