Defective Squire VM 70's Jazz

AndyJ · #1 01-20-2013, 07:08 AM

I've just bought a new Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass. It's my first bass.

The bass arrived Thursday and I've been playing a lot since! Yesterday I noticed an occasional clicking noise. Today I've realised what it is.

The block inlay on the fretboard at the 7th fret is not glued in properly and is coming away from the fretboard. It is not quite flush below the A,D&G strings and because it is not glued it makes a horrible clicking noise when fretting strings at the 7th. In the photo you can see a different shade of black to the inlay where it is not attached fully to the fretboard.

Obviously I can return this to the vendor for a refund or replacement. Have I just got unlucky and got a dud or are there quality issues with these cheaper Squires? (this particular model does have very good reviews online and otherwise I am very pleased with it).

I guess I'm wondering whether I should
a. return it for a replacement
b. return it and buy a better quality guitar
c. is there a way to repair it myself?

Thanks

gidbass · #2 01-20-2013, 07:20 AM

option a. These are great basses.

Good Luck!

C.Linton · #3 01-20-2013, 09:02 AM

Replace it. These are great basses as gidbass said, you unfortunately got a dud. Just like any other mass produced instrumets, there will be an occasional bad Squier gets thru, but it's not any more likely with a Squier than it is with any other brand.
Could you fix it? Probably, but it would involve some kind of glue and a way to apply it without getting it all over the fretboard. A pro tech could probably do it and it likely wouldn't cost much at all. It al depends on how much you like this particular bass what you might want to do. The easiest and cheapest way would be to get it replaced. f you can.
Where did you get it?

AndyJ · #4 01-20-2013, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.Linton

The easiest and cheapest way would be to get it replaced. f you can.
Where did you get it?

I'm in the UK and I bought this from an online retailer SoundsLive http://www.soundsliveshop.com/

I'm going to return it to them tomorrow. Hopefully I can get a replacement. I think this model is now end of line in the UK.

77 StingRayBass · #5 01-20-2013, 01:34 PM

Bought a "used" (refurbished) VM, in March, by Nov, the truss rod was maxxed, and the neck had a nasty hump @ the 17th fret, ready to by a new neck, but found this:http://www.warpedneck.com/, NOW, the neck is STRAIGHT as an arrow! I heard of spme folk's with neck issues with their VM's...

blindrabbit · #6 01-20-2013, 01:49 PM

Another vote for Option A. These are great basses. I've not had any issues with mine.

C.Linton · #7 01-20-2013, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 77 StingRayBass

Bought a "used" (refurbished) VM, in March, by Nov, the truss rod was maxxed, and the nech had a nasty hump @ the 17th fret, ready to by a new neck, but found this:http://www.warpedneck.com/, NOW, the neck is STRAIGHT as an arrow! I heard of spme folk's with neck issues with their VM's...

The only Squiers I've heard of with issues have been Affinities, nothing like that about VMs.

eccles77 · #8 01-20-2013, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyJ

I'm in the UK and I bought this from an online retailer SoundsLive http://www.soundsliveshop.com/

I'm going to return it to them tomorrow. Hopefully I can get a replacement. I think this model is now end of line in the UK.

Where did you read that they were stop being sold in the Uk? I doubt that as I think it`s one of their biggest sellers. I heard they are stopping the Squier Standard versions.

C.Linton · #9 01-20-2013, 02:47 PM

Yup. the VM J's are indeed Squier's best seller on a number of online stores, I can't imagine it's any different in the UK. I highly doubt they're being discontinued. And the Squier Standards have been OOP for at least a year, if not more.

tjh · #10 01-20-2013, 03:35 PM

2011 was the last year of production for the Sq Standard Series ...

AndyJ · #11 01-20-2013, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eccles77

Where did you read that they were stop being sold in the Uk? I doubt that as I think it`s one of their biggest sellers. I heard they are stopping the Squier Standard versions.

This is a VM 70's Jazz in sunburst. I may have been given the wrong info but I had to phone a lot of shops to find one. And Dolphin Music http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/ phoned me back and told me that they'd called Fender Europe who had no remaining stock and that the model was discontinued.

Wallace320 · #12 01-20-2013, 03:58 PM

C.Linton (what a name man... Not exactly on the "mainman" side, yet really appreciatin' his job when leadin' all of you, on the other side of the pond...) is partially right...
Unfortunately, Squier tend to suffer from poor neck related QC
Whenever I owned your same bass (a best seller indeed) I operated a few upgrades... From pickups (absolutely subjective) to entire neck (swapped it for an American Deluxe 21 fret Precision neck...)
I prefer Precision necks (especially on Jazz bodies) but honestly the big block, bound maple fingerboard is very fine.
Yeah yeah yeah, right
Except that neck on mine, let binding's defections alone, couldn't stand straight, no matter what tunin' or strings I put on it

Cheers,
Wallace

PS: other that that, good bass for its price... Ask to have it replaced

Megas3300 · #13 01-20-2013, 04:01 PM

Mine has been a brilliant bass to me, I'd recommend getting it replaced, all mfr lines have the occasional hiccup.

audioglenn · #14 01-20-2013, 05:03 PM

Definitely option A. Great basses!

AndyJ · #15 01-21-2013, 05:00 AM

They are collecting it tomorrow.

However there are no more

Sounds like this particular model/finish combination was a special run. This from the supplier:
"Unfortunately I have no more sunburst in stock and Fender have none either – Fender tell me this was a FSR (Fender Special Run) colour which means it was a limited quantity production."

So now I am bassless!

C.Linton · #16 01-21-2013, 05:04 AM

I was about to mention the special run aspect, you beat me to it. Sorry to hear you can't get an exact replacement.
Might I suggest instead, that you consider the natural finished one to replace it? Almost exactly the same bass, except for the color, and the body is made of soft maple.
It's a teriffic bass. Here's mine, all dolled up:

AndyJ · #17 01-21-2013, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.Linton

I was about to mention the special run aspect, you beat me to it. Sorry to hear you can't get an exact replacement.
Might I suggest instead, that you consider the natural finished one to replace it? Almost exactly the same bass, except for the color, and the body is made of soft maple.

Very Nice!

The natural finish is gorgeous and easy to find stock. My reason for the sunburst choice was that both my acoustic & electric 6-string guitars have a natural finish and I fancied something a bit different for my bass.

I have now found another Fender FSR Sunburst and have it on order. They are pretty hard to find now in the UK.

Thanks everyone for your advice on sticking with this model. Just have a 2 day overlap now whilst the defective model is returned and I wait for the new one. It will at least give my poor blistered fingers and sore shoulder a rest!

C.Linton · #18 01-21-2013, 08:49 AM

Well, good luck and enjoy yor new bass when you get it.

Wallace320 · #19 01-21-2013, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyJ

My reason for the sunburst choice was that both my acoustic & electric 6-string guitars have a natural finish and I fancied something a bit different for my bass.

I have now found another Fender FSR Sunburst and have it on order. They are pretty hard to find now in the UK.

Pretty hard to find everywhere
Lightning strikes twice, you found a second one... Beautiful!

Cheers,
Wallace

eccles77 · #20 01-21-2013, 02:53 PM

Good on you Andy. I have owned a good few Squiers and have never had any QC issues with them. If you get a good one, they are very good basses.