Upgrading a Classic Vibe Bass VI (video series)

chiba

Joined: Sep 02, 2022
Posts: 502
Central VA
United States

Posted on Dec 08 2022 12:34 PM

Hey all - thought some of you might find this interesting. I picked up a Squier Classic Vibe Bass VI earlier this year and made a few videos of the upgrade process. First one is just an overview of the instrument and a bit about my plans. Next few will be up over the coming week and I'll post a full tone demo as soon as I can.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtSSqs6nLkQ

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Project: MAYHEM by Hypersonic Secret now available!

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Padraig

Joined: Feb 26, 2022
Posts: 389
Dollars, Taxes
United States

Posted on Dec 08 2022 03:28 PM

Chiba, thanks for the great intro video on your Squier Classic Vibe Bass VI. I look forward to following your instrument improvement process!

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Patrick

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Tqi

Joined: Dec 07, 2014
Posts: 1222
2 Security Pins

Posted on Dec 09 2022 03:02 PM

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Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 15:47:53

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chiba

Joined: Sep 02, 2022
Posts: 502
Central VA
United States

Posted on Dec 12 2022 10:00 PM

Good guesses all around. The tuners - surprisingly - are decent. I thought about doing the arm & collet, and I probably will, but they weren't available when I got the bridge and I forgot to go back & get the kit.

The specs do indeed say bone nut ... but it was plastic, I promise. It has a bone nut on it now (that won't be exposed until episode 6, which I haven't shot yet).

I kept the original pickups (I rarely get rid of the parts I take off guitars), but one of them broke while I was handling it. Probably harder to repair than it's worth the time, but I'll try to remember to meter the other two.

—

--
Project: MAYHEM by Hypersonic Secret now available!

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Tqi

Joined: Dec 07, 2014
Posts: 1222
2 Security Pins

Posted on Dec 13 2022 04:00 AM

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Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 15:47:46

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chiba

Joined: Sep 02, 2022
Posts: 502
Central VA
United States

Posted on Dec 13 2022 01:45 PM

I can't really imagine Squier having custom pickups made for ...well, anything.

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Project: MAYHEM by Hypersonic Secret now available!

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futureboy

Joined: Aug 28, 2008
Posts: 115
East Coast
United States

Posted on Jan 07 2023 09:42 AM

Hey Chiba,
I have trouble getting my Staytrem to stay in a neutral position even without trem use. Do you have any tips to keep it centered?

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kick_the_reverb

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 1335
Escondido, CA
2 News Pins

Posted on Jan 07 2023 11:17 AM

IIRC - the staytrem stainless steel saddles might
a tad too slick when combined with stainless flats. I think Mike Adams (Puisheen) had a section in one of his videos where he lightly roughs up the saddles with sand paper (maybe 150 grit)? I couldn't find the video in a quick search, so can't for sure say what was the exact grit.

Ran
InkEye wrote:

Hey Chiba,
I have trouble getting my Staytrem to stay in a neutral position even without trem use. Do you have any tips to keep it centered?

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The Scimitars

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futureboy

Joined: Aug 28, 2008
Posts: 115
East Coast
United States

Posted on Jan 09 2023 09:45 AM

Thanks, Ran. That seems to be working for now. This will be a fun instrument to learn.

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chiba

Joined: Sep 02, 2022
Posts: 502
Central VA
United States

Posted on Jan 09 2023 10:23 AM

InkEye wrote:

Hey Chiba,
I have trouble getting my Staytrem to stay in a neutral position even without trem use. Do you have any tips to keep it centered?

I've thought about making or crafting some kind of sleeves to take up the space between the bridge posts and the sides of the thimbles. That's about the only thing I can think of. A friend of mine does a lot of 3D printing, so I've talked about creating some sleeves with him, but haven't actually done it yet.

—

--
Project: MAYHEM by Hypersonic Secret now available!

Top

futureboy

Joined: Aug 28, 2008
Posts: 115
East Coast
United States

Posted on Jan 09 2023 04:19 PM

chiba wrote:

InkEye wrote:

Hey Chiba,
I have trouble getting my Staytrem to stay in a neutral position even without trem use. Do you have any tips to keep it centered?

I've thought about making or crafting some kind of sleeves to take up the space between the bridge posts and the sides of the thimbles. That's about the only thing I can think of. A friend of mine does a lot of 3D printing, so I've talked about creating some sleeves with him, but haven't actually done it yet.

I posted the same thing in the OSG (offsetguitars.com) and they mentioned that Staytrem has sleeves they can send out. I also read a TalkBass.com thread about the Bass VI after posting my question. Apparently, the ACE Hardware or other type home store may carry brass sleeves that drop down in the thimble.

Not sure if I will go that route since I want to use the trem. At least, I plan to. We'll see.

Top

chiba Joined: Sep 02, 2022 Posts: 502 Central VA	Posted on Dec 08 2022 12:34 PM Hey all - thought some of you might find this interesting. I picked up a Squier Classic Vibe Bass VI earlier this year and made a few videos of the upgrade process. First one is just an overview of the instrument and a bit about my plans. Next few will be up over the coming week and I'll post a full tone demo as soon as I can. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtSSqs6nLkQ — -- Project: MAYHEM by Hypersonic Secret now available! Top
Padraig Joined: Feb 26, 2022 Posts: 389 Dollars, Taxes	Posted on Dec 08 2022 03:28 PM Chiba, thanks for the great intro video on your Squier Classic Vibe Bass VI. I look forward to following your instrument improvement process! — Patrick Top
Tqi Joined: Dec 07, 2014 Posts: 1222	Posted on Dec 09 2022 03:02 PM - Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 15:47:53 Top
chiba Joined: Sep 02, 2022 Posts: 502 Central VA	Posted on Dec 12 2022 10:00 PM Good guesses all around. The tuners - surprisingly - are decent. I thought about doing the arm & collet, and I probably will, but they weren't available when I got the bridge and I forgot to go back & get the kit. The specs do indeed say bone nut ... but it was plastic, I promise. It has a bone nut on it now (that won't be exposed until episode 6, which I haven't shot yet). I kept the original pickups (I rarely get rid of the parts I take off guitars), but one of them broke while I was handling it. Probably harder to repair than it's worth the time, but I'll try to remember to meter the other two. — -- Project: MAYHEM by Hypersonic Secret now available! Top
Tqi Joined: Dec 07, 2014 Posts: 1222	Posted on Dec 13 2022 04:00 AM - Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 15:47:46 Top
chiba Joined: Sep 02, 2022 Posts: 502 Central VA	Posted on Dec 13 2022 01:45 PM I can't really imagine Squier having custom pickups made for ...well, anything. — -- Project: MAYHEM by Hypersonic Secret now available! Top
futureboy Joined: Aug 28, 2008 Posts: 115 East Coast	Posted on Jan 07 2023 09:42 AM Hey Chiba, I have trouble getting my Staytrem to stay in a neutral position even without trem use. Do you have any tips to keep it centered? Top
kick_the_reverb Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 1335 Escondido, CA	Posted on Jan 07 2023 11:17 AM IIRC - the staytrem stainless steel saddles might a tad too slick when combined with stainless flats. I think Mike Adams (Puisheen) had a section in one of his videos where he lightly roughs up the saddles with sand paper (maybe 150 grit)? I couldn't find the video in a quick search, so can't for sure say what was the exact grit. Ran InkEye wrote: Hey Chiba, I have trouble getting my Staytrem to stay in a neutral position even without trem use. Do you have any tips to keep it centered? — The Scimitars Top
futureboy Joined: Aug 28, 2008 Posts: 115 East Coast	Posted on Jan 09 2023 09:45 AM Thanks, Ran. That seems to be working for now. This will be a fun instrument to learn. Top
chiba Joined: Sep 02, 2022 Posts: 502 Central VA	Posted on Jan 09 2023 10:23 AM InkEye wrote: Hey Chiba, I have trouble getting my Staytrem to stay in a neutral position even without trem use. Do you have any tips to keep it centered? I've thought about making or crafting some kind of sleeves to take up the space between the bridge posts and the sides of the thimbles. That's about the only thing I can think of. A friend of mine does a lot of 3D printing, so I've talked about creating some sleeves with him, but haven't actually done it yet. — -- Project: MAYHEM by Hypersonic Secret now available! Top
futureboy Joined: Aug 28, 2008 Posts: 115 East Coast	Posted on Jan 09 2023 04:19 PM chiba wrote: InkEye wrote: Hey Chiba, I have trouble getting my Staytrem to stay in a neutral position even without trem use. Do you have any tips to keep it centered? I've thought about making or crafting some kind of sleeves to take up the space between the bridge posts and the sides of the thimbles. That's about the only thing I can think of. A friend of mine does a lot of 3D printing, so I've talked about creating some sleeves with him, but haven't actually done it yet. I posted the same thing in the OSG (offsetguitars.com) and they mentioned that Staytrem has sleeves they can send out. I also read a TalkBass.com thread about the Bass VI after posting my question. Apparently, the ACE Hardware or other type home store may carry brass sleeves that drop down in the thimble. Not sure if I will go that route since I want to use the trem. At least, I plan to. We'll see. Top

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Upgrading a Classic Vibe Bass VI (video series)