Fender Squier Bullet Bass

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2000Z28M6

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Guys Question....

I have a 80's squier bullet bass. It's decent but i dont really like the tone, it lacks alot of punch and some clarity.

My biggest complain is how much gain it requires to get decent levels, at which point certain strings sound too harsh.

I'm wondering if I can upgrade anything to make it sound fuller and cleaner.

Should I try to get it rewired first, new pots?

The jack gets a little buzz when the cord gets pulled a little.

Or can i mod the pick guard and just drop some quarter pound pickups?
 
all of the above. pups will make the biggest difference, but if anything is noisy then replace that too. pots are cheap so you may as well go all out and replace it all.
 
Right now the bullet bass has the split single coil mustang bass pickups.

I dont really know if these are the real ones since this is a japan version.

Does anyone know if i can fit the Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound P-Bass Pickups in the pick, guard?

Would i have to route out some material to make it work?
 
Update....

I had new 250 pots, output jack and new badass bridge II installed. Had shop install everything and set the intonation, came out to $120 or so....

Wow!! Nice Nice improvement.

The volume and tone knobs have more effect. The Low E and the A sound way more meatier... overall the bass sounds like it resonates better.

This bass was a freebie so I cant complain. I'm not even thinking new PUPS now.

I'm set!

Thanks All
 
Well, a lesson here for all of us: We all tend to say "new pups!" for this kind of situation- but replacing most everything else got the OP where he wanted to go- and with the setup, probably cost less money.
 
Here's a picture, yea I'm going to whore her out a little! :p

3365133695_62def18c38.jpg


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I like it! From what I understand these early 80s bullet basses (made in Japan) are very close to the quality of an American Made version.

It definitely sounds good to me!
 
I have 2 of those basses picked up stupid cheap so they became experiments and closet lurkers. One still has the stock mustang pickup w/upgraded controls and a vintage Music Man Sting Ray Pickup, circuit sting ray bridge. The other bass has a vintage Fnder Precision pickup with a bad ass 2. Both get occasional use for recording or boat gig.
 
2000Z28M6 said:
Guys Question....

I have a 80's squier bullet bass. It's decent but i dont really like the tone, it lacks alot of punch and some clarity.

My biggest complain is how much gain it requires to get decent levels, at which point certain strings sound too harsh.

I'm wondering if I can upgrade anything to make it sound fuller and cleaner.

Should I try to get it rewired first, new pots?

The jack gets a little buzz when the cord gets pulled a little.

Or can i mod the pick guard and just drop some quarter pound pickups?
Click to expand...

How good are you with a router?
you can put any pickup configuration made depending on your router skillz
but ya if you do decide to change pickups i would definitely change out the pots too you will need to get a cap for the tone pot.
here is my sugestion instead of butchering the original pickguard leave it all in tact and trace it out on a piece of card board for a template then use P bass pickups and 500K pots I am pretty sure the routes in the body will probably house P Pickups if not you can take a little meat out upwards on the body for a fit that way you can still use the original pickguard.
 
How good are you with a router?
Click to expand...

Um I actually don't even own one... :p Wood shop was many moons ago!

I know you are just answering my original question, but honestly with what I replaced new pups are on the back burner indefinitely.

This bass is used to fill in any bass lines that sound more natural than midi on certain songs.

I'm not a bass player and with that said I only need a solid bass tone nothing fancy.

New pups are probably still a good idea, but not at the cost and trouble it poses.

I cant stress this enough, the complaints I had were really addressed.

THe new pots breathed new life into the existing pups.

And the badass bridge II just made the bass come alive! No other way to describe it.
 
2000Z28M6 said:
Um I actually don't even own one... :p Wood shop was many moons ago!

I know you are just answering my original question, but honestly with what I replaced new pups are on the back burner indefinitely.

This bass is used to fill in any bass lines that sound more natural than midi on certain songs.

I'm not a bass player and with that said I only need a solid bass tone nothing fancy.

New pups are probably still a good idea, but not at the cost and trouble it poses.

I cant stress this enough, the complaints I had were really addressed.

THe new pots breathed new life into the existing pups.

And the badass bridge II just made the bass come alive! No other way to describe it.
Click to expand...

Oh OK Mang:)
Sorry I did not read that far down until just now LOL
Ya I see where you changed the pots and bridge now that I read further down:D
hey if you ever get to the point to where you want to replace the pups make me a good template of the pick guard and send it to me along with the pups you want and pots and I will build you a custom loaded pick guard at cost just for shits and kicks:D
 
hey if you ever get to the point to where you want to replace the pups make me a good template of the pick guard and send it to me along with the pups you want and pots and I will build you a custom loaded pick guard at cost just for shits and kicks
Click to expand...

Well I really appreciate the kindness!!! I love this board! :)

THanks Brother!
GN
 
Another Major Surgery

Too cool !
I have just started revamping my old Squier 1 Bullet Bass too and had found the same problems with mine, that's why I'm revamping it.

I bought this one brand new in the spring of 87 just before Jaco died. I had been playing bass in the school band for 4 years, using their equipment and this was the first bass I bought for myself. It was a good quality starter. Cheap electronics, cheap strings, no frills.

I put a set of Warwick strings on it, which improved the sound greatly (bright), but it's not the sound I want for it. I'm going to try GHS Bass Boomers, because I've never played them, but it's probably going to sport a set of RotoSound Roundwounds in the end.

I'm going to install an adjustable nut and a Badass 2, and do the pot and jack mods from above.

I'm just getting ready to strip the frets, except I'm going to use a little more finesse than Jaco did (butter knife) as I have woodworking tools and a shop.

I plan to fill them in with epoxy, colored black. Then, sanding and a varnish.

The pickguard was white, but yellowed, so I refinished it in gloss black and am painting a tribute to Jaco on it (Tears For Jaco is the theme).

** My Question: Those do not look like the original pups on yours, I was wondering if you could find out what they are ?
I am looking for drop-in pups as I don't want to butcher the pickguard. I want it to look as original as possible, but sound tricked. My pups are black and rectangular with no ID on them whatsoever, but I know they are stock.

Here is a before-surgery pic of it.
Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks, D.
 

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Got my question answered.

Ripped them out and took them to the music shop. They are P style, so I can bolt in any equivalent to that.
Decided on Seymour Duncan BassLines Quarter Pounders.

Cheers.
 
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