Pretty cool. I have been basically doing this with most guitars and basses I have (or had). Get the somewhat cheaper variant, make sure it plays well and is well intonated (these days less of an issue it seems) and upgrade it. In the end you often have a better instrument for less money, had great fun making it that way plus an unique instrument.
I have an old 96 Fender PJ known as the Cowpoke. I didn't care for the original tone. I had my guy do some upgrades. I bought a hipshot kickass bridge and ordered an Audere Classic 2 band preamp... I didn't want to have to drill extra holes. The day the preamp was to arrive, my tech calls and says I should run a Relentless P and a Quarter Pound J. He said the QP J was the only J they tested that had output to match the Relentless. I explained I had already ordered a preamp He did some research and hit me back up saying it will work. I will say it's does have a voice of it's own. Amazing tone with a pick and really good with fingers. And here's the downfall... I am getting 60 cycle hum. I was excited to play it at a church gig a couple weeks ago but after rehearsal, I knew I would have to bring my Stingray. The electrical buzz was unbearable. I am tempted to pull the preamp and run it passive just to see if that helps. If not, I will end up swapping pickups.
Killer setup. As for the extra hole in the pickguard, just run to the hardware store and get a 3/8" hardware plug, less than a dollar each. Chi Cheng used chrome ones in his gold pickguards, I stuck a white nylon one in my pearl pickguard.
I found the kickass bridge (even with the steel saddles) really mellowed out the tone compared to the stock bridge when I did some upgrades. I put in a Duncan Quarter Pound pickup and hi mass bridge and the whole bass was just duller than the stock squier affinity stuff. When I swapped the bridge out for a simple Wilkinson one, it got all the punch I was expecting. I'm not honestly sure what the deal is there.
Hi. Quick question , Why now you have an extra hole n one less knob? Is there something you’re not gonna be able to adjust with the new pick ups that you were able to do with the old ones ?
@@migu31gt52 the old configuration was for a master volume, blend knob, active EQ, and a passive tone knob. The new setup is a volume control for each pickup and a tone knob. I’m missing the active EQ but I didn’t use it anyway
Dang! The tone bypass sound on almost every pickup setting was my favorite. Good option
Pretty cool. I have been basically doing this with most guitars and basses I have (or had). Get the somewhat cheaper variant, make sure it plays well and is well intonated (these days less of an issue it seems) and upgrade it. In the end you often have a better instrument for less money, had great fun making it that way plus an unique instrument.
Literally, my squire pj plays so nicely, I'm gonna change out the pickups and neck to make it even nicer
Very informative, and thank you for posting. I love those Dopro knobs.
I have an old 96 Fender PJ known as the Cowpoke. I didn't care for the original tone. I had my guy do some upgrades. I bought a hipshot kickass bridge and ordered an Audere Classic 2 band preamp... I didn't want to have to drill extra holes. The day the preamp was to arrive, my tech calls and says I should run a Relentless P and a Quarter Pound J. He said the QP J was the only J they tested that had output to match the Relentless. I explained I had already ordered a preamp He did some research and hit me back up saying it will work. I will say it's does have a voice of it's own. Amazing tone with a pick and really good with fingers. And here's the downfall... I am getting 60 cycle hum. I was excited to play it at a church gig a couple weeks ago but after rehearsal, I knew I would have to bring my Stingray. The electrical buzz was unbearable. I am tempted to pull the preamp and run it passive just to see if that helps. If not, I will end up swapping pickups.
Call Audere, they walk you through somethings to remove the hum. They helped my.
Killer setup. As for the extra hole in the pickguard, just run to the hardware store and get a 3/8" hardware plug, less than a dollar each. Chi Cheng used chrome ones in his gold pickguards, I stuck a white nylon one in my pearl pickguard.
Well done, buddy. You have me considering these same mods for my stock MIM Jazz Bass. 👍
new flats and a tasty bevvie. great work on the bass man
Great video, bro. ! I liked the hipshot kickass. Took your advice brought 2 to put on my p bass's love them .
Pretty sweet! Sounds really good
I found the kickass bridge (even with the steel saddles) really mellowed out the tone compared to the stock bridge when I did some upgrades. I put in a Duncan Quarter Pound pickup and hi mass bridge and the whole bass was just duller than the stock squier affinity stuff. When I swapped the bridge out for a simple Wilkinson one, it got all the punch I was expecting. I'm not honestly sure what the deal is there.
Interesting! I’m digging this setup - maybe the Hipshot is helping to tame the full range sound of the active EMGs? Thanks for sharing your experience
Hi! Did you have to drill your bass to put the new bridge? greetings from Peru !
Excellent job by the way !
Nope, dropped straight in with no modifications!
Thank you brother
My Squire II was proudly mfg in Korea in 1987. #roots
With that extra hole in the pickguard you could put a tone for each pickup OR switch OR blend control😅
I feel the new sound could have been achieved through and EQ pedal
Some quality upgrades. You should get one of the EMG eq electronics sets so you don't have a hole in the front of an otherwise very smart bass.
I was looking at those but wasn't convinced I would use it for an extra $200
Hi. Quick question , Why now you have an extra hole n one less knob? Is there something you’re not gonna be able to adjust with the new pick ups that you were able to do with the old ones ?
@@migu31gt52 the old configuration was for a master volume, blend knob, active EQ, and a passive tone knob. The new setup is a volume control for each pickup and a tone knob. I’m missing the active EQ but I didn’t use it anyway
Why did you add the foam?
Buen bajo quedó .....pero falta aprender a equalizarlo......!
I would have used EMG Hz pickups. Killer tone and no battery needed.
AKA "The worst EMGs"
@@funkingitup1805their GZR set is passive and sounds ace
#24_SubAdded_YouComeAcrossWithGenuineCharicter_KnotAnyWeirdAttentionSeekingDrival_TotallyBelievable_ValueWhereNeeded😇
You are missing a pot.
Nope