Ok, I about to pull the trigger on a backup bass. I decided I want a jazz style to back up my P bass. I tried the CV and a Dean Hillsborough and while the Dean was nice, I decided I like passive basses better. The CV was very nice.but I'm not totally sold on it and wondered if the VM was any better, the same or a lesser bass than the CV. Thanks for any help!
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Squier Classic Vibe or Vintage Modified
- Thread starter Mikhail1
- Start date
Either one would be a good choice, personally I love my VM J. When I was looking for a backup bass, I had a choice between the same two basses, but I really didn't care for the CV's white/tort/rosewood combo and the natural/black/maple of thee VM was much more appealing to me, I went with the VM, and haven't looked back. The sound, playability and quality of build are excellent on all counts. (and the same would go for the CV, too) The differences between the two models, other than color are minor, and whether one is superior to the other seems mostly a matter of taste. Try both and go with your gut on which feels/looks/sounds better to you, and pay no attention to anyone who tells you one is better than the other, that's only their personal preference speaking.
Yes, I have to agree, you really need to try both if possible to make your choice. Or listen to N comment where people justify why they got a CV or VM.
I have a VM, I took a little bit of work to get the frets nice and so on but now it's a perfect backup bass as I don't dare to take my Fender to crappy gigs. Dings-dings, oh well. Someone stole it, bastard but oh well.
I have a VM, I took a little bit of work to get the frets nice and so on but now it's a perfect backup bass as I don't dare to take my Fender to crappy gigs. Dings-dings, oh well. Someone stole it, bastard but oh well.
Agreed. Personally, I enjoyed my Classic Vibe Squier very much so. However, as C.Linton pointed out, the differences are minor. Your best bet is to go to whatever store you are going to buy from, and try their stock of both basses...choose the one that feels/sounds best (and is the lightest weight!) irrespective of bass model.
FWIW, I tend to disagree a bit with the differences being minor ... but certainly agree that both are very good values.
Just for clarification, the two I have are strung very differently, the VM (3TSB/RW) currently wears soft (40-95) Chromes, and the CV (White/RW) Labella M's (49-109), but I can still make a few comparisons relatively ...
... the body on the CV is 1.66" thick, VM is 1.61"
... the nut measures 1.55" on CV, VM is 1.50"
... string spacing at the bridge is noticably different, 2.52" on the CV, 2.29" on the VM (E to G string, at the saddles, not a bridge measurement) .. the strings on the CV run almost exactly down the center of the pick-up poles with this spacing .. the VM outside strings (E and G) favor the inner poles on the pups, the A and D are centered
... the CV uses the smaller/thinner vintage frets, VM the medium jumbo
... the CV uses a higher mass bridge, with brass saddles, VM simple bent plate, both single slot
... pick-ups are different on the two, Duncan designs on VM appears to be a bit 'hotter' between my two
... neck finish is high gloss on CV, satin (semi-gloss ?) on VM (see note below)
... headstock finish on CV dark tint, high gloss and on the VM natural wood with satin finish
... CV is using the square bottom hex tuner, VM the square top/round bottom as found on MIM Standards, Am Spec, etc ... the tuner post actually extends up farther from the headstock on the VM, and where this comes into play is that the break angle from the nut is less, so more string should be allowed (when cut) to force the windings down the post further, and if done the same, the CV will have more break angle
... the tuner shaft is longer on the CV (.60") than the VM (.40"), so the tuners extend out farther from the headstock (I have a slightly bent G string tuner on the CV, they are fairly weak with the longer shaft, it doesnt take much of a ding to bend, just somethng to be aware of)
just some general impressions of each ..
... the CV does look to be a bit more 'finished' with the heavy tinting and high gloss, however, the high gloss on the neck does tend to get 'sticky' at times where I never noticed it on the VM (easy fix) ... this is probably the biggest variance you notice between the two when playing, as it is quite a different feel ... if you play at the bridge, the string spacing could be something that you would want to at least be aware of ... the fret ends on the CV feel a bit more 'dressed' but then there is a lot less material there being the vintage frets, and as always this could be a case by case scenario
... it may be a bit of illusion due to color, but the body of the CV appears to have a bit more 'rounded' (larger radius) corners/edges than the VM ... I did not measure the radius
... the body on the CV certainly feels 'weightier' than the VM (high mass bridge at end remember) ... the CV scales at 9.29 lbs, the the VM is at 9.21 lbs, but without the heavier chromed knobs 9.10 lbs ... so the weight is very close, but the distribution certainly feels different
... the pocket fit is slightly better on the VM, but for sure that is a case by case scenario also
... Bottom line, as mentioned, both exceed what they should be offering for their price range, and IMHO if I had to play with either the rest of my days with no other option I am sure I would have no problem covering anything that came up ... I may need to play with string selection a bit, but both/either would work just fine .. all I would need to do is stay off of TB and keep the gas attacks away ..
... both good, but different ... play both and compare .. better yet, buy BOTH, use in your environment and see which one suits you best, they are everywhere used in the $225-250 range, and whichever you decide to part with (if you do) will be worth that when it is time to sell ... I am note even going to go into finish and color differences, etc, as I am just tossing a few things out to be aware of as you do your own research and testing ... everything I see written on these has to do with color/finish preference, and that is completely subjective ... I haven't seen a lot written with regards to actual differences ... again, keep in mind that I am comparing the 3 TSB/rosewood (RW) board VM, and not the nat finish/maple board VM ... and of course, anything stated other than measurements, is JMHO ...
Just for clarification, the two I have are strung very differently, the VM (3TSB/RW) currently wears soft (40-95) Chromes, and the CV (White/RW) Labella M's (49-109), but I can still make a few comparisons relatively ...
... the body on the CV is 1.66" thick, VM is 1.61"
... the nut measures 1.55" on CV, VM is 1.50"
... string spacing at the bridge is noticably different, 2.52" on the CV, 2.29" on the VM (E to G string, at the saddles, not a bridge measurement) .. the strings on the CV run almost exactly down the center of the pick-up poles with this spacing .. the VM outside strings (E and G) favor the inner poles on the pups, the A and D are centered
... the CV uses the smaller/thinner vintage frets, VM the medium jumbo
... the CV uses a higher mass bridge, with brass saddles, VM simple bent plate, both single slot
... pick-ups are different on the two, Duncan designs on VM appears to be a bit 'hotter' between my two
... neck finish is high gloss on CV, satin (semi-gloss ?) on VM (see note below)
... headstock finish on CV dark tint, high gloss and on the VM natural wood with satin finish
... CV is using the square bottom hex tuner, VM the square top/round bottom as found on MIM Standards, Am Spec, etc ... the tuner post actually extends up farther from the headstock on the VM, and where this comes into play is that the break angle from the nut is less, so more string should be allowed (when cut) to force the windings down the post further, and if done the same, the CV will have more break angle
... the tuner shaft is longer on the CV (.60") than the VM (.40"), so the tuners extend out farther from the headstock (I have a slightly bent G string tuner on the CV, they are fairly weak with the longer shaft, it doesnt take much of a ding to bend, just somethng to be aware of)
just some general impressions of each ..
... the CV does look to be a bit more 'finished' with the heavy tinting and high gloss, however, the high gloss on the neck does tend to get 'sticky' at times where I never noticed it on the VM (easy fix) ... this is probably the biggest variance you notice between the two when playing, as it is quite a different feel ... if you play at the bridge, the string spacing could be something that you would want to at least be aware of ... the fret ends on the CV feel a bit more 'dressed' but then there is a lot less material there being the vintage frets, and as always this could be a case by case scenario
... it may be a bit of illusion due to color, but the body of the CV appears to have a bit more 'rounded' (larger radius) corners/edges than the VM ... I did not measure the radius
... the body on the CV certainly feels 'weightier' than the VM (high mass bridge at end remember) ... the CV scales at 9.29 lbs, the the VM is at 9.21 lbs, but without the heavier chromed knobs 9.10 lbs ... so the weight is very close, but the distribution certainly feels different
... the pocket fit is slightly better on the VM, but for sure that is a case by case scenario also
... Bottom line, as mentioned, both exceed what they should be offering for their price range, and IMHO if I had to play with either the rest of my days with no other option I am sure I would have no problem covering anything that came up ... I may need to play with string selection a bit, but both/either would work just fine .. all I would need to do is stay off of TB and keep the gas attacks away ..
... both good, but different ... play both and compare .. better yet, buy BOTH, use in your environment and see which one suits you best, they are everywhere used in the $225-250 range, and whichever you decide to part with (if you do) will be worth that when it is time to sell ... I am note even going to go into finish and color differences, etc, as I am just tossing a few things out to be aware of as you do your own research and testing ... everything I see written on these has to do with color/finish preference, and that is completely subjective ... I haven't seen a lot written with regards to actual differences ... again, keep in mind that I am comparing the 3 TSB/rosewood (RW) board VM, and not the nat finish/maple board VM ... and of course, anything stated other than measurements, is JMHO ...
just noticed the last couple posts after doing a search to share my CV/VM comparison with another inquiring mind ...
Youngspanion, thank you for your kind words, glad you enjoyed it ...
el basso, thanks for posting ... finally a bass that I have absolutely NO interest in ... thank you Fender Corp ...
Youngspanion, thank you for your kind words, glad you enjoyed it ...
el basso, thanks for posting ... finally a bass that I have absolutely NO interest in ... thank you Fender Corp ...
