bassatnight

Recently purchased a VM Squire Jazz for the princely sum of £150 of the bay, its a lovely version with no obvious issues and a lovely neck. Just for something to do I decided to see how far I can upgrade it for as little money as poss, so far I have swapped the bridge with a Gotoh 201B which made an immidiate difference with the sustain and generally feel. I have added a pick up cover ala Marcus Miller. I also intend to swap out the pups with some good high quality ones - I have looked at the Fender custom 60's which are around £100 also the silent version which is a little more but anyone got any advice as to the pups I should put in? looking for the best possible quality for around £100 or less. What else should I look at changing? Ta, Stevo

Ebay used to be great but the charges are now beyond belief! I recently tried to sell an item for £800 it didn't sell but they still charged me £40 various options like me putting a reserve on it!

Following a recent clear out of my high end basses I have decided to pick up some cheap intsruments and upgrade them. In the last week I have purchased a Squier VM Jazz and a J&D Fretless 4 stringer. I have no idea who J&D are but having dome some research and watched a few You tube clips at £160 I thought I would have a go. I must admit I am having a great time setting them up and replacing the Bridges, The pups and adding new pick guards etc. I probably won't get my money back but am enjoying seeing how good I can make them. Next on my list a Squire Classic Vibe P! Might start documenting what I have done with a few pics. I think in these hard times with finances perhaps its the way to go! Anyone else doing this/done this? Cheers, Steve.

Essentially the new neck was slightly wider than the original squire one. I ended up having to shave off a few mm to enable the new new to fit, it was a bit of a snug fit and I certainly wouldn't want to take it off again but it plays well. I have just had a look on E-Bay and for £30 you can get a Gotoh Bridge which would be perfect. The Badass are well over priced at £100! [quote name='XPAULUSX' post='995767' date='Oct 21 2010, 11:51 AM']What problems did you have with fitting the neck bassatnight? also, i cant check that image at work, is there anyway you can embed it into the thread mate? Cheers.[/quote]

The neck might be a problem, tried to do this with a VM P Squier last year and getting a new neck on was a real job. I have just bought a Squier VM Jazz and have changed the Bridge to a Badass, added a pick cover and changed the pots to original black jazz ones looking out for Fralins now to whack in I reckon it will be as good as any American version once I am done. Its starting to resemble a MArcus Miller!

What a fantastic bass for £200! I have been playing on and off for 25 years and in that time have owned some pigs and some high quality basses, and I have to say the quality and sounds from my newly acquired Vintage modified Jazz is astounding! I have had a wake up call with money issues and decided to get rid of all of my high end Basses, this time last year I had Sadowskies, US P's and Jazzes a Wal Fretless and 5 other decent basses, like women do the enemy pointed out that I could only play one at a time so why have so many! I did think about mentioning her untold amount of shoes and only two feet to wear them but thought better of it! So after selling my last high ender I was looking on the Bay and saw a all Natural VM Jazz for £150 and it seemed in good nick so with seconds to go I managed to win it at just £152 plus £15 courier and it turned up today. I gave it a good check over and was pleasantly suprised at the build quality, certainly as good as any MIM I have played, the neck is lovely and fast and when I plugged it in I was gobsmacked these new Squires are now a serious piece of kit and certainly well worth £200 of anyones money. I have an old Badass bridge that I will put on it and I am tempted to put some Fralins in there but the Duncan designed pups are really warm. I have paid £2.5k for a wal which for me is still THE bass to play but moneywise these new line Squiers are the business, there's a guy on You Tube who has stuck Sadowsky pup in his and I swear it sounds as good as a Fender Marcus Miller! If I find the link I'll stick it on here. This bass will certainly do whilst I take a hietus from playing more expensive basses. Anyone else tried one of the VM or Classic Vibe Squiers? Stevo...

According to the man himself a broken guitar amp was responsible for the 'unique' sound. The Green Fender P he used is in bits now apparently and although he comes close with effects etc the Green P had a sound all of its own.

I don't think you can go wrong with a Squire fretless as a starter or even a back up. Can't really argue with whats been said but for me the top of the range would be a Wal Fretless but personally the best fretless I have played was a Pedulla Pentabuzz. Depends what sound your after most players would say I just want that mmwwhhaaa sound. ;-)

Mick karns place in Japan, Forbes in pre 83 simple minds, Youth in Killingjoke, Les Pattison in the Bunnymen. Bedders in Madness