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Post subject: just got a Squier Vintage Modified Precision Bass
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 11:38 am
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Give me your thought about this bass, i got it and a hardshell case used for $175, i know for sure that i will be upgrading it, this is my lowest quality bass so far, but coolest looking in my opinion. what type of pickups do you think i should put in there? will i have to replace the pots? and would it be better to put some fender vintage tuning machines on it?

just give me your thoughts


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Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 3:27 pm
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I would suggest you play with it for a while before you go making any mods. Give it a chance, the Squier VM basses are pretty nice without mods. I have a VM Jazz, the pickups on it sound great, the bridge and tuners and electronics seem pretty stable, and it's likely I won't be modding it anytime soon. Maybe if down the line things start breaking down, I may go about replacing them, but as of now there is no reason to start modding it. Don't assume just because it's a cheaper bass or because other people tell you that you should, that it automatically needs modifyng. As I said, give it a chance.

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Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 5:04 pm
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You mean this guy:::

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I'd play it first and if you really need to, change things out one at a time.

I gigged mine just last night and it's a very good bass just like it is. Oh, I have a Deluxe J and even a P and a few other basses, but you'd be pleasantly surprised at how good it is.

The pots are velvety and quiet and the neck is smooth and glossy as I like 'em. The body is a thing of art and the block inlays (yes, 'inlays') are attractive in a nostalgic way even to people who wouldn't know if they were being smacked with a Warwick or an Act-1.

I say buy it - play it and leave it alone - but that's just my opinion. It can sure stand on it's own two feet for tone, feel and quality of build - which I think is metric yards ahead of it's meager price new.

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Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 8:07 pm
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b.sharp -
That's the one I got, the VM Jazz, and I agree with evrything you say. (although, you say yours has a glossy neck? Mine has the flat satin finish, back AND front) I'm thinking the only time I'll be likely to change anything is if something (bridge, tuners) starts going south for some reason. Until then , the only changes I have and will make, are installing straplocks (done) and replacing the knobs with more authentic black Jazz bass type knobs (on order).
The OP had bought a VM Precision, but I would think what applies to the VM Jazz also applies to it. Again, I say play it a while before doing any mods.
BTW, have y'all seen the new VM Precision with the same natural finish, black pickguard, and maple neck as the VM Jazz?
Nice.
If I hadn't already bought the Jazz I might have gotten that instead.
Maybe.
PS< i'm Glad you mentioned the inlays, it's something I've been trying to find out the past fewdays as a number of user reviews I read online said they were painted on. As far as I can tell by my own inspection with magnifying lenses and confirmation by at least one poster on Talkbass, they are indeed inlays. How do you suppose they made that incorrect assumption?

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'08 Fender Am. Std. Jazz bass, maple fretboard, charcoal frost metallic finish
'10 Squier VM Jazz bass, maple fretboard, natural finish
Ampeg BA115
'09 MIM standard Strat, maple fretboard, sunburst finish
Fender Super Champ XD


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Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 3:55 pm
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I have to agree wit Bats, I have a VM Modified and wouldn't change anything but the bridge or/and tuners, maybe. It's a great bass, not everything I've ever wanted in a Jazz but, it's a great back-up and it fills the bill on a lot of songs, Who, Rush and so on. Compared to my "real" Fender Precision, the VM blows away the Precision as far as volume, the Precision has more character, both are unique.


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Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:27 pm
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yeah, i will for sure be getting new p-ups for it, the duncan designed arent bad, but not as good as i would like them. so i will go get the fender original vintage designed.
closest to my '78 p bass

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Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 7:04 pm
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Bathead wrote:
b.sharp -
That's the one I got, the VM Jazz, and I agree with evrything you say. (although, you say yours has a glossy neck? Mine has the flat satin finish, back AND front) I'm thinking the only time I'll be likely to change anything is if something (bridge, tuners) starts going south for some reason. Until then , the only changes I have and will make, are installing straplocks (done) and replacing the knobs with more authentic black Jazz bass type knobs (on order).
The OP had bought a VM Precision, but I would think what applies to the VM Jazz also applies to it. Again, I say play it a while before doing any mods.
BTW, have y'all seen the new VM Precision with the same natural finish, black pickguard, and maple neck as the VM Jazz?
Nice.
If I hadn't already bought the Jazz I might have gotten that instead.
Maybe.
PS< i'm Glad you mentioned the inlays, it's something I've been trying to find out the past fewdays as a number of user reviews I read online said they were painted on. As far as I can tell by my own inspection with magnifying lenses and confirmation by at least one poster on Talkbass, they are indeed inlays. How do you suppose they made that incorrect assumption?


Thanks a lot Bats, I was Sure that my inlays were painted on until I read your post, I spent the last ten minutes trying to figure out if they were real or paint, with my magnifying glass. I'm sure mine are paint. Maybe there are some with real inlays and some with paint, my neck is satin too.


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Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 7:54 pm
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Got an e-mail from Jeff Krause from Fender consumer relations, officially confirms the Squier VMJ has actual inlays, the markers are NOT painted on. Perhaps at one time they were painted, (althought I don't necessarily believe that) but Jeff made no such comment. I imagine if that were true he would have mentioned it. He did say (as I had asked) that he had no idea how such a rumor had started. That also tells me they were never painted.
All I know is, my bass is brand new (Sweetwater JUST got in a fresh shipment less than a week before I ordered mine)and the markers on it are actual inlays.

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'10 Squier VM Jazz bass, maple fretboard, natural finish
Ampeg BA115
'09 MIM standard Strat, maple fretboard, sunburst finish
Fender Super Champ XD


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Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 5:53 am
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Then the quality of the VM line is exceptional, mine is about a year old. Thanks for the info. Even if it was paint, I'd still like it.


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Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 7:49 am
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oxfan wrote:
Then the quality of the VM line is exceptional, mine is about a year old. Thanks for the info. Even if it was paint, I'd still like it.

Which, in the long run, is all that matters, isn't it?
I went ahead and ordered it anyway, even though at the time I wasn't sure about the markers. It was too tempting a deal to pass up because of something that minor. The only reason I pursued it was a matter of curiosity.

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'08 Fender Am. Std. Jazz bass, maple fretboard, charcoal frost metallic finish
'10 Squier VM Jazz bass, maple fretboard, natural finish
Ampeg BA115
'09 MIM standard Strat, maple fretboard, sunburst finish
Fender Super Champ XD


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Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 11:47 am
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Couldn't agree with you more. The first time I played one, I was blown away, it sounded incredible. Over the next year or so, every time I had the chance I played one, every time it was the same.

I had Gallien-Kruger Backline 2 x 10 which I hated, the first offer to get rid of it came and I ran out and bought the VM and since, no regrets.


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Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 4:42 am
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guys just a question.. i know the topic is well a VM P bass... well its good when in stock.. IMO a good set up and a well matched set of strings then you're good to go...

however my question is that the Squier VM Jazz bass.. don't you think its a bit bright? considering the pots they use are 500k? do you think i should switch it to 250?

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Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 1:22 am
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eyecandy wrote:
guys just a question.. i know the topic is well a VM P bass... well its good when in stock.. IMO a good set up and a well matched set of strings then you're good to go...

however my question is that the Squier VM Jazz bass.. don't you think its a bit bright? considering the pots they use are 500k? do you think i should switch it to 250?


I would play it first. There is a reason they put 500's in it. Everyone that has one of these seems to really like the sound.

If you think it is too bright you can go to 250's. Before ordering replacements make sure you order the right sized 250's. Some of the Asian instruments use mini-pots that are smaller in diameter. On these instruments standard CTS pots will NOT fit and you'll need 250k mini-pots instead of the standard ones used on USA and MIM basses.

Also a different tone cap with a higher value might tame the brightness for far less money than replacing the pots. You can change a tone cap in 10 minutes versus 30 to 45 minutes for a full pot/cap replacement job. If it has a 0.05 cap then go to a 0.10. I'd probably try that first. Only would cost $2 versus a total rewiring job. BUT I'd play it first. If you do change out the tone cap or the pots or anything else electronic I would probably also upgrade the jack to a USA Switchcraft for a few dollars more while in there.


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Post subject: Re: just got a Squier Vintage Modified Precision Bass
Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 1:59 am
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michael.sheley21 wrote:
Give me your thought about this bass, i got it and a hardshell case used for $175, i know for sure that i will be upgrading it, this is my lowest quality bass so far, but coolest looking in my opinion. what type of pickups do you think i should put in there? will i have to replace the pots? and would it be better to put some fender vintage tuning machines on it?

just give me your thoughts


Play it and identify your perceived deficiencies and let us know what you don't like and then go from there.

For pickups it is hard to beat the value of Seymour Duncan and they offer a variety to suit all types of players from clean country to grundgecore to megametal. For custom pickups there are several good shops but Lindy Fralin and Curtis Novak are who I'd suggest based on personal experience. For a real vintage sound at a good price the WILDE pickups by Bill Lawrence are custom quality with some innovative design features yet are mass produced and therefore very reasonably priced. I use pickups from all these sources and they all do what they are supposed to do. Frankly pickup selection boils down to what you want it to sound like. Then choose the right pickup to do that.

I wouldn't put Vintage tuners on it. They tune backwards from what you might be used to. I wouldn't replace them at all unless there was a problem with them. Even though you did not ask, I wouldn't replace the bridge either unless you are unhappy with the amount of sustain because I think adding a high mass bridge for any reason other than added sustain is folly.

If it has working 250K pots they should be fine. But I might upgrade the tone capacitor and the jack if you are just dying to do some mods. Just like pickup selection your choice of capacitor depends on the type of general tone you want. Tone cap selection has a bigger impact than most people think. The jack could be upgraded to a Switchcraft USA. The cap and jack mod is about 7 to 10 dollars total if you do it yourself.

There are many types of capacitors giving different tones. Fender currently is putting CERAMIC DISC caps in basses again just like in the CBS era and part of the Leo Fender era. Ceramic caps are the most edgy sounding ones. Poly caps like Poly Orange Drops are some smoother. Mylar Orange Drops are smoother still approaching the character of a Paper In Oil Vitamin-Q cap which is the most distortion free of them all. I've progressed on one of my instruments through every single one of those types in that order. I wouldn't fool with putting a $20 Vitamin-Q in a $175 bass though, so I'd stop at a 2 dollar mylar cap.

Tone is a very subjective thing. I don't like the edge you get with ceramic caps myself, but it might be just right for you!

So decide what the deficiencies are and decide what you want it to sound like, then go from there.


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Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 8:42 am
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by the way speaking of tone pots.. there are split shaft, solid, cts .. etc

which one to get?

and what are the difference in the types of pots?

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