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Amber Squier VM P-bass. Tell me everything.

Muddslide

Muddslide

Feb 23, 2007
5,284
5,082
Mobile, Alabama
#1
I haven't found one of these to play yet. I believe they just came out late last year.

I am going to be making a bass purchase soon and hope to get back into gigging. My money is tight and I need a decent workhorse bass that is inexpensive (I plan to funnel more money into my amp rig than my bass.)

I was leaning towards the VM Jag from Squier, but after playing a couple, not sure that's my thing really. Never cared much for P/Js for one thing.

Then I was totally convinced I'd get a CV P--Fiesta Red. Definitely a great, well-made bass, but the frets are a bit tiny for me.

Someone recommended the new Amber-tinted Squier VM P bass with the black pickguard and maple board. I understand the body is also maple?

Anyone who has owned or played one of these--would love to hear your thoughts. How do they feel and play? Anything you feel needs to be modded or upgraded straight away--any hardware or electronics that are not so hot/reliable?

Thanks in advance.
 
#3
I love mine. The finish on the neck is amazing, so fast. From what I have heard and read, the bass sounds like most 70's p-basses. This bass, as well as any classic vibe, requires really no modding. Also, the finish is awesome too.
 
#6
I own one of them there "amber" Squier VM P's; bought it after trying it out at my local GC. It's a lot of bass for the money; easily as good as a MIM Fender P for half the price, maybe better. Hardware, electronics, and so forth were all good right from the start; the only "fixes" my bass needed were some flatwounds (my personal preference) and a setup. That said, I probably will put a Gotoh 201 bridge on it anyway, since I have a few in my parts box. The sound is classic P-bass; just about anything you could want a P-bass to do, it can do stock. It's a really nice piece of work for the price.

Answering the OP's wood question: hard maple neck and fretboard, soft maple body.

Read about the woods here: Invalid Link Removed
 
#7
I hung my head in shame that I considered buying a VM, when I really didn't need a new bass mind you, just because I loved the way it played and sounded. The one they had in the shop had an alright setup, it played well enough, but the sound it had for the price quite simply blew me away.

This thing was completely stock, and the other VMs I've played since like the fretless and what not have all sounded fantastic. If I had it to do over again, I would have easily gotten a VM. If the P basses are even on par with the instruments that I played, then I'd say you're getting a fantastic value going with the VM.
 
#8
Something about Squier's recent output makes me think of the original VW Bug, and thus, bringing Godwin's Law into this thread.

The original Bug (1939) was intended to be for the common man. In fact, the name of "Volkswagen" translates into "people's car." Why the name never changed, in the wake of what the Third Reich wrought, is beyond my ability to understand. History remembers that the Bug was cheap to obtain, and easy to maintain & modify. That is how it is with the newer Squier basses, as well.
 
#10
Yeah, I've seen (and drooled over) C. Linton's. I believe he recommended it to me as there is going to be a bass purchase in my near future.

Initially I was intent on getting something with a rw board, but I do love maple.

I think this is The One. I considered a CV as I said above, but the frets are soooo small, plus I'm not crazy about the color options.

I appreciate all the input.

One more question: are the necks on these chunky at all? I've played a couple of VM Js and the VM Tele-bass with the mudblaster pickup, but I haven't played either of the VM Ps. I really like chunky necks.

In fact, the only thing I haven't realy gotten along with on the VMs I've played are the necks. I don't really care for the satiny feel of tem. Feels like balsa wood to me. Also, I know of a couple of VM Jazzers that developed pretty serious neck twist early on.

I may find myself getting the Amber-finished VM P and swapping for another neck at some point.
 
#11
My friend has one on ebay right now. He up graded it with all gold hardware, including a high mass bridge & tort pickguard. He removed the Squier headstock logo & relpaced it with a Fender one. It looks great! Check it out
 
#12
Wow, didn't realize I was famous! Anyhoo...
I can only concur pretty much with all that's said so far, with just this addendum - as some of you may or may not know, I had a '78 Fender P-bass that looked just like this amber VM P except the Fender had a rosewood board. That bass was a superb bass, a great example of what a Precision bass should be. This Squier, IMO, compares favorably to that old Fender bass of mine in just about every way. Even the finish matches the 30-year old age darkened natural finish of ther '78. In one small way, it's even better as it has a maple fretboard (which I always wished the '78 had.), as opposed to the Fender's rosewood. Since I no longer have the '78 (*sob*) the second I saw that Squier was releasing this model, it was pretty much a done deal I was going to get this, even though I really have no need (or that much room either) for another bass. And I'm glad I did.
And, the obligatory pic (I love showing this thing off) :
IMG_0018.jpg
 
#13
Muddslide said:
Yeah, I've seen (and drooled over) C. Linton's. I believe he recommended it to me as there is going to be a bass purchase in my near future.

Initially I was intent on getting something with a rw board, but I do love maple.

I think this is The One. I considered a CV as I said above, but the frets are soooo small, plus I'm not crazy about the color options.

I appreciate all the input.

One more question: are the necks on these chunky at all? I've played a couple of VM Js and the VM Tele-bass with the mudblaster pickup, but I haven't played either of the VM Ps. I really like chunky necks.In fact, the only thing I haven't realy gotten along with on the VMs I've played are the necks. I don't really care for the satiny feel of tem. Feels like balsa wood to me. Also, I know of a couple of VM Jazzers that developed pretty serious neck twist early on.

I may find myself getting the Amber-finished VM P and swapping for another neck at some point.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't describe it as "chunky" exactly, but it feels fairly substantial to me. very comfortable. And I personally like the satin finish on the VM's. As far as neck twist, I haven't experienced this on either my VM J Or P, but then I haven't even had them a year yet, most reports I've read have said they found the VM necks to be quite stable.
 
#14
I think you are going to be very happy. The neck is chunky in spec compared to the '60's P and all the J's, but you are probably still going to have the same feel as the other ones you've tried (but this is hard maple not balsa), I am a lefty so I don't get to play all the pretty basses you do ... I have a diamond anniversary 2006 60th MIA P-bass but I am going to buy a LH VM Squier Jazz Bass that looks a lot like the P you are going to get. I hope we both end up happy with our purchases. Cheers.
 
#18
C.Linton said:
Why would he want to do something so silly? I certainly hope he mentions it's really a Squier in the Ebay ad.
Click to expand...

I happened to come across this ad the other day purely by coincidence. He definitely lists it as a Squier--it's in the auction title itself as a Squier.

NortyFiner said:
Only two reasons someone would do that:

1. A destructive case of label envy.

2. Trying to pass the bass off as something it isn't.

Ther first reason requires self-esteem therapy. The second is shady even at best.
Click to expand...

I think there are other reasons a person might choose to re-label a headstock. For instance, someone might want to re-create an old Fender (or some other brand) that they used to have in the past. If they aren't planning on trying to pass it off as a brand it isn't, or plan to keep the instrument, then it's their business and no harm done. I know this is a hot issue though. And for good reason. Lots of ripoff artists out there.

tangentmusic said:
You'd have to ask him.
His add definatley states it's a Squier. He's not trying to pass it off as a Fender. His ebay name is fata88. Look at the posting.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it was listed as a Squier and he explains in the description that he re-branded it with a Fender headstock decal but that it is a Squier and even mentions it still has the Squier neckplate. It's an honest sell.

I, for one, have considered doing a similar thing with headstock decals, but not an exact replica.

For instance, I have a Squier Strat that someone removed the headstock logo from. I will probably just leave it blank (I like blank headstocks fine) but I was thinking at one point of getting a decal made for it in the Fender style but having it read something like "Fiender Monstercaster" instead of "Fender Stratocaster."

In that way it would have the general "look" of a Fender headstock, but any quick examination would reveal it was not a real Fender.

I have to admit: I am planning to score one of the Amber-finished VM P-basses. I do not like the unfinished feel of the VM necks, so I plan to use Re-ranch neck tint and maybe a little extra finish to make it look more yellowed/aged and have a little gloss to it.

If I do this, I am considering removing the Squier headstock decal and replacing it with something like I mentioned above--something that looks Fender-ish but that would be a variation of it so it didn't exactly say "Fender Precision Bass." I alread know what I want it to say. Kind of a play on words like people who have done "Fecker" or "Ferden" decals. In my case it's not a case of brand-name envy or of trying to pass it off as something it isn't--it's just a way of slightly customizing it. Making it more personal.
 
#19
Muddslide said:
I was leaning towards the VM Jag from Squier, but after playing a couple, not sure that's my thing really. Never cared much for P/Js for one thing.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I understand your statement. Isn't the Jaguar supposed to sound like a P if you turn off the J pickup?

And since it uses the exact same pickup of the VM P, I thought they would sound quite similar. The Jaguar and the amber P have different body wood, so they probably don't sound exactly the same, but the white P and the Jaguar should sound pretty similar...

Or are you saying you didn't like the playability of the Jaguar? I'm asking because I'm looking for a P tone with a Jazz neck and figured the Jaguar would be a good option for me...
 

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