• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Which Squier VM?

#21
3234718 said:
Ugh. I don't know what to do. Does anyone have any experience with used basses from musiciansfriend? The Squier Vintage Modified P Bass for $221.84 is very tempting.
Click to expand...

I've only ever bought new, including the Squier amber VM P. Having said that, I've been using MF for years and have had nothing but good experiences with them. Read the description of the used instrument, it's likely accurate, if you're still not sure, give them a call, the people there are very helpful. Even then, the $254 price is pretty good for a new one. I paid $279 for mine.
 
#22
No disrespect to the people who use these terms, but I do not know what growl or snarl mean. Obviously the people who use those words know what ther're saying.

Thump I understand. It's kind of self-explanatory.

That said, my VM Jazz fretless sounds and plays great and I got it on eBay, with case, for $200.

Did you try craigslist? At least you can go play the instrument and see what you're getting into.
 
#23
Five String said:
No disrespect to the people who use these terms, but I do not know what growl or snarl mean. Obviously the people who use those words know what ther're saying.

Thump I understand. It's kind of self-explanatory.

That said, my VM Jazz fretless sounds and plays great and I got it on eBay, with case, for $200.

Did you try craigslist? At least you can go play the instrument and see what you're getting into.
Click to expand...

I'm not quite sure what growl and snarl mean either, but to me roundwounds sound crunchy and...wel....growly, and flatwounds sound smooth, deep and rich. I'm weary about buying stuff from people on craigslist. But musiciansfriend has always been good to me.
 
#24
3234718 said:
My only options for trying these out are Samash, Guitar Center, and little local retailers, and they'll only ever have one Squier to try. It would be awesome if Musiciansfriend did some sort of "try before you buy" but I can understand why that wouldn't work. People are sheisty and shipping a 20 pound box ain't cheap.
Click to expand...

When it comes to the cheap basses I always try before I buy whenever possible. Play all of the local ones if you can and get the one that feels and sounds the best to you and is free from defects. If you must buy online, make sure they allow returns in case you get a bad one.
 
#25
PluckyThump said:
When it comes to the cheap basses I always try before I buy whenever possible. Play all of the local ones if you can and get the one that feels and sounds the best to you and is free from defects. If you must buy online, make sure they allow returns in case you get a bad one.
Click to expand...

Musiciansfriend is great for taking back a bass with a defect, but if I just don't like it, then its up to me to shell out the 50 bucks it would cost to ship it.
 
#26
I would go with Musician's Friend if you have had good experiences with it. I have read very little on TB about big problems with the VM line. And, at least one concept with buying an inexpensive instrument is that you have some headroom to a) fix it up if it needs fixing, but more importantly b) hop it up!
 
#28
If you're gonna buy at GC just wait until they have one of their 15% off coupons on their web site. I got my VMJB new for $255 US. Plus, I believe if you keep your receipt you can return just about anything (excluding things like mics and harmonicas) within 30 days.

That being said, I'd go with the Jazz because 1) who doesn't like block inlays? 2) tone wise you can get close to a P-Bass tone using the neck pickup 3) more tonal versatility in general as someone pointed out 4) they're cheap - you can get another model in no time at all!

Try before you buy if you can but enough people have these instruments and recommend them that you can be pretty safe with this purchase whichever model you decide on.

Good luck!
 
#29
I have the Jaguar. With Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky's it's quite punchy and growly. I play with a pick mostly, and I mostly use the P pickup. But playing fingerstyle and dialing in some of the J pickup it can thump. I'd say it's a very versatile bass.
 
#30
Hi all first post here. I just ordered the amber P yesterday from GC. It's being shipped to my house and I can return it within the 30 days. This is a nice way to go since I won't have to pay for shipping if I return yet I had it shipped to me. I hope I like the bass because I have had my eye on the CV series ever since...
 
#31
No guarantees, Sparky, all I can tell you is MY Amber VM P is A great bass, I love it. I do believe you will be happy with it, though, and you should be glad that you got it before it disappears completely. It might end up being a collectable.
 
#33
OK so I've had the Squier VM Amber P for a couple days now and it's a different sort of animal. I also have a 20th anniversary Squier P Affinity which I like a good deal believe it or not, and there are very noticeable sonic differences.

The old Affinity sounds better with slap bass- a lot better. It also has deeper lows. The VM Amber P has a low end that can be a bit flabby, but dial back the bass on the amp and it reveals an extremely tight sounding tone. That tight bass tone- it's the tone in my head, the tone I was looking for. It seems to have that tone but little else. Any suggestions on settings?

The craftsmanship on this VM bass is very good- surprisingly so. I thought they were just taking the necks from the regular Squier series and putting them on better bodies, but no these necks are sweet. Body wood is gorgeous looking- two piece, with slight flame to it. Tasteful looking. Frets are not giving me trouble. I'll get some pics up soon.
 
#34
Sparky6string said:
Your satisfaction is going a long way toward making me believe Cliff. I saw a vid on Youtube where someone changed the pickguard for a tortoise one and it looked kinda cool. Did you see that?
Click to expand...

Nope. Don't really care for Tort PGs on anything but Sunburst or Olympic White. I like the black PG that it came with much better. It reminds me of my beloved natural finished '78 Fender P-bass I used to have (except that had a rosewood board on it), one of the main reasons I got the Squier in the first place, I was hoping to re-capture the Mojo that bass had.
 
#35
I own the VM Jazz V and certainly wouldn' describe it as "thumpy". Having said that I play roundwounds rather than flats but I would suggest one of the P Bass models based on your requirements. Are you able to go to a music store and try some out? Bear in mind that at a music store most of the basses would have roundwounds on them.
 
#37
Just split the difference between thumpy and growly strings, leaving the p'ups alone, by putting something like Elixir Nanos on the VM-Jazz or the VM-Jaguar, which I did.

You'll get solid thump and no string-zing either, which I dislike a lot. Besides: the Nanos last pretty close to forever and just get deeper and thumpier and don't need the fried chicken treatment either.

The VM-Jazz is not the same animal as the VM-Jag though. They are voiced a lot differently from each other with their p'ups differences, (JJ v PJ) and if I have to play a venue where I will need a broader-sounding, multi-styled instrument, I grab the Jaguar first. The PJ is a lot more versatile.

As it is, I wish I had found a VM-P Blondie before they went out of production: tort on that pure sex wood makes me tingly all over.

I have a real celluloid vintage, extra hole, tort PG sitting here in case I find a VM-P that is totally mint - (I don't like buying used either) - and any used one would have to be incredibly perfect and untouched by humans to even consider it.
 
#40
IMO these are the most beautiful two basses in the VM family

DV016_Jpg_Large_430660.001.257_black_mp.jpg


or

DV016_Jpg_Large_H71306.003_black.jpg


I would probably go with the Jazz because of the maple board and less chance of neck dive, but I have played a few of those Jags and they sound like 10 times their price tag.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back