LeftyBassist.com

I was thinking about getting one of these and modding the hell out of it. Any of you have any thoughts on these basses (neck quality etc)?

I'd be replacing pretty much everything but the lumber, by the way.

Well you know what I'm gonna say about it...but I'll say it anyway.

I think these basses are killer for the money. I've got a natural one with the maple block inlays (not really inlays but painted on) currently for sale, but I'm probably going to keep it just to do exactly what you intend to do with it: mod it, swap out parts, etc. . The feel is exactly like my MIA Js. I like it so much I currently put the neck on my Schecter Model T, Tonally, it's even slightly beefier and fuller sounding than my MIAs too.

Damn. So the blocks aren't actually inlays huh?

Well I stand corrected. I'm mistaken. I just looked at mine and one of the blocks is puling up slightly. So yeah, the inlays are real. I'm not sure what the material is though. It looks like ebony, but I seriously doubt it. More likely plastic, as was the case even with my '72 J.

Yeah I did a bunch of looking around and apparently the whole painted on block thing isn't for real. Can't see that they would advertise them as inlays if that were the case. Thanks for checking!

For the money, they're pretty awesome.
I'm strongly considering picking up another as a project bass this summer.
My only complaint about the maple body is that it's REALLY heavy.

Mine sound incredible. I like it better than the MIA Jazz i owned. I only replaced the saddles by MIA saddles which took the harshness out. I don't recommend changing the pickups. The advice of somone who has tried almost every Jazz Bass pickup man can buy. The tuners need to be replaced probably.

I haven't really found the need to upgrade anything on mine. PUPs are great, tuners hold tune, etc. It is a little on the heavy side, but nothing extreme compared to any other J. ( 9 lbs?)

I did this exactly a few years ago. Bought a VM Jazz and made some significant changes. I added a Badass II bridge (direct replacement with no new screw holes needed), I installed Dimarzio Model J pickups and a US control plate with proper pots and black Jazz bass knobs. I added strap locks as well but the biggest change was taking the neck off and finishing it with True Oil. I did about 10 coats, buffing with 0000 grit steel wool in between. I wanted to protect the fingerboard from getting dirty and keep the black binding and blocks under a protective layer.

In the end, it was a pretty sweet bass and not too expensive. I just found it sat there but never got played. Andrew actually bought it from me but I think he took the pickups and bridge to use on something else.

I do want another one though as they look so cool.

Hi Matt, I did the same with a Fender bass however one mis-calculation I made is when I got done modding everything the total project was in the $600-$700 range. It was fun but I did not plan on $400-$500 on parts. I did all new electronics, pickguard, tuners, bridge. The Body and Neck were the only original and agree the body is heavy.

This is pretty much what I was looking to do

Matt, if I were you I'd buy one and see from there. This bass has a personality, I would absolutely not change the pixkups. They sound fantastic. I know you have a lot of nice Jazz Basses and I think you 'll be surprised on how it can keep up. Especially for the price. I use D'Addarios Chromes on mine since I mostly use it for reggae. The sound is less scooped and rounder than a 70's Jazz but the neck pickup sound insanely close to my PBass.

I don't care much for Fenders but I backup what Frenchy says above. I played a few of them (lefty and righty). Frenchy's was very nice for the price point and worth the small mod parts.

+1for the VM Squier, you actually get a very nice bass for the price you pay...

I bought this bass in natural finish, and it sounds and plays really nice. I would have no concerns with it for the price.