Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass 5 String Review

April 19, 2022 Post a Comment

The author is a guitarist and bassist with over 35 years of experience equally a musician.

The Squier by Fender Vintage Modified Jazz Bass offers some incredible value.

The Vintage Modified Jazz Bass

This review takes a look at the Squier by Fender Vintage Modified Jazz Bass series. Squier is a company owned by Fender, ane of the almost iconic guitar makers in the world. Through the Squier brand, Fender produces lower-cost versions of their classic instruments, such as the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jaguar, Precision Bass, and Jazz Bass.

Even the best Squier instruments won't cost much more than $300, and the Squire Vintage Modified Jazz Bass comes in merely nether that marking.

At such a low price point, you might imagine Squier guitars and basses are targeted at beginners, and that'due south pretty much true.

Squiers are starter instruments for endless guitarists and bassists, and a great way for a newbie to jump into the music world without dropping likewise much cash.

But the Vintage Modified line, despite the low toll, has a bunch of features that have veteran bassists' attending. These basses have been a pleasant surprise since their release, and accept made a Squier fan of many former gear snobs.

I've been a musician for 30 years, and I've played guitar and bass in a few bands. I have always loved Jazz basses and the Vintage Modified lineup seemed like a great way to add a classic-looking bass to my lineup without spending a lot of cash.

Squier makes some of the best bass guitars for beginners, but could a Squier really run into the needs of a veteran thespian who was used to handling Warwick, Spector, Ibanez and high-end Fender basses?

Let's find out!

The Vintage Modified Jazz Bass '70s

In the '70s version nosotros're looking a soft maple torso and maple neck with a maple fretboard. All that maple should make the bass very bright sounding, but I've never had any trouble dialing in bassy, rounded tones.

The woodgrain is very attractive, and fifty-fifty though the trunk is several pieces glued together it'due south tough to see where the pieces join. The whole '70s vibe, consummate with block inlays, just looks super cool, and the bass sounds cracking.

This bass has moved from the Vintage Modified lineup to the Classic Vibe Series. Specs vary slightly so be sure of which bass you are looking at when you lot cull.

Trunk: Maple
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Maple, 20 frets
Pickups: Ii Fender-Designed Single-Gyre Jazz Bass Pickups (note: previous versions of the VM Jazz Bass featured "Duncan-Designed" pickups)
Electronics: Bones ii volume, ane tone controls.
Bridge: iv-saddle vintage-style tuners.
Boosted Features: Chrome hardware, 34-inch calibration, Tortoiseshell pickguard, os nut, narrow-tall frets.
Note: Exist certain to cheque with the manufacturer'southward website for the most up-to-date specs. The Vintage Modified and Classic Vibe versions of this bass vary slightly.

Squier VM Jazz Construction

Remember that this is a $350 bass. It'southward not going to compete with a Warwick or a Lakland, or fifty-fifty an American-made Fender, only it's a not bad audio for the coin. If you go in thinking Squier instruments are low-level basses for beginners, you will be very surprised.

Aside from a small fret issue which concluded up being humidity related, I have been extremely happy with the construction. It is head and shoulders above the standard Squier Affinity Jazz and Precision basses.

Curlicue to Proceed

Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass Audio

Though I tried them all except the 5-string and fretless, the VM Jazz I gravitated to was the Natural '70s model. I'd compare them all to a good Fender MIM Jazz Bass in structure and feel. As far as sound, maybe even a piddling better.

I like my pickups dialed in with the bridge position on 10 and the neck position back just a touch on. I can become a lilliputian more Jaco-y and have the neck position back further, or I get growly for more aggressive music with both pickups on 10, and I can plow off the bridge pickup and plough the neck up for a passable P-bass impersonation (not the strong suit of whatever Jazz bass).

I usually get the audio I want from the VM Jazz Bass. Once more, it has a sound quality far higher up the standard Squiers, with pickups that are much stronger and richer.

More than Jazz Basses

The Squier Vintage Modified Series offers some of the all-time bass guitars under $300. At that place are five different Jazz basses in the Squier Vintage Modified line. Here'south a look at them i by one.

The Vintage Modified Jazz Bass Fretless

Think y'all can't beget a decent fretless bass? Check this guy out! It only comes in 3-color Sunburst, just with that gorgeous pickguard-less façade it really doesn't need anything else.

The VM Fretless has an Agathis body with an Ebonol fretboard. Ebonol is a synthetic material used equally an ebony substitute. Over again, on a bass in this price range at that place are no complaints.

If you e'er wanted a fretless bass, at that place aren't many improve opportunities than this one.

The Vintage Modified Jazz Bass 5-String

Like with the fretless model, the Squier by Fender Vintage Modified series offers a great way to grab a v-string Jazz Bass for a reasonable price.

This bass is similar to the Vintage Modified '70s Jazz Bass, but of class with an extra string. That means a soft maple body, maple neck and maple fingerboard. It also means that peachy '70s look, and those cool block inlays again!

If yous need that low B, here's your bass. If you're a metal guy you lot might desire to look elsewhere, but for every other genre from rock to jazz to country it's difficult to find a better 5-string for the money.

In that location's besides a P/J Model

The Last Word on the Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass

The bottom line to the entire Squier line of guitars and basses is this: What practise you desire out of the instrument?

The VM Jazz Bass is an inexpensive musical instrument that sounds amend that you lot'd expect and looks better than it should. Simply it'southward still a Squier. It'south not likely to get upwardly in value, or even maintain its value. I'thou not sure how it will hold up in the long run, equally I've had it less than a year.

This is non the bass yous laissez passer on to your grandson, nor is it probable the bass you find wrapped effectually your shoulders if you finally make it large. This is the bass you noodle effectually with in your basement, and maybe play a few gigs with. This is the bass yous don't experience bad about modding.

This is the bass that makes your friends say, "Wow! Is that really a Squier?"

When I bought my bass I was looking for an inexpensive instrument that gave me the all-time value for my money. I feel pretty confident that I've found that in the VM Jazz. I've been very happy with it, and if I ever constitute myself in a band again I would not hesitate to employ it in that capacity.

If this is what y'all're looking for, y'all might find the Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass to be correct up your aisle.

What Bass is Best?

This article is authentic and true to the best of the author's knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, fiscal, legal, or technical matters.

Jeff Moore on December 05, 2018:

Bought mine new, VM 5sting 70's model love this bass worth ever damn penny.

Guitar Gopher (author) on November 28, 2016:

Hi Barcode 101. I've been pretty happy with my '70s VM Jazz. They are both great basses though! Good luck with your decision. I don't retrieve you can lose.

Barcode101 on November 27, 2016:

Thanks for a corking mail service! I've been undecided for a while now - I absolutely beloved the look of the white /westward tortoiseshell plate and RW fretboard on the regular VM or Archetype Vibe 60s....but I really want the 70s VM audio! Showtime world problems lol! :D

Dnk on November 21, 2016:

Bought a Squier VM 5 strings and is going to replace my Ibanez BTB 555 MP for recording ... dandy sound for baloney and well defined.

I'm really impressed, and I experience bad for my BTB (which price the double).

Regards !

Male monarch on October 23, 2016:

I merely bought a vintage modified jazz its so amazing I'm considering selling some off my more than expensive basses considering the playable and sound of this bass sounds better than I would have ever imagined and for much much less money! This bass was hanging on the wall and set up was perfect no buzzing no sharp fret edges to cut your mitt and the wood was all one piece body not glued! I'thousand so Happy I bought it!

Swedgatch on August 06, 2016:

I purchased the VM 70's natural a year or and so ago.

My first impression was very positive. The Squire is very well made with what seems great attention to fit and finish. The grain of the maple viewed through the clear body finish follows the contours of the body for a truly beautiful visual feel. Initial prepare of the bass with the manufacturing plant installed circular'due south was skilful. The neck was well adjusted and the frets were well finished.

I am a fan of flat wound strings and I dearest to change my bass guitars then subsequently a few months of ownership I replaced the bridge with a Fender high mass model. I replace the original single curl pick ups with DiMarzio Ulta Jazz choice up set. The VM now wears D'Addario XL flat wounds 45/100's.

The VM now is capable of a multitude of different sounds ranging from vintage Jazz to modern P-Bass. The bass spends well-nigh of its time hooked up to a Hartke HD50, a slap-up combination for apartment exercise.

I have tried more that a few MIM Jazz basses and the Squier VM feels and plays improve, in my opinion.

You volition not go wrong it choosing to purchase a Squire Vintage Modified.

Alex Bass on September 09, 2015:

I accept MU Stingray 1991 bass - and likewise Squier Vintage m. jazz bass rosewood. Well.... not so many differences :) Cheers, Alex

Guitar Gopher (author) on January 30, 2015:

Thanks for adding your thoughts, Partly Dave, and glad y'all establish somewhat of a hidden gem equally I have.

Partly Dave on Jan thirty, 2015:

I have the 77 VM Squier in sunburst. Your review is authentic - its great for the money.

I accept a Mod role player Jazz too (now, that IS real value for money - a lovely bass), only its heavy and I find at home, I employ the Squier for practice. And then when I'grand loading up for a gig I retrieve, I'll take it as a dorsum up. And quite ofttimes terminate up playing it all nighttime.

I hold re durability - its only 5 months one-time and I'm just out gigging every few weeks, so I'll be interested to come across how it holds up. Jack socket worked its way loose, so I had the plate off and tightened that back up. I reckon bridge is the weakest component - I'll become a howdy mass 1 at some bespeak, merely for longevity.

And at £246, I had no qualms at drilling a fender pollex residual onto information technology, just back from the heel. For my style, that gives a lovely warm tone. With one heart on resale, I wont be drilling my other Jazz.

All in all, I'm very pleased with it and would recommend it.

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