Squier VM Jazz vs. Geddy Lee Signature

[tjh]

... just scanned the thread quickly, and may have missed it, but is aesthetics the main concern here?? .. comparing a bass with 60's pup spacing, and 70's pup spacing and it hasn't been mentioned??

 

[awilkie84]

Infact it's conceived to get placed in each and every traditional neck socket...
While 21 fret ends all neck width it's just the extra fret to lay suspended over the pickguard

Cheers,
Wallace

If it's an ACTUAL Fender American Deluxe 21 fret neck, there's no overlap with the pickguard. It ACTUALLY sits IN the pocket all the way up to the 21st fret. This is why I wasn't able to bolt one onto my MIM P....because it throws off the overall scale unless you move the bridge north to compensate.

 

[Duke21]

... just scanned the thread quickly, and may have missed it, but is aesthetics the main concern here?? .. comparing a bass with 60's pup spacing, and 70's pup spacing and it hasn't been mentioned??

Good point. Btw I've not mentioned this issue just so you could do it

 

[Hopkins]

Sadly, the $700+ Fenders use get you into a 90% reliable bass, now I'd say its about 60% and you're just as likely to score a well-made Squire... try Squires until you find a good one, then snag it. It's easy enough to upgrade parts as needed... I completely converted a VM Jaguar ( even put on Fender decals) It's a great bass... under $300 for the bass, about $600 in parts. Presto! A bass I would put up against any Fender.

Never in my life have I come across a Fender bass that was unreliable. After an initial set up they pretty much all play well, especially the new ones. So I don't quite understand your 60% theory.

 

[ics1974]

I have only tried two mim GL's and they both had very bad setups and crazy bows in the neck. I choose a VM Squier over the two GL's. They all sounded about the same but the Squier was mint right out of the box and allot cheaper

 

[Wallace320]

If it's an ACTUAL Fender American Deluxe 21 fret neck, there's no overlap with the pickguard. It ACTUALLY sits IN the pocket all the way up to the 21st fret. This is why I wasn't able to bolt one onto my MIM P....because it throws off the overall scale unless you move the bridge north to compensate.

A modern Precision width one.

Maybe I have to ckeck serial # out but I bet it has none bein' a replacement.
Does, bein' a bird's eye maple one, helps?

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[Joel T]

MIJ Geddy Lee hands down I say it's one of fenders best jazz bass's.as some one how has owned both and still owns the MIJ GL
View attachment 2081320
View attachment 2081321

I tried to make a white trash version of Geddy's with a VM 77 it was a sad comparison.
both have real block inlays the vms were ugly not very Perle
the neck I was always tweaking the VM neck very hard to get action low and still be playable
the Geddy neck it's a little thinner but rock solid awesome frets I get super low action with little buzz.
VM has agathis body heavy,very dead sounding.
Geddy alder body light-med weight. bright and resonant.

Indonesian-made neck?

 

[Malak the Mad]

Indonesian-made neck?

To the best of my knowledge, all Vintage Modified basses were made in Indonesia. In 2013, most definitely.

 

[exidor]

Indonesian-made neck?

Yes it was made in Indonesia.

 

[Joel T]

Hello, I just made another FrankenSquier Jazz Bass. It's a 2008 VM Jazz Bass maple neck with a 2011 Affinity J-Bass body, made in Indonesia. I also replaced the bridge with new strings. Now see for yourself, be well!

 

[Joel T]

R.I.P. Richard Benson 1955 - 2022

 

[Joel T]

Here's another photo of my Squier Jazz Bass, rebuilt by parts.

 

[Joel T]

Another cover video with this bass


The pickups are still stock.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I have a 5-string with similar parts choice:
2016 VM neck with 2014 Affinity body.
My pickups are well…not stock…

The Affinity models of that era were made in China. It wasn’t until 2019 that Affinity models were made in Indonesia.
The Affinity Jazz basses still have 60’s pickup spacing, so that body is probably not the best way to build a Geddy clone. These days, just get a Squier CV 70’s in Black or Sunburst and you’re 3/4 of the way there - just need a BadAss bridge.
Squier Classic Vibe '70s Jazz Bass - Black

 

[Joel T]

Squier Classic Vibe '70s Jazz Bass - Black[/QUOTE]
How's the VM neck? I'm very skeptical about today's Classic Vibe necks. They seem to warp more often than the Vintage Modified ones. I'm still trying to find a 5-string VM Jazz Bass neck if someone ever sells one.

 

[kbraker510]

Ive had both, loved them. Here is my take away. The Squier VM 70's is a great as it is or for a platform for pickup upgrade. The body is soft maple which made the one i had a bit heavy. I think the pickup routes are not the same size like other Squier Jazzes. The MIM GL was light , 8lbs or so. Super skinny neck profile, too much for me. But the sound and playability was spot on for both, a slight edge to the GL. My current jazz wins out more me, Flea RW, even though it has non 70,s spacing and a a bit on the heavy side. The neck and pickups are heavenly. Id be ok with a lightweight 70's spaced body to replace the original.

 

[Joel T]

Another Geddy Lee inspired FrankenSquier Jazz Bass, but with 5 strings

Parts list:
- Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass V neck from 2017
- Squier Classic Vibe 5-string Jazz Bass Body
- Fender Mexican Player series 5-string Jazz Bsss white pickguard, it surprisingly but thankfully fits!
- Hipshot replacement HiMass bridge, thankfully another drop-in replacement with no drilling required

 

[Joel T]

Another Geddy Lee inspired FrankenSquier Jazz Bass, but with 5 strings

Parts list:
- Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass V neck from 2017
- Squier Classic Vibe 5-string Jazz Bass Body
- Fender Mexican Player series 5-string Jazz Bsss white pickguard, it surprisingly but thankfully fits!
- Hipshot replacement HiMass bridge, thankfully another drop-in replacement with no drilling requiredView attachment 7089380

More photos...

 

[Joel T]

I made a video of my 5-string Geddy Lee style Jazz Bass