And they're looking mighty tempting...
http://www.squierguitars.com/products/search.php?section=basses&subcat=classicvibeseries
(http://www.squierguitars.com/products/prod_images/basses/0303080502_xl.jpg)
The "Classic vibe" Fifties P-bass
(http://www.squierguitars.com/products/prod_images/basses/0303070572_xl.jpg)
The "Classic vibe" sixties P-bass
(http://www.squierguitars.com/products/prod_images/basses/0303075505_xl.jpg)
The "Classic vibe" sixties Jazz-bass
They do, but the other recent Squiers I've seen sure don't measure up when you see them in person. That's probably no surprise considering their price range.
The first two look gorgeous. And if they're as good as the Tele Bass.....
Quote from: Chris P on June 03, 2008, 09:21:41 AM
And if they're as good as the Tele Bass.....
.....then (IMHO) they won't be very good. I saw the Squier Tele Bass when it was introduced at Summer NAMM last year. Major disappointment if you're expecting anything like the original. But typical of that price range.
It's a Squier, so it has bad pots, cheap controls and tuners and capped basswood. But it looks very good, I love the satin feel of the neck and it sounds great!
Bart!, Basvarken and I organised a mini Outpost-fest with a lot of Ricks, Fenders, Burns', Gibsons, Orvilles, Grecos, etc. and along with my '64 Burns the Tele was a big surprise! Bart! used to have a real one and he thought this ones sound is more usable. Very Fender-ish, but much fatter.
A pro band uses mine on tour through Holland now!
Ofcourse I changed the controls and I want to do the same with tuners and pots.
I have an original Fender Tele humbucker around here somewhere.
I'm going to have to buy one of those 50's P basses.
I am with Rockinray - I think the 50s P/60s Tele bass take-off is very cool, and for what you get for the money with Squier stuff it is hard to complain. Especially if you grew up with Kent and Kay import junk. Sure the bodies are bungo wood, but they do cover them up nicely with shiny cool paint. My feeling is that they are not as well-made as the 80s Squier Japan stuff by a long shot, but not bad and my only real complaint is the truss rod holes always have a cheesy vibe. Fun.
Cheesy vibe or not, you'll need frequent access to try to keep those green necks in adjustment.
At least a small percentage of Kent and Kay junk is still being gigged. I'm not confident any recent Squiers will still be in use 30-40 years down the road.
Quote from: Dave W on June 04, 2008, 09:43:01 AM
Cheesy vibe or not, you'll need frequent access to try to keep those green necks in adjustment.
At least a small percentage of Kent and Kay junk is still being gigged. I'm not confident any recent Squiers will still be in use 30-40 years down the road.
But then again, who can tell? Maybe in the future some well known guitarist will use a 2004 made Squier as his main guitar. in the same way that players like Mark Knopfler use an old silvertone.
I mean if the Yamaha CP70 electric piano is getting back in vogue...
I'm not gonna say that Squier basses don't have their share of problems, even the newer ones. I've seen and played the 'Vintage Modified Jazz' with the Black Block neck in 3 or 4 different stores, and each has had a minor finish flaw and either a bent pot or strange issue with the pickup. The fretless is a little better but still the same rule applies. I haven't had the joy of playing the 'tele' yet, so I can't comment.
But honestly for the price you're paying you're getting something you could mod out for a little cash and have a fairly nice instrument for FAR LESS than you'd be paying for a vintage one or even a reissue. And unless you're buying a reissue, you'll probly be paying something or spending time fixing minor age flaws, or in some cases major age flaws. Which, I'm not saying you couldn't get a MIM Fender for around the same price, I'm simply saying its an alternative.
I really enjoy the satiny finish of the 'VRI' necks, and as everyone else has said; they just have a great vibe, despite the negative feelings that most people have when seeing the Squier logo. I've been thinking about getting that Jazz or Tele for a while, but after seeing these... I may just hold off. I have a hidden love for all 3 of those colors. ;D
My local store has the 60s P in. I'll try her out amplified next weekend, but today I only held it in my hands.
- Very nice looking bass with a chrome bridge cover and thumb rest.
- The neck/headstock has a dark laquer, exactly like the Fender Classic Series.
- The blue is a bit darker (older vibe?) than the powder blue of a USA Tele hanging in the same shop.
But:
- The w/b/w has a black layer whch is way too thick.
- Cheap controls and tuners.
That classic vibe 50's P REALLY is tempting, but I'm a complete sucker for that shade of blue. I have a Turser JTB-401 already, and it's really the same bass...but it's black.
Check it out....no real differences at first glance, other than the tugbar on the Squier....
Stock shot:
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j306/apowell1/Electric%20Basses/jtb-401.jpg)
My bass with bridge cover added:
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j306/apowell1/Electric%20Basses/PB220356.jpg)
It's still a Squier. :P
:P
I have the bass at home for the weekend, so some first additions:
- Classic tiny frets, which are great!
- standard chrome bridge cover!
The tiny frets would make it a non-starter for me. Not that I'd ever consider buying one anyway.
Dave! As positive about Squier as ever! ;)
My 50s P has the tiny frets too and I like 'm.
That's right. I'm positive I won't buy one. :P
Quote from: Dave W on August 02, 2008, 03:48:05 PM
That's right. I'm positive I won't buy one. :P
Plus one on that Dave, I work at a Fender/Squier dealer ( as the tech, I refuse to use the term
luthier seems a bit pretentious ) and the number of banana-necked unadjustable guitars and basses I see............................. :puke:
Quote from: Bass VI on August 02, 2008, 11:26:51 PM
Plus one on that Dave, I work at a Fender/Squier dealer ( as the tech, I refuse to use the term luthier seems a bit pretentious ) and the number of banana-necked unadjustable guitars and basses I see............................. :puke:
Really??
Is that true even on the VM series?
That blue 50's Squier is dangerous for me to look at...
Quote from: Pilgrim on August 08, 2008, 05:29:01 PM
Really??
Is that true even on the VM series?
That blue 50's Squier is dangerous for me to look at...
The farther up the Squire food chain you go, the "adjustability" improves, but as Dave said :
"Cheesy vibe or not, you'll need frequent access to try to keep those green necks in adjustment.
At least a small percentage of Kent and Kay junk is still being gigged. I'm not confident any recent Squiers will still be in use 30-40 years down the road."
That's the way I see 'em too.....
Don't want to dis' Squires, much ( or any other entry level guit/bass either ) but they are what they are. I mean if you love the look and realize you may have neck/ electronic issues at some time...go for it, but by the time ( worst case scenario ) you replace the neck, pickups, pots ( might as well upgrade the tuners )..... see where this is going?
I'm only speaking from my experience and this is certainly just an opinion, but I probably deal with at least one customer a week that wants me to ( for example ) install a Floyd Rose trem and EMG active 81s in his Squier strat because " then it will be just like Kirk Hammetts' ESP custom ". I'm sure most of them think I just don't want their business when I try to talk them out of it, but honestly I just can't do those kind of mods ( this would be an extreme example ) without feeling like I was ripping someone off.
On the other hand if one wanted to do the work themselves, I say go for it. I have a regular customer that just goes crazy modding up entry level guitars, and I'm more than happy to wire stuff up for him or do the final setup ( for a reasonable fee ) but the fees I would have to charge for routing, painting etc. would amount to extortion.
For what it's worth, If you like the " vintage vibe " and don't want to pay the American Vintage price tag go with the MIM 50s' P-bass or pick up a Mike Dirnt signature ( which IMHO is a Great bass ) they are a much more stable platform to build on, will have a higher resale value.......OK, I'll get off the soapbox. ( Dave, feel free to banish this post to the " Tech Bitches about Squiers too much and gets way off topic " forum and I'll go hit Ebay to look for parts for my Teisco restoration project :mrgreen:
S.
My contact at Fender's also thinks the Mike dirnt is really good.
I use my MIM 50s P as a work horse. I have this Squier Tele Bass and it isn't as good of course. But I only use it once in a while and then it's okay. I wouldn't take a Squier on world tour wit The Who playing two hours each nite, but just a a nice bass to use once in a while....
>> Mike Dirnt signature ( which IMHO is a Great bass )
I really, really wish you hadn't said that. I was watching a couple on eBay that didn't go for that much money, but I talked myself out of bidding. :sad:
OK, so here's a question:
The Dirnt has the split-P pickup, 34" scale, tone/vol controls, 4-saddle bridge.
The standard P has the same pickup, scale, controls, bridge.
Does a Dirnt sound any different than a good later series P?
I have a '63 P and am having fun with a Turser 401, which is a '54 P copy with a single coil pickup. Would the Dirnt be significantly different than either bass?
I had a MIM Dirnt. Except for the chunky-ish neck it was great.
QuoteDoes a Dirnt sound any different than a good later series P?
About the same plus has the 50's vibe.
Quote from: rockinrayduke on August 18, 2008, 08:09:49 PM
I had a MIM Dirnt. Except for the chunky-ish neck it was great.
About the same plus has the 50's vibe.
Ash body, custom shop pickups and a Badass bridge, it has a different "character" than my '74 ( also an ash body ) the big neck gives it a very different feel, my '74 feels "dainty" compared to it. Soundwise? I think it has a little more sustain than my other Precision ( the bridge perhaps ) and the pickups seem a little ( very little ) hotter.
S.
OK, reasonable responses.
And (just IMO) not enough reason for me to spend the $ on a Dirnt.
Only NOW the Dirnt bass is a SQUIER :-\ I take it U R all talking re the FENDER M.Dirnt bass that was out a while ago- w/ the Badass bridge
Quote from: rodl2005 on September 11, 2008, 10:43:47 PM
Only NOW the Dirnt bass is a SQUIER :-\ I take it U R all talking re the FENDER M.Dirnt bass that was out a while ago- w/ the Badass bridge
The Fender Mike Dirnt is definitely still being made.
Still there
http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0138400341 (http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0138400341)
I don't generally like signature models, but I can't see any mention of Mr Dirnt anywhere on this one, unless there's something on the back. And I like chunky necks. Hmmm, back to watching eBay. 8)
does any body know if the Tele bass w/ humbucker is solid wood or ply/laminates??
The spec sheet on the Squier Guitars site says it's basswood with ash veneer front and back.
According to my source at FMIC plywood is not used on any Fender/Squier instrument.
Not anymore... I think a couple of years ago they were plywood.
Yep, specs say basswood and veneer, and I have no reason to doubt that.
Just picked up one of those 50's Vibe Precisions. I must say, I'm pleasantly surprised! While agree with everyone else's posts about Squiers being entry-level, green necks, poor build quality, etc., this bass is really none of that. I have yet to find a problem with construction, finish is excellent, neck straight as an arrow, truss working as it should. The only downside I can find is the pickup ..... a little sterile but an easy fix. Pots are ok, bridge does what it's supposed to.
Overall - and I've tried all the new "Vibe" series - this new batch of Squiers are definitely the best they've released in many years. Not as good as the early 80's Japanese models but still really good for the buck. I haven't gigged the P yet (NYE it gets the true test) but so far in personal practice and rehearsal, it's great.
For the money - get one. If nothing else, it's a decent platform to install some new electronics and mess around with.
Quote from: luve2fli on December 28, 2008, 11:09:45 AM
Just picked up one of those 50's Vibe Precisions. I must say, I'm pleasantly surprised! While agree with everyone else's posts about Squiers being entry-level, green necks, poor build quality, etc., this bass is really none of that. I have yet to find a problem with construction, finish is excellent, neck straight as an arrow, truss working as it should. The only downside I can find is the pickup ..... a little sterile but an easy fix. Pots are ok, bridge does what it's supposed to.
Overall - and I've tried all the new "Vibe" series - this new batch of Squiers are definitely the best they've released in many years. Not as good as the early 80's Japanese models but still really good for the buck. I haven't gigged the P yet (NYE it gets the true test) but so far in personal practice and rehearsal, it's great.
For the money - get one. If nothing else, it's a decent platform to install some new electronics and mess around with.
Will have to agree here, in spite of all my previous comments about Squiers. The Vibe series are in another league. We got in the P and the Jazz and both are pretty impressive at their price point and maybe a bit higher. Durability remains to be seen, but they look pretty well screwed together.
Please give us a report on how it does live.
Cheers!
Scott ( BassVI )
The only thing I didn't like about the jazz was the pickguard. It looked more lava lamp than tortoiseshell.
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.
Cool! Congratulations and thanks for the review! I reviewed all three new Squiers for this Dutch magazine and I like 'm too!
I was in love with the powder blue P, but in one way or another it was the LPB P I kept playing.