Geek99 Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Does anyone have an opinion on them ? Don't see many in the For Sale section which is either very good or very bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeystrange Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I don't think you'll find a better bass anywhere in the same price bracket. I bought a VM Precision a couple of years ago. It's a really solid build, factory set-up was pretty decent and the Duncan Design pickups sound incredible! Obviously there are a few not so good ones but the good ones are pretty much the same quality as a MIM Fender, just built with cheaper wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon_kemo Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I recently bought one of the amber ones with the maple fretboard and have been impresed by it, especially for the price. As mentioned, the pickups do sound particularly good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 Thanks That's very encouraging- I bought the black and white one for a good price. I guess if I don't get on with it (historically ive had jazz basses) I can always sell it on here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_S Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I bought one as a 'cheap, but not too cheap' testbed for C,F,Bb,Eb tuning which my band uses for a few songs that our singer just can't hit in our usual half-step-down. The body and neck are well made, the frets are well fitted and dressed and the rosewood board on mine is quite nicely figured, but the finishing of the back of the neck is a bit 'rough and ready' and I wasn't blown away by the Duncan Designed pickup as I felt it lacked definition compared to the stock hardware of my 2009 MIMs. Likewise, I thought the tuning machines felt a bit flimsy, but they did the job just fine so I left them to it. In any case, the intention was always just to see if the thicker strings and different tuning worked, and if it did, to get another MIM, do the same to it and sell on the VM, but in the event it became clear that it was good enough to be a keeper, so I got it a Quarter-Pounder and a BadAss II (the latter being purely aesthetic), and it's still part of the family today. I don't agree that they're the same quality as a 2009-onwards MIM because the neck finishing and the hardware just aren't up to that standard, but they're certainly 'good enough', especially for the money, and particularly if you plan to make a few hardware changes of your own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mornats Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 I've played a squire precision, a MIM precision and a USA jazz. The squire was almost on par with the USA made bass and the MIM was poor. I was well impressed with the squire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mornats Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 Sorry I should have added that I was referring to playability mainly. Sound wise I preferred the squire to the MIM. Can't compare either to the jazz of course as it's a different sound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LemonCello Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 I bought one and moved it on shortly afterward. The pick up poles were badly out of alignment and try as I might I couldn't get itany better. Had some rough fret edges too. It did sound pretty reasonable to be fair, but the build issues put me off. I do realise that this can happen with any bass at any price. The VM Jazz I had seemed to be way above the P for build quality and the Duncan designed jazz pups sounded superb! I bought the P blind so my fault! LC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted August 23, 2012 Author Share Posted August 23, 2012 ok - a mixed bag of responses there. Quality seems to be an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judo Chop Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 I bought mine new last March and I can't think of a single problem I've had with it. The pickups sound great, there's no sharp fret edges, it's solidly built and cost me half the price of a MIM Fender. Great bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 The CV's are better IMO and there are plenty of owners/threads about these basses on here. Both have a good rep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted August 23, 2012 Author Share Posted August 23, 2012 (edited) Seems what I have is an indonesian made 2006 with the white faded to something like Olympic white, the pickups are marked "Duncan designed". The rw board came up well after a clean and lemon oil. Body has a couple of minor dings that have been carefully painted over. Pots are a bit crackly but I can sort that. Never thought I'd like p basses but this is really quite nice. No sharp fret ends. Edited August 24, 2012 by Geek99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Protium Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 I had a VM Jazz when they first came out, well built and sounded alright. Straight away I had the frets levelled and setup properly - it played better than most USA Fenders Best of all, my mate worked for Dawsons at the time - I only paid about £120 new for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted August 24, 2012 Author Share Posted August 24, 2012 [IMG]http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o600/geek99/BBB43362-9855-4E12-84BC-A3D669F856C5-584-000000A1ACDCFC86.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o600/geek99/D870A6FF-98DA-475E-A4E1-4BDD311D7B85-584-000000A19706C5E0.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o600/geek99/DAE5638E-46C8-4058-8CF0-4D9EF1332DAA-584-000000A18AA7A173.jpg[/IMG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.