Goodday all, as I've been wanting a maple-boarded in natural-finish Fender forever but they don't offer it for lefties. Then I was on Squier's site and seen this Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass in lefty:



Now apparently from what I've read online the righty seems to be a nice fish. Anyone have any firsthand experience with them? If it's nice I will likely get it.

Newf

I have several of the Squier VM basses - right handed though. I really like them. I think they're a good value for the money.

I've tried the righty version before at the local GC and they seem pretty good. Even better with a proper set up. They feel and sound like a jazz bass. I like that this bass has the regular size fender style machines as opposed to the cheesy looking small looking machines I've seen on the Squier affinity models. It sure looks nice. The price isn't bad either. If it's what you want go for it.

Newf, I have a Squier Vintage Modified jazz bass. I also have many other Fenders, MIAs, MIMs and MIJs to comare it with. I can find no fault with this instrument. The fit and finish is great for this price bass. The neck is a joy to play. I have no desire to upgrade the pickups, thay sound fine. The bridge and tuners are noticably less quality than a MIM but they work and do their job. The clear coated soft Maple body is very attractive. If I were going to put together a Fender parts bass, I would use this body along with US Jazz neck, electronics and hardware. But this is very nice "as is"
Rocky

You're cheesy looking small looking.

I have my second of two fretless VM Jazz bases, and I loved mine enough to get a second one. I know two people who have the right handed version of that one you posted, and they are very happy with them. Good fish, great price, if the one you're looking at plays well and sounds good to you, reel it in and no worries.

I have a VM fretless in my arsenal (see avatar). The Squier brand isn't the sack of crap that it once was. Proper setup is a key here, otherwise they tend to get a little buzzy. Can't beat the price with a stick.

+1 b5p on the machine heads. The ol' cloverleaf looks so cool.

I like the new Squiers. The VM series and Classic Vibe are nice looking and decent playing fish. The natural look is very nice too. Buy it!

Thanks all for the great feedback. Yeah, I had checked out two P-Bass specials from them about 4 years ago and I was kinda underwhelmed. The electronics I could sorta understand given the price range and yeah the tuners were kinda cheesy but the deal-breaker was the necks which would not adjust the ton of bow out no matter what I tried. It would adjust some and flatten out but then bow out again.

However you guys confirmed my other research into this so now I'll be going around tomorrow to see what can be done to checking out/acquiring one.

Cheers
Newf

I've heard a number of positive things about the VM Jazz bass. The Squier VM bass that's caught my eye is the Precision Bass TB. It's basically a Telecaster bass. It played and sounded alright. But it did need to have the frets dressed.

Nevermind. I went to the Squier site and found it.

Is the TB a 30" or 34" scale? I'm also looking for a nice starter righty for the kids as well.

Newf

It's a 34" scale length. But Squier does make a couple of short scale Bronco's.

i've got the right hand version and it is a bargain for that amount of money.

set it up to your liking and you won't be dissapointed

The Vintage Modified and the Classic Vibe line are both worth the money. I am debating picking up one of these myself- can't decide if I want the fretless, CV Jazz, or VM Jazz.

I think it's great that they offer them in a left handed model now. That should be a great market for them.

Hmmm...I went to the two dealers here and neither has it available. Not in Canada maybe?

It has been out since July and it's on at the Musician's Friend site so it can be had. I found it under righties, not lefties though so I phoned their toll-free and they said that they'd fix it, we can't buy 'em if we don't know they're there. I was just looking around here first though, figured I'd support the local business but not this time I guess.

None on ebay yet either.

GAS for a Squier, who woulda thunk?

Cheers
Newf

Since they came out with those Vintage Modified and Classic Vibe ones, I can dig it. I really want that CV '50s P-bass but it's surprisingly not-cheap here in Belgium. And I'm sure my girlfriend would find it does not suit the style of my '50s rock'n'roll band

Newf,

They are available in Canada - my local (Victoria, BC... wrong coast) Tom Lee Music has two in store - one rightie and one leftie. I keep trying the rightie and thinking about it... maybe this weekend.

If you have a Tom Lee near you, I think they can transfer the basses between stores... or check out their online site?

And I hear you about GAS for a Squier, but I do love it when the the quality improves more than the price rises.

Glenn

That CV is real nice too Eddie. I've never seen a lefty single-coiler but they do look nice. What do they sound like compared to a "regular" P-Bass? Are they noisy? I'd like to build a P with an old-style all-maple neck on it.

I have compared the quality of the Vintage Modified with the Classic Vibe and the CV has a slight edge but at a higher price. IMO. both are excellant instruments for the money. I would say, whatever model lights your fire, go for it. I am in the process of putting a vintage tint on the VM jazz neck and headstock just to make it match the body.
Rocky

It's still a split-coil but in a single-coil housing, IIRC.

haha, that's what I did also (just the headstock though)

Nope, it's a standard single coil w/4 pole pieces. The basses sound a tad brighter and noisier. You can get aftermarket replacements that are true humbuckers.

Should have guessed they wouldn't do something like that in a Squier.

First this Squier, now this Rockbass Corvette on the bay... 5-String Rockbass Corvette

I've never seen a decent lefty 5'er anywhere close to this price. Opines?

I played a Rockbass once, in a store. Really not my cup o' tea. Felt cheap, clumsy and the sound was horrible.

Just my 2 (euro)cents.

Thanks Eddie!

I thought they weren't bad. What I didn't like about it was the laquer finish on the neck. Didn't feel like a Warwick to me. Sand the neck slap on some beeswax and you're good to go.