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Squier VM P basses w P&J pickups....any glaring weak points?

#21
DavidEdenAria said:
I edited the title...it indeed has the P&J pickups...I dont need another P bass, my pair of Peavey Fury basses cover that fine.

WOW what were the problems with your VM bass....electronics issues?

Its just the overall quality that I fret over (no pun intended!).....as I stated I am used to USA & Japan guitars overall.

I worry about things going wrong overall with a cheaper P&J bass....more electronics to deal with.
Click to expand...

That weirded-out P Bass had to be made on a Friday........ or right before their day(s) off...
The neck definitely had a little "divot", for lack of a better term....opposite of a speed bump. Not real bad, but enough to where I couldn't get the action low enough for me without fret buzz around the 4th and 5th frets. Weird place for that.
Also felt like the neck was "spongy" when I went to adjust the truss rod and reduce the amount of relief. I felt like I could almost break it in half with relative ease.
The bass was just UNDER 6 lbs....... hardly any string sustain. Felt like the string vibration was being asorbed by the body and the neck. Replacing the strings and making sure there was no neck shim didn't seem to help. Pickups sounded hollow with overtones. I returned it. Duh.

Not trying to change your mind; sounds like you have held and played the one in question. You own enough basses to know the rights and wrongs.
As for electronics going out......... if it sounds and behaves proper right now, chances are it will last many years........ A crapshoot, nonetheless.
Besides, pickups for P basses grow wild along the roads "on a hill", so just pick some fresh ones. L O L ...................................
 
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#22
I'd pass on this one. IMHO, and IMH Experience, you'd be better off getting a newer version of a VM bass than anything pre-2012 (they're the ones with the Duncan Designed pups). Then again, it all depends on the type of sound you're looking for. I personally found the DD pups to sound a bit thin.

I've got an all-maple VM 70s Jazz, and the pups, which are the new Fender-Designed, on them have a lot of kick and extended bottom range, especially the neck pickup. The bridge pup isn't a slouch either, and with the new glossy neck (which oddly doesn't get sticky when your palms sweat) matches the body a lot more than the previous version. It feels like quality. The only weak point is the crappy small Alpha pots in the control panel -- they don't have much of a taper to them for a smooth roll-off or volume blending of the pups.
 
#23
AdamK said:
Check out my NBD post. Squier VM P bass w/ Lindy Fralins. To everyone who says Squier sucks... just listen to or even play a VM P with upgrades... I'm glad I didn't wait forever on a good deal for an MIM with no upgrades or even a new one.
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Yeah but you stole that thing imo!

I NEVER see cheap guitars with upgraded pickups...I did buy a Korean Epiphone DOT 335 with a pair of USA Duncans and a hard case for $120...I flipped the pickups for $90....but this Epi 335 had electronic issues that are very hard to access...that's why the thing got pawned is my guess.

In your case you got the equivalent to my Epi 335 deal...the whole guitar for the cost of some premium pickups!
 
#24
covermego said:
That weirded-out P Bass had to be made on a Friday........ or right before their day(s) off...
The neck definitely had a little "divot", for lack of a better term....opposite of a speed bump. Not real bad, but enough to where I couldn't get the action low enough for me without fret buzz around the 4th and 5th frets. Weird place for that.
Also felt like the neck was "spongy" when I went to adjust the truss rod and reduce the amount of relief. I felt like I could almost break it in half with relative ease.
The bass was just UNDER 6 lbs....... hardly any string sustain. Felt like the string vibration was being asorbed by the body and the neck. Replacing the strings and making sure there was no neck shim didn't seem to help. Pickups sounded hollow with overtones. I returned it. Duh.

Not trying to change your mind; sounds like you have held and played the one in question. You own enough basses to know the rights and wrongs.
As for electronics going out......... if it sounds and behaves proper right now, chances are it will last many years........ A crapshoot, nonetheless.
Besides, pickups for P basses grow wild along the roads "on a hill", so just pick some fresh ones. L O L ...................................
Click to expand...
Sage advice, HOWEVER the P&J pickup combo does not appear to be a cheap upgrade compared to a P bass.

6 lbs would definitely attract me to any P bass but I would be suspect as well....my early 80's ash USA Peavey Fury is 7 1/2 lbs and sounds killer with the Super Ferrite....but it was very reasonable and needs nothing as the overall quality is quite high.

Another thing that concerns me is strings on a bass...they make a BIG difference.
 
#25
Here's my current lineup. my former #1 was my CIJ Fender Jazz Bass Special (black), but my current #1 is my Squier VM fret(Ted) Jazz (sunburst) with Fender Super 55s unless I need flats, then I go with the CV based Squier James Johnston Jazz (LPB) which I just got, is completely stock, and absolutely love. Lastly (but not least..ly?) is my Squier Chris Aiken P with an EMG GZR. I pull it out occasionally for those nights I just need that P sound but my hands prefer the width of a J neck.

image.jpeg


Your results may vary but I've been very impressed with the VM, especially if you're approaching it primarily for a modding platform. You may just stumble upon a combination of components that just work for you.
 
#26
nerkoids said:
I'd pass on this one. IMHO, and IMH Experience, you'd be better off getting a newer version of a VM bass than anything pre-2012 (they're the ones with the Duncan Designed pups). Then again, it all depends on the type of sound you're looking for. I personally found the DD pups to sound a bit thin.

I've got an all-maple VM 70s Jazz, and the pups, which are the new Fender-Designed, on them have a lot of kick and extended bottom range, especially the neck pickup. The bridge pup isn't a slouch either, and with the new glossy neck (which oddly doesn't get sticky when your palms sweat) matches the body a lot more than the previous version. It feels like quality. The only weak point is the crappy small Alpha pots in the control panel -- they don't have much of a taper to them for a smooth roll-off or volume blending of the pups.
Click to expand...
CRAP.....now I cant even remember if it had Duncan designed pickups or not, i've looked at so many pics...I should see the bass tomorrow if its still there.
 
#27
With all due respect, this is a $149 used bass, which is 1/2 of its street price new ... if it is in decent condition at all, you wont lose anything on it should you decide it is not for you, and with it in your hands, in your situation, you can be the one to decide what it may need, rather than what anyone on here thinks you should do ... ;)

... with that said, I see a couple red flags ... you are calling this a Vintage Modified P, with both P and J pups, in black ?? ... I believe that the VM P with the P/J is only available in red, 3TSB, and LPB ... the Affinity P with P/J's is offered in black, so just make sure you are looking at what you think you are ...
 
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#28
DavidEdenAria said:
Yeah but you stole that thing imo!

I NEVER see cheap guitars with upgraded pickups...I did buy a Korean Epiphone DOT 335 with a pair of USA Duncans and a hard case for $120...I flipped the pickups for $90....but this Epi 335 had electronic issues that are very hard to access...that's why the thing got pawned is my guess.

In your case you got the equivalent to my Epi 335 deal...the whole guitar for the cost of some premium pickups!
Click to expand...
Hah, yeah I thought it was a pretty damn nice deal. Now hopefully Guitar Center doesn't screw it up when I have them install my Chromes on it and then set it up for low action.
 
#30
tjh said:
With all due respect, this is a $149 used bass, which is 1/2 of its street price new ... if it is in decent condition at all, you wont lose anything on it should you decide it is not for you, and with it in your hands, in your situation, you can be the one to decide what it may need, rather than what anyone on here thinks you should do ... ;)

... with that said, I see a couple red flags ... you are calling this a Vintage Modified P, with both P and J pups, in black ?? ... I believe that the VM P with the P/J is only available in red, 3TSB, and LPB ... the Affinity P with P/J's is offered in black, so just make sure you are looking at what you think you are ...
Click to expand...
Will do....however I do not recall seeing Affinity anywhere on the bass neck...hmm.

In my area used basses are a hard sell.....way more acoustic and electric 6 strings...the one place where I consign says he sells 20 acoustic and electric 6 strings for every bass...which I thought was weird.

As you can tell, I don't buy $800 USA Fender basses when I can buy USA Peavey basses locally for under $200 since they are EVERYWHERE.

However to mod or upgrade, a Fender is way better than any other bass....that's why I am looking at Squier stuff...but I have no experience with the cheaper Fender basses.
 
#33
DavidEdenAria said:
I do all of my own setups, fret leveling etc....something that's necessary when you buy deeply discounted gear like myself LOL!
Click to expand...

Only thing I don't do is fret leveling. I love setting up my own stuff as well as doing it for others! Its pretty simple and I find it relaxing. I guess that's from my manufacturing background. I got really good with files and hand tools and precision work.
 
#36
DavidEdenAria said:
Will do....however I do not recall seeing Affinity anywhere on the bass neck...hmm.

In my area used basses are a hard sell.....
Click to expand...

.. post the serial # from it the next time you get to see it, maybe we can help identify it ... it isn't out of the realm of possible someone stuck a VM neck on an Affinity body ... for $149 if it is a VM Squier, and you dont like/want it, sell the neck and the body for $85- $100 shipped (each) on here and you have lost nothing, and you are that much wiser having tried it for yourself ...
 
#37
tjh said:
.. post the serial # from it the next time you get to see it, maybe we can help identify it ... it isn't out of the realm of possible someone stuck a VM neck on an Affinity body ... for $149 if it is a VM Squier, and you dont like/want it, sell the neck and the body for $85- $100 shipped (each) on here and you have lost nothing, and you are that much wiser having tried it for yourself ...
Click to expand...
Good idea.
 
#38
DavidEdenAria said:
My problem is I start realizing potential and before you know it the pickups are ripped out first.....I do wonder about the tuners holding tune and the quality of the electronics.
Click to expand...

I don't have any hard data to back this up, but I suspect the open-gear tuners Squier uses are the same ones that go into MIM basses. The only thing I have to back this up is this; Every Hipshot tuner I've installed into a VM or Standard neck that was made for MIM basses has been a 100% drop-in replacement.

If that is the case, I can see it being a cost-cutting measure on the part of Fender by having all their non-MIA, open gear tuners made by the same manufacturer. Basically, it's saving by buying in bulk.

nerkoids said:
I'd pass on this one. IMHO, and IMH Experience, you'd be better off getting a newer version of a VM bass than anything pre-2012 (they're the ones with the Duncan Designed pups). Then again, it all depends on the type of sound you're looking for. I personally found the DD pups to sound a bit thin.
Click to expand...

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the VM P/J came out at the same time Squier switched from the "Duncan Designed" pickups to the "Fender Designed" ones, which would be 2013. That seed-change also saw VM's dropped the satin finished necks in favor of the glossy finish.

I remember all this because my first reaction to the VM P/J's was "Yay! Squier is bringing back the P-Bass Special!!". :woot: But that thrill left me when I read the specs...Precision necks. :crying:
 
#39
Have two new Squier VM P/Js I'm using to play blues bar gigs. The pickups were good enough to work with (the latest "Fender designed" models), but had my luthier change out the Precision pickups to Duncan SPB-1s, the pots to CTS 250ks, the capacitor to .047uF Orange Drops, the output jacks and wires. I rarely use the bridge J pickup so left the stock ones in for now.

This being dry "neck shrinking" Arizona, had to have the fret ends dressed (were becoming uncomfortable) so got everything done in one shot. Threw some Fender 9050 flats and StrapLoks on them and the 3" leather neckstraps...and I have two comfortable basses for cover gigs. Richer tone to my ears with the new Duncans. Been receiving compliments from various seasoned musicians on the sound I've been getting out of these going through the new class D Rumble amps.

Will serve me well.

EDIT: bought both on sale for $250 each....3 tone Sunburst, Lake Placid Blue. Decent resonance unplugged, tuners hold a tuning, string nuts cut reasonably well. About $500 each after upgrades and cases (from a half price sale). Very comfortable necks.
 
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#40
on mine the PUs aren't secure, as is typical with far too many basses for whatever reason that when you raise them they don't stay there, touch them and down they go... but that's an easy fix.
my usual psa on these basses; the neck plate screws are skinny cast garbage, swap'm for fatter stainless.
 
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