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

[NicJimBass]

I've modded mine, only to make it as roadworthy as it can possibly be. Swapped the bridge for a Hipshot B style, the string retainer with Hipshot ones, and should have my special order Hipshot HB7 Lollipop tuners in a couple days. I also dropped in a Stellartone Tonestyler, which gives my a lot of variation on tone. May seem excessive, but I am absolutely enamored with this bass, and plan on playing it for years to come. The tone from the stock pickup is amazing. I gigged this stock for a while, and could do so longer, but feel better gigging 100+ times a year with something a little more stout. YMMV.

I'll echo what others have said... I'm super happy with how this bass feels and sounds. I thought for a while I may have found an exceptional one, but I don't think I did. These are great basses, regardless of cost. I recently sold a Cirrus 5 Custom Shop so I could go solely to this bass. THAT'S how good it is to me.

 

[Rocksolid]

I've just put a 3TSB/Tort one on hold at the local shop. I really had my heart set on an Oly White/Tort one (I already have a 3TSB/tort Jazz) but the 3TSB one in the shop had really good grain/wood. (nothing like the horror stories I have read on here re mismatched grain) There is a little bit too much relief in the neck, but nothing 1/4 of a turn or so on the truss rod won't fix.

Going to leave it on hold for a day to see if the GAS passes......I don't like my chances!

 

[Rocksolid]

I've modded mine, only to make it as roadworthy as it can possibly be. Swapped the bridge for a Hipshot B style, the string retainer with Hipshot ones, and should have my special order Hipshot HB7 Lollipop tuners in a couple days. I also dropped in a Stellartone Tonestyler, which gives my a lot of variation on tone. May seem excessive, but I am absolutely enamored with this bass, and plan on playing it for years to come. The tone from the stock pickup is amazing. I gigged this stock for a while, and could do so longer, but feel better gigging 100+ times a year with something a little more stout. YMMV.

I'll echo what others have said... I'm super happy with how this bass feels and sounds. I thought for a while I may have found an exceptional one, but I don't think I did. These are great basses, regardless of cost. I recently sold a Cirrus 5 Custom Shop so I could go solely to this bass. THAT'S how good it is to me.

Is a route/mod required to drop the Tonestyler in? I was thinking of dropping a preamp in but this might be a great alternative.

 

[NicJimBass]

Is a route/mod required to drop the Tonestyler in? I was thinking of dropping a preamp in but this might be a great alternative.

None whatsoever. I got the Eleven Mid from bestbassgear.com. I had to play with the nuts on the control to get the height of the knob to match the volume, but that was about it. Dropped right in, and has a bunch a very usable tones in it, Has tones I believe you can't get with a preamp, for what it's worth.

 

[Rocksolid]

I reckon when I get mine I will want to do things in stages - Ultimately I want a PJ, possibly with a Pre down the track. Seeing as I am paying shipping to Australia for everything, and don't know where I want to stop.

Is there any reason why I can't buy a PJ set, use only the P Pickup primarily, then do the J bridge Pup later, and then a Preamp if I'm still wanting to go further?

Pickups aren't passive or active specific are they? This is all feasible isn't it?

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Most pickups are passive. But some Like EMGS main product line are active in that they have a preamp circuit integrated into the pickup casing .
I plan on adding a dual coil jazz pup in the 60s bridge position later. The Jim reed neos are passive I have other active basses.. no preamp in this one, but may add a Tonestyler to my oly white beastie...

 

[steve_rolfeca]

...I'll echo what others have said... I'm super happy with how this bass feels and sounds. I thought for a while I may have found an exceptional one, but I don't think I did. These are great basses, regardless of cost.

One of the things I appreciate about the VMP5, is the consistency.

I've set up four of these so far, and the only significant differences were weight, whether there was a dead spot, and the presence or lack of flame figure on the neck.

The worst dead spot was well within normal bounds for a Fender, and the heaviest one was still in the low 9's. Seeing the one with a nicely flamed neck, completely blew my mind.

Given that they can pull this off on one of the less expensive Squiers, I'd love to hear an explanation for the atrocious lack of QC on some of the cheaper Fenders I've seen lately...

 

[Gougedeye]

So, New Bass Day! 5 string Precision. I have to say, I'm pretty damn well impressed by this bass! I really can't find a fault with it. It was set up well and played good out of the box. I had some mods planned, but now I'm not so sure. Fit and finish is very nice. The neck is right on the money and nicely finished, as well. No ragged frets. No high spots. Intonates well and no dead spots. This thing is good to go! I'll be playing it at my next show! Definitely worth the price of admission.

 

[Doug Parent]

Mine just in. Changed strings and set it up. Low action and pretty darn clean up and down the neck. I gotta say I'm pretty surprised. Neck profile is comfy. Not a baseball bat by any stretch. Sounds a little on the thin side but EQ is my friend. I may swap pickups at some point, or I might just play it as is and laugh about the price on the mic.

 

[Rocksolid]

Another Oly White one! I have a 3TSB ready to go at the shop, but this colour is taunting me...

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I just put some Sadowsky Blue Label round wounds on my baby, and a decent B just became a really clear and defined B. I think I am total convert to exposed core B strings for 34" basses from this point forward.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

I think it's just the Sadowsky's. I've played other EC strings that were rubbish.

 

[Gougedeye]

I just put some Sadowsky Blue Label round wounds on my baby, and a decent B just became a really clear and defined B. I think I am total convert to exposed core B strings for 34" basses from this point forward.

I think it's just the Sadowsky's. I've played other EC strings that were rubbish.

So, what about the Fender Taper Wound 8250s? Are those worth trying? Although, I think I'm going to put Chromes on it...

 

[NicJimBass]

New tuners came. Custom ordered from Hipshot via Best Bass Gear, and took about six (loooong) weeks. I love the way they look, so it doesn't matter!

These are HB7's. Everything I read said these were a perfect drop in. Close. The bottom 2 holes lined up, but the top holes were off just enough that I had to make new ones. Not that big of a deal, but a heads up if you are considering these.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

New tuners came. Custom ordered from Hipshot, and took about six long weeks. I love the way they look, so it doesn't matter!

These are HB7's. Everything I read said these were a perfect drop in. Close. The bottom 2 holes lined up, but the top holes were off just enough that I had to make new ones. Not that big of a deal, but a heads up if you are considering these.

I really like those. I believe I will order some, and my bass will be perfect.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

So, New Bass Day! 5 string Precision. I have to say, I'm pretty damn well impressed by this bass! I really can't find a fault with it. It was set up well and played good out of the box. I had some mods planned, but now I'm not so sure. Fit and finish is very nice. The neck is right on the money and nicely finished, as well. No ragged frets. No high spots. Intonates well and no dead spots. This thing is good to go! I'll be playing it at my next show! Definitely worth the price of admission.

OK now I have to get a burst next, that looks hawt.

 

[NicJimBass]

I really like those. I believe I will order some, and my bass will be perfect.

Cool. I edited my post to reflect this, but I ordered them through Best Bass Gear, who custom ordered them from Hipshot. I imagine you could special order them directly, but I'm not positive.

 

[Doug Parent]

I just put some Sadowsky Blue Label round wounds on my baby, and a decent B just became a really clear and defined B. I think I am total convert to exposed core B strings for 34" basses from this point forward.

Same improvement on my B string here. Although I use Carvin's stock La Bella brand stainless steel med-light gauge that has a tapered B. The La Bellas have a different texture and I use a lighter gauge. The result is more definition through the midrange, better pitch definition everywhere, but it's a softer feel and lower tension and lighter gauge string compared to what comes stock on this bass. The result is a somewhat more "even" sound, at least to my ears. And the action goes even lower with these strings so I have this bass playing almost as well as my American Deluxe V. I think the nut slot on the B string could come down just a skosh.

 

[Doug Parent]

New tuners came. Custom ordered from Hipshot via Best Bass Gear, and took about six (loooong) weeks. I love the way they look, so it doesn't matter!

These are HB7's. Everything I read said these were a perfect drop in. Close. The bottom 2 holes lined up, but the top holes were off just enough that I had to make new ones. Not that big of a deal, but a heads up if you are considering these.

Very nice. I noticed the stock tuners are a little rough to the feel as the key is rotated but not so much that it's an issue. I'm not a fan of the bar style string retainers and I see you are using some open style Hipshots. Nice upgrade.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I just got through a rehearsal, and the improvement in clarity with the Sadowsky strings is remarkable. It sounds like I just bought a much more expensive bass.