Squier Classic Vibe '70s Precision Bass - Walnut Review

A magnificent iteration of a Fender P Bass

I received my Squire Classic Vibe P Bass, having purchased it rather than the Player version or American made version- because of budget limitations-and was blown away by the instrument's fit and finish. The tolerances of fret leveling and crowning are as good as any of my high-dollar basses. Strung with La Bella flatwound strings, the action is low across the entire neck. This… read more bass is the best playing and sounding P Bass I have ever owned. I have owned many P Basses in my 60 years of being a professional performer and a college music professor. This bass has a big sound, balanced and rich in harmonics in all registers. You must hear this bass to believe it. It is, simply put, fantastic! Get one before they are all gone. And proudly display the Squire badge. A great instrument does not require a high dollar insignia.

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WOW!

Received my new Squier Classic Vibe 70's bass, and - Wow! I've had many basses since I started in 1964 (Even had Geddy Lee), and none (yes - none) of them competed with this one. Arrived in perfect condition and setup. Can't find a single flaw! Intonation and action are perfect! Delivery is amazing: 1-3 days! Kudos to my rep - Gage Massey: he's gone above and beyond for me, and… read more that's why I say Sweetwater is far and away ahead of any of the competition.

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That neck...update!

Original review January 22, 2022. Here's the update: SO bought one of these and had some high frets. Went through a couple and they were all the same, high frets in the upper register of the neck. Took it back to the shop...I had the bass put on a PLEK machine (courtesy of Fender) and WOW! This Squier plays like a $1000+ Fender. I just can't say how comfortable and easy it is to… read more play now, absolutely amazing! I would upgrade the pups, they sound OK but could be better. Maybe upgrade to CTS pots and a better output jack and that would be IT. The bridge seems fine for now. If you buy one of these and it has high frets, get it pleked! Its worth it and it is way more cost effective than spending over a grand on a nice bass.

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Add note

If I had to give up all the other basses and keep one for fun, this could be the keeper. With Ernie Ball Group III strings (and having Sweetwater do the Plek process) it is sooo good. The Group III strings make the tone fairly uniform from string to string and fret to fret. Set up well, it is a breeze to play. THE important feature is the volume and tone controls. I don't know what… read more pots are in there (audio? linear?) but the tone control has a sweep very like what I'd expect from a 1970's Pioneer Integrated Amp: very smooth, gradual transition from bass to treble, the best tone control I own! I keep encountering tone pots that make very little difference or don't seem to be making a rational change from bass tone to treble tone. This bass' tone pot is perfect.

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Superb quality and ease of play. Great with Ernie Ball Group III Flatwounds

I'd first direct readers to the other assessments on this, the walnut body bass and on the other, black body bass. They cover the very many positives. What I wish to add: I asked that Sweetwater do the Plek process on mine. The action is just wonderful. Despite the Sweetwater checks, I did have to set the string-to-string heights, via the understring radius, with a Stew-Mac simple… read more guide. This is done by first setting heights of the E and G, which were properly done by the staff, then using the understring guide to set the A and D. My D was too low and the A a bit high. That done the string-to-string balance was improved. I wasn't happy with the change in tone from the D to the G, feeling the G sound too bright for a non-slapper. Andy Rice gently suggested I consider using flat wounds. I had a set of LaBella and put them on but the G was dead flat. Did lots of reading of customer reviews of flatwounds, then bought Ernie Ball Group III Flatwounds. They are terrific. Now, there is a lot of tone color loss when leaving roundwounds behind, but the Ernie Ball Group III with this bass is a perfect combination. The D to G change of tone is minimized and there is growl on lower frets and the A and E. I think with the Ernie Ball Group III's the E to A tonal difference is closer than some basses where the E will be thick and muffly above the 5th fret and the A quite different in tonality. Very satisfying sound overall. The new strings were a little draggy but Finger Ease fixed that. Great bass now with great strings. Oh, the tuning key action is very smooth. I just got a new Fender American Professional II Precision. Those tuners feel like they're grinding small objects inside!

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