OK - here's the review:
First, I should mention that between picking up the 50's Vibe (just prior to Christmas) and the NYE gig, I also scored a virtually-new 60's Vibe Jazz for a song. So ..... I can give you a first-hand review on both models. I will say this - late on Dec. 31st while packing up my gear and heading out to the venue, I did not hesitate one minute to take ONLY these two basses and leave their (much) more expensive Fender counterparts at home. During rehearsal prior to NYE, they both held up exceptionally well and after going over them from headstock to strap button, there really are no significant build issues to speak of. This latest batch of Squiers really are the best they've made in many, many years. I would put them at slightly better than their Mexican equivalents ..... maybe not quite as good as a Japanese/American Fender but amazingly well put together - especially at this price-point. They both sounded freakin' great on the NYE gig. In fact, several of the bassists in attendance were impressed and couldn't believe that I had about a third the money tied up in these two basses that most would spend on one. So, here goes .....
50's Vibe Precision
Tone: Sounds like a '51/'55 should, decent definition .... boomy when it needs to be, growly with a little more of the tone dialled in but really old-school. No significant noise or hum out of the pickup/pots but a little sterile. I think the bass is a likely candidate for an upgrade in the electronics department but I'm going to give 'er another whirl this coming weekend. For low-end thump on Rockabilly, Blues, Country, Roots-Rock, R&B and Motown - it's great. Versatility? Not alot but then again, if you want a Sadowsky, get a Sadowsky ..... 'cause this is definitely NOT an all-purpose bass. The tone out of the pickup is what you would expect - very comparable to the Sting '51 Precision.
Construction: I would rate it very good (again, for this price-point). Nice finish with no blemishes, really nicely finished neck. Machine heads are identical to Mexi Fenders. 4-saddle bridge which (IMO, YMMV) is an improvement on the 2-saddle that this model is usually equipped with but it's not string-throuh. White-on-white pickguard, no-frills but functional. Push-on control knobs and a cheesey 2-cent hunk-of-plastic excuse for a tugbar round it out.
Set-up: Pretty good right out of the box. Needed a 1/2 turn on the truss but the intonation and saddles where fine and pickup height was where it should be. I did, however, find one fret that's *slightly* high and the last 3 or four frets could have been dressed better than they were. Certainly not a deal-breaker for a mass-produced, Chinese copy.
Overall: Durability remains to be seen. If anything - and this has been said before - time and climate change will probably affect the neck the most (if at all). For what I paid, I'm satisfied.
60's Vibe Jazz
Tone: Really good. I'm fairly certain that the pickups are Wilkinson's (judging from the bridge .... see explanation below) which have quite a different tonal quality from Mexi/US Jazz pickups. A lot boomier with more mids present ..... I would almost say kind of Thuderbird-ish. Good response on the tone control and surprisingly, no 60-cycle hum when panned more to the neck or bridge. Sounds just like you want a passive Jazz bass to sound. Very versatile tones at your fingertips but tough to make a comparison as these pickups are clearly NOT Fenders or a dirivitive. Sounded good when thumbing, finger-style, for slap/pop stuff and when really digging in on a straight eighth note groove.
Construction: As indicated above, very good. No big flaws that I could find anywhere on this one. The cheap tugbar, push-on knobs and pickguard are to be expected. This model has a brass-saddle standard bridge which I'm fairly certain is of Wilkinson origin but I haven't seen anything to support this ..... just a guess. The tone out of the pickups, however, is identical to a set of Wilkinsons (which I actually have in another fretless passive Jazz) so I'm fairly certain that Squier and Wilkinson are in bed together on the Vibe series. Again, nothing to report ...... feels great and when compared to pretty much any model of Fender Jazz (and I've played a boatload of 'em), this bass holds its own.
Set-up: I picked it up used so it was reasonably well set-up already. Neck feels good, truss and bridge work fine. No fret issues .... plays like a $1000 bass.
Overall: Very satisfied.
Comparing the two, I'd say the Jazz is the better instrument simply for the increased tonal possibilities and the use of higher quality pickups and (IMO) bridge. I have a total of $500 invested in these two basses and if nothing else, they will serve as the platform for some serious mods in the future. For now, they stay as is and are in steady rotation. From a players standpoint, I recommend both models.
