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Squier vintage modified club, part 2

#181
My new VM Jag:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1361630947.093233.jpg

Hi. I'm new around these parts. Been lurking around here for the last couple months reading up on sub $400 basses. Finally decided on the VM Jag with concentric pots. Love the look, and the variety of tones from the p/j pups.

I haven't taken the plastic off the pickguard yet because unfortunately I may need to ship this one back for an exchange... there are several very shallow dings and a couple specs of some kind of rough "particulate" in the matte finish on the back of the neck, and a loose butterfly on one of the tuning machines that rattles while playing.
Haven't 100% decided to send it back yet or just fix what I can. I can deal with the dings as they're up past the 13th fret and hardly noticeable. Any thoughts?

Anyway, I still really like this bass. It's my second Squier instrument... in 28 years - I got a mij Squier Standard Strat back in '85 that I'm still pretty fond of.

Cheers
 
#182
OK, decided to keep the VM Jag. I like it too much to deal with the hassle of shipping it back.
I can deal with the small imperfections on the neck - barely noticeable, and they don't affect playability. The weld on the G string tuner is broken, so the "elephant ear" rattles and pulls off the shaft. I was planning on eventually upgrading tuners anyway, so maybe sooner than later. If not, I'll try to get a replacement under warranty.
Anybody know of aftermarket tuners that will drop in?

Can I get a #?
 
#183
Doofus71 said:
(...)Anybody know of aftermarket tuners that will drop in? (...)
Click to expand...

I "dropped in" those: http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=111
Well, "dropped in"... I had to wind some tape around them, to make them fit snugly. I also had to drill four new holes (one for each tuner):

SquierVMJaguar110704_14.jpg

SquierVMJaguar110704_16.jpg


As you can see, the place where the elephant ears meat the shaft comes very close to the headstock, about one mm at its closest, but it works. With my instrument, that is.

I also changed the pickguard, and put in a Schaller 2000, which is heavier than the original (and gives shear endless sustain...). Combined with the lighter tuners, the operation took very well care of the original neck dive (due to the light basswood body), but not of the slightly twangy sound, even with black nylon tape wound D'Addario's. But I *do* like the overall aesthetic improvement (I also put on a mother of pearl pickguard).:

SquierVMJaguar110704_19.jpg
 
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#184
The direct drop in replacement would be the hipshot HB7 http://www.bestbassgear.com/hipshot-tuners.htm

Direct drop in. No drilling needed.



Lambic said:
I "dropped in" those: http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=111
Well, "dropped in"... I had to wind some tape around them, to make them fit snugly. I also had to drill four new holes (one for each tuner):

SquierVMJaguar110704_14.jpg

SquierVMJaguar110704_16.jpg


As you can see, the place where the elephant ears meat the shaft comes very close to the headstock, about one mm at its closest, but it works. With my instrument, that is.

I also changed the pickguard, and put in a Schaller 2000, which is heavier than the original (and gives shear endless sustain...). Combined with the lighter tuners, the operation took very well care of the original neck dive (due to the light basswood body), but not of the slightly twangy sound, even with black nylon tape wound D'Addario's. But I *do* like the overall aesthetic improvement (I also put on a mother of pearl pickguard).:

SquierVMJaguar110704_19.jpg
Click to expand...
 
#194
I just got a VM jazz today, kinda disapointed. I wasn't able to play any so watched video's on you tube amd read as much about em as I could before ordering. Its a real looker! love the wood grain, color, and feel. But it sure don't sound that good. The E string was dead, all I got was a thump, kinda like when you have foam under the strings only worse. I had a few old strings so put one on, that fixed that problem, but it just sounds lifeless? Almost muddy. I had to readjust all my amp settings( Ampeg b112 and acoustic b200 with a 410 and a 115 cab.I even turned the tweeters on in the cabs) and put the tone knob all the up to get any kind of decent sound. It sounds deeper and darker then my p bass. Its just bluh compared to my other bass's. (T bird pro made passive, Epi non reverse p/j t bird, Epi explorer, and my VM p bass.) I did a quick set up on it, wasn't that bad out of the box. I'm thinking about getting new strings but really not sure I wanna spend the money on them if its the bass. Any thoughts?
 
#196
Ya I did. I had to lower them, the strings were hitting them when I played and that was before I lowered the action! Oh ya, the strings that came one mine didnt have the red silk on them like most, just plain. I also play mostly finger style. I did try it with a pick to though and no difference. I'm thinking its the strings but I'm not sure....I change my strings every 2 to 3 months, sometimes sooner. I use either DR Black Beauties or sun beams. I sometimes use flats on the p bass. Thanks for the reply.
 
#198
Fixed it!! The strings were.....I guess you'd say stuck in the nut. All the strings were so tight in it that they weren't able to vibrate? I don't know how to say it, but I took them off and they wouldn't come out of the nut. So after popping them out I filed each groove a little bit and ta dah! Everything works as it should and now I see what all the hype is about. Damn this thing sounds nice! Like I said in my first post, feels good, plays good, and now sounds good. Not sure why some of you say its heavy though, I think its light, lighter then the rest of my bass's any how. Thsnks C.Linton for your help. Hey do you mind if I copy your VMJ? Love the bridge n pickup covers!! Have them on my VM p bass.
Will post pics of them if you all want. Let me know.
 

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