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squier vintage modified jazz question (owners get in here!)

L

LiamR

Aug 15, 2010
133
1
#1
Hey guys. I'm wanting a jazz bass, but my budget would only go as high as a MIM J - £510.

I've read a lot of good press about the squier VM jazz, but whenever I hear it, it always seems very very 'bright' - I was just wondering if it was possible to get a more smooth, 'dark' tone out of it.

Thanks guys :p
 
#4
I have one of the VM Jazzes. Yes, you're right, it does have a nice treble snap to it.
Roll off the bridge p'up & tone knob. Play it near the neck.
Won't hurt to EQ your amp to taste.
The Jazz has always been known for its brightness as opposed to the Precision.
The new VM P (the amber coloured one) may have more the sound you're after.
Their less expensive too...
 
#5
tangentmusic said:
I have one of the VM Jazzes. Yes, you're right, it does have a nice treble snap to it.
Roll off the bridge p'up & tone knob. Play it near the neck.
Won't hurt to EQ your amp to taste.
The Jazz has always been known for its brightness as opposed to the Precision.
The new VM P (the amber coloured one) may have more the sound you're after.
Their less expensive too...
Click to expand...

Thanks man. I prefer my Js over my Ps, but this Jazz just seems to have plenty of treble haha.
 
#6
For my taste, the VM could stand to be a bit brighter. It is a great sounding bass but just not quite as much sizzle as my Geddy or the SX jazz body / VM Jag necked mutant I just put together. The Geddy and the SX Mutant both have 250k pots while the VM jazz has 500k pots so you would believe that the VM might be a little bit brighter but that's not the case. The VM has a slightly woodier tone if that makes any sense. All 3 basses have fresh D'addario XL 170's. The only difference is that my Geddy and SX both have Badass II's and the VM has a Gotoh 201 on it.

This opinion is based on how my VM sounded with the stock pickups. I've since thrown in a Seymour Duncan MM pickup in the bridge position to get some different tones out of the bass and that has also added a pit more brightness and punch to it.
 
#8
In comparison of the VM-Jazz and the VM-Jaguar, the latter is seriously hotter and more brilliant than the Jazz.

The Jazz had to have those rotten so-called Fender 7250 NPSs come off it quick 'cause it sounded like fingernails on a blackboard (ask an older member or your mom what that is). I immediately put the Elixir Nanos on it and haven't even thought about anything else on it at all.

The Jag still has the MiI 7250s on it and they are fine - so I think you can do a lot more for 'your tone' by just changing the strings instead of ripping out the p'ups and pots and capacitor and wiring plus changing out the bridge to find what you want.
 

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