Squier Paranormal Jazz Bass - pickup upgrade (Custom Shop 60's)
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- čas přidán 26. 08. 2024
- In this video, I am upgrading the stock pickups in a Squier Paranormal Jazz Bass '54, with Fender Custom Shop 60's Jazz Bass pickups.
Loving the color, playability and concept of this bass, I really hoped this would be a killer bass.
However, I found the stock pickups to be very low on volume, and was curious to see if I could get the real Jazz Bass punchy sound, by upgrading to Custom Shop-pickups.
For this test, I am using the Fender Rumble LT25 (USB-connection), with setting 'RUMBLE'.
MUSIC: David Cutter Music
![From another world! | Squier Paranormal 54 Jazz Bass [Review/Demo]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/50CzusPFmKk/mqdefault.jpg)
CONCLUSION:
Still not happy with the sound of this bass.
It simply does not sound like a jazz bass, it is missing the jazz bass punch/growl even with high end Fender pickups.
I don't know why, could it be the strings? The pickups placement? Wood? Neck?
I’d love it if you could try TI J324 Jazz Round strings. That’s what I’d put on it for one.
If it can’t sound good with those strings? It’s for naught and it never will. With them it could bring the growl.
Be well. Appreciate your upgrades and review.
@@jasonbent97 Thank you for this suggestion!
Let me know if you’re willing to sell it. I’d be a happy buyer! 👋🏽
It's not wood.
Pick up height, strings, and electrics.
A guitar guy did tests.
Find a neck you like and build the rest
Your soldering may have gone wrong too. I saw you pull away very fast from the solder joint. It could be a cold solder.
Incredible the difference it makes, you have just convinced me beyond the shadow of a doubt to get these ! I have the same model 54 jbass and paln on slapping on a rosted maple fender neck as well as a himass bridge, happy to be your hundredth sub, thanks for the review!
Beautiful bass
I have this bass and the only upgrade I made is the saddles , I installed brass ones and sustain increased a lot. I am Ok with stock pick ups since I use Boss GEB 7 as pre, and planing to buy Sans Amp for my pedalboard
I have the same bass but in vintage blonde.
I'm gonna go with the Seymour Duncan Apollo Jazz Bass Pickups. Nice demo!
Glad to see the originals are weak. I was going to get a set to upgrade my Squier. I am leaning towards the 74's, though. I agree with you - the 60's sound too thin.
I find, the Custom Shop 60s pickups sound great in my other Jazz bass. It might be pickup hight, but something is definitely paranormal with the Paranormal (pots, wiring,...).
I put those '74s in my '86 mij squier jazz and they slay, they brought all the growl and grind I was looking for
It seems like that’s the only complaint about the Paranormal Jazz, I’m sure they installed cheap electronics to keep the cost down. I have the black one and I’m replacing the pickups with the same custom 60s as well, & the gold scratch/pick guard is metal with sharp edges, I tend to catch my fingers when slapping so it’s gotta go too.
Thank you for your comment.
My input jack was terrible too, cable fell out just like that
Do you have a good output jack, at least Switchcraft? Do you have a bad volume pot? It truly seems like your problem in your circuitry, perhaps your signal is somehow grounding.
Pickup height? It should be 7/64ths on the E, 5/64ths on the G while pressing the last fret.
Are your nut grooves cut correctly?
Check if the saddles are steel. Zinc is gummy, combined with a mediocre plastic nut.
I'd have to go with operator error as the reason it doesn't sound good. Mine is 100% stock, and it sounds excellent.
Operator as in 'person who is playing the bass'?
@@ThomasDeWeerdt Yes.
@@lawrencegenereux8567 Aaah ok, I was not aware the player was responsible for the pickup build and thus the extremely low output of the pickups....
I could literally prove you via waveforms or whatever the output is much lower then any of my basses I ever owned. I have no problem with feedback on my playing, but I literally do a side by side comparison of the pickups and basses,
Sorry. Both sets sound bad. Maybe better pots and capacitor replacement too?
Some cheap Chinese pots and capacitor can kill the tone and output of good pickups. Tiny, thin wiring is bad too.
Yes, indeed. This bass was a dissapointment. Very low output. I Sold it
@ Thomas De Weerdt.
My experience with Squire basses is most the time the electronics are cheap and overall very poor in quality. I find that if you're going to upgrade, spend a little extra money on all the electronic components for the best results of better quality pickups' output & potential. Even better quality and wire gauge makes a bigger difference. Also if you haven't already, experiment with different capacitor values. Some frequencies can really open up with the right combination of pickup manufacturers and capacitors.
Just buy Seymour Duncan Antiquity II Jazz Bass Pickup Set, and enjoy. Custom Shop is not for this type of wood .
Thank you for this suggestion!
@@ThomasDeWeerdt I have the same bass, except I like the sumburst color. I could hardly find it in that color. I wasn't happy with the tone of the Alnico pickups either, so they recommended Seymor Duncan. I put them on, put on a Fender bridge and, that's it. If you have an email, I can send you pictures.
@@TomislavHristicmchrile Thank you, I would love you see the pictures (email = myfullname@gmail
com). Are you happy with the final result?
This bass looks and feels so great, that it is such a pitty it needs these upgrade to really shine.
Thank you again for your input!
@@ThomasDeWeerdt Yes. Sustain is phenomenal, mid and bass in full range. Just like 60s FJB. Neck is like pencil, thin and easy to play. And, glossy finish... marvelous 😎
@@TomislavHristicmchrile Which seymour duncan pickups did you install? I am thinking of a Dimarzio pickup upgrade on mine.