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Squier Vintage Modified Precision Bass PJ

#21
Hank Scorpio said:
Mine had low action out the box, no buzzing, and took a setup well.

Then I switched out another Squier VM neck, strung it up, and the action was even lower than when I got it.

I'm starting to believe the body may be a little bit magic, cause that second part has NEVER happened to me before.
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Was that neck from another VM PJ? I've had three different VM's at this point, and couldn't swap all the necks. I've had a VM P, VM J (fretless) and a VM Jag. The P and J were interchangeable, the Jag neck/neck pocket was narrower. I still have the VM P neck hangin' out and i'm looking to buy a body to throw on there. Think it would fit?
 
#22
Systolic said:
Was that neck from another VM PJ? I've had three different VM's at this point, and couldn't swap all the necks. I've had a VM P, VM J (fretless) and a VM Jag. The P and J were interchangeable, the Jag neck/neck pocket was narrower. I still have the VM P neck hangin' out and i'm looking to buy a body to throw on there. Think it would fit?
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I would imagine the P & J would be interchangeable - the neck I put on the PJ body was a VM Jazz 70s, No issue with fit, or neck pocket gaps, etc at all
 
#25
I'll describe my vintage P first. Tone is thick and fat with flats and the neck is thick and hefty front to back, feels beautiful, a really nice handfull.

The VM P/J with both pu's full on is not so thick but more grindy if you like. Bridge pu only has a real J bass burp, think Jaco and the front pu only is more P bass but not as hefty as my vintage P.

If I had to fault the bass it's that the neck for me is a bit skinny front to back.

Hope that helps.
 
#26
After gigging and loving mine for a year, I had it for sale recently to follow a one-in/one-out policy (just got a vintage JV JB-62 jazz bass!). I also didn't like it as much through the Baer cabs I recently picked up, I think because the factory pickups are a bit hot and can overdrive some of my effects. The thing is, this sounds amazing through my tube preamp and Ampeg 210AV cabs, perfect bass tone for my more rocking gigs. Soooo...it's not for sale anymore.
 
#27
Systolic said:
So the Jag is just the odd man out of the VM series? Weird.
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Old post, delayed reply, but...the Jag was one of the first models in the VM line. I don't know about the newer ones, and I never tried swapping necks, but the one I owned had a very one-off tuning machine setup. I couldn't find any other tuner that would fit as replacements, and certainly not any of the hipshot drop d models. Neither the screw holds nor the radius of the post holes seemed to line up with anything other than the stock hardware.

That's why I was ecstatic to see the newer VMs switch to the MIM specs as far as tuning machines go (my Indonesian P/J, anyway).
 
#28
I love mine.... sounds great and records well too.......
PJ-wpickguard.jpg
 
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#29
Mine currently has a Delano large pole Precision pickup, and a DiMarzio Model J at the bridge. It's just a great sounding instrument at this point. Lots of clarity, and a great grindy tone.

The original neck from it has started having frets pop out a little, otherwise I'd put it back on. The J neck I've got on it now is great, but I prefer wider nuts. May pick up a maple P neck to finish it off, I think that'd get it more time in gig rotation.
 
#30


Here's some footage from a gig with my X-Files themed punk band (ignore the cake at the end, it was my birthday...) - This is the PJ, with a VM Jazz neck, stock pickups, modified to a 3 way pup switch/volume/tone set up. From memory, it'll be running through a VT Bass and possibly an IdiotBox BB, into a GK MB500.

For whatever reason the guitar hasn't come through very clearly, so it's a pretty good chance to hear the bass.
 
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#34
I was in my local music store today and just for kicks I plugged a Squier VM Indonesian P into an Ampeg BA115 ( The 15" amp that puts out about 140 watts or so).

Up here the bass is about 400 bucks and the amp is about 520 bucks (Cdn.)

I'm not a fan of longscales or Ampeg but I have to say I was impressed by this rig. It sounded beautiful and for using around home for practise etc. it couldn't be better.

I realize it is not a P/J....it is a P.

Just saying....
 
#35
I have a VM precision PJ (candy apple red) it has been great so far. I swapped the saddles for some brass ones and changed the tone cap to a 0.1uf for a lower frequency cut off. I'm thinking I should put some better pickups in but I am not sure what to go with. I'm using thomastik jazz flats and play using lots of FX for synthy sounds.
 
#36
I'm a big Squier fan and loved my VM P-Bass in Amber.....regret selling it everyday. I had two VM P/J's both in LPB...something about them isn't as solid to me. Build and neck were great, they set-up well, but even with GZRs in the one it was just....meh to me. I've been digging my Ibanez Talman much more these days.
 
#37
I have the LPB VM P/J and the BA115 and I love it. Lots of grumble on the low end that can be brightened up to whatever you might need. Very versatile instrument. I also play the EBMM Sterling in my profile pic through the same amp. The are both great basses, but I feel the Squier is the more versatile of the two. Crazy, right?
 

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