Is this Squier CM Jazz Bass worth it?

[Fender_Bender]

I have one I bought about 10 years ago. I like everything about it except for the weight at an even 10 pounds. I’m always wary about buying something sight unseen though. Lighter weight tuners could chop a pound off the weight of mine but it’s not my #1.

 

[Thegreatzambini]

Hi! To give a little bit of context, I'm a broke student who also plays guitar and I've been considering to get a bass as I've got some money saved up, I've been looking for Squier Jazz Bass models second hand and I've found one that seems interesting and fits my budget, but I don't know if it's worth the price.
It's a Vintage Modified Jazz Bass in a good condition, it comes with a hard case that I've searched and goes for around 110-120, and the only problem is that the seller says that his strap broke once so it has a bit of damage on the lower part of the body. I've shown it to my guitar teacher, who also fixes guitars in his free time and he says that the damage looks only superficial and that it's only the lacker/finish for the most part. It's listed at 275, and the seller has sent me extra pictures and he says that he can send me videos of the bass being played with no hesitation. Is this a good opportunity? I could also try to lower the price a bit just to play around, but IMO the bass and the case for that price is pretty good. Again, I'm not an expert so I'd like to have more opinions:



Note: Idk why but imgur doesn't "support/accept" like half of the pictures that I've uploaded even though they are all jpg, if someone could help me more and needs more pictures tell me.

So you made it your avatar even before you decided to buy it?

 

[Syco_bass]

So you made it your avatar even before you decided to buy it?

Ever hear of a "dream board"? Maybe he sent him an offer, and is manifesting that deal to come true for him.

 

[Thegreatzambini]

Ever hear of a "dream board"? Maybe he sent him an offer, and is manifesting that deal to come true for him.

Ya… ok

 

[Syco_bass]

Hey there. So here's the deal as I see it. You have a lot of great advice here, but IMO, that bass is a decent deal at twice the price the seller is asking. Especially with the case. The pickups are good, Qtr pounders are even better. I have the 5 string version. In my opinion, the 1st and best upgrade you can do, when funds are available, is upgraded the Tone circuit with an Emerson pre-wired circuit. I used to make my own, but they have a superior product with tight tolerances. It saves me time, and they do a great job. It's a direct drop in. The other thing I would do, again...as you can afford it, is swap out the the hardware. I love Hipshot "B" bridges as well as their US made Ultralites. Those two items will save you about a pound, and will give you the feel of a much more expensive bass. I have also "lightened" up the body by routing out a large pool sized cavity under the pick guard. That saved me another 8oz. The bass was 10lbs + when I got it, it is now just over 8.5lbs. A win for me, because I didn't bastardize a bass worth thousands and it sounds/plays amazing. I have just over $500 into it and it's one of my main players. My #1 at the moment is a Sire P5. But this Jazz bass is getting more and more play time. Good luck with the purchase.

 

[mmon77]

Those are nice basses, and at that price, a steal. The case alone would set you back over $100.

That ding, while not the best, is not going to hurt anything. I think just about everyone has had a strap pop off and ended up with that kind of ding at some time or another. At least it is less visible on that bass than it is on, say, my 80's Charvel Model 3 guitar which is all black. I was so mad at myself when that happened!

I would buy it and enjoy it. After you get the feel of it, maybe you want to save up for some mods, or maybe not. It will be a nice bass either way.

 

[Patrice B]

I have a different version VM ´77 (white inlays instead of black, standard Fender pickups) and I really like it. Mine is also (luck?) my lightest bass.

I also have an older VM fretless with Duncan pickups and it’s also a good one.

250 (and check for more serious issues, neck, truss rod) and if you like the way it plays, go for it!

 

[S.F.Sorrow]

These were generally good instruments. The damage is almost certainly just a cosmetic issue. It looks like a good deal if it plays nicely, the neck is straight, the truss rod works and you like it.

 

[Pocket Dave]

I owned two Squier 1st-generation VM basses, both with rosewood fingerboards, one a jazz that GC was selling new for $200, the other, a fretless jazz I bought used for $200.

$200 would be $273 today.

• Both basses were flawless in terms of playability, neck/body joint, feel, etc. Both were super easy to setup to where they were comfortable playing.
• Both had good truss rods with plenty of adjustment range.
• Pickups on both were ok, though I upgraded those on the fretless.
• Volume & tone potentiometers/controls were cheap, dime-sized pots. I replaced on both with full sized CTS POTS and the tone opened up nicely.
• Jacks on both were flimsy; I broke the tip tab at the base of the jack and replaced them both.
• Both basses were on the heavy side.

Knowing what I know now, I'd offer the seller $225 and use the extra for pots, a jack, a soldering iron and some solder. Then get some spare wire, a couple YouTube lessons and start practicing soldering. It'll come in handy and save you a ton on both guitar and bass repairs down the road.

 

[dorseylogan]

I have one I bought about 10 years ago. I like everything about it except for the weight at an even 10 pounds. I’m always wary about buying something sight unseen though. Lighter weight tuners could chop a pound off the weight of mine but it’s not my #1.

This exactly...good bass but all maple makes them super heavy...mine is also about 10 yrs old and with my lightweight Carvin B 40 (basically standard jazz) and my roadworn p bass it's really not close to #1 material...that being said I still have it...so.

 

[pb9717]

Thats a steal. Its got the Duncan Design pups form the 1st gen. Excellent bass for that price.

 

[MrB64]

Do it.

 

[Yahboy]

The batch before discontinued has the best sounding stock pup for budget jazz bass. Not Duncan designed, she call Fender Design alnico V .

 

[One Way]

My first bass was a Squire VM70’s; that bass was great and the tone was so good a friend who plays bass professionally liked it so much it inspired him to buy a Fender Elite 5 string. I like the fit, feel, and sound of Jazz basses and believe you should buy it before someone else does. Just my opinion, YMMV

 

[jd56hawk]

Hi! To give a little bit of context, I'm a broke student who also plays guitar and I've been considering to get a bass as I've got some money saved up, I've been looking for Squier Jazz Bass models second hand and I've found one that seems interesting and fits my budget, but I don't know if it's worth the price.
It's a Vintage Modified Jazz Bass in a good condition, it comes with a hard case that I've searched and goes for around 110-120, and the only problem is that the seller says that his strap broke once so it has a bit of damage on the lower part of the body. I've shown it to my guitar teacher, who also fixes guitars in his free time and he says that the damage looks only superficial and that it's only the lacker/finish for the most part. It's listed at 275, and the seller has sent me extra pictures and he says that he can send me videos of the bass being played with no hesitation. Is this a good opportunity? I could also try to lower the price a bit just to play around, but IMO the bass and the case for that price is pretty good. Again, I'm not an expert so I'd like to have more opinions:



Note: Idk why but imgur doesn't "support/accept" like half of the pictures that I've uploaded even though they are all jpg, if someone could help me more and needs more pictures tell me.

Not saying it isn't a good deal and if everything checks out, neck, frets, electronics and you don't want something mint, it will definitely get the job done, but you can buy a new Affinity for that price. Yes, the VMs are better basses, but the new Affinity basses are better than the older ones.
Other than that, there are plenty of VMs for sale for $300 or less, unless the one you're looking at is local and you're hoping to buy it for that reason.