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New SQUIER VM series! (Part 2)

My new P5 just got here!
IMG_0671_zps104d2c5c.gif

NBD thread to come later.

I didn't realize they came in a natural finish!
 
This is my story, exactly. It's very different from the CV, though. It's more of a 70s style, only half the weight! I love my CV 60s P for what it is, so I decided to keep it and sell another bass instead. The CV is now my backup, or for when I just want that old P feel.

Ha, my story, again. I have a black pg on my CV with the tort going unused. I contemplated putting it on the p/j, though the rest of the band wants me to keep the black. Not that that really matters, but we do have a bit of a uniform going.

I dont think ill ever sell my CV's. I might not use them much from now on but the necks are so nice that i feel its worth keeping both my CV's just for the freedom to swap necks.
Im trying hard to get on with P necks, and while i was happy with the CVP im finding the jump back to med-jumbo frets a bit of a challenge, so ill probably end up putting the Jazz neck on it sooner rather than later.

Ive never liked 3TSB or Tort, but as ive got older ive felt its a colour combo thats starting to appeal to me. After a brief time with a 3TSB MIA Jazz, and putting a black PG on that (off a HW-One) i found i loved black and 3TSB very much.
I was going to buy a MIM P body for the CV neck, but for just over the cost of an unloaded body ive got a fully loaded PJ body, if nothing else.

Ive done a quick set up and its much better. Im going to change the strings as soon as i can, might put some Chrome's on it or a set of Cobalt's i have, but i will end up with XL's before the next gig, i love those strings.
 
After changing to flats some days ago, I decided that the neck probably has settled by now. I found the action a bit high, while the neck looked pretty straight. Time to fine adjust saddle height.

And boy, was that a change! I have mostly owned budget basses, and this probably have the lowest action so far with no buzz. Happy now. :)

Im hoping to get mine down to 2mm at the E string. Ill need to shim it (i do this to all my basses for some reason) but the frets all look pretty even so i cant see any issues.

I cant believe all the money ive spent, and lost, over the past 8 years buying and selling higher end basses, only to be more than happy with these low end Squier basses.
Just goes to show, paying more doesn't always get you more where it counts.
 
Well. just got back from the music store. They had 2 VM Deluxe jazz v's there. I didn't like the finger board at all, some type of resin?.. I then started to fiddle around with the active pre-amp. Then I started looking for the bypass... So now I have a VM v natural ordered, should be here in 2 wks. And I will never look into another active bass again. Too many knobs, too many options, plus they don't cut/boost(some) they boost one way, boost the other, flat and sick in the middle, and I don't like complications.

This is to add to a VM telecaster w/chromes and a jazz v affinity w/d'addario med-round xl-s. The funny thing is I went there to pick up my chrome v lights to put on the affinity, but am having issues getting the action low enough. It's good now with the rounds, but I'd never get it low enough for the chromes... So I bought another bass... lol woot!





p.s. My wife is going to kill me....
 
Reckon a Nordstrand P5 pickup would fit in the P5?

Looks like it. I'm pretty happy with the P5 stock. Pretty happy with my CV 50's P stock (though I did do some shielding on that one because of the single coil)

The VM P5 is just excellent. No fretwork needed, totally stock, just needed a real setup and it's possibly one my favorite 5 strings I've owned. Though I am thinking about a flat wound set of strings....
 
Looks like it. I'm pretty happy with the P5 stock. Pretty happy with my CV 50's P stock (though I did do some shielding on that one because of the single coil)

The VM P5 is just excellent. No fretwork needed, totally stock, just needed a real setup and it's possibly one my favorite 5 strings I've owned. Though I am thinking about a flat wound set of strings....

Cool I reckon I'll dump a nord in. Absolutely love the NP4 in my 90s MIJ P bass.

Should have a candy apple red one next week! :hyper: Will go nicely with my red Sandberg P5!
 
The tone control is in essence a low pass filter (LPF). It will always remove sound in a passive bass. To simplify, the potentiometer value determines how much is removed when on full. If you want a little brighter sound when the tone control is on max (letting most high frequencies through), choose a higher value pot (like 500k over 250k). If you want it to act at higher frequencies, leaving more of the mids intact throughout the range, choose a lower value capacitor. The smaller the capacitor, the higher the frequency of the LPF.
 
Good point. Does anyone know exactly what I would need? Is it just two little parts that I can buy and bring to my tech to install? I'm completely ignorant about this kind of stuff.

My typical upgrade for Squier P basses is: two 250k CTS pots, switchcraft jack, and an orange drop capacitor. You can get kits that take out the guesswork at places like StewMac:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electro...remium_Wiring_Kit_for_P-Bass.html?tab=Details

That's if you want classic/vintage sound. If you want more hifi look at the above post and think about a 500k value on your tone pot (will have more high end treble). I would imagine any tech would have these components already, but it may be helpful to get the pieces online to be sure you get installed what you want.
 
My typical upgrade for Squier P basses is: two 250k CTS pots, switchcraft jack, and an orange drop capacitor. You can get kits that take out the guesswork at places like StewMac:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electro...remium_Wiring_Kit_for_P-Bass.html?tab=Details

That's if you want classic/vintage sound. If you want more hifi look at the above post and think about a 500k value on your tone pot (will have more high end treble). I would imagine any tech would have these components already, but it may be helpful to get the pieces online to be sure you get installed what you want.
Exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks.
 
My P5:
IMG_0672_zps86ca2698.gif

The only thing about it I don't like is the sound with the tone rolled off is a bit weak. Do you guys think and upgraded pickup would help with that?

Nice Burst!

I haven't even looked at my electronics. I usually roll the tone off just a little anyway. As Jumblemind pointed out a kit from Stewmac (and I believe guitarelectronics sells the same thing) would be the easiest way to go. I will probably replace mine at some point too. Probably go to 500k pots. I seem to like those better on P basses.
 
Yah I ordered the kit from stew mac with the 250k pots. Aside from the weak tone-rolled-off sound, and the fact that it has 5 strings, I love this bass. I played it at home for a good 3 hours yesterday and struggled with an odd number of strings the whole time, but I tried again this morning and it was much easier.
 
Yah that's fine. I can do basic setup stuff on my own. It's just changing parts and electronics that I can't do.

Sorry to derail/go off topic. I'll do some research in the appropriate sections. If someone wants to PM me with the parts I'll need, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I think what mac was suggesting was that you may want to try adjusting the pickup height before you go messing with mods you may later regret. Just adjusting the pickup height can make a huge difference in the sound.
 
I think what mac was suggesting was that you may want to try adjusting the pickup height before you go messing with mods you may later regret. Just adjusting the pickup height can make a huge difference in the sound.

I did. Didn't help. Every turn of the tone knob sounds good except when it's totally off. Not that I was discounting what he said. It makes total sense. I tried that right away within minutes of plugging it in for the first time.