Replace Strings on a New Squier VM Jaguar?

[Dradder]

Good chance I might be picking up a new Squier VM Jaguar bass in a couple of weeks, which will be a beginner bass for me. Should I replace the strings on it right away? If so, what strings would you recommend? All comments, experiences, thoughts appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Pilgrim]

My thoughts and recommendations:

1) The question cannot be answered, as it depends on YOUR ears.
2) The bass isn't even in your hands yet. You don't know how it will sound.
3) Play the strings on it for a couple of months and get used to them. They will settle in and change sound slightly.
4) When you have played it long enough to determine whether or not you like the sound - AND you are confident that you need a change of strings - then post again and describe the shortcomings of the current strings and what you hope to achieve by changing strings.

 

[Dradder]

That's good advice and I appreciate it, but the situation is complicated by the fact that I'll be taking the bass back to another country outside the US, where it'll be somewhat difficult to get other replacement string sets to play around with. I was really just hoping to hear people's experiences with the general quality of the VM Jag's stock strings, and with whatever they chose to replace them with. But thanks!

 

[Batmensch]

A lot depends on the general type of music you want to play, you might start with telling us that, it'll help with our recommendations.

 

[REME7178]

You're Visiting the USA and taking a Indonesian Squire VM Jaguar back with you. I don't know how often you visit the USA or how easy it is for you to do so, but why not take back an American Made Bass like a MIA Fender or a Ernie Ball bass. If it's a budget issue a MIM fender cost a little bit more, but the quality is a lot better than the Squire. I am not knocking Squire, I own a Squire VM Jaguar my self, but if I were visiting Germany for instance, I would come back to the USA with a Hofner violin bass not a Jay Turser violin bass. MIA Fender and Ernie Ball are just examples I used for American Made Bass, I acknowledge the other American Made basses like the Ric's, the Rich's, the G&L's, and so on and so on. JMHO to a visitor from somewhere else, I am not trying to start or pick a fight on TB. As far as strings go take back a variety sealed in foil packaging like d'addario or Ernie Ball they are guaranteed to be fresh, and I think they are great sounding strings.

 

[REME7178]

BTW, the stock strings on the Squire VM Jaguar suck just like the SBMM SUB ray strings suck.

 

[themarshall]

I wouldn't be surprised if the stock strings are "meh". D'addario nickel xl's might be a good place to start as they are arguably the most "vanilla" strings out there.