Fender is in a weird position there. People complain that they only make variations on a theme, but then scream blue murder if they make anything other than a FSO.
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The Squier Mini Precision Bass Club
- Thread starter sabre79
- Start date
I don’t think the big manufacturers are Exactly flush with new ideas these days. They are all snoozetastic.
I feel as though Fender does innovate on their Squier instruments but do what they have always done with their J Bass, P Bass, and Mustang. They must be risk averse to change to change their regular bass lineup even if it would produce a better bass. I have written them numerous times about my past experience with a factory new '67 Must5ang Bass that always sounded anemic so I bought a Gibson 67 EB-O. A Mustang Bass would be so cool with Fender-grade Precision pickups, forget the J of the P/J lineup Fender seems so fixated on with the Mustang Bass. Just hearing how good a Squier Mini sounds with Squier Precision pickups should get them to see that there is a Market for a Mustang Bass with only a set of Precision pickups
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Yes, and while they are at it, along with what you said, include a Maple fretboard on the neck, and the 1.625" nut width that only a few of the more expensive American Mustangs seem to have [from what I have read while recently comparing various short scale basses].
Body colour could be a simple unstained natural woodgrain, nothing more fancy.
Mustang models currently are such a mish-mash of variances !
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Mini CV Project
I know it's been a while, so here's the latest. New, CV style gold foil decal made by Atexxmusic.com was applied. Paint was all stripped off, sanded, sand sealed, amber base coat and sunbursted with lacquer. Now just building up the final top coats...
I know it's been a while, so here's the latest. New, CV style gold foil decal made by Atexxmusic.com was applied. Paint was all stripped off, sanded, sand sealed, amber base coat and sunbursted with lacquer. Now just building up the final top coats...
wow, you madman! that looks really cool, though I think each step looks cool!
What pickguard color are you going with?
Agreed. Though some MIM modest
Volker you have a good point. But wouldn't nice if main MIM and MIA could do both. I mean look at what Squier achieved with the Precision Mini
So I ordered some graphite nuts from mojotone. 1-1/2''x 1/8''. Those numbers sound right, yes?
So, if you have had the nut off: would you recommend I hit it a bit with a hot air gun first, or, just try to tap it out?
So, if you have had the nut off: would you recommend I hit it a bit with a hot air gun first, or, just try to tap it out?
I tried to take off the nut when I changed my strings, but it was pretty solid, so I didn't.
I've heard rumour that the nuts are variable. Some pop right out, others need to be forced. I'd recommend trying to tap it out first, then use the heat gun only if that doesn't work.
Are you changing the nut because of new strings, nut buzz, or because you think it will effect the sound?
Two things to remember about nuts:
- There is very little evidence that nut material makes any difference to your sound. Most of the anecdotal evidence comes from folks changing the nut along with their strings.
- Assuming that nut material does make a difference, this difference would only apply to open string notes. The nut makes no difference at all to a fretted note.
It's nothing I Have to do. I'm just a guy who needs to leave his mark on his bass.
No nut buzz or new strings on the horizon. For me, I do this stuff for two reasons: seeking best action at the nut, and, tuning ease. A graphite nut will perform better during tuning than anything else. Plus, with a drop in replacement, I can go for it with optimizing the action at the nut, and worst case scenario, I mess up, I swap the stock one back in, and I'm back in action.
I was going to make a bone nut for it, but decided to just use the stock one.
Here’s my mini. I’ve had it for a little while now but just did a few mods tonight. Brass saddle bridge, Seymour Duncan SPB-2, and new custom length strings from Newtone. I think it’s a pretty big improvement so far. Especially since the E string on the factory strings had a weird chorus type effect that I couldn’t get rid of. I assumed it was twisted as it definitely wasn’t too close to the pickup but straightening the string out didn’t help.
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And the SD pickups didn't help the E string's character either, correct ?
What gauges of strings did you custom order ?
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Swapped the strings and pickups at the same time so I couldn’t say for sure which one fixed it. But since it was just the E I’m assuming it was the strings.
For gauges I went with .102, .82, .62, .42 with a 30” winding length.
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I think it was the strings too.
Based upon what we have learned about the specs of the Mini-P, they ship with a regular short scale .040 thru .095 set, which has too long of a winding for it, as well as being very light.
You chose somewhat heavier, and my feeling is that this was most of the fix, and proper wrap length could not hurt either.
I suspect that what was first on your bass was the Fender '5250' set, which is also what Sweetwater says is on the Squier Bronco bass, where at least the winding length is correct.
The one time that I tried a Squier Bronco [with AFAIK the factory strings still on it], I could not get it to tune properly, and among other reasons, the E had a strange warbley character to its sound, which might have been the same issue which you were experiencing.
I summarily gave up on and resold it, but in hindsight, I prob'ly ought to have first tried some other strings, and have done a full setup, as it needed SOMETHING.
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Thanks to @xboxdude , I have a Gotoh 201B-4 Bridge and GB350 Tuners on the way. Cosmo Black.
I can’t leave anything alone.
I can’t leave anything alone.
Why haven't you signed up as a member of the Squier Precision Mini Club? With the beautiful work on yours you are certainly a committed MINI Musician. How does one order a set of Mini strings just like yours from Newtone?
