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SCPB VS Split P (& the Basses They Come In)

Which should I keep?!

  • CV50s P

    Votes: 14 56.0%

  • CV70s P

    Votes: 11 44.0%
  • Total voters
    25
PennyroyalWe

PennyroyalWe

Sep 2, 2018
2,423
4,314
Oregon
#1
Alright TB,

The short and skinny of it, I have 2 wonderful P basses, but shouldn’t keep both. Why? Space, lack of “need”, they’re gratuitous indulgences, etc.

The basses in question, Crafted in China Squier Classic Vibe 50s p and 70s p. These are both such wonderful playing, sounding, and feeling basses!

The neck of the 50s, thick and chunky but not in a way that fatigues my hand or wrist. I don’t feel it slows me down, but it does make me want to play in a “stop and smell the roses” sort of way. Deliberate, less is more. Is a recent acquisition, so I haven’t gigged it yet. The tone, tight and focused with wonderful woody thunk.

The 70s neck, slim and fast, almost like a beefy jazz bass. Feel no impediments, the world is my oyster. I’ve gigged this one a few times and it’s always a joy. It also is very close to the shape of my my #1 played bass. The tone, classic p bass, just like the records. A driving growl that I can’t help but smile when I hear.

Now, the real issue: I’m a hobbyist at best, playing half a dozen gigs or so a year, and neither of these are my #1. That honor goes to my fretless Squier VM precision bass TB (see avatar), and tomorrow I am buying ANOTHER one (stock fretted)! Why? I have long wanted to mod my #1 further, but fear ruining the bass I love…so I need/want an alternative to try these mods on, plus having the fretless and fretted option for that bass is something I’ve wanted for a decade or so. I also own a fretless Peavey foundation, and a Hofner club clone.

Simply put, I do/will have too many basses, and I’m thinking keeping both the CV50s and CV70s is gratuitous as neither is my go-to…so one ought to go I guess :(

So, what would you all do (I know, “who cares what we think” etc.) were you to have to choose? Is one able to cop the tone of the other better than its opponent? Are we expecting one to be more valuable than the other in time?

A dull thread, I know, but nevertheless I appreciate you all muddying these waters and blurring the lines for me!
 
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#3
I’d probably lean towards keeping the 50. I love a split p bass, but every time I play a single coil it puts a smile on my face. I like how you describe the playing experience.

Especially since you’re getting another split coil (am I reading that right?) you’ll still have a great back up for your main and the 50s for fun
 
#4
msb said:
I’d keep the SCPB with the chunky neck rather than keep two standard Pbasses.
Click to expand...

CallMeAl said:
I’d probably lean towards keeping the 50. I love a split p bass, but every time I play a single coil it puts a smile on my face. I like how you describe the playing experience.

Especially since you’re getting another split coil (am I reading that right?) you’ll still have a great back up for your main and the 50s for fun
Click to expand...

I should have added a pic to clear that up.
The two contenders are on the bottom. In the chair is my #1, and the bass I am getting a duplicate of today.
IMG_5552.jpeg
 
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#6
This trend I’ve been seeing of late reducing the number of basses we possess must stop. This goes against the first rule of Talk Bass. The proper number to own is always one more than our current number.

Seriously, it’s all personal business & preference & none of ours. You do have a nice collection of basses & all good players by your own admission.

Bravo on finding another “big bucker” VM those are super cool & extremely rare & hard to find. I’d still keep em all. You’ll wish you had later.
 
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#7
Thanks for the pic.
I’d prioritize Blue, Black then Burst in this order.
As a bassist and admitted gear fiend of 4 decades I can’t hear the difference but I can see the difference. Except for the potential hum I like the blue better. Blue sounds better, has more punch and if I’m totally honest, the blue one has my favorite nut width and spacing in that it’s on the blue one.
But I must admit I also really love the feel, the balance of the black one.
To me the burst feels heavy. I’m not getting the same sustain from that one.
 
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#9
Crafted in China CVs are really good instruments. As someone who owns both the CV50 and the CV70 I understand your dilemma. If I had to pick one it would be the CV70. Split coil P-basses are far more versatile IMO. I love the CV50 too but I rarely actually use it.

I use the CV70 all the time and I own LOTS of far more expensive basses. The Chinese CVs really punched far above their weight. My advice would be to keep both of them. They're different enough to justify owning both and you won't find basses anywhere near that quality for the price you paid for them (assuming you purchased them new and not at the current, inflated used prices I've seen).
 
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#11
Deleted member 271037 said:
Crafted in China CVs are really good instruments. As someone who owns both the CV50 and the CV70 I understand your dilemma. If I had to pick one it would be the CV70. Split coil P-basses are far more versatile IMO. I love the CV50 too but I rarely actually use it.

I use the CV70 all the time and I own LOTS of far more expensive basses. The Chinese CVs really punched far above their weight. My advice would be to keep both of them. They're different enough to justify owning both and you won't find basses anywhere near that quality for the price you paid for them (assuming you purchased them new and not at the current, inflated used prices I've seen).
Click to expand...
I actually picked them both up used for less than $200 each. Definitely never going to get as much bang for my buck, but I do stand to make a bit of profit if I sell either.
 
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#12
So you basically got the CVs two for the price of one , say for round numbers $400 total. You sell one for say $400 . That’s a realistic number for either of these . So you net a free bass. That’s good work .

Personally I’d feel happier knowing I still had both of these styles for less than $400. I doubt you’ll ever find either for less than $200 again.

Your call but just playing Devil’s Advocate. I know the feeling of regret in moving guitars on I wish I’d kept.
 
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#13
TN WOODMAN said:
So you basically got the CVs two for the price of one , say for round numbers $400 total. You sell one for say $400 . That’s a realistic number for either of these . So you net a free bass. That’s good work .

Personally I’d feel happier knowing I still had both of these styles for less than $400. I doubt you’ll ever find either for less than $200 again.

Your call but just playing Devil’s Advocate. I know the feeling of regret in moving guitars on I wish I’d kept.
Click to expand...
For the time being, I’m not being pressured to let one go, so I’m going to keep them all for a while and see what happens. I’m having a suspicion that I’ll likely sell the Hofner clone if anything. It’s been in the closet for a while, and I haven’t missed it too sorely.
 
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#15
My buddy has over 40 Squiers, mostly CV, Signature Models & some VMs. We both love the VM with the big humbucker. I think that’s cool you have a fretless & unfretted version now. Those are getting scarcer to find as well & fill a unique niche.

By the way I like your knob changes on your #1 & the black VM77. (And the chrome with numbers on the LPB SCPB. )
 
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#16
TN WOODMAN said:
My buddy has over 40 Squiers, mostly CV, Signature Models & some VMs. We both love the VM with the big humbucker. I think that’s cool you have a fretless & unfretted version now. Those are getting scarcer to find as well & fill a unique niche.

By the way I like your knob changes on your #1 & the black VM77.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I like having numbers on my knobs so I can dial in sounds more consistently, plus I think they look great on the black pg. Going to put rounds on this one, got flats in the fretless. Same basses, but very different sounds.
 
#17
I have 20 basses currently , a few with rounds but mostly flats & tapewounds. You ‘re getting enough now that you might want to give tapes a shot on one. The new one could be a candidate.

My favorite tapewounds are GHS. La Bella a close second. I have Rotosound Tru 88s on my short scale ‘65 Rivoli, they work great on that bass. Fender tapes on my ESP unlined pj. The Fenders sound fine but feel rougher than any other tapes I’ve tried.
 
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#18
Since we're comparing the 50's to the iconic split coil... does anyone have a good link/clip/video for comparison? I've heard some that said they didn't like the 50's but didn't say why. Just that the split P "sounded better." which is subjective and not helpful. I've had some trouble finding a 50s locally to try.

@PennyroyalWe I like your "tight and wonderful woody thunk" description. For reference, what strings are you using on the 50?
 
#20
mrperkolator said:
Since we're comparing the 50's to the iconic split coil... does anyone have a good link/clip/video for comparison? I've heard some that said they didn't like the 50's but didn't say why. Just that the split P "sounded better." which is subjective and not helpful. I've had some trouble finding a 50s locally to try.

@PennyroyalWe I like your "tight and wonderful woody thunk" description. For reference, what strings are you using on the 50?
Click to expand...
It has a set of 3 year old fender 9050L on it. I’m thinking I’ll make a side by side quick & dirty demo here in the next few days playing the riff on all 4 of these basses. I’ll probably post it here, and I can tag you when I do.

Here a video that has both styles side by side demoed, though, that I feel does a good job capturing the general difference between the two.
 
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