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

#821
Just got back from practice, my P5 has the same syle tuners as the VM P5, but have an inprinted, scrolled F logo. I wasn't originally sure, as I never really noticed before (sheesh, when I was young I never missed those kinds of details). So I guess the res-o-lites will fit the P5 (didn't bring it home again to measure since I have practice again Friday)? Financially, it makes more sense to spend the $ on the P5 anyway. Thanks for doing the legwork on this.
 
#822
Thumper said:
Just got back from practice, my P5 has the same syle tuners as the VM P5, but have an inprinted, scrolled F logo.

...So I guess the res-o-lites will fit the P5 (didn't bring it home again to measure since I have practice again Friday)?
Click to expand...
You're welcome, but don't commit to buying anything until you have a chance to take some measurements.

My experience is limited, but I've never seen a Fender 5-string (Jazz or Precision) with small-bodied, 4-screw plate-style tuners like the ones on the Squier. I've only seen the Squier-style tuners on MIM Fenders, and to my knowledge there's never been a MIM or Japanese Fender Precision V.

One of the annoying things about this stuff, is that accurate information is so hard to come by. Parts websites often post contradictory or incomplete information, and Fender makes makes changes without publishing any info about it.

To make matters worse, published bushing sizes vary by more than half a millimetre on tuners that are supposed to be interchangeable. Some tuners use either 2 or 4 screws to prevent movement, others use posts, and the placement of posts and screw holes are all over the place...

All of the Fender P5's that I have seen, (Deluxe or Standard) had cast-body Fender "lightweight" tuners with an open gear, and no screws on the back. There are at least three variations on these tuners, depending on the year and model of the bass. Some have fabricated vintage-style elephant ears, while others have a thicker, smooth cast ear. The size of the body and placement of the locating posts on the back vary, but none of these tuners are as small or light as the Hipshot Ultralites.

You also have to watch out for the 5-inline headstock on early Deluxe V's, vs the later 4+1.

I'd love to see a photo of one of your tuners, taken from the back. If what you say about the tuners on your Fender is accurate, I'm wondering which model you have, and whether it has the original neck.
 
#823
I believe my P5 is a 2010 and appears to be stock except for a Sprague orange drop and a b/w/b pick guard. I expected to see one screw Hipshot style tuners and was surprised to see 4 screw tuners. Will definitely get photos ASAP. Will also remove and weigh a tuner and shoot off an email to the original owner.
 
#824
Steve you are right on, the tuners are of the no screw variety. I guess I won't mod the bass after all. I took a stool and sat on it during a couple of the slow songs, no shoulder/back issues. Thanks for all the information.
 
#825
Dr. Cheese said:


Since there are so few clips of this bass being played, I decided to make a short today at my local GC, playing through a MarkBass CMP121P.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the sample.

Also, thanks to your kid for shooting the video. As a parent, I admire how you guys related to each other. Kids have short attention spans for things like this, but you both showed respect for each other and made it work. Good job!
 
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#827
Has anyone done the reverse-p thing on one of these? Tonal effect? Did you change the pickup position at all?

Just brain storming ideas and thought of this.

Edit: did a search after posting so to refine my question....

Did those of you who did the switch change both sides or just move one piece to the other side? Also, what'd you do for a Pick-guard?

Also, what kind of music do you play? I'm hoping to make this my more modern sounding of my two p-basses
 
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#828
Let the modding begin! I was able to snag a scratch and dent Hipshot B bridge (brass, chrome) as well as a Hipshot 4-string retainer from Best Bass Gear. I've never been a huge fan of stock bent plate bridges, for whatever reason.... maybe even asthetically... but I love Hipshot stuff. May eventually swap the tuners, but after following the advice steve_rofelca posted about the leaf springs, they've held tune better than before.

I've been gigging this thing since I got it. For reference, I've been playing a Peavey Cirrus 5 Quilt Top for the better part of a year, then mostly Peavey Millennium 5's (US) before that, and I have a StingRay 5 I pull out every now and again. This lowly Squier (tongue in cheek) has taken over the top spot over all of them. I've had a bunch of people tell me it's the best tone I've had so far, including 2 of my bandmates, who both play bass. Once the hardware is upgraded and a little more solid, I'll have little reason to go back to the others. I'm still very happy with the stock pickup, and will probably stick to it and the stock wiring until it breaks (IF it breaks). I'm sure some will disagree, but this is a great bass, regardless of price and all that.
 
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#829
Very cool NicJimBass,

I just put a Fender Deluxe bridge (the one with the thicker back end, allen head intonation screws and grooved saddles). It has 4 screw holes and none lined up. It's 4 holes needed to be slightly closer to the neck, and about 1/16th to the left of the six original holes. That is a pretty snazzy bridge.

In total, I've replaced the stock tuners with Hipshot Ultralights (lic), the Fender bridge, new pots, .1 cap and jack, threaded inserts in the neck and more foam under the original pickup. I'm using DR Legends on it (first time with these) and I'm really happy with it.

All the best.

Bob
 
#830
Bobster said:
Very cool NicJimBass,

I just put a Fender Deluxe bridge (the one with the thicker back end, allen head intonation screws and grooved saddles). It has 4 screw holes and none lined up. It's 4 holes needed to be slightly closer to the neck, and about 1/16th to the left of the six original holes. That is a pretty snazzy bridge.

In total, I've replaced the stock tuners with Hipshot Ultralights (lic), the Fender bridge, new pots, .1 cap and jack, threaded inserts in the neck and more foam under the original pickup. I'm using DR Legends on it (first time with these) and I'm really happy with it.

All the best.

Bob
Click to expand...
I used the same bridge and they "did " line up, skewed a bit to the treble side, I re-drilled when i readied for String through body, the American Deluxe (not high mass) .... nice that this one is BOTH top load and through body.
 
#835

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#836
steve_rolfeca said:
When balanced tension sets first came out, I couldn't see the point. I'd never noticed any problems with conventional gauges. Then I got a Dingwall. After feeling the better balance of a fanned-fret bass, I started jonesing for that feel on my parallel-fretted basses.

IMO/IME, balanced-tension strings are a pretty good substitute for owning a fanned-fret bass. I used to string my 4-banger P-basses with .45 to 105's, just to get a little more girth on the G string. I don't find that necessary any more, as the G string in any BT set will sound more "of a piece" with the D string.

I tried both on my Oly White. Along with a good setup, BT's make the Vintage Modified Precision V sound and feel more expensive, imparting a bit of the feel I expect from boutique basses.

The 40-130's feel a little softer, as you'd expect. Compared to conventional sets, the lighter ones feel about like DR Sunbeams, while the heavier ones feel more like Nickel Low Riders.

I ended up keeping the lighter set, and putting the heavier ones on my buddy's sunburst, but that's just me. He digs in harder than I do, and preferred the higher tension. I liked the softer feel and singing sustain with the lighter ones.

Both were beautifully balanced, not just feel-wise, but tonally. With either set, if the pickup is properly adjusted, the bottom string has exactly the same amount of harmonic content as the A and E strings. So in that sense, they both have a great low B.

The .130 drops straight in, while you have to open up the nut slot a bit for the .145. IMO, this is irrelevant, as all four of the VMP5's I've worked on needed the slots lowered a little for the best feel and intonation.

If you've got the nut files out to fix the height anyway, widening the B slot a hair is no big deal. If the job is done properly, you can go back and forth between the .130 and .145 no problem. The .130 doesn't move around or misbehave in the .145-sized slot.

No worries about tension with either set. The overall tension is more even than OEM, and the truss rods on both basses were more than up to the task.

In your case, the tension will feel feel closer to the flats on your 4-banger if you decide to go with the heavier set. Only you can decide if that's what you're after.
Click to expand...

Hey Steve, thanks again for the advice. Last Saturday my 40-130 set finally arrived and after a careful setup the bass finally can show what it's got. With the LaBella slappers on I had terrible intonation problems with the tapered B and way too much string noise (even my band mates complained). The D'Addarios intonate, play, and sound beautifully. I'm happy I went with the lighter gauge, that way, I can play closer to the bridge with less effort, which really seems to be how the VM P5 wants to be played according to my ears.
 
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#838
My Hipshot bridge and string retainer came in the mail last night, so I was excited to install them both after I got home. After tearing into the package and admiring the craftsmanship, I took the stock bridge off and got all excited when I lined up the 4 holes on the Hipshot to the middle 4 holes on the stock bridge. First thought was "I can tell the other guys on TB there is a drop in replacement! Yes!". Then I noticed that one side edge of the bridges lined up, but the other didn't. It's about 1/8" off from each other, just enough that I am going to have to plug the holes and redrill. Bummer.

I bought the Hipshot 4-string retainer to replace the stock one. The Hipshot takes up considerably more real estate, and, with the way the tuners are situated, would have to sit crooked in order to fit. Not a big deal, but, I like symmetry and clean lines, so I think I'm going to return this one and get 2 two-string retainers, so I can stagger them. Just an FYI in case anyone was thinking of getting the same one.

Should have the bridge mounted tonight (I hope), and if so, I'll post pics tomorrow.
 
#839
I haven't read every post in the thread, but what is the consensus on the pickup? I don't have the P, but I recently bought the VM Jag V (PJ with a bass boost) and like everything about it except the pickup. I assume it uses the same P pickup. The D-G pup has a much different tone from the B-A. Anyone else notice this?

I bought an Am Std pickup to replace it, so its days are numbered, but am curious if I have a bad one, or it's just the nature of the pickup.
 
#840
bass_case,

I believe the general consensus is that the pickup is good, but it's very sensitive to changes in height/angle. I recommend putting a little extra foam under it and spend about 20 minutes tweaking the adjustment.

I personally replaced the pots and jack and changed to a .1 uf capacitor, this knocks out more treble than the .047 uf.

All the best,

Bob
 

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