Squier Vintage Modified Jazz vs Bass Collection Jive Bass

[Bettencourt]

Hi,

I tried searching but haven't come up with any real answer for this one, so apologies if this is an annoying query, or indeed if the answer really is buried somewhere on the site. 

I need a bass quite soon for not much more than £320 for some work. A MIM Jazz was first choice, but of course they far exceed my budget; as such I'm now looking at either a Squier VM Jazz (non-70s) or Bass Collection Jive. Is either better than the other or are they equal in quality e.g. fit, finish, hardware, sound?

Thank you!

 

Edited August 5, 2018 by Bettencourt

[Reggaebass]

It’s worth keeping an eye on gumtree bargains do come up now and again 

[jezzaboy]

I went through this a few months ago: looking for a cheap Jazz that was still good.

After asking around, it came down to the J and D bass from dv247 which gets some love on here at about £130 or a Sire. In the end up I went for a Marcus Miller Sire V3 at £240. It knocks the Squiers into a cocked hat as they say. It`s a bit heavy but it`s such good value. Check them out at Andertons or Thomman.

 

I should add that if your are set on a Squire, the VM 77 in black with maple neck I owned a couple of years ago was a nice piece of kit. 

 

Edited August 5, 2018 by jezzaboy

[ead]

Does it have to be a Jazz?

[ead]

This might be a good bet:  

 

 

[Sibob]

For what it’s worth, I have a Bass Collection Jive bass and it’s very good. Excellent finish, quality parts and nice bunch of people too.

Si

[Bettencourt]

Thank you for your responses. 

On 05/08/2018 at 13:50, Reggaebass said:

It’s worth keeping an eye on gumtree bargains do come up now and again 

I had tried Gumtree to no avail. There were one or two that took my interest, but replies from the owners seemed sketchy and the ads have since been removed. One never can be too careful. 

On 05/08/2018 at 19:41, jezzaboy said:

In the end up I went for a Marcus Miller Sire V3 at £240. It knocks the Squiers into a cocked hat as they say. It`s a bit heavy but it`s such good value.

Interestingly enough, upon learning of the new MIM prices I considered a Marcus Miller V3 or V7,  then promptly demurred over the active electronics and flatter fingerboard radius. In different circumstances I would have bought one immediately, but at the moment, its electronics might cause more headaches than they'll remedy. Definitely a future prospect, though. 

7 hours ago, ead said:

Does it have to be a Jazz?

6 hours ago, ead said:

This might be a good bet:  

 

It does have to be a Jazz or something very similar, I need the honky back-pickup sound; also, I know them well and familiarity is crucial at the moment.  I wish I''d been looking at the classifieds section much earlier today, this would have been just the ticket. 

 

6 hours ago, Sibob said:

For what it’s worth, I have a Bass Collection Jive bass and it’s very good. Excellent finish, quality parts and nice bunch of people too.

Si

Good to know. The Bass Centre was the placed I looked to first, though as it's closed to normal trade, far from ideal. Although incidental to anything really, I am quite taken by Windermere Blue — always wanted something in a Lake Placid Blue-like finish, with matching headstock. 

I didn't want to delay any further and managed to find a Squier VM Jazz (searches seem to suggest Squier has a fairly decent reputation on here), advertised with a rosewood board for £250 new from a reputable shop. Pending any hiccoughs, it should be here in the morning  — I'll let you know how it is.

Edited August 6, 2018 by Bettencourt

[Elfrasho]

I had a bass collection jazz, the one with the babibz (sp!?) Bridge. It was an awesome bass. Amazing neck.

[bigsmokebass]

If say they're both roughly the same build quality. There is, as @Elfrasho says about Bass Collection having the Babicz bridge option too, which will be a little better for tone compared to the vintage style bridges with the added mass. 

 

Me personally: I'd sway towards Bass Collection especially with colour options new.

[Elfrasho]

The only down side to the BC is the horrific headstock decal! 😅 

[Bettencourt]

I went for the Squire as it was well under budget, seemed to fit my needs and could be delivered in 24 hours (can't go anywhere waiting around for a plumber and builders). Sadly, I'm not too impressed. With a few adjustments to compensate for the current heat wave, it plays nicely enough, although there are some quality control issues; I now wish I'd gone with a Jive. At the very leat, I managed to get some recording done. 

 

4 hours ago, bigsmokebass said:

If say they're both roughly the same build quality. There is, as @Elfrasho says about Bass Collection having the Babicz bridge option too, which will be a little better for tone compared to the vintage style bridges with the added mass. 

A Babicz bridge would put me over budget, so I'm quite happy to replace the vintage style when ready. 

 

1 hour ago, Elfrasho said:

The only down side to the BC is the horrific headstock decal! 😅 

That's tolerable, so long as it plays well.

 

May I ask what the fingerboard radius is on Bass Collection?

[Elfrasho]

1 hour ago, Bettencourt said:

 

 

May I ask what the fingerboard radius is on Bass Collection?

No idea! Sorry

[bigsmokebass]

9 hours ago, Bettencourt said:

I went for the Squire as it was well under budget, seemed to fit my needs and could be delivered in 24 hours (can't go anywhere waiting around for a plumber and builders). Sadly, I'm not too impressed. With a few adjustments to compensate for the current heat wave, it plays nicely enough, although there are some quality control issues; I now wish I'd gone with a Jive. At the very leat, I managed to get some recording done. 

 

A Babicz bridge would put me over budget, so I'm quite happy to replace the vintage style when ready. 

 

That's tolerable, so long as it plays well.

 

May I ask what the fingerboard radius is on Bass Collection?

I’d say when the time is ready, check out a few different bridges as some are cheaper and probably just as good. I think I got a Gotoh bridge for ~£30 off eBay and it’s a great little thing.

Regarding the fretboard radius, I don’t know off hand but considering they’re modelled after the 60’s jazz Basses, I’d say probably around the 7.25” spec. Someone maybe able to confirm this for you who owns/owned one. 

[Bettencourt]

Absolutely, prices on eBay for quite a range of bridges don't seem to be too extravagant.

Thanks, I was just curious if anybody knew, whilst waiting on an answer from the Bass Centre. 

 

Edited August 9, 2018 by Bettencourt