NBD Squire Mike Dirnt Precision 2013

[Minininjarob]

So I’ve always loved the Telecaster bass shape, and I’m a big Mike Dirnt fan, but let’s be honest the Fender model he has is waaay too expensive and can be kinda heavy. I also have 2 other P’s so spending over £1k on the Fender version which ultimately will probably sound the same seems a bit crazy. 
This came up on the classifieds on here at a decent price, it needs some work on the neck cos you can feel a scratch and small dent on it, the pots aren’t matched either and feel all wrong, and the knobs aren’t right either. 
Also, and I know this will be controversial, but I CANNOT STAND tort pick guards. It has to go and be replaced with a black one (I have been tempted by other colours though……). 
The craziest thing about this is that it is bizarrely light. I measured it on some accurate scales and it’s 7.1lbz. My Fender P is 9.1lbs and that never bothered me so this feels like something is missing from it. Honestly I was tapping it to see if it was hollow!

I might even sand the Squire decal off and put a Telecaster decal on. I’ll leave the Squire serial number on. 
Apparently it has different pickups on it to sound more like maybe a 1960 P - I’ll just leave them on and if they sound good then that’s perfect!

As I set it up I’ll keep you all updated. 
(the fretboard is a lovely colour btw) 

 

 

[Minininjarob]

I was going to just order a black pick guard but I’ve just seen this vintage mint green colour with a wide bevel, this could work couldn’t it? 
 

[mcnach]

I have one from 2011... well, technically I had (the bass has been modified a lot).

 

I got mine because someone near me was selling it for very little money and at the time I did not have a Precision, so it seemed like a good idea. I loved it! Mine was also very light. Black pickguard and standard knobs.

 

The original pickup was fine, but over the years I tried a couple others and settled with a Seymour Duncan SPB-1. Eventually I replaced the neck as well. The original neck was quite slim and nice, but I prefer maple fingerboards and a bit chunkier necks, so I found a neck from a Squier CV50s and replaced it. I experimented a bit with pickguards of different colours (single ply white and 3-ply mint white). One nice thing is that the pickup route is neat, so it looks pretty good without any pickguard at all.

 

Here's a few pictures of what started as a Squier Mike Dirnt...

 

 

 

 

[Pea Turgh]

2 hours ago, Minininjarob said:

I was going to just order a black pick guard but I’ve just seen this vintage mint green colour with a wide bevel, this could work couldn’t it? 
 

My favourite colour combo!  I was going to suggest it, but I didn’t want to repeat myself too much!

[Minininjarob]

2 hours ago, mcnach said:

I have one from 2011... well, technically I had (the bass has been modified a lot).

 

I got mine because someone near me was selling it for very little money and at the time I did not have a Precision, so it seemed like a good idea. I loved it! Mine was also very light. Black pickguard and standard knobs.

 

The original pickup was fine, but over the years I tried a couple others and settled with a Seymour Duncan SPB-1. Eventually I replaced the neck as well. The original neck was quite slim and nice, but I prefer maple fingerboards and a bit chunkier necks, so I found a neck from a Squier CV50s and replaced it. I experimented a bit with pickguards of different colours (single ply white and 3-ply mint white). One nice thing is that the pickup route is neat, so it looks pretty good without any pickguard at all.

 

Here's a few pictures of what started as a Squier Mike Dirnt...

 

 

 

 

Your pics don’t work unfortunately. 

[Minininjarob]

1 hour ago, Pea Turgh said:

My favourite colour combo!  I was going to suggest it, but I didn’t want to repeat myself too much!

After looking at some pics online I think I’m gonna stick with black 3 ply. I can always get something different later. 
 

Was possibly going to go full black hardware to make it pop even more. 

[Minininjarob]

So parts are going on…..

Got some oil for the neck and I have to say it’s transformed!! Only had maple necks before so never had to do this. 
The electronics are a bit messed up so I bought 2 new CTS (came in Fender packaging which I didnt expect with new caps too!) pots which are the correct length with solid shafts. I just happen to have some really nice black solid metal knobs so will put those on. They will match the black 3 ply guard I have had to have custom made as mine didn’t seem to fit the standard templates for screw holes etc. 

EB Cobalts and a Hipshot bridge too. 
And a set of Schaller strap locks - just need a nice strap to match it but I can’t decide which one. 

[Minininjarob]

I know some people won’t like this but the Squire logo is gone and I have a Fender Telecaster Bass logo on the way to put on instead. It wasn’t so much to have Fender instead of Squire I just wanted Telecaster instead of Precision!

I have no intention of ever passing it on as a Fender and have left the original serial number/origin country on the headstock. 
 

[Minininjarob]

One last thing. I managed to sand the neck down so it’s nice and satin feeling - it was ok before but it had a long scratch and a dent near the head which you could feel quite easily. I used a damp cloth and an iron to lessen the dent depth and sanded it the rest of the way. I might sand all the finish off but it looks neat and feels great so will probably leave it cos I’m feeling lazy about it.

[prowla]

1 hour ago, Minininjarob said:

I know some people won’t like this but the Squire logo is gone and I have a Fender Telecaster Bass logo on the way to put on instead. It wasn’t so much to have Fender instead of Squire I just wanted Telecaster instead of Precision!

I have no intention of ever passing it on as a Fender and have left the original serial number/origin country on the headstock. 
 

 

 

You can still just about read that the brand is Squier.

[Minininjarob]

36 minutes ago, prowla said:

 

You can still just about read that the brand is Squier.

Not finished sanding there. ☺️