Modifying platform

Uche_bass

Uche_bass

Jul 31, 2017
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Argentina
#1
Hello guys!
I have a project in my mind. It's a Jaguar PJ bass with custom electronics and some other things. Where I live things are (very) expensive, and I wanted to know your opinion on which is a best platform to tweak:
Squier VM Jaguar pj (made in Korea)
Fender Modern Player Jaguar bass (made in china)
Fender Standard Jaguar bass (made in Mexico).
The squier costs 1/3 of the MP and 1/4 of the MIM. But... It's nice to have a fender decal so I can use MY bass in the studio without getting weird looks. Is tge quality jump worth the price or should I buy a squier and put a fender decal on it?

TL;DR:
Is it worth to pay 3x/4x for a Chinese or MIM fender against a VM squier?
 
#2
for me it's all about the neck...any chance of playing the three side by side before buying?

having owned all three

VM P
Modern Player Jazz
and MIM P and Jazz

buying sight unseen...I would go with the MIM, followed by the. MP, and then the VM
 
#3
The neck profile technically is the same. I will see if I can try them all, but almost certainly there's no chance to try them side by side. Maybe i'll make notes about tge feel and quality. Thanks a lot!
 
#4
Okay so I just made the price convertion from my currency to US dollars:
Squier VM Jaguar: 393 (used) / 645 (new)
Fender MP jag: 825 (used) / 965 (new)
Fender MIM jag: 1448 (new), haventh found a used one yet
 
#5
Uche_bass said:
Hello guys!
I have a project in my mind. It's a Jaguar PJ bass with custom electronics and some other things. Where I live things are (very) expensive, and I wanted to know your opinion on which is a best platform to tweak:
Squier VM Jaguar pj (made in Korea)
Fender Modern Player Jaguar bass (made in china)
Fender Standard Jaguar bass (made in Mexico).
The squier costs 1/3 of the MP and 1/4 of the MIM. But... It's nice to have a fender decal so I can use MY bass in the studio without getting weird looks. Is tge quality jump worth the price or should I buy a squier and put a fender decal on it?

TL;DR:
Is it worth to pay 3x/4x for a Chinese or MIM fender against a VM squier?
Click to expand...

I'm fairly certain the Fender Modern Player series was made in the same factory as the Squier Classic Vibe series. The CV's were very, very well made. Some even say they were equal to or better than the MIM Standards.

Aesthetically, which would make you happier, a rosewood neck with dots or a maple board with block inlays?
 
#6
Since both cost and it's ability to serve as a platform to modify top your list I'd base my choice on that.

Typically the Classic Vibe and Modern Player Series have used MIA Fender specs so any part made to fit a US made model would also work on the CV and MP Series. I'm less certain of that with the Squire VM Series and the MIM Series is 50%-75% more depending on whether you go new or used which somewhat defeats the idea of costly modifications. At that point you may as well by a used MIA model.

I'd begin with researching how easily it would be to modify the VM model the way you like and forget all about the name on the headstock. Other pros only care how you play not what you play and the better Squier VM and CV Series are all quality instruments. My P and J Basses are both highly modified Squier CVs and no one looks down their noses at them or me. Just the opposite. I often get compliments when others play them as well.

If the VM just won't cut it or can't be modified as you like and the Modern Player can be I'd go that route. The Fender MP and Squier CV Series are comparable in quality and in my experience owning or having owned models from each series they are every bit as good or better than an MIM Series. The components of each are comparable it just costs less to produce them in China or Korea than in Mexico.

Happy hunting.
 
#8
With that level of change, you may as well.
While most of us will say that putting a Fender decal on a Squier is a form of deception,
it may be something you end up having to do if you find yourself being judged by
those that 'listen' more with their eyes than their ears.
 
#9
The problem is the amount of money everything costs in my country. IdI gladly save to buy a used MIA fender, but a used (not even vintage) one is around 3000 US dollars. I'll see what results I get with the squier badge (after all the tones i'll be able to get out of it are quite awesome I believe) and if that still gets criticized i'll put a Fender decal on it. Or a fender neck altogether
 
#10
The Made in Mexico ones have surprisingly good detail. The Chinese made Squiers are garbage and would avoid them at all cost. The Korean made models are also pretty decent too. I think if you go either either the Mexican or Korean made Fenders, you will have a pretty nice bass to put your own personal touches on.
 
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