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Vintage V4: Yay or nay?

S

Sam Farnon

Sep 4, 2013
20
8
London, UK
#1
Hello again

You may remember a recent post I did about using flats/rounds on a P style bass.

I come before you once again with a question: Is the Vintage V4 bass any good?

I have my strings of choice, the Rotosound Jazz Bass 77 flats; now I'm not concerned about things such as the pickup and the bridge (Those are being changed to a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder and a Fender Hi-Mass respectively), I'm more concerned with the feel/weight of the instrument, how well they play, etc. I mean for £230 it seems like a lot less money that I was going to spend (Was going to get a Fender Player Series P Bass but I didn't like the look of them personally), and I'm wondering if I'm falling into a trap getting it, and whether they are as good as the high-end squiers and maybe (with the changes I'm making) the Mid-range fenders that currently exist/ Whats the general vibe about them here?

P.S: I know I could probably get a second hand Mexican standard online somewhere but I want to be able to play the instrument before I get it after last time I got an instrument online haha plus I want to know how good/bad the vintage stuff is: Also just to clarify I wasn't going to mod the Fender I was gonna get originally, just came across the Vintage bass and thought "for that kind of money I could mod the hell of it" xd
 
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#4
Aight I think I'm more comfortable in my choice, cheers! Also just as a more opinionated statement; is it just me of do the current line of Fender basses look a bit... ugly? I'm not sure why but they look really clinical, something to do with the colour choices, at least thats what does it for me, for the American Pro stuff at least, player series not so much (with the maple fingerboards, not the PF stuff). At least compared to the good old american standards...
 
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#5
I haven't noticed a difference, Fenders tend to stay more or less the same from year to year appearance wise. As soon as they deviate from their blueprints too much, people complain and stop buying them :laugh:

The Player Series pickups are a step up from the old Standard ones for sure, but the price has also jumped up quite a bit, at least here in the UK. Just my opinion, but the base Fender models seem very overpriced, I only buy them used.
 
#6
Much too late to the party here, but for anyone else searching, when I got my V4, I simply stopped using the Fender. The V4 is "quicker, more assertive, more versatile, more satisfying to play, in my opinion. A really solid guitar
 
#7
I know I’m resurrecting an old thread but it’s worth noting.

Vintage basses are great but you need to be quick to get one. The John Hornsby Skewes (parent company) is closing soon so these basses are no longer being built. The Vintage line have been up for sale for nearly 8 months with teo interested parties but no acceptable offers. I truly hope this line stays intact, but if you’ve ever considered one, now’s the time for very few are available.
They’re so much better than even the Fender American Standard and priced much less.
I have 2 of them: a P-Bass (V4 ICON) and J-Bass (Pro Shop built VJ74 ICON).
 
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#8
Pep said:
I know I’m resurrecting an old thread but it’s worth noting.

Vintage basses are great but you need to be quick to get one. The John Hornsby Skewes (parent company) is closing soon so these basses are no longer being built. The Vintage line have been up for sale for nearly 8 months with teo interested parties but no acceptable offers. I truly hope this line stays intact, but if you’ve ever considered one, now’s the time for very few are available.
They’re so much better than even the Fender American Standard and priced much less.
I have 2 of them: a P-Bass (V4 ICON) and J-Bass (Pro Shop built VJ74 ICON).
Click to expand...
Thank you for the heads-up. I'm on Reverb right now 😁
 
#11
The V4's are excellent basses, I currently have 3

Vintage V-4 MVW (Steve Harris Rotosound Flatwounds)
53615296781_e6ffd8f319_c.jpg


Vintage V-4 BLK (Rotosound Jazz Bass 77 Flatwounds)
53583875059_4b0c2d24d0_c.jpg


Vintage V-4 MTB (Fender 7250 Roundwounds)
53843058361_f1837e380c_c.jpg
 
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#12
I will go with V4 instead both Indonesia Squier CV even Mexico Fender player .

If you want a pbass with 38mm J neck (rock solid roasted neck ), highly recommend Bacchus BJB1RSM . I own one and she just as good as my vintera 50P , cic Matt Freeman P and Charvel Pro Mod PJ.
 
#15
Sam Farnon said:
Aight I think I'm more comfortable in my choice, cheers! Also just as a more opinionated statement; is it just me of do the current line of Fender basses look a bit... ugly? I'm not sure why but they look really clinical, something to do with the colour choices, at least thats what does it for me, for the American Pro stuff at least, player series not so much (with the maple fingerboards, not the PF stuff). At least compared to the good old american standards...
Click to expand...
I’ve had a Vintage V4 for about 18 years and love it. Pic attached. I changed the pickguard and the pickup. I’ve been looking for another one since the parent company is closing and they are becoming scarce.
No need to hesitate on you purchase. They’re great.

The bodies are standard P-Bass thickness. I have small hands and no problem with the neck at all. I also own (2) VJ74 J-Basses, also very good.
IMG_1065.jpeg
 
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