The Squier Mini Precision Bass Club

[Diver]

I know we talked a lot about specs in this thread, but forgive me if this was covered already, but what play styles and music types do you like/prefer to work with this bass? By this bass, I mean a P bass tone and a short scale.

I was expecting to just use it for RnB motown stuff with the tone all the way down, but it is a surprisingly good sounding bass for old funk slap to my taste, which had me thinking about putting lighter gage strings on my long scale basses. While I yet have to play fast metal on it, I am wondering what range of styles others here enjoy indulging in with the mini P.

I know you can technically play anything on anything, but this is more to gauge people's preferences.

Cheers

 

[Matt23]

For me, I play function gigs. So everything, mostly pop from 60s to current. But I love playing country and a bit of funk. Really looking forward to seeing what this little thing can do. I played P’s exclusively for quite a few years, then moved in to active Jazz V’s. I’m really looking forward to the simplicity of a P bass again. So I’m thinking this little guy will see quite a bit of use. Inspiration is a bit harder to come by without gigging, and I actually feel excited about picking this Mini P up and falling in love with just playing again.

 

[Diver]

For me, I play function gigs. So everything, mostly pop from 60s to current. But I love playing country and a bit of funk. Really looking forward to seeing what this little thing can do. I played P’s exclusively for quite a few years, then moved in to active Jazz V’s. I’m really looking forward to the simplicity of a P bass again. So I’m thinking this little guy will see quite a bit of use. Inspiration is a bit harder to come by without gigging, and I actually feel excited about picking this Mini P up and falling in love with just playing again.

 

[Diver]

Awesome, this bass can do a lot for me, like letting my 7yo grab it.

I often get musically inspired when travelling and being able to throw the bass in the back of the car with a headphone portable amp is really cool. It even allowed me to join an impromptu jam gig in a park.
The fact that it sounds great is an added bonus.
I hope it will make you fall back in love with playing like it did for me after a 20years hiatus

 

[Matt23]

Awesome, this bass can do a lot for me, like letting my 7yo grab it.

I often get musically inspired when travelling and being able to throw the bass in the back of the car with a headphone portable amp is really cool. It even allowed me to join an impromptu jam gig in a park.
The fact that it sounds great is an added bonus.
I hope it will make you fall back in love with playing like it did for me after a 20years hiatus

that’s awesome I told my 5 y/o a mini bass was turning up tomorrow and he’s very excited too!

 

[andare]

Just ordered my Mini P (UK based) having read through this thread. I’ve never played a sub-short scale, but really looking forward to having a bass I can pickup/put down with such ease. Looks like it’s gonna be a lot of fun!

You're gonna love it!

 

[Matt23]

It’s here! Next to my Sandberg for scale. 1st impressions... impressive!! My last Squier was a VM Jazz which was great. For £139, this had no right to be so playable out of the box. Neck, action, pickup heights... I could gig it right now. I’ve had basses that cost 10 x this that have come in worse shape out of the box. Plugged in, it’s all there. Smooth volume pot and a tone pot that works! It’s a P bass, alright. Thumpy little groove machine.
Overall, as you can see, I’m delighted with it!

 

[ClusterFlux]

Yeah, I dunno. Now that New Bassness has long faded, I'm a bit meh.

The critical parts, like the neck and body, are still good. Bridge also seems fine.

Stock tuners were not great. Stock pots are smooth, but mine seems to be wired wrong or something, as anything less than max volume turns off the tone knob. Stock strap buttons are almost useless. Pickups are quiet, but I am still not fond of the tone. The input jack keeps getting loose, which I suspect might not be a problem if I could find my Loc-Tite.

I'm getting a slightly better tone now, but... yeah, my Ibanez 650 still blows it away, even with just the neck pickup soloed.

None of this is outrageous or a deal killer, given the price point. It just means that if I want to use it for playing out, I have to spend more than it cost to fix it up. A decent bass anywhere near as light as the Mini would likely set me back 2-3 large (e.g. Strandberg Boden).

I'm just a little hesitant to pour a bunch of cash into this instrument, rather than just get something that might sound better, and have better components, right off the bat, like the Sire U5 or Nordstrand Acinonyx.

First World Problems are just the worst, amirite?

 

[SBassman]

No meh ness from me. My love continues to grow.

Happy Friday everyone.

 

[Volker Kirstein]

I still fall in love all over again every time I pick mine up. The feel, the responsiveness to plucking position/style, the sound...

As far as the hardware goes, I've had no issues beyond the original "tighten up."

 

[DavesnothereCA]

Yeah, I dunno. Now that New Bassness has long faded, I'm a bit meh.
The critical parts, like the neck and body, are still good. Bridge also seems fine.
Stock tuners were not great. Stock pots are smooth, but mine seems to be wired wrong or something, as anything less than max volume turns off the tone knob. Stock strap buttons are almost useless. Pickups are quiet, but I am still not fond of the tone. The input jack keeps getting loose, which I suspect might not be a problem if I could find my Loc-Tite.

I'm getting a slightly better tone now, but... yeah, my Ibanez 650 still blows it away, even with just the neck pickup soloed.

None of this is outrageous or a deal killer, given the price point. It just means that if I want to use it for playing out, I have to spend more than it cost to fix it up. A decent bass anywhere near as light as the Mini would likely set me back 2-3 large (e.g. Strandberg Boden).

I'm just a little hesitant to pour a bunch of cash into this instrument, rather than just get something that might sound better, and have better components, right off the bat, like the Sire U5 or Nordstrand Acinonyx.

First World Problems are just the worst, amirite?

~
The way that the controls are [mis]behaving might be a simple to fix wiring error, if you or a friend can solder.

I would need to see some pics of the wiring behind the pots to say for sure.

As for the general tone, have you tried ANY other strings ?

Dealing with those two issues ought not to be very expensive, and if you get that far, then consider alternate tuners.

Or bail at that point if still not satisfied with the character of the sound.
~

 

[andare]

Yeah, I dunno. Now that New Bassness has long faded, I'm a bit meh.

The critical parts, like the neck and body, are still good. Bridge also seems fine.

Stock tuners were not great. Stock pots are smooth, but mine seems to be wired wrong or something, as anything less than max volume turns off the tone knob. Stock strap buttons are almost useless. Pickups are quiet, but I am still not fond of the tone. The input jack keeps getting loose, which I suspect might not be a problem if I could find my Loc-Tite.

I'm getting a slightly better tone now, but... yeah, my Ibanez 650 still blows it away, even with just the neck pickup soloed.

None of this is outrageous or a deal killer, given the price point. It just means that if I want to use it for playing out, I have to spend more than it cost to fix it up. A decent bass anywhere near as light as the Mini would likely set me back 2-3 large (e.g. Strandberg Boden).

I'm just a little hesitant to pour a bunch of cash into this instrument, rather than just get something that might sound better, and have better components, right off the bat, like the Sire U5 or Nordstrand Acinonyx.

First World Problems are just the worst, amirite?

At the price point I'm surprised it works at all

Any tech can fix the wiring as it's super simple. Might be a chance to put in quality CTS pots which only cost a few bucks each, if they fit.
The strap buttons are a joke, what were they thinking?! It's an easy upgrade though.

My Mini is super loud and the pickup is deep. It does have quirks, like some weird growls, and the low E is warbly. However it really depends on the strings you use. I'm a flat-only guy and I put Chromes on it and they're perfect. As soon as they lost the initial zing they started feeling like home. I now appreciate the floppiness of the strings and love the Mini to death. It's my go-to for deep vintage tones and basically the only bass I take to jams these days. Can't beat the weight and size.

I totally understand not wanting to put money into an instrument that to you is not worth it. We've all bought instruments we thought we'd love but we ended up not bonding with, at all kinds of price points. The good thing about the Mini is that it's so cheap you can probably afford to keep it around till the day it clicks for you, if ever. You can always pass it on to somebody else.

 

[RodRy]

Yeah, I dunno. Now that New Bassness has long faded, I'm a bit meh.

The critical parts, like the neck and body, are still good. Bridge also seems fine.

Stock tuners were not great. Stock pots are smooth, but mine seems to be wired wrong or something, as anything less than max volume turns off the tone knob. Stock strap buttons are almost useless. Pickups are quiet, but I am still not fond of the tone. The input jack keeps getting loose, which I suspect might not be a problem if I could find my Loc-Tite.

I'm getting a slightly better tone now, but... yeah, my Ibanez 650 still blows it away, even with just the neck pickup soloed.

None of this is outrageous or a deal killer, given the price point. It just means that if I want to use it for playing out, I have to spend more than it cost to fix it up. A decent bass anywhere near as light as the Mini would likely set me back 2-3 large (e.g. Strandberg Boden).

I'm just a little hesitant to pour a bunch of cash into this instrument, rather than just get something that might sound better, and have better components, right off the bat, like the Sire U5 or Nordstrand Acinonyx.

First World Problems are just the worst, amirite?

Dunno. I have an Acinonyx on order. I can let you know what I think when it comes in. As I posted earlier, a pickup upgrade seems like it makes at least Phil happy.
Hope you find bliss!

 

[Bassamatic]

STRING-THROUGH??

Just got mine today after waiting 3 months for it to arrive at my friend's store. I must say I am impressed! It looks good, it feels good and it sounds good, even with clearly very cheap strings it comes with. I will be making my mods over the next few days, including a new pickguard from earpilanz on eBay, and my normal mod of a mute mini-switch near the output jack.

I started to change the strings and to put on a set of short-scale Pressurewounds, and was then reminded that this is NOT 30" but 28.5" scale! Oh -right!

I haven't looked through all 100+ pages of this thread - has anyone talked about drilling holes in the body behind the bridge at 45 degrees and making this STRING-THROUGH? You would get more than an inch and could then use most short-scale strings- at least the rounds. I have intended to do this to one of my miKros and have the ferrules for it. There is actually more room on the miKro.

Comments??

 

[andare]

STRING-THROUGH??

Just got mine today after waiting 3 months for it to arrive at my friend's store. I must say I am impressed! It looks good, it feels good and it sounds good, even with clearly very cheap strings it comes with. I will be making my mods over the next few days, including a new pickguard from earpilanz on eBay, and my normal mod of a mute mini-switch near the output jack.

I started to change the strings and to put on a set of short-scale Pressurewounds, and was then reminded that this is NOT 30" but 28.5" scale! Oh -right!

I haven't looked through all 100+ pages of this thread - has anyone talked about drilling holes in the body behind the bridge at 45 degrees and making this STRING-THROUGH? You would get more than an inch and could then use most short-scale strings- at least the rounds. I have intended to do this to one of my miKros and have the ferrules for it. There is actually more room on the miKro.

Comments??

View attachment 4148507

Do tell us more about your mute switch. I added a phase reversal switch to my Strat just yesterday so I'm on tinkering mode here.

 

[Volker Kirstein]

Do tell us more about your mute switch. I added a phase reversal switch to my Strat just yesterday so I'm on tinkering mode here.

I think what he's describing is a kill switch, which is just a SPST switch on one of the jack or pickup leads. It's a very easy mod.

 

[ClusterFlux]

I haven't looked through all 100+ pages of this thread - has anyone talked about drilling holes in the body behind the bridge at 45 degrees and making this STRING-THROUGH?

I think someone did that already, early in the thread.

 

[DavesnothereCA]

At the price point I'm surprised it works at all ....
....I totally understand not wanting to put money into an instrument that to you is not worth it. We've all bought instruments we thought we'd love but we ended up not bonding with, at all kinds of price points. The good thing about the Mini is that it's so cheap you can probably afford to keep it around till the day it clicks for you, if ever. You can always pass it on to somebody else.

~
I completely agree with that !

For example, an American built Fender Jazz would not do it for me, even if it was FREE, unless I could order it with a few changes from stock.

I like the Jazz body shape, but first it would have to be made from a light weight slab of wood.

Then it would require alternate pickups which individually cancel hum - maybe active as well like EMGs, or with a preamp in the control cavity.

And the neck would need to be that of a P bass, to get the correct nut width for my hands and brain.

Oh, and a Maple fretboard and Hipshot USA Ultralite tuners.

Though if it was free, I could always flip it and get something else.
~

 

[DavesnothereCA]

STRING-THROUGH?? .... ....I started to change the strings and to put on a set of short-scale Pressurewounds, and was then reminded that this is NOT 30" but 28.5" scale! Oh -right! - I haven't looked through all 100+ pages of this thread - has anyone talked about drilling holes in the body behind the bridge at 45 degrees and making this STRING-THROUGH? You would get more than an inch and could then use most short-scale strings- at least the rounds. I have intended to do this to one of my miKros and have the ferrules for it.....

I think someone did that already, early in the thread.

~
You already have the ferrules, so you're half way there.

It would on MY 'short'-list of things to do, if I ever get one of these little beasts.

Possibly find some pics of the MIM Precision Junior for guidance on measurements.
~

 

[macmanlou]

~
I completely agree with that !

For example, an American built Fender Jazz would not do it for me, even if it was FREE, unless I could order it with a few changes from stock.

I like the Jazz body shape, but first it would have to be made from a light weight slab of wood.

Then it would require alternate pickups which individually cancel hum, maybe active as well, like EMGs, or with a preamp in the control cavity.

And the neck would need to be that of a P bass, to get the correct nut width for my hands and brain.

Oh, and a Maple fretboard and Hipshot USA Ultralite tuners.

Though if it was free, I could always flip it and get something else.
~

There's so much interchangeability available between Fender P and Jazz basses, have you considered building your own from parts?