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Squire cv vs vm

Sahe_Bassist

Sahe_Bassist

Jun 27, 2010
392
96
Tampa, Florida, USA
www.facebook.com
#1
What does everyone think about the classic vibe and the vintage modified basses? What's the difference, why you like them, and what would you say to some one in the market to get one?

Recently there was a thread about "tricked out squires" and it was actually pretty cool to see all of the builds and mods. There just wasn't a lot of explanation the the difference between the models and why ppl preferred one to another?
 
#2
the vm squiers have a satin finish on the neck. but the cv and vm squiers are very good quality. i fell in love with the fiesta red cv p bass a while back i will be getting one in the near future. i own the vm p bass and love it i gig it usually once a week. i cant comment on the cv i have played it a couple times but thats not enough to make a real opinion on it. I love my vm p bass though it sounds so good people dont even mention the fact that its a squier.
 
#3
The Classic Vibe 60s Jazz is one of the nicest basses I have ever had the privilege of owning. It was way more comfortable than my Fender Classic Series 70s Jazz. The only better bass that I've owned is an $800 Lakland Skyline DJ4.

I love everything about the Squier and plan to get another one in the future. It looked, sounded, and felt awesome; no modifications required! The only thing that I would do to it would be to have it set up with some light rounds, maybe have a switch installed to switch between series and parallel wiring (maybe a killswitch, too?), and play your heart out. The pickups sounded great through my SVT-VR. A set of Fender Custom Shop 60s pickups wouldn't hurt, I guess, but it's hard to spend that much money when the bass already sounds as good as it does.

I got mine for about $200 shipped. I cannot believe that such a great bass can be had for such a low price. Even the sticker price on a new bass hanging in the store is a bargain.

Give them a shot; they're sure to please!
 
#5
Sahe_Bassist, even though my VM and my CV are heavily modded, I can offer this...

The pickups are different. The Duncan Designed pickups on the VM series are really very good pickups. The CV has great pickups too, but I prefer the Duncans myself. Can't really say why. I have played VM and CV basses side by side, through the same amp, several times. I always came up liking the tone on both of them.

The finish on the necks is different as stated before, but the neck profiles are also different. I much prefer the feel of the VM neck over the CV. I sold the CV neck and replaced it with a 70's Classic bound and blocked Fender neck.

The CV bodies are basswood and the VM was soft Maple. The newer VM basses I believe are also Basswood. Check the specs on the Squier site...

The VM uses the traditional Fender style bridge and the CV has a really nice, high mass bridge with brass saddles. I changed the bridge on my VM to a Wilkinson Fender Style bridge with brass saddles. Why? I like the look and like brass saddles, for no other reason than I like them. Kinda throws a vintage vibe when you look at them.

The VM (again double check for the whole line) jazz has cavities shielded with graphite shielding paint. I am unsure about the CV as mine is shielded with copper and was that way when I got the bass.

Bottom line is they are all great basses. I suggest you get to a big or good local shop and try them out. Decide for yourself which one has to follow you home....



loinmute said:
I believe the Classic Vibes are amazing quality for the cash. In some weird subjective way I feel that the maple fretboard ones have the best fretwork.
Click to expand...

I think they are amazing basses, despite their low cost! I wish we had such nice basses when I first started out!
 
#7
theory028 said:
The Classic Vibe 60s Jazz is one of the nicest basses I have ever had the privilege of owning. It was way more comfortable than my Fender Classic Series 70s Jazz. The only better bass that I've owned is an $800 Lakland Skyline DJ4.

I love everything about the Squier and plan to get another one in the future. It looked, sounded, and felt awesome; no modifications required! The only thing that I would do to it would be to have it set up with some light rounds, maybe have a switch installed to switch between series and parallel wiring (maybe a killswitch, too?), and play your heart out. The pickups sounded great through my SVT-VR. A set of Fender Custom Shop 60s pickups wouldn't hurt, I guess, but it's hard to spend that much money when the bass already sounds as good as it does.

I got mine for about $200 shipped. I cannot believe that such a great bass can be had for such a low price. Even the sticker price on a new bass hanging in the store is a bargain.

Give them a shot; they're sure to please!
Click to expand...

+1 to that. I've a CV p bass. It is great as it is, not going to replace any original part.
 
#8
Thanks everyone for the great info

I'm thinking I would like the jazz, still want to play both j and p and decide for myself. I have a jackson with a pj set and I love having both styles of pickups. I have tried the new jaguars but I don't like the neck on them, it is way too small near the headstock to be comfotable for me, I don't think any of the others ones have the small neck tho

How would you say these stack up to the mim fender standards? Besides the fenders been more expensive and saying fender on the headstock, I have heard that the squires are generally better...
 
#9
Sahe_Bassist said:
Thanks everyone for the great info

I'm thinking I would like the jazz, still want to play both j and p and decide for myself. I have a jackson with a pj set and I love having both styles of pickups. I have tried the new jaguars but I don't like the neck on them, it is way too small near the headstock to be comfotable for me, I don't think any of the others ones have the small neck tho

How would you say these stack up to the mim fender standards? Besides the fenders been more expensive and saying fender on the headstock, I have heard that the squires are generally better...
Click to expand...

Sahe: Ed Friedland did a comparison on these basses theres a you tube video up, search his name you'll find. The gist of was i couldn't hear any difference from the cv's or vm's. But i'm sure there are some differences in neck profiles. Good Luck
 
#10
squier.jpg


Outstanding.
 
#11
Sahe_Bassist said:
What does everyone think about the classic vibe and the vintage modified basses? What's the difference, why you like them, and what would you say to some one in the market to get one?
Click to expand...

I would say the same thing I always say when when people ask these questions: go find a CV and a VM at the local GC, put your hands on them, fiddle with the electronics and tuners, PLAY them and then decide for yourself which one you like best.

No, really. DIY. You'll be glad you did.

Sahe_Bassist said:
How would you say these stack up to the mim fender standards? Besides the fenders been more expensive and saying fender on the headstock, I have heard that the squires are generally better...
Click to expand...

Also, please...for the love of god, use the search function. This one has been done to death.
 
#13
Sahe_Bassist said:
Thanks everyone for the great info

I'm thinking I would like the jazz, still want to play both j and p and decide for myself. I have a jackson with a pj set and I love having both styles of pickups. I have tried the new jaguars but I don't like the neck on them, it is way too small near the headstock to be comfotable for me, I don't think any of the others ones have the small neck tho

How would you say these stack up to the mim fender standards? Besides the fenders been more expensive and saying fender on the headstock, I have heard that the squires are generally better...
Click to expand...

Be warned though, any Jazz type bass (and most P/J style basses, too) will have that same skinny neck as the Jaguar.
 
#18
MUSHROOMSeAcOw said:
That is purely subjective. I'm happier with my CV, which is not to say my VM is worse. It just doesn't have the features I want (tinted gloss neck, vintage tiny fretwire, highmass bridge, etc.). Hence I am selling the VM Jazz to a friend for a CV Jazz to match my CV P.
Click to expand...

Yes, it is subjective.

I hate the neck on the CV, it feels like playing on plastic. The VM neck is very nice.

The Amber VM P bass is the best Squier bass on the market, IMO. Both in playability and in tone.

As far as the CVs go, I'd rather have an SX, personally. I really don't like anything about them.
 
#20
KingRazor said:
Yes, it is subjective.

I hate the neck on the CV, it feels like playing on plastic. The VM neck is very nice.

The Amber VM P bass is the best Squier bass on the market, IMO. Both in playability and in tone.

As far as the CVs go, I'd rather have an SX, personally. I really don't like anything about them.
Click to expand...

Actually, that's the funny part. I sweat a lot when I play, so after a few months I steel wooled the finish. Now it feels like a light relic, almost like a smooth nitro not but not satin and not as sticky. The VM neck feels raw in my hands, and looks way too blonde butted up against the amber body.

But again, these are all subjective issues. You say potato, I say pahtahto. I am biased because I fell genuinely in love with it after 10 minutes after I was about to walk out of GC with an MiM Standard P. It saved me about $200 and it sounded better than any other bass in the store to my ears.
 

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