The Squier Mini Precision Bass Club

[macmanlou]

I guess Labella strings for Mustangs fit it perfectly.

Nope. The Mustang set is for 30" scale. Regular short scale Chromes do work fine on the Fender P-Bass Jr. The E string does wrap about 1/4 turn on the peg, but it was never an issue on mine. The P-Bass JR's stock strings are Fender 5250 roundwounds.

 

[DavesnothereCA]

Yep, that's the Mini's very rare dad. Probably a much better bass since it was made in Mexico and it cost as much as full size basses back then. It has a rosewood fretboard and an alder body. The pickup is probably the same one they mounted on the Standards back then. The tuners seem akin to that of the Mini. String through body means short scale strings will fit better but I still see the E doing a 1/4 turn on the peg. I guess Labella strings for Mustangs fit it perfectly. Vulfpeck's Jack Stratton has one with Labella's that Joe Dart uses in a bunch of their videos.

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You must mean the special LaBellas for the 'string-through' Mustangs, as I understand that not all Mustangs are that way. - MORE COMMENTS ABOUT THOSE STRINGS IN MY NEXT POST.

Yes, I noticed those while looking for strings for my Hofner Ignition Club bass, but after measuring the bass, I chose short scale [32.25"] Labella LT Flats instead, which turns out fit it correctly.

Now the ask for the bass in Toronto is $750 Canadian [about $573 US], and I do not want it anyway, due to narrow nut width, but is that a reasonable price ?
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[DavesnothereCA]

....I guess Labella strings for Mustangs fit it perfectly....

Nope. The Mustang set is for 30" scale [but with a 34" wrap length and an unwrapped tail for the string-through short scale LaBellas]. Regular short scale Chromes do work fine on the Fender P-Bass Jr. The E string does wrap about 1/4 turn on the peg, but it was never an issue on mine. The P-Bass JR's stock strings are Fender 5250 roundwounds.

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As per my last post, there are special LaBella strings intended for SOME Mustang [and other short scale] basses which have string-through bodies.

I have not seen these Mustangs in person, but they must exist, if LaBella makes a specific string which fits them.

They are said to have a 34" wrap length, minus a 1.75" tapered to unwrapped portion next to the ball.

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It would seem that the 'MUS' in the name could stand for Mustang, but Labella does not mention the bass by name.

EDIT :

Having said all of this, I agree with you that those strings would NOT fit the [28.6" scale] Fender P-Bass Junior properly, because the 34" wrap would be too long at the tuners, even though the tapered 'tail' next to the balls would be desirable because of the string-through factor.
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[macmanlou]

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As in my last post, there are special LaBellas for SOME Mustangs and other short scale basses which have string-through bodies.

They have a 34" wrap minus a 1.75" unwrapped portion at the ball.

I have not seen these basses in person, but they must exist, if LaBella makes a specific string for them.

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It would seem that the 'MUS' in the name could stand for Mustang, but Labella does not mention the bass by name.
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The Fender "Player" Mustang is not string-through. As far as I know, all others (including the Squiers) are string-through.

I have the 760F-MUS strings on my CIJ Mustang. They fit perfectly and play very well.

 

[macmanlou]

Now the ask for the bass in Toronto is $750 Canadian [about $573 US], and I do not want it anyway, due to narrow nut width, but is that a reasonable price ?

I have seen them sell for more. I bought mine new when they came out, and they were the same price as a full-size MIM Fender P at the time.

 

[DavesnothereCA]

The Fender "Player" Mustang is not string-through. As far as I know, all others (including the Squiers) are string-through.

I have the 760F-MUS strings on my CIJ Mustang. They fit perfectly and play very well.

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Good to know.

Also SOME Mustangs are published to have a 1.5" nut width [like a jazz], and others 1.625" [like a P].

This came to light when I was looking at other Fender short scale basses after learning that the Squier Mini-P is 1.5", contrary to what Fender first published about them.

- - -

BTW, I updated my last two posts to be more clear and include more info.
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[DavesnothereCA]

Yep, that's the Mini's very rare dad. Probably a much better bass since it was made in Mexico and it cost as much as full size basses back then. It has a rosewood fretboard and an alder body. The pickup is probably the same one they mounted on the Standards back then. The tuners seem akin to that of the Mini. String through body means short scale strings will fit better, but I still see the E doing a 1/4 turn on the peg....

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Some regular short scale strings will fit the P-Bass Junior better at the tuners than others.

For example, D'Addario, with 32" of wrapped length, will be closer to OK than LaBella with 32.25", GHS with 32.75", or DR with 33.5" or 33.75".

Then there is the question of possible string breakage behind the bridge.

LaBella says not to take the chance, and in some cases [one of which we have mentioned] offers specific strings for string-through-body basses, another being a long scale version.
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[macmanlou]

Then there is the question of possible string breakage behind the bridge.

I've had good luck with Chromes on string-through Mustangs and the P-Bass Jr.

LaBella says not to take the chance, and in some cases [one of which we have mentioned] offers specific strings for string-through-body basses, another being a long scale version.

FWIW - I've put standard LaBella flats on a couple of Traveler basses, where the wound part has to make a 180 degree turn before it reaches the tuners, with no problem. That's probably because the string goes around a roller, instead of the sharp turn that strung-through strings make at the bridge

 

[andare]

I have seen them sell for more. I bought mine new when they came out, and they were the same price as a full-size MIM Fender P at the time.

How much better is the Precision Jr than the Mini Precision?

 

[andare]

Nope. The Mustang set is for 30" scale. Regular short scale Chromes do work fine on the Fender P-Bass Jr. The E string does wrap about 1/4 turn on the peg, but it was never an issue on mine. The P-Bass JR's stock strings are Fender 5250 roundwounds.

I stand corrected!

 

[StudioGC]

Love this little bass. All stock, haven't even bothered to intonate it (might not need it!) Just right off the rack, tuned up and practicing tunes with the VOX jack amp and head phones.

One of the easiest to play basses I've owned. A little bit of neck dive, which makes me wonder about mating the neck to a blank mustang body? Any thoughts on the neck pocket? I presume it's of regular Fender dimensions?

 

[macmanlou]

How much better is the Precision Jr than the Mini Precision?

I don't have a Mini. The P-Bass Jr can use a much wider variety of stock short-scale strings, especially flatwounds. The Mini has a tone pot.

 

[DavesnothereCA]

Love this little bass. All stock, haven't even bothered to intonate it (might not need it!) Just right off the rack, tuned up and practicing tunes with the VOX jack amp and head phones.

One of the easiest to play basses I've owned. A little bit of neck dive, which makes me wonder about mating the neck to a blank mustang body? Any thoughts on the neck pocket? I presume it's of regular Fender dimensions?

View attachment 4061616

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Before everyone goes off half-cocked about where you got the left-handed version....

[or do they actually make any ?]

As for the neck transplant, you would also need to consider the difference in scale lengths, which would likely require the bridge of the Mustang to be moved.

It would be necessary to measure from nut to heel of both necks (ignoring any fretboard overhangs at the heels), and from there to the bridge saddles, then do some math.

Upthread somewhere, we discussed putting a slightly LONGER neck onto a Squier Mini-P, such as that of a Squier Bronco, for 3 reasons :

1) Squier Bronco has regular short scale like the Mustang,
2) it has a Maple fretboard, and
3) it has a wider nut width.

Someone measured the neck pocket of their Mini-P [with the neck off due to other mods being performed] and posted the dimensions, but I do not think we got much further in the conversation.

The difference in scale lengths would need to be examined for that mod too.
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[DavesnothereCA]

I've had good luck with Chromes on string-through Mustangs and the P-Bass Jr.

FWIW - I've put standard LaBella flats on a couple of Traveler basses, where the wound part has to make a 180 degree turn before it reaches the tuners, with no problem. That's probably because the string goes around a roller, instead of the sharp turn that strung-through strings make at the bridge

View attachment 4061493

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Yes, the roller radius looks fairly gentle in that pic.

I have considered getting one of those Travelers, but always ed out from doing a 'mail-order', and the physical stores here do not seem to carry them.
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[macmanlou]

I have considered getting one of those basses, but always ed out from doing a 'mail-order', and the physical stores here do not seem to carry them.

I own two and have setup 4 in all. They are well made and sound very good. The tuners take some getting used to. The necks are 1.75 in.

I bought my own directly from their website. They offer substantial discounts to military, veterans (like me), first responders, teachers, and students.

I really like the TB-4P -32" scale neck.

 

[pcake]

I own two and have setup 4 in all. They are well made and sound very good. The tuners take some getting used to. The necks are 1.75 in.

I bought my own directly from their website. They offer substantial discounts to military, veterans (like me), first responders, teachers, and students.

I really like the TB-4P -32" scale neck.

i loved my TB-4P. i never, however, really got used to the tuners. i sold it and replaced it with an ibanez mezzo, also a 32" scale. while it doesn't have one of the big advantages of the TB-4P - the TB-4P has a 32" scale but uses 34" scale strings - the mezzo is still very playable.

 

[Bassiclees]

Played an Ibanez mezzo 5r yesterday. Way less chunky than the talman 5 but I didn't connect with it. Seems like a good and inexpensive platform for some Electronics upgrades if it feels like a good 32" in one's hands.

 

[MakoMan]

How much better is the Precision Jr than the Mini Precision?

Not $500 better. Although the price the seller is asking for the Fender is very fair, based on current market values.
It's been a while since I've played a Precision Junior, so I obviously have not played it side by side with my Mini P, but as far as I can tell they are basically the same bass. I play flats and am not wild about string thru bodies and I prefer to have a tone knob, so for me the Squier is a better bass.
Are the fit and finish, wood and components better than what is on Mini P? Probably, but any Fender Precision Junior you find will be at least 15 years old with no warranty. Modern manufacturing techniques have allowed for much better quality control of budget basses, so the Squier may well be put together as well as the old Junior.
In any case, I used to GAS hard for a Fender Precision Junior, but the Squier Mini has scratched that itch. I would not be surprised if the values of the Precision Junior drop a bit.

 

[DavesnothereCA]

....I've put standard LaBella flats on a couple of Traveler basses, where the wound part has to make a 180 degree turn before it reaches the tuners, with no problem. That's probably because the string goes around a roller, instead of the sharp turn that strung-through strings make at the bridge

View attachment 4061493

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Yes, the roller radius looks fairly gentle in that pic.

I have considered getting one of those Travelers, but always ed out from doing a 'mail-order', and the physical stores here do not seem to carry them.
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I own two and have setup 4 in all. They are well made and sound very good. The tuners take some getting used to. The necks are 1.75 in.

I bought my own directly from their website. They offer substantial discounts to military, veterans (like me), first responders, teachers, and students.

I really like the TB-4P -32" scale neck.

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The 1.75" nut width is a plus for me, plus the newest model at Sweetwater advertises a Maple fretboard.

The tuners, yeah, something more like on a Steinberger would suit me better.

The only thing for which I sometimes get discounts is being a senior, not mentioned there, hmmm....
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i loved my TB-4P. i never, however, really got used to the tuners. i sold it and replaced it with an ibanez mezzo, also a 32" scale. while it doesn't have one of the big advantages of the TB-4P - the TB-4P has a 32" scale but uses 34" scale strings - the mezzo is still very playable.

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Yes, I figured that the TB-4P might use long scale strings, which really opens up the floodgates on string choices, without looking at doing custom/bespoke orders.

And apparently they weigh less than 7 pounds, as per the description at Sweetwater, who are currently out of stock, else would have an exact weight posted for these.

The Mezzo is otherwise a nice instrument in many ways, except that the nut width is only 1.5", a long-standing dealbreaker for me.

Also, a PJ pickup arrangement is not my fave.

I'd much rather have a pair of humbuckers, or just a split coil P pup.
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[DavesnothereCA]

Not $500 better. Although the price the seller is asking for the Fender is very fair, based on current market values.
It's been a while since I've played a Precision Junior, so I obviously have not played it side by side with my Mini P, but as far as I can tell they are basically the same bass. I play flats and am not wild about string thru bodies and I prefer to have a tone knob, so for me the Squier is a better bass.
Are the fit and finish, wood and components better than what is on Mini P? Probably, but any Fender Precision Junior you find will be at least 15 years old with no warranty. Modern manufacturing techniques have allowed for much better quality control of budget basses, so the Squier may well be put together as well as the old Junior.
In any case, I used to GAS hard for a Fender Precision Junior, but the Squier Mini has scratched that itch. I would not be surprised if the values of the Precision Junior drop a bit.

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So you don't still want it ?

Instinctively, I agree with you regarding the price.

BTW, my '74 Ric has had no tone control since 1985 or earlier.
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