• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

New Squier VM Fretless Precision

#21
C.Linton said:
I'm one of those guys who's never played a fretless, as a first fretless, I would need the lines, Then later, depending on how well I do, I would either get an unlined one, or give up fretless entirely, LOL.
Click to expand...

Yeah nothing wrong with that...but there's already a Squier lined fretless J available, and an MIM lined fretless J available, and an MIA lined fretless J available, so the market's well-serving the lined fretless needs. Back when P's were served up fretless, many-to-most were unlined maple...would be nice to finally have that option again
 
#22
YUP! I'd take one!

Gas.png
 
#23
I just ordered one of these from Sweetwater. It is 7lbs even, and looks really nice.

I'm not a fretless player by any means, but this looked like a good one to learn on.

Only planned upgrades are vintage threaded saddles, and I'm going to use Chromes Ultralight Flats, 40 - 95.

I'll report back when it arrives.



Bob
 

Attachments

  • ICS13100154-body-large.jpg
    ICS13100154-body-large.jpg
    33.8 KB · Views: 200
#27
I do not expect it to be better than the Squier VM fretless jazz bass. I owned one of these and I was not impressed at all. It had to go real quickly, within two months. IMO the only reason to buy this is to try out whether you like fretless or not. I hated the ebonol fingerboard, please go for wood! Despite of all the videos on youtube how to upgrade this bass, I believe it is a waste of money, I would recommend at least a Fender MIM. I own a Fender MIM fretless now, of which the quality is acceptable. Just for reference: I am used to Fender USA quality. But if you have gas for a fretless P, there is not much of an alternative.
 
#30
Eric66 said:
I do not expect it to be better than the Squier VM fretless jazz bass. I owned one of these and I was not impressed at all. It had to go real quickly, within two months. IMO the only reason to buy this is to try out whether you like fretless or not. I hated the ebonol fingerboard, please go for wood! Despite of all the videos on youtube how to upgrade this bass, I believe it is a waste of money, I would recommend at least a Fender MIM. I own a Fender MIM fretless now, of which the quality is acceptable. Just for reference: I am used to Fender USA quality. But if you have gas for a fretless P, there is not much of an alternative.
Click to expand...

Maybe it's not an accurate sampling, but here on TB, you would seem to be in the minority. most things I've read here have been positive in the extreme about the Squier fretless Jazz.
 
#31
C.Linton said:
Maybe it's not an accurate sampling, but here on TB, you would seem to be in the minority. most things I've read here have been positive in the extreme about the Squier fretless Jazz.
Click to expand...

That is why I posted this. I bought one because I read al the 'positive in the extreme' posts. I found that only in your dreams this instrument can compete with an american fender, priced 2.5 times higher. The vm fretless sounded like crap. Everything is worth its price.
 
#32
C.Linton said:
No. I'm one of those guys that would need the fretlines should I ever get the urge to try a fretless. I really think that is who the lined fretlesses are marketed for. Plenty of unlined fretlesses available for those who prefer them.
Click to expand...
:cool:

As a fretless player for nearly 30 years. Try starting out on a unlined neck.
It will help you in the long run. Simply put lines are a crutch.
You don't see violin & upright player starting out paint lines on there instruments. To many players make fretless a big deal to start.
Just practice, it's not that hard to learn.
 
#33
Eric66 said:
That is why I posted this. I bought one because I read al the 'positive in the extreme' posts. I found that only in your dreams this instrument can compete with an american fender, priced 2.5 times higher. The vm fretless sounded like crap. Everything is worth its price.
Click to expand...

Well, you are entitled to your opinion of course, my only point was that the majority of opinions differ (again, at least here on TB) from yours. And "everything is worth it's price"? Hardly.
 
#35
Mojo-Man said:
:cool:

As a fretless player for nearly 30 years. Try starting out on a unlined neck.
It will help you in the long run. Simply put lines are a crutch.
You don't see violin & upright player starting out paint lines on there instruments. To many players make fretless a big deal to start.
Just practice, it's not that hard to learn.
Click to expand...

Crutch? So what? I likely will never get fretless, but if I do, it's gonna have to have the lines. If I decide that maybe fretless is the thing for me, then yes, eventually I would like the unlined board. But Until I could be sure that I even wish to continue on a fretless, it gonna have to be lined, crutch or no. ( I have enough trouble playing the right notes WITH frets. LOL)
 
#36
I disagree that the lines are a crutch... even Mr P had lines... hell, you are even doing your bandmates a service by having them.

That argument is baloney.

I urge any bassist if he/she wants to try fretless to just jump in, lines or no.

This is getting off topic, sorry.

These VM's look the dog's biscuit. Looking forward to a review.
 
#37
I got mine about a week ago. I immediately replaced the saddles with a threaded set and put DiAddario Ultra Light flats on it.

I had to slightly enlarge the nut grooves as the original SS roundsaudibly popped when removing them.

The neck adjusted easily and has held with the new strings. The P pickup was raised rather high and I had to lower that a bit.

I also scrubbed the back of the neck with a green scrubber pad to get some of the high gloss finish off.

All in all, I'm quite pleased with it. The sound/tone is good so I'm not planning to replace controls or pickup at this time (unusual for me).

It intonated very easily to the the fret markers and the tuners work pretty smoothly.

Only negative I've seen is the tort covering is loose on the top side near the neck, you can slightly see it in the picture. I've emailed Fender about a replacement and will update when I get their reply.

I'm very happy with the quality of the bass, the wood matching, and the weight (7lbs) it's the lightest bass I ever remember owning.

I hope everyone has as good luck with theirs as I have.

Thanks

Bob
 
#39
Had gas for one of these when they first showed up on the Squier site. Bought a lined fretless PJ Essex bass from Rondo music instead, it's made with better woods. A new brass nut and saddles and the Essex is a hell of a player. Oh and a new set of strings, because for some odd reason the SX came with flats.
 
#40
Received mine yesterday - so far mixed reviews. Sounds great, neck feels great. Looks ok - wood is a little blemished, but I didn't expect much in that quarter. Overall it looks really good.

There is a high spot on the fretboard between the 14th and 20th fret positions on the "E" that keeps me from getting the action as low as I like it. It's the only physical issue with the bass I can find so far, but it's kind of a big deal.

Can't decide if I will return it or not - definitely a problem, but I am not sure how picky I should get on a $300 bass.


Edit: one other thing....I am not much of a P bass guy in general, so I don't know how much the neck dimensions change from model to model, but the neck seems pretty slim for a P bass. All of the P basses I have played in the past have had pretty beefy necks by comparison. Anyone buying this sight unseen expecting a beefy neck will be disappointed.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back