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Squier Classic Vibe Club (Part 3)

#23
fasto said:
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
Click to expand...

Most people who've gotten this bass have said here that they didn't do any of that. Doesn't need it apparently, which I can believe, being that I own two VM's that don't need mods either.
 
#24
Yeah, the CV's bridges are very good indeed, but let's not forget that their hole alignment ain't the same as regular fender.. So if you wanna change the bridge, it's not as easy, you have to plug and re-drill holes.. which is not for everyone.. that IMO explains why the amount of CV's with aftermarket bridges is so small.
 
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#26
You know, with all the talk about tone wood and bridges and pickups and which is best, no one comes up with definitive evidence. It's subjective. If you don't like the way your CV sounds but you like the feel then go ahead and mod it. If you want to tweak its appearance, go ahead. If you want to put Dunc's or Bart's in it go ahead. Only you can say if it was money well spent. But what if it's just money wasted? You'll either have to go around lying that it's an improvement, or go back to stock and sell parts at a loss. Just live with it a while and don't jump on the bandwagon just because the bass came from China.

I fail to see how winding magnets with wire in China to Fender USA prescribed specs is going to somehow stink compared to a pickup wound in Seymour's (et al) lab to the same spec. Just doesn't make sense. Fender spec'd a vintage resistance and a vintage gauge wire around correct mags. Ok so the bobbin is plastic; I fail to see how that matters. If you have a pickup problem like I did with my 50's p: squealing near the amp, take an hour and wax pot it. Fixed. Sounds awesome.

Bone nut may crisp the sound up a tiny bit, but in a band setting you won't hear it.


Stay bassy my friends. :D
 
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#27
fasto said:
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
Click to expand...
The only things I modded on my CV 50's was the pots and threw in a SD Quarter Pounder. There was nothing wrong with any of these parts, but I must admit the Seymour really kicked up the output and fatness of this bass. I don't think it needs anything else unless I want to mod it just for fun. If you want a different sound then the PU swap might be the easiest way to go as long as you knoe WHERE you want to go.

96tbird said:
If you have a pickup problem like I did with my 50's p: squealing near the amp, take an hour and wax pot it. Fixed. Sounds awesome.
Click to expand...
N00b question: What do you mean by "pot waxing" :hiding: Does that help with the hum?
 
#28
No, my p pup squealed when I faced the amp. Usually it's a loose wind that vibrates when feeding back. Potting is dipping the pickup in wax at 150 degrees melted 50/50 beeswax and paraffin wax. Leave it in for a while and pull it out and wipe it clean. The wax wicks into every space in the windings and when it sets, the windings are locked in place and do not vibrate from induced current. Most good makers pot their pickups, now many use epoxy.
 
#29
The things I've done to mine

put lighter tuners on it, so it balances better
removed pickguard
added straplocks
"rolled" the fingerboard edges
filed the nut grooves down slightly
deglossed the back of the neck slightly with 600 grit wet sandpaper.

In my experience the whole big massive bridge thing has either been a waste of money or deadened the tone. The CV 50s already has a really massive bridge on it, with huge saddles. If I were to do anything to it, it'd be to replace it with the flimsy fender bridge of yore. But it sounds great as is, so I'm not going to mess with it.

I might install either a fralin split coil or a Duncan stack if hum proves to be annoying
 
#30
Had to shim the neck on my Jazz but that's it. Now that the action is lower and buzzing just slightly I really don't have any complaints. I did put a vintage bridge on it because of string alignment issues but wound up changing it back to the hi mass. Just realigned the neck and all is good.
 
#31
fasto said:
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
Click to expand...

All I've done is add straplocks and de-glossed the back of the neck with Scotchbrite. I sometimes consider changing the pickups; until I play it again and realize it sounds just fine as-is. IMO, the stock bridge is quite good.
 
#33
I believe it is (or at least should be). It fits right in with the rest of the CV series. The frets are a little bigger, but that's about the only difference I've noted.

The Freeman is my #1 gigging bass. That stick o' butter it has for a neck is just amazing. Can't say enough good about it.
 
#35
Great playing and sounding bass

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#37
I'll try and get one this afternoon.
That (the beautiful wood grain) is what caught my eye and the reason I picked it up to try it out.
 

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