Bass VI — worth upgrading from a Classic vibe to a vintera II ?

[carvingcode]

3 hours ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

 

I like how the wiggle stick stays in the position you leave it at rather than letting gravity flop it down when you let go (like it does on my Squier CV VI) however the plastic trem tip doesn't seem to want to stay on the wiggle stick. The tip end of the stick is threaded, but there doesn't seem to be a corresponding thread inside the tip for it to bite into, so I haven't been able to get it to stay attached. Any ideas?

FTR: the tip on my Vinterra stays put.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I fixed the tip issue by putting a little masking tape on the threaded end and screwing on the plastic tip. It is now firmly seated and isn't going anywhere.

 

I have now shimmed and set up the bass using my experience of setting up my classic vibe to guide me. Like the classic vibe it now has a set of La Bella flats on.

 

The Vintera exudes quality. As much as I like the Classic Vibe, the vintera just seems a lot more classy.

[jd56hawk]

There's a long, detailed answer that might seem somewhat convoluted, so I'll just give the short answer instead.

No.

[shoulderpet]

On 20/12/2025 at 20:40, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

I fixed the tip issue by putting a little masking tape on the threaded end and screwing on the plastic tip. It is now firmly seated and isn't going anywhere.

 

I have now shimmed and set up the bass using my experience of setting up my classic vibe to guide me. Like the classic vibe it now has a set of La Bella flats on.

 

The Vintera exudes quality. As much as I like the Classic Vibe, the vintera just seems a lot more classy.

I think you made the right call going with the Vintera, I had a Vintera P bass a while ago and I moved it on as I only really play short scales but it was a fantastic bass, way better than any Squier I have they played, you do get what you pay for.

[Sean]

I just voted Vintera.

I love it when there's a loophole and you can vote for the outcome that's already been decided. Makes me feel like a winner. 

 

Enjoy the Vintera. I've always fancied a Bass VI but have no idea what I'd use it for other than noodling at home. 

[BigRedX]

8 hours ago, Sean said:

Enjoy the Vintera. I've always fancied a Bass VI but have no idea what I'd use it for other than noodling at home. 

 

I bought mine on a whim just to see what it was like. Right now it's my main instrument, and is the only bass I've played over the last 12 months.

[Sean]

1 hour ago, BigRedX said:

 

I bought mine on a whim just to see what it was like. Right now it's my main instrument, and is the only bass I've played over the last 12 months.

That's quite the endorsement. Do you use the floating trem? From what I've seen/heard this is one of the features of the instrument that makes it what it is and something that's completely lacking in some of the quality competitors' instruments like the Schecter Hellcat VI. 

[BigRedX]

11 minutes ago, Sean said:

That's quite the endorsement. Do you use the floating trem? From what I've seen/heard this is one of the features of the instrument that makes it what it is and something that's completely lacking in some of the quality competitors' instruments like the Schecter Hellcat VI. 

 

Personally I found that to get the best out of the vibrato mechanism you need to stick with the lighter gauge strings that the bass comes with. Unfortunately I didn't like the feel or sound of the light gauge E or A strings for playing "conventional" bass parts and fitting Newtone Axion strings which sorted out the E and A rendered the vibrato mechanism almost inoperable.

 

I eventually gave up on the Squier Bass VI as there were too many design problems that got in the way for my playing, most notably the very narrow neck. I upgraded firstly to a Burns Barracuda which suffered from the same string gauge/vibrato mechanism compromise but had a wider neck, and finally to an Eastwood Hooky which has the best neck width for me and no vibrato mechanism for me to be disappointed about. 

 

As someone who also plays guitar and owns two with very usable vibrato systems, I found the various mechanisms fitted to the commercially available Bass VIs far too subtle even with the original light gauge strings fitted. Others seem to get on fine with it, even with heavier strings. The only way to be sure is to try it for yourself.