Squier Classic Vibe Club

[tuba4]

I also like the string spacing and sound on the stock CV P bridge. I have the sonic blue model with a bridge (and PU) cover so I have the look that I wanted as well.

Now, if Squier brought out an Ocean Turquoise or a Sunburst/tort version I would have to seriously considering picking one up.

 

[Tusec]

I did the same thing to mine and essentially had the same experience - no modding required.

Yeah, I was pretty glad that that turned out to be the case.

I don't know if I'll wind up trying another pickup again or not. In comparing it to the Fender, one thing I realized I like about the original is that it has nearly flush pole pieces, which seemed to stay out of the way of the strings a little better. I might just stick with it. I really wasn't upgrading to remedy a particular shortcoming it had...mainly I was just responding to some minor GAS.

RE the bridge -- I'm pretty much an irredeemable skeptic at this point when it comes to getting much improvement from changing a bridge. I consider them to be mainly a cosmetic thing, and I definitely am in the vintage is better camp there. Like I've always thought these were cool:

Talk about simplicity, and I'll bet you wouldn't miss the individual intonation adjustment 95% of the time.

I'm not a fan of the high mass look but it's basically a non-issue on the CV thanks to the cover.

Thankfully I don't play with a pick very much where I'd want to palm mute. Then I'd face a dilemma.

RE the flats -- I recently switched from Chromes to a set of Labellas (.045-.105). I can't tell a huge difference in sound but the Labellas have three things going for them: they are even smoother than the Chromes (which are already very smooth), they have a nice metallic shine, and they didn't have any sticky residue on them starting out. They also have black silks which I happen to like on this bass.

These basses do sound huge with flats. I think they totally nail the classic P tone.

 

[solarplexus]

I'm curious what would be the difference in tone with flats compared to what I use now, some D'addario rounds 50-105? I do love the tone I get now, I believe they are a little more bright which is good for slapping IMO, but I am worried that the rounds would dig alot into the frets compared to flats? Am I thinking this right?

 

[Stilettoprefer]

Not a bass... But I haven't seen that in the rules

CV thinline telecaster

 

[tuba4]

I'm curious what would be the difference in tone with flats compared to what I use now, some D'addario rounds 50-105? I do love the tone I get now, I believe they are a little more bright which is good for slapping IMO, but I am worried that the rounds would dig alot into the frets compared to flats? Am I thinking this right?

Flats will give you a deeper, warmer tone (IMO) than rounds.



I changed the stock round CV P strings for a set of GHS Precision Flatwounds (45-105) and I love the tone. I do not slap and do not use a pick so this is also a matter of personal taste.

The flats are very smooth and easier on the fingers and should therefore be easier on the frets as well.

 

[Meddle]

Not a bass... But I haven't seen that in the rules

CV thinline telecaster

Some sort of shortscale six string semi-hollow bass? Interesting.

Actually thats a sweet guitar. I'm currently building a telecaster. By building I mean there is a white unpopulated telecaster body sitting in my house awaiting further appointments. I think the telecaster and the SG are the only guitars I get on with. Les Pauls are too heavy and too muddy for my liking and Strats are too guitard-friendly. It seems to only get worse from there. Teles are almost like tuned snaredrums in terms of their attack and lack of sustain. Plus they are not ergonomic so you have to wrestle them a bit.

 

[solarplexus]

Well I must say that I do prefer the sound of the flats on the youtube clip, however, there are some things to consider here... Wouldn't it be hard to make both string sets justice when used on 2 different fret boards and pickups?

 

[Tusec]

Flats = darker tone with thumpier attack. More fundamental and less overtones. You also get a lot less finger noise and fret clatter. In that sense flats are almost...stealthy. Perfect for recording.

Be forewarned that you might not flats at first. Without that zingy top end they can sound kind of dead. But as has been said a thousand times before (see the "Confessions of a Flatwound Convert" thread in the strings section), they really work in a mix. And once you get how they work in a mix, you can enjoy them on their own, imagining how they will sound in a mix. I have a P with flats (the CV) and a J with rounds (a Road Worn, which is a great bass) sitting right next to each other, and 7 out of 10 times I reach for the P.

When I tried my first set of flats, I switched back a week later. But once you get them, it clicks in. They're a little bit of an acquired taste.

My thinking on the fret wear issue is that flats versus rounds doesn't make much difference. I think it's more important with fretless, where the string presses directly against the wood.

RE the video -- the difference in flats vs wounds is so pronounced that it should come through even when the more subtle effects of fingerboard wood and even pickups are factored in.

 

[SurferJoe46]

Some sort of shortscale six string semi-hollow bass? Interesting.

Actually thats a sweet guitar. I'm currently building a telecaster. By building I mean there is a white unpopulated telecaster body sitting in my house awaiting further appointments. I think the telecaster and the SG are the only guitars I get on with. Les Pauls are too heavy and too muddy for my liking and Strats are too guitard-friendly. It seems to only get worse from there. Teles are almost like tuned snaredrums in terms of their attack and lack of sustain. Plus they are not ergonomic so you have to wrestle them a bit.

That <bold> has to be the bestest description of a Telecaster I've ever heard.

Can I use that if I also quote your name/authorship?

 

[Stilettoprefer]

Some sort of shortscale six string semi-hollow bass? Interesting.

Actually thats a sweet guitar. I'm currently building a telecaster. By building I mean there is a white unpopulated telecaster body sitting in my house awaiting further appointments. I think the telecaster and the SG are the only guitars I get on with. Les Pauls are too heavy and too muddy for my liking and Strats are too guitard-friendly. It seems to only get worse from there. Teles are almost like tuned snaredrums in terms of their attack and lack of sustain. Plus they are not ergonomic so you have to wrestle them a bit.

Thanks man! I love this guitar. It doesnt see as much playing a it deserves though:/ I'm actually "building" a strat And I agree on the les Paul thing, Just not my style

And that is a great explanation of a telecaster btw lol.

 

[Valerus]

Flats = darker tone with thumpier attack. More fundamental and less overtones. You also get a lot less finger noise and fret clatter. In that sense flats are almost...stealthy. Perfect for recording.

Be forewarned that you might not flats at first. Without that zingy top end they can sound kind of dead. But as has been said a thousand times before (see the "Confessions of a Flatwound Convert" thread in the strings section), they really work in a mix. And once you get how they work in a mix, you can enjoy them on their own, imagining how they will sound in a mix. I have a P with flats (the CV) and a J with rounds (a Road Worn, which is a great bass) sitting right next to each other, and 7 out of 10 times I reach for the P.

When I tried my first set of flats, I switched back a week later. But once you get them, it clicks in. They're a little bit of an acquired taste.

My thinking on the fret wear issue is that flats versus rounds doesn't make much difference. I think it's more important with fretless, where the string presses directly against the wood.

RE the video -- the difference in flats vs wounds is so pronounced that it should come through even when the more subtle effects of fingerboard wood and even pickups are factored in.

Good description. I am really liking my flats on my CV '60s Precision

 

[Bitterdale]

I'm curious what would be the difference in tone with flats compared to what I use now, some D'addario rounds 50-105? I do love the tone I get now, I believe they are a little more bright which is good for slapping IMO, but I am worried that the rounds would dig alot into the frets compared to flats? Am I thinking this right?

Rounds will absolutely wear frets down quicker than flats. Particularly if you bend or use vibrato.

 

[Meddle]

That <bold> has to be the bestest description of a Telecaster I've ever heard.

Can I use that if I also quote your name/authorship?

Sure thing.

I had moment of realisation when I figured out a healthy chunk of my favorite albums/guitarists used telecasters.


My big 'wow' moment though was See Emily Play by Pink Floyd where the chorus had that guitar line going chunk chunk chunk in the background. Even as a bassist I can enjoy this right?

 

[SurferJoe46]

I always thought the Telecaster had a certain 'snap' or 'crash' to it too. Lots of twang and short sustain makes sit a very unique voice like the old Rickenbackers that the Beatles used - you can always pick that voice out in a crowd.

Not so for the Rickenbacker basses though as far as I am concerned. They just generally have that Hofner 'thunk' with little more than that to make them attractive to me.

You've gotta remember that I was born in the days of the old Mosrite basses and they just hammered the bass into the audience, and power and sustain was all we needed or wanted.


Tone? That was for violins and xylophones. Thumping was what we needed to get those surfers stomping.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

I have owned so many instruments but never a tele , which is a shame .

I just picked up my 4th CV , owned one of each except the jazzes , now I have owned 2 jazz basses

 

[Britbonic]

RE the bridge -- I'm pretty much an irredeemable skeptic at this point when it comes to getting much improvement from changing a bridge. I consider them to be mainly a cosmetic thing, and I definitely am in the vintage is better camp there. Like I've always thought these were cool:

Talk about simplicity, and I'll bet you wouldn't miss the individual intonation adjustment 95% of the time.

I guess there's no way to know for sure without a strict A/B comparison but I can tell you that I noticed an immediate difference after I changed the bridge. It makes sense that different material and density would impact the tone. Maybe someone with a better physics background than mine can explain. I have had enough personal experience to convince me there is something to it. I agree with Zenrad's description in earlier post that the sound was less crisp and more fat and organic, ultimately more vintage like.

Regarding the old style bridge, I'd have to disagree on not missing individual intonation adjustment. I just looked at all 5 of my basses and there's not one that would be correctly intonnated with a bridge like this.

 

[Britbonic]

Rounds will absolutely wear frets down quicker than flats. Particularly if you bend or use vibrato.

I guess, but define quicker. 5 yrs, 10 yrs before you have to have the frets dressed? Suppose if you only had 1 bass and played aggressively and played all the time.

 

[Stilettoprefer]

Regarding the old style bridge, I'd have to disagree on not missing individual intonation adjustment. I just looked at all 5 of my basses and there's not one that would be correctly intonnated with a bridge like this.

The bridge on my telecaster is like that (3 saddles of course) and I managed to set th intonation pretty well. It was a lot of work but it's worth it IMO

 

[Bitterdale]

I guess, but define quicker. 5 yrs, 10 yrs before you have to have the frets dressed? Suppose if you only had 1 bass and played aggressively and played all the time.

I would expect visible wear to show within a few months. Rounds tend to groove the frets quickly. While this may not require immediate attention, it is noticeable.

 

[Britbonic]

The bridge on my telecaster is like that (3 saddles of course) and I managed to set th intonation pretty well. It was a lot of work but it's worth it IMO

I have a nice tele and had same experience even with compensated saddles. Can't get the B string to behave with the E. You end up making compromises and finding a location that makes both strings close but not quite right. I can understand on a vintage instrument but - I wouldn't change the bridge out - but don't see the point in cases where you can use a bridge that works.