bonzodog Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Can anyone who owns one of the above answer a question please. I bought a V4 reissued series off ebay as a cheap back up bass but liked it that much I regularly use it at gigs. The reason I like it is because the neck is much thinner than a standard precision. I dont mean the fretboard width but the actual distance from the top of the fretboard to the back of the neck. More like a jazz bass. I would say its shallower than a Fender modern C shape. Due to my current situation I am selling my fender MP jazz bass and intending on buying the vintage tony butler V4. Its impossible to find them anywhere in shops so i wanted to check the neck was the same as my standard V4, nice and shallow. There are no dimensions on jhs web site and upon googling it the only place I could find a discussion was on talkbass where they were saying how chunky V4 necks were compared to most P basses. This is odd as mine is the opposite. I emailed jhs and they have replied to say the necks on all V4s are quite wide and deep and I should consider a jazz style if I want a thin neck. But I want a precision. I thought maybe my V4 has got a different neck on it than original but the logo clearly states a V4 and its hardly a bass you would bother changing the name on the headstock. Im quite confused so anyone with a V4, preferably the Tony Butler model that could tell me how the neck shape differs from a Standard Fender P bass would really help Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoo Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 There's an Icon V4 (roadworn P sort of thing) floating about at work somewhere which I keep meaning to have a go on to see what it's like - will see if I can track it down tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Alsatian Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 I've owned a Vintage Tony Butler model (maple fretboard) and a standard Vintage V4 (rosewood) and the neck dimensions were the same from memory - I don't recall the Tony model having a thicker neck. It's wide, as you say - around 43mm - but not as thick from front-to-back. It felt like the MIM 50s P-bass I used to have. The American Standard P-bass (I had a 2010 model) was a bit narrower at the nut - 41mm and a modern-C profile, a far cry from the baseball bat-like Yamaha BB300 I had - thick from back to front and 44mm at the nut, but with big hands, I found it sat nicely in the hand. If you get on well with the Standard V4, you'll find the Tony Butler model to be familiar territory although the finish is glossy, rather than the satin of the standard V4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzodog Posted April 10, 2014 Author Share Posted April 10, 2014 Thanks for the replies. I think for the money they are great basses and I really want a black/black with a maple neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Check out the Squier Matt Freeman, comes in black/black/maple and from what I remember the neck felt a tad slimmer than a standard P! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggo Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 I do fancy the idea of the v4 series, and I didn't realise they had a slimmer neck, which is good. I've got a jhs vintage stingray copy but it's a string to many for me these days so considering offloading, but would probably try swapping for one of these. I saw a good video on YouTube of a guy playing a v4 in comparison to a standard fender p and sound wise it wasn't that far off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzodog Posted April 10, 2014 Author Share Posted April 10, 2014 I like the Matt Freeman Squier but as I said finances are pretty dismal at present and the V4 TB is a lot cheaper and great for the cash. Greggo - They are great basses for the money but the biggest problem is getting hold of one to try. None of my local music shops who Vintage claim to be distributors stock any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzodog Posted April 11, 2014 Author Share Posted April 11, 2014 Bought the Tony Butler sig V4 and should get it on Monday. You can buy them online now for £204 with free delivery and for that bass I think it is a great price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggo Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 (edited) Nice! I like the look of that model I must admit - the black /maple look is pretty. That would be the one I would get. Am I right in thinking on that model the tone control is disconnected? Edit - just read that although Tony Butler disconnects tone this v4 has a working tone control Edited April 11, 2014 by Greggo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number6 Posted April 12, 2014 Share Posted April 12, 2014 I have found all the Vintage instruments great value for money and very playable imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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