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Squier Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz Bass

W

whero

Aug 28, 2016
2,397
4,671
#1
I may have an option to buy a Squier Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz Bass. It's this model:
SVMFJB.png


It's in new-looking condition but it's been fitted with nylon tape-wounds and what appear to be "Duncan Designed" pickups (hard to see from the image quality).
SVMJBPU.png


I've been thinking about getting a fretless to learn to play one properly, and can probably get it for about 25 - 30% of the RRP for the bass new.

I've never played a Squier, but what do you all think - worth pulling the trigger on, to learn a new skill, for under NZ$300?

Also, does anybody know... if I get it, can you get pick guards for these, or would a Fender J guard fit? I'm thinking some tort might tone that burst down a bit.
 
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#3
Get it! Very happy with all my squiers. And you dont even have to worry about bad fretwork lol. :D

The duncan designed pickups are older, they have since switched to fender designed. There are people on both sides of the fence, but there is a lot of love for the DD.

I've never heard of a squier aftermarket pickguard. You might be able to find a used squier guard from a different squier jazz bass online though. Ebay maybe. Or get a cheap fender fit guard, but you will probably have to file it down a little to fit.
 
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#6
I've owned two, they both had necks that were dodgy and couldn't hold a setup. I think the ebonol fretboard is too stiff and isn't as compliant as natural timber and forces the neck to whatever concavity it decides, rather than what you want. I don't live in a particularly harsh area, weather wise, so it wasn't the conditions messing with it either.

In both cases, I had bought them online and returning them was a pain in the butt (I had to cover return shipping out of my own pocket), so I had to sell locally and be honest with the buyer.

Buy locally so it's easy to return if things go sour. 2/2 is just too consistent for me to think I was unlucky.
 
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#10
whero said:
I may have an option to buy a Squier Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz Bass. It's this model:
View attachment 3477353

It's in new-looking condition but it's been fitted with nylon tape-wounds and what appear to be "Duncan Designed" pickups (hard to see from the image quality).
View attachment 3477354

I've been thinking about getting a fretless to learn to play one properly, and can probably get it for about 25 - 30% of the RRP for the bass new.

I've never played a Squier, but what do you all think - worth pulling the trigger on, to learn a new skill, for under NZ$300?

Also, does anybody know... if I get it, can you get pick guards for these, or would a Fender J guard fit? I'm thinking some tort might tone that burst down a bit.
Click to expand...

I put a pickguard on mine - a standard one will fit, and you don't have to worry about the holes lining up.

Pros: fingerboard is pretty hard and will last;affordable;overall pretty decent

Cons: sometimes there seems to be some differential movement of lines and fingerboard, so it may benefit from a light sanding;nut will benefit from filing down a bit; pickups are a bit unexciting.
 
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#11
eastcoasteddie said:
It’s a fantastic instrument to “get your toes wet” on fretless.
I have played on a number of Ebanol fretless basses, and I just don’t like it’s clacky nuanced tone or feel. I prefer a wooden fingerboard. The latest Classic Vibe fretless has a wooden board...
Click to expand...

I have two fretless Jazzes with rosewood boards, although I've oiled both to toughen them up a bit, and the VM. The VM has rounds on it for the forward, modern fretless sound and does well for that, the other two have flats. However, since the strings on the VM are TI Jazz rounds they are not that aggressive so with care you can get pretty warm sounds out of it too. TI flats tone it down even more if you need that.
 
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#13
whero said:
I may have an option to buy a Squier Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz Bass. It's this model:
View attachment 3477353

It's in new-looking condition but it's been fitted with nylon tape-wounds and what appear to be "Duncan Designed" pickups (hard to see from the image quality).
View attachment 3477354

I've been thinking about getting a fretless to learn to play one properly, and can probably get it for about 25 - 30% of the RRP for the bass new.

I've never played a Squier, but what do you all think - worth pulling the trigger on, to learn a new skill, for under NZ$300?

Also, does anybody know... if I get it, can you get pick guards for these, or would a Fender J guard fit? I'm thinking some tort might tone that burst down a bit.
Click to expand...

The Duncan Designed pickups are stock.
 
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#14
No complaints with mine, which I bought used for US $140. It didn't like LaBella Copper White tapewounds (volume was absurdly low), but other than that, it's okay. I'm sure you can spend more and get better, but all in all the bang for the buck ratio is pretty high. Having grown up in an era when any inexpensive instrument made in the mysterious orient was of dubious quality at best, this was a real eye-opener as to what a modern Indonesian bass can be.
 
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#15
Hi whero :)

whero said:
I've been thinking about getting a fretless
Click to expand...

whero said:
I've never played a Squier, but what do you all think - worth pulling the trigger on, to learn a new skill
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with a Squier Jazz!

whero said:
for about 25 - 30% of the RRP for the bass new.
Click to expand...

That' s a fair deal!

whero said:
can you get pick guards for these
Click to expand...

Every Squier or Fender pg will fit but..

Jaco did not need a pg! :D

jaco-pastorius-650-430 - Copie.jpg


greetings


Wise(b)ass
 
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#17
That’s an older model just like mine which is an ‘08.

The original Vintage Modifieds came with the Duncan Designed Pickups. I think that they sound very good. A lot of other folks like them, too.

The neck is very good on mine. It’s very stable and holds a setup well. Mine has D'addario XL Chromes Flats on it.

I have never had any problems with the fretboard and you cannot feel the marker lines on mine at all.

Mine intonates very well and is very consistent.

I like mine just fine.
 
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#18
I own one and other than the seasonal truss rod adjustments when the weather turns it’s a good bass. I put larger Ernie Ball strings on it and haven’t looked back. Cheap, well made, and easy to get parts for. Plus, modding is breeze and you don’t have to worry about messing up an expensive instrument.
 
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#19
A few years ago I bought a Squire VM Jazz 70's. Have played it a lot--in fact it was my main rehearsal bass. Then recently, I became interested in the fretless world and found a great deal on a VM Fretless Precision. Both basses were barely used, in near mint condition. The fret markers are nice & smooth in the fingerboard of the fretless, so that's not a problem for me. However, I've been wanting a Precision bass with a Jazz neck and wanted to try the fretless with Jazz pickups. Guess what I did? I switched the necks on the two basses and both turned out really cool! So, for less than $300 total, I effectively have four basses if I want to switch the necks occasionally. However, I'll keep them as is for awhile. Very happy with both, by the way. :bassist:
 
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#20
whero said:
I may have an option to buy a Squier Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz Bass. It's this model:
View attachment 3477353

It's in new-looking condition but it's been fitted with nylon tape-wounds and what appear to be "Duncan Designed" pickups (hard to see from the image quality).
View attachment 3477354

I've been thinking about getting a fretless to learn to play one properly, and can probably get it for about 25 - 30% of the RRP for the bass new.

I've never played a Squier, but what do you all think - worth pulling the trigger on, to learn a new skill, for under NZ$300?

Also, does anybody know... if I get it, can you get pick guards for these, or would a Fender J guard fit? I'm thinking some tort might tone that burst down a bit.
Click to expand...

Considering they go for around $850 new that's a pretty good deal here in NZ.
As others have mentioned, they can have a bit of an issue with the fret line markers being a little high. I'd say go for it and if they are indeed high get a decent luthier to level it and set it up properly and you'll have a very good playing fretless for much less than a new one, which may still have the same problems.
 
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