Thank you Sub41! I posted all the mods somewhere on this thread a ways back. The only thing original on it is the bare body and neck. Nordstrand power blade pickup with Hipshot hardware plus various other mods. Still love this little Bass
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The Squier Mini Precision Bass Club
- Thread starter sabre79
- Start date
I already did as I posted photos in this chat a while ago of my now-fretless 2022 Squier Mini P-Bass. I'll be happy to post another one. I initially had flat wound strings after the modifications. But I was able to eventually use pressure wound strings for this bass from GHS. I wanted some bright tones you'd hear on regular rounds without damaging the fingerboard.
Attachments
it looks very nice.Im looking for upright bass sound .gonna try tape wounds,ill let everyone know what happened
I have been gone a while. Somebody help me catch up. Have there been any other tweaks or Mini models from Squier?
Got some D'Addario Tapes mounted to the Mini. Made a string extender for the E from a brass rod.
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I would probably put the G string too through an identical one, purely for visual symmetry, but, other than that, good thinking and execution.Got some D'Addario Tapes mounted to the Mini. Made a string extender for the E from a brass rod.
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Got some D'Addario Tapes mounted to the Mini. Made a string extender for the E from a brass rod.
Excellent.
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I took the bass to a local music store as their guitar's tech did a fretless conversion for the neck, and the bridge replacement. He pulled the frets out and used binding veneers to fill the slots. I did the re-string using GHS pressure wound short scale strings. As months went by, I made a couple adjustments for maintenence.
Well, it's been quite a journey, but here is where i'm at with my beloved mini p
Strings
I have spent more money on trying out different string sets than the bass cost. I was desperate to find a good set of flats that would work, i even tried a custom made set of flats from pyramid strings here in Germany. But in the end i could not find a set that did not either have intonation problems (mainly on the E string) or have a few dead spots or even a dead string despite having a good nut and bridge.
In the end, on a whim, i tried a set of GHS brite flats and boy did they deliver. They dont feel quite as nice a true flats, but they intonate perfectly and ring out beautifully. The E wound well originally, but after taking them off a couple times to try out other sets the end of it broke a bit, but it wound again eventually and still plays well. I'll replace it soon i think.
Nut
I took off the original and stuck a jazz bass TUSQ replacement. It doesn't fit perfectly, it's a couple mm too wide, but you can hardly notice it and it made a big difference to the sound and intonation, i highly recommend it.
Electronics
I took out all the original wiring and replaced it with this set. I was worried that the pots would be too big, but they fit with only a mm to spare! Did it make a difference to the sound, i have no idea
But they look cool and give me piece of mind, and what more could you ask for.Pickups
I went for [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. They sound great, much better than the stock ones that came with it for sure.
Bridge
I swapped out the original bridge for this one because it has those nice ridges on the string holders that mean i could bring the G string in a bit. I found that with the original bridge the G would occasionally pop off the fretboard if i wasn't careful when going for it.
Tuners
I got Invalid Link Removed on recommendation, and they are just fine. Nothing to write home about but they are better than the stock ones and the bass balances perfectly.
I also added one of these string retainers to the A string because the break angle on the nut was not quite good enough and the A was sounding a little floaty. With the retainer its perfect.
Finish
A friend of mine paints aeroplanes and makes a little on the side painting random things for his friends. He did a great job and pulled off this lovely British racing green with very subtle sparkle. Its hard to see in the photos but up close it's deep and expencive looking
I tried to tint the headstock to look more vintage, but it didnt really work. I did have the original finish taken off and replaced with gloss because i prefer gloss for some strange reason
Pickguard
I got the pickguard from [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] Right now i'm not 100% sold on the see through one. I have a sheet of parchment that i might use instead for a more classic look, but i am torn on that decision because i like to see those big pots and congratulate myself on the clean wiring job i accidentally did
Summary
I mainly use this bass at home to practice and fiddle on and would probably not gig or record with it because i have a vintage full size p that is probably the best sounding bass in the world as well as other basses, but i still love it to bits and have used it at jam sessions. More importantly my kids can play it
This was a super fun project and i'm still going to try and make a proper set of flats work somehow, probably with the help of a professional.
Thanks for listening!
Attachments
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I can't imagine the new nut made any difference to the sound other than on open strings. Anyway you should file it flush with the neck.View attachment 4907234
View attachment 4907237
Well, it's been quite a journey, but here is where i'm at with my beloved mini p
Strings
I have spent more money on trying out different string sets than the bass cost. I was desperate to find a good set of flats that would work, i even tried a custom made set of flats from pyramid strings here in Germany. But in the end i could not find a set that did not either have intonation problems (mainly on the E string) or have a few dead spots or even a dead string despite having a good nut and bridge.
In the end, on a whim, i tried a set of GHS brite flats and boy did they deliver. They dont feel quite as nice a true flats, but they intonate perfectly and ring out beautifully. The E wound well originally, but after taking them off a couple times to try out other sets the end of it broke a bit, but it wound again eventually and still plays well. I'll replace it soon i think.
Nut
I took off the original and stuck a jazz bass TUSQ replacement. It doesn't fit perfectly, it's a couple mm too wide, but you can hardly notice it and it made a big difference to the sound and intonation, i highly recommend it.
Electronics
I took out all the original wiring and replaced it with this set. I was worried that the pots would be too big, but they fit with only a mm to spare! Did it make a difference to the sound, i have no idea
Pickups
I went for [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. They sound great, much better than the stock ones that came with it for sure.
Bridge
I swapped out the original bridge for this one because it has those nice ridges on the string holders that mean i could bring the G string in a bit. I found that with the original bridge the G would occasionally pop off the fretboard if i wasn't careful when going for it.
Tuners
I got Invalid Link Removed on recommendation, and they are just fine. Nothing to write home about but they are better than the stock ones and the bass balances perfectly.
I also added one of these string retainers to the A string because the break angle on the nut was not quite good enough and the A was sounding a little floaty. With the retainer its perfect.
Finish
A friend of mine paints aeroplanes and makes a little on the side painting random things for his friends. He did a great job and pulled off this lovely British racing green with very subtle sparkle. Its hard to see in the photos but up close it's deep and expencive looking
I tried to tint the headstock to look more vintage, but it didnt really work. I did have the original finish taken off and replaced with gloss because i prefer gloss for some strange reason
Pickguard
I got the pickguard from [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] Right now i'm not 100% sold on the see through one. I have a sheet of parchment that i might use instead for a more classic look, but i am torn on that decision because i like to see those big pots and congratulate myself on the clean wiring job i accidentally did
Summary
I mainly use this bass at home to practice and fiddle on and would probably not gig or record with it because i have a vintage full size p that is probably the best sounding bass in the world as well as other basses, but i still love it to bits and have used it at jam sessions. More importantly my kids can play it
This was a super fun project and i'm still going to try and make a proper set of flats work somehow, probably with the help of a professional.
Thanks for listening!
Have you measured the pots and capacitor? Caps always have a large tolerance but I vwas surprised at how much off CTS pots are. The lower the value the darker the bass will sound.
Hello all. I am thinkin about pickin up a Squier Precision Mini Bass and throwin in the Dimarzio Split P pickup... Anyone know if it fits? Any thoughts or ideas or experiences you wanna share with me regarding this bass and modding the pickups feel free to chime in.. I think i will get one after xmas.. Let me know what you guys think of the bass and whatever else... Thanks !
As far as I've read, the DiMarzio Split P benefits from having its halves connected in parallel, being a smidgen too muddy in series (the latter is standard wiring for Tetris-block pickups, but then again 999.99‰ those don't have fully-functioning humbuckers as halves) for most players: I would expect this to hold all the more true on a sub-short scale platform.
Good to know.. Thanks for the info... As far as the Squier Mini bridge do you think its fine to gig and record with or would you or anyone recommend modding the bridge?? i probably wont slap pop too much on it.. More of a melody bass player to go with the song or power low notes for powerful rumble. Let me know how stable and reliable the bridge is and if it will stay in tune then I would just keep the stock bridge... Let me know all your opinions people if you have a moment and thanks.. Cheers!
The hardware is very solid on mine. I'd replace the jack with a sturdier one for gigging, if that.
Same here, mine seem more than adequate, hardly worth the cost of upgrading ( which IMO would also kind of defeat the purpose of buying a $149 bass, LOL!)
That's definitely your opinion. There's a huge void that only the Squier Mini is filling; a 28" scale Fender style bass. You'd have to hold out and pray that a Fender Precision Jr. comes along for sale, and that's going to cost you upwards of $800. So, for just a couple hundred dollars (new bridge, new tuners, new pickup and electronics, new strings, professionals setup if you can't do it yourself), you still end up with a cheaper instrument than the rare Jr. I can't think of any other companies offering a bass with the same features as the Mini or Jr.
I agree. As a 50 year guitar player, I've always kept a short scale bass for occasional studio situations. At 28" scale this squire feels comfortable, almost the same as playing one of my Strats. It even fits in a Strat/Telly moulded case. As for upgrades to a $175 bass, I've replaced everything but the frets & the nut, and I'm only in about $600.
Mine now has mini-Grovers, American Electronics, a Seymour Quarter Pounder, a TonePro 3Tree & Kickass Bridge, Roto Jazz 77 Flatwounds (and a new decal & pickguard). After some Pro TLC, it plays, sounds, and records great. You'd be hard pressed to find a new Bass for $600 with the same features, much less in this super-short scale.
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I bought the Squier Red one for my daughter on her last birthday and she loves it....I do sneak it
from time to time cause it is a lot of fun to play.
from time to time cause it is a lot of fun to play.
