Squier Mini Precision

[Aidan63]

I find with most 34" scale basses and fender or fender style headstocks with a bbot or similar bridge, that you get some wound string on the E post with most brands of FW strings, I have learnt not to worry about it; I've got LaBellas on my P at the moment and the silk wrap stops exactly at the point the string touches the post, but all the other brands have more string on the post than that, and they are fitted with 2 1/2 to 3 winds on the post. 

Mikro is 726mm, 28.6" scale, I fitted Roto short scale strings, flats and tapewounds, the string was on the E post about 1/3 of a turn, didn't break; the Roto flats have an issue with ringing sharp on initial attack and then settling to pitch, I believe it's a common issue with all their short scale strings, Scott Whitley has previously written about it

[FrankRNY]

If you get one of these basses, give the stock strings a chance.

When I get a new bass, I am usually in a big rush to rip the stock strings off and put on good ones.

But the strings that come with this bass are very good.  Fender nickel steel 45 to 105.   They can do anything.  Definitely not junk strings.  

[S.F.Sorrow]

On 30/08/2020 at 09:53, Aidan63 said:

I find with most 34" scale basses and fender or fender style headstocks with a bbot or similar bridge, that you get some wound string on the E post with most brands of FW strings, I have learnt not to worry about it; I've got LaBellas on my P at the moment and the silk wrap stops exactly at the point the string touches the post, but all the other brands have more string on the post than that, and they are fitted with 2 1/2 to 3 winds on the post. 

Mikro is 726mm, 28.6" scale, I fitted Roto short scale strings, flats and tapewounds, the string was on the E post about 1/3 of a turn, didn't break; the Roto flats have an issue with ringing sharp on initial attack and then settling to pitch, I believe it's a common issue with all their short scale strings, Scott Whitley has previously written about it

Yes, Roto short scale strings are totally useless IMO. I really like their long scale strings though.

[S.F.Sorrow]

16 hours ago, FrankRNY said:

If you get one of these basses, give the stock strings a chance.

When I get a new bass, I am usually in a big rush to rip the stock strings off and put on good ones.

But the strings that come with this bass are very good.  Fender nickel steel 45 to 105.   They can do anything.  Definitely not junk strings.  

Are they long scale? I ask because as far as I know the only short scale strings Fender sell separately are 40-95 (the extremely floppy ones they install on Broncos and everyone seem to hate).

I've never seen any short scale 45-105 strings from Fender. Using long scale strings on a 28.5" bass seems a bit weird to me. I know Fender use long scale strings on the 30" Vintera Mustangs (and it works fine) but on a 28.5" bass? That would leave a LOT of the fully wound strings around the tuning peg. Will it even start to taper off before the part you stick into the tuning peg hole?

I guess it doesn't matter as long as it works. And like you said, Fender NPS rounds are definitely not junk. They're not my personal favorites but very good allrounders, which is probably why Fender install them on everything from Affinity to Custom Shop. As long as it works for you: GREAT!!!👍 Unfortunately I tend to prefer thumpy old school flats on short scale basses, which probably won't be a very good idea with these Mini Ps. At least not unless someone starts offering flats for 28.5" scale.

[FrankRNY]

On 31/08/2020 at 10:19, S.F.Sorrow said:

Are they long scale? I ask because as far as I know the only short scale strings Fender sell separately are 40-95 (the extremely floppy ones they install on Broncos and everyone seem to hate).

I've never seen any short scale 45-105 strings from Fender. Using long scale strings on a 28.5" bass seems a bit weird to me. I know Fender use long scale strings on the 30" Vintera Mustangs (and it works fine) but on a 28.5" bass? That would leave a LOT of the fully wound strings around the tuning peg. Will it even start to taper off before the part you stick into the tuning peg hole?

I guess it doesn't matter as long as it works. And like you said, Fender NPS rounds are definitely not junk. They're not my personal favorites but very good allrounders, which is probably why Fender install them on everything from Affinity to Custom Shop. As long as it works for you: GREAT!!!👍 Unfortunately I tend to prefer thumpy old school flats on short scale basses, which probably won't be a very good idea with these Mini Ps. At least not unless someone starts offering flats for 28.5" scale.

They are not specially sized for the bass.  Yes, they are long scale, cut to size, but with that string, it works fine.  

[GrahamNN3]

Custom roundwound from Newtone Strings UK

Custom flatwound & tapewound from Pyramid Germany 

[Rumple]

I'm thinking of maybe picking one of these up in red as a project bass, short scale fretless 🤔

[Reggaebass]

Thread revival here instead of starting one, 

im looking at getting a mini bass and wondering what the squier P is like as my limited experience with squier wasn’t good, I also really like the sunburst mini JD jazz, anyone tried one, and did any flats fit these 

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I picked up one of these. I really wanted a black one so I could put on a mirror pickguard, but I saw a secondhand red one hanging up in QatarCatarrh at a price I couldn’t resist. I didn’t like the single ply pickguard so I ordered a red pearl one which looks classy. I put on a fender high mass bridge I had in my bits box and fitted a set of GHS short scale stainless steel flats which have held up well despite a little the E string being a little long. The materials, fit & finish are very good for such an inexpensive bass. The pickup doesn’t need to be upgraded, although its corners are a little sharp if you rest your hand there.

[Reggaebass]

10 minutes ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

I picked up one of these. I really wanted a black one so I could put on a mirror pickguard, but I saw a secondhand red one hanging up in QatarCatarrh at a price I couldn’t resist. I didn’t like the single ply pickguard so I ordered a red pearl one which looks classy. I put on a fender high mass bridge I had in my bits box and fitted a set of GHS short scale stainless steel flats which have held up well despite a little the E string being a little long. The materials, fit & finish are very good for such an inexpensive bass. The pickup doesn’t need to be upgraded, although its corners are a little sharp if you rest your hand there.

Nice one, thanks for that JLP, they look pretty good, does a normal pickguard fit them 
 

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

No, a special teeny-tiny pickguard needs to be ordered. Brian aka earlpilanz on ebay has the template and the one he cut for me is a perfect fit.

 

[Reggaebass]

4 minutes ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

No, a special teeny-tiny pickguard needs to be ordered. Brian aka earlpilanz on ebay has the template and the one he cut for me is a perfect fit.

 

Very cool, looks great 

[meterman]

9 hours ago, Reggaebass said:

Thread revival here instead of starting one, 

im looking at getting a mini bass and wondering what the squier P is like as my limited experience with squier wasn’t good, I also really like the sunburst mini JD jazz, anyone tried one, and did any flats fit these 

I was wondering about the JD mini jazz as well. They're about 125 euros new over here. Only thing is, I'd have to buy one online before trying it to find out if it's any good. They do look good though 👍

[Reggaebass]

28 minutes ago, meterman said:

I was wondering about the JD mini jazz as well. They're about 125 euros new over here. Only thing is, I'd have to buy one online before trying it to find out if it's any good. They do look good though 👍

They do look good don’t they, there’s another one I see called Flight mini JB , but they are quite a bit more expensive, great looking little things though, lately I’ve gone from looking at 1965 jazzes to mini basses 😁

[Reggaebass]

So my mini precision arrived yesterday and I have to say it’s a great little thing, it sounds exactly as a P should, I don’t think the pickups need changing, I’ll probably order another pickguard as I’m not keen on the white one on a black bass,

and I need to source some flats for it as rounds aren’t my thing , I’ll have a look through my string box 

[Reggaebass]

Quite surprised at around £35 for a mini pickguard, niche I suppose, if anyone has a black one let me know 

[tony_m]

Mr Lead Guitar turned up at rehearsal yesterday accompanied by his 13 year-old grandson and his grandson's Squier Mini P, which he's had for a few months but has never heard through a "proper" amp (assuming my Ashdown Five Fifteen minirig counts as a "proper" amp!).

 

Anyway, I gave it a quick check over, and the setup seemed to be pretty good even though it's apparently not been tweaked since the day he got it, with no rattles anywhere, nice smooth fret ends, and quiet pots. It sounded suprisingly meaty when we ran it through the Ashdown (even on the stock strings), which will hopefully inspire him to get stuck into learning to play. Also gave him a quick go on my '51 P reissue by way of comparison - think the weight came as a bit of a shock! 😃

[CBbass]

On 11/06/2024 at 19:54, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

No, a special teeny-tiny pickguard needs to be ordered. Brian aka earlpilanz on ebay has the template and the one he cut for me is a perfect fit.

 

Thats really cool. I like you didn't cheap out on the parts despite being a cheap bass. Looks rad.

[Baloney Balderdash]

39 minutes ago, CBbass said:

Thats really cool. I like you didn't cheap out on the parts despite being a cheap bass. Looks rad.

Well if your objective with modding your cheap bass is not just visually, but to actually make it a batter instrument, it wouldn't really make sense to cheap out on parts.

 

Why would you even bother if you aren't actually upgrading it to something better?

 

Hardware and electronics, including the pickups, are usually where manufactures save most on the production costs of budget basses, so usually you can improve cheap budget instruments from being decent to great, or sometimes even genuinely amazing, instruments by upgrading those parts.

 

These days what makes cheap budget instruments cheap budget instruments is cheap hardware and electronics and somewhat inconsistent quality, at least compared to higher end basses, rather than overall consistently poor quality.

 

Edited June 25 by Baloney Balderdash

[dodgnofski]

I bought one for noodling purposes & thinking that they are cheap enough so that if need be upgrading the tuners, pickups & bridge wouldn’t break the bank. However, although l can only comment on the one I have as I know build quality can vary across the same range, but it is incredible! 
 

Arrow straight neck, holds tune perfectly, spot on intonation with just small adjustments to the bridge & Truss Rod, plus less high frets levelled than on some Basses I’ve owned which cost ten times the price, which then afforded a really low, playable action & it sounds like a P Bass should - Fab👍👍 So not needing to buy any replacement hardware, I’ve treated my self to a Vintage Dark Tort pick guard, which I’m eagerly awaiting to arrive.

 

It also fits easily into a guitar Gig Bag - Boomshanka😃👍👍

[Reggaebass]

24 minutes ago, dodgnofski said:

I’ve treated my self to a Vintage Dark Tort pick guard, which I’m eagerly awaiting to arrive.

Look forward to seeing that, I haven’t changed mine yet, I managed to fit a set of Rotosound flats on mine and it sounds pretty cool 

[dodgnofski]

I had a very old set of La Bella Black Nylon short scale tape wounds which fitted a treat & sound great👍 

 

Will post pics when I’ve fitted the pick guard👍👍

[dodgnofski]

Even better than expected, high quality craftsmanship & fits even better than the original! Fender etc could learn a few things from Brian, especially how to produce a lovely oldie worldy opalescent pattern👍👍

[Reggaebass]

36 minutes ago, dodgnofski said:

Even better than expected, high quality craftsmanship & fits even better than the original! Fender etc could learn a few things from Brian, especially how to produce a lovely oldie worldy opalescent pattern👍👍

That looks really good, where did you get that one from please 

[dodgnofski]

It’s from this Chap on eBay, I think he’s named Brian & highly recommended👍👍