Squier Vintage Modified Precision V: who's got one?

[steve_rolfeca]

After I got my P5 I developed a shoulder pain that got pretty nasty. I went back to my 4-banger for now and it's subsided. I have a cushy neoprene strap, and I don't think the 5er is that much heavier... but I'm wondering if anyone else has had any physical issues come up with the bass. Heavier weight, wider neck, who knows. Anyone else? Thanks!

There's more to ergonomics than weight.

Did you wear the P5 higher or lower? Did you hold the neck at the same angle relative to your body? Was neck dive causing you to tense your shoulder because you were holding the headstock up?

All worth investigating.

 

[LowEndOperative]

After I got my P5 I developed a shoulder pain that got pretty nasty. I went back to my 4-banger for now and it's subsided. I have a cushy neoprene strap, and I don't think the 5er is that much heavier... but I'm wondering if anyone else has had any physical issues come up with the bass. Heavier weight, wider neck, who knows. Anyone else? Thanks!

Nothing yet, but I'll learn more in a couple nights from now.

 

[Thumper]

I'm 60+, and we only practice once a week so time is precious. I use a comfort strap, have a bad back and we go from 6:45 to 9:00 or more, no breaks. I have experienced no pain but not gonna lie, my shoulder does get tired. Fortunately my P5 and VM P5 both weigh in at 9 lbs 2 oz, wouldn't want to try it with a heavier bass though.

 

[ggvicviper]

The Candy Apple Red Squier P5 got pushed back at MF to January 14th. I dunno whether these are so hot that bass players are going ape-crap for them, or Fender is having issues meeting deadlines producing new ones, or if Musician's Friend just sucks at life.

Regardless, I canceled my order and picked one up from GTR.Store - should arrive in 2-3 business days.

 

[McGryff]

There's more to ergonomics than weight.

Did you wear the P5 higher or lower? Did you hold the neck at the same angle relative to your body? Was neck dive causing you to tense your shoulder because you were holding the headstock up?

All worth investigating.

I think one or more of these is right. The P5 can't be that much heavier than my P4. I went back to the 4-string to give my shoulder a break, and it's doing better. When I switch back, I'm going to pay close attention to the height of the bass, strap position, and if I'm hunching my shoulders or the like. I really dig this bass, so I'm invested in figuring it out so I can keep playing it!

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Just got this email from my dealer...

"We have just received your order (see details below).
Please come by the store or notify us as to when you will be in to pick it up. SQUIER 32-6862-500 SQUIER VM P BASS V 3TS 12/06/13"

I'll be heading over in about an hour to check it out. Hoping for a light one, and that if it has any dead spots, they're at least fairly minimal...

 

[steve_rolfeca]

I'm 60+, and we only practice once a week so time is precious. I use a comfort strap, have a bad back and we go from 6:45 to 9:00 or more, no breaks. I have experienced no pain but not gonna lie, my shoulder does get tired.

I'm 59, and in the same boat.

I have a monthly gig that starts with sound check around 4:30pm, and generally goes to around 11pm. We get a couple of short breaks, maybe 15 minutes each, to scarf some pizza and a drink. I used to suffer with fairly extreme shoulder and back pain starting at around 7:00pm. My back and knees would still be bugging me the next day.

I'm pain-free now. The answers were three-fold:
- I cut back from 9lb 14oz (home-made maple/bubinga/ebony singlecut 5-string) to a Dingwall that's down around 8lb flat.
- Although it has a crazy long scale, the Dingwall has zero neck dive, and balances slightly head-high.
- It also has a recessed Dunlop straplock on the back, about 2 to 3" up and in from where the straplock would normally be on a Fender.

The ergonomic advantages of the body-down, head-high positioning of the Dingwall became obvious within the first few minutes of playing it. This really opens up my right and left wrists, and the strange placement of the lower rear strap button also moves the bass a little to the right across my body.

I never realized how much I was being pushed to one side by the natural imbalance of a standard setup, until that problem was solved.

Simpler, lighter, and cheaper than a DuoStrap...

Assuming that the VM P5 comes home with me tonight, there will be a set of Dunlop strap locks in the bag with it.

 

[basskababble]

Anyone looking to sell one shoot me a PM I'm interested, Also have a trade up for a Squire VM Jag special HB 4 string.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Went to the dealer after dinner, to check out the 3TS I ordered.

As with the other two I tried, the fretwork was clean and neat. Stellar, considering the price point. Made the cheap Ibanez models on the other rack look pretty sad with their fret sprout, high spots, etc.

The string heights and intonation were off a little, but much better than the pickup height adjustments, which were a joke. The bridge feels quite solid for a vintage-style bent plate. The strings are nicely centered over the neck and pickups. The tuners are a little sloppy, but that's fixable, as per this thread:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f18/can-i-tighten-sloppy-elephant-ear-tuners-720367/

It's lighter than the first CAR that I tried, which is still in the store. Lots of action on the top and back, including some flame, bad bookmatching, greenish tinges and a knot or two. Not pretty, but it looks visually interesting at a distance, which is all I care about on stage.

The straight-grained, flatsawn maple neck has some nice silk visible through the thick poly finish. The neck shape is a little wider and flatter than the boat necks I tend to favour, but still a pleasant handful, with nicely rolled fingerboard edges. This neck has less of the dipped-in-plastic feeling that bothered me slightly on the two CAR's I've played.

Acoustically, it sounded nice and even string-to-string. The B string sounded balanced, and about as tight as I've seen on a Fender (usable, but not brilliant). There was a noticeable dead spot at the C on the G string, but it was fixable with only minor pressure on the end of the headstock.

Plugged in, it was hard to judge with the pickups adjusted so unevenly. Still, it gave the same impression as the other two I've tried- a little darker and rounder than I would expect from a vintage P, as though the pickups are slightly overwound, or the poly finish is too thick. The tone control covers a nice range, and both controls work smoothly.

Overall, a nice representation of a passive P-bass with nickel rounds.

Within 15 minutes, I was ready to buy. Which is where it got interesting.

As I was walking to the counter, I noticed a big chunk knocked loose on the end of the headstock. Still attached, but standing proud of the face of the headstock by a good 16th of an inch.

The salesman was very good about it, and suggested that if I liked, I could take the bass home and use it while they ordered another one.

After a bit of negotiation, we agreed that I would take it as is, at a discount. They made it clear once again, that I had 30 days, and they would still be happy to order me a replacement.

I don't think I'll bother. My repair won't be perfect, but it will be passable, and I bought this as my beater bass anyway.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Crummy cel phone pics:

I've got to say that CNC manufacturing is really bringing a new level of quality to "entry level" instruments, at least in the case of these VM Squiers.

Only the B-grade lumber choices in the body mark this as a low-priced instrument. I see none of the nonsense I would have expected even 3 or 4 years ago- every screw is exactly centered in its hole, the pickguard and the pickup shells are perfectly cut and finished, etc. Build quality isn't just miles ahead of an SX, it's better than my Ibanez ATK.

I just compared it back to back with my MIM Jazz, and it's not only better put together, but better finished. That's absolutely ridiculous at this price point.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Those pictures were taken while I was repairing the headstock and setting it up.

Pleasant surprises:
- Drum roll..... 8lb 14oz on an accurate scale.
- I was able to get the action lower than I like, without any fret buzz. This is as good a fret job as I've seen on any Fender outside of the Custom Shop.
- The dead spot on the G string was nearly eliminated by lowering the treble side of the pickup.
- The B string tightened up nicely as well.
- There's still lots of adjustment range left after fixing the intonation.
- The nut didn't need any work. IME, that's still unusual on a $1,000 bass.
- I was able to intonate it perfectly, without swapping out the OEM strings. I expected that on my $2K Dingwall, but from a $300 starter bass?
- Everything I did was a matter of simple adjustments. I didn't so much as take out a piece of sandpaper.

Plugged in after the adjustments, it's more even from top to bottom, and has a nice mellow vibe. Very comfortable and easy to play, feels like a nicely broken-in pair of slippers. Notes bloom nicely. Sounds quite old school, and a nice complement to my zingy, athletic ABZ. Dingwall for well-lit stages, Squier for noodling while watching TV.

Still to do: Add straplocks, probably with a recessed Dunlop on the back, to match my Dingwall. Tighten and lube the tuners. Order a set of DR Dragon Skins. Fight the impulse to order an American Standard pickup, and a set of Hipshot Ultralites.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

I was getting some string clack behind the fretted note, so I decided to add a little more relief. Turned the truss rod adjuster two flats on the Allen key, and BAM! Major dead spot at C on the G string.

Turned the truss rod adjuster back a flat, and raised the action a hair instead. All is right with the world again...

Fenders make me crazy.

 

[LowEndOperative]

Well here's my field report: the P5 did well with everything we played (it sits well in the mix with my variety trio). Terrific range, well-rounded traditional P-bass sound with a bit of added bite. The 1st-position fretted C on the A string seems to be ever so slightly quieter than any other note played (and yes, there were more than ten different notes played last night). Have a set of Elixirs on the way, we'll see what's what with those installed. My drummer and guitarist both love it.

Very comfortable; no neck dive. A leather strap helps.

 

[zac2944]

Couldn't resist. Ordered an Olympic White from Sweetwater. Listed at 8.6 lbs, it should be nice and comfy at gigs.

I've got a 4 string Squire CV P that I just love, but it doesn't get much action because I don't feel comfortable on most gigs without a 5 string. I work with singers who love to do things like change key from E to Eb right before we count off a tune. Going from a low E to an Eb on a 4 string can really kill certain grooves. That kind of diva singer nonsense make a 5 string necessary.

Hoping this bad boy arrives for this weekend's gigs.

 

[T-34]

Ha, I feel you pain Working with this kind of singers too

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Well, it looks like my 3TS stays. I had a Jaguar Special V brought in on approval, but it didn't turn my crank. I think I'll stick with the P, and just start fixing some of the rough spots.

I'd like to know if these VM's are made in more than one place, as it didn't seem possible that the Jag could have been made in the same factory. It felt much rougher and cheaper than the Precision.

 

[Thumper]

I was going to do a PG change, but messing around, put on these knobs, now thinking about leaving as is! I'm still really happy with this bass, doesn't give up anything to my P5.

 

[Thumper]

....and another shot

 

[T-34]

This calls for white pickup covers!

 

[Thumper]

I'm 60+, and we only practice once a week so time is precious. I use a comfort strap, have a bad back and we go from 6:45 to 9:00 or more, no breaks. I have experienced no pain but not gonna lie, my shoulder does get tired. Fortunately my P5 and VM P5 both weigh in at 9 lbs 2 oz, wouldn't want to try it with a heavier bass though.

This calls for white pickup covers!

....and white strings?