Squier VM Teles

[JB_From_Hell]

What's the general consensus on these? A local shop has two of them, one S S mini H (white body, black guard) and one S H (black body, white guard), both maple boards. They both sound good, and the necks feel good, but they have them set up with the uber cheap factory 9s set like half an inch high, so it's tough to see how they really play.

I got an Epiphone Les Paul there recently, but I think it's going back. Same deal as the Teles, a piss poor setup disguised some fret issues. I'd like to get them to throw better strings on one of the Teles and at least half assed adjust the height.

Looks wise, I like both guitars equally. I'm having a hard time deciding which pickup layout I prefer, though. Any opinions?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Squier VM Teles

Are you certain that you are not describing the Modern Player series?

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Squier VM Teles

I thought they were called Vintage Modified.

More specifically on the pickups, they're Duncan Designed, both have Tele single coil bridges, one has a Strat middle and mini HB neck, and the other has a full size HB neck.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Squier VM Teles

The Chinese-made model with hum-single-mini pickups is from the Modern Player range. Very glossy finish. Nasty pots, switch and jack socket.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Squier VM Teles

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/squier-vintage-modified-telecaster-ssh-electric-guitar

Is that the one you are talking about? I have one and I love it. I got really lucky with mine about 3-4 years ago. It was at a pawn shop in town for $135. I think they'd had it for a while, and it is a little bit beat up with some small, but definitely noticeable, dents and paint dings. I offered them $75 bucks and we settled at $95. I didn't have to do any setup other then changing the strings.

I had purchased it with the intent of using it for a band I had recently joined that tuned to Eb. I was sick of switching my MIM Strat back and forth and wanted a guitar to just leave in Eb for the other band. The Tele played so well though, that it became my main guitar from the day I bought it until this fall when I got a Telecaster FMT HH. (I ended up leaving the Strat in Eb until that band exploded and I was back to playing in standard) I still play it at every show, especially on anything really traditional country sounding.

The pickups are actually really nice. I keep going back and forth on replacing them, but I just can't justify spending the money when I'm happy with how it sounds as is! The bridge is the Duncan Designed version of the STK-T3b; the middle is a one of the Strat Stacks, the Classic Stack I think; and the neck is the SM-1 Mini Hum. I honestly don't use the middle pickup by itself that much; I use it with the bridge pickup if I want a little less twang, though. The mini hum in the neck is excellent, I use it a lot, especially for bluesier stuff. It's got a very rich tone. I spend probably 2/3 of the time just using the bridge pickup. I play in a country band, so that's the tone I'm after most of the time. The bridge pickup is wonderful. It's very versatile; I can get that tele twang and spank out of it, or with a good overdrive pedal, lots of crunchy rock tones.

I've grown to really like the SSH lay out, and I'm seriously considering putting together another one with a Jerry Donahue in the bridge SSL-1 in the middle and an SM-1 in the neck (and actually putting an SM-3 in my other one). That way I'd have a higher output tele and a lower output tele.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Squier VM Teles

^ Yes, that's it. You're playing out with it completely stock? Man, Squier has certainly come a long way.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Squier VM Teles

Yup, haven't done anything to it aside from new strings and a few saddle tweaks as needed over the past few years. The Vintage Modified and Classic Vibe series guitars are all very nice. I'd put them on par with MIM Standards, maybe even a bit above lately. The Duncan Designed pickups certainly help out a lot.

 

[BenPerkins]

Re: Squier VM Teles

If it's the made in India version, get it. Here's mine - I've got a Jerry Donahue in the bridge, Antiquity Surfer in the middle and recently added a P90 in the neck.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BenPerkins]

Re: Squier VM Teles

The cool thing about the VM Tele is that it can do pretty much anything. It's a very versatile guitar.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Squier VM Teles

The VM series is incredible for the price range. The Duncan Designed pickups are top notch and they usually play well if set up properly.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Squier VM Teles

I ended up getting the black one with the full size neck 'bucker. Got a set of D'addario 10-52s, so I'm looking forward to getting home, getting it strung up and adjusted. I've played this one in the store a bunch of times, and liked it with the crap strings and awful (non)setup, do it should be pretty sweet once I get done.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Squier VM Teles

Cool!

Pics,Man,Pics!!!

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Squier VM Teles

Plugged it in, goofed around, sounds like I expect a Tele to sound. The bridge pickup is pretty cool. The neck is a little muffled on the low strings, but way better than crappy. Somehow, after 22 years and something like 100 electrics, this is the first Tele I've owned. Digging it.

I'll take a pic or two tomorrow and put them up.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Squier VM Teles

Welcome to the addiction. Tele's are by far my favorite style of guitar.