The Squier Mini Precision Bass Club

[lowplaces]

A modest contribution by yours truly:

Squier Mini P (28.6" scale) strings: a roundwound option + a LaBella flat alternative (Pyramid Gold)​

The gist of it is
- there is a Pyramid Gold set, originally made for the smallest fractional double-bass size, that should fit like a glove on the Squier Mini Precision
[how it sounds I wouldn't know (haven't tried it yet), but I would imagine, based on the discussion in this thread, deeper but less defined than the La Bellas]
- as I long suspected, only to be just-recently vindicated, the largest four strings from the Ernie Bass 9-string electric guitar set (#2628, 9-String Slinky) are also the right length (small ball-ends, so they may require an additional stopper of some kind at the bridge).


Plus, I remember @pcake mentioning how the Ibanez-branded coated roundwound set for the MiKro bass (IEBS4CMK) was unusually short, which makes me think it may fit just fine on the Mini P.


Beyond these, and as far as I know, there's only either conventionally short-scale sets (and winding some low E at full thickness on the post), or going custom (Newtone Strings or the aforementioned Pyramid).

Thanks,
My current Mini had rounds on it with a bit of the full thickness on the E post when I bought it. Might have been D'addario because the ball ends were color coded.

I assume it's less of an issue with rounds.

I may just make life easier and get a 30" scale bass. I really want to try TI rounds but their short scale set has a longer wind length than other brands.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Thanks,
My current Mini had rounds on it with a bit of the full thickness on the E post when I bought it. Might have been D'addario because the ball ends were color coded.

I assume it's less of an issue with rounds.

It sure is (less of an issue, I mean). To re-quote myself (2nd part of the post) :
https://www.talkbass.com/posts/28634628/
In your case, tensions involved are even lower.

 

[honeydorick]

I have DAderio nylon tapes on both my Mini Ps and never have an issue with the low E Being slightly wound on the post.I defretted both of them .Love Fretless mini p.it’s one of a kind.I’ll never go back to fretted,tinny metal sound again.I’m not a pro giger.though that might make an issue difference with tuning or intonation.I don’t know.Just saying they work well for me.

 

[Gabu]

Does anyone have a list of strings that fit the Mini other than the Labella flats set ?

Any other flats set or rounds ?

Would most lighter gauge short scale rounds sets work ?

I'm going to get a second Mini and want to try something other than the Labella flats set I have on my other one.

I am currently using Rotosound rs77s flats on one of my Mini-Ps. They sound good.

 

[woolgar]

Okay this is a huge thread, and im trying to get thru it. But new user etc ive just gotten a Mini P bass and would like to tune down half step and be able to "drop D" in that half step down.

Im thinking i can get a set of ibanez 5 string mikro bass strings https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...p0dLWh_la_9iTh1wTZ8G-eFIM_2zXunyejShPzqIWYZXI and just throw out the skinniest string. You guys think thatll be too much tension or it should be cool?

 

[woolgar]

I have DAderio nylon tapes on both my Mini Ps and never have an issue with the low E Being slightly wound on the post.I defretted both of them .Love Fretless mini p.it’s one of a kind.I’ll never go back to fretted,tinny metal sound again.I’m not a pro giger.though that might make an issue difference with tuning or intonation.I don’t know.Just saying they work well for me.

I would love to hear the fretless mini with Tapes

 

[HaphAsSard]

would like to tune down half step

OK. So E♭-A♭-D♭-G♭

and be able to "drop D" in that half step down.

Uuuhhh...unclear. Would the tuning, in "drop" configuration, be D(♮)-A♭-D♭-G♭, or D♭-A♭-D♭-G♭ ?
Anyway.

You guys think thatll be too much tension or it should be cool?

It should be cool. If you took a long-scale bass strung BEAD with those gauges (.065/.085/.105/.130) and capoed it at the 3rd fret (which happens to be at 28.6" from the bridge, just like the nut is on the Mini P), your new "open" strings would be DGCF.
What you envision doing is, in effect, tuning just a semitone up from that: a 12.296% increase in overall tension, which is nothing dramatic (both in and of itself, and considering that the Mini P's neck, even though it has a narrow nut, is shorter, ergo sturdier than "normal").

Now, that Ibanez Mikro 5-string set (IEBS5CMK) might be built to have inherently more tension than a conventional long-scale set wound shorter: however, even if it were, I doubt they could have eked out more than a couple extra pounds per string. And, to be honest, I just doubt it is the case at all.

 

[woolgar]

OK. So E♭-A♭-D♭-G♭

Uuuhhh...unclear. Would the tuning, in "drop" configuration, be D(♮)-A♭-D♭-G♭, or D♭-A♭-D♭-G♭ ?
Anyway.

It should be cool. If you took a long-scale bass strung BEAD with those gauges (.065/.085/.105/.130) and capoed it at the 3rd fret (which happens to be at 28.6" from the bridge, just like the nut is on the Mini P), your new "open" strings would be DGCF.
What you envision doing is, in effect, tuning just a semitone up from that: a 12.296% increase in overall tension, which is nothing dramatic (both in and of itself, and considering that the Mini P's neck, even though it has a narrow nut, is shorter, ergo sturdier than "normal").

Now, that Ibanez Mikro 5-string set (IEBS5CMK) might be built to have inherently more tension than a conventional long-scale set wound shorter: however, even if it were, I doubt they could have eked out more than a couple extra pounds per string. And, to be honest, I just doubt it is the case at all.

Yeah, so it would be E Flat, A Flat, D Flat, G flat, then drop the E Flat to D flat. (D♭-A♭-D♭-G♭) I play guitar in this tuning and would like the bass to match playing positions.

 

[TK4261]

Some of you might remember my modded Mini P that I had put together a couple of years ago and had my friend/guitar tech Jim Poisson from Advanced Guitar in Las Vegas do the setup on it for me. Jim was also working on making me a one piece solid Mahogany body for it that we were going to complete in a nice natural oil finish last year.. Sadly, Jim passed away last October 2023 and he was never able to finish that project. I also did not receive my Mini P back that was essentially in parts because Jim sacrificed the original body to start on the Mahogany body. His remaining family that handled his estate were very difficult to contact and they did not recover what was left of my Mini P. He was very close to completing the project when he passed. Very sad.

Almost a year later and I decided to pickup another Black Mini P from Sweetwater and Mod it similar to what I had done to my original one. I still have a plain maple pickguard left over that I held onto in case I was to ever build a new one. I will add the same Hipshot tuners & bridge and I think I am going to go with a Dimarzio Model P pickup with cream covers this time. Looking forward to getting started on this new Mini P that should be here in a few days.

 

[magic_man]

I know it’s a little bit of work, but couldn’t you put a string through bridge on these and then be able to use any standard short scale string?

 

[TK4261]

I received my new Mini P from Sweetwater a couple of days ago and it seems that I got a good one. Neck was straight and fretboard is fairly dark as I was hoping for. As I took it apart I noticed that all the screws were screwed in straight. My old Mini P factory pickguard screws had some that were different sizes and some screwed in very crooked. QC seems to have gotten much better on these Mini's. I started working on addeing some Luminlay blue glow side dots to the neck and I just added my rub-on logo this morning and will start adding coats of Tru-Oil to the front of the headstock to seal it up.

I received my Dimarzio model P pickup also and I had these Rosewood knobs that were meant for my old mini P but I think they will look nice on this project along with this Maple pickguard.

 

[TK4261]

Thought I would share some more of my mini P project progress from today. I have wanted to try this Monty's instrument relic wax for a while and figured this was my chance since the Laurel fretboard is not quite dark enough and from the reviews out there of this product, it seems to work good on Laurel wood and turns it darker with more brown/red to it. Fingers crossed...
They say for best results to leave it on the fretboard for 48 hours. We shall see....I took this before pic of the cleaned fretboard to compare with after I wipe it off Sunday night.

I also made this little wiring harness template out of some clear plastic I had laying around. I had some 250k Bourns pots with solid shafts that are nice and smooth, a PureTone jack and a SoZo .047 capacitor.

 

[Ottertail]

Those pots should be a nice upgrade. The stock ones on my son’s mini are pretty poor.

 

[TK4261]

Sharing some more progress pics of my mini P project from over the weekend. I waited 48 hours and wiped off all the relic wax and it does looks a bit darker. I think it is more noticeable in person though. It did make the nut look a little aged. I also shielded the body & pickguard and wired up the electronic harness.

Before relic wax:

After relic wax:

 

[TK4261]

Almost done with the new mini project. Just need to attend to a few fret ends then polish them and string it up/add string retainer and adjust.

 

[Samster]

I registered an account to say thank you to this group. I made my purchase decision based upon the many posts here praising the mini p.
I've been a closet bass player since junior high (now retired).
I have an Epiphone acoustic spoonback bass guitar that is probably thirty five years old (sounds hollow played acoustic, and worse plugged in)
I bought the mini p as I wanted something inexpensive, but that would sound 'not cheap'.
Initially I played acoustic in school added electric for jazz band.
I'm quite thankful to find this forum, there is a lot of experience here. Thanks for helping me spend my money!

 

[Rsteady]

Friends, I had my mini P zipped up in a gig bag for a few months, (I know, sad right). I just pulled her out. This time, all the strings went a little flat, but not the G. It was spot on, and ready to go! Always impressed with the mini P.

I came across a Reddit where some one called these little toys meant for children. Oooo.. them fightin words hu? Cheeres! Rock on!

 

[elderdawg]

NBD

Was yesterday's arrival. Today I took the pic, after I dressed it up a bit.

 

[Samster]

My mini arrives tomorrow, I'm on page 162 of this thread, will I be up to date in time? Tune in tomorrow to find out

 

[Samster]

My mini arrives tomorrow, I'm on page 162 of this thread, will I be up to date in time? Tune in tomorrow to find out

Just made it. My red bass arrives today. I have to say 237 pages in a week is quite a slog. But it's like reading a novel. I've heard from so many people. TK, i am sorry about your original mini. When you posted about your friend passing during the build, I felt for you. I also was surprised that the guy who created that beautiful sunburst sold it. I'm so glad his wife is doing better. And I saw Pcat around earlier this year so I'd like to request a number 33 1/3 if available! Thank you all for taking up my time and sharing your experiences.