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Squier Jaco Bass -- Hmm

#121
Funny...

I bought a Japan '62 reissue "Jaco" bass on ebay a while back. The rosewood fretboard wasn't poly-coated (I did it myself with like ten coats), and it came without the pickguard installed (as jaco had his), but it had a tortise shell pickguard uninstalled included in the package. The neck plate has a picture of Jaco etched into it and his name and years he was alive. I haven't seen this diamondcut neck plate anywhere else on these basses.

It plays beautifully, like I said, it's a '62 reissue.
 
#123
Just a heads up to anyone wanting to swap parts from these new Vintage Modified basses with other Fender models - the dimensions of the necks and bodies are not the same!

I have a genuine '62 Fender Jazz replacement neck on a Warmoth P-body. I wanted to put the '62 neck on an actual Jazz body, and put a maple neck on the P-body. I saw this new Squier series online and thought they looked promising. I went to a music store just to look and saw the maple fretted model. I tried it, and it felt surprisingly good. I plugged it in and was pleasantly surprised - good lows and highs and no noise to speak of. I went back later in the week to buy it. (I need it like a whole in the head.) First, I tried to put an Allparts tortoise pickguard on the new Jazz. It required alot of filing in several areas to fit. I then took everything apart for the swap. First, I put the '62 neck on the Squier body - the screw pattern was the same, but there was a large gap around the neck heel and the body cut-out, particularly at the end of the heel! Not surprisingly, the heel of the Squier neck was way too wide to fit into the Warmoth body pocket. Also, the '62 neck sat too low in the Squier body - the Squier neck is thicker.

I've read that Squier neck and body dimensions are a little off from MIA, MIM, MIJ Fenders, etc., but I thought all "Fender" models would be close enough to swap parts - I learned the hard way. Maybe the "standard" Squiers are closer. (FWIW the bridges do interchange.)

I can't return the Squier because I told them my intentions. So, I put it back to original condition and will keep it around.
It feels good, not as good as a '60's Jazz (which is perhaps my favorite in terms of neck feel), but good anyway.
 
#125
Well.....the Squiers come recommended by BP magazine and they don't just recommend anything. I find their opinions very insightful and accurate. The SX basses got dissed and they do pretty much suck. Haven't played one yet that sounded like anything special. Played the fretless Squier two days ago and it is worth the $280 you spend on it. Not a hidden treasure, for sure, but for someone looking to dabble in fretless work or looking for a cheap fretless option should at least check it out...What the hell, check out an SX too......
 
#126
Ace Of Bass said:
Well.....the Squiers come recommended by BP magazine and they don't just recommend anything. I find their opinions very insightful and accurate. The SX basses got dissed and they do pretty much suck. Haven't played one yet that sounded like anything special. Played the fretless Squier two days ago and it is worth the $280 you spend on it. Not a hidden treasure, for sure, but for someone looking to dabble in fretless work or looking for a cheap fretless option should at least check it out...What the hell, check out an SX too......
Click to expand...
I can agree with most of this except the highlighted part. I would argue that SX's don't suck. I think it's unfair to compare a $150 bass with a more serious procust. SX's are great for the money, but they aren't Lakland.

I really think BP hands out candy reviews to any product that might buy advertising from them.
 
#127
I put down my deposit for one today!

The good news is that in the end it will only cost me £50 too :D

The story being that I went down to GuitarGuitar Newcastle after arranging to put my deposit down over the phone. I was amazed as they offered me £200 for my Ibanez BTB405QM! I was expecting it to be worth between £80-100! It was, eseentially, a useless asset to me. it wasted space in my room, it never got played and it resisted sale via the net.

After handing over my BTB (which at one time, was my main bass and hence it's farewell being having a mild melancholy buried under the elation of getting £200 for it.

I payed £20 cash deposit, meaning when it does arrive, I'll owe them £30 and it's mine!

I see that as a new bass for £50!
 
#128
Ace Of Bass said:
Well.....the Squiers come recommended by BP magazine and they don't just recommend anything. I find their opinions very insightful and accurate. The SX basses got dissed and they do pretty much suck. Haven't played one yet that sounded like anything special. Played the fretless Squier two days ago and it is worth the $280 you spend on it. Not a hidden treasure, for sure, but for someone looking to dabble in fretless work or looking for a cheap fretless option should at least check it out...What the hell, check out an SX too......
Click to expand...

If Invalid Link Removed is a dissed SX review, the Squier must be as good as an Zon.
 
#129
Ace Of Bass said:
Well.....the Squiers come recommended by BP magazine and they don't just recommend anything. I find their opinions very insightful and accurate. The SX basses got dissed and they do pretty much suck. Haven't played one yet that sounded like anything special. Played the fretless Squier two days ago and it is worth the $280 you spend on it. Not a hidden treasure, for sure, but for someone looking to dabble in fretless work or looking for a cheap fretless option should at least check it out...What the hell, check out an SX too......
Click to expand...

You must be reading a different BP magazine than everyone else. They never met a bass they didn't like. And they hardly "dissed" the SX. Maybe you need to read it a bit more carefully.
 
#131
jumbosilverette said:
If Invalid Link Removed is a dissed SX review, the Squier must be as good as an Zon.
Click to expand...
"The neck had a comfortably chunky shape, but it, too, showed a few telltale signs of a low-cost instrument: the nut was crudely shaped, and the fretwork was a little rough. The nut didn’t get in the way of playing, but a low 15th fret on the G string made the high A wheeze and the Bb nonexistent. The neck was finished with a tinted toner in an effort to make it look more like a vintage bass, but it was too orange and looked about as authentic as Jessica Simpson’s spray-on tan"

That tibbit right there would be an abosolute turn off to me right there. I don't care how little it cost, if the fretwork sucks and the nut ain't right, it's firewood to me. We are talking about a $99 bass though (and I did suggest to those who are in the market to try one out anyway). And if you think that a Squire is as good as a Zon, I have a small patch of land in sunny Antatrica to sell you.......:spit:. I know whaty my opinion is about them, but it's just that: my opinion. If you're going to spend $150 on crap that's going to give you more problems that it's worth (PERHAPS), why not spend a little more on a more trust- worthy guitar (IN MOST CASES)....
 
#132
Ace Of Bass said:
"The neck had a comfortably chunky shape, but it, too, showed a few telltale signs of a low-cost instrument: the nut was crudely shaped, and the fretwork was a little rough. The nut didn’t get in the way of playing, but a low 15th fret on the G string made the high A wheeze and the Bb nonexistent. The neck was finished with a tinted toner in an effort to make it look more like a vintage bass, but it was too orange and looked about as authentic as Jessica Simpson’s spray-on tan"

That tibbit right there would be an abosolute turn off to me right there. I don't care how little it cost, if the fretwork sucks and the nut ain't right, it's firewood to me. We are talking about a $99 bass though (and I did suggest to those who are in the market to try one out anyway). And if you think that a Squire is as good as a Zon, I have a small patch of land in sunny Antatrica to sell you.......:spit:. I know whaty my opinion is about them, but it's just that: my opinion. If you're going to spend $150 on crap that's going to give you more problems that it's worth (PERHAPS), why not spend a little more on a more trust- worthy guitar (IN MOST CASES)....
Click to expand...
Fine, don't buy it. But you should quote the parts of the article which summarize what the reviewer said -- and they said ..."So what can $139 plus shipping get you these days? How about a respectable bass that echoes the sound and feel of a classic J?" and ..."The SX is a righteous deal for someone looking for a beater J-style bass or a gift for a budding bass player in your life. It plays well, has usable sounds, and is absurdly cheap—but consider factoring in the price of a professional setup." If that's a dissing I'd love to hear a "great review." That's what I meant about the Zon and the new Squier which you said they liked. I don't want to buy any real estate, thanks.
 
#135
Hey, I just posted this on another thread, same subject, thought I'd inject my 2 cents here as well:


On the Squier Vintage Fretless, first let me say I am really impressed with the build quality and finish.

No serious dead spots, neck is flat as can be, love the feel, fast! Set-up was okay, some buzz on the E string, other than that, no adjustments needed.

I first played it through my Peavey TKO 115 and it sounded pretty good. Pickups are HOT. Great passive sound. Flat EQ, 100% bridge pick-up with all the treble rolled off to get that Jaco sound. Sounded good, but not very close to the Jaco clip I was listening to, a Weather Report tune called Barbary Coast. (clip attached)

I took the fretless to Church where I play through my Hartke Kickback 15, EQ flat, same pup and tone selection as before.

OH MY GOD, it's Jaco :hyper: (well his sound, anyway). The aluminum cone must have been the ticket, cuz this setup nails it. I am so freaking jazzed. I LOVE this bass. My first outing with a fretless, I was nailing some great base lines, I felt free and expressive. The band loved the sound and could not believe this thing was a Squier, nor could I.

Fretlines are not all dead on, I would actually prefer they not be there at all, but I can overlook this small shortcoming.

Folks, I'm telling you, I have never had so much fun with $280 in my life. Well, there was that time in Amsterdam ;) , but let's not go there..... :eyebrow:

Please do not buy this bass. If yours is not as nice as mine, I don't want you to blame me for talking you into buying it. If it is as nice as mine, I don't want you having more fun than I am for so little money.

I have a feeling that this Squier Fretless 4 is going to be getting more playing time than my MIA Jazz 5 :bassist:
 

Attachments

#137
No Frank, I wish that was me.

That clip was a little cut from a Weather Report tune. That's Jaco playing. His sound is the sound I was hoping (and trying) to get from the Squier. Like I said, I got very very close when playing through my Hartke Kickback 15. Didn't quite work well when I first tried the Squier with my Peavey TKO115S at home, so I was a little bummed at first, but when I got the church and plugged into the Hartke....... OMG!


I played two services today with the Squier. I went from a (MIA Fender Jazz) 5 to a 4 and from fretted to fretless with only one practice. I had a blast, many compliments on the sound.

Not sure if every example of this piece will be as nice as the one I got, but mine is a jewel, I'm throwing away the box today and Musician's Friend will never see this Squier again.
 

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