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Post subject: Mexican Puppys
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 1:20 pm
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Location: malaga Spain
hi all, Hope someone can help me on this ,I have MiM P bass which i intend to swap the p/up, its a 2002 manufacture and i was wondering where Fender Mexico sourced the originals, are they fitted with cheaper magnets,and wound with different wire etc, Is there any point in this swap, If anyone can give a valued opinion it will be welcome, I find that sound lacks any real punch or top end, the bass is fitted with new light guage strings made by Elixir with their nanoweb coating (65 euros a set !!) and plugged into a Hughes and Kettner 300w combo or a 500W Peavey stack, i would prefer Fender US pups to keep the bass all Fender equiped if possible but if anyone knows of a good replacement they could reccomend ? I have trawled the websites of S/Duncan, De Marzi, EMG etc etc, and don`t beleive all their hype i would rather the opinions of the Brother, Stroker,Pennywise et all, I do not expect to sound like a jazz cause i have 2 of those as well, and dont want to go and rout anothe cavity, best Wishes for the silly season...Peter (Spain)


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Post subject: Re: Mexican Puppys
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 4:33 am
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Thanks for that Chef Wong, Am i correct in thinking that ceramic magnets in PuPs are used on low end (no pun intended) basses ? I had no idea that Fender Mex used ceramics in their PuPs as i have not seen this stated on the Fender website but under the circumstances they wouldn´t would they ?, now i´m thinking if i purchase top end Alnico V
PuPs Fender win again !! with my cash, so i really am determined to buy from another manufacturer, I really need some more opinions on this...Peter


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Post subject: Re: Mexican Puppys
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 8:20 am
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Hi all, Just been to EMG site again and lo and behold their replacement PuPs are ceramic ! so now i am totally confused, perhaps pick up performance is down to the wire used and how many turns on the bobbin ?... Peter


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Post subject: Re: Mexican Puppys
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 8:28 am
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Here I go again down that road. IMO and in my experiance -- along with not being all into basswood--- the partner in crime to the mexi basswood is the mexi pickup. I have owned many guitars with mexican pickups in them and I have never had one that sounds good. This is my opinion and my opinion alone standing out in my field by myself-- BUT to my ears and wallet- I would never buy , borrow, beg or steal a mexican pickup even if I had no bean soup and was hungry. Yes I have these strong opinions due to my experiance with trying to make guitars sound better. If I want a mexi guitar to sound better when I think it doesn't-- my brain says " take those lousy pickups out and throw them into the campfire where my beans are cooking. Someone has to take a stance and not stand in the middle of the road and I guess today - it's me.
Next on the agenda? Not sure.... how about ... I love Mexican food. I could eat it every day.


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Post subject: Re: Mexican Puppys
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 9:43 am
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Ceramic does not equal entry-level, if that's what you're asking. I have a DiMarzio Model P in my MIM Road Worn bass, and it sounds fantastic and has a ceramic magnet. Very full lower midrange and bass, no ice-picky highs. Ceramics are also very fast under your fingers, one reason I chose it.

http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/bass/st ... io-model-p


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Post subject: Re: Mexican Puppys
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 2:22 pm
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I have the same pickup in my P roadworn. A great sounding bass made in Mexico. The best. It's alder and it sounds like a pre CBS bass. I use it at all my gigs. The thing just sings with tone and sustain. I think it's the best Mexi basses ( Roadworn). I'd buy another. They are rare in music stores now around here. I don't want to pay 1000 for one. I got mine for 700.


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Post subject: Re: Mexican Puppys
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 11:03 pm
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stroker vance wrote:
I have the same pickup in my P roadworn. A great sounding bass made in Mexico. The best. It's alder and it sounds like a pre CBS bass. I use it at all my gigs. The thing just sings with tone and sustain. I think it's the best Mexi basses ( Roadworn). I'd buy another. They are rare in music stores now around here. I don't want to pay 1000 for one. I got mine for 700.


I think the consensus from the Interwebs is that the Roadworn series might just be the best product Fender is putting out. Definitely a lot of love out there, in spite of the finish (for some).

I really didn't have an issue with the stock pup, I just mod because I can. :)

I also had a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder in there, the OP may want to consider that for a more modern sound.


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Post subject: Re: Mexican Puppys
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 8:19 am
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Location: malaga Spain
Hi all, Just thought i would let you see pics of P Bass refurb, There was a problem with the decal flaking off , i managed to find an image on the web of spaghetti logo which i messed with on a free paint program and made up the rest by finding fonts to match and measuring and comparing pics from fender website I then used an HP inkjet on Lazertran paper an then gave it 4 coats on matt varnish and then a very light rub with T Cut paint restorer to get a satin finish,I am aware the logo is used on MiA P Basses so i have included the "Made in Mexico " and original serial number , do you think it looks ok ? The other pics i took 1 hour ago just before the undercoat was applied, As the electronics have been removed i will replace the Pups as per original posting, i will ask my local auto paint suppliers if they can mix me some Fiesta Red or something very close as
the top coat, The original colour was a bright green metallic which i hated ! coupled with a white scratch plate, I now have a ´shell one to replace it, will post more pics as i progress...peter (Spain)
Image
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Post subject: Re: Mexican Puppys
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 2:33 pm
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I have said it before.... You people must not be experienced musicians. Take a P bass, put your favorite pick up in it...... not much to think about. A mexi with a quarter Pound in it will kick $@!. Add a vintage bridge or Badass and you are even better.


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Post subject: Re: Mexican Puppys
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 2:50 pm
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Thanks jroxxx, I started in 1968 and have played regularly ever since, all i asked was for was opinions, I thought quarter pounders were from Mc Donalds and luckily there arn not too many here in sunny Spain !!we have Burgler King and even Taco Bell !!


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Post subject: Re: Mexican Puppys
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 3:11 pm
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Location: malaga Spain
Did not get to this girl on time to retrieve this quarter pounder
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Post subject: Re: Mexican Puppys
Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 3:10 pm
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That's a VERY nice looking bass, Pete. The decal looks really quite authentic, and is completely honest with its "made in Mexico" bit retained :D

The Mex pickups are not as bad (IMHO) as some people say, at least not the recent ones, which sound very good, if almost too punchy sometimes for the subtlest touch. But Chef Wong's US suggestion (I have a US Vintage set in my '70 Reissue, and I absolutely love it) is very good. You might also like to have a look at the Trevor Wilkinson WBP pickup set - glorious vintage tone, bags of growl, alnico V magnets. Gets very good reviews, and is highly respected, here in the UK. (Not sure of distribution in Spain - JHS over here - they'd probably post one!)

The Codger


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Post subject: Re: Mexican Puppy Vs American
Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2011 2:04 am
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Thanx Chef Wong and PV Tele for the comments, CTX pots were already fitted in the scratchplate along with an orange capacitor, I have surrendered to my conciounce and ordered Fender Alnico V original style P Pups from Fender agent in Malaga ,They phoned me yesterday to inform me that the Jazz bass PuPs were now in (another stripped down proyecto)...after a 12 week wait !! ...If anyone has a good tone pot mod to give more punch to the P now is the time to inform yours truly Err.. yours truly Pete Bass xx


2003 Fender Mex P Bass
1996 Webster (London) Jazz custom ( you won´t find these on the web )
2005 Webster (London) Jazz custom
1990s Ibanez TR 500 expressionist active
2008 Ibanez SR300
1990s Ibanez EX 404 under restoration from water damage
Hughes and kettner 300watt combo
Peavey 500 watt amp
Peavy 1X15 cab and 4x 10 cab


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Post subject: Re: Mexican Puppys
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 12:06 pm
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hi all, despite the pics of the P bass stripped down to bare wood looking quite nice...Up close it was different and i felt it was not good enough for clear laquer...Sooo i gave it 7 coats of primer and the blocked it down with 400 grit wet&dry paper which probably removed at least 5 out iof the 7 coats
Image
i did this to a Jazz project at the same time, About 30 mins after this pic was taken both bodies were in first 2 coats of colour...
Image
the local paint shop could not mix up a Fiesta Red as they stated the formula was not available on their system and it was antique ? (Remember we are in Spain) so i went through their colour chips and decided on this red `cause of the flash used it looks a bit brighter than it really is, I will leave them a couple of days to harden and then i will rub down with 800 grit paper and then give them 3 more coats to get that deep shine...Well i hope to fingers crossed :?: ...Pete Bass


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Post subject: Re: Mexican Puppys
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 5:29 am
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Hi all , just finished rebuilding the P bass it now has a badass 11 bridge, american vintage PuPs, I am still waiting for genuine Fender ´shell scratchplate to arrive,Whwn it does i will be copper shielding the cavities as well I shall be giging this tonight !!...Pete Bass

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Image

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