SH73

[quote name='bazztard' timestamp='1479364077' post='3175924']


except Squier is made by Fender, so it is a Fender product. Skoda is not made by Audi,they just share parent company

Not saying it's OK to call a Squier a Fender, but if they call it a "Squier by Fender" I think that's OK.
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The point is, most people who sell Squier they advertise it as Fender.
Imagine a Bakery store but they only sell rolls but no bread. The same ingredients though different shape and taste.

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1479342331' post='3175882']


100% agreed.

There's nothing wrong with a Squier and it's a very silly thing to do to advertise it as a Fender. Just like it'd be silly to advertise a Skoda as an Audi because both companies belong to the same group and even share some design and components...


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I was going to say this. But in reality Skoda is more reliable nowadays.....

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1479342953' post='3175887']


you mean as good as fendres, surely
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And Chibsons

I have both Squier and Epiphone and both have Fender and Gibson logo retrospectively but it's not the same. Although my both Squier basses feels and sound better than some of the Fender models I tried.
My Epiphone is a Korean made and the quality appears to be spot on.
But still not the same by name....

It frustrates me when people advertise guitars for sale on internet for something they are not.
I see this all the time.For example, they put a title Fender stratocaster with low price next to it. When I click on the item it's a Squier affinity.
Don't get me wrong I own Squier and some are better than some Fenders.The same applies to Epiphone vs Gibson.

But it's the principle.

Yummy but can't justify

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1479115783' post='3173950']
I've swapped bridges on a bass before but it was purely a practical matter - I dont like fender style captive bridges that a lot of cheap basses use as it makes changing strings a pain and makes a quick string swap with already used strings impossible. I use replacement locking tuners for a similar reason, to make string changes easier.
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You saying that you swapped a standard bridge for a high mass bridge?

I don't have a pedal board purely because I don't play in a band so no gigs. I have one preamp/di box which I barely use.

But if I had one it would be a tuner and a compressor, although unsure if a compressor is worth buying. I use compressor plug in after I record the raw bass sound.
Perhaps it would be tuner and preamp/di box to help cut through guitars and drums.I found the the di box gets that bit of a tube valve sound with a very tiny amount of harmonics.

Final answer, tuner and preamp/di.

British Lion

Keep the mulled wine going!

[quote name='geoham' timestamp='1478852469' post='3172070']
Just a wee rant from me today! I really can't understand how people think sometimes!

All of my bands are inactive just now for various reasons, so I was looking on Gumtree for something new. I responded to an appropriate looking ad for a start-up band. Guys aged 40+ doing classic rock - seemed like fun, and at 35 I was almost the right age!

We exchanged a few emails and arranged to meet at a rehearsal room last night. There for four songs I was asked to learn - one was fairly proggy and not exactly straight forward - but I got there! I work about a mile from the rehearsal room in a city centre - so just took my gear on the train to work with me, hung about the office an extra hour and walked down. I also normally need to take care of the kids in a Thursday, but arranged a babysitter. So, a fair amount of effort on my part. I arrive at the rehearsal room, to be informed by the staff that the booking had been cancelled!

The guy from Gumtree is now totally unresponsive. (I was polite!)

I can't fathom out how anyone could think this was remotely acceptable. A quick email or text would have saved me a lot of hassle!
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Totally agree. I have recently sold something on the Internet. I arranged for buyer to collect, twice she didn't show up. No e mail nothing. I have no respect for such people.

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1478886218' post='3172495']
I've done a fair amount of modding just to get small differences in the end. It's great fun and helps you get to know your way around your basses and learn how to repair them if needed.
Two advices:

- Don't make permanent mods like cutting/carving/routing/drilling the bass unless you're sure they'll be for ever. If you mod a bass making sure it's all reversible you can bring it to it's original state when it comes to sell it and sell all the extra parts on the side. It will be the most profitable way to sell that bass.

- If it ain't broken or malfunctioning don't bother to change it. Pickups do some difference to the tone but there's so much influenced by the instrument (wood/strings) itself that the difference won't be as dramatic as you might think. Getting a new bass with a core tone very close to your taste is allways a better starting point. You'll never make a Fender sound like a Wal, ie.

Bridge mass hasn't as influence in sustain as a new saddle/nut cut properly and with a good break angle and well intonated.
All in all, i think that the best mod to really make a bass sound much different must be to add/replace a good quality on-board preamp, but then, there's so much preamp/eq pedals out there...
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I once made a permanent mod to a D-bass Jolana which was a Rickenbaker copy and regret it to this day. Lesson learnt

[quote name='taunton-hobbit' timestamp='1478876528' post='3172329']
If it does what you want - leave it alone.


[/quote]
Yep that's why I haven't modified

[quote name='ivansc' timestamp='1478874365' post='3172299']
(grin) I think I found the way round this. Dont modify what you already have if you like it, just buy another bass to suit the style and then sell it as and when the gig ends.
Much easier to sell a whole bass than a bunch of aftermarket addons

P.S. And it is a great excuse to use on that Significant Other Who Doesnt Understand
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I like the PS quote

Folks
I don't know how about you but I end up doing endless research and find different opinions about guitar pick ups, bridges etc.
At the moment I can't decide if I should change a pick up on my electric guitar or keep it.There's only way to find out buthe if I don't like it I blew money.
Same with high mass Fender bridge that has been collecting dust for months. If I change it is it going to change the sustain etc significantly. I don't really play style of music where the sustain is a must.
Anyone is in a similar situation or is it just me going bonkers?

[quote name='Luulox' timestamp='1478624879' post='3170413']
Irongear are really good for the cash. I have changed many pickups on my guitars and the only ones that made a big difference were irongear smokestack 2 and bare knuckle, which are a lot dearer.
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Initially I liked the idea of dirty torque and blues engine combo. Have you any experience with these?

Cheers I'll do some more research.

[quote name='randythoades' timestamp='1478624292' post='3170401']
As you say, horses for courses, and 50s style wiring adds a different (but nice) feel to the guitar:

In both my strats, my tele and my Parkwood, I definitely notice the difference in changing the pots. Everything felt a little less muffled, as if a thin blanket had been lifted off the sound, an extra bit of clarity and sparkle, certainly controllability to be able to roll the pot back and take the harshness out of the tone. And changing the pickups with new wiring added just the extra sophistication, but I doubt an audience member will ever come over to you an say 'Hey man, your new pots sound awesome...'

As with everything guitar based, little improvements will work but it is an overall sum of the parts (including the player) so a £3k les paul can sound pants into a £50 Gear 4 Music practice amp, whereas a 'budget' stock Epiphone can sound immense into a Marshall JCM stack.
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[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1478621972' post='3170379']
FWIW I would say that the quality of your pots and switch and the type of capacitor used don't make a significant difference to your sound. High quality pots do feel nicer, last longer and the taper can be better, but that's all about ease of use rather than sound. I've yet to see anyone demonstrate with measurements which electrical characteristic of cheaper pots makes them sound inferior.
The value of the pots and tone capacitors and the way they are wired can make a difference, and can be worth experimenting with. For example, some people like a smaller tone capacitor than comes as stock and changing to "50s style" wiring where the tone pot is wired to the volume control differently can keep things a bit clearer sounding as the volume control is turned down.
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I found my guitar sounding superb and there's no feedback or humming coming through even if i use distortion. Sometimes I wonder why would someone want to upgrade to tone/volume pots etc. I did once upgraded the pots on my squier bass but soon put the stock pots back as they worked better.Horses for courses.

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1478621972' post='3170379']
FWIW I would say that the quality of your pots and switch and the type of capacitor used don't make a significant difference to your sound. High quality pots do feel nicer, last longer and the taper can be better, but that's all about ease of use rather than sound. I've yet to see anyone demonstrate with measurements which electrical characteristic of cheaper pots makes them sound inferior.
The value of the pots and tone capacitors and the way they are wired can make a difference, and can be worth experimenting with. For example, some people like a smaller tone capacitor than comes as stock and changing to "50s style" wiring where the tone pot is wired to the volume control differently can keep things a bit clearer sounding as the volume control is turned down.
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I found my guitar sounding superb and there's no feedback or humming coming through even if i use distortion. Sometimes I wonder why would someone want to upgrade to tone/volume pots etc. I did once upgraded the pots on my squier bass but soon put the stock pots back as they worked better.Horses for courses.

[quote name='randythoades' timestamp='1478617109' post='3170320']
SH73, most budget style guitars are wired using cheap components and capacitors so do benefit from being rewired to quality items. If you don't fancy doing it yourself then you can purchase ready made wiring looms (kits) from eBay or Axesrus.co.uk for instance that just need connecting to pickups and jack. It will take the quality of the electronics up to the level of the USA guitars. If you don't feel comfortable then your favourite guitar tech will do it in a short space of time and not charge too much.
There doesn't seem much point in putting in high class pickups and then run them through cheap and nasty components, a bit like running your blueray surround sound movie through the speakers on your phone rather than your cinema system.
You may find that the original pickups actually blossom with decent electronics or that you still want to change them. Either way it still a good idea if you think the guitar is a keeper.
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Thanks for advice.The guitar is definitely keeper.

Suppose I change the pick ups I may not like the sound. I've replaced the pick ups on my Squier Matt Freeman for spb4 then spb2. Now thinking going back to stock pick ups to get that raw sound back.

[quote name='Bassnut62' timestamp='1478386318' post='3168822']
He about some nice P90s, like the original 50s and 60s Gold Tops? THse are the Gold Tops people pay really big money for and they do sound amazing and very distinctive.
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Don't like the look of P90s. They probably sound good

[quote name='randythoades' timestamp='1478186453' post='3167390']
Just to stir the cauldron a little... if it sounds brilliant, why the interest in changing the pickups?

Not that I have any problem changing pickups but it is usually to address a perceived deficiency somewhere. An extra vote for Tonerider, they do some great sounding pickups.
Before you change the pickups I would change the wiring loom for a decent replacement; it is cheaper to do and you may find the stock pickups really open up with higher quality pots and caps.
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I've got no experience with wiring loom.Can you elaborate please?

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1477996650' post='3165778']
Gold top, a proper LP I know nothing about Irongear pickups, sorry. However, if you're looking for a specific tone, drop DiMarzio a line. I have found them to be super helpful on many occasions, even receiving replies from pickup guru, Steve Blucher himself.
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I've considered Dimarzio but heardon't iron gear is just as good for less than half price