MODIFIED Squier Mini Precision Bass. The Mini Monster Wins Again!

Squier Mini P-Bass Upgrade Kit from Thomann: redir.love/tho...
Full report and pictures: robcooke.net/s...
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Immediate update: I already tried stringing up the flat-wound E string without the extension and it seems to be ok wrapped around the tuning peg. No issues at all, so my work-around mod turned out to be unnecessary.
This also means that I am not going to bother getting a hi-mass bridge and in any event I think I may still prefer the tone of the round-wound strings on this bass, so they may be going back on soon!

[@RobCmusic]

Update: Highly recommended if you want to put flatwounds on your mini P bass. I put these on and they are wonderful. Much better than the Rotosounds IMO. This is an affiliate link. thmn.to/thoprod/562322?partner_id=18157

[@oliviergagnon4130]

I have put CTS full sized pots in it and it fits (super tight). Also changed the pickups for Dimarzios DP122BK. Sounds super good now. Good video thank you

[@barackmycat9448]

Great sound. I just put a set of LaBella on a CNZ mini bass and the E string was long. I tried winding and I heard a snap. Sounded like a broken tuner. It was just the outside wrap breaking through. I kept retuning and it stays perfect. Nice.

[@timothybailey2119]

First, Alpha "full size" pots and a Switchcraft jack will fit perfectly in that cavity! Second, I did a "little" more work to mine than you did. I added a Duncan Quarter Pounder, a Hipshot KA Bridge, Grover bass tuners. All 3 were drop-in replacements, no modding required! I topped mine off with 77 SS Flatwounds too! For less than $400 I have a dependable, gig worthy, great sounding, easy to play, short scale bass that's also easy to haul around!

[@RobCmusic]

That sounds great. I will go more extensive on the upgrades over time, so thanks for the info regarding the tuners and the pickup.

[@Robyjv8]

I realize this is an older post but would you happen to remember which Grover tuners you used ? I'd love to see how your Mini came out ! They are some really amazing instruments! ✌️🤘

[@AndreaAustoni]

My Mini P has had short scale Chromes on it for 2 and a half years with the E partially wrapped around the post with no issue. They have a hex core, they won't break. No need for the silly-looking extension. Round core strings like Labellas will probably break, though. Thomann now carries the special set Labellas makes for the Mini!

[@doncrisp]

What a beautiful tone! Love it!

[@RobCmusic]

Thanks very much!

[@rodshop5897]

The pickguard change going from white to ivory is very subtle on YT. As far as the string ends, I've had a set of Pyramid Gold flats on my short scale for over 20 years and the E string wraps around the peg as much as yours will if you don't have the bridge extension. So far, so good.

[@RobCmusic]

Thanks for the comment. Yes it is subtle in photos and on the video, but in reality it's a much nicer look. It just looks more upmarket than the 1-ply, stark white.

[@heyheymymind1939]

Do you have any demo available?

[@rodshop5897]

@@heyheymymind1939 Sorry, if you are asking if I have a demo of my cheap Samick with Pyramid Gold flats, I'm afraid I do not. The strings cost more than the bass, but I still love it.

[@RobCmusic]

Immediate update: I already tried stringing up the flat-wound E string without the extension and it seems to be ok wrapped around the tuning peg. No issues at all, so my work-around mod turned out to be unnecessary. I am going to get a hi mass bridge though because I am curious if it'll improve the performance at all.

[@timothybailey2119]

Adding a High Mass bridge adds a lot of sustain. Fender makes an almost identical HM Bridge to the Hipshot, that sells for for less money than the Hipshot and it fits better. Both of them lengthen the string the same amount. (It's the exact same bridge that comes on the new Fender ULTRA P Bass). Amazon carries them both!

[@RobCmusic]

@@timothybailey2119 Thanks for the info. Actually I have already ordered one of those Fender hi mass bridges; the brass saddle version. I'm looking forward to putting it on there.

[@lostinpa-dadenduro7555]

Your review videos convinced me. Mine arrived an hour or so ago. Came out of the box perfectly fine. I have to say that the frets and fret edges were pretty close to the same level of finish as my Charvel SoCal guitar. I don’t know if that’s a big positive for Squire or a big negative for Charvel. 😂 This bass 100% can be used for playing along with Iron Maiden. 🤘 I think I will put a set of slightly heavier short scale strings on it, a hipshot KH bridge. I’d like a little more tension on the low E. It’s super fun. 👍

[@RobCmusic]

Thanks for the comment. Yes the added tension does improve the feel a little bit. I've now settled on a set of Labella flatwounds on my mini-P. They make a set specifically for this scale length and the tension is just right for me.

[@travieso1ruvalcaba672]

I bought this for my 4 yo son in Dakota red. I decided to learn myself. I was looking for a full size bass then I decided just upgrade my son's mini p and learn with it (I decided this today 🤣). With a good mark bass head it sounds amazing anyway

[@RobCmusic]

Yeah I'm still rocking my mini P-Bass. I have a Fender hi-mass bridge on it now. It is an improvement, but not night and day.

[@ErnieJ89]

Hey Rob, just wanted to share that I tried the GHS Short Scale Brite Flats and they actually fit quite nice without any mods.

[@RobCmusic]

Thanks for the tip. I'm back to enjoying the stock strings for now, but I'll consider those when I need or fancy a change.

[@Rachels123]

Paint it British racing green.

[@Robyjv8]

Great video ! Have you made any new mods on your Mini since taking this video ?

[@RobCmusic]

Thanks for the comment. I did install a Fender branded hi-mass bridge and an affordable alnico V pickup. That lasted a couple of years and now it has Labella flatwounds and the original bridge back on (I prefer the look) and I kept the alnico V pickup in there. I also got a black pickguard for it. I love that look. I would love the look even more if it had a maple fretboard.

[@Robyjv8]

​@@RobCmusicthanks for the reply ! Could you please tell me a little about your bass amp rig using the Hotone Britwind ? It sounds awesome ! Is t that actually a guitar amp ? Have you ever used it with a bass cabinet ? Do you use any effects ? I'm asking g because I'm wanting to put together a rig with more of a lead bass heavy/hard rock sound. Thanks in advance for any suggestions and help you could spare !

[@Radco2000]

Competition green like on a Jaguar would be hip!

[@paulclare6589]

My mini squire from day one the tone control never worked , i sent it back to the shop, they did nothing. I changed the pickups, he pots and the cap .47 uf, still nothing, took it to a local shop ,if ya turn the volume loud there is a little change in the sound, the bass plays fine ...just no tone control. anyone have any suggestions ?

[@notekovsky]

Head stock ,neck and fretboard is too dry for me. I apply lemon oil to all of them for a day. It’s improved look and feeling significantly!.

[@RobCmusic]

The neck does seem a bit on the dry side. Mine has absorbed plenty of finger dirt by now!

[@f1948s]

Hello Rob....sounds and looks great. Can you tell me where I can get one of those string extenders or is that just a small mechanic's socket? Like the extension probably increases the string tension which I like. Thanks.

[@RobCmusic]

Yes it's just a socket from a normal socket set. I forget the size. I don't have it onthe bass now, but it worked just fine.

[@jonmatthews4254]

String through body mod needed?

[@RobCmusic]

No, especially if you get these flatwounds made specially for this scale length: thmn.to/thoprod/562322?partner_id=18157 I put them on mine and they are far, far better than the Rotosounds in my opinion.

[@DonnieBlaze28]

Where did you find the pic guard? I just purchased the red squier mb.

[@RobCmusic]

I get asked that question all the time, so the answer is now pinned to the top.

[@DonnieBlaze28]

@@RobCmusic 😂😂😂 thanks for responding man ✌🏾

[@michaelbell75]

Nice. Are these the stock pickups?

[@RobCmusic]

Yes, although I have now replaced with an affordable Alnico 5 pickup. The difference is that the alnico pickup is lower output and warmer, but I wouldn't say it's better, just different.

[@ChrisJohnsonChannel]

Man those rot sound flats sound deep and fat

[@kropht]

Hi there! Sorry I know its been a little while since making this video. I just wanted to ask how you got on with changing the pickguard? Did you have much trouble with it? Many thanks!

[@RobCmusic]

Hi Emily. No touble at all. It fitted properly with the holes all lining up ok. However I later change the pickup for an unbranded alnico and I needed to enlarge the pickup cutout a bit for that to fit properly.

[@Romans--bo7br]

Rob C Music.... or, anyone else.... I just brought home a new Squier Mini P this evening (11.30.2021)... noticed that the tone control has Very Minimal difference from one extreme setting to the other. Is this a common issue with this bass, or did I just get a "bad" tone control pot?? IF it's the tone control pot that's "bad".... what would be a good substitute to change it out with.... and what "size".. ie; 250K, 500K, etc.?? The pickups are "HOT"!!.... it "seems" like it would take at least a 5 or 600W amp with at least a single 18" to handle it without distortion. My amp is 300w with 2 x 12's and it's distorting them with the amp Gain at only 25% and the amp volume at about 35 /40%.... and the bass volume at about 60 to 70%!! I have three other basses, an Ibanez 300E, a new Sterling Ray4 and a Rogue Violin body.. that are Not near as aggressive in volume as this "little" Mini P is.

[@RobCmusic]

The tone control on my bass was very effective across the whole sweep of the pot. The stock pickup does seem to be quite hot, but it didn't pose any problems for me. The stock pots are 250k, I would recommend 250k for replacements too.

[@Romans--bo7br]

@@RobCmusic... Rob C. Thank you so much for your reply and advice. So, it sounds like I just got stuck with a "bad" control pot in mine.... will swap it out very soon... as soon as I get a chance to drive to my nearest Guitar Center, where I ordered my Mini P from. I was looking at replacement pots at GC before I left for home with the bass.... but, then had second thoughts. I shouldn't have "2nd guessed" myself and just followed my "gut" and bought a new pot while I was there... they only had two sizes in stock, a 250K and a 500K..... what would be the difference between the two.... responsiveness or what? They had them both in Two Brands... a "house brand" and Fender, which appeared to be more complicated as the Fender had an additional piece that needed to be soldered in, somewhere. I'm no "electronics expert"... so I don't know or understand the differences from "low to high" in the "K" ranges of the different pot sizes... for tone control and volume. So, IF you would... it would be Greatly appreciated if you could tell me the differences, and how it might affect Tone Control... and perhaps, as well as the volume control, if I wanted or needed to ever change that, as well. I also picked up several different sets of flat wounds, including Tape Wound / Flats.

[@RobCmusic]

@@Romans--bo7br When I took my pickguard off to replace it with a nicer one, the tone pot fell apart on mine when I loosened the nut (even though it was working fine before that), so I guess that is definitely one of the areas they've cut costs!

[@Romans--bo7br]

@@RobCmusic... Thanks again for your reply..... but, you didn't address my questions. : ( Can you re-read my last reply to you, and possibly answer the questions I had/have...? Thanks again.

[@RobCmusic]

@@Romans--bo7br 250k pots will make the bass sound darker/less bright than 500k.

[@jacksatt1uk]

are the pickups the same size as the regular p bass?

[@RobCmusic]

I believe so yes, as is the bridge/string spacing etc.

[@michaelbell75]

Yes

[@andrejpliaskin9444]

Harley Benton shorty sounds better

[@RobCmusic]

Everyone keeps asking me where I got the pickguard, so I've pinned this comment. Ebay co.uk, seller name is "earlpilanz" or search "Pickguard for Squier Mini Precision P Bass: many colours"