Can We Make This $400 Bass Sound Like a $4000 Bass?

Today, Justin and I are gonna try and make this $400 squire precision bass sound like a $4000 american p bass. I've been in Nashville, TN for over 10 years now and have never owned my own Fender precision bass, even though that is the industry standard bass here.

So I decided I wanted to try and take this Squire Precision bass that I've had for a little while to see if I can make it sound like the precision bass I've always wanted.

Gear used in this video

Thanks for watching! Let me know what you think about the before and after in the comments!

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Travis Dykes
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[TravisDykes]

For those who are confused why I said "I never owned a P-Bass" that was mistake on my part in editing I meant to say "I never owned an EXPENSIVE P-Bass". Sorry for that!

[fletchersletch]

For tone, bridge and tuners were not needed to be replaced if you're on a budget, especially if tuners are keeping well.

[andrewblawson]

I modded a Squier Affinity P bass into a PJ with Seymore Duncan 1/4 pounders and that thing is a beast now. Doesn't help that I've changed the neck twice, the bridge, rewired it, and put a D-tuner on it. It's been a fun 20 year project!

[fasturn-fcof]

Hi Travis love the channel. Been playing 40 years and spent lots of money on mods. For me, a good set-up and strings goes a long way. If the pickups are dead cheap, they can help too with an up grade. Bass like a Fender P will pick its own strings with the way you play. Flats or Boomers on my 73 P bass. Now a good compressor n amp is a must ! Talked to your father inlaw the other day. Very proud of you and so am I .😊

[bruceelliott]

I’m a NYC katt.I have a Lakland DJ5 that I’ve modified with MiKe Pope Preamp and a Babicz bridge and a Fender professional precision 5 string modified with a EMG PJ setup and preamp all done by 30th street guitars. Matt. Guitar tech, is a genius!!! With low action., The both of them sound & feel AMAZING!!! Thank you TD. I’ve been following from the beginning when started with a Rogue Bass Guitar 😂 I also learned a lot from you on your YouTube videos as a 60year old man I’m still learning churching is what I do the most these days. I wish you had bass zoom lessons I would sign up like yesterday 😊be blessed and keep it coming.

[kingdeedee]

P basses are the most low maintenance basses you can get. They always just kinda sound good so even cheaper ones are often used to record hit records. In this case the bass really did not sound that different after the mods and I feel like most of the difference could be attributed to the new strings, but I’m sure the instrument feels a heck of a lot better in your hands and improved tuning stability is always nice. Sound wise though, it felt like the bass had a bit better note sustain after the mods but thats about it (this could also be due to the fresh strings)

[paulreilly]

The most dramatic change for my ears was the chord demo, followed by the slap demo. Clear improvement. I have an American Performer Precision and I am about to upgrade the pickups with Aguilar Hum Canceling pickups.

[tonemoreno]

As much as I love the P-bass on it’s own, the true test is how it’s sits in the mix with other instruments. That comparison would have been fun to listen to.

[mythcrab]

Got a 70s Aria lawsuit P bass on marketplace for $125. Threw some flats on it with Fralin pickups and a new wiring harness. Sounds amazing.

[trunks]

All those mods brought the bass to live! Personally I have an American professional II p and loved it at first but it was a bit too high end for me even with the tone rolled back. So I changed the pickup to a nordstrand np4a and changed the pots and it literally sounds huge now very aggressive for rock but rolled back it does it all. The best part it has the perfect amount of high end.

[rossco]

Everyone needs a friend like Justin 🔥🔥👌🏽that bass sounds amazing looks amazing

[LandonSmith-kxdn]

These type of videos are so interesting! So cool, to see the process and transformation! All of your videos are awesome!

[t-man]

You doing slap with a Pbass that sounds that good is AMAZING. The upgraded version reminded me of an active jazz bass sound. Well done!

[WillBirckhead]

I think you nailed it with this review. The biggest difference for the pbass when upgrading is more the feel. Most PBass pickups sound Similar due to that 60 cycle hum canceling. So after feel your choice is either flats of rounds.

[hondawilky]

“Can I mod my Squier P-bass to sound like an expensive P-bass?”

What if I told you 99.9% of people - even bass players - would not be able to tell the difference between the Squier and a bazillion dollar custom shop Fender in a blind comparison. Most of the “Mod my bass” vids with a before-and-after comparo in them sound either minimally different or different in a way that isn’t objectively “good.” 🤷‍♂️❤

[halcop]

Great video. You could definitely hear the difference. The mods P Bass was fuller and more mid range forward. A lot more clarity. The bass turned out nice.

[thesanfordmethod]

Definitely a difference, sounds like more open air. But what brand and make pick-up did you install, what value cap and pots did you use, and what was the original cap value you swapped out? and what new strings did you swap it out to? So we can see what you've upgraded it to. Both versions sounded great to my ears, btw, both different, and yes, the upgrade sounds better of the two. Thanks.

[stushwartz]

WOW. night & Day. Awesome job. I've used the PV63 pickups and i think these are the best Fender produce for aftermarket .. So much more like a vintage P Bass sound . I am working on my 2nd project with MJT Body, American Pro II neck . Will use Babicz bridge and Mojotone 70's clone pickups

[kcseabass]

Travis, the magic of the P is flats (I like LaBella) and just like a Tele, it gets ‘the’ sound when the tone is wound off some. I have a 70P with B neck, 66 knobs and as you roll on the tone from completely off, you hit a point where the bass thumps! That’s it right there and it beds in a mix perfectly.

[MrSlushee]

I’ve got a Squier Affinity PJ Bass; I replaced the pickups with the Seymour Duncan Qaurter Pounder PJ set, new Bourns Pots, and an Orange Drop Capacitor. I also removed the 2nd volume and replaced it with a switch. Next up, a Hipshot Drop D Tuner and maybe some new frets.