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Squier Classic Vibe 2019

#1,481
My CV 60s Jazz Bass arrived today from Sweetwater. This is my first bass (I only started learning a couple weeks ago) so please forgive newbie mistakes. Don't know a lot about 'em, as my background is in classical piano and voice, but I spent a lot of time on this thread while researching my purchase, and I wanted to repay the favor!

Arrived with no noticeable issues except the pickguard is lifting away from the body by about 1.5mm in one corner. It's the side that faces up when you play, so it's kind of annoying to glance down and be reminded of the issue. I don't want to go through the hassle of returning it but I wonder if this is something that is easy to fix once things reopen, or if it's significant enough that I should ask for a credit on my next purchase (I still gotta get a stand, strap and some other things.) FWIW, I've been very unimpressed with Sweetwater so far, and I'm not sure if I'd use them again.

Here's the pickguard. I can easily slip about half a business card under the gap in the right side of the picture. Thoughts?

upload_2020-5-10_15-15-27.png


Pics. I was choosing between blue and sunburst and I'm glad I went with the sunburst. It looks real pretty under sunlight.

upload_2020-5-10_15-19-56.png
upload_2020-5-10_15-20-11.png upload_2020-5-10_15-21-9.png

More pics, of parts that I think TBers are interested in (based on other posts in this forum).

upload_2020-5-10_15-18-59.png upload_2020-5-10_15-19-21.png upload_2020-5-10_15-19-37.png

Next to the 2007 Affinity I was learning on. I was worried about some of the differences (gloss CV vs. satin Affinity neck; narrow tall CV vs. medium jumbo Affinity frets) but I needn't have worried. The only thing I prefer on the other one is that the knobs have a bit more resistance to them; the CV knobs feel like I'm spinning a toy. But again, I've only ever touched these two basses, so what do I know.

upload_2020-5-10_15-24-38.png

Another newbie question: Could someone tell me what the knobs do? Sweetwater guy told me they were volume/tone/blend. But fiddling around with them, my ears say volume/volume/tone.

Thanks all and hope this helps someone else make their decision.
 
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#1,482
krysjez said:
My CV 60s Jazz Bass arrived today from Sweetwater. This is my first bass (I only started learning a couple weeks ago) so please forgive newbie mistakes. Don't know a lot about 'em, as my background is in classical piano and voice, but I spent a lot of time on this thread while researching my purchase, and I wanted to repay the favor!

Arrived with no noticeable issues except the pickguard is lifting away from the body by about 1.5mm in one corner. It's the side that faces up when you play, so it's kind of annoying to glance down and be reminded of the issue. I don't want to go through the hassle of returning it but I wonder if this is something that is easy to fix once things reopen, or if it's significant enough that I should ask for a credit on my next purchase (I still gotta get a stand, strap and some other things.) FWIW, I've been very unimpressed with Sweetwater so far, and I'm not sure if I'd use them again.

Here's the pickguard. I can easily slip about half a business card under the gap in the right side of the picture. Thoughts?

View attachment 3823633

Pics. I was choosing between blue and sunburst and I'm glad I went with the sunburst. It looks real pretty under sunlight.

View attachment 3823641 View attachment 3823642 View attachment 3823643

More pics, of parts that I think TBers are interested in (based on other posts in this forum).

View attachment 3823637 View attachment 3823638 View attachment 3823639

Next to the 2007 Affinity I was learning on. I was worried about some of the differences (gloss CV vs. satin Affinity neck; narrow tall CV vs. medium jumbo Affinity frets) but I needn't have worried. The only thing I prefer on the other one is that the knobs have a bit more resistance to them; the CV knobs feel like I'm spinning a toy. But again, I've only ever touched these two basses, so what do I know.

View attachment 3823645

Another newbie question: Could someone tell me what the knobs do? Sweetwater guy told me they were volume/tone/blend. But fiddling around with them, my ears say volume/volume/tone.

Thanks all and hope this helps someone else make their decision.
Click to expand...

Congrats, that's a nice looking Jazz :thumbsup:

It's volume/volume/tone, the Sweetwater guy doesn't know what he's talking about.
 
#1,483
krysjez said:
Arrived with no noticeable issues except the pickguard is lifting away from the body by about 1.5mm in one corner. It's the side that faces up when you play, so it's kind of annoying to glance down and be reminded of the issue. I don't want to go through the hassle of returning it but I wonder if this is something that is easy to fix once things reopen, or if it's significant enough that I should ask for a credit on my next purchase (I still gotta get a stand, strap and some other things.) FWIW, I've been very unimpressed with Sweetwater so far, and I'm not sure if I'd use them again.
Click to expand...

[POST-EDIT] I'M NOW TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT IT'S A NEWLY BOUGHT INSTRUMENT, MINE WAS NOT... SO IN YOUR CASE I UNDERSTAND IF YOU'D RATHER LEAVE IT THAT WAY IN THE MEANTIME AND HAVE IT TOUCHED BY THE VENDOR... IT MIGHT EVEN HAVE THE FILM STILL ON THE GUARD. WHAT I WROTE BELOW IS ANYWAY NOT INVASIVE, BUT IT STILL INVOLVES UNSCREWING THE PICKGUARD, WHICH YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO DO.

DO DROP THEM AN EMAIL, ANYWAY

---

1-ply pickguard owner here: that's USUALLY the result of either a "force" stretching or bending it, like a pick wedged in (my case), or a thermal difference which made it move, eg. that area was exposed to some heat. That could have happened before the pickguard was applied to the instrument, meaning that the guard probably wasn't 100% flat when screwed in - it can happen with mass produced items and IMO that's annoying but still passable for the price tag - it doesn't necessarily mean your bass was mishandled or it's a lesser instrument. That's especially easy to happen with single ply pickguard.

As long as everything else is fine and structurally sound, it's an easy fix: you take the screws away and remove the pickguard. With the pickguard off, you blow some warm air on it with a hair dryer (move it rather constantly, don't overheat the same spot for too long) for a few minutes, then you place the pickguard under some heavy books for a while, making sure all the pickguard surface is covered and both surfaces it touches (weights and table) are completely flat. This should do. Mine (1 ply) was rather flexible, so it warped easily but it got back flat quickly. YMMV.

I read about some people ironing the pickguard instead - obviously using some thick fabrics between the iron and the plastic guard, lol.

I've never tried that method and I'd personally go with warm air first, as it's more gentle.

Please let us know.

Is the finish and wood around the warped guard fine, anyway?
 
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#1,484
EmaTheMirror said:
[POST-EDIT] I'M NOW TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT IT'S A NEWLY BOUGHT INSTRUMENT, MINE WAS NOT... SO IN YOUR CASE I UNDERSTAND IF YOU'D RATHER LEAVE IT THAT WAY IN THE MEANTIME AND HAVE IT TOUCHED BY THE VENDOR... IT MIGHT EVEN HAVE THE FILM STILL ON THE GUARD. WHAT I WROTE BELOW IS ANYWAY NOT INVASIVE, BUT IT STILL INVOLVES UNSCREWING THE PICKGUARD, WHICH YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO DO.

DO DROP THEM AN EMAIL, ANYWAY
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip and I'll make sure to bookmark your post. I'm loath to ship it back and wait another few weeks to have something to play, but I sent them a message and we'll see what their legendary customer service is like (so far it has consisted of no/slow responses, a phone conversation where I'm half sure the sales rep was stoned, and incorrect information (thanks, 4sight!)). The film is still on - that's the layer that the red Fender Play sticker is attached to.

Yes, finish and wood around the guard seem OK, at least to my untrained eye.
 
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#1,485
krysjez said:
Thanks for the tip and I'll make sure to bookmark your post. I'm loath to ship it back and wait another few weeks to have something to play, but I sent them a message and we'll see what their legendary customer service is like (so far it has consisted of no/slow responses, a phone conversation where I'm half sure the sales rep was stoned, and incorrect information (thanks, 4sight!)). The film is still on - that's the layer that the red Fender Play sticker is attached to.

Yes, finish and wood around the guard seem OK, at least to my untrained eye.
Click to expand...
It looks like the pickguard just needs to be screwed down. Before you do that, though, you should remove the protective plastic film. After I got my first new Fender guitar, I suffered for years seeing plastic film sticking up from around the pickguard screws. A Youtube video taught me that I could loosen (not remove) the screws to remove the pickguard film cleanly. That's what I did when I got my Squier CV bass. Sweetwater might actually have loosened those screws for you, so you could remove the protective film after receiving the instrument.

A tip: Warm the plastic with a blow dryer to make it easier to remove cleanly. Also, be careful not to overtighten the screws when you're done. They don't bear any weight, so just snug them up.

Edit: You might also need to remove the knobs and loosen the pot nuts. Here's a video I found helpful:
 
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#1,488
So it looks like the Gotoh GB640 Res-O-Lite tuning machines could possibly work on the CVJ5. Post is basically same size, but the plate screw holes don't line up (Gotoh is farther apart), and the plate is bigger. If the plate's not too big, and they all fit on the back side, filling holes and making new ones could work.

I may have to try this one of these days.
 
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#1,489
My beauty have just arrived, it's the Classic Vibe 50's Precision Bass. I haven't expected much from it but man, it sounds wonderful. I changed the rounds to used flats and I must say that it became my favorite instantly.

The vintage finish on the neck feels smooth and it plays like a butter, the build quality is top-notch. No sharp edges on the frets, the body is not too heavy, it's similar to my American P-Bass. After a needed setup it just sounds amazing, like it blew me away how the single coil can be that badass.

I've tried out fingerstyle, slapping and popping, pick and even double thumb on it and I can't even express how I love this bass.

I've made some pictures with my American P and in its case. If you have ever wondered about buying this replica of the first Fender bass, you should just go head on!
IMG_20200520_190324.jpg
IMG_20200520_190131.jpg
 
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#1,490
Looks great! I personally had the chance to "score" a second hand butterscotch CIJ 51 P a few years ago second hand and the main reason why I took it was because back in the mid 00s I tried one in a local shop (it was the CIJ sunburst, but that's not the point) and I loved it, but I couldn't afford to buy it... time passes and the model goes out of production, so basically when I had the chance to pick one up ten years later, way better off, I did it, even though there have been some mods made by the previous owner: a SCPB3 (nice pickup, which I swapped anyway with a Bare Knuckle but nice one anyway), the added bridge and pickup covers with screws (which I dig, I took the pickup one off but it adds to the vibe) and a non-direct bridge replacement, with different screw mounts (which I mind a bit, but I was too exited to pass) that I eventually swapped back with the "low-fi" 2-saddle one and had to fill in the holes somehow... they're covered by the bridge cover, though.

Anyway, what I wanted to say before drifting away is that I wouldn't be surprised if that CV reissue, which costs new way less than my second-hand CIJ, is basically on par. And I'm sure it's way more comfortable.
 
#1,491
I know its been asked here several times but has anyone confirmed a drop in tuner upgrade for these newer indo cv Jazz basses? I have been looking thru this thread for a answer to no avail. I know the hipshot hb1 was perfect for the chinese made cv's wondering between a hb5 or hb7 if one of those is a drop in? If anyone can get back to me it'd be greatly appreciated as I don't want to order the wrong size. I don't want to drill any new holes or fill any in.
 
#1,492
Ethereal Thorn said:
I know its been asked here several times but has anyone confirmed a drop in tuner upgrade for these newer indo cv Jazz basses? I have been looking thru this thread for a answer to no avail. I know the hipshot hb1 was perfect for the chinese made cv's wondering between a hb5 or hb7 if one of those is a drop in? If anyone can get back to me it'd be greatly appreciated as I don't want to order the wrong size. I don't want to drill any new holes or fill any in.
Click to expand...

I don't think any of the Hipshots are a drop-in fit. Your best bet is to take some measurements, most manufacturers list these on their websites, so you can compare.
 
#1,493
2nd Gen Classic Vibe 70s Jazz Bass BODY owner here (with a 1st Gen CV 70s Precision neck)... the natural finish... whatever lacquer/varnish they used, it's VERY bad. I have a friend with a 2007 1st Gen Vintage Modified 70 Jazz Bass and it's all clean after 13 years. I compare to that because it's also a 2-piece soft maple Jazz body.

But my 2nd Gen CV Jazz body? Cracks. Cracks everywhere. Without knocking the bass (I knocking it once several months ago) recently, it just shows cracks everywhere. I'm thinking about scrapping it down a applying a brown/chocolate lacquer. Just need to find where to buy that.
 
#1,494
InstantEctobass said:
2nd Gen Classic Vibe 70s Jazz Bass BODY owner here (with a 1st Gen CV 70s Precision neck)... the natural finish... whatever lacquer/varnish they used, it's VERY bad. I have a friend with a 2007 1st Gen Vintage Modified 70 Jazz Bass and it's all clean after 13 years. I compare to that because it's also a 2-piece soft maple Jazz body.

But my 2nd Gen CV Jazz body? Cracks. Cracks everywhere. Without knocking the bass (I knocking it once several months ago) recently, it just shows cracks everywhere. I'm thinking about scrapping it down a applying a brown/chocolate lacquer. Just need to find where to buy that.
Click to expand...


Reranch has a good selection for bodies, and can probably do custom. Might check there.
 

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