The Squier Mini Precision Bass Club

[Philtastic]

/pedantic alert/But he didn't really alleviate the issue, merely lessened it./pedantic alert/
Carry on.

So there shouldn't be any bit of the actual string touching the post?

 

[DavesnothereCA]

~
I need to add that this mod [a bridge with a longer intonation saddle travel range, and/or moving a bridge Southward along the body a bit], if successful, would also alleviate to some degree, the wrapping of the fully wound part of the E string around the tuner post, which was why we had been discussing it on another earlier occasion or two.

So in reality, there are TWO reasons for a Mini-P bass owner to consider doing it.
~

Indeed, the Hipshot does alleviate the E string wrap issue (for some brands), at least according to this video. This is where I learned about it, before seeing others on this board using it. I'm not sure if it's been posted here before, but I didn't find it in the search.

/pedantic alert/But he didn't really alleviate the issue, merely lessened it./pedantic alert/
Carry on.

~
I said alleviate, not eliminate.

Furthermore, my original comment was "alleviate to some degree", which if we use my understanding of the term 'alleviate' as being synonymous with 'lessen', I was being redundant by adding the other 3 words.

alleviate - Bing
~

 

[Philtastic]

~
I said alleviate, not eliminate.

Furthermore, my original comment was "alleviate to some degree", which if we use my understanding of the term 'alleviate' as being synonymous with 'lessen', I was being redundant by adding the other 3 words.

alleviate - Bing
~

I'm jusk asking if the "proper way" (if there even is such a thing) to string the bass with flats is to not have any of the actual string touching the post.

 

[DavesnothereCA]

So there shouldn't be any bit of the actual string touching the post?

~
In MY version of an OCD perfect world, yes, only the tapered part of the string, whether or not it has silk on it, should touch the post.

I said 'alleviate', instead of 'eliminate', in my earlier remarks, but I would rather eliminate.
~

 

[Philtastic]

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In MY version of an OCD perfect world, yes, only the tapered part of the string, whether or not it has silk on it, should touch the post.

I said 'alleviate', instead of 'eliminate', in my earlier remarks, but I would rather eliminate.
~

Do nylon tapewound strings also have silk ends, or can they be wrapped around the post like regular roundwound strings? They are rounds under the tape, right?

 

[DavesnothereCA]

Do nylon tapewound strings also have silk ends, or can they be wrapped around the post like regular roundwound strings? They are rounds under the tape, right?

~
Personally, I would not wrap the full diameter portion of ANY type of electric bass string around the tuner posts, except possibly in an emergency after having broken a string during a performance, which I do not think has ever happened to me.

And I keep old sets of what I have used around as spares.

The circular logic of not taking such risks may have contributed to my not having had to deal with the consequences of taking them.

It's been a long time since I have dissected a bass string, so long that I do not recall what I saw when I last did, nor remember how many decades ago it was.

I'm not sure what is inside a nylon covered bass string [they might not all share the same internal construction techniques], and given my aversion to installing bass strings in a manner which risks breakage, again you can appreciate that this is why I have so rarely seen inside of one.
~

 

[Frank Vozak]

Hey,I havent posted in awhile,so here goes.Im still waiting for All Parts in Texas to restock the lightweight black clover tuners for my Mini P.The supply chain is all wacko right now.Im keepin the faith though.Dont want to go the Hipshot rout do to cost.Alparts has supplied some high quality cheaper parts,Bridges ,tuners hardware ive used on my bronco for a couple years,and have had no issues.It seems the more expensive guitar companies have gone to 23 to 25 inch scale mini basses.I cant play those well. thats too short for me.The Mini P is perfect weight and size.Im hoping they come out with a maple fret board version like my Bronco.LOL,I will keep buying and moding this bass to my perfection.Im in love with it.I love my Bronco , but the Mini P takes the cake for me,an old school melodic player.I am going to buy another and possibly make it fretless with nylon flatts.Looking for an upright sound.I tried a full scale fretless with flats and it sounded like the bass on alot of Drifters songs from the late 50 s,early 60 s.My dream is to have a moded Mini P for each style of music I play,A fretted and a fretless version,The fretless would keep the original laurel fret board and have DAderrio black nylon flats .The fretted version would have a maple fret board,and black lylon flatts.I will keep you posted om my progress.Thanks P Cake for starting this club Happy New Year To Ya All IN TB LAND

Sounds like you have some really great plans. Nice thing is the Mini P that I have came out of the box just fine. I agree with your analysis of the shorty neck market.

 

[andare]

I don't see what the issue is with the E string wrapping around the post. Rounds won't snap and modern flats like Chromes won't either. I think it's only old school flats like Labellas that might break.
Something to do with round vs hex core.

 

[RodRy]

I don't see what the issue is with the E string wrapping around the post. Rounds won't snap and modern flats like Chromes won't either. I think it's only old school flats like Labellas that might break.
Something to do with round vs hex core.

Yeah, these strings have been on for about 20 years with no trouble. To me, the issue is more visual than functional.

 

[honeydorick]

My Mini P was also fine out of the box,accept for those clanky round wounds were not the sound I was looking for.Black hardware change is just my preferance.Flats,the old school Jamerson sound also just my preference.Il post pics of my projects at some point in time.If my parts ever get here! LOL

 

[J Posega]

I don't see what the issue is with the E string wrapping around the post. Rounds won't snap and modern flats like Chromes won't either. I think it's only old school flats like Labellas that might break.
Something to do with round vs hex core.

The fat winding on the tuning gear may cause tuning instability. The flat ribbon winding of flatwounds may crack.

 

[Big Dumb]

I love my mini p with chromes wrapped around the post! My favorite bass right now and I’ve got a few nice ones…. I too got some Waza bass headphones and man I’ve been danced around inebriated playing bass in the middle of the night like a fool for a week. Playing the mini of course!

 

[andare]

I love my mini p with chromes wrapped around the post! My favorite bass right now and I’ve got a few nice ones…. I too got some Waza bass headphones and man I’ve been danced around inebriated playing bass in the middle of the night like a fool for a week. Playing the mini of course!

Same here. It nails the Laura Lee tone

 

[Frank Vozak]

Same here. It nails the Laura Lee tone

I've owned expensive basses in my bass playing life, both Fender and Gibson , but the best bass that I have owned is a Squire Mini Precision just out of the box with no mods

 

[Smith357]

I picked up a used 2021, how used can it be, Dakota Red Mini P for a song. I know why the previous owner sold it so so cheap and so fast, this thing was in dire need of a setup. It was downright unplayable with a high action, extremely tall nut, raggedy fret ends, and a rough feeling neck that felt like dust got in the final finish. If I had seen this new in a store, I would have ignored it, and mumbled nasties under my breath. Hopefully this one was the exception not the rule.

The neck was straight, and minus the plastic film covers having been removed, it could easily pass for new. The hardware is of fair quality, and very serviceable as is. It's just this one, was not set up at all, I spent and hour on it lowering the bridge about 1/8 inch or more, cutting the nut slots down a 16th, filed and dress the raggedy fret ends, polished up the frets, oiled the board, and sanded the dust specs in the neck finish with 2000 grit paper. Found a set of flatwounds in my used string box, plugged it in, intonated it and , hot damn, I am impressed with this little guy, the neck is as slick as snot on linoleum, it has pretty good tone, and its stupid cute. Overall it is an impressive little instrument, if you spend the time on it. I think I like it!

 

[RodRy]

Same here. It nails the Laura Lee tone

Made me say, "who?" Then a Google search led to NPR's Tiny Desk Concert of Khruangbin. Cool stuff. She plays a creamy SX "Jazz" with flats in that set.

The drummer is so chill. Would love to play with him.

 

[DavesnothereCA]

I don't see what the issue is with the E string wrapping around the post. Rounds won't snap and modern flats like Chromes won't either. I think it's only old school flats like Labellas that might break.
Something to do with round vs hex core.

I love my mini p with chromes wrapped around the post! My favorite bass right now and I’ve got a few nice ones…. I too got some Waza bass headphones and man I’ve been danced around inebriated playing bass in the middle of the night like a fool for a week. Playing the mini of course!

~
Informal Poll : If you could buy the same brand and model of strings for the same price and delivery time, one set which wraps around the post of the E tuner [of ANY bass], and the other which does not, which would you choose ?

I don't know what Jamerson would do, but for me, the choice is obvious.
~

 

[Frank Vozak]

I picked up a used 2021, how used can it be, Dakota Red Mini P for a song. I know why the previous owner sold it so so cheap and so fast, this thing was in dire need of a setup. It was downright unplayable with a high action, extremely tall nut, raggedy fret ends, and a rough feeling neck that felt like dust got in the final finish. If I had seen this new in a store, I would have ignored it, and mumbled nasties under my breath. Hopefully this one was the exception not the rule.

The neck was straight, and minus the plastic film covers having been removed, it could easily pass for new. The hardware is of fair quality, and very serviceable as is. It's just this one, was not set up at all, I spent and hour on it lowering the bridge about 1/8 inch or more, cutting the nut slots down a 16th, filed and dress the raggedy fret ends, polished up the frets, oiled the board, and sanded the dust specs in the neck finish with 2000 grit paper. Found a set of flatwounds in my used string box, plugged it in, intonated it and , hot damn, I am impressed with this little guy, the neck is as slick as snot on linoleum, it has pretty good tone, and its stupid cute. Overall it is an impressive little instrument, if you spend the time on it. I think I like it!

 

[Frank Vozak]

I was lucky my mini came properly prepared. Sadly neither my two prior Squier Basses, a PJ and a Jaguar came well set up and played poorly until I took both to a local luthier for proper set up and both were nice basses that became excess (in my wife's eyes) so had to be sold. In both cases someone got a good value used bass. I think the fit and finish issues undermine the great qualities in design with Squier basses. In another thread I read about a neck defect in a P bass though minor really rubbed the owner the wrong way.

 

[pcake]

I was lucky my mini came properly prepared. Sadly neither my two prior Squier Basses, a PJ and a Jaguar came well set up and played poorly until I took both to a local luthier for proper set up and both were nice basses that became excess (in my wife's eyes) so had to be sold. In both cases someone got a good value used bass. I think the fit and finish issues undermine the great qualities in design with Squier basses. In another thread I read about a neck defect in a P bass though minor really rubbed the owner the wrong way.

you lucked out. my mini needed the most work of any bass i've ever bought, much more than set-up work. luckily my husband loves working on guitars and basses and has lots of experience plus all our spare parts. my jag and my current bronco needed very little work, although my first bronco a few years back - maybe 2011? - needed some work.

not all squiers have bad fit or finish. my squier classic vibes jazz is the only bass i've ever had that needed nothing done at all. the fit and finish are significantly nicer than my MiM mustangs. my husband's CV jazz is also super nice. my bronco is mint - no high frets, scratches or uneven areas. no gaps or gouges. tuners working fine. life is good!