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

OK, so I had to cancel the EMG's because they're not the same size as the originals p'ups. And I'm not sure they'd cover the range at the bridge given the wide string spacing.
I've seen in the thread cnages of p'ups with Nordstrands, Fender and Seymour Duncan. Can't find other brands that are carrying the "larger" bass portion of the P. Too bad, I really would have loved the twin P's EMG. Maybe I'll settle for a BTC to replace the tone pot. That would be a first step.

Otherwise, I'm quite happy with this bass. I have a bit of trouble setting it up, I can't play without hitting the p'ups. Really annoying (and yes, I dig quite hard on the strings. I put flats on my 4 string P that have more tension). Since the strings the seller put on are still good, I'll change them later and give it a proper set-up with RotoSound, we'll see where it leads.

I'm especially happy with the neck dimensions, very similar to the Warwick Dolphin BroadNeck (47mm nut, 20mm spacing at bridge), with a "just a tad half millimeter" more thickness. Very nice P-tone, and it's rather "light" (4.2kg /9pounds 7oz). I can only confirm what has been already said here : there is no better quality/price ratio for a begnners 5er than this one. At least none with a "re-saleable" name.
 
Long time lurker here, but i just had to post my VM P5 in her new dress. Love it! (Now if i could only find that p-style bridge cover that would fit a 5-string... :()

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Hello everybody! :)

I'm getting this awesome bass this week, and I intend to swap the stock pickups for a fender PB pickup. :) My question is: are there any fender PB pickups specifically designed for 5 string PB basses, or can I put in any (standard/regular) Fender PB bass pickup in this guitar? :) Also, what do you think? I've read good things about this thing's stock PU, what do you think, is it worth to swap out for a Fender PB pickup? Thank you for your help in advance!
 
Against the advice of others in this thread, I swapped the stock pickup with the Fender P5 pickup as well as the wires, capacitor, input jack, pots and a full cavity shielding. It did little or nothing to the original sound. I even switched the stock bridge for a Hipshot A style and the tuners for Hipshot ultralites. I replaced the strap buttons for Dunlop dual design strap locks. I switched the stock dome knobs for barrel knobs. I spent way too much for a black pick guard. On top of the original purchase price, I've got almost $500 invested in this bass. Did I make the bass more my own? Yes. Did it change the sound or feel? No.
Save your money.
 
Against the advice of others in this thread, I swapped the stock pickup with the Fender P5 pickup as well as the wires, capacitor, input jack, pots and a full cavity shielding. It did little or nothing to the original sound. I even switched the stock bridge for a Hipshot A style and the tuners for Hipshot ultralites. I replaced the strap buttons for Dunlop dual design strap locks. I switched the stock dome knobs for barrel knobs. I spent way too much for a black pick guard. On top of the original purchase price, I've got almost $500 invested in this bass. Did I make the bass more my own? Yes. Did it change the sound or feel? No.
Save your money.
Thank you for your input! :) I'll consider your advice. If anybody has other opinions, please share, I would like to hear other perspectives on the subject. :)
And also regarding my original question: do special 5 string P-bass pickups exist? Or I can put in regular standard Fender PB pickups into this thing?
 
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I replaced the pickups with custom made ones at first, then found them too bright.
I had given away the stock ones so I bought the USA Fender pickups. The USA have less output, and are a wee bit smoother and warmer, but lower output.
I replaced the bridge with an American deluxe with threaded saddles, in order to make the bass string through. I did not do it for tone, I did it so I could remove the sandpaper shim in the neck pocket. Doing this (decreasing the neck angle) the bridge saddles bottomed out.
By going string through, this increased the down pressure at the witness point, through a more severe break angle.

The thing that made the biggest difference was replacing the pots.

None of it was necessary.
Save your money. Buy another one.

I got mine used, I have under 350 all in, I did all the work myself though. It was fun.
 
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I replaced the pickups with custom made ones at first, then found them too bright.
I had given away the stock ones so I bought the USA Fender pickups. The USA have less output, and are a wee bit smoother and warmer, but lower output.
I replaced the bridge with an American deluxe with threaded saddles, in order to make the bass string through. I did not do it for tone, I did it so I could remove the sandpaper shim in the neck pocket. Doing this (decreasing the neck angle) the bridge saddles bottomed out.
By going string through, this increased the down pressure at the witness point, through a more severe break angle.

The thing that made the biggest difference was replacing the pots.

None of it was necessary.
Save your money. Buy another one.

I got mine used, I have under 350 all in, I did all the work myself though. It was fun.
I see, thank you for your input as well. :)
Still, if I decide to change: do special 5 string P-bass pickups exist? Or can I install regular standard Fender PB pickups into this thing?
 
I see, thank you for your input as well. :)
Still, if I decide to change: do special 5 string P-bass pickups exist? Or can I install regular standard Fender PB pickups into this thing?
Yes go to: darrenriley.com
The BEA half of the pickup is longer than the DG half. On a standard P (and most other 5 string p style pup) both halves are identical.
Your economical pickup selection is limited.
And a custom pick guard ( unless you want to do routing) will be a hard search, or expensive endeavour.
The USA pup will run you 75. Nordstrand will make you a killer set that is much better than the Fender. They are about 145 IIRC.
 
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Yes go to: darrenriley.com
The BEA half of the pickup is longer than the DG half. On a standard P (and most other 5 string p style pup) both halves are identical.
Your economical pickup selection is limited.
And a custom pick guard ( unless you want to do routing) will be a hard search, or expensive endeavour.
The USA pup will run you 75. Nordstrand will make you a killer set that is much better than the Fender. They are about 145 IIRC.
Cool, thanks! :) My options are really limited, because I'm from Europe from a small country (Hungary). That Nordstrand (though a bit on the expensive side I should say) sound good, but I'm not sure they are avalaible around here. :S
 
Cool, thanks! :) My options are really limited, because I'm from Europe from a small country (Hungary). That Nordstrand (though a bit on the expensive side I should say) sound good, but I'm not sure they are avalaible around here. :S
then my advice, is to just play it as is--- unless you want to do all that work and spend all that money for MINIMAL gains! :)
the bass is GREAT stock. Better Tuners (Hipshot Ultralights) would be a better investment :)
 
then my advice, is to just play it as is--- unless you want to do all that work and spend all that money for MINIMAL gains! :)
the bass is GREAT stock. Better Tuners (Hipshot Ultralights) would be a better investment :)

I am/was happy with my Hipshot HB7 tuners, which are close to a drop in, and seem much smoother than Ultralites. I say am/was as they are still on the P5 neck, which is currently on my J5.

I'll echo everyone else... the stock pickup is great. If you're intent on spending dough, buy a Stellartone Tonestyler, which will give you a range of tones, from bright to absolute mud. I love mine.
 
Greetings from the North,

I bought an Olympic White one about a month or so ago just to to play with abandon and modify without regret. Although I made a few mods the stock pickup sounds like a proper PBass pickup to me. I did add a Stellartone Tonestyler. All I can say is Wow! The variations it delivers makes a good bass sound awesome. I'll get around to posting pics one of these days.

Rezdog
 
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