NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

[PFDarkside]

After playing this bass three times when I was in the shop, every time remarking how great it plays and sounds, I finally did what Funkfingers was telling me to do a month ago and bought it. 20% off MAP, this is a literal steal at this price. Even though the Duncan Designed have been dropped from the model, the pickups still sound pretty good, MUCH better than the MIM pickups in my Jazz V. I might heed FF's advice and put a Gotoh 201-B on it as well. I've missed having a slim 4 string neck to play on, and this fit the bill. I've been jamming my best JPJ and Geddy licks for the past hour.

Compared to where Squier used to be, these Vintage Modifed and Classic Vibe instruments are pretty amazing for the price. If you haven't played these lines, you owe it to yourself to check them out, especially if you aren't a full time bass player, or need a specialty tone. (This is coming from someone that owns AVRI level guitars, too)



Sorry the pic isn't up to snuff, I haven't even removed the pickguard plastic or polished it yet, too occupied with playing.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

Told yez! (So did Aceman and a few others.) A range of bass guitars, for not much money, that you can just plug in and get on with playing.

I have the Gotoh 201B bridge on an otherwise stock example. It firms things up sound-wise.

Squier dropped the DuncDes JB-101 pickups over a year ago. They have a distinctive growl that, IMO, makes the fretless VM Jazz Bass model sound just right with the stock bridge. Perhaps, you can find a pre-owned pair?

My point here is that EITHER the bridge OR aftermarket replacement pickups would improve the instrument. It might not be necessary to do both.

Obviously, if you only plan to use the Squier for song writing or recording, noise-cancelling pickups would help greatly. Active Jazz Bass pickups can be fun but it its always a PITA to squeeze the control electronics into the stock cavity. Might be worth holding out for Fishman Fluence to develop something.

 

[blueman335]

Re: NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

Nice choice. A lot of bass for the money. I put a pair of used PU's from a Geddy Lee signature bass into my Vintage Modified; low cost upgrade.

 

[Wolfshead]

Re: NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

Nice choice. A lot of bass for the money. I put a pair of used PU's from a Geddy Lee signature bass into my Vintage Modified; low cost upgrade.

I didn't think you'd ever play a Fender although it has to be said Les Paul basses are fugly. :9:

Sweet bass, that Squier line really gets excellent reviews.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

Can I "satin-ize" the back of this neck with steel wool or something?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

Certainly but, with all the playing that it will get, the remaining varnish will polish up again.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

True, my Martin is all glossy in position one now...

What strings are you using on yours?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

Currently, the ones that it came with.

 

[blueman335]

Re: NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

I didn't think you'd ever play a Fender although it has to be said Les Paul basses are ugly.

Sweet bass, that Squier line really gets excellent reviews.

Who'd have thought? For me, Leo nailed it with his basses, and set the standard for the electric bass world. He talked to a lot of players and made what they wanted, something Gibson hasn't done often with their bass line. I love Jazz basses, along with the Gibson bass that was heavily influenced by them: Thunderbirds.

Besides, just about every band I see play live, on DVD, or on TV, their bass player's got a Jazz or Precision. A testament to Leo's genius.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

... what Funkfingers was telling me to do ... FF's advice ...

Objection, your honour.

Firstly, I cannot tell anyone what to do. I merely offer suggestions.

Secondly, good gear is good gear, regardless of my opinion of it.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

Congrats! I've played several Squier basses that were very nice to play. Enjoy!

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

Objection, your honour.

Firstly, I cannot tell anyone what to do. I merely offer suggestions.

Secondly, good gear is good gear, regardless of my opinion of it.

Objection overruled... The ends justify the means.

I originally purchased some Model J pickups to replace the stock ones on this bass. I returned them, this thing sounds awesome with stock pickups. Miles better than the stock pickups on my MIM Fender Jazz V from 15 years ago.

Seriously, for anyone the needs a bass for secondary instrument usage, demo recording, learning to double on bass if you already play guitar, etc. give one of these a whirl. It really outperforms its price tag.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

I liked the Duncan Designed single coils used on the Squier VM fretless Jazz Bass better than the "in-house" designed pickups on recent fretted examples.

I have tried to dig the Squier VM Dimension Bass and VM Precision Bass models just as much as the Jazz but, despite using many of the same components, they disappoint.

 

[blueman335]

Re: NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

I liked the Duncan Designed single coils used on the Squier VM fretless Jazz Bass better than the "in-house" designed pickups on recent fretted examples.

I have tried to dig the Squier VM Dimension Bass and VM Precision Bass models just as much as the Jazz but, despite using many of the same components, they disappoint.

The Dimension bass is not a thing of beauty. Just doesn't compare to the classic lines of a Jazz.

Do all the Squire fretless Jazz's have DD's, or did they switch over at some point?

 

[bjeans79]

Re: NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

I'm also curious about this Mr. Funkfingers... Haven't been able to play a fretless VM yet...

According to Fenders website the pickups are "fender designed single coil pickups." I wonder how much different they sound than the DD p'ups...

 

[dystrust]

Re: NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

The Dimension bass is not a thing of beauty. Just doesn't compare to the classic lines of a Jazz.

Do all the Squire fretless Jazz's have DD's, or did they switch over at some point?

They do not all have DDs. They switched to the Fender Design pickups a couple years ago.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

I have the all-maple '70s styled Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass. Excellent bass for the money. I'd say the quality is on-par or even slightly above some MIM Fenders. I ended up changing the pickups to the Jazz Bass Quarter Pounder set. I'm really liking it now. Stock, I found only the neck pickup soloed to sound good (bridge was too thin, and both sounded too much like "spaghetti stirngs"). Now, it sounds good whether neck, bridge, or both.

 

[blueman335]

Re: NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

I have the all-maple '70s styled Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass. Excellent bass for the money. I'd say the quality is on-par or even slightly above some MIM Fenders. I ended up changing the pickups to the Jazz Bass Quarter Pounder set. I'm really liking it now. Stock, I found only the neck pickup soloed to sound good (bridge was too thin, and both sounded too much like "spaghetti stirngs"). Now, it sounds good whether neck, bridge, or both.

In all fairness, for any guitar or bass in that price range, it's be to be expected that there's a good chance you'll want to upgrade PU's.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

In all fairness, for any guitar or bass in that price range, it's be to be expected that there's a good chance you'll want to upgrade PU's.

It could've been because I pretty much only DI my bass. Pickups make a HUGE difference in that case. Whenever I played it through my bassman or actual bass amps in a store, the pickups were very passable.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: NBD - Squier Vintage Modified

the quality is on-par or even slightly above some MIM Fenders.

Squier VM series build quality may be on a par with early MIM Fender. I would argue that current MIM Fender uses nicer looking timbers - and yer actual Alder rather than Agathis.

The Cort factory has a distinctive way of finishing fret ends and fingerboard edges that you either love or hate or alter using abrasives

Where the Squier VM Jazz Bass scores highly is on playability and outright value for money.