Mornats

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1414640901' post='2591726'] But the fact is that BC comprises a small, closed group of (mostly) hobbyists with narrow opinions based on little more than window-shopping and some experience of a few instruments over the years. [/quote] Surely we're the largest group of Fender users (for their bass products of course) in the UK? And from my experience of this forum, we have a wide-range of opinions. Also, judging by the quite-often-changing list of basses in people's signatures we've had a bit more than a little bit of window shopping and experience of just a few instruments. I can't honestly think of another group who would have had more experience of Fender bass products.

Hmm, at £18 a pup it may be worth just going for the neo's. I'm more interested in the clarity of tone than the strength of the output though.

I'm seriously considering some Entwistle pickups for my Squire VM Jazz but I'm torn between the cheaper price for the normal ones and the neodynium ones. Other than the neo's having a higher output does anyone know much else about the differences?

Yep, I'd never attempt to solder myself. So I guess I'm asking if I'd need any soldering skill to fit a Kiogon wiring loom. If not, then that would be the way to go

Hey folks, I've got the urge to experiment with different pickups in my Squire VM Jazz. It's a fantastic bass but I'd like a bit more bottom end oomph out of the pups. So, I have no idea how to solder and don't know anything about wiring which puts me at a disadvantage straight away. I don't want to mess things up or worse, wire myself directly to a live circuit through my bass. So my first thought was to buy a wiring loom from Kiogon on here. Then get myself some Entwistle pickups (as they're dead cheap and have great reviews). My question is: Is it easy for a newbie to fit a Kiogon wiring loom then install some new pickups? I can follow instructions fairly well and tend to err on the side of caution, especially when electronics are concerned. (I do have to add that I managed to replace the tweeter in my MarkBass 121P no problem.)

Sounds like a plan Milty I remember someone posted a link to the Fender custom bass builder than pretty much let you build one of around 4 basses (including all colour combinations) in their range. Or in other words, if you trawled the list of Fenders on any guitar shop site you could pick out anything you could make in the custom builder. It was a very pointless tool in my opinion. My main trouble with Fenders is trying to find one that's a little bit individual. I think Fender have been taking notes from Henry Ford - you can have any colour so long as it's three-tone sunburst.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1414362391' post='2588701'] Just look at their Strat range. Absolutely endless. 15 pages of Strats on their website. In what volume are they selling each and every version to justify 15 pages worth of product variations? [/quote] I actually think the problem lies in that they have Strats, Teles and Jaguars and not much else. They are, as you rightly say, putting too much choice within these. I think they need more variations in model rather than as many variations within each model range if you know what I mean? You should be able to choose a jazz, a precision, a jag, and several more models rather than have to choose between 25 different jazz models. Then I think the decision becomes easier and you don't have to go to Ibanez for a nice, lightweight active bass for example.

I've always felt that Fender never had enough variation in models and in particular never had enough variation in colours and styles. I do think that the various levels of bass (by which I mean Squire, Mex, Chinese, US, standards, specials etc.) is too varied with not enough to distinguish between them in terms of quality. I agree with what Norris said about about that. The differences in price do not match the differences in quality.

I can hear the other instruments coming through faintly though, surely that's bleed?

Haha! Yes it's a beauty. An incredible bass for very little money. I keep reading that people upgrade loads of things on these but I'm struggling to think what would need replacing... And because you like the look of it, here's the link to all the pics: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulnattress/sets/72157648516414689

Aye I like that "both pups on full and play over the neck pickup" sound too. That's what I always go for live and when recording. Although I do occasionally go full on burp with the bridge pup soloed but just for fun and only when no one's listening.

My first thoughts on the Elixirs. They feel nice. Not like steel strings at all. They have a little more tension than the nickels but I like this as it plays nice and tight now. Sound wise they sound very similar to the nickels but with some top end bite (that's the zingyness I wanted) but not as bright as the Fenders were when they were new. I expected them to be a little brighter with them being steel strings albeit coated ones. However I think they actually fall into that just-off-the-edge-of-bright that I like. If they keep this tone for a long time I'll be happy. They're quieter than the nickels. I had to give the Elixir parts of the demo a 2.4db boost to match the volume of the nickels. The Elixirs also lack a bit of bottom end. I can add this back in on my MarkBass though and it gives the bas a nice bit of welly. A really nice sound actually. Through my amp there's more top end than what comes out of the recording. I don't know if this is due to the presence of the drum track covering some high end or not. It sounds better through my amp anyway. So far, I'm really happy with them. But as I said, I'll keep you updated

Righto, I recorded some sound clips of this bass as I wanted to do a comparison between the Fender nickels and the new Elixir steel strings I put on it. Details over yonder: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/247688-new-string-day-elixir-steel-coated-strings-with-sound-test-against-fender-7250ml-nickels-on-my-squire-vm-jazz/"]http://basschat.co.u...squire-vm-jazz/[/url]

I bought my first ever set of Elixir Steel coated strings today and did a little sound test to compare them against the strings my bass came with. I usually go for warm-sounding, not so bright nickelwound strings on my basses. My current favourite strings are Overwater Nickelwound/GHS Bass Boomers (which I swear are the same string as they feel the same, sound the same and have the same lifespan/degradation). I don't usually go for bright sounding strings or steels in general. This changed when I got my new Squire VM Jazz. It came with a set of the usual Fender 7250ML nickel strings. They sounded great at first, nice and zingy like a jazz bass should sound. That nice zingyness died within a week of having the bass (the strings could have been older, it depends how long it was on display in the shop for). So decided to give some Elixirs a go as I liked that fresh zingy sound on my jazz. I've read that the Elixir steel strings sound similar to fresh nickels so I ordered a pack from String Slingers on Ebay (great service) and here we are. So I tested the 4-week old Fender strings against the brand new Elixir steels. I'll report back in a few months to let you know how I'm getting on with them. For my own reference, the input gain on the Forte interface was at 11 (line level). I'll do another recording and that will make sure everything is the same. So here's the test, and the blurb I wrote about it on Soundcloud. Apologies for the crappy timing, I was keen to try my new strings! [url="https://soundcloud.com/mornats/elixir-strings-comparison"]https://soundcloud.c...ings-comparison[/url] And of course you want a pic of the bass. Why not eh? [url="https://flic.kr/p/pqVm5C"][/url] [color=#333333][font=Interstate,]This is a demo to compare the sound of a brand new set of Elixir Steel coated strings versus 4-week old Fender 7250ML nickelwound strings on a Squire VM Jazz.[/font][/color] [color=#333333][font=Interstate,]The Fender strings had light to medium usage and was gigged twice during those 4 weeks (30 mins set each time) and were on the bass when bought new (4 weeks prior to this test).[/font][/color] [color=#333333][font=Interstate,]Tone was on full for all tests (which is how I usually keep it). Playing position is how I usually play (over neck pickup unless I've got the bridge pickup soloed).[/font][/color] [color=#333333][font=Interstate,]Recording direct into a Focusrite Forte with no eq or compression at all. Drum track is EZDrummer Modern Kit.[/font][/color] [color=#333333][font=Interstate,]The Elixir strings were quieter than the Fender strings so I gave them a 2.4db boost to even out the volume.[/font][/color][list] [*][color=#333333][font=Interstate,]First set of 4 bars = Both pickups full, played over neck pickup, Fender strings.[/font][/color] [*][color=#333333][font=Interstate,]Second set of 4 bars = Both pickups full, played over neck pickup, Elixir strings.[/font][/color] [*][color=#333333][font=Interstate,]Third set of 4 bars = Neck pickup soloed, played over neck pickup, Fender strings.[/font][/color] [*][color=#333333][font=Interstate,]Fourth set of 4 bars = Neck pickup soloed, played over neck pickup, Elixir strings.[/font][/color] [*][color=#333333][font=Interstate,]Fifth set of 4 bars = Bridge pickup soloed, played over bridge pickup, Fender strings.[/font][/color] [*][color=#333333][font=Interstate,]Sixth set of 4 bars = Bridge pickup soloed, played over bridge pickup, Elixir strings.[/font][/color] [/list]

Argh dammit, now I need a green one.

[quote name='Lord Sausage' timestamp='1413732261' post='2581322'] [/quote] They're not spikey enough. And if they were, the Squire spikes would be almost as spikey as the US Fender ones and then there'd be trouble.

I love the sound actually. Quite jazz-like but with a nice difference that sets it apart.

For the colour-blind amongst us, this is also a lovely green bass. [sharedmedia=core:attachments:172738]

That sounds like a white bass.

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1413619290' post='2580130'] You're not going mad. [/quote] That's good to know but I think the ship has sailed on that one.

I'm gonna revive this old thread a bit... I'm looking for some nice long lasting zingy strings to go on my new Squire VM jazz. I loved the Fender string sound when they were new but they died off within 2 weeks of owning the bass. So I'm thinking of getting some coated strings. Usually I don't like bright zingy strings and I have Overwater nickelwounds on my other basses. These are almost identical to GHS bass boomers in terms of sound and the drop-off when being played in. I normally like them after a week of playing where they lose their metallic zing and settle into a warm growl. Anyway, I now love the brigher zingy sound of new Fender 7250 strings and I want that brightness to last. So I was thinking of Elixir steels as I heard they sound like new nickelwounds i.e. they're not as bright as steel strings but will sound like nice fresh nickels. Am I right in thinking this? I did look for the Cleartones but a). I can't find any in stock online, . they're nickel not steel and c). they don't come in the 45-100 gauge that I like on my jazz. Also in contention are the D'addario EXP strings which will get around any 60hz hum that the Elixirs can produce.

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1413643113' post='2580475'] [url="http://www.ephotobay.com/share/green-jazz.html"][/url] [/quote] Oh my, I think I need to sit down.

Just remember one thing when you're saying that products made in China are cheap and crap. All of your iMacs, MacBook Pros and iPhones are all made in China. Cheap crap yeah? I don't think the country of origin can be seen as a sign of quality. As someone mentioned above, the variance in quality of the US models is what's damaging the brand.

You missed the jack socket But yeah that's nice!