Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass Review

The Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass has a lengthy and esteemed bloodline behind it, as does every Squier instrument. Made by Fender, one of the most respected guitar manufacturers in the world, Squier’s lower-priced versions of Fender classics are favorites among musicians on a budget. Fender's Jazz and Precision basses are legendary, used by professional musicians worldwide, but Squier basses are often targeted to beginners. So, can a veteran player find a decent instrument in the Squier lineup? And how does the VM Jazz Bass stack up against a real Fender, or even other basses in the price range for that matter? These are the questions I asked myself when I went bass shopping in April of 2011.

I have been a musician for 30 years, and I’ve played guitar and bass in a few bands. Once I felt my gigging and songwriting days were behind me, and I relegated myself to playing for my own amusement, for some reason it seemed like a good idea to sell off my bass gear and focus on the guitar.

First of all, never do this. Even if you want to sell most of your gear, at least hang on to one instrument in case the mood hits you down the road. Which, of course, it did. A couple of years after ditching my bass rig, I was kicking myself and wishing I could get back on the bass. The gear I sold consisted of Warwick, Ibanez and Fender basses, Hartke and Peavey amps and an array of speaker cabinets and floor pedals. I knew there was no way I wanted to spend that kind of cash on my new rig, so I began to look for good quality but inexpensive options that would at least get me playing again. I never owned a Squier, but the name kept coming up over and over again in my searches.

I have always loved Jazz basses so I had a pretty good idea that was what I wanted, and I’ve always loved the look of models from the 1970s. Squier makes a basic Jazz bass, but the Vintage Modified line looked like it was a cut above a standard Squier. I particularly liked the one with the natural finish. I did my research online, and when I went to see her in the guitar shop it was love at first sight. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t put her through her paces before slapping down the cash. Trust, after all, is earned in a relationship. After a couple of hours of fiddling around with this and several other basses, I walked out with the Squier VM Jazz Bass. So here's my review!

Before you ever plug an instrument in, you’re going to notice the quality. If you’ve been playing for a while you just know when an instrument is made well by the way it feels. My problem was that I was used to Warwick and high-end Fender and Ibanez basses. The Squier had a lot to live up to.

When I first picked up the Vintage Modified Jazz Bass in the guitar shop, I immediately noticed the pokey fret-job. It was minor, but evident. This was pretty disappointing, since I so loved the look of the bass. I eventually found out I loved the playability and the sound of it, too. When my only issue was the slightly pokey frets, I talked to the guitar tech at the shop about it. He said the store had a humidity issue, and guitars often had that problem. It ought to clear up when the wood expanded in a more humid environment. Sure enough, many of the other basses I tried had the same issue. He agreed to knock a few dollars off the price, just in case he was wrong! Happily, not long after getting the bass home the problem went away, and now the frets are perfect.

Aside from the minor fret issue, I have been extremely happy with the construction of the VM Jazz Bass. It is head and shoulders above the standard Squier Affinity Jazz and Precision basses I played. I would say it’s comparable to a good Mexican-made Fender. The one-piece, C-shape, maple neck is smooth and easy to maneuver around. I have my action set somewhat high, but I still have no issue fretting notes in the higher registers. All notes ring clear without buzzing or an odd feel at any position.

Though I’ve heard horror stories about Squier basses, I have had no issues with electronic or hardware problems. My bass was apparently made in Indonesia. Basses made overseas do sometimes have quality control issues, but then again so do American-made basses (though to a lesser degree). It’s important to realize that quality will vary with any particular model. This is also why it's a good thing most on-line music stores offer a return policy if you don't like the instrument.

As far as appearance, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a prettier bass in this price range. The VM Jazz Bass comes in a few difference flavors: A sunburst model with a basswood body and rosewood fingerboard; a black “77” model with an agathis body and maple fingerboard; and a natural-finish “70s” model with a soft-maple body. I played each, and they were all good, but I liked the natural finish the best. The wood grain looks fantastic, even on the headstock. You have to look pretty close to notice the seams in the body; mine appears to be made from three pieces, but I’ve heard it varies.

As I mentioned above, I compare my VM Jazz Bass to a good Fender MIM Jazz Bass in construction and feel. As far as sound, it may be a little better. I like my pickups dialed in with the bridge position on 10 and the neck position back just a touch. I can go a little more Jaco-y and take the neck position back further, or I get growly for more aggressive music with both pickups on 10, and I can turn off the bridge pickup and turn the neck up for a passable P-bass impersonation (not the strong suit of any Jazz bass). I usually get the sound I want from the VM Jazz Bass. Again, it has a sound quality far above the standard Squiers, with pickups that are much stronger and richer.

Squier calls the VM Jazz a “funk machine” and, while I don’t play funk, I do see what they mean. For me, the bite and clarity in the design is where it’s at. With a maple body I was a little concerned I wouldn’t get the bottom end I wanted, but I have no issue. The bass sounds full and round when I want it too, and has plenty of output power.

Remember that this is a $300 bass. It’s not going to compete with a Warwick or a Lakland, or even an American-made Fender, but it’s a great sound for the money. If you go in thinking Squier instruments are low-level junk for beginners, you will be very surprised.

The bottom line to the entire Squier line of guitars and basses is this: What do you want out of the instrument? The VM Jazz Bass is an inexpensive instrument that sounds better that you’d expect and looks better than it should. But, it’s still a Squier. It’s not likely to go up in value, or even maintain its value. I’m not sure how it will hold up in the long run, as I’ve had it less than a year. This is not the bass you pass on to your grandson, nor is it likely the bass you find wrapped around your shoulders if you finally make it big. This is the bass you noodle around with in your basement, and maybe play a few gigs with. This is the bass you don’t feel 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 best 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 found myself in a band again I would not hesitate to use it in that capacity. If this is what you’re looking for, you might find the Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass to be right up your alley.