Squier Classic Vibe 2019

[58kites]

from my experience, it’s a hit or miss. I have a 2015 Chinese 50s Strat that IMO looks way better in terms of finish and build quality than the new stuff. I have a 2019 CV 70s jazz bass that has some quality issues, specifically the binding. There are some tooling marks around the neck area of the binding and when I first got the bass, there was an issue with the wiring that did not allow me to lower the volume on both pickups. I also had to crown the frets since a lot of them were bad. Other than that, it plays well but not a good first impression. I also have a 2020 60s P Bass that was perfect out of the box. Not crazy about the grain of the wood but it plays incredibly well. Also have a 2019 CV jazzmaster that also was perfect when I got it. Hardware definitely went down in quality.

Do you know which of your Indonesian Squiers were made by Samick (ISS serial numbers) and which were made by Cort (ICS serial numbers)?
I am told the Samick are the better instruments in the Squier CV Indonesian lineup.
Check them and let us all know if you will, it would probably be useful information for everyone here.

 

[InstantEctobass]

from my experience, it’s a hit or miss. I have a 2015 Chinese 50s Strat that IMO looks way better in terms of finish and build quality than the new stuff. I have a 2019 CV 70s jazz bass that has some quality issues, specifically the binding. There are some tooling marks around the neck area of the binding and when I first got the bass, there was an issue with the wiring that did not allow me to lower the volume on both pickups. I also had to crown the frets since a lot of them were bad. Other than that, it plays well but not a good first impression. I also have a 2020 60s P Bass that was perfect out of the box. Not crazy about the grain of the wood but it plays incredibly well. Also have a 2019 CV jazzmaster that also was perfect when I got it. Hardware definitely went down in quality.

Cortek vs Samick stuff.

Just got a second CV 70z Jazz Bass. I agree. These are badly finished and horrendous hardware

 

[selfwareluggage]

Do you know which of your Indonesian Squiers were made by Samick (ISS serial numbers) and which were made by Cort (ICS serial numbers)?
I am told the Samick are the better instruments in the Squier CV Indonesian lineup.
Check them and let us all know if you will, it would probably be useful information for everyone here.

I play left handed so my options aren’t crazy but my Jazzmaster, 70s J Bass, and 60s P bass all have serial numbers starting with ICS. My jazzmaster has the best fit and finish of the three and my p bass is second. I think for left handed models they’re all made by Cort. The few models I’ve seen all have ICS serial numbers.

 

[58kites]

Cortek vs Samick stuff.

Just got a second CV 70z Jazz Bass. I agree. These are badly finished and horrendous hardware

Who made it? Samick or Cortek?
My 2019 Squier CV 50's Precision is Samick made in Indonesia and I believe it is better than the older China made CV 50's Precisions in a number of ways.
I have not touched a Cortek Indo made Squier CV bass so I can't compare them to the Samick made Indonesian.

 

[selfwareluggage]

Do you know which of your Indonesian Squiers were made by Samick (ISS serial numbers) and which were made by Cort (ICS serial numbers)?
I am told the Samick are the better instruments in the Squier CV Indonesian lineup.
Check them and let us all know if you will, it would probably be useful information for everyone here.

also, I changed all the tuners on the three instruments. They were all inferior in quality compared to even the old VM squiers. The bass tuners on the new CV stuff is noticeably awful.

 

[InstantEctobass]

Who made it? Samick or Cortek?

All CV Jazz are Cortek
I think 70s CV Precision are Samick, don't know for 60s

 

[InstantEctobass]

also, I changed all the tuners on the three instruments. They were all inferior in quality compared to even the old VM squiers. The bass tuners on the new CV stuff is noticeably awful.

Tuners are the worst. They're the same as the Affinity line. And even Sterling my MM SUB basses have the same crappy tuners. Most of them arrive BROKEN on these, as I read in multiple reviews!

 

[selfwareluggage]

Tuners are the worst. They're the same as the Affinity line. And even Sterling my MM SUB basses have the same crappy tuners. Most of them arrive BROKEN on these, as I read in multiple reviews!

yep. I don’t know what they’re made out of but they’re absolute garbage.

 

[Clifford Lee]

They turned the tables with the Chinese classic vibes and Artist series after the success of the vintage modified and the follow up with these new CVs is a disappointment. All for a bigger profit margin.... They would have sold a lot more basses and earned more if they weren't greedy.

 

[InstantEctobass]

They turned the tables with the Chinese classic vibes and Artist series after the success of the vintage modified and the follow up with these new CVs is a disappointment. All for a bigger profit margin.... They would have sold a lot more basses and earned more if they weren't greedy.

I think it's not just about a bigger profit margin. It is often said that these Chinese CV were better finish than the Mexico counterparts. They even made FENDERs in the same factory (Modern Player line!)... in China! I have one one-piece maple neck from that Modern Player line, and it's just as good as my 2x 60s (rosewood) CV necks (1st Gen China of course) and my Artist Series two-piece maple neck from the Matt Freeman Artist Series/line.

But then I tried myself with 2x CV (2nd Gen) 70s Jazz Bass, in 2019 and a few days ago: aside the Poplar body that is stronger than Basswood body from the 1st Gen CV... all the rest is utter crap. Both finish and hardware-wise.

 

[Yahboy]

Another Squier option......The Para 54J are China made. Pretty close to previous China CV bass quality.

 

[InstantEctobass]

Another Squier option......The Para 54J are China made. Pretty close to previous China CV bass quality.

Never tried these in my hands, but they still have bad tuners, and no rounded fingerboard edges from what I've seen on photographs.

 

[Heavy Blue]

I play left handed so my options aren’t crazy but my Jazzmaster, 70s J Bass, and 60s P bass all have serial numbers starting with ICS. My jazzmaster has the best fit and finish of the three and my p bass is second. I think for left handed models they’re all made by Cort. The few models I’ve seen all have ICS serial numbers.

I have a ‘13 VM 70’s Jazz, a ‘19 CV60’s P, and a just picked up used ‘19 CV Jazzmaster. All with ICS serial numbered.

The VM is fantastic. 8 years in and was still being used daily and still going strong till a mishap toasted the electronics. Tuners are great. Bridge is solid and intimates well. Frets are still very good. It’s just simply a very well made bass.

I just got the Jazzmaster but it seems fine all the way around with the exception of the vibrato which is horrendous and won’t return anywhere near to being in tune when used. Love the sound though.

Then we have the CV60’s P. Oh boy, where to start? Garbage tuners that grind and shed tiny metal bits, nut was cut wrong and too low on the A string, bridge is ok but could feel more solid, frets are rough, pickup is kinda meh, and the first time I lifted the pickguard one of the pickup wires came off at the pickup.

I used the flaws to negotiate a better price with my dealer.

Once the tuners went. I turned it into a sort of single pup PJ as the VM’s electrics are toasted. I took the killer neck off the VM and put it on the P.

Great combination! It plays so well now.

 

[GetYourWings]

Just received my new Squire CV 60's Jazz bass. Sound: Well, it destroys my Ibanez tmb 30.
Unfortunately the action is really high. I bought it from Sam Ash because I expected this to be the case and they will have their professional set it up for free. Funny enough when my tmb 30 arrived a few months ago the action was pretty perfect and it still plays great.

 

[58kites]

I'm sorry to hear all of these disappointing stories, my 2019 Samick Indo made CV 50's Precision is a really nice bass.
I like it better than the Mexi Player Series basses I tried.
I'm sure the tuners are crap but the rest is excellent. The tuners have had no issues but I expect them to not be great tuners over time.

 

[Heavy Blue]

I'm sorry to hear all of these disappointing stories, my 2019 Samick Indo made CV 50's Precision is a really nice bass.
I like it better than the Mexi Player Series basses I tried.
I'm sure the tuners are crap but the rest is excellent. The tuners have had no issues but I expect them to not be great tuners over time.

It’s funny sometimes how we have different experiences with something.

I picked up a MIM Jazz last summer and it’s near perfect. Go figure.

In spite of my bass’s flaws. None of them are a fatal issue. The core neck & body are solid pieces.

The bridge is fine in use. It just isn’t quite what I wanted.

Frets are now polished. Nut issue is fixed. Pricing out other pickups. Looking for replacement tuners now.

Down the road I want to refin it white and put either a red tort or anodized gold pickguard on it.

Or I might leave the J neck on and have a PJ without the J pickup and then I’ll have a fat necked Jazz in natural as well.

After that, I’d like to put a MM pickup in the proper MM spot.

 

[selfwareluggage]

I have a ‘13 VM 70’s Jazz, a ‘19 CV60’s P, and a just picked up used ‘19 CV Jazzmaster. All with ICS serial numbered.

The VM is fantastic. 8 years in and was still being used daily and still going strong till a mishap toasted the electronics. Tuners are great. Bridge is solid and intimates well. Frets are still very good. It’s just simply a very well made bass.

I just got the Jazzmaster but it seems fine all the way around with the exception of the vibrato which is horrendous and won’t return anywhere near to being in tune when used. Love the sound though.

Then we have the CV60’s P. Oh boy, where to start? Garbage tuners that grind and shed tiny metal bits, nut was cut wrong and too low on the A string, bridge is ok but could feel more solid, frets are rough, pickup is kinda meh, and the first time I lifted the pickguard one of the pickup wires came off at the pickup.

I used the flaws to negotiate a better price with my dealer.

Once the tuners went. I turned it into a sort of single pup PJ as the VM’s electrics are toasted. I took the killer neck off the VM and put it on the P.

Great combination! It plays so well now.View attachment 4261997

It’s funny, my 60s CV P bass was flawless but my CV 70s Jazz bass wasn’t. I almost hopped on the old VM jazz basses and I ended up not getting it. I’ve regretted it ever since.

 

[58kites]

It’s funny sometimes how we have different experiences with something.

I picked up a MIM Jazz last summer and it’s near perfect. Go figure.

I think the new Player Series are the best Mexi Fender basses they have made in a long time or maybe ever.
But the maple fretboard edges are not a soft rolled edge and just do not feel great to me.
I am spoiled, all my USA Peavey basses have fantastic necks with rolled fretboard edges.
My Samick made CV 50's P has nice rolled edges on the fretboard.
The MIM Player Series have alder bodies which are nice, my CV 50's is pine and nice also but I prefer the alder.

 

[InstantEctobass]

I think the new Player Series are the best Mexi Fender basses they have made in a long time or maybe ever.
But the maple fretboard edges are not a soft rolled edge and just do not feel great to me.
I am spoiled, all my USA Peavey basses have fantastic necks with rolled fretboard edges.
My Samick made CV 50's P has nice rolled edges on the fretboard.
The MIM Player Series have alder bodies which are nice, my CV 50's is pine and nice also but I prefer the alder.

Once you tasted soft rolled fingerboard edges, all sharp boards are a joke. Fender introduced their rolled fb edges on their 2K+ basses in 2020 while Squier CV and Fender MP both made in Grand Reward China had these rolled fb edges for 500 usd max. JUST A JOKE

 

[Pocket4]

My CV Jaguar was very fine as it was. No complaints about the body finish and the nice neck. The last thing to do is replace the dodgy tuners. I'm not a PJ fan and I wanted a cheap version of a Cataldo or Fano. Yeah, the ThunderJag. Here is a mid point shot.