Tricked Out Squier Club

[Gord_oh]

Word of caution: Don't settle for anything less than a Genuine Fender 4-ply, dark brown tort. Off-brands tend to be too red or worse, just a print of tort and not the real thing.

for mine i bought a faux tort off ebay for cheap. it is for my sx hybrid however, so i will have to do some modding. i figure if i mess up it was at least a cheap mistake. if this works out well though ill probably get the real thing. ive bought faux tort before though, its not too bad, but that was on a white bass.

 

[Billy Low]

for mine i bought a faux tort off ebay for cheap. it is for my sx hybrid however, so i will have to do some modding. i figure if i mess up it was at least a cheap mistake. if this works out well though ill probably get the real thing. ive bought faux tort before though, its not too bad, but that was on a white bass.

It's been my experience that unless you are going for a serious vintage/relic type of deal stick w/faux. Real tort shrinks, it can get kinda nasty sumtimes (remember, nobody likes shrinkage!).

 

[selowitch]

I think a cream/black/cream pickguard would look nice with those pickup covers, or perhaps cream pearloid.

 

[stingray69]

I think a cream/black/cream pickguard would look nice with those pickup covers, or perhaps cream pearloid.

I hadn't thought of that - I like the idea! I can tell that whatever I end up with will have to be cut from the original pickguard to close a couple of gap areas currently showing. I couldn't resist posting up early pics regardless...thanks for the advice on the c/b/c pickguard. I'll try to Google it for pics & see what comes up.

 

[Sketchy]

Don't give me a number yet, because I haven't started yet, but I've got (most of) the parts sitting right next to me, and by next week (all going well) there should be a set of J-bass pickups on the Precision bass.

 

[Gord_oh]

if my sx pickups werent molded all together id do cream covers...
squiers....oh yeah.

 

[selowitch]

I hadn't thought of that - I like the idea! I can tell that whatever I end up with will have to be cut from the original pickguard to close a couple of gap areas currently showing. I couldn't resist posting up early pics regardless...thanks for the advice on the c/b/c pickguard. I'll try to Google it for pics & see what comes up.

Here's [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. Glad I could provide some inspiration!

 

[stingray69]

Here's [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. Glad I could provide some inspiration!

Thank You for the link - I only wish manufacturers would post full, nice pics for people to envision the whole thing. I am also seeing black/cream/black combos on other sites. Maybe I should leave well enough alone....decisions (aarrrgh, lol). Thanks again for the suggestion selowitch - definitely some good stuff for me to consider.

 

[selowitch]

Thank You for the link - I only wish manufacturers would post full, nice pics for people to envision the whole thing. I am also seeing black/cream/black combos on other sites. Maybe I should leave well enough alone....decisions (aarrrgh, lol). Thanks again for the suggestion selowitch - definitely some good stuff for me to consider.

Sure thing, friend! One thing that makes TB such a great resource is the fact that everbody freely shares knowledge and ideas here.

 

[Hippos Melas]

I emailed them, in the coming months they will release pickups for 5 string basses

That is fantastic news!! A set of EMGs belong in this bass...it's like they're calling to me.

250k CTS pots
Sprague Orange Drop Cap .047uf
...
8-32 Steel threaded inserts in neck
...

Talk to me about the pots and cap install. Do I need a soldering iron to do that? I don't think I can have one of those in my university apartment and I've never even tried to solder anything before.

Also, what do those inserts do? Anything that's definitely necessary?

Also also, thank you for the pics! They were very helpful! I was also considering the white one you put on as well (the name escapes me) and I think I almost like that better than the tort guard...

 

[rebelscum]

I was debating this myself. Luckily, I had these pickguards laying around the house. I stacked 'em up, snapped pics, hope they help. Any of these look great on the Sunburst, IMO, but given the cream pickup covers in my case, I'm going with simple black - clean, classic, YMMV of course. Hope these help...

Just laying around eh? Got an extra Tort Guard for sale?

Kidding ... Ordering one from the WD site a few posts back.

There will be pictures soon as I bought the Affinity Jazz V ... Black.
Like you said bro, the tuning machines ain't too bad at all ... Might be the last thing I mod on this sucker! Can't wait to receive my SD Quarter Pounders!

Pics coming as soon as I Pimp it out OR ... No pic no Pimped out Squire?

BTW ... That looks killer with any of those guards man!!!

 

[stingray69]

Talk to me about the pots and cap install. Do I need a soldering iron to do that? I don't think I can have one of those in my university apartment and I've never even tried to solder anything before.

Also, what do those inserts do? Anything that's definitely necessary?

Also also, thank you for the pics! They were very helpful! I was also considering the white one you put on as well (the name escapes me) and I think I almost like that better than the tort guard...

Definitely need a soldering iron and 60/40 rosin core solder (NOT acid core) to install pots & cap or replacing any electrical wiring for that matter. Very much a fire hazard if left unattended or accidentally plugged in.

The 8/32 threaded inserts and the 1 1/2" machine screws take the place of traditional wood screws. You can really get a super tight neck-to-body coupling advantage over wood screws. I do feel a good deal of sustain was added (hopefully not just placebo effect) along with what feels like extra resonance through the body of the instrument.

Some would say a drill press is a MUST to do the job properly - and I'd be the first to agree with that. That said, I did mine with a handheld drill and doweling bit (aka Brad Point bit). Just gotta have a steady hand & drill straight. Installing these can be kinda risky - lots of things to go wrong doing it by hand & just in general (drilling too deep or even worse - through the fingerboard, not drilling straight pilot holes, ripping/splintering the wood) - not sure I'd recommend jumping right into it without knowing the consequences of the risks involved or being familiar with the repair of such accidents that could occur. A couple of pics from when I did the black one:

Just laying around eh? Got an extra Tort Guard for sale?

Kidding ... Ordering one from the WD site a few posts back.

There will be pictures soon as I bought the Affinity Jazz V ... Black.
Like you said bro, the tuning machines ain't too bad at all ... Might be the last thing I mod on this sucker! Can't wait to receive my SD Quarter Pounders!

Pics coming as soon as I Pimp it out OR ... No pic no Pimped out Squire?

BTW ... That looks killer with any of those guards man!!!

Yeah, I kinda laughed at how many I discovered stashed around the house. Guess that's what happens when you go through a lot of basses over a period of time. I've got a killer knob/screws/Dunlop strap-parts collection going on as well, lol. Unfortunately, I've got no pg's for sale - never know when I want to overhaul a look on something.

I'd say let the new strings settle in for a while - give the tuners a chance to see how they do over time before deciding on a new set. Looking forward to some pics when you get the mods in place!

 

[propel]

I posted this in the CV club section, but I think it now qualifies over here too.

This:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Became this:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Put a Geddy Lee neck on it, new pickguard and new pickup covers. The neck fit perfectly, nice and snug. The squier neck also fit perfectly on the Geddy Lee jazz that I took the neck from. Thinking about swapping the electronics out, but they've been pretty good to me so far. This is my first P bass after owning several jazz basses, so I don't really have much to compare it to tone wise, but it's a monster compared to my jazz basses. I'm in love!

Absolutely gorgeous. Would you be offended if I tried to recreate something of the sort? I.E jazz bass neck with block inlays on red squier p with black pickguard. Looks absolutely amazing :|

 

[Hippos Melas]

Thanks, Stingray69! Your information is very helpful. I think I'll leave the electrical work to the local tech until I get the EMG pickups...those have modular connections that I've seen Ed Friedland put into his bass. I think I can handle that, but I should grab an SX or something to practice soldering on.

 

[Billy Low]

Thanks, Stingray69! Your information is very helpful. I think I'll leave the electrical work to the local tech until I get the EMG pickups...those have modular connections that I've seen Ed Friedland put into his bass. I think I can handle that, but I should grab an SX or something to practice soldering on.

Well I'm only 2 hours away, You could use me in a pinch!

Besides, it will give you a reason to go sight seeing while you are here in the Windeee Sittee.....I'm just saying.

 

[Hippos Melas]

Well I'm only 2 hours away, You could use me in a pinch!

Besides, it will give you a reason to go sight seeing while you are here in the Windeee Sittee.....I'm just saying.

I'm actually native to Chicago. I'm from the southwest 'burbs. I'll shoot you a PM when I've got some free time on a trip home from the university.

Plus, maybe I could actually learn to use a soldering iron...

 

[Sketchy]

Link Removed

May I have a number now, please? (mod: Added J-bass pickups)

 

[Billy Low]

I'm actually native to Chicago. I'm from the southwest 'burbs. I'll shoot you a PM when I've got some free time on a trip home from the university.

Plus, maybe I could actually learn to use a soldering iron...

Kewl! I actually spent my teen years in the Southeast Burbs; Graduate of TTHS many many moons ago!. Also owned a home in Country Club Hills for awhile.

 

[Billy Low]

Link Removed

May I have a number now, please? (mod: Added J-bass pickups)

I wanna see more picks of that one!!!!!

 

[BartmanPDX]

A few years back I asked my wife for a Squier for Xmas so I could learn to mod and work on a bass. She got me a VM Jazz, and I replaced most of the parts -- it got some overwound Lindy Fralins I already had, an ABM bridge (the original bridge holes were drilled slightly crooked and the strings didn't line up right), some hipshot ultralite tuners, and went with all black hardware -- even some black PG screws. I shielded it and replaced all the pots and wiring.

It came out pretty nice in the end, and was a good learning experience. I've gigged it once or twice when my band was booked to a really sketchy location. I also use it for practice some times. It's a solid bass, and has quite good tone.

The pic is from when I still had the Badass bridge on it.