First off, looking at the Squier specs for this shows that the proof reader for their web site has no clue about the product - it's a mix of specs from this model and the Dirnt sig, which is now transferred to Squier production. [url="http://squierguitars.com/products/view_specs.php?full_partno=0326902500&name=Vintage+Modified+Precision+Bass%26reg%3B+TB"]Link to spec sheet[/url]
I'll start with the [b]neck[/b]. It's a thoroughly modern C shape, and is one piece (fretted maple neck). Those who recoil from the original Telecaster Bass' C width will be pleased to note that the nut width is 1.6" / 40.5mm, slightly less than a standard B width. The nut itself is a cheap-looking plastic affair which appears to have had the slots melted into it with a set of hot heavy-gauge strings! However, it does the job. The finish is a very smooth and thin satin, and is very comfortable and fast under the hand. The truss rod is adjusted at the nut end; this is no Vintage RI after all. No bullet, and no 3-bolt tilt. 9/10
[b]Body[/b]: Basswood, with ash veneers top and back. Many comments on how good it looks, and I agree. The veneers (on mine, at least) appear to be pretty well bookmatched. The body is the same as the Dirnt in that it's a sharp-edged slab, but has a forearm contour. Either way doesn't really worry me personally, as my main squeeze is the '51RI, but it might be a selling point for some. 8/10
[b]Hardware[/b]: Much as you'd expect from a Squier. As I'm intending to use this quite a lot, most of it will be upgraded at some point. The bridge is a (to me) rather poor copy of the original two-saddler. It has large brass saddles, considerably beefier all round than the original steels. As they are also longer, there's no room for a bit of sideways movement to help with intonation tweaks. Otherwise, it's a solid job. Tuners are functional. String tree is horrid! I've changed the entirely OK strap buttons for Schaller straplocks already. 4/10
[b]Electronics[/b]: The pickup looks to be a fairly accurate repro of the original Telebass humbucker. The polepiece heads seem to me to be different, but I've never seen an original in the flesh, so I can't be sure. It sounds pretty good to me, and I can dial in enough twang on my amp to keep it from being unrelenting mud. It can certainly do mud if you want it to, however! One thing I noticed - the position of this pickup is on a nodal point, the same distance from the bridge as the fifth fret is from the nut. This makes tuning with harmonics when plugged in a little difficult, as the note is faint. Unplugged, of course, it's fine. Controls are cheap far eastern, and feel stiff and stodgy. They're loosening up a bit, but at the first sign of problems, I'll rewire the bass with CTS pots and decent wire. The jack is a generic football-plate edge mount, probably easier to mess with than the standard Telecaster-type cup. 7/10
[b]In use[/b]: Nothing you wouldn't expect, given the inspiration. Weight, about 8.6lbs, quite nice. I like it! 8/10, and will get better!
Now, here's some pics.
Front
Back
Headstock
Rear of headstock
Bridge
Pickup
Further to this, I've played the bass through some different amps/combos. The results were illuminating.
My Markbass, I can get anything I want. A Trace Elliot 715 combo, the same, with a little less treble available due to the 15" driver, but still fine. A Marshall VBA400 head through a 1x15" Hartke Transporter cab yielded unrelenting mud. The VBA is Marshall's take on a classic AVT, with more ooomph.
So, depending on what gear you've got, it may well live up to the original's rep for mud, but with something more modern, it can certainly be made to be more versatile.
