Squier Classic Vibe Bass VI (Black)

First of all, let me say this: I LOVE my Bass VI! Now, with that said, let me put a big * next to that. The actual instrument itself is fantastic. I love the fit and finish, the fretboard is much nicer than I expected, the sunburst finish is beautiful, and I honestly like the pick-ups, (even though a lot of people complain they are too bright and weak. Mine are fine.) Now, on to the problems with the Bass VI: as you might expect with a cheaper instrument, some corners are cut, and in this case it is the electronics. They are ok but I wouldn't expect them to last long nor would I trust them to life on the road. A simple trip to your local repair person to upgrade the pots and input jack would serve you well. Not a big deal, tbh. The worst part of the instrument is ... MoreFirst of all, let me say this: I LOVE my Bass VI! Now, with that said, let me put a big * next to that. The actual instrument itself is fantastic. I love the fit and finish, the fretboard is much nicer than I expected, the sunburst finish is beautiful, and I honestly like the pick-ups, (even though a lot of people complain they are too bright and weak. Mine are fine.) Now, on to the problems with the Bass VI: as you might expect with a cheaper instrument, some corners are cut, and in this case it is the electronics. They are ok but I wouldn't expect them to last long nor would I trust them to life on the road. A simple trip to your local repair person to upgrade the pots and input jack would serve you well. Not a big deal, tbh. The worst part of the instrument is that terrible, horribly designed bridge. It's garbage. Intonation in nearly impossible. Do a quick Google search and you'll see what I mean. You can upgrade the bridge to a Mastery or something similar, but you need to factor in AT LEAST another $100! (Closer to $200, honestly.) I found a cheap fix by getting some brass inserts and putting them in the holes for the bridge, while also turning the bridge backwards to allow for more adjustment room for the intonation screws. But this doesn't change the fact that we shouldn't have to make modifications just to make it playable- Fender should be making sure they come from the factory with the proper configuration, even if it needs to be adjusted. So, with work the Bass VI can be fantastic. Again, I love mine; I play it all the time and it has inspired me. Just know what you are getting into....

Classic Vibe, Classic Tone!

Overall:First of all, this Classic Vibe Bass VI is a huge improvement of its' Vintage Modified' predecessor! The fixed-radius bridge saddles, along with the new bone nut, provide a much improved intonation. The new, hotter wound pickups sound incredible and provide quite a diverse range of tones. I found it rather easy to adapt to the string spacing, being a bass player (and occasional rhythm guitarist). The only less-than-favorable aspects for me were the light color of the Indian Laurel fretboard vs. commonly used Rosewood, but this is purely cosmetic. Additionally, the factory strings are a much lighter gauge than I'm used to (24-84), so I've switched over to a heavier Fender Super 250's (24-100) to reduce the floppiness low E string.In my opinion, the days are ... MoreOverall:First of all, this Classic Vibe Bass VI is a huge improvement of its' Vintage Modified' predecessor! The fixed-radius bridge saddles, along with the new bone nut, provide a much improved intonation. The new, hotter wound pickups sound incredible and provide quite a diverse range of tones. I found it rather easy to adapt to the string spacing, being a bass player (and occasional rhythm guitarist). The only less-than-favorable aspects for me were the light color of the Indian Laurel fretboard vs. commonly used Rosewood, but this is purely cosmetic. Additionally, the factory strings are a much lighter gauge than I'm used to (24-84), so I've switched over to a heavier Fender Super 250's (24-100) to reduce the floppiness low E string.In my opinion, the days are quickly fading in which the Squier brand is viewed only as a cheaper, lesser version of the quality Fender lineup. The Squier moniker is gaining a special notoriety in and of itself and the Classic Vibe series are a vast improvement over their prior 'Vintage Modified' line. In recent years, the Squier models have come to feature better woods, pickups and hardware than previously and more closely reflect the sound and feel (and weight!) of their Fender counterparts. This surprisingly affordable incarnation of the original Fender Bass VI can fit into most any musical genre and will definitely turn a few heads —all the while putting a smile on your own face!

Great instrument

This is a great bass and a piece of music history made accessible through this Squier reissue. It's got the right vibe, feels great to play.People complain about the intonation- yes it does need A LOT of adjustment like at the low E the saddle is all the way back and high E all the way forward but it did work! The intonation is fine. I will also say the upgrade to La Bella flatwounds really elevated this bass to its proper playability.

I'm impressed.

I've wanted one of these since my college roommate snagged a MIJ reissue at a pawnshop. I'm a guitar player who needed a bass for creativity and recording and this seemed like my best option. After reading up on this instrument, I concluded that it was essentially a boat. (i.e., buy it, but expect to spend a lot of cash to make it nice) Given that I headed to GC with the intention to get a MIM Jazz Bass. To my surprise there was a Squire VI on the wall and the the craftsmanship and factory setup was exceedingly better than the Jazz Bass I went to purchase. Specifically the fretwork and neck. I'm still shocked as I'm writing this.Here are a couple things to note for anyone that has read prior reviews. The Classic Vibe version being sold now has a new bridge that ... MoreI've wanted one of these since my college roommate snagged a MIJ reissue at a pawnshop. I'm a guitar player who needed a bass for creativity and recording and this seemed like my best option. After reading up on this instrument, I concluded that it was essentially a boat. (i.e., buy it, but expect to spend a lot of cash to make it nice) Given that I headed to GC with the intention to get a MIM Jazz Bass. To my surprise there was a Squire VI on the wall and the the craftsmanship and factory setup was exceedingly better than the Jazz Bass I went to purchase. Specifically the fretwork and neck. I'm still shocked as I'm writing this.Here are a couple things to note for anyone that has read prior reviews. The Classic Vibe version being sold now has a new bridge that solves the intonation issues found on the Vintage Modified version. Mine stays in tune and intonates properly with little fuss.**The Strings** (Reason for 4 Stars) The low E that ships with this is incorrect. It's a .085 and just flops around uselessly. The original Fender spec calls for a .095 so order a new set of strings and this won't be an issue.Future upgrades. It's a Squire so don't expect the world from the electronics Right now the pickups are good enough for me, but the jack, wiring, pots, caps, and switches are pretty bad. Again, this is to be expected with an instrument at this price point. I'm in the process of figuring out the pots and caps I want and will replace them in the near future. That said, for most players this should be a low priority until something breaks.I'm thrilled I was able to get this and look forward to many years of fun and creativity. If you can find one and it fits your needs, I say get it.

I've been wanting this for many years!

I've wanted one of these since I saw George Harrison playing the Fender version in the Hey Jude video from what, 1967? It took a long time, but it was worth the wait. I have several basses, but I think this is going to be my go to bass more often than not. It has great tone in the lower and upper registers. I'm not just a thumper bassist, as I play guitar as much as bass and this baby is pure freedom! The stock strings that came with it are great. There was no need to replace the low E. I use a felt pick (OnStage ukulele pick). The action out of the box was great. Honestly, the overseas Squier workmanship these days is stellar. I have been buying guitars for 50 years, and this is not a toy. It is SOLID.

Perfect for my situation

Mine was on back order and showed up a month earlier than scheduled, Yay!It weighs about the same as a P Bass. The string spacing is really close to that of a guitar instead of standard bass spacing. I put new strings on right away after seeing a bunch of videos mentioning the low-tension floppy factory .85 bass string. I got a set of Fender 250's with a .024 high E and a .100 low E. Nice solid feel and tone with the heavier strings.The VI with round-would strings has a naturally bright tone. The pickups are also a little weak. I run mine through an EQ pedal with everything below 400 Hz boosted. This gets me the low strong tone of a "real" bass.I am about 5 foot 6 and wear size medium gloves. The short 30 inch scale is much more comfortable to play than a ... MoreMine was on back order and showed up a month earlier than scheduled, Yay!It weighs about the same as a P Bass. The string spacing is really close to that of a guitar instead of standard bass spacing. I put new strings on right away after seeing a bunch of videos mentioning the low-tension floppy factory .85 bass string. I got a set of Fender 250's with a .024 high E and a .100 low E. Nice solid feel and tone with the heavier strings.The VI with round-would strings has a naturally bright tone. The pickups are also a little weak. I run mine through an EQ pedal with everything below 400 Hz boosted. This gets me the low strong tone of a "real" bass.I am about 5 foot 6 and wear size medium gloves. The short 30 inch scale is much more comfortable to play than a standard 34 inch bass. I also am a converted guitar player so now I have the option of "sneaking up" conveniently to play a few guitar fills when needed.I haven't done anything with the trem arm yet but I bet this would be a great instrument for someone looking for surf or big beefy instrumental tones.

Review of Squier Classic Vibe Bass VI Laurel Fingerboard Black

On first inspection, the bass looked great, but when I first plugged it in I noticed that the jack socket wouldn't hold the cable securely. Bending the pin didn't resolve it so I had to replace the socket with a sturdier Switchcraft one, which was easy to do but shouldn't be an issue on a brand new instrument.Having had it for a couple of weeks, I've noticed a minor imperfection in the finish near the trem. It looks as though the finish isn't completely flat under the clear coat, but is only visible in certain light, so it wasn't immediately obvious. I've also found gaps around two of the inlays on the fretboard. The cut out in the pickguard around the switch plate is a bit rough around the edges. All minor things but Squier's QC could be better.The stock ... MoreOn first inspection, the bass looked great, but when I first plugged it in I noticed that the jack socket wouldn't hold the cable securely. Bending the pin didn't resolve it so I had to replace the socket with a sturdier Switchcraft one, which was easy to do but shouldn't be an issue on a brand new instrument.Having had it for a couple of weeks, I've noticed a minor imperfection in the finish near the trem. It looks as though the finish isn't completely flat under the clear coat, but is only visible in certain light, so it wasn't immediately obvious. I've also found gaps around two of the inlays on the fretboard. The cut out in the pickguard around the switch plate is a bit rough around the edges. All minor things but Squier's QC could be better.The stock strings are awful; they're far too light to handle the tuning, especially the low E. It's generally accepted that they need to be replaced to get the best out of it, but it's pretty annoying, especially when Fender makes a set of Bass VI strings in the right gauge.For all the minor annoyances, I do like the Bass VI. It's great to play once it gets a decent set-up and sounds good too.

Review of Squier FSR Classic Vibe Bass VI in Lake Placid Blue with Matching Headstock

The Bass VI is a unique instrument. As a bass player, I'm enjoying learning how I can use it in that role. The Squire model is very well made and, so far, I can't fault it. I put a heavier gauge set of strings on it, which gives the low E a bit more presence, but have not had to make any other adjustments. The intonation, which I had read can be a problem on the Bass VI, is fine on my instrument. Very pleased and amazed at the value for money!

This is One Interesting Tool.

So, I picked this up to try and hybrid some rhythm guitar/bass backing for our group. It definitely serves that purpose and a little more. I have 40 years of experience playing bass and guitar, this does that and more. It is absolutely its own animal though; it is different than what you would traditionally call a guitar, or a bass guitar and if you're going to learn to play it well, you have to treat it as a whole other instrument. This is DEFINITELY a bass, not a baritone. So far, this is amazing and I have already used it on a studio recording. My only disappointment thus far is that Fender US does not make a version and so you are kind of forced into the Squire version. But, that said, this is actually shockingly well made for an Indonesian guitar.

Would buy, with caveats. Fender - fix the sharp frets and u

I'm an intermediate guitar player who records and does all my own setups and intermediate mods to guitars. Pros: good sound, all electronics work, feels more like a guitar than a bass to me, overall good build with caveats.Cons: frets are sharp- i'll need to file all of them (that's a lot of time). input jack is loose. i don't mean the nut; a brand new fender 1/4 cable wiggles in the jack. fits all my other guitars snugly. totally inadequate low E string. i changed just that string to a .100 diameter fender and it's fine now.other notes: intonates fine. i don't like the bridge but the very large strings seem to hold it way better than on a jazzmaster or jaguar. overall i like the guitar and hope to get some good early 80s alternative sounds from it but i would ... MoreI'm an intermediate guitar player who records and does all my own setups and intermediate mods to guitars. Pros: good sound, all electronics work, feels more like a guitar than a bass to me, overall good build with caveats.Cons: frets are sharp- i'll need to file all of them (that's a lot of time). input jack is loose. i don't mean the nut; a brand new fender 1/4 cable wiggles in the jack. fits all my other guitars snugly. totally inadequate low E string. i changed just that string to a .100 diameter fender and it's fine now.other notes: intonates fine. i don't like the bridge but the very large strings seem to hold it way better than on a jazzmaster or jaguar. overall i like the guitar and hope to get some good early 80s alternative sounds from it but i would only recommend as a 3rd or 4th if you're set for guitars already (or bass guitars if that's your thing). too specialized for a primary guitar for most people, imo.