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New Squier VM Fretless Precision

#41
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.
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They do have great reviews but if you dig a little deeper you will find piles of scathing reviews about the VM fretless, there is a huge "worst bass you've played" thread and the VM fret less was one of the top mentioned basses. Many people did what I did and bought one sight unseen based on all the reviews, then it arrived at the fretless neck was far from smooth, Fender does not radius the neck down to make the fret line markers smooth so the neck gets fretbuzz from the plastic lines, it makes the bass impossible to setup/play. I, like many others, had to re-radius my fingerboard, every single one I have seen at the store has had the issue, and that is at least 10 of the things. Apparently some come smooth from the factory, but I have yet to personally see one. I too thought the pickups were extremely mediocre and they have to be shielded, but that it s given.

So yeah, as cool as this thing is and as much as I have always wanted a fretless P, I do not really feel like buying a bass just to do a bunch of work on it. I would rather buy a body and a neck and stick them together.
 
#42
MCMOA said:
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.
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be picky fith a fretless neck... just try a different one, the fretboard must be smoth in a fretless... I know, I have a bumpy fretless and love/hate it periodically!
 
#43
It maybe a while before we see these in our part of the world. Curious to know how thick the fingerboard is. I like the thin rosewood on my 1970 fretless p. How close to original spec is the new Squier? I realise the Squier differs by having the fret lines marked, but where are the side dots? On the fret or between? Cheers.
 
#44
Typically on a lined fretless the dots are where they would normally be on a fretted bass. On an unlined fretless they should be where the 3, 5, 7, 9, 12 etc. frets would be.

Not sure about the fretboard thickness. I had a VM fretless Jazz that I really disliked and it had a medium thickness board. I would guess it would not be thin like you are looking for. But who Knows?

Does anyone actually have one of these yet?
 
#47
de Kyme said:
I have an acoustic unlined fretless that had side dots in the between fret positions which made it very difficult to play with your eyes open. Had to paint out the binding and put new dots on the fret positions at 3, 5, 7 etc.
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I bought a single piece maple neck from a Chinese MFR with the exact same problem. I punched and filled the dots and drew lines for now. I'll install new dots once I have the time.
 
#54
I could feel a couple on mine.

I got a 9.5" radius sanding block and went to town.

I'm very happy with the improved playability, but it does change the appearance of the ebonol a bit. But with the improvement I got in playability, it was definitely worth it.

All the best,

Bob
 
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#58
I got one of these today and I am lovin it. First fretless Ive ever owned. I played the Jazz and the P in a store the other day and as usual I preferred the P but I did like the J too. I put D'Addario half rounds on it and its like they were invented for fretless basses. Ive always liked them depending on the particular bass and if I was going for an old school thumpy sound, but on this bass they have good balance of thump and stand up zing.
 
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