NBD: 2024 Squier Jazz Bass VI is here!!

[DownLowJoe13]

Your eyes aren’t deceiving you, this is not a Bass VI… Fender finally gave Squier the Steve Bailey Jazz Bass neck template and grabbed a 5 string body and now…. 30 years after I started wishing for one… it’s here.

Yes. It is an Affinity. Yes, I set my bar low. Yes, it has exceeded my expectations….

Other than a couple of sharp fret ends, it’s awesome. Perfect mod foundation. The neck… I don’t believe there is any finish on the neck whatsoever. Truly up to me how I want it to feel. The pickups are surprisingly awesome. The tuners are sweet, like they are encased in oil. The 6 bolt neck joint feels solid…. For $300? Get two, one to play, the other to have de-fretted!

 

[40Hz]

Interesting. What is the string spacing measurement on it?

 

[Dan Robbins]

Interesting. What is the string spacing measurement on it?

I read that it is 17mm somewhere…It was on a Facebook thread with Ed Friedland

 

[Dan Robbins]

View attachment 7040506Your eyes aren’t deceiving you, this is not a Bass VI… Fender finally gave Squier the Steve Bailey Jazz Bass neck template and grabbed a 5 string body and now…. 30 years after I started wishing for one… it’s here.

Yes. It is an Affinity. Yes, I set my bar low. Yes, it has exceeded my expectations….

Other than a couple of sharp fret ends, it’s awesome. Perfect mod foundation. The neck… I don’t believe there is any finish on the neck whatsoever. Truly up to me how I want it to feel. The pickups are surprisingly awesome. The tuners are sweet, like they are encased in oil. The 6 bolt neck joint feels solid…. For $300? Get two, one to play, the other to have de-fretted!

I ordered one! Glad to see this review. Wish it had 24 frets but I’m really excited to try a passive Fender 6 string. Not expecting much honestly…we’ll see…

 

[40Hz]

I read that it is 17mm somewhere…It was on a Facebook thread with Ed Friedland

Thx! A little tight for my taste but what can you do when there’s six bass strings right? I’m glad to see they finally ditched the whammy bar and went with a stop tailpiece instead.

 

[ClusterFlux]

On behalf of all of TB, we must know:

Weight?

 

[dabbler]

Congrats! I'll be interested in seeing how long they keep it in the catalog.

I got my 6 string fingers wet with the SX 6 string J from Rondo a few years back. They must not have sold well because they didn't last long on the Rondo site and I got a few for $99 (wound up with 6 altogether). They still carry the Ash one, but it's more than they were when I got mine (SX Ursa 2 MN 6 Ash NA 6 String Bass).

I am happy for you! But I am a little bit envious too... because unlike all of mine yours has a 6 bolt neck!

 

[Dan Robbins]

Congrats! I'll be interested in seeing how long they keep it in the catalog.

I got my 6 string fingers wet with the SX 6 string J from Rondo a few years back. They must not have sold well because they didn't last long on the Rondo site and I got a few for $99 (wound up with 6 altogether). They still carry the Ash one, but it's more than they were when I got mine (SX Ursa 2 MN 6 Ash NA 6 String Bass).

I am happy for you! But I am a little bit envious too... because unlike all of mine yours has a 6 bolt neck!

Does the SX sound at all like a Fender? Call me crazy but I think there’s something about exposed pole pieces. If ya want to sell one of your six six strings, HMU please!

 

[dabbler]

Does the SX sound at all like a Fender? Call me crazy but I think there’s something about exposed pole pieces. If ya want to sell one of your six six strings, HMU please!

Hmmm, I don't own a Fender Jazz, but the SXes sound like Jazzes with ceramic pups.

 

[DownLowJoe13]

I ordered one! Glad to see this review. Wish it had 24 frets but I’m really excited to try a passive Fender 6 string. Not expecting much honestly…we’ll see…

How’s it?

 

[devnulljp]

I just got one of these too. Actually went to buy a Bass VI that was on sale, saw this and for the price couldn't not buy one.
Its pretty good out the box. No frills, no gig bag, nothing extra at all, just the bass in the box.
Bass sounds good.
Frets are OK, no real sharp edges. A couple of them look like they could do with a bit of attention as far as seating in the slots is concerned. They also apear quite soft. This is a new bass that's been hanging on the wall for a few months and there's a little bit of fret wear. I guess it'll need a refret before a more expensive instument would.

Fingerboard a bit dry, but that's the laurel they're using these days and I guess I'm spoiled by vintage Fenders. Oiling it now.

Couple of questions/points:

• The springs on the saddles are really crap. No tension, too short, and they just rattle around. I'm going to replace them.
• The tuners feel really cheap. They work OK, but am I right the paddles are plastic? Sure feels like it.
• Anyone make a pickup cover that will fit one of these? I like the pickup cover on a Fender and use it as a thumbrest.

Other than that, I'm quite impressed for CAD$460.

 

[TolerancEJ]

@DownLowJoe13 & @devnulljp I'm interested in this model. Just wondering if your basses are holding up well since you purchased them. (I read another NBD thread where the buyer wasn't happy and returned it.)

 

[devnulljp]

@DownLowJoe13 & @devnulljp I'm interested in this model. Just wondering if your basses are holding up well since you purchased them. (I read another NBD thread where the buyer wasn't happy and returned it.)

I still have it -- it's an interesting instrument. I changed my mind on the frets -- they're actually pretty rough and could really use some work. Haven't had time to get to it.
Wouldn't want this as my only bass, and I haven't played it out yet, bit it sits on a stand and gets some regular use at home. Nothing about it is awesome, but nothing is terrible either. I don't really fancy spending $2k+ on a 6 string at this point so it sits nicely as a proof of concept. If I start relying on it more, I'll prob buy something better. But for screwing around on a 6, it's cool.