Spider-dan Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 (edited) Dear Basschatters, I have a Squier 'P' I've long thought about upgrading. It's about 15 years old a bit battered and the pots crackle when I turn them, so I think now I should put my money where my mouth is and overhaul the old bird. I'm keeping the neck (rosewood) and body (black) and I've sourced a black scratchplate. I just need an idea when it comes to bridges and pickups. A fellow bass player has recommended I use a GOTOH bridge but I know nothing of these or any other bridges. On Pick ups - I've been pointed to the Seymour Duncan Spb-3 (quarter pounder) for a solid rock pick up - any others I should be aware of? I don't want to go ahead without considering the options.. . Any advice would be great. . Cheers Dan. Edited February 15, 2010 by Spider-dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 I fitted a Badass 2 to my my Squier Jazz and a set of Wizard pickups. Both upgrades were well worth the money. The bridge was a direct replacement, no routing and all existing screw holes lined up. I don't know if that can be said for the Gotoh, but I'm sure someone else will be along to tell you. The pickup wasn't so easy, but that was down to my lack of experience with a soldering iron. Once I had practised a bit and got some advice on this forum, all was fine. Andy at Wizard is very helpful and patient. They have a website, but I don't know how to the do the link thing, sorry. Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elliswasp Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 I had my bass overhauled a little while ago thought i might need new pots and all sort 25 quid later i got my bass back no crackles and nothing changed just a bit of cleaning here and there in the electrics dept. as far as the pick ups are conserned i use seymour duncuns but i used the hot pick ups and my god the difference it made im very very happy with the result as not only did it completely change the sound to some so much nicer i got a good price on them too i would recomend these pick ups to anyone with the same bass as we have. although i would love to change my neck for a maple one as i have a classic cream one with a white scratch plate and i think that would finish her off quite nicely. Markus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 I also did similar upgrades to a Squier P: solid shaft CTS pots Sprague orange drop capacitor Seymour Duncan quarter pounder New pickguard (get the drill out, you will have to fill and redo some of those holes) Reamed out the tuner holes and fitted full size open gear tuners "Big F" Fender neckplate Chrome set screw fitting barrel knobs Comedy "Fecker Imprecison" headstock logo It was a lot of fun and turned an adequate bass into a good bass imho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Gotoh Bridge and 1/4lbers is probably the best copst effective thing you can do. New pots would be good too, seem to be a weak point, depending on how much you use them. Happy with how well it stays in tune? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 i'd say quarter pounders and BADASS II if you're after a solid, reliable rock bass. the gotoh is supposed to be a nice bridge too, but for me its always been about the badass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Burpster Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Badass, Gotoh, Schaller or Hipshot. All excellent choices. SD or Bartolini pickups again great US gear, but also consider a Wizard as about the same money but custom made..... Buy decent pots and wire from a repuatble bits seller as there is little between the makes. Make sure wood work is sound, frets are level and nut is spot on, also consider upgrading tuners too, but otherwise you are barking up the right tree...... See if theres owt on here that'll help ya..... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=18771&hl=highway"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...&hl=highway[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbloke Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 If it were me, i'd stick a gotoh bridge on, maybe a new pickup (kent armstrong or wizard would be fine) and get the frets stoned and the bass setup nicely. Last of all, I'd swap out pots, rewire and lookou'd have a very , very nice bass after that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_B Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Link for the Wizard site: [url="http://www.wizardpickups.co.uk/shop.asp?category=Bass"]http://www.wizardpickups.co.uk/shop.asp?category=Bass[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_B Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 You can get complete wiring kits (including pots) for P basses - I think Fender kits would be fine with your Squier. And they don't cost very much at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider-dan Posted February 16, 2010 Author Share Posted February 16, 2010 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='746148' date='Feb 15 2010, 05:31 PM']Gotoh Bridge and 1/4lbers is probably the best copst effective thing you can do. New pots would be good too, seem to be a weak point, depending on how much you use them. Happy with how well it stays in tune?[/quote] V Happy. . . it stays in tune very well it's just lacking in the performance dept, suffering from it's age I think. . . I've ordered the GOTOH bridge and new wiring. Just the pickup to be sourced now. . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 (edited) The Schaller 3D bridge fits the existing holes and has the added advantage of being able to experiment with string spacings. So far as pickups go [size=7]DI MARZIO!!!!!!!![/size] Tuning machines are often worth replacing for lightness and tuning stability - Hipshot ultralite half inch cloverleaf just need one additional hole drilled and are a good way of lightening a neck heavy bass. Edited February 16, 2010 by henry norton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider-dan Posted February 16, 2010 Author Share Posted February 16, 2010 So. . . . I've ordered. GOTOH bridge in black Fender Precision wiring kit with new pots Black Scratchplate Seymour Duncan Quarter pounder SPB-3 pickup Roto 45 - 100 strings Just one question remains. . . . . Tuning pegs - how much of a difference will new ones make? and what cost am I looking at? (this is already quite expensive. . . . ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
endorka Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 All looking good, especially the Seymour Duncan 1/4 pounders & Rotosound strings - my favourite combination. I must confess I've never understood the debate around the tuner replacement thing - if you can tune the bass, and all things being equal, it stays in tune, then the tuners are doing their job, and do not need replaced. If the bass can't be tuned, or it won't stay reliably in tune once tuned, with all other things being equal, then the tuners *may* be the problem, and *may* need replaced. I've never owned a bass that wouldn't stay in tune, and I've owned some cheap basses. Both my Squire P-bass and Westfield P-bass clone are just fine in this regard. Jennifer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_B Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 I agree. If the tuners still do the job, keep 'em. If they have a bit of a patina from use, so much the better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider-dan Posted February 18, 2010 Author Share Posted February 18, 2010 -Update- decided to go with a red tortoise shell pickguard instead of a black pickguard (bit too black IMO). Also I wish to give it a 'worn' look, any advice on how to do this? - your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Dan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWRRSS Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 [quote name='Spider-dan' post='749271' date='Feb 18 2010, 08:32 AM']-Update- decided to go with a red tortoise shell pickguard instead of a black pickguard (bit too black IMO). Also I wish to give it a 'worn' look, any advice on how to do this? - your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Dan.[/quote] Play it loads, or throw it down the stairs, I'd suggest playing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregsguitars Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 Badass bridge is an option, I here good things about them, Dimarzio pups get good raves, ative or passive electronics is also another option to drive ya mad bwahahahahaha.................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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