Squier Classic Vibe 2019

[Hevy T]

Concerning the Squier CV 70s Jazz Bass (4 strings) which will be available in :

- natural
- black
- 3TS

The natural one is getting is light maple body, while the two other are getting a poplar body. Regarding Thomann

My interest in the 2 poor man Geddies just dropped

 

[RumbleMan3]

Concerning the Squier CV 70s Jazz Bass (4 strings) which will be available in :

- natural
- black
- 3TS

The natural one is getting is light maple body, while the two other are getting a poplar body. Regarding Thomann

Is maple better quality? Is there a difference in tone between maple and poplar? Thanks

 

[InstantEctobass]

My interest in the 2 poor man Geddies just dropped

Why not? Poplar is still better than the sh*tty wood I got in the Ammoon bass I bought last year... no screws were holding in at all!!

Is maple better quality? Is there a difference in tone between maple and poplar? Thanks

Maple will be a little stronger and less hollow, so the attack/sustain of your notes will slighty change, but more importantly I think that maple body are heavy. Just judging by the previous Squier Vintage Modified 70s Jazz Bass which also was light maple body with maple neck & fretboard.

 

[Hevy T]

Why not? Poplar is still better than the sh*tty wood I got in the Ammoon bass I bought last year... no screws were holding in at all!!

I MIGHT try one, but as of now I am not super excited about it. Poplar is used to make construction grade warped 2x4 boards, not guitars!!

Maple will be a little stronger and less hollow, so the attack/sustain of your notes will slighty change, but more importantly I think that maple body are heavy. Just judging by the previous Squier Vintage Modified 70s Jazz Bass which also was light maple body with maple neck & fretboard.

These are the reason why I like maple, it is strong and resonates nicely. Rickenbacker only uses maple for most of their designs and models, and far as Im concerned it adds to that whole Ric sound.

The Amoon is most likely a species of Basswood which is in my opinion junk. It's a big part of the reason why I disliked the old CV line, and preferred the VM instead. Also yes I know the Bongo and other high end basses are made from basswood! Well good for them, they will never be part of my collection

 

[InstantEctobass]

These are the reason why I like maple, it is strong and resonates nicely. Rickenbacker only uses maple for most of their designs and models, and far as Im concerned it adds to that whole Ric sound.

The Amoon is most likely a species of Basswood which is in my opinion junk. It's a big part of the reason why I disliked the old CV line, and preferred the VM instead. Also yes I know the Bongo and other high end basses are made from basswood! Well good for them, they will never be part of my collection

No. Ammoon ADVERTIZES as basswood for the body and rosewood for the fingerboard, WHICH ARE complete LIES. I have two basswood bases: My Squier CV 60s Jazz Bass and my Harley Benton MB-4 (passive StingRay copy) and both of them are solid and great sounding! The ammoonn wasn't basswood at all, it was such a porous wood that nothing stayed attached to the body after only half a year. I contacted Amazon to send it back, saying it was a fraud on the customer. They granted the return.

 

[mbell75]

These are the reason why I like maple, it is strong and resonates nicely. Rickenbacker only uses maple for most of their designs and models, and far as Im concerned it adds to that whole Ric sound.

The Amoon is most likely a species of Basswood which is in my opinion junk. It's a big part of the reason why I disliked the old CV line, and preferred the VM instead. Also yes I know the Bongo and other high end basses are made from basswood! Well good for them, they will never be part of my collection

All woods are not created equal. The maple that goes into a $350 Squier is nowhere near the quality of maple that goes into a $2k Ric and they won’t resonate or sound anything alike. Same with basswood. It’s not fair to judge it from the ultra cheap pieces Squier uses. Bongo uses a much higher quality cut of basswood.

 

[InstantEctobass]

All woods are not created equal. The maple that goes into a $350 Squier is nowhere near the quality of maple that goes into a $2k Ric and they won’t resonate or sound anything alike. Same with basswood. It’s not fair to judge it from the ultra cheap pieces Squier uses. Bongo uses a much higher quality cut of basswood.

Anyway the body wood isn't that important... I care for a better quality on the neck... you know, that thing that has to support 150 kg of tension when the 4 strings are tuned to EADG

 

[RumbleMan3]

So the pickups might be the last thing you would have to swap on these new CVs. What about pots though, I think a good pot will make more of a difference, not only in sound but function. What are recommended pots to put in, probably pots used in the higher fenders?

 

[Fun Size Nick]

Anyway the body wood isn't that important... I care for a better quality on the neck... you know, that thing that has to support 150 kg of tension when the 4 strings are tuned to EADG

Both of the VMs I've had have been fine neck-wise. They have truss rods to support most of that tension! We're not talking about $50 basses

So the pickups might be the last thing you would have to swap on these new CVs. What about pots though, I think a good pot will make more of a difference, not only in sound but function. What are recommended pots to put in, probably pots used in the higher fenders?

Did I mention something about speculation? I hope the pickups are good but they're often a big variable when it comes to cheaper instruments - let's see what Squier chose to put in these ones. Pots don't really have an effect on the tone of the instrument...I would think that as long as they're functional (and most are) then they'll be ok.

 

[InstantEctobass]

Both of the VMs I've had have been fine neck-wise. They have truss rods to support most of that tension! We're not talking about $50 basses



Did I mention something about speculation? I hope the pickups are good but they're often a big variable when it comes to cheaper instruments - let's see what Squier chose to put in these ones. Pots don't really have an effect on the tone of the instrument...I would think that as long as they're functional (and most are) then they'll be ok.

Pots do a lot on the tone, I promise, I don't know what does what but I've seen video exemples

 

[bunker]

So my new 2019 CV 70's Jazz Bass arrived yesterday. Unboxed last night and had a quick 5 minutes with it. Theres a good chance it'll be going back into it's packaging and going back.

Firstly it's a beautiful looking instrument, lovely neck feel as per my CV 6 stringers, resonant and nice to play. But.....

I tend to play sat down without a strap (I pretty much exclusively record rather than gig) and as soon as I sat down to play I realised this bass suffers from neck dive. To the point the thing just won't sit on my knee without the head trying to drop. I put a strap on and it's not as noticeable. I've no other Squier bass here to compare to this one but from memory neither my MIM P bass or the MIM J that I had on long term loan had neck dive. (The P is in pieces stored away but thats another story; the J went back to it's owner a while back)

I have already mentioned I had a VM Jaguar bass delivered to me on behalf of a friend a few years ago and that had awful neck dive too. Put me off the VM's at the time (although I'd only spent any time with his Jaguar). I'm gonna head to the local music store today and try out a few VM's, depending what they've got in store, just to get some comparisons.

A few facts and figures....

Weight (according to my crappy bathroom scales) = 6.6lb

Body depth = 43mm

Width at nut = 38mm

String spacing at bridge = 58mm

Neck width at pocket = 63mm

I noticed a couple of niggly QC issue-ettes while I was inspecting too...

Blemish/darkening in the grain on the face of the headstock.
Second volume pot is pretty stiff and notchy compared to the other rather nice feeling pots.
Bridge pick up is considerably higher than the neck pick up, to the point that its actually loose as if the screws have been wound right the way out.

A couple of other changes (purely cosmetic) are that we seem to have lost the gold Squier script from the headstock. Also we don't get the "Classic Vibe" sticker on the pick guard, just the type offering free guitar lessons (like the bullet/affinity ones I've seen). I know there are tiny details but they seem to point to my biggest worry...On the face of it this guitar feels and looks more like a VM with a CV neck bolted on.

I've not got an amp at home and I need to get some stuff set up to be able to record the bass so I can't pass judgement on tone at this time. Here are some pics to be going on with..

 

[RumbleMan3]

So my new 2019 CV 70's Jazz Bass arrived yesterday. Unboxed last night and had a quick 5 minutes with it. Theres a good chance it'll be going back into it's packaging and going back.

Firstly it's a beautiful looking instrument, lovely neck feel as per my CV 6 stringers, resonant and nice to play. But.....

as soon as I sat down to play I realised this bass suffers from neck dive. To the point the thing just won't sit on my knee without the head trying to drop. I put a strap on and it's not as noticeable.

A few facts and figures....

Weight (according to my crappy bathroom scales) = 6.6lb

Body depth = 43mm

Width at nut = 38mm

String spacing at bridge = 58mm

Neck width at pocket = 63mm

I noticed a couple of niggly QC issue-ettes while I was inspecting too...

Blemish/darkening in the grain on the face of the headstock.

Second volume pot is pretty stiff and notchy compared to the other rather nice feeling pots.

Bridge pick up is considerably higher than the neck pick up, to the point that its actually loose as if the screws have been wound right the way out.

On the face of it this guitar feels and looks more like a VM with a CV neck bolted on.

I've not got an amp at home and I need to get some stuff set up to be able to record the bass so I can't pass judgement on tone at this time.

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Not good! I'm a bit surprised, perhaps you just got a worser pick of the pack? Already having a 2019 CV in so early since it's release, it would have to be one of the first few built. is this expected? Perhaps things will improve as they continue bringing them out.

Demo of tones would be great when you get a chance to set up. All the best!

 

[InstantEctobass]

This is a disappointment to hear that it doesn't feel good to you.

Dark spot in maple happens sometimes, that's not truly a problem if the wood itself is consistent.
The Squier logo isn't golden on the inside because the 70s Fender Jazz Bass had that logo as well.
The neck dive doesn't surprises me as the body is poplar for the black and sunburst version, and the neck being all maple (heavy).

But if the pots feels bad, that means that this new CV series isn't as good as the previous ones.
Also I feel like the tuners are not aligned and the strings don't are aligned, which I hate to see visually

 

[RumbleMan3]

But if the pots feels bad, that means that this new CV series isn't as good as the previous ones.

WWWWWHHHHYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!???????!!!!!!!!????!!

 

[bunker]

Not good! I'm a bit surprised, perhaps you just got a worser pick of the pack? Already having a 2019 CV in so early since it's release, it would have to be one of the first few built. is this expected? Perhaps things will improve as they continue bringing them out.

Demo of tones would be great when you get a chance to set up. All the best!

Well I've just got back from my local big music superstore (PMT) and they had a few of the 2019 CV's in stock, including a 70's in sunburst. Guess what? Exactly like mine right down to a loose and noticeably wobbly bridge pup. Even the 60's P bass's pickup had some movement in it. I sat down and played a MIM Player series J and that had some nick dive too. They didn't have any VM or Affinity models to compare the CV's to.

Now maybe it's me, the offset shape or something else (prob me!) but do all J basses have this trait when the guitar is say on your thigh? I'm used to playing fairly heavyweight basses like the Aria Pro 2's and my very heavy mahogany Was Custom so I'm used to more balance. It's been years since I had the MIM Jazz here but I just don't recall it being so neck-heavy?

Question now is, considering what the other CV's and the MIM Player felt like, do I return this new CV or keep it? I'd have to get some tracking done with it before I make a final choice; I can live with the neck dive (wear a strap!!) as long as the bass sounds good. Would upgrading the tuners to lighter ones and possibly swapping out the bridge for a high-mass item lend a bit more balance? But by then I could be getting up to £500 invested when I could hunt out an equivalent instrument for the same money without needing to mod.

 

[InstantEctobass]

Well I've just got back from my local big music superstore (PMT) and they had a few of the 2019 CV's in stock, including a 70's in sunburst. Guess what? Exactly like mine right down to a loose and noticeably wobbly bridge pup. Even the 60's P bass's pickup had some movement in it. I sat down and played a MIM Player series J and that had some nick dive too. They didn't have any VM or Affinity models to compare the CV's to.

Now maybe it's me, the offset shape or something else (prob me!) but do all J basses have this trait when the guitar is say on your thigh? I'm used to playing fairly heavyweight basses like the Aria Pro 2's and my very heavy mahogany Was Custom so I'm used to more balance. It's been years since I had the MIM Jazz here but I just don't recall it being so neck-heavy?

How does it sound though? please make a clip if you're able to, man, before you ever ship it back! you'll be the kind person

 

[bunker]

How does it sound though? please make a clip if you're able to, man, before you ever ship it back! you'll be the kind person

I've just made 4 little clips but I've got them on the Mac as .wav files. Whats the best way to upload them?

 

[RumbleMan3]

I've just made 4 little clips but I've got them on the Mac as .wav files. Whats the best way to upload them?

There should be a button in the box whenre you are typing your posts on talkbass, one is media and one is insert. Either should allow you to upload

 

[bunker]

There should be a button in the box whenre you are typing your posts on talkbass, one is media and one is insert. Either should allow you to upload

The media is asking for a URL so I'm just uploading the clips to SoundCloud now.

Bass > MXR Studio Compressor > Focusrite Liquid 56 > iMac. No EQ etc applied, just the dry .wav's

Please don't laugh too hard at my awful playing!!!

Both pickups

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Bridge pickup

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Neck pickup

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Both but with the tone rolled right back

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[Hevy T]

@bunker I would suggest (after listening to the clips) return the CV and throw a few extra $$ with it and get a Player Jazz or P bass. Those two are awesome.

But if you do decide to keep this one definitely change out the strings at least. To me they sounded brittle and harsh. What I have to do with my VM jazz is play with the tone turned down by about a 1/4