Didn't want to bother with all the upgrades the Squire VI needs in order to be a serviceable instrument, so I went custom. Alder body, 5-piece maple neck, Schaller Tuners, generic string through bridge, bourns pots, Lace Alumitones, Kalium strings (20 30 45 60 80 105).This thing kills.

Dr Tony Balls wrote:Bon Hoga wrote:Kalium strings (20 30 45 60 80 105).Motherfuck, are those Kalium strings really that inexpensive? $15 for a set seems unreal.Aye, and they last for fucking ever.

Yeah I want it more as a shorter, more-shredable bass and I want to sound like a bass so the bright had to go. I suspect that most people are using it more like you, though.The bridge is cooperating *for now*, but i'm reserving judgment until i'm done messing with the thing. Intonation seems good but i'm changing strings, tailpiece, etc and ill do a proper intonation after that. Otherwise:Strings: Doin that LaBella set with a .095 E string. The stock .084 was too floppy tuned to E ­Tailpiece: Goin hardtail with the holes at the front for the better break angle.Bridge: Got some sleeve bushings coming for posts to un-float that shit.Nut: I'll prob cut a new one for the new strings.also may strip the finish, but thats a job for the future...

Tommy wrote:Dr Tony Balls wrote:Strings: Doin that LaBella set with a .095 E string.It's still a little floppy with a 94. You might try my gauges with a 100. It'll still be cheaper than their premade sets. Make sure you get the small ball ends.Well theyre already in the mail so we'll have to see haha.

Bon Hoga wrote:Kalium strings (20 30 45 60 80 105).Motherfuck, are those Kalium strings really that inexpensive? $15 for a set seems unreal.

I didnt see a thread dedicated to discussion and modification of these guitars and they seem pretty popular amongst the PRF so thought i'd get one going.First order of business: THE POTS! Why do they (the Squiers at least) come stock with 1Meg pots? Shit is so goddamn bright. I just changed mine out for 250k pots, just like you'd have on a Jazz or P-Bass and that really made a huge improvement. Its no longer harsh with the volume all the way up, the tone control is at a much more useable sweep, and the full range of pickups and even the bass-cut make more sense. Common consensus is that the originals has 250K pots, so it seemed appropriate to at least give em a shot and im glad I did. Highly recommended A+++ Fast shipping.

FYI if anyone is fine with the bridge saddles on theirs but just wants to "unfloat" the bridge...this is the part that does the Mastery thing for pennies on the dollar:https://www.grainger.com/product/DAYTON-Bearing-2X355https://www.walmart.com/ip/DAYTON-2X355 ... 3/41028091probably works for some jag/jm/mustang bridges, as well, but measure first.

Bon Hoga wrote:Didn't want to bother with all the upgrades the Squire VI needs in order to be a serviceable instrument, so I went custom. Alder body, 5-piece maple neck, Schaller Tuners, generic string through bridge, bourns pots, Lace Alumitones, Kalium strings (20 30 45 60 80 105).This thing kills. My god this looks beautiful. Where'd you get the neck and body? What's the scale?

Huh. I think it sounds pretty good stock, but then again we may be doing different shit. I use the Bass VI for Bass VI stuff and a bass for bass stuff. Kinda dig the brightness. I am amazed that you got the bridge to cooperate. I ordered a Staytrem immediately. The nut on mine was a joke. I don't think it was even cut for a Bass VI. Maybe the kid reached into the wrong bucket when he was installing it?Strings: gone. Replaced with La Bellas. Really wish I'd have gone with flatwounds, but whatever. I changed out the pickguard because I hate white pickguards. I was lucky enough to find a guy in town that had a tortoise one and wanted a white one. Even trade. Biggest upgrade was probably the hardtail plate. I actually considered stripping the paint, but that sounds like a nightmare and who knows what I'll uncover? 4 Stars

I've got a 1995 MIJ Bass VI. The pickups SUCKED. I had a CIJ Jaguar. Those pickups SUCKED. Both were super thin sounding, squealed with any gain whasoever, and didn't hum cancel in the mid position(s). I changed both to the AVRI '62 Jaguar pickups and that made a huge difference. HUGE. Jaguars had 1M pots, so that's why they did that. Even the Custom Shop VI ships with 1M. I changed the pots in my VI for full size CTS but can't remember what value I used. I suspect I stuck with 1M.Like Major, I use Labella strings. I ordered a custom set from their website that ended up being cheaper than their standard sets somehow. Totally recommend that route. I was trying to go on the lighter end of things while trying to get a more even tension from string to string. I went with 024-034-044-056-078-094 but when I do it again I'm going a little heavier on the 6th E string (either 100 or 104). Was less than $20 even with the $5.99 shipping charge.I like the bridge and the tremolo, but I changed the trem to an AVRI one. I have no experience with the Squiers, but the Mexican one my bandmate has is totally fine. But I'm a person that has, likes, and uses the trems on my Jazzmasters with vintage Mustang bridges.I use my VI more like a separate instrument than a bass. Think the Cure and surf/western bands. Also fun to play doom with.