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Post subject: reunited with my old Squier, but what is it? (first post)
Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 3:19 pm
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Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 1:50 pm
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Hello,

I'm new to this forum. So hello all. I play in a band called The Incorrigibles in Washington D.C. The bass I'm excited about is a 1997 Mexican made Squier Precision Bass.

I'm filling in for my bassist (I normally play rhythm guitar) at a show this upcoming weekend in Fairfax VA.

Which brings me to my new old bass. Back in 97 when I was a freshman in high school I bought this Squier bass from Music and Arts for 300. I sold it in 2001 to a friend. Now he's lent me it for this upcoming show. I didn't know anything about setting up an instrument in those days and neither does my buddy. It was in pretty bad shape being never professionally setup over 12 years! It had a 1/2 gap between the string and the fretboard at the 9th fret. THe intonation was attrocious, 12th fret was halfway to being an F on the E string. Fairly extreme warping/bowing on the neck. And a truss rod that wasn't turning very well. But I always thought it was decently built and worth saving. Plus I'm sentimental and needed a bass for this show.

My setup guy in Arlington VA, Greg at MetroGuitar did his best with it. With only a partially engaging truss rod he angled the neck also using a shimmy under where it meets the body. He did a great job with it. Intonation is perfect, string height is back within acceptable distance, and it plays buttery smooth. The only catch is that the bowing was hard to undo especially at the 14th fret and higher, partially due to the shimmy underneath so the rest of the neck was now in correct position.

Even with this problem, it plays to the 20th fret fine on every string cept the D. It poops out at the 14th fret and rattles with the tone of the 20th fret at every fret higher up to the 20th.

After closer inspection of my new old bass upon return from the shop I got really curious as to what it really is. It's made in Mexico. I always felt the construction was very high at least aesthetically. The neck has a great feel to it. What was the deal with these Mexican Squiers?

Here's the stats and features of mine:

Serial number MN781608 (made in Mexico in 1997 I believe?)
Headstock graphic: Squier by Fender - Precision Bass (Squier in gold paint)
20 frets
Rosewood fretboard (with perfect fretting and bone inlay octaves)
Glossed Maple neck
Bone nut
open style tuners? don't know if they're legit Fender or cheaper style
3 ply pickguard
2 white Stratocaster knobs
Standard Pbass split pickup (I believe the original sticker on it said genuine Fender Pickup but I could be wrong)

Does anyone here have one of the these series Squier Precision Bass's and can share some light on it with me? Even with the now "slightly" bowed neck it plays better than the Fender Mexican precision basses I just tried out at Guitar Center for comparisons sake.

I think I'm going to keep this bass and have the frets on the D string from the 14th fret and higher just leveled down a bit. I'm not afraid of playing this thing live. It's rock solid.

So that's my story! Thanks for listening. Here's some low-res pictures from the day I got it back from my setup man... enjoy.

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/imag ... cebd47.jpg

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/imag ... 446095.jpg

http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/imag ... a2726c.jpg

http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/imag ... a36ea2.jpg

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/imag ... 86e115.jpg

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/imag ... 5211d5.jpg

http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/imag ... 2b45ee.jpg


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 8:07 am
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Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:33 am
Posts: 4583
Location: North of Pittsburgh
That's a good story. Old friends reunited. Too bad about the neck, I hope the fret work does the job. Worst case scenario, you get a new neck.

Good luck.


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 6:59 pm
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Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:26 pm
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Location: Green Bay, WI
Wow, cool story! Good luck with fixing up the neck...the MIM Squiers I thought were rare. No increase in value if that's what you're looking for I don't think. But cool experience.

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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 9:07 am
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Joined: Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:10 am
Posts: 1086
Its good to be back on bass eh? but uhmm about that neck, good luck I think replacing the neck would be good but its up to you.. i play with a slightly bowed antique bass still waiting for a new fenders too..


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