Did I Just Mod A Squier Bass Better Than An American Fender?

A bass player friend of mine and I always talked about the specific things we wish we had on our guitars. I kept mental notes of our conversations and build him the perfect bass for him. I started with an affinity PJ bass guitar and replaced everything on it except the body and pickguard. I modded it with...
Squier Affinity P/J Bass Body Metallic Red
Mighty Mite MM2908 Jazz Bass Neck Rosewood Fretboard
Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Bass P-J Pickups
Hipshot BT7 Bass Xtender & HB7 Tuners
Graph Tech Tusq Nut
Fender High Mass Dlx 4-String Jazz P Precision Bass Bridge
CTS 250K 450G Series Solid Shaft, Audio Taper Pots. Potentiometer
1/4" Switchcraft #11 Mono Jack
Fender Precision Bass Knobs - Knurled Chrome
Custom “Timder Precision Jazz” Headstock Decal
Custom “Timder Custom Shop” Neck Plate
Dunlop Strap Buttons
Off/On/Off Toggle Killswitch
Shielded & Grounded Pickup Cavity
Frets Leveled, Crowned and Polished
Fretboard Treated
D'Addario ENR72 Half Round Bass Guitar Strings, Medium, 50-105, Long Scale
In my opinion this bass turned out better than my American Fender bass. In fact, I plan on selling the USA Fender to build another one just like this one. What do you think? Did I build a custom bass that started out as an Affinity Squier Bass and turn it into a better guitar than an American Fender?

[@Ysumguy]

You made this bass for a friend as a surprise gift?!!??!!?!? You sir......are the best friend anyone could ever have!

[@colincowne2095]

I built a Squire Affinity PJ with EMG GZR pickup and pot set. I changed the neck to a Warmoth roasted maple with Schaller tuners. I have never had a bass with so much low end punch and still have clarity. I play every weekend and my sound guys were amazed by this bass (liked it better than my MusicMan Stingray HH, and I do too!) Videos like yours help encourage guys like me to think different and go our own way. Thanks for taking the time to share with us!

[@analogman9697]

I used to work at Warmoth. Their necks are the best anywhere.

[@mattfoley6082]

You didn't answer the two most important questions: how much did it cost and how does it sound?

[@Crispy_Music_2024]

I don't think he's going to answer :(

[@martinheath5947]

Was really looking forward to hearing what this beauty sounds like!

[@Preussenpenner]

I first thought it said Tinder 😂

[@ryanbazail]

i mean it does lmao

[@mortimerjmouse]

Hey, I’d swipe right for this bass.

[@nategin9009]

@@ryanbazail tiMder

[@samsmelser_]

It does

[@samsmelser_]

It says timder

[@johng2880]

The enthusiasm you radiate is almost enough to get me out to my shop to bolt on the next neck, while praying that the lacquer on my other project is dry enough to buff out. WTG!

[@autocrow]

Awesome. I can see why you are so excited about it. Great attention to detail with the stickers, neck plate and all.

[@nickellis6530]

Replacing the neck is such a game changer... As soon as you mentioned mighty mite, I was sold! Such a great build !

[@shalamigri]

I've made a lot of changes to my Squier. I was thinking about replacing the standard precision neck with a mighty mite neck. I'm actually really new to modifying a bass. Do you think I'll notice a big difference with a new mighty mite neck?

[@stepvanjoe3469]

Man that red is killer! Nice job on the build

[@EclecticHillbilly]

I have George Washington's original ax that he chopped down the cherry tree with...........of course, it's had 5 new heads and 7 new handles since then. ;o)

[@didds8869]

Thats the start of a crazy paradox

[@hughes2397]

Lmao!!

[@martinluthierking]

put the crack pipe down son.

[@A10DoubleHelix]

Thanks for telling us what you did to it and listing the products by name so we can find them! I appreciate it.

[@anonymousprime1738]

That is so cool! The thing that gets me the most is the drop d shortcut thing!

[@MrDangard]

Love this bass! Tim's a lucky and soon to be very happy guy!

[@offbeatbassgear]

I don't know if I'd go so far as to say that it's better than most of the US-made basses, but you can do a ton of super useful upgrades to Squiers that can really make them extremely well playing instruments.

[@remco2777]

Great job! Love the look of this bass!

[@cedricceddybearfeazell2785]

That’s a beautiful bass man! Love the mute switch and the down tune mod you have on it!

[@thegoldensubway4182]

I wanna hear it in action!

[@thegoldensubway4182]

awesome!

[@mziv112]

PurpleRhino coming soon, even more months later...

[@xBruno700x]

Coming soon :c

[@landonbailey]

Nice job! Timely I found this video, I'm working on doing some major upgrades on my Squier Vintage Modified 77 Jazz Bass. So fun to work on these kinds of diy jobs

[@lancelittle593]

Awesome job. I really like the drop type tuner you used ,nice for on the fly stage work

[@kimota2010]

Amazing work man- an utterly gorgeous instrument! Liked and subscribed!

[@barrypwalkerable]

Modded or parts-caster, you did a great job. Looks like a gorgeous bass. Like many others I was eager to hear it being played!!!! Hope your friend liked it!!!!!

[@stevenordstedt2535]

Hell that’s an Awesome job you did!

[@realtalk1278]

Great informative video man!🤘🏽🔥🔥🔥

[@KarstenJohansson]

The detuner is pretty brilliant. One of my guitars has a drop D which I sometimes drop further to a C. I'd love to have that kind of tuner on there.

[@justaguyinadress]

I did something along the lines of this with a Squier affinity p-bass. I sanded off the black finish of the front and back of the body, leaving the edges black. Removed the neck and did the same with the clear finish including decals and serial number. Then stained both pieces oxblood red, wax polished the body and painted the face of the headstock black. Got a luthier friend of mine to handwind some some pickups that we made from walnut, both bobbins and covers. We only wax potted a little to retain a slight microphonic quality for harmonic content. CTS pots with a switchcraft jack and one mod switch that allows you to use a .047 cap or a .2 cap for a modern or vintage flavour. We used 60s specs for the pickups but overwound with slightly bigger Alnico V magnets than normally used. As it stands, I have the pickups sitting lower than I normally would and they sound fantastic. For now, I have the original bridge and tuners but they are sufficient for the time being. This modded Squier p-bass sounds better than any p-bass I have ever played in my life. Actually. At full volume, it is very crisp and punchy giving a more modern sound. Dialing back the volume to about 7 gets you a more vintage feel of the p-bass' history and with the cap switch mod, playing with the tone control and where the caps resonant pick is gives you a world of tonal options to play with.

[@TGBassTutor]

Replaced my Squier Classic Vibe 60s neck with a Mighty Mite years ago, and swapped out the pickups for SD Quarter Pounders, best P Bass I've ever played!

[@SombraPiloto]

I love that very mucho. Red body/black pickguard/dark fingerboard is beauteous...

[@rustylynch546]

great vid and great custom build thanks for putting up your vid ,just bought a squire pbass and I dig the pick ups man been a Yamaha rbx and warick guy for 20 years changed my opinion on squire basses

[@xDany248x]

Looks great, I feel like doing this to my MIM Precision

[@graspunwrapped1124]

You've done a great job modding that instrument. I've got an Ash MiM jazz that now sports a Warmoth neck, an African Wenge pickguard, and Schaller BML Light tuners. I'm contemplating a passive > active conversion (Audere 4 band regular jazz preamp w/ Delano JC 4 HE/M2 pickups).

[@Tomtoms-tomtoms]

Amazing job... wow.. very inspirational

[@maduroholdings]

That is pretty amazing I do mods as well but I never thought about decals on a mighty might.

[@douglasj53]

Great video! You are a man after my own heart! I have put together about 10 Frankenstrats and 4 Frankenteles using Squier components. I love the mid-80s MIJ and MIK E Series necks. I got most of them around within the last 10 - 15 years when you could still get them. The pots are always CTS, Sprague Orange Drop caps, CRL pickup switches, cloth pushback wiring etc. Since these were projects, I wanted to experiment with pickups so I've used Fender Texas Specials, Fat 50s, Nocasters (on a Tele) and even Lollar Super S for a Strat ($300 for the set. Probably worth more than the guitar!). I could pick these guitars up for about $100 and for an additional $200 or so have a guitar that I would put up against any USA Fender. Plus knowing that I didn't just pay $750+ for a freaking decal!

[@KaitouKaiju]

You replaced pretty much everything that matters tonally and playability wise except the body so yeah.

[@bflo1000]

At which point is it no longer a Squier LOL!? If it still had the original neck? BTW, I'll take this over an American Fender also. Great Job, Ken.

[@hughes2397]

Oh yeah, that bass will definitely keep up with the U.S.A. made basses all day long.

[@SynZ777]

Wood tone is a myth. It might matter just slightly, but it only matters mainly on acoustic instruments.

[@alfieharries]

Jake D have to disagree - a bass made with a crap bit of wood can still sound fine, but - imo - two identical basses can sound and resonate completely differently and the main inconsistency is the wood. It is subtle and probably unnoticeable to non players but makes a big difference, IMHO obviously

[@BigAirNo1]

Wood tone and how construction methods sound different can't be a myth. If you took a humbucker for example and wired it into the bridge position of a strat then took the exact same pickup, pot and wires etc and put it into the bridge position of a les Paul the difference is huge! The sound difference between a cheap squire with some top quality pickups in it and an full fat American bass for example the difference in sound is much smaller as the woods are similar and the construction is the same. The difference is that the American already has the top quality pickups and wiring and the best wood selection and the nitro finish and the good hardware and the nicer neck etc etc so when you think of it, if you're going to do that much work and go ahead with all that expense you might aswel just buy an American made one lol

[@ArkaHtun]

i love the way and amount you use the word cool, and super cool. it was the most interesting part of the vid..

[@PaulXerxen]

Amazing, I just finished doing all of these mods to my squier p bass too. I also did the graphtec saddles and dropped in active EMG pickups.

[@kennisrussell]

Awesome!!!

[@michaelb.42112]

Hey Kennis. I like your videos a lot. You did a KILLER job on Tim's bass. I have a SIRE P/J bass and it's the way to go. So much more balls and tones than a jazz bass. I like all the parts you picked, too. I have another P/J with the same pickups and they're active. LOVE it. No preamp, just a 9v and VVT. It has the dip switches on the pickups, so it's kinda like a preamp considering I can add or subtract mid bass treble.

[@bassimprovjams3772]

Very cool build!!

[@glenwallace6314]

That is a nice Bass. You are good to your friends.

[@buhrrito]

Literally what I want to do to an affinity Squier. Just hot rod the snot out of it. Beautiful guitar. Jazz Neck, PJ bass config, upgraded internals. Siiiiick.

[@Bassguitar1231]

Great review, new subscriber, i am a touring professional with a collection of over 50 guitars, mostly fender, schecter, gibson, basses and strats etc, i recently had my MIJ Jaguar bass Seymour Duncan pups, they sound great, the originals were also good but not quite, your videos will now be a must watch for me thanks !

[@tigerscott2966]

Great job....now that bass is a real keeper.

[@Jihadbearzwithgunz]

I could be wrong but those are flush mount strap loks should be counter sunk into the body. Everything about this bass besides the body has been swapped though making it a new beast.. Awesome work man.

[@greentopvideos204]

This is a really good video, keep up the good work dude!

[@richrokk]

Excellent work brother!

[@simons.2948]

I bought a squire CV PJ Bass to mod, now has Bloodstone scatter wound vintage pick-ups,Badass 2 hi-mass, bridge, Badass tuners, full fret job, setup & new strings. Already had a bone nut & pots were all good with nice metal knobs & like you I wud put it up against anything fender make. Gone my MM Stingray special the edge though, just. Nice vid

[@andrewmoran357]

lovley job Ken

[@stevenordstedt2535]

The head string holder. Is not just for looks. It’s purpose is to pull the strings down. Over the nut. Helps with tuning.

[@shalamigri]

I bought an inexpensive active Squire Jaguar PJ about 5 years ago. Not really sure why (because it was already a nice bass), but I replaced the pickups with EMG's (new pot set also). I also replaced the pickguard with another one. I also replaced the bridge with a Hipshot KickA$$ High-mass Bridge. I'm very satisfied with it.

[@lauriebluesguy]

Excellent work, I regurlarly gig a Squier 5 string Classic Vibe, with most of it replaced. I gig it against an Overwater 5 string - it compares well with it. The bodies are excellent and resonant, I replaced the neck only because it had a broken truss rod, and replaecd it with another Squier neck. Kept the pickups stock, BUT replaced the bridge with a hi mass and then added a Guyker Active Pre-amp. Squier's re excellent :)

[@luifranco1457]

I wish you would have played some lines to hear it at the end! The open E, then dropped to D sounded really good, so I wanted to hear more. Very inspiring, I'm about to mod my VMJB with Noiseless Fender pups and will be using conductive paint to shield the cavities, thanks to your mention (was going to use copper tape!)

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Excellent bass upgrades

[@combatmedic3347]

I salute you, Bro...nice job.

[@daveharris514]

Pity you had to change the neck, its not really a Squire anymore, but its a beauty. Well done. I'm a firm believer in not spending 1000's to get something decent.

[@marchangel7462]

You're a great friend brother!

[@toasty9670]

This is awesome. It inspired me to mod my own, which I will do soon.

[@joejackson2388]

Awesome video. Great work.

[@1thess523]

I just did a Chinese squire P bass, i put some Dimarzio pick ups, new pots and cap and then i found a Washburn bridge that's a replica of the Leo Quan BA high mass and this bass sounds sweet! The bass actually cost me $15.00 on Craigslist , the pick up's were $35.00 on Craigslist , pots and caps were about $13.00 on Amazon.

[@aukinotanga4530]

I am using vinyl decals at the moment so am still curious about how noticeably visible they turn out in the light. Very nice job and thanks for listing the sellers of the products.

[@MihaiDanPopescu]

I have something similar in plan. I will start from the VM Squire PJ. Already have a modded VM P V with a killer tone for me.

[@50gary]

Very nice ideas and execution. I'm doing about the same with a Squire Affininty Strat "hand crafted in Indonesia" except I kept the original neck. I would recommend (when you do your own Pre-Jazz bass) that you convert the neck joint to machine screws with inserts. Nothing bolts up as well way more solid. Stock of course is wood screws, okay but not anywhere as solid as inserts and machine screws, on a bass I think it would be even more effective due to the much longer neck. I converted my "Super Squire" and it's very nice. I used 10/32 machine screws. I also have a 1985 original Schecter Guitar Research neck and body (new unfinished in box) and hardware it's a P-Bass I'm inspired by your project, I may have to add a jazz PU.

[@jackjohnson2360]

Did the same thing with an old squier. Used Geezer Butler EMGs, fender himass bridge, schaller tuners, Fender neck plate with a mighty mite maple on maple neck. Sounds as good as a real fender

[@legweg5748]

Very nice Squier bass! If you get a vintage modified Pj Squier Precision bass, it already has the jazz neck. I also wanted a PJ Precision bass and a jazz neck, that's why I bought a used vintage modified Squier, and changed everything but the body and neck. EMG Geezer Butler pickups, which comes with all the electronics, Hipshot bridge and tuners, new pickguard and of course new strings. In the end I liked the bass so much that I bought another one and modified it with the same parts, exactly the same except for the color ;)

[@pdp977]

That's a lovely piece of work, and I'd guess better than most Fender basses.

[@TalmageL-pn2pv]

Must be very nice to have friends like you. Not everyone could do that,,even if they would. That thing is awesome. And beautiful. I'd like to hear it

[@danmar007]

That's one great looking bass!

[@guitardev9399]

Looks awesome! Your friend is going to love you even more. Haha! Check out the Babicz FCH bass bridge for your own bass. Cheers!

[@RayLawrenceJrMUSIC]

I super modded my p bass with a BYO Guitar neck with Stainless Steel frets with a Jazz neck, They say Donald Duck Dunn had a Jazz bass neck on one of his basses. I installed Graph Tech Ratio Tuners like the P bass uses, Tusq nut from Graph Tech. The string tree holds down 3 strings all at once, A-D-G strings. I used EMG Geezer Butler PJ pickups and those are passive and powerful. I installed a Hipshot kickass high mass bridge with brass saddle inserts. 8-32 streel inserts and 8-32 stainless machine screws are holding it to the body. The neck got the same 8-32 inserts and machine screws. The neck plate is a Greer Amps 1/8" thick plate. The Strings are GHS stainless steel flat wounds. The pickups have inserts for the adjustment screws in the body. Under the pickups is a piece of foam that came with the EMG pickups so the pickups do not wobble around. The strap buttons also have 8-32 steel inserts and 8-32 stainless machine screws. The jack plate has inserts and machine screws as does the pick guard, different size screws and inserts. No more using tooth picks in the screw holes for repairs to damaged screw holes on this bass. These mods made my bass one really great playing bass. Yes, it cost a lot but I got a bass I love to play and I had lots of fun making it the way I like it to be. It plays and sounds great.

[@drewbenstudio9739]

You did an insane job! That's a bass I'd pay top dollar for.

[@chickenyardproduct]

Omg Tim must be a very happy man thats nice man

[@ALBERTOGARCIA-nk9bo]

Very nice work, really took care of every detail, but what about the sound? could be possible to make another video comparing the sound of this modded bass vs a Presicion and vs a Jazz?

[@Dunk0The0Punk]

Hi Kennis - Really nice Bass could you please tell me about the Fender High Mass Bridge did the 5 Screw holes in the Squire Body match the 5 screw holes in the High mass Bridge ? and did you have to re-drill the holes for the Machine Heads ?

[@thomasbarker7735]

Nice looking bass I want one

[@rowlandstraylight]

I like. Inexpensive instrument and a fret dress FTW. Looks like you have the flush-mount dunlop system, you can drill a 10mm hole and all you see of the strap button is the flange on the end.

[@rowlandstraylight]

Sharp brad-point (I don't think forstners go that small), mark the cut with the drill bit scoring the finish. Go over the cut line with a sharp scalpel. Put masking tape over the area. Drill. The flange on the end of the button will hide any jaggedness to the hole. Did this to my Squier strat which has been similarly improved, although piecemeal over 16 years, and will be doing to some future builds. Not brave enough to try this on an Ibanez S.

[@savagelouie7007]

Kick ass video, now I want to take apart my old ones and upgrade everything. Any tip for good strat pickups on a low budget?

[@douglasj53]

Why would anybody give a Thumbs Down to this? If the guy put together something he's happy with, be glad for him.

[@robertbennett6418]

Oh! I am changing the pick guard to a black pearl. Nice!

[@rjohnson494]

Nice work.

[@benthebassplayer]

I used an R&F decal on a Jazzmaster/Tele hybrid I put together, great decals i did mess mine up a tiny bit a curled the "R" at the end of JELEMASTER

[@richg1221]

Did you film step by step? You got me motivated to mod out my 1999 squire p bass.

[@SC2LuckyStrikes]

That Isn't a modded squire, it's an entirely new custom instrument.

[@StMoritzGuitars]

Bryce Wiseman I wouldn't even call it a custom...nothing was scratch built.

[@pilsplease7561]

that isnt what defines something as custom you realize right.

[@nategin9009]

@@pilsplease7561 custom, modded, both mean basically the same thing

[@counter3911]

The real question is: why do you care if it’s modded or custom

[@charlieburns1385]

Nice job!

[@alacajun007]

I just modded a Squier Affinity P/J myself, however, my Squier's neck did have jazz neck dimensions, so I used it. Pickups and hardware were all changed though...

[@clarkewoodfin]

Great video ! I'm doing some similar upgrades to a Squier Jazz 5 and you gave me some great new ideas. How hard was it to apply those custom stickers?

[@RobiTheophilus]

Omgosh, that's beautiful 😄

[@notab7626]

Can I use the Hipshot Tuners on the original Squier neck like a direct replacement? As in no need to drill any holes in it?

[@Glad4394]

Looks great

[@WoodesosGuitarMods]

Super rad bro!

[@4stringb]

Awesome bass ! Did you have to shim the neck with new bridge. Thanks for any help.

[@Christopherjazzcat]

Awesome stuff. You are rad to do that for your friend. I think I have the same model bass, I'm having some trouble with the wiring. Did you abandon the multicoloured wires and just wire it up traditional pj style?

[@guitarmotion1431]

1st! Love it!

[@RobertSlover]

i just bought a PJ bass and wanted to swap out the pickguard, but the knobs dont seem to have a hole for a tool any suggestions?

[@BassRacerx]

I have a squier affinity p bass that I put EMG active pickups in made it so much better! trying to keep an eye out for a jazz bass neck that is at a good price in maple hopefully.

[@craftlover2037]

WOW! That's the bass I want!

[@brog9353]

I have a squier special (same as his original that hes calling a P J bass) Do you know where you can get spare pickguards for them? Not for a jazz or percision but for the special

[@liiyahleal1319]

@kennis russel hi what do you call the thing you put on E string's tuning peg? :)

[@ConstantineIsslamow]

Stunning.

[@pts5217]

Hi. Awesome job! Do you know if a Fender jazz bass neck would fit on a Squier?

[@Zeze2749]

Only if i had a friend like him.....it would be great in Christmas!!

[@yuukij6530]

NICE ONE! Do you have the links for CTS 250k, switch craft and toggle killswitch? I'm trying to mod my bass by my own. Thanks