Squier VM Jazz.......now Custom

Billw97 · **Posted:** March 13th, 2013, 10:01 am

I recently added a VM Jazz bass to the collection. The only issue was the natural finish with the miss matched stain that wasn't really doing it for me. With a little light sanding and some nitro, the finish is now a transparent red with nickel hardware. I really liked the sound of the stock pickups, but plan on changing the pots and jack...and fret leveling!
Thanks!

Bill

andrew · **Posted:** March 13th, 2013, 11:39 am

Nice!

Frenchy-Lefty · **Posted:** March 13th, 2013, 1:50 pm

Very nice job!
I have the same one and I also really dig it (in fact Gravesbass told me about your refinish job a few days ago) .
I am not sure I'll ever have the time/courage to refinish mine but I will certainly upgrade the pots and tuners like you did. Maybe the bridge.
Now, If only I knew someone who worked for Hipshot and who could get me a good deal on that...

My experience with changing the bridge on a bass is that it has a lot of impact on the tone. So my question is how different is it with the new bridge? I used to put Badasses on all my instruments but my taste in terms of bass tone have changed and I don't like the crunchy highs and sustain they add to the tone. It's only good for slapping IMO.

Basshappi · **Joined:** March 14th, 2008, 2:28 pm **Posts:** 965

Thats sexxaaaayyy!

fivebass52 · **Posted:** March 13th, 2013, 4:55 pm

Well done! That's the way to make a cheap guitar look expensive!

fivebass52 · **Posted:** March 13th, 2013, 4:59 pm

Frenchy-Lefty wrote:

Very nice job!
Now, If only I knew someone who worked for Hipshot and who could get me a good deal on that...

Frenchy, Billw97, whom I recently bought the Alembic Epic 5-string from, works for Hipshot. Contact him... I'm sure he'd help out a fellow lefty...

Billw97 · **Posted:** March 13th, 2013, 5:43 pm

Thanks everyone!

Frenchy, I was on the fence with the bridge change. I was thinking of adding the ash trays to give it even more of that vintage appearance. I really didn't like the saddles on the stock bridge and how they moved when you really dig in. I'm sorry, but the tuners on mine where really crap or I would left them....or not.
I have a number of Jazz basses and know what you mean by the bright, crunchy highs. I think that is why I like the stock pickups in it now. Rolling off the tone really gives it a fat kinda P-bass tone. This is a brass bridge and the sound is about the same as with a Badass....maybe a little more highs. I found that I am not a fan of aluminum with a passive system.
I think my problem with hardware can be compared to a kid in a candy store!

Frenchy-Lefty · **Posted:** March 13th, 2013, 7:17 pm

fivebass52 wrote:

Frenchy-Lefty wrote:

Very nice job!
Now, If only I knew someone who worked for Hipshot and who could get me a good deal on that...

Frenchy, Billw97, whom I recently bought the Alembic Epic 5-string from, works for Hipshot. Contact him... I'm sure he'd help out a fellow lefty...

Yes I knew that!

AzWhoFan · **Joined:** March 14th, 2008, 10:57 am **Posts:** 2866

Basshappi wrote:

Thats sexxaaaayyy!

what he said

fivebass52 · **Posted:** March 14th, 2013, 12:23 am

Frenchy-Lefty wrote:

fivebass52 wrote:

Frenchy-Lefty wrote:

Very nice job!
Now, If only I knew someone who worked for Hipshot and who could get me a good deal on that...

Frenchy, Billw97, whom I recently bought the Alembic Epic 5-string from, works for Hipshot. Contact him... I'm sure he'd help out a fellow lefty...

Yes I knew that!

Should have known.... it was late last night when I posted this, and I didn't even realize that Billw97 was the original poster.... doh! :shock:

gravesbass · **Posted:** March 14th, 2013, 9:48 am

Very well done, Bill... I love trans red too!!

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Squier VM Jazz.......now Custom

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