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Which Squier is best for customizing?

Z

Zapp

Sep 4, 2005
594
20
Gruene Texas
#1
I need a 4 string, and I need a 5. I will play the 5 more at the current time so I've been thinking higher-end on that one.
But for this discussion, I'm asking which of the Squier 4-string J-basses lends itself best to modding with some high-end pups, maybe a different nut, MAYBE a different bridge, though I haven't heard too many of you say you hate the stock bridge.

I played several Squiers - a standard plain jane J-bass, a Jaguar that had a factory wiring flaw [they didn't know it... I pointed it out to them]. I have not played a Vintage mod or Classic Vibe.

I THINK I would leave it passive but I'm open to suggestions.
I want a DARK [not muffled], clear, hard hitting bottom for a change, with the ability to roll-on the startling mids for some tunes.

?
 
#2
The Vintage Modified are great. I had one, sold when I needed cash. Don't regret it cause I can always get another at a fair price.

Wild card: Squier Jazz Deluxe Active V (5). Sweet bass, just not my thing. Very powerful, especially with onboard EQ. Lots of tonal range. Check it out. It might not be your thing but it sure is cool!
 
#4
I'd say they hit 75-95% of the real thing acrossed a couple of categories. (Tone, finish, quality, etc...) Usually it isn't worth hunting for that last bit at a high cost and with a lot of mods.
 
#6
depends on how much you're planning on "customizing". If you're replacing just about everything- the Affinity would work fine. I know the VM and CV have pretty decent pickups, so there's that as an option too
 
#8
Ok i had the VMJ which was great, great sounding pickups those Duncans are. I sold it now and got a CV on the way.

I would have put a Gotoh bridge on the VM if i had a chance, but the CV has a great stock bridge and is not the fender norm even if i want to change it.

If i were you id go try them out and see how you feel. All are evenly easy to mod apart from the CVs bridge.

What id do? Grab a VMJ, replace the nut for a graphtech black one (complete the black binding look) switch pots out for CTS and an Orange drop, gotoh bridge.......maybe new hipshot tuners if it needed them? I wouldnt touch the pups at all unless you really hated ducan designed, in that case just get EMG style covers to get rid of the name!

I did that on my vmj and it looked great, did the graphtech nut and electronics. Never got as far as the bridge. I also put a F bridge cover on it but missed placing my thumb on the back pup, so it went.....looked great though.

Basically go out and try some cheaper jazzes until you find one you like. For the purpose of mods you may even find a standard squier or even an affinity that plays well.

My friend had the walnut satin finish squier standard which easily kept up to my vmj in terms of feel and playability....those duncans just gave mine the edge......
 
#9
I hear 'customize' and I think anything but changing electronics and internal stuff.

I think more along this line:::
100_7471.png


If it goes into changing bridges, necks, pots, p'ups or anything that isn't needed for a repair, then it's 'modding', not customizing.

I tend to not mod - but a little bling is good.
 
#10
SurferJoe46 said:
I hear 'customize' and I think anything but changing electronics and internal stuff.

I think more along this line:::
100_7471.png


If it goes into changing bridges, necks, pots, p'ups or anything that isn't needed for a repair, then it's 'modding', not customizing.

I tend to not mod - but a little bling is good.
Click to expand...

Here's mine with an Audere. I guess great minds think alike, huh?
 

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#16
YW, Zapp.

xjeremiahx, you speak the truth. The CVs have great hardware, but there are many, including myself, who would point to the Duncan Designed pickups as being where the VM series has its' edge. My CV 50's P was bought because I had to cover a Green Day tribute gig, which essentially paid for the bass. I subsequently put in a Basslines Quarter Pounder, and it sounds a bit more "trad-P" now. I love the sound of my VM Jag, which will eventually get a BAII bridge on it.

Straplocks don't count; I put 'em on all of my basses. My only pet peeve with Squier is that there does not seem to be a direct match in a Hipshot Xtender tuner, so the likely course there is a complete new set of tuners, if I absolutely need drop-D. Since I bought the Jag to be the "gigs in unsafe places" bass, I probably will only do the bridge mod, and let my octaver do the work at my feet.
 
#17
plankspanker13 said:
YW, Zapp.

xjeremiahx, you speak the truth. The CV is top-notch, in terms of hardware (I would argue that the VM Duncan Designed pickups are better). I got the 50's P, because I had to do a Mike Dirnt turn in a Green Day tribute project, and it looked close enough to fit the bill. I would have rather gotten the CV Jazz, instead; what a great instrument! I might change out the pickguard, and put a Hipshot Xtender on it, but that would be about the extent of any modifications/customizations (well, with me, strap locks are a given, so they are not counted). I do enjoy my VM Jaguar. It means that my most expensive and my least expensive basses have block inlays, whereas the CV and the G&Ls (in between the extremes in my collection) all sport dots.
Click to expand...

Totally! All of those basses are built incredibly well for the price. I personally like the pups in the CV stuff a little more than the VM stuff. I WISH that the CV stuff came with blocks; I'd have every one of them haha. I love the fact that the bridges on the CV stuff are real heavy mass, so you don't really even need to add your typical Badass II or change it at all. That thing is SOLID.
 
#18
xjeremiahx said:
Totally! All of those basses are built incredibly well for the price. I personally like the pups in the CV stuff a little more than the VM stuff. I WISH that the CV stuff came with blocks; I'd have every one of them haha. I love the fact that the bridges on the CV stuff are real heavy mass, so you don't really even need to add your typical Badass II or change it at all. That thing is SOLID.
Click to expand...

I wonder why they didn't go with Basslines on more of the models.
 

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