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Squier vintage modified club, part 2

#761
BOOG said:
Do you like it more? What kind of a change did it make when you raised the A and D poles? I’m curious if it just balances the volume of those strings with E and G or, does it change the timbre and tone also?
Click to expand...

You are right, raise the A and D just because better balance on tone, that's all.
But the stock j pup on this VM77 sound meaty than others VM 77, VM70 and CV60 units I try at GC.
Oh, forget mention another change , I get louder output with same pickups height setting before both pole piece raise. Because they the raise pole pieces get closer to A and D string.

Lot TB member mention that push the pole piece magnet your self has risk, could damage the coil inside. This is my second time DIY work (first on CV50P )and maybe I have luck.
 
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#764
Swap the Ti flat to EB cobalt flat 2814.
Wow, another great tone from VM77J stock pickups.
More growl along with add nice crispy top.
Dial back the tone knob to 7, the PV64J-like smooth warmth sound are ready to serve.

2814 are one of the high output bass string, she able make the Bridge pup sound louder and meaty.

Highly recommend a try with EB cobalt flat 2814 on you guys VM70/77 Jazz bass.
 
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#766
Help a guy install a set of Fralin J std wound on his Pre-Duncan pup (those pole piece rust badly )VM70J model and a set of EB cobalt flat 2814.

I have a change to compare my 2018 VM77j stock pup with Pre-Duncan J pup.
For fair compare , I install the cobalt flat for the VM70J first.
Even with fresh cobalt flat, I found the Pre-Duncan sound a bit dry and less growl. The bridge pickup sound quite weird to my ear which she lacking something on Fender Bridge pup sound, maybe this Duncan bridge pup has problem ?！?
Once the Fralin J pup install, it totally make the VM70J sound like a great Fender Jazz bass. Awsome ！！！！

So, I compare it again with my VM77J stock pup. I found the Fralin has more present on Low mid growl and fatter tone. With both pickup run, surprise she sound more scoop than my VM77J which has better mid growl present.

The Fralin pup upgrade are notable good, but after the comparison, I am totally satisfied with stock pup tone quality.

*
The fralin j pup I install has no raise A and D magnet pole piece. Both string sound little less volume than E and G string. For you guys who wanna get Fralin j pup should get the raise A/D pole piece model for better atring to string output balance.

Hope help.
 
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#767
whew... lots to catch up on here. Have we ever done a "replacement pickup faves" poll for the vmj crowd? I'd be curious. the stockers are not bad - the bridge one though adds little value.
these bright comments.... mine are way bright enough; I have to dial stuff back to take the trumpets out.

someone mentioned pups sounding better in one vmj than another. I have 2, and my son has one [for sale in the austin area as he's hurting for money], and they do vary but all of them needed resolder work. I think that's the main reason for tonal diffs... some were lucky enough to have good techs put them together. Get a good bite on the pup leads and it will sound different. My sunburst model will sustain for a half hour... i really don't understand why anyone would have lack of sustain unless strings are lousy. I've been playing a set of D'Addario heavy EXL230's [110] for nearly 2 years, tuned down 2 whole steps to C/F/Bb/Eb. My maple/natural one has not seen much action in awhile. thinking of pup replacements and other mods there...

skaine said:
Yea trial and error indeed. I found .022 is way too bright than i expected, i will stay with .047 cap.

VM 77 Jazz Bass is really good for its price, the neck is comfortable and no significant fret buzz with lower action so far. After very necessary pickup replacement now it become something else. However the one i bought lacks on sustain (there werent may Squier basses to try in guitar shops, there were only 2 of them in entire city :) Sustain is low because of the body wood maybe? Anyway i am planning to compansate this with a hi mass bridge as i mentioned before and open any other advices regarding this point. Got no other complaints :)
Click to expand...
 
#768
2012 Vintage Modified P. Further modified with a threaded saddle bridge, new pickguard and Switchcraft jack. New tuners (Gotoh GB10), replacement neck screws (stock ones are really cheap, nearly snapped the head off one of them) and some Fender flats to replace the cheap flatwounds it's currently strung with are at home waiting for me to get back and install them.

IMG_20190725_080657.jpg


I had originally planned for a Model P pickup swap, but the stock Duncan Designeds sound great, and are much better suited to flatwound strings.
 
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#769
After return the china made CV70P , I decide to get the 2019 CV70J in natural for exchange. Sadly out of stock, so I just move to CV60J in both Daphne blue and sunburst which available at GC.
At the end I exchange with this one and get my balance back.

IMG-20190808-WA0009.jpg


Believe it or not,I found nothing different between the VM j and 2019 CV J in build quality. New CV totally rebranding stuff. They has same ugly Indian Lauren fretboard. The different only on neck tint colour, turning machine, knobs and bridge.

The reason I get the VM j over 2019cvj because the bass tone sound better . I suspect the new body wood on cvj cause it sound different than VM J basswood , who knows ?

Edit.
Compare to VM77J I sold, the VM j sound less growl but warmer and round.
 
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#770
I hope to have pictures of my completed VM P in the next week or so. Specs:

2012 Squier VM Precision, Olympic White, rosewood fretboard

Allparts threaded saddle bridge

Tort (different from the last one) pickguard

Tug bar

Switchcraft jack, the rest of the electronics are fine, and the shielding job is better than any other mass produced bass I've owned

Kluson string tree. Spare part, no real reason for it. Very high quality though

Gotoh GB10 tuners

Stock Duncan Designed pickups

Fender 9050ML flats

Looking forward to completing my new #1 :thumbsup:
 
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#771
My VM fretless Jazz has been joined by my recently acquired VM Precision Amber (wrapped with D'Addario Chromes - I am a P-Flat convert)! What a wonderful bass, the soft maple body is so much closer to ash or alder than the agathis that's on the Jazz making for a tone monster. Not that I'm slagging the VM Jazz, specially after upgrading the p/ups to SD Quarter Pounders.

I will be updating to a tort pick guard (as per our TortBass agreement - LOL) as well as the electronics and knobs. I believe someone has already updated the p/up, so I'll be leaving that in (sounds too good).

5D2D1F7B-E8AB-4D4B-9C06-CF612295D171.jpeg
 
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#773
Tad said:
I own four Squier basses. Three of them are Vintage Modifieds.
View attachment 3504547
‘14 Lake Placid Blue VM PJ w/DR Legend Flats.
‘07 Natural VM 70’s Jazz w/DR Black Beauties Rounds.
‘08 Sunburst VM Fretless Jazz w/D'Addario XL Chromes Flats.

They are all stock except for the strings.
Click to expand...

You like 'em flats, huh? LOL

What's the P?

I was thinking of putting flats on my Squier VM Fretless Jazz but stuck with Half-Wounds.
 
#774
GrapeBass said:
You like 'em flats, huh? LOL

What's the P?

I was thinking of putting flats on my Squier VM Fretless Jazz but stuck with Half-Wounds.
Click to expand...

The P is an ‘82 JV ‘57 Precision w/DR Black Beauties.

It is stock except for the strings, too. I bought all four of those new.

I do like flats. I also like DR Black Beauty rounds.

I also have seven Fender electric basses. An American Special Precision, an American Professional Jazz, an American Performer PJ, a CIJ ‘51RI Precision , a Player Jazz, a Modern Player Telecaster, and a Standard Fretless Jazz. I bought all of those except for the ‘00 MIM Fretless Jazz new.

Four of those have flats and three have Black Beauties. So, all together six with flats and five with rounds.
 
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#775
4sight said:
I hope to have pictures of my completed VM P in the next week or so. Specs:

2012 Squier VM Precision, Olympic White, rosewood fretboard

Allparts threaded saddle bridge

Tort (different from the last one) pickguard

Tug bar

Switchcraft jack, the rest of the electronics are fine, and the shielding job is better than any other mass produced bass I've owned

Kluson string tree. Spare part, no real reason for it. Very high quality though

Gotoh GB10 tuners

Stock Duncan Designed pickups

Fender 9050ML flats

Looking forward to completing my new #1 :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

I suggest Pribora pickup whIch on my CV60P currently. She sound has quite similar to Fralin P I own but LOT CHEAPER in price.
 
#776
GrapeBass said:
You like 'em flats, huh? LOL

What's the P?

I was thinking of putting flats on my Squier VM Fretless Jazz but stuck with Half-Wounds.
Click to expand...

You should try EB cobalt flat 2814 . Roundwound like Growly tone in Flatwound construction. Been use on my previous VM fretless P, sound crunchy while wide open tone knob.
I am Flatwound guys too, Ti on my CV P, cobalt flat on my VM J and Sub ray4.

I decide to get the new CV 50P in sunburst , and this one I will string a Labella LTF4A on it.
 
#778
4sight said:
I've seen them on eBay before, but he doesn't seem to stock any P bass pickups there now, and neither does his website.
Click to expand...

I just check ebay and his site, no more bass pickup.
Don't worry, go with Tonerider TRB1 . Before Fralin and Pribora, I use Tonerider after Fender PV63 and Aguilar 4P60. Tonerider has pretty close tone to smooth-bloomy Aggie 4p60 but better mid present. Work well with .1uf cap and Aggie like tone at 70% tone value.

Hope help.
 
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#779
Yahboy said:
I just check ebay and his site, no more bass pickup.
Don't worry, go with Tonerider TRB1 . Before Fralin and Pribora, I use Tonerider after Fender PV63 and Aguilar 4P60. Tonerider has pretty close tone to smooth-bloomy Aggie 4p60 but better mid present. Work well with .1uf cap and Aggie like tone at 70% tone value.

Hope help.
Click to expand...

That does help, thank you :)

Would you say the Tonerider would be an improvement over the stock VM P pickups? The DDs are very nicely made, cloth wires, oversized AlNiCo slugs, I even like the covers! The sound is pretty neutral P bass, perhaps lacking a little in the upper end, but for a vintage styled pickup with flats, that's not too unusual.

Do you think it would be worth changing them?
 
#780
4sight said:
That does help, thank you :)

Would you say the Tonerider would be an improvement over the stock VM P pickups? The DDs are very nicely made, cloth wires, oversized AlNiCo slugs, I even like the covers! The sound is pretty neutral P bass, perhaps lacking a little in the upper end, but for a vintage styled pickup with flats, that's not too unusual.

Do you think it would be worth changing them?
Click to expand...

I only have experience on DD jazz pup.
Since the Tonerider p pup are cheap in price, it worth to try.
 
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