Hey.....why have two of the same basses around the house?
Get an SX...you can trade off and get some variety!
Get an SX...you can trade off and get some variety!
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Squier VM Jazz vs. SX SJB-75C NA
- Thread starter mjolnir
- Start date
The necks are similar....but not alike.
The Squier has a 7.5 radius and the SX is a 12 inch radius. My SX, while it feels good, is thicker from fretboard to skunk stripe the the VM and the VM has a satin finish while the SX is glossy.
I have the SX with the white blocks and a white pick guard. Now, here is the kicker, if the neck on that bass in your post is the same as the neck on my Geddy clone, it will be about the same as the Squier in terms of width and thickness! Just glossy on the back.
The SX pickups are hotter too!
If he is really hung on the Squier, get him that. If it is a budget issue get the SX.
Oh and the SX is at least 2 pounds heavier to be sure, get a wide padded strap with the bass if you give the SX as a gift!
Both are fine basses and my SX is probably my favortie bass....I kind of drift between the Ash SX, the VM and my Geddy Clone as my favorite(s)
...Why do you think there'd be two? I don't own a Squier VM. I like them, have considered picking one up in the past, but I have a Fender Marcus Miller so I can't really justify having two '75 jazz-esque basses lying around.
Ever play an SX? They ain't half bad at all, and he knows it, used to screw with my fretless SX and seemed to like it.
...And if he (a drummer who just sort of piddles around on my basses) reacted in the same way you just did to the thought of a free bass being handed to him out of brotherhood, SX or not, I'd kick him in the face.
Thanks for the clarification, you just officially made the decision for me. While I personally would prefer the chunkier neck of the SX, Nate likes the thinner profile and would most likely like the satin finish better.
Hehe... and I've been dying to have an excuse to get a Squier VM anyway. That's one of the upsides to any bass I buy him, it'll always be around the apartment for me to play with.
That is because the SX has a real Ash body whereas the Squier has that Agathis (kind of wood powder or powder-wood, if you drill in it you will realize). For a Jazz bass the sound of the SX is more classical (nasal mids) whereas for a P-Bass, my preference clearly is the Squier, as its Agathis body gives a warmer growl.
The VM Jazz (as opposed to the FRETLESS) has a Soft Maple body, and is not light, and not Agathis. The VM P and VM Fretless J both have Agathis bodies and are noticeably lighter.
Jamie
Actually Agathis is a genus of evergreen trees that exists in places like Australia, New Zealand and the Phillipines.
Where did you get that idea? That is not true. Agathis is a type of wood from the far east, it is not "wood powder or powder-wood."
Are you totally stuck on the natural with blocks look? The VM 70's Jazzes I've played all sounded thin to me. I played one of these at GC:
Invalid Link Removed
and it totally competed tonally with every other Jazz there!
I would have preferred a vintage white over the olympic white, but with the sound I didn't care!
Invalid Link Removed
and it totally competed tonally with every other Jazz there!
I would have preferred a vintage white over the olympic white, but with the sound I didn't care!
Owned a VM Jazz (recently sold here) and a higher end SX ($160 similar to this one Link Removed ). I've had the SX more than a year. Not really sure how long. Got the VM Squire in a trade and turned right around and sold it.
Heres what I noticed...
Weights about the same.
Neck on the Squire is a hair slimmer
Finish on the squires neck is more comfy
The SX kills the squire soundwise totally stock.
Less dead spots on the SX
Tuners are crap on both.
So if he really likes the neck on the Squire that would probably seal the deal. The $120 SX's have a much chunkier neck than the LTD's and the other $160 Jazz SX's. There's also that thick finish on the SX neck but nothing a little steel wool couldn't take care of. I personally prefer the SX.
Heres what I noticed...
Weights about the same.
Neck on the Squire is a hair slimmer
Finish on the squires neck is more comfy
The SX kills the squire soundwise totally stock.
Less dead spots on the SX
Tuners are crap on both.
So if he really likes the neck on the Squire that would probably seal the deal. The $120 SX's have a much chunkier neck than the LTD's and the other $160 Jazz SX's. There's also that thick finish on the SX neck but nothing a little steel wool couldn't take care of. I personally prefer the SX.
Gotta cater to the receiver on this one. Nate is absolutely in love with that VM, especially through an Ampeg (I think...) B2R, but he can just find someone else to buy that for him.
I'm definitely going with the Squier VM on this one. I know for a fact it's what he wants, and the recent sale of a couple of my more useless pieces of bass equipment has freed up the funds to allow me to comfortably afford the extra $100 or so beyond the SX.
I just had a strange thought... I myself have been GASing for a Squier VM for quite a while now, but just couldn't justify the purchase, and not only has Nate been hinting at a big gift for me this year, he's been very uncharacteristically advising AGAINST considering the purchase of any new basses... What if we end up getting each other the same bass for Christmas?
Awkward.
yesterday i bought a VM Jazz '70's for a ridiculous low price.
As you all know already is a great bass,esthetically copy of a '73/'74 jazz bass, with nice pup's on and good jazz sound,etc etc...but has anyone noticed that the binding and black blocks on the neck are not real, but PAINTED ON????
As you all know already is a great bass,esthetically copy of a '73/'74 jazz bass, with nice pup's on and good jazz sound,etc etc...but has anyone noticed that the binding and black blocks on the neck are not real, but PAINTED ON????
That was a surprise to me about the SX pickups -- they indeed have greater output than the Squier VM pups.
I played one of these at a GC and (to my surprise) was totally unimpressed. Maybe it was a lemon but it just would not sing for me. The new MIM 70's jazz I tried, on the other hand, was much nicer than I expected.
Do yourself a favor and see if you can find the LTD version. It's well worth the extra bucks in every respect. It's still under $200.
Here's mine:
There's a red LTD up at Rondo right now that looks pretty cool. I've been thinking about grabbing one to see how much the LTDs really give you over the standard models.
I've had several SX basses and I just couldn't get used to the neck. Too fat for me front to back, though I've never had trouble with a Squier. Think you made the right choice.
Yeah I've got an SX 5'er too and have been reasonably pleased with it, so I have been looking at grabbing one of their 4-string jazzes. The thicker (front to back) SX neck appeals to me, and my experience with their 5-string is the pickups are "good enough" so it's just a matter of whether the LTD differences are worth it. They've got that red LTD and also a black standard jazz with maple neck that I'm looking at for about $50 less than the LTD.
