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Squier Vintage Modified Precision V: who's got one?
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
Fender specs in the bass setup manual call for various pickup heights, depending on whether you have vintage, noiseless or modern pickups. The suggested heights vary between 5 and 6/64ths on the treble side, and 7 to 8/64ths on the bass side.
You're supposed to measure by fretting the string at the the last fret, and then measuring between the underside of the string and the pickup poles.
Measurement geeks probably use automotive feeler gauges, but I find a get a pretty nice approximation by using a hex key set. I also use them to measure the action height, although I usually break down and bring out a feeler gauge for setting the neck relief.
The process is pretty simple. I lay a hex key (Allen wrench) across the top of the pole pieces. The I fret the string at the last fret with my left hand, and use my right hand to tap on the string, directly over the hex key.
If there's enough play that the string clicks as I press it down, then I need to raise the pickup on that side. If it stays down because of the magnetic attraction of the pickup, then I'm pretty close. If the key is trying to push the string up off the fretboard, then the pickup is too high.
Once I have the instrument to factory spec, I plug it into my audio interface, and use the VU meters in my DAW to check the relative levels of each string. I may run the pickups closer or further away on a given bass, depending on the tone I'm after, but I always want them as balanced as possible from string to string.
That way, if I plug into my amp and now the G string sounds thin, then I know it's a rig or EQ issue, because I've already proven that the pickup output is well balanced.
I want to keep the bass, but I wonder if these pickups would be covered under warranty by squier. Oh well, I'll replace these pickups with fender p5.
I saw mine sitting in the sun and she's so pretty I had to take a few pics. Her first spring <3
The truss rod operates by pulling the headstock back when tightened, countering string tension. If string tension is bowing the neck forward, tighten the rod.
If the truss rod is over-tightened, pulling the headstock back and producing a hump in the middle of the fingerboard (generally referred to as a back-bow), then loosen it off.
The VMP5's truss rod nut is conventionally threaded: righty-tighty, lefty loosey.
If the pickguard on the CAR models had been a bright white like it looks in your photo, I would have bought one in a heartbeat.
Unfortunately, I don't like parchment over CAR...
Mint, huh? I can't really see that, but then again my experience with whitish pickguards is extremely limited. Here's another crappy cell phone pic, this time in fluorescent lighting:
My bad, I meant parchment. I've edited my original post accordingly.
That slight off-white cast spoils it for me.
That seems a bit A-R for my taste. lol
I usually just set the pick-ups so that I have adequate but even volume across all strings.
I think I made it sound more complex than it is in practice.
I used to work with pretty broad tolerances, but I've been finding that as I've gotten more careful and precise, my setups have improved accordingly.
It was working with extremely sensitive customers, that originally made me more aware of this. Getting a Dingwall also helped. It was an eye-opener to realize how precise Sheldon's factory setups were...
Ah, that makes sense. Fortunately I don't mind the look at all, although I have been wondering about a black guard...
Mine is on a bright side, yes
But I personally think it is good, I like brighter pickups, they give more tonal possibilities I believe. The strings will wear out and loose the brightness anyway.
I saw mine sitting in the sun and she's so pretty I had to take a few pics. Her first spring <3
Beauty! I am starting to regret my sunburst choice because of you all
Mine is on a bright side, yes
And you can roll off the brightness with the tone control.
Mine is on a bright side, yes
My gold standard is the early 60's P-basses that I used to check out as a kid. I had a beat-up '64 that I picked up cheap in college, and gigged for 13 years.
They were a little bass- shy on the E-string, and much brighter than people imagine from old recordings. They sounded a little harsh with fresh strings, but they rounded out beautifully in the mix.
That's a great setup for a gigging bass. You can always turn the tone down until your strings break in, and by gradually opening up the tone, you can keep them on a little longer as they darken up.
Measured by that standard, the Squier is still a little dark. I did some work on mine to brighten it up.
As T-34 points out, brighter pickups offer more tonal range. With the tone control wide open, you get great prog rock and punk tones. With it rolled back, your darker tones have more growl and definition for motown and country.
