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Squire Vintage Modified Precision an upgrade or?

G

gustmouse

Oct 10, 2007
22
0
Connecticut
#1
Ok, I've done searches and read a bunch of mostly favorable reviews and comments on this bass.
I own a Ibanez GRS200, which is my beater bass. I leave it at a friends house with an amp. So I always have something to play when I visit. The Ibanez is ok. It plays well enough. But the sound, is well... not too good.
I think it's a combination of the bad pickups and the crappy wood it's made out of.
I guess the Squire Vintage Modified Precision is made from the same wood. So I'm thinking it may sound just as bad or I'm I missing something here? With the GRS200 I really can't get a good Precision type sound out of it. I can EQ the amp and get something that sounds just alright. Would this Squire be an upgrade or just another cheap sounding bass. I know I'll have to try one at a store, but any comments would be helpfull
 
#4
for the price of the vm series of squiers you cant go wrong. These are basses you can easily gig with , I would say that if you are concerned about the body wood then go for the vintage modified jazz as for some reason its made from a better wood than the precision (maple vs agathis) , however i think either of these basses will do you proud
 
#5
I really like my Squier VM P. Its my upstairs bedroom bass - always plugged into a practice amp ready for a quick practice session. I use it as a backup on gigs for my '73 P which has been known to have "bad days" in terms of its electronics. A couple of months ago my '73 crapped out during soundcheck so I used the Squier the entire 2-hour gig and it was great - no problems whatsoever. I upgraded it to add a Badass II, but other than that I think its fine. For a $250 bass (and I got lucky and found one for $220) its a very good bass for the money.
 
#6
Thanks Guys for the info and experiences on the Squire Vintage Modified P.
I'm going to have try one out now. Which I may do today since there's a Sam Ash about 10 miles away.
I just hope I can get out of the store with what I need and not what I see! :)
 
#7
Well I ordered a Squire Vintage Modified P bass from MF. The local Sam Ash had none in stock, so I couldn't try one out. So I'm hoping the one I get is good. But I haven't had any problems ordering guitars or basses in the past from MF. So there shouldn't be a problem!

Thanks again for the your input!
 
#8
The VM Jazz has Maple body and quite a bit of punch for a Jazz. The VM fretless works well with the Agthisis wood, but I would bet on a fretted bass, it might sound a bit weak. I use a Pod XT to compensate for some EQ and compression and my VM Jazz and Frettless sound absolutely wonderfull, and very entertaining to play. On a jazz neck, improvisation just happens!
 
#9
good luck with the VM P dude...i've played multiple outdoors as well as several 4-5 hour bar gigs with my VM jazz and have yet to be forced to resort to my backup, or have i become discontent with the performance...u'll love the VM, go have fun dude!
 
#10
I've tried one at a shop and was impressed.
when I plugged in into an an amp (as I rememeber it was an eden rig, which is absoultely not my favourite), set everything flat and played.
The sound was awsome, I could not believe that a bass this cheap would play so well. Also the craftmanship was good. Maybe IMO the sound was a little "plastic" not as worm as the other precisions I'm used to (but for that price I could not ask more).
I think that maybe with new pickups it would be a great player.
 
#12
I'd say go for it - haven't tried the P, but heard really good things about it. I myself have a VM Jazz which is fantastic. And I wouldn';t worry about body wood too much - if it SOUNDS good, who cares? I have had several low end basses that weren't alder or ash that have rocked. Conversely, I have owned basses with "better" woods that have sucked.

The VM series are REALLY great stock, but even better with a pickup upgrade. I put Nordstrand NJSV in my Jazz - yes, pickups costing almost as much as the bass! However, this bass now is unbelievably punchy and articulate, plus no hum or buzz (I shielded it and did star grounding). So now, for little more than an MIM Jazz, my bass is easily on par with just about ANY Jazz I've payed - for real.

Jamie
 
#13
I've had the Squire Vintage Modified Precision for a week now and It's been pretty hard to put it down. I haven't play anything else all week. Today I'm going to try it on my practice amp in the living room. Not the "big" amp in the basement! I also have the feeling it's going to used for the whole practice with the band next week.

Thanks Guys!
 
#16
tomhanzo said:
dude the VMP is all i use i dont ever do any shows cause im just getting started kind of. the only problems i ever have is the volume pot. it makes a static sound when you turn it.
Click to expand...

You should look into new pots/ wiring harness from Bayou Cables. He is awesome to deal with...very quick.

I got a new harness with solid shaft CTS 250k pots for my VM FL for $30-ish...best thing I've done to any bass so far.
 
#18
I've played several VM P basses at the music stores. I just played one last night at the Sam Ash in Tampa. DON'T judge the bass on how it's setup or how it sounds in the store!! The action on the one I played last night was SOOO high it was almost unplayable. With a new set of QUALITY strings and trussrod ajustment, they sound great. IMHO, as good or better than basses costing 3-4X as much.
 
#19
mellobud said:
You should look into new pots/ wiring harness from Bayou Cables. He is awesome to deal with...very quick.

I got a new harness with solid shaft CTS 250k pots for my VM FL for $30-ish...best thing I've done to any bass so far.
Click to expand...

I'm contemplating doing the same thing.
I've got a set of Quarter Pounders to throw in my P and am thinking I'll just order the harness and do the solder free install with the caps instead of taking it to a tech to have them installed.
 

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