Green Alsatian

I've had Squiers (CV P, VM P and VM J), MIM Standards (P & J), a MIM 50s P, a MIA '62 Reissue Jazz and a MIA 2010 P. In terms of fit & finish, I've been lucky with only minor issues on one of the Squiers and the MIM Jazz V I had. Soundwise, there were differences down to the pickups used - the MIM had ceramic bar magnets and the Squiers, 50s, '62 RI and 2010 P all had alnico pickups. The MIMs sounded a bit brighter (but still controllable with the tone control). Which was better? I couldn't say as they each had their qualities. I didn't change the pickups on any of them, liking them 'stock' as they provided the sound I expected. The biggest difference, for me was how the necks felt and of the Jazzes, the '62 Reissue felt the nicest to me (I like glossy necks), especially around the edges of the neck. Of the Precisions, I loved the wide vintage neck on the 50s but the rolled-edge neck on the 2010 MIA was a step above in terms of playing comfort. The hardware, too - the tuners on the 2010 MIA felt nicer when operating them than the others. I also rather like the new Fender high-mass bridge, from an aesthetic and functional point of view. Which instrument I buy is usually governed by how much I have to spend at the time, and there's always a Squier or Fender in that price bracket to cover my needs. Same with many other brands.

I like it - looking forward to hearing the rest of the album.

You're all wrong! It'll be something with Moog, Roland, Oberheim, Sequential Circuits or similar across the front it. Or if we're talking after 1983, a Yamaha DX7!

I've had two over the last few years and they're well worth it for the price. The vintage white/maple one I had was really nice - felt no urge to modify it, other than changing the strings as it sounded fine as-is.

Thanks (and for the extra pics). I'm rather interested in the Olympic White model - never played 5-string P, a curiosity piqued by Ed Friedland's review of the Fender 5-string P.

[quote name='DolganoFF' timestamp='1375957803' post='2167824'] I've got my P5 two days ago![/quote] Ace! How are you finding the low B on it?

Greedy fackin' cants.

Sad news indeed. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFKlezPu3xg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFKlezPu3xg[/url]

Looks uncomfortable - especially on the fretless P vid.

Hmm - I can see and play the vids fine here (Chrome on Windows 7) - I literally just pasted the URLs into my posts. Computers - can't live with them, can't dispose of them in public swimming pools. Hopefully this link will take you to them: [url="http://www.youtube.com/user/fendermusical/videos"]http://www.youtube.com/user/fendermusical/videos[/url] I agree about them not being good showcase of the low B - the Modern Player Jazz V demo was similarly afflicted, with a [i]whiff[/i] of the B. Given that they have a separate demo of the 4 string, I'd have placed the emphasis of the 5-string demo on the much-lower end. Interestingly, I notice the J-pickup on the new Jaguar V and PJ looks to have adjustable pole pieces, like a DiMarzio. A pity we don't get to hear it soloed.

And finally: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zziQgcKDrA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zziQgcKDrA[/url]

More: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm2Ox6TDdxo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm2Ox6TDdxo[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bumLCqDJGeI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bumLCqDJGeI[/url]

Fender have put up demos of the new range: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRdlKVi5Ido"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRdlKVi5Ido[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shHywjPn_I8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shHywjPn_I8[/url]

Take paper. Write 'X' in box. Fold paper. Place in slot.

One of my proudest moments was getting a mention from Tommy Vance on VH1's Friday Rock Show when he played my request for some Manowar in the late 90s. I love Manowar - first heard Kings of Metal in 1989 when a mate bought it and was hooked.

They'd probably have looked as they do now - an evolution of the older designs. The Dimension would have benefitted aesthetically with a sleeker headstock.

And a Fender demo now up for the 4 and 5 string versions. I really like the sound of this one. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3BzRlcgXag"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3BzRlcgXag[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNhm1zZSe0A"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNhm1zZSe0A[/url]

Demo from Fender now up - sounds pretty decent this. The Fender headstock looks a bit out of place on that body shape - a bit like a priest wearing a tracksuit. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCMjY55nn_w"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCMjY55nn_w[/url]

Here's a demo vid, courtesy of GAK. I do like the sound of this and the ability to coil-tap the pickups. For that price, it's a bargain! The only other Modern Player I've owned was the TB bass, which I couldn't fault for construction, finish etc. Just sounded a bit too muddy for my tastes, in the end. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqkTNQkz_so"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqkTNQkz_so[/url]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y1wm7CFRCQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y1wm7CFRCQ[/url]

I had the FSR version of the VM sunburst Jazz (it had the black block/bound neck) and outside a new set of strings and a quick tweak of the truss, I felt no need to modify it in any way. I've a lot of time for the VM series - haven't played a bad one, including the VM Amber P-bass I bought from you a couple of years ago.

[quote name='pobrien_ie' timestamp='1373990519' post='2143946'] I think, for the P bass at least, it's just in black though isn't it? I would have the thought the 2tsb and fiesta red ones were the biggest sellers in the range, and therefore deserved the nitro finish. [/quote] Aye - it's a great pity that Fender doesn't match the colour range of the poly-coated models, given that they already do them in the Roadworn series. I owned a poly-coated sunburst model a few years ago and couldn't fault it. Perhaps they're for 2014!

[quote name='pobrien_ie' timestamp='1373919695' post='2143237'] There's a relatively new nitro-finished MIM P Bass called the 50's P Bass Laquer. It's only available in black but comes with a tweed case. The other non-worn 50's Classics do not have a nitro finish. [/quote] Yep, they're part of the Classic series - a P and a J with nitro.

The newer MIM Classic series have a nitro finish.

A pleasure dealing with you sir - glad you like it! Funnily enough, I did at one point consider looking for a cheap Westfield Jazz to swap necks - seemed more appropriate, somehow. I love the twin-P configuration - I've got to stop looking at pictures of older BC Rich Eagles.