Squier Precision CV 60's: what is it really worth?

[Adamski22]

Any squier p made at the cgs factory is worth 300 to 450 in my book. For the 60s style at least. The 70s style ones are pretty great to but seem to not have the same premium. I have 2 60s style of that era and just got a 50s style one last week. They are all feel pretty awesome in my hands. I have one of the newer 70s style ones in surf green, which is a 2018 vintage that came out of the same factory. Its strung with ti jazz rounds and sounds amazing. I bought it new for 400 and found it to be a good value. Beware, both the 60 and 70s style cv have a gloss finish on the neck. I suggest you figure out if its to your liking before you buy. I like them but did have to adjust my playing a little to the gloss neck. I discovered I have a death grip on the neck. A slightly lighter grip made them totally playable, but it was a bit of a learning journey. Heck it may have improved my technique.

 

[micguy]

Different factories that have produced Squier P basses using CNC machines would have used the same program routine to cut the wood, so the wood blanks would have been identical. But the sources for that wood could differ greatly.

Sort of Like Fender using different wood in the 60's, 70's...... and today. Except that Fender has chaged the program/pattern machine as well.

 

[Kukulkan61]

I can vouch for the CV made in China, they are excellent basses thru and thru, I've owned 4 all Pbasses, and in my opinion they are more impressive to me than the new Player series Fenders, they pop up frequently for sale on Reverb. Sometimes here, I wouldn't hesitate to pay 500 for one in excellent condition but that's me and I wouldn't go any higher than that..

 

[pbassnut]

Hi All,

First of all, let me specify that I'm a die-hard (5-string) Jazz bass fan.
I own two 5-string basses (I currently don't have any 4-string bass and have actually almost no experience on it). I'm very much into active instruments: my main bass is a Victor Bailey Jazz V signature with a Uni-Pre 4 John East preamp and Nordstrand NJ5FS. I feel like I can literally get any sound out of that bass. I love it and I don't really feel I miss anything instrument-wise for live playing.

BUT

Recently I've been recording more and more and I've realized that a (passive) 4-string instrument would be very useful on many recordings. The primary reason is purely sound-related: I'm looking for that classic P-bass tone with TI flatwounds.
The other main reason why I want to get a Precision bass is the simplicity and the minimalist side of it.

I'm looking for an instrument that I would mostly/exclusively be using for recording purposes as I plan to keep on using my Victor Bailey jazz bass on steroids as my main axe. Therefore I don't care very much about the name on the headstock.

While looking for a good/traditional-sounding P-bass I came across the very cheap Indonesia-made Squier CV 60's Precision basses.
What are your experiences with these basses and how do they compare with more expensive Fender P-basses taking exclusively into consideration the sound and feel factor (I'll most probably only record with that instrument)? So please try and don't take too much into consideration factors such as mojo, maintenance, build quality, hardware quality etc.
I'm only looking at the the sound that I'd get straight out of a USB audio interface (Traditional P-bass sound) and to a lesser extent the feel of the instrument: it has to be feel right, not amazing like a custom built Fodera but comfortable enough to be inspired to play great lines.

To sum it up I'd say that I'm an advanced player who never played on a Precision bass in his life and that is looking to buy one that would deliver the right sound and feel (equivalent to an American-made instrument and suited for professional use) while spending the smallest amount of money.


Thanks in advance everyone.

P. S. I've never owned nor played a P-bass in my entire life!

There you can see me playing various songs:

I have a 1st generation Chinese made Squier CV 60's P-Bass and it's really a good bass. However, the previous owner tricked it out quite a bit by replacing the electronics with a Seymour Duncan Antiquity II pickup, USA pots and an "orange drop" cap. In addition, he replaced the stock bridge with a Gotoh 201 and had fretwork done to it. That said, the fundamentals are there ... the stock tuners hold a tune well, the neck is straight and stable and it's playability and sound are comparable to any of my other Ps ... all of which are of significantly upscale predigree in comparison. A guitar player I play with liked it so much that he got himself a Chinese made CV 60's P-Bass just like mine used off of eBay. His is bone stock and is just as good as mine in every way.

 

[JRA]

I've realized that a (passive) 4-string instrument would be very useful on many recordings. The primary reason is purely sound-related: I'm looking for that classic P-bass tone with TI flatwounds. The other main reason why I want to get a Precision bass is the simplicity and the minimalist side of it.

as well as you play (very nice!) = you'd get along with any P-bass that fit your hands well (J neck?), and that had competent parts, otherwise. i'm not sure why you're limiting yourself to squier if all you want is a good ax on a budget. i'd play some other makes/models and make a decision based on the right feel. good luck finding a good P-bass for yourself --- should be easy peasy!

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Thanks for your feedback man.

I get that the China made CV P-basses were great. But still how does it make the Indonesian model that bad or 'worth nothing'?

So if I understood well the biggest difference lies in quality control, right? Which to me means that not all Indonesia made Squier CV Precision basses are poopie. Some might still be close to the quality level of China made models and some don't, I guess?

The thing with Chinese CVs is that the necks were OUTSTANDING. I'm not talking about subjective stuff like neck profile, nut width, etc. I'm talking about SUPERB craftsmanship on the level you would normally expect on basses costing $2000 and above. The fretwork was custom shop quality. Add top notch QC (which you DEFINITELY won't find on the Indonesian CVs) and you've got a winner.

I own two Chinese CV P-basses and Strat. I can lower the action to the point where most of my other basses/guitars (including quite a few really expensive ones) would buzz like crazy.

The neck is THE most important thing to get right on a bass. It's also the most difficult. The neck on the Chinese CVs are almost boutique quality.

All the rest like pickups or tuners can be easily upgraded if needed but the neck is the soul of the instrument. Change the neck and it's not the same instrument anymore. Not to mention that replacing a neck costs a lot of money and in some cases lots of expensive work too.

BTW, I'm not saying that pickups or tuners needed to be upgraded on the Chinese CVs. They were perfectly fine. I've kept all of mine 100% stock and that's the only time I've done that in this price range.

But those necks... Easily as good as anything Fender USA has EVER made. I use my CVs just as much as my $2000+ basses. I know things like this tend to get over-hyped on the internet but in my experience the Chinese CVs really were THAT good.

I'm not saying the Indonesian CVs are complete junk. They're more or less what I would expect from Fender: Poor QC so you REALLY need to try before you buy. Also somewhat overpriced for what you get, meaning there are better basses to be found in the same price range. Which is all a bit disappointing after the amazing 1st gen CVs.

 

[Syl_Funky_bass]

Chinese Squiers and Fenders are sweet.
Echoing what has already been said if you get a choice I would say Chinese CV!

Thanks everyone for the great insight and expertise!

I live in Continental Europe and getting my hands on a second-hand Chinese-made Squier CV 60's P-Bass is unfortunately not really an option. I forgot to specify in my initial post that I was exclusively seeking information about the Indonesian-made Squier CV 60's P-Bass and about how it compares to Fender P-basses.

 

[andare]

To the OP:
It's good to ask questions like this but you probably know by now that people have very strong opinions that they rarely can back up with facts. How can you quantify statements like "it's better" "it's worth nothing" "it feels awesome"? Go play the instrument you want and see for yourself.

Now a long rant because I'm having one of those days.

To the haters of a specific instrument, can you be more specific? S.F.Sorrow was very specific, that's someone who backs up their opinion with facts.

For example the wood used for the fretboard. Rosewood is darker and appears less dry than Indian laurel/pau ferro. Does that mean that Indian laurel is a bad wood and instruments that use it are worthless? There's a new cost associated with using rosewood now that didn't exist when the previous made in China CV line came out. It doesn't mean that new instruments that don't use rosewood are worse. It only means that the company cannot afford to use rosewood anymore, or chooses not to.

No one can explain how one instrument sounds better than another and if they've changed pickups several times maybe the instrument didn't sound so good in the first place. Some people like an aggressive tone with lots of treble and if a pickup has a vintage voice they'll say it sounds muddy. We don't know what amp they're using, we don't know their EQ settings. And with what strings? Some people swear by TI flats, some say they disappear on stage and feel like rubber.

Quality control. Are the fret ends dressed and polished? Maybe yes, maybe no. Some people have no idea what good frets look and feel like. If you dress and polish them, are they as good as those done in a factory? How good is the shielding? Is there any shielding? Can everybody distinguish between pickup hum and interference buzz? What about amp noise? Do the Precision pickups tilt to one side? Do the screws strip after a few turns?

Tuning stability: just today I played a friend's MIA Telecaster. It doesn't stay in tune despite good tuners and a good bone nut. It also plays poorly because it's not set up. My Mini P, made in Indonesia and the cheapest instrument sold now by Squier, stays in tune perfectly. This is because I know how to put on strings and lubricate the nut. Heck, my Bronco has worse tuners and a two-saddle bridge but it stays in tune and octaves intonate on every fret. It's because I used a tuner and a screwdriver. I could've paid a pro to set it up and it would still play great.

Ok I'm out

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Thanks everyone for the great insight and expertise!

I live in Continental Europe and getting my hands on a second-hand Chinese-made Squier CV 60's P-Bass is unfortunately not really an option. I forgot to specify in my initial post that I was exclusively seeking information about the Indonesian-made Squier CV 60's P-Bass and about how it compares to Fender P-basses.

Keep checking Reverb and EBay.
If you can’t locate one..... I’d say forgo the Indonesian models and get a Fender or something else.

 

[wizard65]

The older made in China CV Squiers stack up very well against the Fender, the newer Indonesian CV (previously called VM) are not even close (I’ve owned both).
Better off paying a little more for a MIM Fender Player’s P bass.

 

[sonojono]

The older made in China CV Squiers stack up very well against the Fender, the newer Indonesian CV (previously called VM) are not even close (I’ve owned both).
Better off paying a little more for a MIM Fender Player’s P bass.

Pretty much and they can be found used for around $500!!

 

[gg22]

It's all about the neck. I had to return Indonesian Squier CV J bacause the neck was warped from the facroty. Most other Indonesian CV's I saw in stores had warped necks as well. Everything else is not important or can be easily fixed/upgraded.

 

[Syl_Funky_bass]

Side question guys:
I posted a small ad on a website in my area looking for a Chinese made fiesta red CV 60's and surprisingly some guy tells me he has one for sale for me that he bought new in 2010 (355€ /430 $). He says the instrument was made in Indonesia and will send me pictures late today.

But I'm wondering were there any Indonesian made fiesta red Squier CV 60's P-basses? I thought they only made sunburst and olympic white ones?!

He's asking 230€/280$ for it... Seems like like it might be a good deal.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Side question guys:
I posted a small ad on a website in my area looking for a Chinese made fiesta red CV 60's and surprisingly some guy tells me he has one for sale for me that he bought new in 2010 (355€ /430 $). He says the instrument was made in Indonesia and will send me pictures late today.

But I'm wondering were there any Indonesian made fiesta red Squier CV 60's P-basses? I thought they only made sunburst and olympic white ones?!

He's asking 230€/280$ for it... Seems like like it might be a good deal.

If it’s Indonesia it’s not the original run Crafted in China. The China models have serial numbers starring with CGS to signify the factory where they were made.

 

[Bent77]

Side question guys:
I posted a small ad on a website in my area looking for a Chinese made fiesta red CV 60's and surprisingly some guy tells me he has one for sale for me that he bought new in 2010 (355€ /430 $). He says the instrument was made in Indonesia and will send me pictures late today.

But I'm wondering were there any Indonesian made fiesta red Squier CV 60's P-basses? I thought they only made sunburst and olympic white ones?!

He's asking 230€/280$ for it... Seems like like it might be a good deal.

At that price, you should go give it a try. It may be to your liking

good luck with the hunt

 

[Syl_Funky_bass]

Well it was totally unexpected as I was not even looking for it or hoping to get my hands on the Holy Grale but as of tomorrow I'll be the lucky owner of a Chinese made Squier CV 60's P.
I posted a small ad on a local website specifying that I was looking for a second-hand Indonesian (or Chinese)-made Squier CV P-Bass and surprisingly enough I got an almost immediate reply.
The seller seems to be completely ignorant of the fact that these Chinese models are so popular and sought after on the second-hand market.
The bass is clearly not in perfect condition anymore but at approximately 280$ I guess it's still a bargain.
There seems to be some slight damage at the back of the neck and a major dent on the body as can be seen on the poor quality pictures.

My luck doesn't end there: the seller lives at approximately 300 miles from where I live but quite by chance he has to be in my area tomorrow to pick up an amp at another seller's place. So the bass will be delivered to my doorstep free of charge.

As a Jazz Bass out-and-out fan I couldn't hope for any better entry into the P-Bass world. I was looking for a cheap and great-sounding instrument and it seems I'm about to accomplish that wish.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

See.... never say never!! So glad you were able to find one. I would say for the condition that bass is on you are getting a fair prices for it. Shipping would have added even more.
Right place at right time asking the right question on the right forum.
Congratulations and enjoy it.
Try some TI flats. They are costly so buy a used set . People sell them here all the time. Otherwise you might end up paying close to half the price you paid for the bass for a set of strings. I advise to buy used because they are a string that you either love or hate. They are very articulate and flexible. I think they match this bass perfectly.
I’ll post some links to other players using the the same bass and strings.
Be sure to follow up once you get the bass.

 

[wizard65]

Sounds like you got very lucky.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

None of these are me. Just players I enjoy .

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Sounds like you got very lucky.

I would say he and that bass were meant to be.