The Squier Mini Precision Bass Club

[MakoMan]

Mine weights 2.8kg. The black one in the video above about the DiMarzio pickups weighs 2.95kg. So mine is maybe lighter than average, or the neck is heavier. How heavy is yours?
When I play sitting down it tilts down to my legs. The strap buttons are where they're supposed to be. I bought it online from another city. Returning it would be a hassle and I don't want to because everything else about this bass is perfect, I got a good one. I guess I'll have to live with it.

Mine weighs almost exactly the same as your, in fact mine might be a hair lighter. Interesting. Maybe it's the angle at which we hold our instruments.

 

[MakoMan]

I've never had a problem with TI flats or Chromes making that angle on strung-through Mustangs or the P-Bass Jr. I've got LaBella flats on my CIJ Mustang, but they are the set that LaBella makes specifically for the strung-through Mustangs.

I use the LaBella flats they make for Gold Tone MicroBasses (MBLS) on my M-Bass25FL. They pass through the bridge at a sharp angle, but they work very well. They've worked on a variety of other 25" scale basses I've put them on, too.

I don't have any experience with roundwounds on strung-through basses, except to say that the stock strings I took off of them worked OK.

I never had an issue either. My point was more that flats on a string-through are bent at a sharper angle than the thick part of the string that goes on a Mini-P tuning post from using Chrome short scale strings.

 

[DavesnothereCA]

....a small bit of the fat part of the string on the tuning post of the E of the Squire Mini P. On my mini the fat part of the string just comes over the top of the tuning post - it does not make a full wrap - so there really is not that sharp of an angle....

I never had an issue either. My point was more that flats on a string-through are bent at a sharper angle than the thick part of the string that goes on a Mini-P tuning post from using Chrome short scale strings.

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Another thing to consider is whether you are trying to wrap only one full diameter extra turn of the E string of a short scale set around the post, or several turns of a long scale E.

The short scale string would be less risky, though I personally would not do either, unless for an emergency string breakage, but then again, I cannot recall ever having had a bass string break during performance.
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That observation fits with what I posted in post 1244, requoted just above.

At least a person should try to buy/use strings manufactured as short scale [rather than long or medium], which as we have noted on other occasions, in most brands have a wrapped/wound length of anywhere from 32 inches even, thru to 32.75 inches.
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[macmanlou]

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That observation fits with what I posted in post 1244, requoted just above.

At least a person should try to buy/use strings manufactured as short scale, which as we have noted on other occasions, have a wrapped/wound length of anywhere from 32 inches even, thru to 32.75 inches, in most brands.
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FWIW, I've seen full scale Chromes with the wrapped portion wrapped around short scale tuning posts 2-3 times with no ill effects.

 

[DavesnothereCA]

Agree with all of the above. I used to have a huge longing for a Fender Precision Junior and came very close to obtaining one a few years ago. Since then they've gone way up in value. I'm absolutely thrilled to get the Squier version. - I think what impresses me most about the Squier Mini P is how solid it feels for such a small bass. The body is smaller than the one on my Jay Turser Mini P and has a shorter, narrower, thinner neck, but the Mini weighs a pound more. We think of the bass as being light, but it's light because it is so small, not because of the wood or components. If you stretched the Mini-P out to a 34" scale and full sized body, it would be a 9 or 10 pound Precision.

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Coincidentally, 9 or 10 pounds is what the vast majority of full scale Precisions [and Jazzes and Rics] weigh.

I did not know of the Precision Junior until recently here, so unlike you, could not covet having one.

And if the Precision Junior has a narrow nut, and I had to choose something at a similar [or higher] price point in a currently produced Fender short scale bass, I'd likely be looking at Mustangs, some of which [are published to] have a 1.625" nut width like a regular scale Precision, though unfortunately not as light weight as a Mini-P, instead often above 8 pounds.
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[DavesnothereCA]

FWIW, I've seen full scale Chromes with the wrapped portion wrapped around short scale tuning posts 2-3 times with no ill effects.

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I was just looking for a middle ground in the debate.

To that same end, let me suggest that larger diameter tuning posts would tolerate doing this better than smaller posts would.

Imagine playing the same game on a Hofner !
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[macmanlou]

To that same end, let me suggest that larger diameter tuning posts would tolerate doing this better than smaller posts would.

Absolutely

 

[SBassman]

Let's do a string round up.

If you changed strings on your bass to something other than stock, what did you use, what gauges, and what did you think about the results - before and after.

Commence.

 

[Aweiss96]

I was all ready to have to shield the cavity but nope, it's quiet. The only real issues for me are: 1) nuts slots too shallow, 2) neck dive and 3) the flatwound string issue.
For 1) I'll buy nut files and be set for life. For 2) I'll try to find Gotoh GB350 tuners. Unfortunately they only seem to come in a 2+2 package. I found singles but they're really expensive, plus shipping from the UK, it ends up being almost as much as I paid for the whole bass For 3) I'll probably risk it and install the 50-105 long scale Chromes.

I'm not sure what exactly you found price wise on the tuners, but when I googled "Gotoh GB350" I did see the sets you mentioned (2+2) and singles. Assuming you are going for chrome, I found them on Stew Mac's website in both sets and singles. 4 of the singles were the same price as the set so conceivably you could get 4 for the single side. I'll include links for you. If you were looking at a different color, I'm guessing the 4 singles would still match the price of the sets.

Singles: Individual Gotoh Compact Bass Tuner | stewmac.com

Set: Gotoh Compact Bass Tuner, 2L+2R Set | stewmac.com

 

[SBassman]

Also consider Gotoh GB707 compacts. That's what I used. Compact, light, and a nice unique look.

 

[andare]

I'm not sure what exactly you found price wise on the tuners, but when I googled "Gotoh GB350" I did see the sets you mentioned (2+2) and singles. Assuming you are going for chrome, I found them on Stew Mac's website in both sets and singles. 4 of the singles were the same price as the set so conceivably you could get 4 for the single side. I'll include links for you. If you were looking at a different color, I'm guessing the 4 singles would still match the price of the sets.

Singles: Individual Gotoh Compact Bass Tuner | stewmac.com

Set: Gotoh Compact Bass Tuner, 2L+2R Set | stewmac.com

I'm in Europe so no US stores. The only singles I found in Europe cost 25 Euros each, while the 2R+2L set (useless) is around 80 Euros.

 

[andare]

Also consider Gotoh GB707 compacts. That's what I used. Compact, light, and a nice unique look.

The only reason I'm considering changing the tuners is to alleviate the neck dive so I'm interested in the lighter GB350. The GB707s are available and more affordable but I don't know how much lighter they are than the stock tuners.

 

[Aweiss96]

I'm in Europe so no US stores. The only singles I found in Europe cost 25 Euros each, while the 2R+2L set (useless) is around 80 Euros.

Ah okay, that makes more sense.

 

[Bassylocks]

I used Krylon fusion in “satin black” on my Squier affinity p project in June 2017. That is my most used bass and it’s held up really well. It will scratch or rub off if abused enough, but unless you are sloppy with a pick, you should probably be ok. The one spot that wore through on my pick guard is where my thumb rests on top of the pickup.
As far as application goes, I found that light coats, allowed to dry for 24 hours between them ( 3 coats in all) seemed to keep the paint from streaking or clumping. I allowed it to dry for about a week before I put it back on the bass. It seemed to remain tacky for quite a while, but eventually hardened nicely.

 

[Bassylocks]

As for strings, I used GHS precision flats and cut them all off to fit. Just noticed that they were a 38” wind set ( all they had at the local shop)!
So far, so good and it’s been 2 months

 

[Volker Kirstein]

Let's do a string round up.

If you changed strings on your bass to something other than stock, what did you use, what gauges, and what did you think about the results - before and after.

Commence.

I used Ibanez Mikro strings, which fit perfectly, except for the G, which was cut too short. For the G, I used a Stagg full size .045 nickel roundwound cut to length. This balances well with the Mikro strings.

Note that Ibanez Mikro strings are NOT the same strings that come stock on a Mikro!

 

[GrahamNN3]

I used Ibanez Mikro strings, which fit perfectly, except for the G, which was cut too short. For the G, I used a Stagg full size .045 nickel roundwound cut to length. This balances well with the Mikro strings.

View attachment 4037595
Note that Ibanez Mikro strings are NOT the same strings that come stock on a Mikro!

Custom / Bespoke - Pyramid Black Nylon tapewound strings. I have no idea what the gauge is - their what Max Junger (Director Pyramid) recommended.

They sound better than the D’Addario ETB92S (tapes) I have on my Fender Mustang, in fact I have now bought a set of Pyramid tapewound strings for my Mustang.

I also have a set of
Custom / Bespoke - Pyramid Chrome-Nickel Flatwound Strings .045 .065 .085 .105 - which I’ve not tried yet.

 

[Bassylocks]

As for strings, I used GHS precision flats and cut them all off to fit. Just noticed that they were a 38” wind set ( all they had at the local shop)!
So far, so good and it’s been 2 months

BTW: the ghs flats were 45 - 105. The extra girth seems to really help with the floppiness of the short scale. The only short scale strings in this series were 40 - 100

 

[Diver]

Yes I should have said "make a J bass sound CLOSE to a P". It's not the same at all and it's why I bought the Mini. I can't stand the J bass sound with both pickups on and the isolated neck pickup was close, but no cigar, plus hum.

Ha, on my end, I am usually using both at 100% for slap or when I play with a pick, something I love about that sound. Fingerstyle usually sees more tone rolled off and more bridge pickup in the mix. These are my two funk bass P/U configurations.

 

[DavesnothereCA]

BTW: the ghs flats were 45 - 105.

The extra girth seems to really help with the floppiness of the short scale.

The only short scale strings in this series were 40 - 100

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Again, let me reiterate my lament that it's a crying shame that short scale bassists in general have to tolerate the lack of respect/choice from most string makers, regarding what little they offer us for our basses, and I'm talking about strings for ANY short scale bass [and for medium scale as well].

What you did to get your result is clear evidence of that situation, because obviously you would rather have just gone and bought proper length heavier gauge strings for any of your short scale basses, as would I and many other people.

Of course there are some folks who just use whatever they are offered, and/or who do not [yet] know the difference.

And there are a few who actually prefer 'floppy' strings on a short scale bass.

I suspect that this last group would also choose extra light strings if they played a long scale bass.

All that I would like to see is more choice, without looking around for who will do a special order.

In that regard, LaBella is pretty decent.
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