Squier Owners Club

[Malak the Mad]

For its appearance and playability, I can recommend this bass, but be prepared to do a thing or two to improve it. At the price point that I bought it, I have zero complaints about it and was able to get it sounding great in an afternoon.

That's pretty close to what I've been hearing about most Squiers, especially if one has a particular sound they want to achieve at a certain price...a good-or-better modding platform for tinkerers and choosy bassists alike.

Some of the adjustment screws in the bridge are a little rough when turning, which is worrisome, so I ordered a Fender High Mass bridge to put on it.

Too bad you moved forward on that so quickly. I would've recommended this lovely beastie, assuming the Paranormals use a Fender-standard, 5-hole bridge. Great mass uptick, brass construction, grooved barrels and an MIM Fender drop-in replacement.

• Brass Bass Bridge-Jazz Or Precision-Vintage Mount-No Mods Required-Perfect Fit | Reverb

 

[Vini Sasso]

Hi all bassists! I'm from Campinas, Brazil. Recently I purchased a Squier Vintage Modified 70's Jazz Bass made in Indonesia 2009'. I play bass for 25 years, but all my previous instruments were PJs. I don't mean I dislike Precisions, and I see there are some genres and songs that benefit from the P pickup, but overall I always appreciated a more trebly tone with extra presence and some growl. The PJs served me so well these years. I still can't afford a boutique instrument, but could get a couple of Fender Boxers (PJ PUPs) and won't sell them, love their sound. But I had still a desire for the burpy and bright jazz bass tone, so I had a chance of playing the Squier and loved its sound. Its sound is quite authentic. I heard some Fender JBs before and the Squier VM isn't too far from those examples. Previous owner cared a lot about the instrument, got its pickups shielded, fresh D'Addario strings, fretwork done by a luthier...so it was really tasty when I played it. The Seymour Designed PUPs sound just right and beautiful to me, I don't quite get it when some people say they wanted to upgrade PUPs, but anyway...currently I feel kind of addicted to it, I just can't stop slapping and fingering this baby. Why so good?

I know it's a cheap line by Fender, but believe me, these basses aren't cheap at all here in Brazil. Import and money exchange rates aren't the only culprits. Here taxes are embedded (or even kind of implicit) in basically anything you buy. Comsuption of imports is taxed, and not lightly at all.

I will share a couple of pics of my new 2009' son soon. Thanks!

 

[jglunt]

That's pretty close to what I've been hearing about most Squiers, especially if one has a particular sound they want to achieve at a certain price...a good-or-better modding platform for tinkerers and choosy bassists alike.


Too bad you moved forward on that so quickly. I would've recommended this lovely beastie, assuming the Paranormals use a Fender-standard, 5-hole bridge. Great mass uptick, brass construction, grooved barrels and an MIM Fender drop-in replacement.

• Brass Bass Bridge-Jazz Or Precision-Vintage Mount-No Mods Required-Perfect Fit | Reverb

Yes, Fender-style 5-hole bridges fit Squiers that have 5-hole bridges. I have a Gotoh 201B-4 (or some such number) on my 40th Anniversary Jazz Bass. Thanks for the tip. I'll keep that recommendation in mind for future reference.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Hi all bassists! I'm from Campinas, Brazil. Recently I purchased a Squier Vintage Modified 70's Jazz Bass made in Indonesia 2009'. I play bass for 25 years, but all my previous instruments were PJs. I don't mean I dislike Precisions, and I see there are some genres and songs that benefit from the P pickup, but overall I always appreciated a more trebly tone with extra presence and some growl. The PJs served me so well these years. I still can't afford a boutique instrument, but could get a couple of Fender Boxers (PJ PUPs) and won't sell them, love their sound. But I had still a desire for the burpy and bright jazz bass tone, so I had a chance of playing the Squier and loved its sound. Its sound is quite authentic. I heard some Fender JBs before and the Squier VM isn't too far from those examples. Previous owner cared a lot about the instrument, got its pickups shielded, fresh D'Addario strings, fretwork done by a luthier...so it was really tasty when I played it. The Seymour Designed PUPs sound just right and beautiful to me, I don't quite get it when some people say they wanted to upgrade PUPs, but anyway...currently I feel kind of addicted to it, I just can't stop slapping and fingering this baby. Why so good?

I know it's a cheap line by Fender, but believe me, these basses aren't cheap at all here in Brazil. Import and money exchange rates aren't the only culprits. Here taxes are embedded (or even kind of implicit) in basically anything you buy. Comsuption of imports is taxed, and not lightly at all.

I will share a couple of pics of my new 2009' son soon. Thanks!

2009 was a good year for Squier. FMIC...basically, Fender & Squier...had just upgraded their compatibility and quality control a year earlier.

For everyone; 2013 was another big year for Squier...at least, as far as the VM '70s Jazzes go. (I never gravitated towards other 2013+ models, so they might be different. Please post any variances. I'd love to hear about them. ) It was around that time they switched from a clear, satin finish on the back of the neck to a glossy, vintage-tinted finish. So, for example, if one prefers the former, a 2008 to 2012 VM neck would be ideal.

e.g.: 2013 and 2018 Squier Vintage Modified '70s Jazz necks, respectively. Both have a slightly yellowish, gloss finish. .

 

[Vini Sasso]

2009 was a good year for Squier. FMIC...basically, Fender & Squier...had just upgraded their compatibility and quality control a year earlier.

For everyone; 2013 was another big year for Squier...at least, as far as the VM '70s Jazzes go. (I never gravitated towards other 2013+ models, so they might be different. Please post any variances. I'd love to hear about them. ) It was around that time they switched from a clear, satin finish on the back of the neck to a glossy, vintage-tinted finish. So, for example, if one prefers the former, a 2008 to 2012 VM neck would be ideal.

e.g.: 2013 and 2018 Squier Vintage Modified '70s Jazz necks, respectively. Both have a slightly yellowish, gloss finish. .

Very interesting info. Thank you.

 

[Vini Sasso]

Now, a friend of mine recommended another Squier VM Jazz Bass the other day, but a 77' one, black body and pickguard, year 2013', probably made in Indonesia I guess? In terms of expected tone, build quality and wood, would that probably be a better instrument, or would that be the same level and differences are cosmetic? Any info or comparison?

 

[jglunt]

Now, a friend of mine recommended another Squier VM Jazz Bass the other day, but a 77' one, black body and pickguard, year 2013', probably made in Indonesia I guess? In terms of expected tone, build quality and wood, would that probably be a better instrument, or would that be the same level and differences are cosmetic? Any info or comparison?

I likely can't be a big help to you, but I had a 2013 Squier VM Jazz Bass-5. It was a very fine bass in every way except the pickups were pretty puny. It was made by Cort in Indonesia. I have no other reasonable point of comparison. The next Squier I bought was ten years later. It was built by Samick. The pickups were better, but half the tuners were really bad and had to be replaced.

 

[C Stone]

Now, a friend of mine recommended another Squier VM Jazz Bass the other day, but a 77' one, black body and pickguard, year 2013', probably made in Indonesia I guess? In terms of expected tone, build quality and wood, would that probably be a better instrument, or would that be the same level and differences are cosmetic? Any info or comparison?

I have a VM from 2013 it is a killer bass!
Neck is very nice and it’s a solid J bass.
I also have a VM ‘77 the neck is also a really nice neck, a little different as it’s blocked and bound. Both great basses!!

 

[C Stone]

I should add that the neck on the ‘77 is now on a P bass body with flats and is one of my favorite players, most VM’s I have come across were well built basses.
The 2013 VM has a rosewood board, the ‘77 has a maple board with MOP blocks.

 

[BlueTalon]

My resolve to never buy another bass crumbled, and I just bought this Squier Paranormal '54 Jazz Bass. I am so weak!! I'm hoping it will make it to Arizona from Nashville this week, but realistically, Monday is probably the day I'll get to hold it and put it through its paces.

Squier by Fender Paranormal Jazz Bass '54 - Black (IT) | Reverb

I asked them to look through their stock. If they can find one under eight pounds, I'm buying it.

And I really don't need another bass.

 

[jglunt]

If I remember right, mine weighed in at 8 lbs, 1oz. Unfortunately, I'm not home where I keep that info, but it feels much lighter than many of my other basses. The body is said to be poplar with swamp ash veneer, but I believe that's wrong. Why put swamp ash veneer on a solid-colored bass? And if that's wrong, is the poplar also wrong? My Squier 40th Anniversary Jazz Bass has a nyatoh body and its very light, so it could be that. However, those basses were built in different plants in different countries if that matters. I've seen other poplar basses that are heavy, but I'm no expert on wood weights.

 

[Bent77]

Now, a friend of mine recommended another Squier VM Jazz Bass the other day, but a 77' one, black body and pickguard, year 2013', probably made in Indonesia I guess? In terms of expected tone, build quality and wood, would that probably be a better instrument, or would that be the same level and differences are cosmetic? Any info or comparison?

I think the best way to say this is those Duncan design pick ups are my favorite. And as was mentioned above when they went to the gloss finish on the necks, I don’t personally care for that as much. I have a 2010 VM jazz And I’m very happy With it

 

[Malak the Mad]

Now, a friend of mine recommended another Squier VM Jazz Bass the other day, but a 77' one, black body and pickguard, year 2013', probably made in Indonesia I guess? In terms of expected tone, build quality and wood, would that probably be a better instrument, or would that be the same level and differences are cosmetic? Any info or comparison?

Generally speaking, the differences should be mostly cosmetic...different knobs and, like @C Stone said, an all-maple neck with faux mother-of-pearl blocks and matching binding.

That being said, what I don't know is what kind of pickups are in it. One thing I forgot to mention about 2013 was Squier's change from "Duncan Designed" pickups to "Fender Designed" pups. The difference in quality is debatable, since I've heard praise and scorn pointed at both, so it's probably best to consider them a matter of personal taste.

Whichever the VM '77s has, please chime in. I am, as always, endlessly curious!

 

[jglunt]

I asked them to look through their stock. If the can find one under eight pounds, I'm buying it.

And I really don't need another bass.

I apologize. In my earlier post I said I thought my Paranormal '54 Jazz Bass weighed in at 8 lbs., 1 oz. It weighed in at 8 lbs., 9 ozs. It was my Squier 40th Anniversary Jazz Bass that weighed in at 8 lbs, 1 oz. So still pretty light, but not under 8 lbs.

Now to address your final comment: Of course you need another bass. You're a bass player. You're also a bass collector. What is the last bass you'll ever need? THE NEXT ONE!!....

 

[C Stone]

Generally speaking, the differences should be mostly cosmetic...different knobs and, like @C Stone said, an all-maple neck with faux mother-of-pearl blocks and matching binding.

That being said, what I don't know is what kind of pickups are in it. One thing I forgot to mention about 2013 was Squier's change from "Duncan Designed" pickups to "Fender Designed" pups. The difference in quality is debatable, since I've heard praise and scorn pointed at both, so it's probably best to consider them a matter of personal taste.

Whichever the VM '77s has, please chime in. I am, as always, endlessly curious!

My 2013 VM is manufactured just after the cutoff when they switched to the Fender designed, I have no plans to “upgrade” or swap them, I am a fan of the Fender designed PU’s. I think early VM77’s were Duncan Designed JB-101’s.

 

[SeaDunk]

Picture of the newest Squier I’ve dragged home. This is the Sonic model, with the Jazz neckView attachment 5359144View attachment 5359145

I've got my eye on the SB PB Sonic and your pic is really making my mind up for me. Lovely looking bass and looks great value for money.

 

[Bent77]

I've got my eye on the SB PB Sonic and your pic is really making my mind up for me. Lovely looking bass and looks great value for money.

Thanks! At $240 after tax, it was hard to turn down

 

[Yahboy]

That's pretty close to what I've been hearing about most Squiers, especially if one has a particular sound they want to achieve at a certain price...a good-or-better modding platform for tinkerers and choosy bassists alike.


Too bad you moved forward on that so quickly. I would've recommended this lovely beastie, assuming the Paranormals use a Fender-standard, 5-hole bridge. Great mass uptick, brass construction, grooved barrels and an MIM Fender drop-in replacement.

• Brass Bass Bridge-Jazz Or Precision-Vintage Mount-No Mods Required-Perfect Fit | Reverb

This is fake himass bridge.She has saperate bridge end, Not one piece make.

Same item you can found on Aliexpress but far lower price tag.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...=scene:pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller|query_from:

 

[Yahboy]

I wanted to get back with a critique of my new Paranormal '54 Jazz Bass. I finally got a chance to play it today. It plays like a dream. It does have some slight neck dive, but nothing that was distracting or that made it hard to play. The tuners all operate smoothly and hold their tune well. In spite of the gloss finish on the neck, I didn't find it sticky or otherwise uncomfortable to play. The pickups are just plain not very good. They are really weak. After I turned my preamp up considerably louder than I ever have to turn it for any of my other basses, they sounded good tonally. There was, as expected, some single coil hum.

On this bass, there is a tone control for each pickup. These tone controls don't really do much. I don't know if it's the pots or if it's because they're using .047 caps. I'd swap the caps out for .022s, but there is so little room in that control cavity that I think I'll find it easier just adapting to what's there. Some of the adjustment screws in the bridge are a little rough when turning, which is worrisome, so I ordered a Fender High Mass bridge to put on it. I had a used set of Cort noiseless jazz pickups in my box-o-bass-stuff, so I swapped those in and changed to a set of GHS Pressurewound strings. HUGE difference. And now it has zero hum. It's rich-sounding and articulate. So now it sounds great, plays great, looks great...The Trifecta. For its appearance and playability, I can recommend this bass, but be prepared to do a thing or two to improve it. At the price point that I bought it, I have zero complaints about it and was able to get it sounding great in an afternoon.

The Cort noiseless J pickup set name VTB-ST which has alnico V split coil design.

I have one on my Bacchus J, better open tone than the Fralin Spilt J on this J bass.

 

[jglunt]

In my usual style, I watched reviews after I bought the Paranormal '54 Jazz Bass. Yesterday, I watched a comparison that Low End Lobster had done between the Paranormal '54 Jazz and the CV Jazz. It turns out that his conclusions were the same as mine. The Chinese Paranormal is a better built bass than the Indonesian CV, but it has wimpy pickups. Fortunately, I had a very good Jazz Bass set of pickups sitting used in my box-o-bass-stuff. Otherwise, I would've had to make a decision: convert it into an active bass by buying and installing a 2-band preamp or buy a set of Jazz pickups. I like the stock setup with the dual tone controls and didn't want to change that, but the preamp solution would cost me half as much. I'm very happy that I remembered I had those pickups. Now it sounds great to my ears. Of course, it doesn't have that classic Jazz Bass sound, but I always mod a Jazz Bass's wiring in some way.