VM Jazz 77 or VM Jaguar special?

[martthebass]

Having just let my P bass go because it just didn't have enough cut with my LM3/Barefaced Compact set up, could anybody give me an opinion on the above 2 basses?
I'm looking for one of the above as a sub for my Ric or Status at Jamnights or ahem, 'rough' establishments.

[iconic]

I've owned two VMJ 70's, both very good playing, well balanced & well finished bass's even under the hood where the devil is in the detail, even faux cloth wiring & IMO look stunning for not a lot of money.

I should add my 1st VMJ 2010 was a heavy old thing though but still nice enough so there must be a fair bit of difference in the woods, but to be fair wood is not a 100% consistant matirial.
The very early 1st ones (2007 on?) could be a tad patchy on build & were built by a different sub contractor to Cort later issues...the serial tag letters are meant to be different on the early ones denoting India?

The fretwork on both mine was very good but I can get an even lower action on the later one which is a late 2011 build...could just be these two bass's?

...quite a few flavours to choose from now in the VMJ range, they all now have maple necks....natural, red candy ( ), white are the 70's all with black blocks. Natural, 3TS, black '77 with white blocks are the 77's..ohh and just to muddy the waters there are still some VMJ's in 3TS with rosewood and dots kicking around...old stock?

...there was a limited run of a 1000 (erm, well, not so limited!) which was a VMJ 70's FSR 3TS, maple neck & black blocks.

...I've dropped a .01 uf cap in my latest one, so it does a real motown thump with tone down, but still bright when tone up.

...dating them from the serial tag is easy, its just the first 2 numbers...later ones are ICS...I for Indonesia, C for Cor-Tek (Cort) S for Special run...they all are though!

...Jaguar bass's....never tried one, I'm sure they are fine as most later Squier stuff is really, but ooh that Jag' 'tis a fugly looking thing to me and I'm very shallow


[url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/squier-vintage-modified-jazz-bass-3-tone-sunburst-rosewood/44242"]http://www.gak.co.uk...-rosewood/44242[/url]

[url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/squier-vintage-modified-jazz-bass-77-upgraded-amber/85233"]http://www.gak.co.uk...ded-amber/85233[/url]

[url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/squier-vintage-modified-jazz-bass-70s-olympic-white/85226"]http://www.gak.co.uk...pic-white/85226[/url]

Edited August 26, 2013 by iconic

[martthebass]

Cheers I,
Looking like I'll be ordering the vm77 in black or the vm 70s in Oly white. Only difference looks to be the body wood, agathis on the vm77 and soft maple on the vm 70s.
While I still have a hankering for a Jag, I havent been able to try one out so I think that gets ruled out at this stage.

[martthebass]

Black vm77 ordered and incoming so hopefully it'll be setup in time for this Saturday's gig.

[martthebass]

Well, a brief noodle on the new vm Jazz 77 was a bit of a revelation.....a very nice piece of kit for the money. Weight more substatial than I expected - for some reason I expected it to be a bit like my old Affinity which couldnt have been more than 8lbs or so; this one's a good solid 9.5lbs. Hardware is typical far east economy standard but perfectly functional. The fit and finish is pretty good, nice tight neck pocket and the paint has fewer 'from the factory' flaws than my Rickenbacker. £240 basses have moved on a fair way IMHO......though I have to remind myself that the last time I bought a Squier 'brand new' it was a 57 reissue JV Precision for £203 back in 1982!