Tricked Out Squier Club Part 3

[JIO]

If you shop smart (...shop S-Mart! ), you could conceiveably build something quite nice for a fraction of the cost an American-made bass. However, the trick is finding a good/great neck and body to build up from. Pull that off, while not going too crazy on the upgrades, and you’ll succeed. I know I have.

I know pu's/strings deliver a basses 'sound' but you are absolutely correct saying the neck has to be "there". The body.., yes, but the neck for sure.

 

[AncientNoob]

My club application…

 

[El Padre]

 

[El Padre]

The pic above is of my SR1605 which is falling out of favor to this Squire Bullet J Bass. I dropped in an Audere Jazz control plate, Fender classic 70s pickups, Fender vintage bridge and added a 3ply pickguard. This Squire is a beast now. Sounds every bit as good as the 5 string.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Thoughts on buying a used squier and upgrading the neck, pickups, bridge etc.. vs getting a used American Standard?

I've always liked Mustangs and was looking at buying one of the Squier CV's. But I also knew I liked the Squier Bronco necks, they're thin, smooth, and comfortable on my old arthritic hands. I bought a body, loaded pickguard, and controls from some different online places. I already had a Bronco neck with Hipshots already installed. As long as I was doing this assembly of parts I let my daughter do some paint work too.

All said and done I have about $400 into a bass I'm really liking that plays well.

So my thoughts are play one, buy it if you like it or decide what you may want to change and then consider buying the parts. I'm no luthier but managed it.

 

[archtop2]

Finally finished my DeLuxe upgrade with a Noll preamp and a Greasy Groove pickguard for more fun and a fourth knob slot.

 

[sonojono]

A few days ago I finished putting together my Squier Affinity Burgundy Mist Bass! Swapped out the pickups to Fralins 60s wound, a fender maple neck and added a BadAss Bridge (the bridge wasn’t necessary but it helped cover a chip I made on the paint when I was changing out strings!)

 

[Mark Lin]

My heavily modded affinity

 

[T-34]

Did the most invisible mod on my Squier Affinity Jaguar H: replaced stock tuners with Gotoh Resolights

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Sorry for the finger prints
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[herbygardener]

Hey all,
Not sure the definition of 'Tricked Out' to qualify but here's my heavily modded project recently completed.
I bought a Squier Affinity P for cheap, refinished it, made a pickguard, changed the hardware and put in pickups out of a MIM Fender with D'addario tapewounds, Great playing and sounding bass!!
Before

After

Cheers!

 

[LeighOnSea]

Look away now if you don't like Green Pearl ...
Squier Sonic Precision
GM Thumpers, GHS Pressurewounds and Ali-Express pickguard

Next stage is painted pickguard to my design below

 

[LeighOnSea]

Decided to go Pollock with the next guard!
One shot emerald green sign-writing enamel pain, á lá Simonon
My arty mate did it for me, I'm an Engineer, not good at doing random art -I would be too worried about keeping it even and well spaced etc


I am also going to get my car sprayer mate to do the front of the headstock black
I made some .xfc and png decal files

More info in other Sonic-specific thread

 

[LeighOnSea]

Sorry for double posting, but I absolutely love it and its a much brighter Emerald Green in natural lighting than in the photos

 

[friskinator]

Here's a heavily modded Squier Debut Precision I recently completed. I was going to sell it, but I decided to keep.

-Refinished body/headstock in matte Coral Pink with new waterslide decal
-Gotoh Res-O-Lite tuners in Cosmo Black, with matching Cosmo Black knobs, neck plate and 201-B bridge
-Pickguard, pickup, and electronics are original. I didn't see a reason to swap the pickup since it sounds good, but I shielded the cavity with copper tape.
-Sanded the back of the neck and did the US Lakland-style oil/wax treatment. Feels really good.
-Oiled the fretboard and filed down a few sharp fret ends

Even with the original hardware and finish, it played and sounded nicely. Amazing what you can get for under $150 new these days.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Here's a heavily modded Squier Debut Precision I recently completed. I was going to sell it, but I decided to keep.

-Refinished body/headstock in matte Coral Pink with new waterslide decal
-Gotoh Res-O-Lite tuners in Cosmo Black, with matching Cosmo Black knobs, neck plate and 201-B bridge
-Pickguard, pickup, and electronics are original. I didn't see a reason to swap the pickup since it sounds good, but I shielded the cavity with copper tape.
-Sanded the back of the neck and did the US Lakland-style oil/wax treatment. Feels really good.
-Oiled the fretboard and filed down a few sharp fret ends

Even with the original hardware and finish, it played and sounded nicely. Amazing what you can get for under $150 new these days.

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Smoked chrome hardware AND a matching headstock? And for that price + a bit of elbow grease?! What’s not to love?!!

 

[friskinator]

Is anyone making a replacement pickguard for the Debut Precision yet? I know these are not compatible with any other Squier guard.

 

[friskinator]

Just finished this build. Squier Sonic body, CV Jazz neck, aged pearl guard, and EMG GZR pickup. Waiting on knobs to arrive since the ones I had on hand wouldn't fit the GZR pots. Best of all, it comes in at 7 lbs, 14 oz.

 

[LeighOnSea]

Post in thread 'LowEndLobster Bass Videos'

Nov 11, 2025

Hey Everyone! Here's my latest video featuring my modified Squier Sonic Precision bass. Enjoy!

• LowEndLobster

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[LeighOnSea]

Thread 'NBD Squire Sonic Bronco'

Nov 7, 2025

My first shortscale

Came from previous owner with black pickguard and knobs and EB Cobalt flats

I replaced the original ceramic pickup with a Tonerider Apex Classic neck one, and put black pick guard screws in.

I love it!
Its sooo small (I'm 5' 3")

I also ordered some La Bella 760FS-S Deep Talkin’ Bass Flats – Standard 45-105, Short Scale to see what she sounds like with them

• LeighOnSea
• Replies: 37
• Forum: Basses [BG]

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[friskinator]

Another one I just finished. Classic Vibe body in Oly White with Aguilar Hot-P pickup. Neck is a CIC standard with a real rosewood board, and since I'm a sucker for a matching headstock, I did that and added a decal plus Gotoh Res-O-Lites. Also did the US Lakland-style oil/wax treatment to the back of the neck. I might add a bridge cover since I have one laying around.

Best of all, it comes in at 7 lbs, 12 oz!