Squier Classic Vibe Club (Part 3)

[Alistair R]

I've been circulating this report on the newest Classic Vibe offerings across all relevant threads…

Just last weekend, I picked up a brand-new Squier Classic Vibe '70s Jazz, one of the new generations built in their Indonesia factory. In a word…fantastic! Specifically, I grabbed one in a natural finish with a bound & blocked maple neck. Here's the iron-sights…​

1. The fit and finish is great. I tried slipping a single post-it note into the neck pocket. On one side, it only made it halfway in and on the other, it couldn't even gain entry.
2. The frets are pretty good. They could use a microscopic waving of a file on a few of the ends, but it doesn't interfere with playing. Call it 9 out of 10. Interesting thing about these new CV's, the binding does not cover the fret ends. Personally, I have no beef with that, I'm just reporting.
3. The body's grain is very nice. From the front, it almost appears to be a single piece of soft maple. Looking at the back, it's definitely a two-piece body, but the matching was still nicely done. The neck is also a two-piece. The back has an interesting grain, but the fretboard has this amazingly beautiful-but-subtle quilted look. The finish has a slightly amber, vintage tint.
4. Sonically, it's super-sweet. Deep lows, but with the growl you expect from Jazz pickups. Plus, it's quiet as all hell when both pups are dialed up to 100%.

I could see FMIC making damn sure the rollout of their newest Classic Vibes are held to very high quality control standards. If that is the case, I hope they maintain it for years to come, 'cuz this one's a beauty.
…and some pictures I snapped earlier today! ​

It's kinda hard to make out, both due to the lighting and the slight amber tint to the finish, but this model's Squier logo has a gold border.

How good are they!

I've got a 5er in same spec.

Just had Nordstrand 70s wind pickups put in, can't wait to hear it when I pick it up!

 

[Yahboy]

i have to correct you though this time, someone asked the production dates of the CV 60s Olympic White Jazz Basses. They stopped in 2014. From 2014 to 2018, the 70s Precision in Black only was produced

Go shop to china music store.

Not only CV60J, 70P and 50P(last batch date 2018) available , the Mattfreeman P still available but factory date 2016 (the year stop signature series).

 

[Yahboy]

I meant just the ones they were made in China. Weren’t those black 70s p basses made in Indonesia?

The new indo blk CV 70P has same body colour and block inlay maple fretboard as China CV70P.

The different are tuning machine, tall fret, bridge , bridge cover , tug bar , pickups and body wood.

The china CV70P I return couple weeks ago just weight 8.4lbs.

 

[4sight]

I meant just the ones they were made in China. Weren’t those black 70s p basses made in Indonesia?

No, made in China like the rest of the CV range before 2019.

 

[brushfirewolf]

Cool. The mic jazz I purchased still had the classic vibe sticker on the pickguard. Bought it without knowing the date so I guess I can expect it to be closer to a 2014

 

[brushfirewolf]

Arrived today. Came with a (what looks brand new) fender hard case. Turned out to be a 2013.

 

[brushfirewolf]

Space between the neck and pocket is a little troubling.

There’s also some cracks in the lacquer on the side of the Fretboard but not really a big deal eh?

 

[InstantEctobass]

Space between the neck and pocket is a little troubling.
View attachment 3508580

There’s also some cracks in the lacquer on the side of the Fretboard but not really a big deal eh?
View attachment 3508594

Sell it back. It has been stored in a very dry place for a long time. Fingerboard is dry AF. these are normally super dark (got 3 of them home), and lacquer cracks on the end of the frets are usually too much dryness if someone can confirm!

 

[brushfirewolf]

Sell it back. It has been stored in a very dry place for a long time. Fingerboard is dry AF. these are normally super dark (got 3 of them home), and lacquer cracks on the end of the frets are usually too much dryness if someone can confirm!

Picture was taken in my office right below a big light. The fretboard isn't that dry. I've had lacquer cracks like this on other guitars and basses before and they never really cause a problem.

 

[Yahboy]

Space between the neck and pocket is a little troubling.
View attachment 3508580

There’s also some cracks in the lacquer on the side of the Fretboard but not really a big deal eh?
View attachment 3508594

Take out the neck , all CV and VM I own found unclean and wood dust inside neck pocket even you look tight neck pocket from outside. Some VM also has poly spray hump around the screws hole area. Sand it .

Then do simple setup for playable , neck and fretboard inspection.
Neck relief .010-.012 on 7th fret.
Action from E string 2.4mm to G string 2.0mm check on 17th fret.

If you found string buzz from 14th fret to 21th fret . The neck already show you ski jump troble .

I found the ski jump issue either on neck heel or 12th fret more visible on VM J and the CV J is the second.

Hopehelp and wish your new baby work everything fine.

 

[scottm]

My new Classic Vibe '60s Precision came in the mail today. It was of vastly better quality than the three Fender Player Series basses that came with either dead pickups or scratches all over them. It actually sounded pretty darn good too before I made the changes!
But....
Before on left and after on the right. New MIM neck and tuners, Seymour Duncan pickups, flats, and ashtray cover.

The thing sounds and plays amazing!

-ScottM

 

[Yahboy]

Sell it back. It has been stored in a very dry place for a long time. Fingerboard is dry AF. these are normally super dark (got 3 of them home), and lacquer cracks on the end of the frets are usually too much dryness if someone can confirm!

I suspect that you have symptoms of impatience......

Let him try his new baby first and just relax yourself.

 

[Yahboy]

View attachment 3508808
View attachment 3508807
My new Classic Vibe '60s Precision came in the mail today. It was of vastly better quality than the three Fender Player Series basses that came with either dead pickups or scratches all over them. It actually sounded pretty darn good too before I made the changes!
But....
Before on left and after on the right. New MIM neck and tuners, Seymour Duncan pickups, flats, and ashtray cover.

The thing sounds and plays amazing!

-ScottM

Congratulations. A new Fender Player Classic Vibe P bass !!!!
But...... dude, look like the bridge cover has a bit out of alignment from your picture.

 

[Rallypoint_1]

I agree with Yahboy. Take the neck if and see what’s up. Could be thick paint or maybe a shim that’s too thick. Are the heel screws loose? As for the side of the fretboard....meh. You can maybe lightly sand with 2k grit and make it less noticeable.

But ya congrats on that bass!!

 

[scottm]

Congratulations. A new Fender Player Classic Vibe P bass !!!!
But...... dude, look like the bridge cover has a bit out of alignment from your picture.

I did readjust the bridge cover, it was off some.

-ScottM

 

[Yahboy]

Just finished filing the fret ends a bit and setting up. Plays great now.

As for the pocket- turns out the neck bolts were just a bit loose , although I will take it off when my new strings get here and clean it out just in case. Going to swap the neck plate anyway. Thanks for the advice.

Great to hear it. How she weight ?
My previous CV60J weight 10.5lbs. That's the reason I let it go.....

 

[brushfirewolf]

Great to hear it. How she weight ?
My previous CV60J weight 10.5lbs. That's the reason I let it go.....

Not sure but it’s heavy and mostly in the neck. There's a bit of dive going on. Maybe lighter tuners would help.

Pickups are a little lackluster too compared to other jazz basses I've had which wasn't the case with my MIC CV P bass. Anyone else find this to be true with the 60s jazz?

 

[Malak the Mad]

Pickups are a little lackluster too compared to other jazz basses I've had which wasn't the case with my MIC CV P bass. Anyone else find this to be true with the 60s jazz?

Not on the MIC CV-J’s I’ve owned. I thought they sounded great.

 

[InstantEctobass]

Not on the MIC CV-J’s I’ve owned. I thought they sounded great.

I will repeat myself but my 2011 CV 60s Jazz Bass sounds fantastic. My Elixir are 14 months and they are STARTING to age perfectly! Clanky but no zingy like when new, and really broke in the rest of the instrument. Touching the strings results in something very responsive.

 

[brushfirewolf]

Not on the MIC CV-J’s I’ve owned. I thought they sounded great.

Hmm. These sound weak to my ears. It's possible I haven't given them enough of a chance. These strings it came with need to go also so that could be it. Frets still need some work. They were really sharp. Think I might just take a sanding block to it instead of my file.