Well guys and gals, here it is. I live in Florida so from NJ to here is a huge difference in climate. As soon as I get it, I inspect the bass. All is well. Fit and finish was tight and right.
Satin neck felt dirty. Frets we're slightly dirty but the frets we're done really well and not even a single sharp edge..
I knew it would need a set up so I took it apart. Neck removed, there was a thick piece of tape in the neck pocket with numbers on it. I left it there but cleaned up the neck pocket and neck of various wood shavings. I reinstalled the neck, I polished the frets with 0000 steel wool, I then polished the back of the neck with the steel wool. The bridge had two loose screws, so I snugged down all the screws in the bridge. And then reinstalled the strings.
The nut was cut perfectly.
Intonation was slightly off and the strings we're rattling pretty bad.. so I adjusted the neck. Just 1/2 turn brought it back to playability without buzzing frets.
Still.. I had to intonate the bass, so I did that.
Tightened down the strap pins and the tuner nuts and screws.
With everything cleaned, tightened and adjusted, I plugged it into my Fender Rumble 800 and started playing away.
It's a very bright bass. Could be the round wounds on it I don't know but all I play are D'addario Chromes Flats so.
The EQ is not great by any means but in retrospect of my Ibanez TMB300.. it sounds better. The bass knob does not give me farty blow my speakers tone. Actually the bass knob all the way up gives this bass a very Woody tone.. bass at detent is just a basic clean bass tone.
Treble knob can get you very bright tones, great slap tones but is a little noisy, with a very slight hiss.. the controls are active so..
This bass has a wide range of tones, not the best when you're in a quiet studio noodling around but for a live situation, this girl will hold her own.. I'll let you know how a band mix will sound when I get the opportunity to do so.
No where near a high end feel but.. no where near the low end feel either.
After the adjustments, after smoothing the neck back with the 0000 steel wool, and after fret polishing it really felt like a better playing instrument and sounded better harmonically too.. notes ring true and long.
Neck seems skinnier than my PRS Kestrel, but not as nice.
Next to my PRS Kestrel there is no comparison.
I say that AFTER the adjustments this bass is easily on the level of build quality and maybe slightly better in tone versatility than any of the squire VM basses available, I own a few.
Satin neck felt dirty. Frets we're slightly dirty but the frets we're done really well and not even a single sharp edge..
I knew it would need a set up so I took it apart. Neck removed, there was a thick piece of tape in the neck pocket with numbers on it. I left it there but cleaned up the neck pocket and neck of various wood shavings. I reinstalled the neck, I polished the frets with 0000 steel wool, I then polished the back of the neck with the steel wool. The bridge had two loose screws, so I snugged down all the screws in the bridge. And then reinstalled the strings.
The nut was cut perfectly.
Intonation was slightly off and the strings we're rattling pretty bad.. so I adjusted the neck. Just 1/2 turn brought it back to playability without buzzing frets.
Still.. I had to intonate the bass, so I did that.
Tightened down the strap pins and the tuner nuts and screws.
With everything cleaned, tightened and adjusted, I plugged it into my Fender Rumble 800 and started playing away.
It's a very bright bass. Could be the round wounds on it I don't know but all I play are D'addario Chromes Flats so.
The EQ is not great by any means but in retrospect of my Ibanez TMB300.. it sounds better. The bass knob does not give me farty blow my speakers tone. Actually the bass knob all the way up gives this bass a very Woody tone.. bass at detent is just a basic clean bass tone.
Treble knob can get you very bright tones, great slap tones but is a little noisy, with a very slight hiss.. the controls are active so..
This bass has a wide range of tones, not the best when you're in a quiet studio noodling around but for a live situation, this girl will hold her own.. I'll let you know how a band mix will sound when I get the opportunity to do so.
No where near a high end feel but.. no where near the low end feel either.
After the adjustments, after smoothing the neck back with the 0000 steel wool, and after fret polishing it really felt like a better playing instrument and sounded better harmonically too.. notes ring true and long.
Neck seems skinnier than my PRS Kestrel, but not as nice.
Next to my PRS Kestrel there is no comparison.
I say that AFTER the adjustments this bass is easily on the level of build quality and maybe slightly better in tone versatility than any of the squire VM basses available, I own a few.
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with the money you save.
