I barely played it before ripping into it with the mods... probably the action issue happened somewhere between a new bridge, new nut (which I've never done before) and higher-gauge strings, so lots to go wrong there. I might do the truss rod thing as a last resort before taking it in to a professional. The LaBella's are great though, I think you'll like them.

Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio

ravcon wrote:

The action is nice and low Mike. I was a bit worried ordering online, but the setup was very good and there are no visible flaws. It's a solid build, plays great and the electronics work fine. The only problem, which I've heard is common, is that the stock low E string won't intonate. The spring on that saddle is squeezed as tight as it will go. I'm hoping the heavier Labella's will help to remedy that. Can't wait to get some flats on it!

Mine wouldn't intonate the stock low-E string either. I don't know of any that did, at least with the stock bridge. But with much heavier low-E and A strings, it intonated just fine. The action on mine is a little higher than on my Jaguar, but it doesn't really bother me. I think it could use a little more string tension, but I'm leaving it E-E. Surprisingly, at least to me, it's the easiest of all my guitars to trem-pick. And you gotta play it through a fuzz pedal!

IMHO. YMMV. Especially if you play as well you do. I don't.

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

Last edited: Jan 31, 2014 14:58:04

ravcon wrote:

That's good to hear Noel, and thanks!

I woke up this morning thinking that the slightly high action might suit the slightly low string tension in B-B tuning. If a shim is used to increases the break angle of the neck, will that create enough extra string tension to preserve buzz-free playing with the resulting lower action?

Why I woke up with this question on my mind is a whole other problem.

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

Thanks. I was afraid of that. Already using the heaviest strings it looks there's room for on it.

On another matter, I really like to use the vibrato on mine. My fingers aren't strong enough do that on these strings. I feel a Staytrem upgrade coming. I have them on my Jag and JM, and they work perfectly. So far, no issues at all with the stock bridge. But, again, I don't play seriously. I'm strictly an at-home hack who gets let out a few times a year to play in front of willing victims. If the bridge starts acting up, I'll put a Staytrem bridge on it, too. I've had no issues with the one on my Jag.

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

Just got the flats on it. Now it really sounds like a Bass VI. Perfect.

Mike

manfromravcon.com

Matt22 wrote:

Finally, one of these is heading my way!!!

White/tort- my favorite combo. I'll have to do a family portrait of the JM, Jag, and Bass VI!

Congratulations! These are a lot of fun.

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

Lookie what UPS brought me today.

Nice videos, Noel!

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

Jake, I've yet to plug it in and hear it. But it's been fun to play unplugged. The lows are sometimes hard to hear, but it seems to play really nicely. As often as I am going to use it, I couldn't justify springing for a Japanese one. But if money weren't an issue, I would. I must say that I am VERY impressed with this guitar. I bought it off the Offset Guitar list and I think the guard was the one that came with it.

ON another note, I was told by a knowledgeable guy that the Squier line is going to be discontinued. Now, I think he was pulling my leg because of the Bass VI I just got, but has anyone heard anything about a new stock holder at Fender wanting to do away with the bottom line?

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

Last edited: Feb 26, 2014 00:42:12

I agree with Jake that dropping Squier guitars would be a disaster for Fender. And I agree with Jake about how well they're made. I think they should just brand the guitars, Fender Squier, and be done with it.

I also think that, once you guys (Matt and Jake) get yours properly set up with the right strings, and hear it through an amp/speaker combo that can fully convey the deep lows while still letting the highs sing clear and bright, you'll find reasons to play it. Everyone who plays mine says they want one of their own, with this weird covetous gleam in their eyes. IMHO.YMMV.

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.