Squier Affinity PJ as a mod platform?

project_c

project_c

May 8, 2008
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#1
I have a Jazz neck and a set of PJ pickups, and I was going to mod / route my USA franken-P, but then I noticed the Squier Affinity PJ series are already routed for a PJ config, and they're really cheap. The cost of having the routing and work done on the USA P body is almost the same as just buying an Affinity PJ which is ready to be modded without any routing.

So what would you do? I would be keeping the Squier body and hardware (tuners, bridge, knobs), and losing the neck and pickups. Are there any problems with the Affinity bodies? Does a standard Fender size neck fit these basses without problems? Any problems with replacement pickups? (I'm putting in SD Quarter Pounders). Or would you not bother and just have the USA Fender routed?
 
#5
I did something similar. Nothing wrong with the Affinity bodies. The necks are standard Fender sizing. Here are a few things to consider:
Pots are mini pots so you might want to just replace those when you upgrade the pickups

If you replace the pots with full size pots, you will need to replace the stock knobs.

Older Chinese made Affinity basses used closed back tuners. Steer away from these.

Let me know if you have any questions. I have two modded Indonesian Squier Affinity basses: 1 jazz and one Precision
 
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#6
Something else you'll want to check on with the Affinity bodies: Some of the older models used a neck-sized pickup in the J position of a PJ. The neck pickup from a J is slightly narrower (including mounting tabs) than the bridge pickup. If the Affinity's are routed for a neck size, you'll need to Dremel off just a wee bit of material to fit properly. And I mean very little, about 1/16th" at both ends. If the newer Affinity's use the standard bridge width, then you're golden without having to shave material. Let us know what you find out.
 
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#7
I have been considering a similar thing; I have an EMG jazz set from around 1990 so was thinking of getting a Squier jazz model and putting in the EMGs. I am also concerned with the quality of the Affinity models, does anyone recommend going for one of the Vintage Modified models instead?
 
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#8
srayb said:
I have been considering a similar thing; I have an EMG jazz set from around 1990 so was thinking of getting a Squier jazz model and putting in the EMGs. I am also concerned with the quality of the Affinity models, does anyone recommend going for one of the Vintage Modified models instead?
Click to expand...

I played both, the 70s J and the PJ in a local shop today. After their tech tweaked the neck on the PJ they both played and sounded excellent. I have to admit I could do any and all of my gigs on either bass. I'm leaning toward the J simply because the P was noisy when both pickups were up full (60 cycle hum). It sounded great and was dead quiet with the P pickup soloed. But to make the J pickup useful on a gig I'd need to drop in a noiseless J pickup of some type.

The J bass with both pickups up full sounded great and this particular example was an excellent player. Again, could do all my gigs on it as is, but would also be an excellent choice for your EMG mod.
 
#9
alack said:
But to make the J pickup useful on a gig I'd need to drop in a noiseless J pickup of some type.
Click to expand...

Fender has a couple of discontinued, noiseless Jazz pickups that I've tried. The Samarium Cobalt Noiseless pickups (SCN's) get the job done nicely, aren't too expensive and have a lot of the classic "Jazz sound". However, if you want a sound that's a bit more "beefy" and don't mind spending a little extra coin, their Super 55's are pretty cool.
 
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#10
If you're talking about this Squier, do it!
18% off at Guitar Center now.
2608xtl.jpg
 
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