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Squier VM/CV Advice.

G

geckoman1220

Jan 23, 2012
61
3
#1
So currently, I have a Squier P-bass standard, w/ the jazz pickup and neck. I am ready to get a Jazz bass now. I was thinking of getting a Squier VM or a CV. I really cant go american fender right now because i just bought a Rickenbacker 330-12. And my thinking is, once the guitars and drums are added, a 300-ish squier bass won't sound any different than a fender standard. Am i right or wrong?

So do you guys think it would be worth getting a VM or a CV? I guess i could always change pickups and tuner, and still be under 500. The color is the deciding factor with these two. I love the 3 color burst with the tort guard and rosewood neck. but i also like the white with tort guard. i kinda feel the oly white on the CV may be a little "too white". but its not nitro so i guess thats why.

thanks for helping and if anyone have inspiring pictures, feel free to post them.
 
#3
my advice would be to play them both, as they are quite different ... the VM will have very close to the neck you have on your P Standard (satin neck, MJ frets, etc) and will probably feel more like it than a CV (gloss neck, vint frets, etc) ... I actually have both which you are considering, and would not hesitate to play either with anybody, without changing a thing. There are quite a few used CV's out there in the white in the $250 range, but not a lot of the 3TSB/RW VM's, but then the VM's can be found in the $279 range new ... tough to beat ... you could always buy one of each used, and decide in your setting, then sell the one you like the least for what you paid ... JMHO
 
#5
I have a VM jazz and thing it's a good bass. After a setup is plays great. It sounds good right out of the box. Only bad things I can think of is that the body dents very easy and when you solo a pup you get that annoying single coil buzz. Overall a great bass for the money.
 
#7
100_0665.gif


Here's mine, got it just before Christmas.

The body does dent fairly easily, and as long as it has single coils you're going to get the hum when both are not at full volume.
That's the nature of any bass or guitar with single coils.

Mine could use a fret levelling and the fret ends are sprouting slightly this winter.

You won't be able to play it without the 'guard since there's quite a large unsightly rout underneath, if that matters.

Otherwise it's a great value overall.

Oh yeah, got a pic of the 330-12?
I'd like to see it, I want one myself.
 
#8
see, i like vintage fret wire and amber glossy necks. If i got the VM, i'd probably reranch the neck. hehe

im so undecided, there's good and bad about both, 3ts/rw/tort is one of my favorite combos, but oly/rw/tort is also nice, if only it wasnt as pure of a white, maybe its just the pictures i've seen. every other Olympic white i've seen was slightly yellowed, although they are probably aged nitro finishes.

Kcole, ill upload a pic of the rickenbacker.
 
#9
Here's the Ric, build in '08 bought in '12. it was at the guitar shop for a while(couple years haha) calling my name. basically its my dream guitar, finally broke down and bought it. was seriously considering getting an american vintage 62 jazz bass but decided to do this instead. its soooo nice, like it was made for me

DSCF8534.jpg
 
#10
I choose my VMJ as my main live bass over all others in my stable. It's cheap, it plays like a bass 10 times its price, and if (God forbid) anything happens to it, I can easily replace it. The only thing I did change was the pickups. I went with Seymour Duncan QPs.The tuners and electronics are just fine.
 
#13
it looks like ill be making a trip to new Orleans to go to guitar center. no jazz CV's or VM's around here. ill have to play and pick which ever one calls my name.

my basic plans are to:
*change pickups if needed
*glossy amber tint the neck(applies to the VM)
*add "super cool" bridge and pickup covers (gets int he way but the price to pay for looks.
*flat wounds
*strap locks (for the insurance)
 
#14
geckoman1220 said:
it looks like ill be making a trip to new Orleans to go to guitar center. no jazz CV's or VM's around here. ill have to play and pick which ever one calls my name.

my basic plans are to:
*change pickups if needed
*glossy amber tint the neck(applies to the VM)
*add "super cool" bridge and pickup covers (gets int he way but the price to pay for looks.
*flat wounds
*strap locks (for the insurance)
Click to expand...

I like the idea of glossing the fretboard on the VMJ. The matte finish is cool, but amber tinted gloss just looks so cool!

There's a thread about direct fit aftermarket parts for Squiers. Reference it if you decide to change tuners, pickguard etc.

PS, that's a sweet 330-12 you've got there.
 
#15
The other thing you might need to do is to file the fret endings as many Squiers are shipped from Asia, the humidity changes as part of the transport and storage times and then we get fret ending problems. Anyway, you know when you get access to a bass, might be good, too. Another reason why USA made Fenders are better as they do all the fine adjustments over here. But then you pay for that compared with building a simple fret file and fixing this yourself.
 

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