Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)First of all, since there are no helpful reviews on this bass, I thought I would try and write a constructive one. Also, since obviously anyone considering a Squier is looking on the budget end of the spectrum- its pointless to point this is NOT the same as an American Jazz Bass, but is never the less quite a solid bass.
My first impression was very positive and optimistic. It seemed to be set up decently. I tweaked the intonation and adjusted the truss rod a touch to lower the action a bit. The Tobacco Sunburst finish is excellent for a bass in this price range even if the wood itself leaves a bit to be desired (more on that later). The neck, while much thinner in width and narrower at the nut than most Fender neck profiles, has a very subtle radius that allows for ease of play. Like I said, with a minor tweak of the truss rod- the action is quite good. I can play quick lines at the 12th fret, and get little to no buzz whatsoever while playing on the lower frets. This is often a problem with budget basses and the particular model I got my hands on shines here I think. I was also surprised at how good of quality the rosewood fingerboard is for this price range, and the frets were finished nicely. Most of all I liked the smooth satin finish on the back of the neck that allows for effortless movement and is not "sticky". Also a personal preference for some.... But hey, now you know what to expect. Honestly, one thing I had to get over was the "Squier" moniker on the headstock. A lot of the budget "made overseas" models Fender has cranked out years ago have earned some disdain by musicians for good reason due to low quality. It looks like Fender is turning that around somewhat these days, especially with the Vintage Modified line.
As far as electronics - the Duncan Design pickups are more than adequate. They significantly outperform any other Squier Jazz bass pickup I have heard or tried. I thought the low end is smooth and paired with the basswood body is very warm, the mid range somewhat flat or neutral to my ear, and has balanced highs that I think are neither harsh nor particularly "sparkly". Overall a good pickup with that classic Fender "Toney-ness". I get a bit of hum that is normal with single coil J pickups but dialing in a blend of the bridge and neck pickup together alleviates this, and sounds fatter anyway.
Obviously being a Squier - this bass is made overseas to keep the price point lower. The Vintage Modified models are made in Indonesia, specifically. Its biggest detractor and difference between it and an MIA Fender is the lack of a 1-piece body. My basswood body, upon close inspection- appears to be 4 pieces of wood glued together with seams running lengthwise, rather than the single seam down the middle with book matched grain. It definitely takes away from the look, but even with a Sunburst finish it does not look bad. Another review on here had terrible things to say about the wood grain itself, this might be something to consider and look closely at...... in the end it might be better to buy one of these in person where you can inspect the wood grain and how the grain of the separate body sections match up.
So how does this Sunburst model compare to the other models? Well for one, this one has a thinner neck, smaller headstock, and no block inlays on the fretboard. (I do love the vintage vibe of the oversized headstock on the Maple and Gloss Black models). It has a rosewood fingerboard instead of maple, which is my personal preference. This model has a basswood body instead of maple, so noticeably warmer or subdued tone and smoother lows are to be expected, and has characteristically less trebly bite and attack.
I like my sound more melodic and smooth, and value less the attack or punchiness that comes with Maple.
I bought the VMJ for the sole purpose of getting back into playing again without spending more than $300. I play at church, run it through a passive DI / splitter, using a Hartke 120 watt combo for stage volume and the DI signal going straight through the board. For passive pickups and no outboard preamp, it is surprisingly adequate and usable. Most of all, I feel like I am playing a "real" bass and not a knock-off.
For the price - I think anyone who is not in the market for an American Fender, or is considering a MIM bass, should definitely check these out. I have played other Squier Basses and the Affinty basses, and they don't come near as close to a MIM Jazz bass in terms of feel and sound.
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Squier by Fender Vintage Modified Jazz Bass, 2 Tone Sunburst
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