Squier Classic Vibe '50s Precision Electric Bass
With old-school single-coil pickups and vintage Basswood body shape and flair, this bass from Squier recreates classic 1950s style.
Overall User Ratings (based on 10 ratings)
Submitted June 29, 2012 by Warren E in Burbank, CA
"Takes me back to the 50`s"
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When I first saw the "Sting" signature bass, I had to have one, but I do not care for 'Signature' equipment. Then Fender put out the `51 P bass reissue and I bought one. It was great and I enjoyed it. This modified version of the `51 from Squier is an awesome replica with nice modifications that enhance the instrument. Might let the Fender replica go...
Sound
Sounds as I expected it would - bright and clear.
Features
The arm curve and belly cut give this model a true advantage in the comfort department. The overall look is outstanding especially with the pine wood body and the Butterscotch finish..
Ease of Use
Needed string height adjustment (I prefer low action) and a few tweaks on the truss rod (no allen wrench provided, but I did get a 'Blemish' version and saved some bucks). However it was quite playable right out of the box.
Quality
I can find no faults with the quality of build or of the parts used. It all comes together nicely for an excellent product. I have several Squiers and they are all excellent.
Value
The bass has an outstanding quality to value ratio, as with all the Squier basses I own.
Manufacturer Support
Never needed support.
The Wow Factor
On a scale of one to ten - a 10. Love the look and feel of this bass.
Musical Background:
intermediate
Musical Style:
Rock, Blues, old R&B.
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Submitted October 25, 2011 by a customer from comcast.net
"Great sounding and playing bass. Love the looks. I would recommend it to anyone especially if you are playing classic rock. It"
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Replace it.
It has a single coil pickup so don't be disappointed if you get some noise in certain envirorments that's typical of single coils. Not a problem in most cases.
Sound
I'm very pleased with sound of this bass. I has a definite P-Bass sound. Good tone and sustain. It has a very bright sound with the maple neck. For an inexpensive bass I am very happy with sound.
Ease of Use
The bass plays well. Factory setup for the action is a little high which is not a problem. I'll set the action up to suit me after the bass settles in.
Quality
Well made, tight fit on the parts. Only complaint I have is with the chrome plating, not the best quility on the tuners. May polish out I haven't tried to yet.
Value
Great value for sound verses cost.
Manufacturer Support
Haven't needed support.
The Wow Factor
I like the color of the body and how the maple neak with the vintage headstock looks. I didn't need this bass but the looks are what sold me on it. I was skeptical about buying a Squire bass but, glad I did. I am very happy with the bass.
Musical Background:
Hobbyist
Musical Style:
Rock, Country, Jazz & Americana
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Submitted November 15, 2012 by cliff powlowski in Saskatoon, SK
"Great bass for the money"
Don't know what else you would want in a bass. Neck is chunky like a Sting Ray but quite comfortable. Used to play a 1966 people-bass and this is much like it. Some hum with the treble uo but that's no big deal. Beautifully built bass for the price. I added a pickup and bridge cover to make it look original and will add a single screw thumb rest. Great second bass or might be the only one you need. The only people that might be in the know between a Fender and a Squier usually don't pay for your services so it is a moot point.
Musical Background:
playing for 40 years
Musical Style:
Country and Rock
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Submitted September 20, 2010 by a customer from hotmail.com
"Dont let the name discourage you- It's a keeper !"
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I will keep it.
Sound
The pickups and pots in this Bass are fantastic. When you take into account the price of this bass, you could pay a lot more and still not get the sound this bass can produce.
Features
Volume and Tone, whatmore do you need for straight ahead Bass playing.
Ease of Use
If you can play.
Quality
This bass is hands down made as well as most bass guitars you will find. Dont give the American Fender Jive I aint paying $800.00 more for a name on a headstock. If you choose to thats ok, but dont tell how musch better yours is.
Value
You cant do better at twice the price !
Manufacturer Support
Great Squier website with support.
The Wow Factor
Great looks and finish.
Musical Background:
Weekend Warrior- Gigging
Musical Style:
Blues-Classic Rock-Surf- Bluegrass
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Submitted October 8, 2012 by Vee L in San Diego, CA
"Love the body, Hate the pick up and low output signal "
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First let me say the Squier Classic Vibe 50's P-Bass i got is not that light weight it's right up there with my heavier basses but i like that in a solid body Fender style bass. I have played a bass like this that was much lighter then mine i think the lake placid blue is lighter and a different type of wood (basswood). I feel lucky in that I got a Classic Vibe 50's P-Bass that has nice wood grain finish and substancial solid feel to it like a real Fender. However I have to modify the electronics before i can really use it. Before you nock down what I am saying like i did before I bought mine. I read these reviews just like you are doing rite now and I thought one of the guys was arrogant but in my opinion after purchasing the bass he was right. If you are semi pro/ pro or just need/want a good signal from your bass the pick up is going to have to be replaced. I tried adjusting the pole pieces, and got a little improvement in the string to string balance but still not enough signal to be usable and I have to turn the gain too high to be considered normal. Trust me i love how this bass feels in my hands but I can't use it outside yet. I am going to modify the electronics before i can use it regularly I just don't want to over do it with the wrong pick ups, you have to remember this is a P-Bass and you want it to sound like one when you get through. You'll look dumb if you pull this bass out hook it up then all they hear is Jazz Bass or something and no P-Bass to be found in your P-Basses sound so be careful if you find you feel like me when you get yours. Now the type of strings you put on this puppy in my opinion is entirely up to you because if this P-Bass is set up right it sounds good with rounds or flats (I want two because of that reason). You can set the action relatively low with round wounds and pop yourself into P-Bass heaven without a lot of fret buzz on the way through the pearloid gates. I know because I did it as it comes with rounds wounds and you may like them more then you like the pick up so be aware. The hardware is very good but may need a polish cloth and a little rubbing no big deal. The tuners are of good quality and stay in tune in my double gig bag after a long trip next to a jazz moving around inside. If it's about the Music? All you need to do is replace the pick up and get a case then you'll have everything you need except a Fender decal....Trust Me....ooh yeah the wood is Pine for the New Butterscotch....... Soooooo what? Yes pine is softer then alder and some other tone woods used in more expensive guitars but some of the very best sounding guitars are made from pine, Yes Pine! Besides, the pine they use to manufacture these butterscotch C V 50 P-B's is aged and kiln stable not some fresh christmas tree pine with sap in it. With a little care this bass will outlast you.
Sound
The basic sound color is there but it can't truly be appreciated with this pick up signal strength. Amazing the tone sweep is there that's why all I really want is to change the pick up and maybe add a pick up near the bridge for more variety. I love the full scale maple neck with the ability set low fast action with rounds or flat wounds. From Louis J. to Aimee M. Beatles to the Stones, Roots, Rock, Reggae, Pop, Funk, Soul, Gospel, R&B, Country to Classical this bass can give you a solid foundation to build your bass lines on....Trust Me, I own it and I'm loving it. It feels good to have this Bass in my arsenal of Bass guitar instruments/tools
Features
Replace the pick up. Replace the strings. Replace the decal...LOL!!!
Ease of Use
Even with the poor pick up the tone sweep is remarkably good. All things being said Replace the pick up. I spent time with this bass when i first got it, took it to rehearsal and I even slept with it till i got to know it to find out where it fit in and how i was going to us it...Replace...you know the rest. Being a Full Long Scale Bass with wide string and fret spacings considering (if you play this kind of full long scale bass) playability I'd say it's a 8 1//2 ta 10. Playability is right up there with the best, it depends, it's up to you your knowledge and ability. The type of strings you use & how it's set up will determine playability not the instrument.
Quality
No noise from the volume or tone pots. This bass ain't going no where and is made to last if taken care of like any other Fender brand or other nicely made guitar. The tuners stay in tune and basically look like the real ones. The finish came top notch no dents or cracks.I have plugged it up many times never a loose input jack. The neck is worth the price of the bass.
Value
I did the homework for you. Except for a few small/minor details it is just like a Real Fender. You tell me, how can you go wrong??? I didn't. Why would you? Ok, go spend $1,900 or more for small/minor details and a decal? Ok listen up here is the secret....It really is a Fender its just not made by them they designed it and oked it, now you can take that to the Bank. When you buy this bass you'll be cashing in like i did, it's a win!
Manufacturer Support
There's nothing the manufacturer can do for me but make me another one just like it and improve the pick up quality & signal output...
The Wow Factor
As soon as the people in the audience see that headstock and body style their brains will process Fender, not Squire. And who cares if they do see a Squire decal because as soon as you replace that pickup their ears will process Fender Bass. Yeah that's right...WOW!!!
Musical Background:
playing Bass over 35 years, I own Basses by Fender Ibenez Dean Gibson Alembic Kramer Pro
Musical Style:
Pop, Jazz, Rock, Roots Rock, R&B Soul, Funk, Blues, Soul Blues, Gospel, Country Style Western, Folk, BlueGrass, GreenGrass & Hip
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Submitted November 25, 2010 by a customer from yahoo.com.au
"Classy, old-school and worth the expense."
If I lost this bass I'd buy it again. But I'd also buy the Seymour Duncan replacements as well! All up it's a small price for a very big, beautiful and visually effective instrument.
Sound
It's a passive P-Bass! It definitely gets the vintage tone right. If that's what gets you going then you will not be dissapointed by any other aspect of its build quality. It really is a beauty to behold! But it's a peculiar creature! While there's no doubt about it's vintage applications, I can honestly say (as a working muso) that I haven't actually found a way to use it yet. I have several active Fender Jazz basses that answer all my questions -so to speak- and there's no sound I cannot get from them. If I need the 70's soul sound I can generally find it with a little EQ tweak and a different hand position. It's all in the touch I suppose. If I have one actual complaint about this bass it would be its LOW OUTPUT! This issue alone has been enough of a problem to make me change its hardware just so I can use it! Honestly!
So, essentially, it's a great instrument, it really is -it's just totally unusable without better electronics!(!!!) OUCH! There is nothing at all wrong with the tone, I just really need an active EQ with much greater headroom, and I think you do as well.
Features
The basses fit and finish is superb! It's hardware is of a very high quality. It could perhaps use a flashier scratchplate (I have visions of pearloid and Lake Placid Blue in my dreams) and perhaps a higher spec brand of tuners, but this is all academic. This bass is a bargain and if not for the output level it would be perfect.
Ease of Use
Off the shelf the set up is pretty good actually. But I changed the strings to Elixer superlights and gave the neck a few days to think it over before I adjusted the action to what I am used to. Now it handles effortlessly.
Quality
It's as good as you could pay for several times over. I've seen Mex Fenders that cannot remotely stand up to the finish Squier has put into this instrument. No complaints at all.
Value
Yeah, go on, buy it! It's a little too low-definition to be really practical for anything other than it's vintage thing, but then again you could always do what I did and replace the hardware with Basslines electronics! I installed a Basslines Blackout tone circuit (STC-2C-BO, where the tone dial on the bass is), and the 9 volt battery sits under the control plate in the cavity! NO ROUTING REQUIRED! I also replaced the pickup with a Quarter Pound SCPB-3. Now I take this beauty to gigs and do what I have to. It's now in the same ball park as my other Fenders. You should all just do what I did, that's what I think!
The Wow Factor
This bass is BEAUTIFUL. It looks classy and dignified and represents a fat slice of beautiful bass history. I even think I play funkier on it! I moan on a bit about the output volume but thats only because I really wanted to use this instrument with the band. Now I can. But I had to change some stuff first. That's all.
Musical Background:
Active musician
Musical Style:
soul, funk thru to jazz
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Submitted November 22, 2011 by a customer from gmail.com
"An interesting take on a vintage 50s Fender Precision bass, all in a very playable and great-sounding package of high build qual"
I'm quite happy with it. If stolen I'd get another one.
Sound
Verey good sound, like a P-bass. The pickup is good, with Alnico magnets. I had a Duncan Antiquity '51 pickup lying around, popped it in and brought the sound to a new level. That said, this is truly a great bass for the money, no doubt about that.
Features
It's a meat-and -potatoes basic P, with a retro 50s look and feel, built like a tank but light in weight. Pine, attractively-grained body. Flawless finish on neck and body-truly superb. Hi-mass bridge, brass saddles, maple neck give a nicely-defined snap and depth depending on tone control position-and of course, amp settings.
Ease of Use
It sounds just like a good Precision Bass should. That's all. Playable, contour body, C-shaped neck, soft feel-which I happen to like. Light weight.
Quality
Great build quality, tuners perhaps not of the standard of early Squiers, but hell, I've done about 40hrs of gigs with the thing and it's never gone out of tune.....a really stable bass!
Value
Superb value. Just shows, when you think about it, that 'country of manufacture' is increasingly irrelevant in a globalised world. Is it of pro-quality? What does that mean? Mine'll outlast me. The Squier by Fender Classic Vibe 50s bass is a very good Fender Precision Bass that synthesises parts of other old basses to crerate an interesting and great-sounding take on a vintage 50s Precision.
Manufacturer Support
No deallings with FMIC....ever.
The Wow Factor
If you like 50s basses, you'll want this after you road-test it. It's great!
Musical Background:
43 years.
Musical Style:
Jazz, country, rock, Britpop
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Submitted March 23, 2011
"Best value per $, if you like the boomy sound"
Sound
Sound on this bass is very boomy, not muddy, just boomy, kind of like a vintage bass sounds, so if you want a classic P bass sound, this is not for you. This bass is straight up bass and almost no treble, made to function much like an upright bass on with the precision of the frets and volume and tone control of the amplification. So if your into big band or need a very bassy/boomy sound, this is the bass. Feels much like a retro P bass with a fat neck. Nice finish to it (Lake Placid Blue), bridge is very durable in terms of keeping a nice tight string feel. neck and headstock is finished in a glossy transparent finish. Really nothing else to it, it functions perfectly for what it was made, only thing is, maybe the output being a bit low, but that again depends on your amplification equipement. Attention to detail on these higher end squiers is much better than an high end mexican made fender. Bridge screws and frets are aligned neatly, truss rod adjusts effortlessly, and these are some of the many problems I've encountered with a Mexican made Fender but not a $300+ Squier. If you like the traditional P-bass sound, get the 60s vibe Squier P-bass, it's amazingly rocking for the price, sound, and detail. Even feels amazing to play.
The Wow Factor
It looks very retro, but not quite the tone I expect out of a P-bass. I'd take the 60s vibe Squier P bass over this one, but that's only because I like the P-bass tone that most of us like.
Musical Background:
12 years playing bass
Musical Style:
metal, industrial, jazz, noise, punk
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