I wonder what is in my MIM J (body with new neck so unknown date) as I prefer the pickups in that to the VM Jazz I have with DDs? If I keep the VM I was thinking of swapping them out for a pair of 1980s era overwound Kent Armstrongs to see if I like that sound of them better. That's not to say the DDs are bad, they just don't sound exciting. Since the bass is a fretless the darker overwound pickups might work well with the bright sound of an ebanol board. I was looking at an ESP P/J but haven't found one in person to compare.
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Squier vs MIM P bass
- Thread starter Sharpie555
- Start date
I wonder what is in my MIM J (body with new neck so unknown date) as I prefer the pickups in that to the VM Jazz I have with DDs? If I keep the VM I was thinking of swapping them out for a pair of 1980s era overwound Kent Armstrongs to see if I like that sound of them better. That's not to say the DDs are bad, they just don't sound exciting. Since the bass is a fretless the darker overwound pickups might work well with the bright sound of an ebanol board. I was looking at an ESP P/J but haven't found one in person to compare.
I currently own a MIM Jazz bass that I love dearly. I found it in a local music shop and got a good deal because there was a nick in the finish. I also have a MIM P/J that sounds ok, but I've never been able to get a good p tone out of it.
I would like a 'true' p bass I suppose. I would also like a cheap bass to use for mods, Which is why I'm wondering how difficult it would be to put a fender neck on a squier affinity body.
Yes MIM neck and affinity body, and I don't know how to describe exactly what is missing, but even with the Jazz pickup volume off completely it still doesn't quite sound like a p bass to me. Plus I would prefer the look without the extra neck pickup.
LOL, posted this in another thread:
"Somewhere in Indonesia there is one talented little SOB assembling Squier VM basses. I played a half dozen before selecting the pick of the litter and all of them were nice instruments, the pick of the litter, and my second choice both compared favorably to the low-end Fender basses hanging on the same wall... Seems like this line in particular you are more likely to find real bang for your buck."
But the key here is play a bunch, while I found about a third of the VMs I found compared favorably to low-end Fenders, that still means 2/3 didn't.
My memory says there was variation in quality between specimens in both model lines, but the Fenders tend to "group" better, the variations are there, but not to the same extremes as the Squier. But if you can find one built by the aforementioned talented little SOB...
"Somewhere in Indonesia there is one talented little SOB assembling Squier VM basses. I played a half dozen before selecting the pick of the litter and all of them were nice instruments, the pick of the litter, and my second choice both compared favorably to the low-end Fender basses hanging on the same wall... Seems like this line in particular you are more likely to find real bang for your buck."
But the key here is play a bunch, while I found about a third of the VMs I found compared favorably to low-end Fenders, that still means 2/3 didn't.
My memory says there was variation in quality between specimens in both model lines, but the Fenders tend to "group" better, the variations are there, but not to the same extremes as the Squier. But if you can find one built by the aforementioned talented little SOB...
Probably depends most on your budget. This is just my experience, and I am just some random dude on the internet, so please take it with a grain of salt...I prefer Fender, and have owned multiple Fenders and Squiers and have always had the best luck with MIM Fenders. I have never owned a USA Fender. So if it was me, I'd try to find a MIM P-Bass that fit my budget. I found a great one once on Craigslist for $200. Not sure on the Affinity neck question, but you can be assured that the MIM Jazz neck you have would most likely fit on a MIM P. This is a very common mod. As far as pick up differences from one to another - I have found amp settings to have more of a difference than pick ups (just comparing the DD to MIM stock) on sound. I thought the DD pick ups were fine and got the job done but they will not turn you into James Jamerson or anything.
A lot of the VM series are starting to use Maple & Alder, too. Some basswood still, but a lot of other options. That said, Basswood's not a bad wood. If it was, the MM Bongo wouldn't use it.
A while ago I tried an MIA Fender P, VM and a CV. The CV and the MIA sounded close: warm but clear. The VM sounded less immediately appealing. Sound in a mix might be different, of course (maybe guitarists playing 'Smoke on the Water' in a store do serve a purpose after all). I'd say the MIJ P I used to have would slot between the MIA and the CV in terms of sound appeal, although it played better than any of the ones in the store, although none of those had been set up fully.
Just a bit of a different viewpoint ... IMHO I think the current MIM Standard ceramic pups have their place, and although it can be like comparing apples to oranges, at times I prefer the ceramic pups over alnico 5's ... in general, I prefer alnico's, but there are situations where the ceramic pups can work better, at least enough that I have left one of my J's intact with a set of stock 58294/5's ... the ceramic are generally hotter and brighter by nature, and they CAN be 'harsh' sounding IF YOU LET THEM ... they can also cut through a tough mix better than some alnico's, and with proper strings/EQ'ing/etc can not only be very usable, but are preferred in some situations ...
... better is where it becomes subjective ... sometimes a VM J with stock DD alnico's can sound 'flat' in a mix to me, and sometimes they sit fine ... the same can be said for ceramics, sometimes they are too much, sometimes just fine ...
... at least all this works in my mind to justify having a few of each on hand ... or I should say at least I think my wife buys that explanation ..
.. on MIM Standard bassess, and if the pups are stock, you can tell the vintage by looking at the pups .. if they have raised A and D poles, they would be part #'s 58294/5 that have been used on MIM Standards since mid '01 ... also measure them, and the bridge pup should be about 3/8's" longer ....
... if the pole pieces are all flat with the top of the pup cover, measure the pups ... if the neck and bridge are the same length, you have two pups with a part # of 36437 mfg for Fender by Cort and used through the 90's up until the change mentioned above ...
... both are ceramic magnet pups ...
Just a bit of a different viewpoint ... IMHO I think the current MIM Standard ceramic pups have their place, and although it can be like comparing apples to oranges, at times I prefer the ceramic pups over alnico 5's ... in general, I prefer alnico's, but there are situations where the ceramic pups can work better, at least enough that I have left one of my J's intact with a set of stock 58294/5's ... the ceramic are generally hotter and brighter by nature, and they CAN be 'harsh' sounding IF YOU LET THEM ... they can also cut through a tough mix better than some alnico's, and with proper strings/EQ'ing/etc can not only be very usable, but are preferred in some situations ...
... better is where it becomes subjective ... sometimes a VM J with stock DD alnico's can sound 'flat' in a mix to me, and sometimes they sit fine ... the same can be said for ceramics, sometimes they are too much, sometimes just fine ...
... at least all this works in my mind to justify having a few of each on hand ... or I should say at least I think my wife buys that explanation ..
Of course it's all subjective, it all depends on the tone we want and the type of music we play. To clear up the matter further, here a brief history of the string/pickup combinations I've had on the two basses. When I played rounds on the MIM, it just wouldn't cut thru the mix (in this case, a fully cranked Marshall in a stoner rock band). I then switched to flats (first Chromes, then Labellas) and they managed to get some punch and low-end response out of it. When I bought the VM P, I immediately put Labellas on it, but found them a bit boomy, with a lot of emphasis on the low-end. Nothing wrong with that for a Motown/Stax tone (Labellas are brilliant flats), but when it's your only bass you need a bit of variety in your tone (for example, if you're in a cover band and play all kinds of different music). So, I went back to the rounds that came with the bass and interestingly, I haven't lost a lot of bottom end while gaining some high-mid response, and the punch and sustain are still there. Also, the DDs seem to handle aggressive playing really well - the more you dig in, the beefier they get, especially with a pick. The MIM would lose the bottom end and get all clanky if you dug in more. It had a better slap tone that the VM P, but that's about it (and I'm not that keen on slapping anyway). Again, this refers exclusively to the 2007 MIM, as I have not played the newer models (or the Jazz with the ceramics that you mentioned). I guess the next thing to do is get another P bass for flats.
I've had 4 Squiers now, and all 4 had good craftsmanship. There are still 3 in the stable (sold 1 just to get the 4th because I didn't have the cash on hand). In the 90's I wouldn't touch one, but now - they've really stepped it up.
I found a dark blue Squier Affinity P at a pawn shop last year. The model with the tiny post enclosed tuners.
The body was in perfect condition. Hated the neck. I bought a maple MIM neck off Fender's website. Perfect fit onto the Affinity body.
I feel the MIM uses better woods for the neck and body.
I have both and feel the MIM just feels more solid.
I have both and feel the MIM just feels more solid.
I've had a Mexican and a Squier VM Modified amber bass (maple body). The MIM sounded OK but fell apart: pots stopped working, screws came out, the neck couldn't be straightened anymore, etc. Maybe it was bad luck.
The Squier also sounded OK, was much sturdier, and felt much better to play than the MIM. I compare them to the MIA, and here's what I think: If the Squier is made from other body woods than the MIA, it will not sound the same. Sure, John Myung plays a basswood bass, but it's not a Fender type bass. Fender type basses should have alder or ash bodies in order to have the Fender sound. I compared the Squier with a MIA, and even installed the exact same pick-up on both (Seymour Duncan SPB-1) and tonally it's much, much poorer and has much lower sustain. The MIMs may not be as well crafted, but at least the wood is right. So if you buy a Squier and change the pick-up, you still may not get the Fender sound, while with a MIM you could achieve that.
The Squier also sounded OK, was much sturdier, and felt much better to play than the MIM. I compare them to the MIA, and here's what I think: If the Squier is made from other body woods than the MIA, it will not sound the same. Sure, John Myung plays a basswood bass, but it's not a Fender type bass. Fender type basses should have alder or ash bodies in order to have the Fender sound. I compared the Squier with a MIA, and even installed the exact same pick-up on both (Seymour Duncan SPB-1) and tonally it's much, much poorer and has much lower sustain. The MIMs may not be as well crafted, but at least the wood is right. So if you buy a Squier and change the pick-up, you still may not get the Fender sound, while with a MIM you could achieve that.
You're going to get so many different answers that you're not going to have any better idea than when you started. For my money, the MIM and the VM are close enough in quality to go with the one with the lowest price and the look you prefer. I consider the classic vibe to be better than both.
No: they're not
Perhaps hotter
which some may like
Fender pickups on present VMs can maybe sound closer to MIM standards than Duncan Designed and it shows they're different, writings apart, for they sometimes look slightly unalligned, yet perfectly centered, below Squier VM string.
Cheers,
Wallace
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Ceramic pick-ups don't need to sound harsh ... it all depends on what bass you are using them on, what strings you use, how you EQ, and even what cabs/drivers you are using ... I use flats through sealed/no tweet cabs, and if I have on a very aged set of flats, the ceramic pups can bring a bit of 'life' back to them for when its needed ...
