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

#1,701
Rocksolid said:
The tone is mainly pickup style/placement on an ATK/Stingray.

This high mass bridge hasn't completely transformed the sound, but it has changed it. Everything sounds a bit tighter/ more direct. Haven't decided if it's for me yet.

Just because it has the big shiny plate like an ATK, it's a stretch to say it now sounds like one. Especially when you haven't heard it!
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Not saying that it sounds like one one, only that this change moves it in that direction. My ATK had a particular character when I played it unplugged, so it's not just about a humbucker in the sweet spot.

This, to me at least, is a matter of subtleties. What I think of as a "modern P" (high-mass bridge, heavy, Duncan QP's or similar overwound pickups) is still recognizable as a P-bass when you play it. It doesn't sound like a Gibson, a Jazz bass, a Ric, or a Stingray.

But it has a more sculpted tone, longer sustain, and less character. The 60's Precisions and copies that I have really bonded with, all shared some common characteristics- light weight, original or at least vintage-wound pickups and bridge hardware, small frets, a wide fingerboard, shorter sustain, and a certain amount of uneven response that I had to play around.

They are flawed instruments to be sure, but the flaws are part of their character.

I'm not saying that my VMP5 belongs in that company (it's too mellow-sounding), but at least it's in that general "vintage" camp. And I'm definitely not saying that everyone should like that feel and sound- great records have been made with both types...
 
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#1,702
Dogbertday said:
Thata really upsetting! Glad i got mine.

Good news is that the inexpensive instruments are being made better amd that wont be changing. Sucks that a P5 is so hard to find, but like i said. Glad i got mine. Maybe someone else will make a cheap one now.
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I wish that I would have gotten a Blacktop, those are hard to find and are pricey.
 
#1,703
I am kind of happy that G and L copied my VMPV!
Well not COPY COPY, but, you get the point.
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#1,704
Rocksolid said:
...Of course, if the original bridge was slammed hard back, it begs the question of whether the bridge mounting screws could have been 3mm further back so both bridges could operate closer to the middle of their range. Still tempted to remove the bridge and redo the holes.

Pics to come.
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I did exactly this when I had one, and if I buy another, I'd do it again. I moved mine 1/8" back with no issues.
 
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#1,705
Finally finished up on upgrades for my CAR VM P V. I think it's a really nice bass.

I like the stock pickups, I think they are of good quality and make the bass sound like a P Bass. I replaced the wiring with Bourns pots (250k vol, 500k tone, 0.022uF), Switchcraft jack, Fender knobs with set screw. I lined everything with ample copper tape. As with a lot of Fender basses, you just gotta be careful with shielding since the cavities are cramped, and make sure the wiring doesn't touch the shielding. I use a bit of heat shrink around the hot terminal on the output jack to be sure.

I replaced the tuners with a set of Hipshot Licensed Ultralite 1/2" tuners. I have learned a trick with replacement tuners. Some of the time, they have a bit of slack in the headstock. Wrapping the hex bushings with tape provides a little bit of width to make it feel more rigid. Just make sure that when you start wrapping, that you've already put the washer in; otherwise, you won't be able to install the washer once you've wrapped the bushings with tape. I prefer copper tape because it compresses less than vinyl tape, it's very thin, and I always have a lot of it (for shielding). I cut about a long, 3/8" width of copper tape and wrap each bushing very carefully, making sure I'm not leaving air bubbles and also avoid touching the washer with the tape. When I can drop the bushing into the headstock without any difficulty but it doesn't move much laterally, it's the perfect amount. If it's too much, I unwrap a little bit. If it's not enough, I can always add a few more inches of tape.

ANYWAY, after having done all this, the bass is well under 9 pounds and sounds great. I dropped a set of Ernie Ball flatwounds in there. Here, I do have a slight complaint, though. In my last P V, which was American, I could string through the body and that was great, but here, I had to top load, which isn't a problem, but on this particular string set, the saddles were right over a silk wrapped area of the string. I used a blade to cut some of the silk off, but it felt a bit MacGyver in a bad way. So I just have to be careful on my next set of strings to make sure that the ball ends and the silk wrap end relatively quickly. Or maybe change the bridge and mount it in a position that allows for the regular part of the string to pass over the strings.
 
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#1,707
bhayes79 said:
Really sucks that they discontinued this bass. I just ordered the final one available through Guitar Center/Musicians friend today. talk about timing.
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The Squier VM P5 is discontinued? I guess numbers don't lie. If Fender was making a lot of money, it would still be around. I just regret that I let mine go before I tried flats. I know that since I put Chromes on my Peavey Fury, it's been the bees' knees!
 

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