Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass  

First I think it's time we dispelled the issue of painted blocks and binding on the neck. They are "not" painted on as so many people have carelessly observed. Look closely and you will find they are proper inlays as is the binding. I can attest to this personally after I accidently popped a few blocks out refinishing the neck.

I have both MIM and American jazz basses and this feels, plays and sounds as good while having it's own disctinctive tone the others can't reproduce.  It's become my main giging instrument. The pickups are incredible and will hold there own against the MIM and American models as well. Don't listen to all this rubish about changing out the pickups. I've swapped out for fender 60's over wound, and 70's as well with no appreciable difference. In the end I couldn't justify the cost associated with the subtle nuances that came with the price tag.  Duncun did their homework on these and nailed the tone quite accurately. I read a review that stated they sounded "unrefined" compared to their American counterparts. That assesment is inaccurate at best.  They are good enough that I've put these pickups in a few custom basses I built from Warmoth and USA Custom Guitars. I get nothing but compliments on my sound from soundmen as well as audience members. Proof's in the pudding.

Fit and finish are excellent as these are made on the same CNC machines that Fender uses. What might have been true of Squiers overall quality, and quality control, in decades past is no longer an issue. Fit and finish are first rate. I own three of these and they are all superbly constructed.

This bass does things my American Jazz won't do. I'm not aware that Fender even offers a complete maple bass which is a distinctive sound the squier has to itself. This makes it unique.

The only downside to this instrument is that you have to dig through a few to find one that has well matched grains and nicer fretboards. The affordability of this bass is due largely in part to the fact that they aren't spending a lot of time matching up grains on 2 and 3 piece bodies. Some look better than others and it may take some time to find one that appeals to your taste.

I'm quite amazed that some people consider this bass and entry level instrument. The only thing "entry level" is the price and I think people would do well to start seeing it for what it really is. I think there is still a stigma people associate with Squier, that needs to go. I also believe that many people just aren't willing to sucumb to the idea that this bass really can compete with a Genuine Fender, and in some regards outperform it. It's not just good for the money, it's good "period". The only modifications I've made to mine are replacing the bridge with a Leo Quan BA 3, vintage correct knobs and custom clear coat to the fretboard for cosmetics. (Yes I left the "Squier Logo on the headstock.)

I'm still constantly amazed  at how good this thing sounds, the clarity, the structure of overtones and harmonics it reproduces with such fortitude, and the growly mids that cut through screeching guitars.

I love my genuine Fender basses for sure. Am I a Squier advocate?  Yeah, I'm sold on them for sure because they hold their own at a fraction of the price . If you want a quality Jazz bass that you will hold onto for a lifetime, you owe it to yourself to try one the Vintage Modified Jazz Basses.

Sure the pots and hardware could be better

The design of the "Squier Vintage Modified 70's Jazz Bass" is one of the main things that attracted me to it. I love the painted on black block position notes on the fretboard, and the black binding of the neck. They give the bass a Geddy Lee look but match the black pick guard wonderfully. The chrome control knobs are also a nice touch that I find works well with the bass.

The Duncun Designed pickups are quite nice over all. But to my ears they can sometimes sound awkward depending on which one's turned up or down. The bridge pickup sounds close to a Rickenbacker vibe I think, but the other pickup sounds more like a tone you might here on a P-bass. These different sounds can seem as though they are fighting one another at times, not melding together. But I just keep playing around with them until I get the sound I want. Though I don't have the greatest amp at home (a Fender Rumble 15), and the bass did sound somewhat better when I plugged it up at the shop before I bought it, so you decide.

The two-piece soft maple body is gorgeous and the finish on it is flawless, and beautiful. Yet if you're really concerned about the weight of your bass, then I must say that it is not light. I weighed it when I got it home and it came in at just under 10 pounds. Not that heavy, but certainly no where near light. For me being a lightweight guy, it hasn't been that comfortable. So recently I ordered a Neotech Mega Bass strap and it has helped a decent amount. But I can't lie, I would take an alder body for its light weight any day.

The one-piece maple neck is very nice looking and I believe the finish on it is a low coating. This feels very nice to me but there are a few places here and there where I can feel the texture of the wood slightly coming through. But that honestly doesn't bother me at all.

Unfortunately, here comes the biggest downside. The neck is just plain stubborn. It seems to be quite sensitive and keeps wanting to bend. I got this bass home after playing it at the shop with no problems. I adjusted the saddles to lower the action some and was pretty happy. That is until over the next week or so the bottom string began to buzz past the fifth fret to an obscene amount. I took it back to the shop and the guy that sold it to me said that the neck was probably too straight, which I thought couldn't be right. He said that too much humity, or sometimes too little humidity can cause the neck to warp. (This left me more than a little confused.) So he adjusted it and it seemed to help some, yet left the neck far too warped to me, but I left it that way. Fast-forward two months, the buzz was back full-swing, and the neck still warped, leaving the bass nearly unplayable. Fed up, last night I straightened the neck back using the truss rod and am leaving it that way despite the aggravating buzz.

I don't know why it's still buzzing but since it doesn't seem to be because of the neck's straightness, I think it might be fret-related. This pains me because I will probably have to pay someone to fix this, and I'm not comfortable with that thought. I don't want this bass ending up costing me the same price as a genuine Fender Jazz Bass, but with all these issues. I just can't go there. Anyway, moving on...

I might as well mention that the hardware on this bass seems cheap. The turners are nothing special and the bridge is nothing short of scrap metal. But they work okay. Might replace the bridge with a better one sometime, so nothing to fret over (no pun intended). Speaking of frets, the fretwork seems to be good, just not sure if that's what's causing the buzz, so can't say for sure.

The price is the reason I decided to get this bass. I had been looking at it for months and at such a tempting offer, I went with it. I had been playing a Squier Affinity Series P-bass, which was the first bass I've ever owned, for a year, and was finding it just too difficult to play due to the wider neck. Wanting the thinner neck and versatility of a Jazz Bass, switching seemed to be the right thing for me, and I think it still is. The bass is pretty well made and definitely not cheap feeling. I paid  for this bass and I think that's about right for what I got. But I would not be surprised in the least if I saw this bass on the rack for less.

Also, I must say, whenever I pick up my Affinity P-bass I just can't see why the Jazz Bass is so much more pricey. I have had no problems at all with my "cheaper" P-bass and more than a couple with the Jazz. Kind of bewildering and unfair if you ask me.

Right now I'm left with feelings of satisfaction and regret at the same time. Satisfaction because of the kick-butt looking bass I got for under 400 bucks that feels pretty good to play on, and I like coming to every day. Regret, because I spent $$$ on a bass that has a neck that is unpredictable and a buzzy bottom string that leaves me feeling embarrassed after I hit it.

Don't get me wrong, I do love this bass for what it offers me, but I can't help but have feelings of shame for making what may turn out to be a rash decision to get it.

So I guess this leads to the big question. Do I recommend this bass? Well, that depends. If you are a bass guru on a budget and know how to fix anything that could go wrong with this bass; or a desperate player that needs a Jazz Bass NOW, then sure, get it. But if you're just a casual bass player that's still learning like me, then consider what you've learned here, weight your options, and make your decision. If you really want this bass, then I can say you will probably be happy with it.

I can be sure about one thing though. The next bass I buy will definitely be a real, Fender Jazz Bass. Just so I wont have to take as much of a risk again. But hey, this bass will do me just fine for now. :]

Overview

Body - Very attractive, a tad too heavy for me.

Neck - Nice look and feel, but warps too easily.

Sound - Good range of tone, watery smooth, but can get confusing.

Feel - Fun and unique bass to play on.

Design - Lovely.

Value - Good.

Product Recommendations

Get a good, comfortable bass strap. The Neotech Mega Bass Strap works good for me, and it's not too expensive. (I also lay the bass on top of the strap when resting it on my leg while sitting. It helps my leg not get so sore.)

A very nice Bass, sounds great. Expect to set it up. Mine is much darker than the picture and has some dark knot hole spots on the finish. Im not complaing I love it.

Great Sounding and slid as a rock. Also stay in tune Very well. I almost never have to tune mine.

Well worth buying.

Its an awesome bas just expect to set it up and the finish probably wont look as nice as the pic. But a great playing, great looking, well built Bass. You will enjoy it if you get one. I guarantee that.

This is a Squier?

Wow - what more do you need...

• A fast, thin neck with beautiful inlays
• Excellent pickups - dial in the tone your looking for
• Beautiful natural maple body
• Wonderful sound and sustain, stays in tune
• Great vintage styling

Outstanding quality, especially for the price.  The body on my bass is made of 3 pieces, but you have too look very closely to spot the laminations.  The finish appears to be flawless.  The neck is smooth, well fitted, and has nicely finished frets.  No buzz here.  The volume and tone knobs are smooth and noiseless, but were installed too far down on the shaft so they rubbed on the chrome when turned.

The luthier that did my setup was amazed with this bass!  May be the best bargain out there.

Highly recommended - it makes me sound better than I am.

So far...so good.

When I changed the strings, from the stock roundwounds to a set of heavier gauage strings, I noticed that the groove in the nut wasn't wide enough to accomodate the E string. When I brought this up with a local musician and technician, he warned me that the heavier gauaged strings woul eventually cause the neck to bow (warp in a way that would ruin the playing action).

So, before making any drastic changes, be sure to first consult with an expert. 

So far...so good.

I love it and so do the few others that I've allowed to try it.

If you can't afford a Fender Jazz Bass with the Fender logo boldly displayed on the headstock, then I definitely recommend checking out any one of the Squire Jazz Basses.

The biggest difference between any Squire instrument and the Fender counterpart (i.e., the "Standard" Jazz Bass) is the extra money that you could save by choosing the Squire instrument.

As much as I love Fender instruments, I would rather save some money than put Leo's grandkids through college.  

I've always loved the Fender Jazz Bass, since I've first played one back in 1974.

The Squire Vintage Modified Jazz Bass is a Fender bass in everything but the name on that is boldly on the headstock...and the price tag.

This bass exceeds my playing needs. It's definitely gig-worthy.