Correct, and frankly, I love it.
Like my thread says, looks like GC is starting to get these finally, so if you're on the fence about em, there's a good chance you can go play one soon. I've got one in my hands right now
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Squier VM Jaguar Bass
- Thread starter Essential
- Start date
Correct, and frankly, I love it.
Like my thread says, looks like GC is starting to get these finally, so if you're on the fence about em, there's a good chance you can go play one soon. I've got one in my hands right now
Yes they are. I think the idea is that it keeps you from accidently changing tone when you are trying to change volume. It makes a lot of sense to me and even though I did not know the bass featured this when I bought it I am glad it has it. Allows you to "lock in" a tone and then forget it and still adjust your volume as you play if need be.
Just got the call from my GC - my VM-Jag is in and put in a hard case for me to pick up on Thursday.
Happy Happy Happy
Happy Happy Happy
i'm sorry to report that i didn't fare so well with 'mine'. i hadn't actually purchased it yet, but spoke with one of my go-to guys at the local gc today and he stashed the unopened box behind the counter with my name on it until i could get there.
first thing outta the box, the rear vol knob came off in my hand. ok, no biggie. a quick turn of one of the included adjustment wrenches fixed that right up. took it back and plugged in to a little fender amp and started looking it over. fit and finish were ok, however it had kind of a 'cheap' look about it, somehow. i'm a big fan of the newer squiers and own two CV series basses, so i'm not ragging on squier as a brand.
checking the pups/electronics and those strange-ass, detented tone knobs, i discovered the j-pup was completely dead. by that, i don't mean 'dead sounding' i mean NO sound at all. unfortunate, but likely an easy fix.
ok, on to the general playability and tone of the remaining pickup. i've been playing all manner of fender basses since the early 70s and i can't recall a single one that didn't have SOME degree of deadness, SOMEWHERE on the G string. for me, its always in the vicinity of the 4th, 5th, 6th frets.
this squier VM had a VERY pronounced dead spot at the 7th fret on the G. the notes on both sides of it rang out like there was no tomorrow, but that 7th sounded like it was muted. i actually had to look to see that something wasn't damping the string.
so, i passed on buying it, for obvious reasons. will wait til the next one (or two or three) comes in and give those a whirl. hope you guyz have better luck with 'yours'...
first thing outta the box, the rear vol knob came off in my hand. ok, no biggie. a quick turn of one of the included adjustment wrenches fixed that right up. took it back and plugged in to a little fender amp and started looking it over. fit and finish were ok, however it had kind of a 'cheap' look about it, somehow. i'm a big fan of the newer squiers and own two CV series basses, so i'm not ragging on squier as a brand.
checking the pups/electronics and those strange-ass, detented tone knobs, i discovered the j-pup was completely dead. by that, i don't mean 'dead sounding' i mean NO sound at all. unfortunate, but likely an easy fix.
ok, on to the general playability and tone of the remaining pickup. i've been playing all manner of fender basses since the early 70s and i can't recall a single one that didn't have SOME degree of deadness, SOMEWHERE on the G string. for me, its always in the vicinity of the 4th, 5th, 6th frets.
this squier VM had a VERY pronounced dead spot at the 7th fret on the G. the notes on both sides of it rang out like there was no tomorrow, but that 7th sounded like it was muted. i actually had to look to see that something wasn't damping the string.
so, i passed on buying it, for obvious reasons. will wait til the next one (or two or three) comes in and give those a whirl. hope you guyz have better luck with 'yours'...
there's still sunburst
but I agree with all of you also. Fender would have a lot to gain if they had more colour options. Maybe not in Squier, but in real Fenders. there haven't been "odd" color for a lot of years now. Basses in different colours, even if just 2 limited for each year or something like that, would mean people would buy new because of the different finishing options. What happened to green, blue, purple, orange... hell, even an all-crome one! I mean, how many threads have we had based on awesome finishes?! Buyers like having options. Fender would do well to please the buyers. But no, lets keep the Ford model T policy. Even new bass models would do them good..
Well, they did reintroduce Lake Placid Blue on the Standard MIM Basses last year. It's a start.
well, yeah...but at this rate I'll still buy an old one and have it refinished rather than buying a new one..
VM Jag arrived yesterday and I had some time to mess around with it. While reading, keep in mind I'm a hobbyist (at best). Here's what I can say about it:
1. It feels nice and well-balanced. No neck dive. I didn't check the weight, but it's not terrible heavy.
2. The action is fairly low. A very small bit of buzz on certain frets, but nothing terrible. I'd like to get the frets leveled and see how low it could go. I lowered the E string saddle a bit
3. Intonation was right on, no adjustments needed.
4. There's an issue with the Precision volume pot. I took off the control plate and found the wiring from the pickup to the pot had fallen off. I had to solder it back on. However, there's still a slight issue with the Precision volume when I fiddle with it.
5. There's a very slight imperfection on the back of the neck. It feels like a bump. I can't see it, but if I feel for it, I can find it. It won't affect playability for me. I like the feel of the neck--I guess it's a satin finish?
6. Despite the fact that I'm not the biggest fan of the black tort combination, I think it's a beautiful instrument. The blocks are very nice. I don't see any imperfections. In a perfect world the neck would also be bound.
7. It doesn't have as much tonal range as I was expecting, but this is my first P/J so it's possible I was expecting too much or I just don't know how to get a broader range.
Overall I'm quite pleased with my purchase. So73 posted some good videos, so I'll spare you my inept fumbling around.
1. It feels nice and well-balanced. No neck dive. I didn't check the weight, but it's not terrible heavy.
2. The action is fairly low. A very small bit of buzz on certain frets, but nothing terrible. I'd like to get the frets leveled and see how low it could go. I lowered the E string saddle a bit
3. Intonation was right on, no adjustments needed.
4. There's an issue with the Precision volume pot. I took off the control plate and found the wiring from the pickup to the pot had fallen off. I had to solder it back on. However, there's still a slight issue with the Precision volume when I fiddle with it.
5. There's a very slight imperfection on the back of the neck. It feels like a bump. I can't see it, but if I feel for it, I can find it. It won't affect playability for me. I like the feel of the neck--I guess it's a satin finish?
6. Despite the fact that I'm not the biggest fan of the black tort combination, I think it's a beautiful instrument. The blocks are very nice. I don't see any imperfections. In a perfect world the neck would also be bound.
7. It doesn't have as much tonal range as I was expecting, but this is my first P/J so it's possible I was expecting too much or I just don't know how to get a broader range.
Overall I'm quite pleased with my purchase. So73 posted some good videos, so I'll spare you my inept fumbling around.
Wait, you mean instead of a Sadowsky you don't yet own, or instead of one you already own?
I played a black/maple/"pearl" block/bound Squire VM Jazz today. Again, a really nice bass - as is the Jaguar that was hanging next to it. For $600 one could have a couple really nice basses.
I wish I could get over the big "Squire" on the headstock. I know that makes me shallow, but I can't help it.
I wish I could get over the big "Squire" on the headstock. I know that makes me shallow, but I can't help it.
Me, too. It's undeniable. If it only said "Fender," I'd pull the trigger right now. Replacing the decal is just wrong, too -- I'd never do that. So I'm stuck. Call me a gear snob.
Oh, and it's S-Q-U-I-E-R. A "squire" is a knight's assistant. "Squier" is meant to evoke "squire" as something noble. elegant, and dependable, I assume.
Commreman
Faith, Family, Fitness, and Frets
I played one of these today. It is a very good feeling and very aggressive sounding bass. There were tons of useful tones with the setup, and the action and fretwork were beyond acceptable.
I liked it a lot, and I think that it's a steal for what they are selling for. Squier has really stepped up its game.
I liked it a lot, and I think that it's a steal for what they are selling for. Squier has really stepped up its game.
IN case you missed it in the other VM Jag thread, here's my review:
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As I see from other posts above, there apparently are a few issues with the controls, I had with my P PUP tone knob. I wonder if they have a human play them after they're wired and ready to go?
Invalid Link Removed
As I see from other posts above, there apparently are a few issues with the controls, I had with my P PUP tone knob. I wonder if they have a human play them after they're wired and ready to go?
Fender will sell truckloads of these, no mistake.
Jeez, budget instruments these days are turning out to be a lot better made/playing/sounding (probably) than a lot of the mid-price gear that was around when I started playing bass in the 1980s. The prices now are even lower than they were then, in some cases.
Young bassists have never had it so good etc. etc....
---~~~~~~~~~~AMEN TO THAT~~~~~~~~~~~~~~---
I tried one out yesterday at GC, and I dug it a lot. The stock pickups sounded really good, and it was lighter than my VM70s Jazz by quite a lot. The neck seemed a little thicker front to back compared to my jazz, and the fretwork, while still very good for a $300 bass, was not as good.
