Squier Classic Vibe Club (Part 3)

[TorontoAlex]

So today I just picked up a Matt Freeman Sig to go with my 60's CV P. I've been so impressed with the CV that I wanted to grab the Freeman to go along with it, as he was one of my favourite players growing up (saw him and Rancid a few weeks back and they killed it). I have to say, this bass is just as good as the CV.

The Freeman has a killer pick tone strung up with the stock rounds, however I found I was also playing a lot of fingerstyle tonight with it. Great huge tone with fat lows like a good P.

I found that the necks on the two are a bit different; the Freeman feels a bit like a baseball bat where as the CV feels a bit more flat and wide. I know on the Fender website it states that both have a 'modern c' shape neck, however I swear there is a difference. Not huge but noticeable. The Freeman is also heavier than the CV, I doubt that it is by design, but the CV is a real feather-light (which attracted me to it). The Freeman is not heavy by any means, but it is heavier.

The plan right now is to keep the Freeman strung up with rounds, and have the CV with flats (wearing Chromes right now). The stock strings on the Freeman are fine, but it needs a good set-up. Otherwise I'm really happy with both right now. I'm still floored at the value of these Squiers. I think I'll be taking these out and leaving the MIA Fenders at home.

and pic:

 

[chuck norriss]

Rad!
Glossy neck?
I almost got a freeman last week but ordered parts for a fretless j instead--which I regret because I then bought a wishbass fretless that I couldn't pass up. So now I'm two fretless basses and no p when all along the plan was get one p and be done withit. I'm so stupid.
I will still enjoy both, but watch, I'll build then sell the j fretless & end up w cvp

The color is perfect on the freeman I love that burnt in vintage white & tinted neck.

 

[TorontoAlex]

Chuck,

Yeh it has the glossy neck, same as the CV.
Funny you mention the fretless, the only piece of gear I regret selling off is my Squier VM fretless Jazz. Love the p's but miss having the fretless option. I'll pick one up again at some point.

 

[chuck norriss]

I got a pretty vm jazz body w flamed wood, & an EY fretless maple neck from China. I've bought one before; its' a solid product. Canadian maple. They're cheap too. The only downside is 2-week delivery. I'm a sucker for fretless maple necks. Wishbass is the same.

 

[paparoof]

Hey anyone in the Twin Cities area lusting after the sonic blue CV P....

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Not my ad, I just know the SB gets a lotta love and it's getting harder and harder to find. Asking price is also less than I'd consider selling mine for.

Helluva nice bass for $250.

 

[Red_Merkin]

Just scored a CV 60s Jazz and i´m surprised how good this "cheapo" is, BUT what are my options to optimize the sound a few percent. How did YOU modify your CV jazz? Pickup replacement? BadAssII bridge? Nut made of bone? What else?

Thanks for inspiration

Aside from a set of Webstrings Detroit Flats and a chrome pickup cover (they look cool and I like to anchor my thumb on them), I haven't modified mine at all. It comes with a High Mass bridge that, IMO is superior to a BadAss - so that's not necessary.

Really, I wouldn't modify it at all, unless there's some specific issue with the sound/feel you're trying to address. I know there's a whole crowd on TB of guys who modify Squiers just to modify them, and often plan on doing it before they've even held the bass they're doing it to. But it's really just not necessary unless, as I said, you have a problem with some aspect of your particular instrument.

Otherwise, (and I say this from too much experience) you'll just spend a whole lot of money and time just to end up with a bass that's inferior to the stock model.

 

[dave_bass5]

I was bored the other night so I put the stock neck back on my CVP. I had forgotten how nice it felt to play. Think ill stick with it for now. It will help me get used to wider necks.
Since getting rid of the DR Black Beauties and putting XL's on I've found a renewed love for this bass (not that I ever fell out of love with it).

 

[Yahboy]

i install back the stock pup & .068 cap.

 

[Jookbox]

Just got my CV Precision '60s today. I'm amazed at the quality of this thing. Nicer than VM, and the MIM Fender I returned. I'm really blown away. BUT, when I plugged it in, the input jack wasn't working, so I opened it up:

One of the wires had to be re-soldered. For me not a big deal. Even with this repair, I'm still very happy with the quality of this thing. It really holds it's own against my USA Jazz.

 

[R&B]

Just got my CV Precision '60s today. I'm amazed at the quality of this thing. Nicer than VM, and the MIM Fender I returned. I'm really blown away. BUT, when I plugged it in, the input jack wasn't working, so I opened it up:

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One of the wires had to be re-soldered. For me not a big deal. Even with this repair, I'm still very happy with the quality of this thing. It really holds it's own against my USA Jazz.

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Just finished playing my sonic blue CV60 Precision. It is one of the nicest sounding basses in my too-large stable. Tone is stellar. The neck is really nice. Looks great. How do they do that for so little money?

 

[Jookbox]

Just finished playing my sonic blue CV60 Precision. It is one of the nicest sounding basses in my too-large stable. Tone is stellar. The neck is really nice. Looks great. How do they do that for so little money?

Made in China, my friend.

 

[R&B]

Made in China, my friend.

Yep. :/

 

[dougjwray]

The other day, I played around with a '50s CV P-Bass at a music store (Sam Ash in New Haven, CT), and it had one of the best necks I've ever encountered in my 43 years of playing. No joke.
If I weren't frantically trying to save money right now, I'd buy it in a second.

 

[dave_bass5]

Yes, wonderful necks. It makes you wonder why the MIMs aren't better, seeing as they cost more.
I'm loving the stock neck again. I really thought my Lakland neck would be the only neck I wanted on this bass, but now I can't see it going back on for a long while yet.

 

[Red_Merkin]

The other day, I played around with a '50s CV P-Bass at a music store (Sam Ash in New Haven, CT), and it had one of the best necks I've ever encountered in my 43 years of playing. No joke.
If I weren't frantically trying to save money right now, I'd buy it in a second.

Agreed - the CV necks are my absolute favorite, They've cured me of my satin neck preference, and I doubt I could go back to larger frets. They have just set the standard by which I judge a bass neck.

 

[dave_bass5]

I first got in to the vintage style frets with my first Lakland about 5 years ago. Since then I've more or less stuck with them, until I discovered the CV's.

 

[Jookbox]

Yes, wonderful necks. It makes you wonder why the MIMs aren't better, seeing as they cost more.
I'm loving the stock neck again. I really thought my Lakland neck would be the only neck I wanted on this bass, but now I can't see it going back on for a long while yet.

People here have already admitted to buying a bass for the name on the headstock. With the music business being superficial, people have claimed they won't get taken as seriously with a Squier badge on their guitar. I've seen Nile Rodgers play with a Squier strat so I don't know how important that is.

 

[RonniePudding]

I just played a CV 60's Jazz in a local store today, and I'm going to pull the trigger tomorrow. The neck is the main selling point, -- just beautiful low action way past the 12th fret. It's used, but in like new condition with the plastic still on the pickguard.

My only complaint was the input jack being loose and noisy when the cable is wiggled. The shop said they'd replace it if I buy...

Anything else I should look out for (other common points of failure?) when I give it the final once over?

Starting to get excited about this purchase... tonight feels like Christmas Eve when I was a little kid

 

[TheAnalogKid]

I just played a CV 60's Jazz in a local store today, and I'm going to pull the trigger tomorrow. The neck is the main selling point, -- just beautiful low action way past the 12th fret. It's used, but in like new condition with the plastic still on the pickguard.

My only complaint was the input jack being loose and noisy when the cable is wiggled. The shop said they'd replace it if I buy...

Anything else I should look out for (other common points of failure?) when I give it the final once over?

Starting to get excited about this purchase... tonight feels like Christmas Eve when I was a little kid

The input jack kind of lacks, quality-wise, but an an Allparts/Switchcraft jack, plus five minutes of soldering should do the trick.

If you have the shop do it, make sure to request that particular brand, though. My extra 2-cents: a soldering iron is will be your best friend, should you decide to do any mods later on.

 

[dave_bass5]

People here have already admitted to buying a bass for the name on the headstock. With the music business being superficial, people have claimed they won't get taken as seriously with a Squier badge on their guitar. I've seen Nile Rodgers play with a Squier strat so I don't know how important that is.

Well I don't mind what name is on the headstock, but I do feel I need to explain the Squirer when asked why I'm using it.
I've had a few people tell me they have "real" Fenders. I didn't get this when I had the Lakland neck on, probably because it doesn't have a name on it, but as soon as they see Squier they feel they have to comment.
Funny thing is its never a negative as such, just a puzzled question. I'm always happy to explain about how little I spent on it