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Squire Classic Vibe Jazz Bass....Whoa!!

chris818

chris818

Jan 14, 2003
434
20
San Fernando Valley-California
myspace.com
#1
WOW!! I never thought the day would come when I would post a thread about a Squire Bass.

What the heck is going on over in China?
So, I went to Best Buy tonight. The Best Buy by my house sells instruments and while I knew I had nothing on my list to buy, such as strings or anything, I couldn't resist checking out what they have on display...nice stuff!!

The first bass I see is an Olypmic White Squire "Classic Vibe" Jazz bass. I plug it into the Fender Rumble amp with a 15" speaker and begin playing some riffs, runs and chords...my jaw hit the floor. This bass sounded very, very good. After about ten minutes, I looked up and down the fretboard, tuners, pickups...everything. And everything was tight as a drum...the fit and finish on the bass was excellent. And for $350!! I was scratching my head in disbelief.

I had the girl working there grab me the American Standard Jazz bass...also in Oly White just to do a side by side (through the same amp, of course). While the Squire felt really nice, the MIA felt a little more robust in my hands, heavier and just solid. It was a little bit fuller/thicker sounding...kind of more powerful. The pickups are obviously of better quality and the touch of the fretboard was softer but not "better"...just different...BUT at $1100, it was no way near $750 better than the Squire...IMO, of course.

I looked around for a MIM Jazz to do a comparison with also, but they did not have one. I honestly cannot imagine an MIM sounding any better than this Squire. I've owned an MIM and it was not this good...I can tell you that much.

This bass has really changed my mind about Squire. Good Job to the guys at Squire. I think I might go back and buy it.
It looks really nice and plays so easily. You guys should try one next time you're at a store; you might be surprised. :eek:
 
#3
I hear that.

This bass is positively killer. The Olympic white and tort combination is unbeatable. I played one at Dave's Guitar Shop in La Crosse, WI. They had it set up nicely and it sounded good through the Peavey combo they had. My one complaint was that the neck was sticky.

It's good to hear that you had a positive experience with the Squier Class Vibe. :) They certainly are making some great instruments these days.
 
#5
Hey i own owned one sold it today

I got it off ebay for 220$ with a gig bag last month.

I played it and really loved the neck and tuners held tune excellent, the tort was ugly tho from up close. I also had an input problem but the bass was about a year old and it was cheap so it wore out, also the pick ups were very quiet .

I dunno its a good bass but my MIM p bass is my fav so i sold it for the same 220$ i bought it for no loss , and i did gain some knowledge that if i see a neck of one on ebay i am buying it.
 
#6
:)
chris818 said:
This bass has really changed my mind about Squire. Good Job to the guys at Squire. I think I might go back and buy it.
It looks really nice and plays so easily. You guys should try one next time you're at a store; you might be surprised. :eek:
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing. Hope you post pics if you decide to buy it! :bassist:

I have played Squiers in the past and have never had a problem with them (never owned one myself strangely). Sounds like the current models are indeed top notch.

Also, I had no idea Best Buy carried instruments. Squiers, and an American Standard at Best Buy? Sheesh, I guess I need to get out more! :rollno: :)
 
#7
theory028 said:
I hear that.

This bass is positively killer. The Olympic white and tort combination is unbeatable. I played one at Dave's Guitar Shop in La Crosse, WI. They had it set up nicely and it sounded good through the Peavey combo they had. My one complaint was that the neck was sticky.

It's good to hear that you had a positive experience with the Squier Class Vibe. :) They certainly are making some great instruments these days.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I can just imagine how good it would sound set up to my liking, with some good DR Fat Beams going through my rig with my Sadowsky Outboard Pre...Wow. I kinda wish I avoided going to Best Buy tonight. I really want that bass!
 
#8
DogBone said:
:)

Thanks for sharing. Hope you post pics if you decide to buy it! :bassist:

I have played Squiers in the past and have never had a problem with them (never owned one myself strangely). Sounds like the current models are indeed top notch.

Also, I had no idea Best Buy carried instruments. Squiers, and an American Standard at Best Buy? Sheesh, I guess I need to get out more! :rollno: :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I thougt the same thing about Best Buy...who knew?
If you walk in, it looks like they carry everything Guitar Center carries. Pedals, guitars, basses, amps, accessories, etc.
The guitars and basses on display are in way better cosmetic condition than most anything I've ever seen at a GC...only cause everybody goes to GC plays the crap out of 'em. Also, when I hung up the basses, the girl took them to the counter and began polishing them before hanging them up again. Very smart girl. Something GC won't do...but I don't balme GC...too much foot traffic to do that sort of thing.
 
#10
chris818 said:
WOW!! I never thought the day would come when I would post a thread about a Squire Bass.

What the heck is going on over in China?
So, I went to Best Buy tonight. The Best Buy by my house sells instruments and while I knew I had nothing on my list to buy, such as strings or anything, I couldn't resist checking out what they have on display...nice stuff!!

The first bass I see is an Olypmic White Squire "Classic Vibe" Jazz bass. I plug it into the Fender Rumble amp with a 15" speaker and begin playing some riffs, runs and chords...my jaw hit the floor. This bass sounded very, very good. After about ten minutes, I looked up and down the fretboard, tuners, pickups...everything. And everything was tight as a drum...the fit and finish on the bass was excellent. And for $350!! I was scratching my head in disbelief.

I had the girl working there grab me the American Standard Jazz bass...also in Oly White just to do a side by side (through the same amp, of course). While the Squire felt really nice, the MIA felt a little more robust in my hands, heavier and just solid. It was a little bit fuller/thicker sounding...kind of more powerful. The pickups are obviously of better quality and the touch of the fretboard was softer but not "better"...just different...BUT at $1100, it was no way near $750 better than the Squire...IMO, of course.

I looked around for a MIM Jazz to do a comparison with also, but they did not have one. I honestly cannot imagine an MIM sounding any better than this Squire. I've owned an MIM and it was not this good...I can tell you that much.

This bass has really changed my mind about Squire. Good Job to the guys at Squire. I think I might go back and buy it.
It looks really nice and plays so easily. You guys should try one next time you're at a store; you might be surprised. :eek:
Click to expand...

Yeah I played one these today, exact same bass, WOW is right... totally shocked. I didnt even plug it in, just went through it from a building and playability stand point. From the bridge to the tuners very, very solid bass. Small frets and the neck was perfect, controls where smooth as silk, bridge was an upgrade from the usual, tuner not bad! Not that I would know yet b/c once again I didnt plug it in, but I would think some new pups in it would make this bass the perfect gigin' bass? Although nothing wrong Seymore Duncan "Design" pups that it was sporting, as I have them in cheap old Yamaha BB300. The difference has to be the "crafted in China" compared to the "MIM" Squire vintage that was sitting next to it, much different bass in terms of quality.
 
#13
Photoman1969 said:
I picked up a Classic Vibe 60's P today. Very, very nice bass. Ran it through the tuner and the setup/intonation is perfect. Well built and a nice looking guitar now that I'm adjusting to the color. Out the door for $270 and change put a smile on my face!
Click to expand...

I ended up getting both the 60's P bass the the jazz. Great basses! I couldn't believe that they were nicer than pretty much every other P/J's in the store. Sounded as nice as the MIA's and love the necks on these.
 
#15
Something I found very interesting yesterday, I went to the Best Buy by my sisters house and played another Geddy, then for ***** n giggles I played a squier VM through the same amp, same settings and wow was it louder than the Geddy!

So I went and got the Geddy again and a stand and A/B'd them through the amp. Same settings on the bass, same settings on the amp. The VM killed! Yes the Geddy had the clang and growl of the Jazz bass nailed, but then so did the Squier. But the Squier had more depth and more punch with a very noticable difference in the volume!

So, I know I will be crucified for this, once again, a Squier killed a Geddy Lee! The same thing happened at a G.C. the last time I was here in Milwaukee, the Classic Vibe did the same thing to a Geddy!

And FWIW, I really very much prefer the neck profile on the VM over the Geddy. I also prefer the VM over the CV, but the CV neck is still very much a winner. As to the sticky neck comments, a green scrubby and 10 minutes will fix that.

After playing that Classic Vibe, I could stand it no longer, I went home and had the local shop order one in for me.

Guys n gals, upgrading to a switchcraft jack and straplocks costs almost nothing and the bass will flat out kill! Zappa sang about a guitar wanting to kill your momma, the CV and VM are gonna take out the whole family! They are killers!
 
#18
I've played a few of these & they really are as good as people say. Most recently, I played one at the Bass Gallery in Camden, London last week. It was the best jazz bass there bar none, including all the high end Sadowskys, sei's & even a 62 Fender jazz.

Go figure!

ClassicVibe.jpg
 
#20
Same thing with P-basses. I own a Squier Classic Vibe and a MIA. There is a difference, however for the most part a P bass sounds like a P bass. The MIA does have a slightly better tone, but not quite 3x better. The main difference is feel tough, and the MIA is superior, but again maybe not 3x. If needed, I could get by on the Squier P, hooked to a good amp it roars. Also I did play the Squier Classic Vibe Jazz and it was great. Bottom line, the new Squiers are a great value.
 

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