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New SQUIER VM series!!
- Thread starter cba_bass
- Start date
- Status
My fiancé swore that I was done with bass purchases for at least another year after my last acquisition. I was pretty much content but the 5 string bug is something that always lurks within me. I spent a lot of time using just a VMJ5 and aside from pickups and weight (and the fact that I wished it was a P), I had zero complaints about it. I was almost going to pull the trigger on a USP5 until I decided last minute on a NAV58 (big mistake).
Now that these P5's are out, I'm going to have to figure a way to sweet talk her come bonus time. Of all things, a P5 was the last thing I was expecting Squier to come out with or I would have been more prepared.
I like that they have a gloss neck...looks better from the front, IMO, especially if there's a touch of tint. It makes it even worse that they release one in almost the exact color combo I would have been looking for in a USP5...CAR. Close enough to Candy Cola to get me excited for sure. Like I said, if these have the same necks as the VMJ5 and are not too bad weight wise, it would be very hard for me to find fault with them.
Now that these P5's are out, I'm going to have to figure a way to sweet talk her come bonus time. Of all things, a P5 was the last thing I was expecting Squier to come out with or I would have been more prepared.
I like that they have a gloss neck...looks better from the front, IMO, especially if there's a touch of tint. It makes it even worse that they release one in almost the exact color combo I would have been looking for in a USP5...CAR. Close enough to Candy Cola to get me excited for sure. Like I said, if these have the same necks as the VMJ5 and are not too bad weight wise, it would be very hard for me to find fault with them.
The 5-ers all still have the same design flaw with the B string: too tight against the nut so that the B string binds; one piece neck will have dead spots; P-pickup too far upstream to get clarity on the B string; upper horn not long enough to balance 5 tuners, just 4.
To make a Fender-style 5-er, at the very least, the neck should be a lefty instead of a righty, and the P-pickup segments should be reversed to position, so the BEA segment is closer to the bridge to get more overtones and prompt intonation from the B string.
But you still have problems with neck dive, so the upper horn really needs to be longer, etc.
The 5-er is its own instrument, and should be designed accordingly, not just as a tacked on string to standard 4-string designs.
To make a Fender-style 5-er, at the very least, the neck should be a lefty instead of a righty, and the P-pickup segments should be reversed to position, so the BEA segment is closer to the bridge to get more overtones and prompt intonation from the B string.
But you still have problems with neck dive, so the upper horn really needs to be longer, etc.
The 5-er is its own instrument, and should be designed accordingly, not just as a tacked on string to standard 4-string designs.
Dead spots are a given. I don't have a problem with the B being snug against the space beyond the nut...seems to be decent witness point and I didn't have a problem on my VMJ5 regarding this. As far as pickup orientation, I agree that reversing it would help enhance the B's clarity, but is something that didn't really bother me on the USP5's that I've played. I'm wagering these bodies will be just big and heavy enough to counter any neckdive, but I may be wrong. I experienced neckdive on the Lakland Bob Glaub 5's I've tried, but not so much on the US Fenders. We'll see.
I'm liking the VM P V..
Wish it came with a Rosewood board.
The Oly White is nice though.
Hmmm :0/
Wish it came with a Rosewood board.
The Oly White is nice though.
Hmmm :0/
Surprised they're that price, $599 = £390, that's £26 more than we pay, it's generally the other way around, the Standard Jazz is $549 and we pay £565.
I've something to show you, look what UPS truck have delivered!
Here it is, Squier Vintage Modified Precision Bass V in sunburst
I was aware that Squier never took much effort matching pieces of wood under transparent finishes, it was true this time too, sadly. But I did want sunburst anyway and took the risk. The demarcation is very visible but that's clearly not a high-en product either. Oh well.
Other than that, the finish is nice overal, no bubbles, scratches or runs, it is glossy and shiny. The maple neck has a rather light and unobtrusive vintage tint, unlike some series closer to nuclear waste orange than naturally tanned maple.
Made in Indonesia
Starting to adapt to its working environment
Please note the colours are not true to the reality: in real life they are more tamed. My phone exaggerate colours a lot, especially in bad lightning conditions like this one.
I've removed the pickguard to take a look inside.
A "swimming pool" rout
16mm Alpha pots. And, surprisingly, "vintage" waxed cloth covered wires going from pickup to electronics!
There is conductive carbon shielding in the pickup and electronics cavity.
Surprise! The pickup's suspension combines springs and foam
The pickup itself is built around alnico rod magnets, the coil is rather shallow. Looks more like underwound than overwound. I'll measure the impedance later.
Now, how does it play?
It came with lousy set up, hard to play. The nut grooves were too high, truss rod almost not tightened at all and bridge too high. I've filed the nut, and now am in the process of the setting up the action, neck relief and stuff. It will play better I am sure.
No sound clips yet, will post something this week if free time decides to collaborate
Here it is, Squier Vintage Modified Precision Bass V in sunburst
I was aware that Squier never took much effort matching pieces of wood under transparent finishes, it was true this time too, sadly. But I did want sunburst anyway and took the risk. The demarcation is very visible but that's clearly not a high-en product either. Oh well.
Other than that, the finish is nice overal, no bubbles, scratches or runs, it is glossy and shiny. The maple neck has a rather light and unobtrusive vintage tint, unlike some series closer to nuclear waste orange than naturally tanned maple.
Made in Indonesia
Starting to adapt to its working environment
Please note the colours are not true to the reality: in real life they are more tamed. My phone exaggerate colours a lot, especially in bad lightning conditions like this one.
I've removed the pickguard to take a look inside.
A "swimming pool" rout
16mm Alpha pots. And, surprisingly, "vintage" waxed cloth covered wires going from pickup to electronics!
There is conductive carbon shielding in the pickup and electronics cavity.
Surprise! The pickup's suspension combines springs and foam
The pickup itself is built around alnico rod magnets, the coil is rather shallow. Looks more like underwound than overwound. I'll measure the impedance later.
Now, how does it play?
It came with lousy set up, hard to play. The nut grooves were too high, truss rod almost not tightened at all and bridge too high. I've filed the nut, and now am in the process of the setting up the action, neck relief and stuff. It will play better I am sure.
No sound clips yet, will post something this week if free time decides to collaborate
I've something to show you, look what UPS truck have delivered!
Here it is, Squier Vintage Modified Precision Bass V in sunburst
I was aware that Squier never took much effort matching pieces of wood under transparent finishes, it was true this time too, sadly. But I did want sunburst anyway and took the risk. The demarcation is very visible but that's clearly not a high-en product either. Oh well.
Other than that, the finish is nice overal, no bubbles, scratches or runs, it is glossy and shiny. The maple neck has a rather light and unobtrusive vintage tint, unlike some series closer to nuclear waste orange than naturally tanned maple.
Made in Indonesia
Starting to adapt to its working environment
Please note the colours are not true to the reality: in real life they are more tamed. My phone exaggerate colours a lot, especially in bad lightning conditions like this one.
I've removed the pickguard to take a look inside.
A "swimming pool" rout
16mm Alpha pots. And, surprisingly, "vintage" waxed cloth covered wires going from pickup to electronics!
There is conductive carbon shielding in the pickup and electronics cavity.
Surprise! The pickup's suspension combines springs and foam
The pickup itself is built around alnico rod magnets, the coil is rather shallow. Looks more like underwound than overwound. I'll measure the impedance later.
Now, how does it play?
It came with lousy set up, hard to play. The nut grooves were too high, truss rod almost not tightened at all and bridge too high. I've filed the nut, and now am in the process of the setting up the action, neck relief and stuff. It will play better I am sure.
No sound clips yet, will post something this week if free time decides to collaborate
What's the weight?
The first squier p5 in the wild! Remind me to go for red, those are some hard lines
Pretty sweet though. I want one with the vm jazz v neck
Pretty sweet though. I want one with the vm jazz v neck
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