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

[Bobb Nagel]

I thought I’d wake up this thread to see who is still rockin’ one of these secret weapons. I bought a sunburst version several years ago on Reverb, and when an Oly white one popped up on the classifieds here, I dove on it. I have switched to DR flatwounds for the summer because the Illinois humidity tears up my fingers using rounds at the festivals and other outside gigs. This instrument has become my number one lately, sidelining even my Warwicks for now. It continues to amaze me.

 

[Jamarvic]

I picked one up a couple of months ago, put a kickass bridge and EB cobalt flats. Used it live for the first time today and loved it!

 

[Riff Ranger]

I still have mine but it has largely been sidelined by the Ibanez ATK305 I bought new as a teenager in the mid-‘90s which keeps becoming my favorite bass over and over again and the Jackson 5-string reverse-P/J that I wanted even earlier that got reissued last year. I think I got some sub-par electronics for my Squier VMPV, which I had replaced with some even worse electronics I will get some brand new, quality guts in there, and then I will probably play it more. It just looks so cool!

 

[Bobb Nagel]

I still have mine but it has largely been sidelined by the Ibanez ATK305 I bought new as a teenager in the mid-‘90s which keeps becoming my favorite bass over and over again and the Jackson 5-string reverse-P/J that I wanted even earlier that got reissued last year. I think I got some sub-par electronics for my Squier VMPV, which I had replaced with some even worse electronics I will get some brand new, quality guts in there, and then I will probably play it more. It just looks so cool!
View attachment 4316227

I too, had an ATK305 in the ‘90’s. It was honey colored with a black guard as I recall and for the life of me I don’t know why I moved it along other than I was chasing the next shiny object. It is the one that got away, for sure. Glad you’re rockin’ yours again.

 

[Bobb Nagel]

I too, had an ATK305 in the ‘90’s. It was honey colored with a black guard as I recall and for the life of me I don’t know why I moved it along other than I was chasing the next shiny object. It is the one that got away, for sure. Glad you’re rockin’ yours again.

I still have mine but it has largely been sidelined by the Ibanez ATK305 I bought new as a teenager in the mid-‘90s which keeps becoming my favorite bass over and over again and the Jackson 5-string reverse-P/J that I wanted even earlier that got reissued last year. I think I got some sub-par electronics for my Squier VMPV, which I had replaced with some even worse electronics I will get some brand new, quality guts in there,
View attachment 4316227

There it is. Mid ‘90’s

 

[Fred Talbot]

I bought one last year for dirt cheap online (same sunburst version as Riff Ranger, along with an additional black pickguard). Overall, I'm happy with it, only concern is that it doesn't play that well with my Darkglass FX pedals as opposed to my Warwicks and MusicMan basses.... Thinking about switching the pickup for a Delano eventually, as it did wonders for my MIM jazz bass back then.... Anyway, that's a great instrument for the price, I'll keep it no matter what...

 

[Riff Ranger]

There it is. Mid ‘90’s

Yeah, I considered moving my ATK305 along when I got hooked on Ps, but my old buddy—who plays Ps almost exclusively as he tours the world—talked me out of it, because he remembered that bass sounding so good. So I got an ATK300 to match instead I learned from that and have held onto my Squier VMPV even though I haven’t gotten it where I’ve wanted it. If brand new, premium guts don’t get me there, then I will have tried everything; but I suspect they will

 

[drewphishesp]

foolishly sold my p5 recently. miss it

 

[Rezdog]

Greetings from the North,

I've still got mine and I'm not ready to give it up. Whenever I want to invoke the growl and grumba of Wetton's 'Larks Tongue In Aspic' or some Paul Simonon's 'London Calling' or Jean Jacque Burnel's 'Peaches' this is my go to. If I gotta shake it down below E this P does the trick well too with a nice B string.

I've made a few changes on this one. Stellartone ToneStyler, Jazz 5 Squire neck, American 5 bridge, Black pickguard. Yup it's a hotrod and a keeper.

Rezdog

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Yeah, I considered moving my ATK305 along when I got hooked on Ps, but my old buddy—who plays Ps almost exclusively as he tours the world—talked me out of it, because he remembered that bass sounding so good. So I got an ATK300 to match instead I learned from that and have held onto my Squier VMPV even though I haven’t gotten it where I’ve wanted it. If brand new, premium guts don’t get me there, then I will have tried everything; but I suspect they will

I did a PJ conversion on mine.

That was pretty cool, and a lot more flexible...

 

[Persona87]

I'm thinking about getting a fretless neck for mine from Warmoth, but I don't know if it will fit. Has anyone here gotten a Warmoth neck for theirs? Did it fit correctly? Is there another brand of replacement neck that you would recommend instead?

 

[steve_rolfeca]

I'm thinking about getting a fretless neck for mine from Warmoth, but I don't know if it will fit. Has anyone here gotten a Warmoth neck for theirs? Did it fit correctly? Is there another brand of replacement neck that you would recommend instead?

Warmoth 5-string necks are not a drop-in replacement for the Squier VMP5.

Any good luthier can build you a custom neck, but if you have the DIY skills, it would be far more cost-effective to de-fret your existing neck.

 

[Persona87]

Warmoth 5-string necks are not a drop-in replacement for the Squier VMP5.

Any good luthier can build you a custom neck, but if you have the DIY skills, it would be far more cost-effective to de-fret your existing neck.

Darn. Oh well. Wouldn’t it be difficult to effectively defret one of these? It’s got a maple neck with a fair amount of finish on top of it.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Darn. Oh well. Wouldn’t it be difficult to effectively defret one of these? It’s got a maple neck with a fair amount of finish on top of it.

Only in terms of having to put some extra elbow grease into it.

They used an orange polyester sanding sealer on these basses, and it's amazingly hard and slick. The rest of the finish comes off like butter, but that base coat is a mother. When I stripped mine, power sanding with 120 grit wet/dry sandpaper barely touched it.

Still, a company called Abranet makes specialty sanding discs that don't clog very fast, and cut through it just fine:
https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/sho...s-and-pads/59471-abranet-5-inch-sanding-discs

 

[Syl_Funky_bass]

Let me introduce you to my 4th bass guitar: a candy apple red Squier VM Precision V in mint condition.
After hesitating for a long time between the much more expensive Fender American Pro II Precision V (Dark Night colour) and the Squier, I finally pulled the trigger and finally bought this beautiful P5!

She came with some brand new rotosounds I immediately swapped for a brand new set of TI JF 345 flats.

I also got a new Fender High Mass bridge but I'll probably wait a couple weeks before deciding whether to swap the original bridge or not as I'm not sure that the the High Mass bridge is better for my needs than the original one.

The story behind my latest purchase:

I've been an active 5-string Jazz bass fan for almost 6 years (my main gigging axe is a Victor Bailey signature Jazz V) but nowadays I feel my tastes are changing, imo mainly due to more recording/studio activity. The turning point was a couple of mionths ago when I bought a a second-hand (4-string) 1st gen. Fiesta Red CV 60's Precision: I've been blown away by the quality and sound of this instrument which I now almost exclusively use for recording.

I must say before that I was always struggling with my sound (live & in the studio) and was never totally satisfied with how I sounded in the mix. It always seemed to be an unattainable goal to me until I got into the Precision world.
This being said I've never really been ready to totally sacrifice my love for that extra low B string! I'm a 5-string player at heart. Therefore I now feel need the best of both world for my needs which would be a passive 5-string Precision Bass!

I could summarize it all with this formula:
Fender Victor Bailey Jazz V + becoming a fan of the 1st gen. CV 60's Precision + still love the extra low B string + realizing active basses is not my thing anymore = I need a good 5-string Precision Bass.

I would particularly appreciate to read thoughts and experiences of people who did compare any US made Fender 5- sring P and a Squier VM Precision 5 back to back.

Finally, the only possible mods I'd consider for this bass in the future would be: an Fender American Std. Vintage Style Bridge and some Fender Am. Std pickups.

Cheers!

 

[Joedog]

I've got a white w/tort, maple neck 5'er. Far from my most expensive bass, but I end up playing the Squier more. Love it! Only mod was to add a Hipshot type A roller bridge.

 

[drewphishesp]

I sold mine, and miss it dearly

 

[Rezdog]

Greetings from the North,

I have an 08 American P5 and a Squier VM P5.

The American P5 is a bit more refined fit and finish wise than the VM. The neck has rounded edges and isn't quite as thick as the VM. I've got LaBella flats on mine and can really nail the 60's R&B sound or with a pick get that 60's chunky Hollies 'Can't Let Go' or Carol Kaye Beach Boys 'Wouldn't It Be Nice' sound. And it has a nice B too.

The Squier VM P5 has Fender Nickel Rounds on it. I also made some mods to it that are more cosmetic than anything else. Such as a Jazz 5 VM Squier neck (specs are the same as the VM P5) different pick guard and an American Fender bridge because of less sharp bits. Oh I did put a Stellar Tone control knob on it though. But I left the Pickup stock because I found sonically that there wasn't much difference between the American and the VM in a live setting. With the rounds ,as I've said before, if I want I can get the growl of 'London Calling', 'Peaches' or any other snarly P sound from back in the day with a nice low B if needed.

Rezdog

 

[Syl_Funky_bass]

Hi All,

I really love my new Squier VM P5! Such a good bass! I have absolutely no regret that I didn't go for the Am Pro II (might go for it in the future though...)

-What do you think of a string retainer upgrade? I'm considering getting the Hipshot-style ones (2+3 strings.
Although I'm currently happy with how my low B sounds (TI flats), I'm wondering whether such an upgrade could make it sund even better.

-The bass is a little too noisy for my taste. Not crazy noisy but still I want it to be dead quiet so I just orderd myself a new pre-wired kit from artys-custom-guitars (and some shielding tape!).

-I get some horrible fret buzz from the A string (open and fretted, even when I raised the action). Do you guys have any ideas how to fix it (other bringing the bass to a good guitar tech)? The buzz is loud and very annoying unplugged and you can hear it through an amp too although it's less noticeable.

Cheers!

 

[skyline_01]

Hi All,

I really love my new Squier VM P5! Such a good bass! I have absolutely no regret that I didn't go for the Am Pro II (might go for it in the future though...)

-What do you think of a string retainer upgrade? I'm considering getting the Hipshot-style ones (2+3 strings.
Although I'm currently happy with how my low B sounds (TI flats), I'm wondering whether such an upgrade could make it sund even better.

-The bass is a little too noisy for my taste. Not crazy noisy but still I want it to be dead quiet so I just orderd myself a new pre-wired kit from artys-custom-guitars (and some shielding tape!).

-I get some horrible fret buzz from the A string (open and fretted, even when I raised the action). Do you guys have any ideas how to fix it (other bringing the bass to a good guitar tech)? The buzz is loud and very annoying unplugged and you can hear it through an amp too although it's less noticeable.

Cheers!

I have one as well and it REALLY hits above its price point - amazing instrument.

I don't know that a string retainer will make a noticeable difference for you - the stock bar retainer has worked just fine for me. Then again, Hipshot makes a fine product and it sure couldn't hurt anything.

I too went with a pot/cap/jack upgrade plus copper shielding, and it made a night and day difference. Most will tell you (and I agree) that the stock pickup is just fine for the most part, although some prefer to upgrade to their favorite brand anyway.

The A buzzing is likely just a setup thing (nut too low, string action too low, etc). I would suggest taking it to a good tech for a thorough setup if you're not really into doing it yourself, or just don't have the time. It can really make the difference between so-so and amazing.