Pimp my Streamer!

D

Doc B

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Ok - I've recently pimped my Squier VM 70's Jazz to the max with a set of Wizard 64 pups, all new pots and wiring, BadAssII, chrome neck pup cover and a handmade custom rosewood thumb-rest.

As I've posted elsewhere, I love the sound and looks of my Squier: like a Marcus Miller without the hideous control plate and 1/3 the cost.

Despite that I still rate my 2000 Streamer Std twin pup in natural as my favourite bass in terms of playability and feel. I've tried nothing that comes close, even other 'Wicks. I doubt I'll ever sell it.

So now my pimping attentions are turning to my Streamer.

What discrete mods would you suggest?

I'm thinking of a pre-amp of some type to bring out more high end but have no clue about what is out there. Ideally I'd get one that is switchable so I can retain the original sound.

A D-tuner is another obvious mod that springs to mind.

Would it be worth looking to upgrade the bridge, what about a BadAss III and through body stringing?

Anything else you couls think of?
 
I'm in pretty close situation, except my SSTD is 1 PU. I also rate it very high. Here's the list of mods I'm about to do:
1) JAN I (already installed)
2) DIY humbucker made of two Basslines SCPB-3's (already ordered the PU's)
3) 2-piece bridge (already have one - just can't find enough time to install it)
4) Piezo PU's (I'm about to order a set from GraphTech once I get done with the bridge)
5) DIY on-board pre (only Shoewreck manufactures the preamp I'm going to install 8))
6) Replace the finish with natural oil.
 
Doc B said:
Ok - I've recently pimped my Squier VM 70's Jazz to the max .........

.......I still rate my 2000 Streamer Std twin pup in natural as my
favourite bass in terms of playability and feel. I've tried nothing
that comes close, even other 'Wicks. I doubt I'll ever sell it.

So now my pimping attentions are turning to my Streamer.

What discrete mods would you suggest?

I'm thinking of a pre-amp of some type to bring out more high
end but have no clue about what is out there. Ideally I'd get one
that is switchable so I can retain the original sound.

A D-tuner is another obvious mod that springs to mind.

Would it be worth looking to upgrade the bridge, what about a
BadAss III and through body stringing?

Anything else you couls think of?
Click to expand...



I have such an ax, a '99 IIRC, with 2-band active EQ, but at
unity gain. As we both know, the output on these is insanely
low, so I'd suggest you add a pre-amp, one with big gain. My
2-band is switchable, so I know for sure that the only way I
can get ANY gain is to dime the bass side of the EQ, which is
uncool cuz Steamer Stds are NOT brite at all, so then I hafta
dime the treble side and have a giant mid-scoop whether I'd
want one or not.

D-Tuner? "No comment". Thaz not the absence of comment.
"No Comment" IS my comment.

Bridge? Sure. The "Warwick-engraved" clunker can go, just
cuz it looks stoopid being all bent along the line of the screw
holes. Ever look at it from the side ? My current 4-banger is
bent there, as was my 5-string 10 yr ago. I'm GASsy for a
quick-load bridge, maybe HipShot .... which means I'm NOT
inneressed in thru body stringing. My opinion of thru-body is
also "No Comment" .... altho I could comment, at length, on
why that is. But as a last minute Xmas gift to all you all, I'll
skip that [for now].

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The Streamer Std is a niche market item. Mellow basses are
just not mainstream anymore. But it's mellow without being
muddy, so it's kinda special. I think it woulda sold better if
it had just had some friggin OUTPUT. Fortunately it's rather
noise-free, so if your rig has the gain, you can just jack it
up at that end of the cord.

+1 about Streamer Love, for the Standard. My first one was
also my first 5-string. So, I thought I just didn't cotton to 5-
strings. I tried like h3ll, cuz I loved that bass, but bye-bye.

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Later, I learned that I just don't like Wick 5-strings and since
then have enjoyed various others. But a couple months ago
I stumpled into this 4-string Std, with it's hotrodded EQ, but
still with original PUs. No way I could avoid adopting it. I still
missed my old Streamer Std, after 10 yrs !!

Yup. ALL my Wicks are 4-string. I use a Spector NSJH as my
"Wick" 5-string. The NSJH is VERY similar to an FNA JazzMan,
but with a contoured body, so it passes quite well as a Wick,
as a sorta rude mannered americanized Wick ..... being all
maple with narstee EMGs.
 
I think putting in the two pc warwick bridge would be cool but one of the hipshot bridges would be easy to install.I have a streamer std to and my bridge is bent right where golem says his is.I was going to install a badass II on mine because I have on that's just sitting.
 
jester said:
golem said:
Later, I learned that I just don't like Wick 5-strings
Click to expand...
Do you know why?
Click to expand...


I didn't originally know, but this forum provided
the clues. I don't hafta recal the feel from 10 yrs
ago. I recently bought an FNA JazzMan5 which I
kept for about 3 months.

As with the Streamer years ago, I really dug the
bass. And the neck actually felt good, but only
for about 1/2hour at a time. After about 1/2 play,
it would seem to have grown a bit fatter [felt like
it, obviously not happening]... and then my left
hand would start to get clumsy and get sore.

Anywayz, problem was the narrow FB combined
with the "square U" neck profile. It forced me to
play on the very tips of my fingers, which many
of you will tell me is only proper ... but I'm a FL
player and so I play more flat-fingered than on
the tips. The "square-U' profile made the reach
around just too "claw"-like for my comfort and
control. This was a fretted 5-string and since I
otherwise dug it, I was considering either going
FL with it, or shaving the "U" to a "C", or both ...
if nobody bought the darn thing ... but it did sell.


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Another solution would be the Warwick "Wide 5"
neck options. If that works for you, fine. I have
NEVER seen one, let alone touched one, so I'd
buy another Spector 5 before even considering
a Warwick Wide 5. I played my Spector before I
bought it. Before the Spector, the only 5-string I
could play was a wide flat neck, with 19mm, or
at least 18mm, spacing. 16.5mm was outa the
question, until I noodled on the Spector just cuz
I wanted to hear the TonePump system. Well, it
felt so good I played it for at least an hour and it
just felt better and better. Spector's neck profile
is just magic for me, even with 16.5mm spacing.

Too bad I didn't play the FNA5 for over an hour
before I bought it, but it was in a pawnbroker's,
and I was out on my lunch break, and etc, etc.
And don't forget .... it felt REALLY good for any
spell under a 1/2hour !!

SO, there's my warning, just in case someone
happens to be just like me ... cuz for most folks
obviously the standard Wick 5-string is way OK.
 
That's why I always say you hafta live with the instrument to know if it's good for ya.
Kindof like a relationship.
 
jester said:
That's why I always say you hafta live with the instrument
to know if it's good for ya. Kind of like a relationship.
Click to expand...



  • Absent any long relationship, the FNA 5 was great for the
    occasional quickie, just not so good for an all night throw
    down. A six week fling was all she could ever be to me.
    It's over. I'm gone back to my maple sugar, my Spector 5.
 
I have a streamer std too and my bridge is bent right where golem says his is. I was going to buy and install a brand new one...

When i bought it a year ago and asked around nobody seemed to have this problem and i thought i was all alone and that my bass had been abused in the past.

Im wondering if replacing the bridge with a two piece is easy? Or shall i look for a one piece less prone to bending?How is the badass?
 
ecb5 said:
I have a streamer std too and my bridge is bent right where
golem says his is. I was going to buy and install a brand new one...

When i bought it a year ago and asked around nobody seemed to
have this problem and i thought i was all alone and that my bass
had been abused in the past.

Im wondering if replacing the bridge with a two piece is easy? Or
shall i look for a one piece less prone to bending?How is the badass?
Click to expand...



If you've ever removed a 2pc Wick bridge and stop tail, you'da
seen enuf routing to put you offa that idea. I'm not sure why
the bridges bend. Lotsa cheapo basswood or poplar Ibnezes,
and other budget stuff, have that same $25 Gotoh bridge, and
they never have the problem.

But fearing that Wick bought plenty of Wick-engraved bridges,
not expecting the Stremaer Std to sell poorly, I'm afraid of a
bad batch of bridges, and would rather just buy a new Gotoh
at retail. It's about $25 for trash metal and more for chromed
brass or steel.

A BadAss II seems like a fine idea, assuming the screw holes
are already Fender pattern. Worth double checking. If I put a
new bridge on there, I wanna gain something, cuz actually, the
bend is stoopid but no real problem. So, I'd go for a quick load
like a HipShot. I have one on hand ... but it's gold. I'd be just
changing one stoopid for another stoopid ... but I WOULD gain
the quick load !!
 
I checked and the holes on the badass II don't line up with the old holes.The only reason I would ues the bridge is that I have it,and the bridges that look to be a direct replacment look cheap and would probaly bend in the same spot.If I was going to buy a one pc bridge I would go with a hipshot A type.Or you could get a schaller like warwick used to use.
 
james brunnning said:
I checked and the holes on the badass II don't line up with the old
holes.The only reason I would ues the bridge is that I have it,and the
bridges that look to be a direct replacment look cheap and would
probaly bend in the same spot.If I was going to buy a one pc bridge I
would go with a hipshot A type.Or you could get a schaller like warwick
used to use.
Click to expand...


A direct replacement from AllParts etc should not bend
These bridges are verrrrry widely used.

About the holes not lining up between the BA2 and the
current bridge ......

Do they almost line up ? The BA2 hole pattern is just
about 1.5mm wider [or narrower, I forget which], and
this is intentional. It assures that the screws will hold
tight in the previously used holes. Of course, you fit
the central screw first ! !
 
I didn't even think about it I have a four stringer and the two outter holes are close but I think they may cause the screw heads to sit crooked.I forgot the five stringers have a fender style pattern.The replacment bridge for the four stringers hole pattern looks cheap.I have used gotoh replacment bridges in the past and never had any problems But I don't think the fours replacment is made by them.
 
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