Maarten_E Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 (edited) Hi guys! I'm working on a little project to upgrade my Squier Affinity P-bass, which I bought 2 years ago. When I got it, it looked like sh*t, but it plays well. I've been doing a lot of modifications through the times, but the big things (electronics a.o.) will be done in a few weeks. This is what she looked like when I bought her.: At first, I changed her appearence by putting a new Fender strap on her, and removing the black and white gaffertape on her knobs. Then, she looked like this: (The amplifier you see is an old gee-tar amp, which is replaced by an Ampeg BA-108 last August. After a while, I decided to upgrade her totally, but on a bit of a budget, I want the total cost not to be higher then the amount of money you'd pay for a new Squier Affinity P-bass. At first, she got new D'Addario Flats, which I really like, I seem to play much faster Now, she looks like this: You see, she has a different Pickguard (lime-green), a bridgecover, a new strap (brown suited my Jazz Bass more... ), and the rosewood has been treathend with lemonoil. She now also has a new Schaller bridge, which looks awesome, it's a lot thicker and bigger then the standard bridge, which looks like it's going to fall apart anytime To-Do list: - New black knobs - Installing CTS potmeters - New black tuners - New jack And that's about it I know, it's not the most entertaining upgrade you can think of, but I find it exciting Greets from The Netherlands, Maarten Edited January 22, 2012 by Maarten_E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I like the bridge cover! I use D'addario flats as well, really nice strings. What happened to the head? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Not very rock & roll is it? Taking a picture next to an empty laundry bin it should be overflowing The P-bass looks great, just stop poking the fire with the head & it'll be fine ATB, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_B Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Get a Pbass solderless wiring kit from KiOgon - cuts out alot of work and very handy (and cheap)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten_E Posted January 22, 2012 Author Share Posted January 22, 2012 @JerryB: Such kit, does it come with a Pickguard as well? @KiOgon: I know, but I just did the Laundry, so... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nibody Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I would probably have gone for a 3ply Black/White/Black pickguard meself. I'd also sand down that headstock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_B Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 [quote name='Maarten_E' timestamp='1327270027' post='1508750'] @JerryB: Such kit, does it come with a Pickguard as well?[/quote] No - you can just attach it to the one you've got. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten_E Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 Guys, I'm thinking as well of new Pickups, such as the Seymour Duncan SPB-1. I really like the P-bass tone, but I would like to have it a bit like Steve Harris, who uses the SD SPB-1 I thought? But, can you use that pickup with the normal standard P sound as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 I don't know who uses the SPB1s but I upgraded my old Squier with them and it made a big improvement over the stock pickups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nibody Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 That or Wizards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieD_FenderP2009 Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 You're right in thinking Steve uses the SPB-1's. I have the Steve Harris Fender P Bass and I've strung it up with D'Addario flats (50-105) as I didn't like the Rotosound SH77 strings. I've 95% nailed his tone now too Your bass is looking really really cool now but please sand that headstock down and get it looking fresh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martthebass Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 (edited) Nearly finished my Affinity upgrade. Black white black pg courtesy of Bass Doc.....makes a massive difference to the look. Mighty Mite Maple board neck with 70s logo (I know, I know) with 70s Wilkinson Tuners. Looking quite Roger Waters now but still thinking about a period neck plate and bridge cover. The Squier pups will probably have to go at some point but where do you stop...... Definitely punch above their weight these Affinitys Maarten. Edited January 24, 2012 by martthebass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten_E Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 (edited) Thanks for your reply, Martthebass! Do you have a link to a topic about your project, or some pictures, so I can have a idea of what it looks like. Sounds really good! The neck will be completely replaced by a London City neck (as far as I know as good as or better, in comparision with the current neck.) Can buy it for 60€, which is 30 pounds I believe. (Can't find the pound sign on my keyboard... ) Edited January 24, 2012 by Maarten_E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike257 Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Great project - my Affinity P-Special was my first bass, and I give it a bunch of upgrades a couple of years ago. Holds its own against much more expensive basses. I cleaned off all the stickers and gunk that teenage me left on there, stuck on a Badass II bridge, Wizard pickups (Thumper in the P position and an 84 at the bridge), a W/B/W scratchplate and all new pots/wiring/jack. It's a beast now. I was tempted to change the neck as I prefer the look of maple (would love an all-black P with maple board, classic!) but the original neck plays great so I've kept it on. Planning to do the tuners and nut at some point, I'm sure I'll get round to it eventually! Looking forward to seeing the finished product! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten_E Posted January 25, 2012 Author Share Posted January 25, 2012 How does the Badass II Bridge play? I've installed a Schaller bridge, which plays a lot better and is much more chunky then the standard bridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike257 Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 The Badass is great, the tone and sustain definitely improved since the upgrades, although I fitted them all at the same time so it's hard to say how much of the change has come from the bridge. I've also fitted a Gotoh 201 to a cheap Jazz copy, that's a nice chunky bridge too, and probably a bit cheaper and easier to get hold of than the Badass these days. I do think the Wizard pickups are excellent, and the customer service is superb, so I'd check them out if you get the chance. I chatted to Andy at Wizard about the tone I was looking for, the styles I was playing, and what I was after from the pickups, and he tweaked the winding and construction to suit my requirements. I think mine are wound a little bit hotter than standard, and he tweaked the Jazz bridge pickup to make it a better match for the Precision pickup - as good as the Seymour Duncan stuff might be, you don't get that level of service and personalisation from a big manufacturer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pst62 Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 (edited) [quote name='martthebass' timestamp='1327442057' post='1511408'] Nearly finished my Affinity upgrade. Black white black pg courtesy of Bass Doc.....makes a massive difference to the look. Mighty Mite Maple board neck with 70s logo (I know, I know) with 70s Wilkinson Tuners.[/quote] +1. Mine is exactly the same as yours, you can't beat the black/black/maple combination. I'm not ashamed of the fake Fender logo though, some of us don't have money these days to throw around on £500+ basses. besides it finishes the look off, and I would never try to pass it off as the real thing if I sold it. Edited January 25, 2012 by pst62 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martthebass Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 [quote name='pst62' timestamp='1327491952' post='1512104'] +1. Mine is exactly the same as yours, you can't beat the black/black/maple combination. I'm not ashamed of the fake Fender logo though, some of us don't have money these days to throw around on £500+ basses. besides it finishes the look off, and I would never try to pass it off as the real thing if I sold it. [/quote] Ditto I'm not a Fender snob.....my first decent bass was a Squier (albeit a JV) and even though the body has some dinks I dont think it would fool anybody lol. I use mine against my CAR US Jazz 75RI - there aint £1000+ difference between em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten_E Posted January 26, 2012 Author Share Posted January 26, 2012 Is 96mm length and 62mm width normal for a neckpocket? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martthebass Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Dunno, but the Affinity is standard Fender fit....any licensed neck should do. The Mighty Mite in mine was very slightly thinner and shallower but no problem in fitting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten_E Posted January 28, 2012 Author Share Posted January 28, 2012 [quote name='martthebass' timestamp='1327670548' post='1515097'] Dunno, but the Affinity is standard Fender fit....any licensed neck should do. The Mighty Mite in mine was very slightly thinner and shallower but no problem in fitting. [/quote] Okay, I'm interested in a London City neck (which is, quite surprising considering the name, a Dutch brand), which should be better than the standard Affinity neck. The owner of the LC neck is checking whether the neck could/should fit, so we'll see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten_E Posted February 5, 2012 Author Share Posted February 5, 2012 (edited) Little update: We found out the London City neck won't fit, so I've been looking at something else. A MiM Fender P neck for 100€! (which is 70 Pounds I believe). I will get her in at the end of the month, when the current owner will recieve his new neck. I'm happy! So, a lot of budget goes to the neck, but on the upside, there are just a few minor things to get, such as the Orange Drop and new tuners. I'm considering a Pickup-upgrade as well, but that can wait I think. Edited February 5, 2012 by Maarten_E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martthebass Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 The pickups aren't as bad as you'd think on the Affinity, but you're right a nice Wizard Thumper would do well. I put some Wilkinson tuners on my replacement neck, about £15 new as I remember. Easily as good as the ones on MIM Fenders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten_E Posted February 5, 2012 Author Share Posted February 5, 2012 Thank you for your reaction! Do you know if the Wilkinson tuners are available in The Netherlands, where I live? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pst62 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 [quote name='Maarten_E' timestamp='1328458390' post='1527328'] Thank you for your reaction! Do you know if the Wilkinson tuners are available in The Netherlands, where I live? [/quote] Hi Maarten, Why don't you just order them from [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wilkinson-Open-Bass-Machine-Head-Tuner-HWJB200-Chrome-/220839354896?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item336b0d2210"]here[/url] That's where I got mine, that's cheapest price I've seen them too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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