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Squier Vintage Modified Bass VI
Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle 
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Posted on Apr 11 2014 01:16 PM
The vibrato is very playable, the bridge isn't terrible. You can make the current bridge work. You might have intonation issues, mine wasn't bad but a lot of people are reporting issues. My guess is the lighter strings intonate better than the heavier flats. And the bridge will need some loctite. Labella Bass VI Flats are common strings. Anything with a .95 and up low E will work. The stock string is .84 and just a disgrace. |
Joined: Jun 11, 2013 Posts: 70 Right Coast, USA 
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Posted on Apr 11 2014 02:16 PM
I agree, Jake - my stock bridge is cheaply constructed but absolutely functional, with intonation adjustment to spare even with the LaBellas. Loctite is a must for saddle screws. My stock vibrato also functions just fine, it's the actual fit of the arm that is my issue. It's seated as tightly as possible, but still rattles like a sidewinder when you get the right frequency vibrations. So it is noisiest when not in use (most of the time). Might put a few winds of plumbers tape on the arm and see what happens. IMO, the vibrato is almost a novelty considering the VI's frequency range - you barely get more than a half step pitch shift when fully engaged in either direction. It works, it just takes a lot of wanking to yield fairly subtle results. It's very cool though - I'd miss it if it weren't there! Anyway, you may be satisfied with status quo. Then again, you may not... — |
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Apr 11 2014 03:51 PM
I just got mine... holy crap balls... I love this thing. The vibrato works REALLY well now, just set up correctly is all it takes. Oh my lord... |
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Apr 11 2014 08:00 PM
And you know... the .95 on the Labella set could be a little heavier, like a 100-105. Still good though! My favorite improvements 1.) getting the neck sanded down, feels much better to me now. I was going to buy a vintage unit for this, but it is really unnecessary now. Might try to track down a mastery spring for it, that is the only thing it could improve on. It even has the blessed vibrato flutter when you push down and let go quickly. Love the neck, I even dropped it accidentally which made a familiar slight impression on the back of the neck! It isn't sanded down to wood, but not very far away. Last edited: Apr 11, 2014 22:06:42 |
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Apr 11 2014 10:08 PM
Also... this thing sounds really good. I feel the rewiring gave it the big kick it needed. Just sounds so much better and the knobs have amazing response. The bass cut actually works(I could BARELY tell before). |
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Apr 11 2014 10:19 PM
Hahaha.... okay... the guitar was tuned to something between D and D#... Now that the Low E is Low E it is much less floppy! I recorded the intro to Push for Matt, but I accidentally deleted it and then had to get ready for friends to come over. It sounds so good... I was just using a Logic Pro preset call Chorusaurus with some delay added. It was an Ampeg head with a 8x10 cab. Good stuff! Neck pickup solo all the way for the Cure stuff. |
Joined: Feb 15, 2007 Posts: 2825 Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Posted on Apr 11 2014 11:03 PM
I love that neck pickup! I played Push with a New Wave group that I had at one time. That song just kicks a$$. My VI is finally complete with AVRI pickups, a new nut, wiring, pots, and LaBella flats. Just need to pick it up tomorrow! Can't wait to hear it! —Matt "tha Kat" Lentz |
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Apr 11 2014 11:10 PM
Awesome! Have fun when you pick it up tomorrow! I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun with it. |
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Joined: Feb 15, 2007 Posts: 2825 Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Posted on Apr 11 2014 11:10 PM
We've got a rehearsal tomorrow with it, so I'm sure I will. —Matt "tha Kat" Lentz |
Joined: Aug 29, 2009 Posts: 1556 Israel 
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Posted on Apr 12 2014 12:43 PM
Glad you`re blown out! I found that every little tweak makes a pronounced improvement on this guitar... that many at once... More pics please! JOb - This instrument is totally worthy of all those upgrades. But with just new nut and strings and careful setup (like any offset), you'll have a perfectly playable, smooth and sweet sounding piece of cool wood. |
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Apr 12 2014 03:37 PM
Just the slight bend to the arm, and a tension adjustment to the right point where it doesn't go up for down without doing something. There is a sweet spot to hit. There should be no slop/no wasted action. |
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Joined: Feb 15, 2007 Posts: 2825 Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Posted on Apr 12 2014 07:15 PM
This is me after getting my VI back with the new nut, the new pups, jack, and wiring, and the LaBella flats. It's a different instrument for sure. I can hear the low E string and it isn't a rubber band anymore like the stock strings. I'm so glad I did these upgrades and highly recommend them to anyone who has one of these. The only thing about mine that's different than Jake's now is the bridge. Mine still has the stock bridge on it because I haven't had any issues with it. —Matt "tha Kat" Lentz |
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Apr 12 2014 07:49 PM
Awesome! I never gave the stock bridge a chance! I wrote that it wasn't that bad earlier in this thread. Much better than I thought it would be. Never really tried to set it up/lock it down either. |
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Joined: Aug 29, 2009 Posts: 1556 Israel
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Posted on Apr 12 2014 08:31 PM
Jake, I already did that bend 1st thing, and am endlessly adjusting. It always connects with the pitch, but still feels awkward. Not happy springy like you're describing anyway. glad it works for you. Maybe I have too much overall tension with the 102 76 57 43 33 24 set, I've also shimmed the neck, just to experiment. I'll keep on tinkering... Congrats again Matt! Last edited: Apr 12, 2014 20:33:02 |
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Apr 12 2014 08:46 PM
The happy springy thing is just when you hold it down and launch it upwards, all my Jag/Jazzs do it. But they never use to do it until I played with the tension. The actual action of the bar, isn't like a Jag/Jazz though due to the tension. It is functional though, at least! I don't forsee myself using it too much. On all of my guitars, I do tend to go for the vibrato a lot, and use it in the music. |
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Joined: Feb 15, 2007 Posts: 2825 Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Posted on Apr 12 2014 10:52 PM
Thanks Ariel! Here are some pictures I just took. I'm lovin' this VI!
Matt "tha Kat" Lentz |
Joined: May 10, 2012 Posts: 492 |
Posted on Apr 14 2014 12:30 PM
I have MIJ Fender VI from the early 90s. Has anyone noticed this with their Squier? Example: If I have the neck pickup alone, sounds fine. If I have the middle pickup alone, sounds fine (disregarding the change in tone due to pickup placement). If I use both the neck and middle pickup, the tone changes (obviously) but there is a drop in volume. I know it's all wired correctly as I had to replace the neck pickup after the cheap MIJ crapped out. I went thru and wired proper grounds and check it to the vintage wiring spec. Thanks! |
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Apr 14 2014 12:35 PM
I haven't noticed that issue. |
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Joined: May 10, 2012 Posts: 492 |
Posted on Apr 14 2014 12:40 PM
I don't know if it's really a thinning of tone or not. I was playing with the band yesterday, full volume. Switch a pair, any pair.. volume drop. Must be my ears. or beers. I rarely use it in the band I am currently in. too heard rock. it's better suited for 60s style music or if you have keyboard/support instruments. So the other night, the collet flopped into the guitar. So I disassembled all that to thread it back in. I tried snugging the collect "leaves" against the trem bar to prevent it from freely spinning to no avail. Are there other tricks to this (keep in mind it would fall in line with the early 90s MIJ version of the trem unit). |
Joined: Mar 15, 2011 Posts: 8528 Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Apr 14 2014 12:40 PM
No noticeable volume changes on my Squier Bass VI, no matter what pickup combination I use. I also wonder if using 102 low-E and 24 high-E strings produces a tension imbalance? Aren't all the strings supposed to have roughly the same tension? Anyone bother using a string tension gauge? Matt, yours looks simply marvelous! Got to get yours and Jake's together for sure! —This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got. Last edited: Apr 14, 2014 12:41:19 |
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