So I pulled the trigger and got me a Squier Bass VI in Ocean White. I do dig the sound, and it can quite well provide a deep carpet, even though it is a little weak in direct comparison and needs a little bottom push.

I got it basically for internal price since it has a small nose in the finish, and Indonesia actually managed to reverse the order of the pickup switches, and when we opened the switch plate to do a solder job, the ground wires zinged of the plate... No big deal, but different quality than my VM Jag or JM from 2014. Glad I could test it, have it set up properly and fixed right there. It's good to know how to wield a soldering iron.

The guy from the shop said that they seem to have problems in Indonesia - They had to return 5 Squiers out of a shipment of 10, recently, because they were beyond help. But it's not as if they received much better quality from Fender or Gibson U.S.A., currently...

That being said: I think after some setup and tweaking, that thing rocks and I'm happy.

Last edited: Feb 23, 2015 17:10:39

About to get me one of those and - like many others said before - I absolutely do NOT need it, but I WANT to have it. After reading through the posts, I concluded the following:

• needs a (serious) setup / most likely unplayable without a setup
• stock PUs are decent and don't necessarily need to be replaced
• bridge swap (Staytrem) is a must
• TUSQ or bone nut replacement
• La Bella 767-6F strings work well
• vibrato could be replaced, but also not essential / maybe get the Staytrem upgraded arm
• pots, caps and wiring has to be replaced

Are there more 'must have' mods? Am I missing something in the summary? What kind of vibrato could you get to replace the stock unit, or in other words, did anyone try CIJ/AVRI/Mastery/Vintage units with success?

Finally: anyone blew up a speaker already?

The Hicadoolas

Last edited: Apr 24, 2015 01:24:14

JObeast wrote:

I don't know, Sancho, mine played great after just putting LaBella strings on it. Everything else was fine and the only funny thing is how much the action changes with the weather (humidity). Cheaper instruments must be made with wood more prone to expansion in damp.

Just get the thing, and a new set of strings, and play it before doubling the price with mods you may not really need.

I agree. Mine plays and functions great with just a set up and some adjusting.

Cheers,
Jeff

http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic

Mine was essentially good to go right out of the box. I did have to ste it up, but the factory intonation was pretty close.

METEOR IV on reverbnation

+1 To keeping it stock to start with. A setup was all I needed. Even the stock strings weren't bad but I didn't get the super thin low E string. I preferred the stock ones to the Circle K 098 set which is what I have on there now.

I have the Labella's on the way and can't wait to try them.

Plus the best thing about it is as a bass player the VI gives me an excuse to get a reverb pedal.

Staytrems are made in England, aren't they. Maybe cheaper on the continent than in US. To me the idea of spending so much on a bargain instrument that plays fine as-is just seems wrong. But then I've spent hundreds of hours building fancy custom axes out of Teisco bodies and necks with cheap parts because I was afraid I didn't know what I was doing (I didn't!). Squier demonstrates the efficiency of the assembly-line as to unit price!
Many, many old 60s necks (Teisco, etc.) that I've seen have been warped past saving due to differential shrinkage of fretboard vs. neck, demonstrating how the price of tropical hardwoods has a lot to do with how well-aged they are. The lack of old laid-up woods is a big problem for luthiers. Maybe Teisco's solution, "Propellerwood" laminates is the best solution for low-cost necks that stay arrow-straight. TOo bad they are mostly glue! But they 'age' well...
SanchoPansen wrote:

Thanks for the input, folks! Will check it out when it arrives, but I think I will go with La Bellas and the Staytrem brigde for the beginning...and a proper setup, of course.
As for the neck/weather change my guess would be that the wood did not have enough time to dry before it has been manufactured. This should settle after some time (years). Only speculating though.

Squink Out!

Shipping on the Staytrem to the US is practically nothing. And I haven't gotten a customs charge in almost 10 years, even then I never paid.

Staytrems are about $100 here, due to the exchange rate.

Fortunately, no. I know there is a $2000 limit where you are going to get dinged. Everything under $200 doesn't even get screened to my understanding.

Even things over $200 I've bought from Europe, I still haven't seen a custom sticker on for quite some time. I use to get customs stickers on $5 7"s. And those just showed up in my mailbox, we didn't have to go to the post office to pick them up and pay for the customs as I know happens in European countries.

We also have a free amount where you do not have to pay customs (120,-EUR/130.00USD including shipping). But you have to pay 19% taxes for everything from a non EU country! And the shipping costs from the US are skyhigh atm, unfortunately. When I decide to order from the States I simply calculate how much it will cost in USD incl. shipping and that's the amount I will pay in EUR in the end. You can skip calculating the currency exchange, there will be nothing left.

The Hicadoolas

Last edited: Apr 26, 2015 12:37:55

I'm looking to do a cosmetic mod on mine. Does anyone know where to score white knobs? I've seen reference to someone on OSG making them but those posts are from '08.