I put Fralins in my RWJ, and they're dead quiet. I like the SD Apollo clips I've heard, so I'll probably just get some of those.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Squier Classic Vibe 2019
- Thread starter LkS
- Start date
I put Fralins in my RWJ, and they're dead quiet. I like the SD Apollo clips I've heard, so I'll probably just get some of those.
Today I received my CV 70s Precision Bass, in walnut, just 5 months and 29 days after I placed the order. I haven't even plugged it in yet, but it looks good, and I wanted others who are in queue to know that the instrument is really being manufactured and the line behind me can take one step forward.
So they do exist. I'm on a March 20th delivery date in the UK still.
Be curious to know how it sounds!
D
Finally! Can you confirm that it has the Samick (ISS) serial number of the early promo pics rather than the Cort (ISC) of the previous CV models?
Do you have any experience with the Cort-CVs? A comparision would be VERY interesting! I was slightly underwhelmed by the Cort-CVs after the amazing Chinese-CVs so I'm really interested to know how these (presumably) Samick-CVs compare.
Is this actually the first confirmed Samick-CV bass to hit the stores?
There was a samick-CV at a local store near me. I tried the precision 70s bass in black on black. I was very impressed by it. I think its in between Cort and CIC. It loses to the 2013 CIC's by just a hair but pretty much at the level of the 2018-2019 CICs. I love the new color for their maple fret board.
My serial number is ISS19xxxxx. The inspection tag was signed on December 17. This is my first Classic Vibe bass so I can't make comparisons.
I've seen these instruments available briefly at a couple online outlets, then they've gone out of stock within a day.
My only basis for comparison of the CV 70s Precision Bass is the only other bass I've every owned, a Squier James Johnston Jazz Bass. Side by side, the biggest difference is the loudness of the P bass. I have LaBella flatwound strings on the James Johnston, and the CV70P came with roundwounds, so that's part of the difference but not all of it. The pickup is louder.
Another feature of the CV 70s P bass is the glossy fretboard. Not just the neck, but the fretboard has a thicker coat of urethane than any fretboard I've seen. I have little experience with basses but more with guitars, and my maple-neck Strat and Teles are practically unfinished by comparison. But the gloss looks fine on this bass and I don't see it causing any problem.
Overall, I'm enjoying the instrument and I'm glad I bought it.
For anyone interested, there's a first-gen CV '60s Jazz up on Guitar Center's used database. As usual for them, it's mis-labeled as a Vintage Modified Jazz, but it's a Classic Vibe for sure.
- [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
So, finally got the CV 70s Precision in walnut as a backup to my '79 P...and it's pretty awesome!
The setup out of the box was terrible, although easily remedied. I appreciate the truss rod access being at the headstock.
The neck to me feels pretty slim for a P. I'm used to chunky necks so YMMV. The vintage tint looks cool and is well done.
I only got a chance to play it for a few minutes, but the pickup seems nice. Sounds like a Fender. In fact I suspect I could use it at my regular gig without anyone noticing a difference.
Definitely the lightest bass I own, but doesn't feel cheap at all.
For those keeping track, it's an Indonesian made one with an ISS serial.
The setup out of the box was terrible, although easily remedied. I appreciate the truss rod access being at the headstock.
The neck to me feels pretty slim for a P. I'm used to chunky necks so YMMV. The vintage tint looks cool and is well done.
I only got a chance to play it for a few minutes, but the pickup seems nice. Sounds like a Fender. In fact I suspect I could use it at my regular gig without anyone noticing a difference.
Definitely the lightest bass I own, but doesn't feel cheap at all.
For those keeping track, it's an Indonesian made one with an ISS serial.
They certainly appear real, and don't look painted. But I wouldn't want to say for sure.
Body seems to be one piece too.
On the 1st Gen CV Precision 70s the binding is painted. It's fine. It's beautiful and takes out less meat (wood)!
So looky what finally arrived!
So, where do I start? Fit and finish is excellent, as good as the later CIC CV basses, much better than the ICS CV models. The neck tint is a little darker than the CIC CV 70's P bass I have, but still very nice. Fretwork, finish, build quality are all great. The neck fits snugly in the pocket, no blemishes or marks anywhere, smooth finish, etc. Nut is well cut.
The body looks like a one-piece from both the front and the back... However, on very close inspection it looks like the back is a veneer and you can see a joint line in the body carve, so I don't know how many pieces it actually is.
It is VERY light (3.5kg, roughly 7.8lbs)
The front has correct grain in the arm carve, so at least the top looks like a decent thickness single piece of wood. They've put some effort into making it look good.
It is indeed a 32" scale length. Jazz style neck, 38mm nut, modern thin carve, very comfortable to play. It si very slightly neck-heavy when on a strap, so there is a little neck dive, but easy to control as the whole thing is so light.
The fretboard is not as "dry" looking or light coloured as the 60's P I tried. Looks and feels fine to me. Well finished, although the wood has large pores. The inlays are fine, some nice swirly detail in them when looked at straight-on, but get hazy and indistinct when viewed from an angle.
The pickups are good, sound just like the previous CV models to my ears. I have a set of Geezer Butlers I bought for this bass, but I may hold off on installing them for now and explore the sound of it as is. not sure I'm a fan of the stacked volume/tone wiring yet, but will give it some time before I mess with it. The pickups are both a little closer to the bridge than I hoped, due to the 32" scale length, but it's definitely tonally versatile and sounds good through my Rumble 100
The hardware is a mixed bag. Knobs are knurled metal with grub screws. The toolkit that comes with the bass includes 3 allen wrenches, one for the truss rod (which needed a little filing of some rough edges to be usable), one for the bridge grub screws and one for the knobs (these two are better quality). The bridge is a cheap bent plate unit with notched saddles (like the old VM units), but works well and sounds fine to me.
The tuners are another story. Yuck. Grindy / scratchy and inconsistent, just feel bad to use.
I replaced mine instantly with the old ones from my CIC P bass (since that one now has Gotoh Res-o-lites). Of course the screw holes are positioned differently (bottom two line up, top two don't), so I had to drill new ones, but it's worth it, definite upgrade.
These are the only part that NEEDS to be replaced on these instruments, IMHO, everything else is good.
So overall? This is a great instrument, as good as late model CIC CV basses, much better than ICS serial "2019" models. So it looks like the Samick factory ones are good and well worth the money (although I highly recommend changing the tuning machines, the only part that sucks). So the "2019" model Jaguars, Mustangs, 70's and 50's P basses should all be good (all the ISS ones), I'd still recommend avoiding the 60's P and some of the J basses (all the ICS ones).
I love it. I am finding the 32" scale length to be really nice, just makes this a very fun bass to play. Versatile, light, fun, good-looking.... recommended. Just have to decide what strings to use on it now...
So, where do I start? Fit and finish is excellent, as good as the later CIC CV basses, much better than the ICS CV models. The neck tint is a little darker than the CIC CV 70's P bass I have, but still very nice. Fretwork, finish, build quality are all great. The neck fits snugly in the pocket, no blemishes or marks anywhere, smooth finish, etc. Nut is well cut.
The body looks like a one-piece from both the front and the back... However, on very close inspection it looks like the back is a veneer and you can see a joint line in the body carve, so I don't know how many pieces it actually is.
It is VERY light (3.5kg, roughly 7.8lbs)
The front has correct grain in the arm carve, so at least the top looks like a decent thickness single piece of wood. They've put some effort into making it look good.
It is indeed a 32" scale length. Jazz style neck, 38mm nut, modern thin carve, very comfortable to play. It si very slightly neck-heavy when on a strap, so there is a little neck dive, but easy to control as the whole thing is so light.
The fretboard is not as "dry" looking or light coloured as the 60's P I tried. Looks and feels fine to me. Well finished, although the wood has large pores. The inlays are fine, some nice swirly detail in them when looked at straight-on, but get hazy and indistinct when viewed from an angle.
The pickups are good, sound just like the previous CV models to my ears. I have a set of Geezer Butlers I bought for this bass, but I may hold off on installing them for now and explore the sound of it as is. not sure I'm a fan of the stacked volume/tone wiring yet, but will give it some time before I mess with it. The pickups are both a little closer to the bridge than I hoped, due to the 32" scale length, but it's definitely tonally versatile and sounds good through my Rumble 100
The hardware is a mixed bag. Knobs are knurled metal with grub screws. The toolkit that comes with the bass includes 3 allen wrenches, one for the truss rod (which needed a little filing of some rough edges to be usable), one for the bridge grub screws and one for the knobs (these two are better quality). The bridge is a cheap bent plate unit with notched saddles (like the old VM units), but works well and sounds fine to me.
The tuners are another story. Yuck. Grindy / scratchy and inconsistent, just feel bad to use.
I replaced mine instantly with the old ones from my CIC P bass (since that one now has Gotoh Res-o-lites). Of course the screw holes are positioned differently (bottom two line up, top two don't), so I had to drill new ones, but it's worth it, definite upgrade.
These are the only part that NEEDS to be replaced on these instruments, IMHO, everything else is good.
So overall? This is a great instrument, as good as late model CIC CV basses, much better than ICS serial "2019" models. So it looks like the Samick factory ones are good and well worth the money (although I highly recommend changing the tuning machines, the only part that sucks). So the "2019" model Jaguars, Mustangs, 70's and 50's P basses should all be good (all the ISS ones), I'd still recommend avoiding the 60's P and some of the J basses (all the ICS ones).
I love it. I am finding the 32" scale length to be really nice, just makes this a very fun bass to play. Versatile, light, fun, good-looking.... recommended. Just have to decide what strings to use on it now...
Interesting... I always thought the blocks and binding on my 70's P were "real" (plastic), because it really looks like it. If it's painted it's really well done. Doesn't bother me either way, it looks good and it sounds good
This is hard to photograph. They made it look really good, can't see any joint lines on top or bottom, unless you look at the belly carve in bright light. Then you can see the edge of the back "veneer" and a part of a joint line. The top looks solid, though, even through the carve, so I don't know how many parts there are, but again... doesn't bother me. It looks good and it sounds good
