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

[Glazenn]

Following my recent posts above, here is my new-to-me VMP5 modded with a spare Sire Marcus Miller bridge with heavy mass saddles that was waiting in a drawer.
Each string (GHS Precison flats) and particularly the B have improved in tone and sustain significantly, and after some tweak to the PU height screws, the lows of the B string volume are now even compared to the E and A strings. Overall, typical vintage P style growl with my Markbass CMD 121P combo.
I drilled the screw holes in the Sire bridge, so as not to alter the body and keep everything reversible on the bass. The back of the bridge is about 12.5 mm (1/2") closer to the strap button than the original Squier bridge was. Next step will likely be installing a Kickass bridge.
I am very happy with the CAR color, it's very red at daylight, whilst the pictures of other VMP5's often show a more amber-ish hue. I can't say however if it's a single layer or a red clear coat over metallic gold. The guy I got the bass from has a VMPJ5 also in CAR that shows even more red than that.

 

[bassnyc1]

Cool mod! My VMP5 is the same color. I also replaced the stock bridge; mine is a Hipshot A style. I also noticed a positive difference in tone.

 

[Glazenn]

Under the pickguard...
Has anybody found that the PU has vintage cloth wires in his VMP5, or is it only mine (secondhand, was first bought from Thomann)? The polepieces are lightly beveled.
Any idea on where that PU was possibly produced?
The whole PU and harness cavity is paint shielded, and connected to the ground of the electronic harness through a wire.
The pots are Alpha 250K and the cap is .05uF (2A503J).

 

[bound'n'blocked]

Here's mine...

Where are you guys finding replacement pick guards for these basses?

BnB

 

[jmbjandfam]

Here's mine...

View attachment 2947652

Where are you guys finding replacement pick guards for these basses?

BnB

I'm curious about that too. I've got a white one and was thinking maybe a mint guard or gold anodized.

 

[bassnyc1]

View attachment 2494209

Look at this on eBay
Fender Squier VM Precision Bass V 5-String Pbass Pickguard. 3 ply Black

 

[steve_rolfeca]

...Has anybody found that the PU has vintage cloth wires in his VMP5...
...The whole PU and harness cavity is paint shielded, and connected to the ground of the electronic harness through a wire.
The pots are Alpha 250K and the cap is .05uF (2A503J).

Sounds like a previous owner made or bought a replacement wiring harness.

Score!

The shielding is stock, though.

 

[Glazenn]

I'm curious about that too. I've got a white one and was thinking maybe a mint guard or gold anodized.

@bound'n'blocked
The original Squier pickguard is parchment (part# 770-1844-000)
A gold anodized aluminum pickguard does not exist for 5-strings.
People have been searching for it since years, in vain.
Unless if one can pay half the bass price for a custom cut one...
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
A tort pickguard is the only alternative from Fender, any other color is found in plastic material from aftermarket sources (eg. pickguardplanet).
NEW Genuine Fender Pickguard For P. Bass V 5-String Bass - TORTOISE 007-5346-000 | eBay

 

[honeyiscool]

I put a used Am Standard pickup in mine. Not a very significant upgrade.

I believe you. I had a Squier Precision V and a Fender American Standard V for some time and after both were fully shielded with the same wiring harness, I noticed little to no difference. Since my Squier was lighter, I sold my American. That’s when I started to regret my decision after I realized that the Squier was tough to intonate and fit with certain flatwounds because of the bridge placement. I had no such issue with the American. But tonally the Squier held up. The issues were mostly solved when I got a Hipshot Kickass bridge.

Eventually I sold my VM to fund my pursuit of passive PJ basses. I bought a Yamaha BB235 which uses the same bridge mounting so I could transfer my Kickass bridge over. That bass has the worst tuners ever but I changed them. The stock pickups weren’t my style, though, so I bought VM P-style pickups that supposedly were made for Jaguar V, which I’d imagine were the same as the Precision V specs. Those pickups helped really make my Yamaha outstanding.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

So, I'm finally doing a P-J conversion.

Hoping to push it in a more aggressive direction with the latest mods. I'm using a Dimarzio Area J. Also installing 500K pots to try and open it up a little more, and adding a switch for series/parallel. If that doesn't work out, it will become a defeat switch for the bridge pickup.

I'll be posting build pictures over here: NBD (Sort of) Squier Vintage Aerodyne Precision V...

 

[NicJimBass]

Sounds like a previous owner made or bought a replacement wiring harness.

Score!

The shielding is stock, though.

That being said, my pickup came with the vintage cloth wiring. As far as I know, it was completely stock when I bought it. I also remember seeing a pickup on eBay that was pulled, and it had cloth wiring.

 

[Tobiasfin]

Under the pickguard...
Has anybody found that the PU has vintage cloth wires in his VMP5, or is it only mine (secondhand, was first bought from Thomann)? The polepieces are lightly beveled.
Any idea on where that PU was possibly produced?
The whole PU and harness cavity is paint shielded, and connected to the ground of the electronic harness through a wire.
The pots are Alpha 250K and the cap is .05uF (2A503J).

Yes, my VMP5's p-u leads are vintage cloth as well. A few weeks ago I removed the p/g to replace the output jack, and when I notice the cloth wire, I remember that someone in this thread had mentioned that he had replaced his VMP5,s pick up with an American P5 pup, and that "there was no noticeable difference" afterwards. I am the firs owner, the P/U is stock

And I didn't even changed the jack (or pots, for that matter), for "I deemed the afore mentioned electronics fit and proper" lol!

 

[honeyiscool]

That being said, my pickup came with the vintage cloth wiring. As far as I know, it was completely stock when I bought it. I also remember seeing a pickup on eBay that was pulled, and it had cloth wiring.

Same. And if you look at 770-1850-000, which is the Jaguar V split pickup I bought new, it looks the same and has cloth wiring.

Which I hate, by the way. Much prefer regular insulation.

But cloth generally tends to come with vintage voiced pickups. Which I like. So whatever.

The other nice thing about 770-1850-000 is that it’s extremely inexpensive for a good quality, alnico rod pickup.

 

[NicJimBass]

Same. And if you look at 770-1850-000, which is the Jaguar V split pickup I bought new, it looks the same and has cloth wiring.

Which I hate, by the way. Much prefer regular insulation.

But cloth generally tends to come with vintage voiced pickups. Which I like. So whatever.

The other nice thing about 770-1850-000 is that it’s extremely inexpensive for a good quality, alnico rod pickup.

I used to prefer regular insulation, until I learned how the cloth wiring works. It ends up being easier to use.

 

[honeyiscool]

I used to prefer regular insulation, until I learned how the cloth wiring works. It ends up being easier to use.

Nope. Not when you're trying to wire to mini switches and PCBs. It's OK for regular wiring to regular controls, I suppose.

 

[NicJimBass]

Nope. Not when you're trying to wire to mini switches and PCBs. It's OK for regular wiring to regular controls, I suppose.

Fair point. I think i got my basses mixed up anyway. The P5 pickup does have cloth wiring, but I swapped it for a Quarter Pounder pickup. The pickups on my VMJ5 also have cloth wiring, and, once I figured them out, they were much easier to install with my Audere JZ3, which has screw-in terminals.

 

[Tobiasfin]

I tried out a blk and maple P5 and was surprised at the floppiness of the b string, my ebmm SUB5 has a way tighter b string, unfortunately I haven't had a chance to try one of the squires at GC they didn't have them in stock, in fact they've never stocked them..

THIS will get the B tighter and increase presence

 

[Jamvan]

THIS will get the B tighter and increase presence View attachment 2950353

As will these:

 

[Glazenn]

THIS will get the B tighter and increase presence View attachment 2950353

Is 45 mm the right length?
Thks

 

[tedsalt]

Is 45 mm the right length?
Thks

String gauge on the G ? .045 is pretty standard if that's what you're asking.