Squier Classic Vibe '70s Jazz Bass - Natural Reviews

I have always loved Fender P basses. I'm a child of the 60's and the P bass was the bass to play. I like its playability and most importantly it's sound. But lately I thought I would try a Jazz bass just for comparability. I did some looking around on the Sweetwater web site and decided on the Squier. I've always played Fender but based on reviews of the Squier being favorable and at basically half the price of the Fender I thought I would take a chance. And I have been very pleasantly surprised. When I received it from Sweetwater (in Sweetwater's usual excellent packaging) I opened it up and saw one beautiful bass. The set up was just about right out of the box with only a little tweaking on the string height and I started playing this thing. To my surprise the playability was just as good if not better than my P bass. And I could get different tones than with the P. I have seen videos where players will make refinements to the Squier but for me it has been fine as is. I may put some flat wounds on it but other than that, nada. Take a chance and get one of these basses. You won't be disappointed.

This bass sounds great,very well built.For the Money you wont find a better deal.

I'm absolutely loving this bass! The tone is amazing, and the price can't be beat.

Ordered a Squire 70's Jazz bass in Jan 2022. From day one the bass neck would not play or adjust properly even with 2 of my best guitar luthiers trying to fix it. I n Feb 2023 I spoke to to Sweetwater's Guitar Workshop for a warranty repair and then shipped the Jazz bass to them. I expected they would just replace the neck with a good one since the problem with the first bass was a broken truss rod. Well today out of the blue Fed-Ex delivered a beautiful brand new Squire 70's Jazz Bass to me. I have played it now for a few hours and to say it is a better bass would be an understatement! Everything about it is superb for a $ bass. It plays and sounds as good as my 1972 Rickenbacker 4001 and almost as good as my stingray.
The Sweetwater Guitar Workshop staff and my sales rep Mike Johnson are very friendly professional and caring.
If you looking for an entry level bass or a backup bass the Squire 70's Vibe Jazz Bass is a perfect choice aand very cost effective. Kudos to the Sweetwater for taking such great care of an old road warrior like me.

Honestly, i got it becuase of good reviews everywhere. My previous bass was an Elite Fender Jazz Bass which i didn't like at all-it had problems with grounding and i didn't like its sound.
Now, after buying this CV70's i'm really happy with it, good sound, good feel, and quarter the price.

Purchase this bass 2 weeks ago and I am enjoying it.
Not only does this bass looking amazing but it sounds great.
The process to buy this bass was so awesome and easy thanks to Nathan and Ty.
Sweetwater is the best place to buy!

Fun to play, feels good and sounds excellent, just a touch on the heavy side

Ok mines technically a VM ,but anyone thats played them knows the CV and Vm are the same thing..anyway i love my Vm more than my mexican fender and i play my vm way more than my american hot rod fender the build quality on my 70s is impeccable the sound growls like a tiger on the prowl ..its probably my favorite bass out of the 12 i own

My Background:
I was a mandolin player in a progressive bluegrass band back in Kentucky but I moved to New England for better schooling opportunities for my children. We're avid skiers and hikers, climbers etc. Now that I have more free time I'm exploring music I've been passionate about for the duration of my life, mostly rock in various forms, 90's grunge, Rolling Stones, 80's metal and hair bands, and more. I have a large studio and PA setup in my music room so I can jam to my favorite music classics.

My instrument history:
I like nice instruments…I have a Collings mandolin and a Gibson mandolin and my electric guitars are American Fenders- a Tele, Tele deluxe, and Strat.

The Bass:
I have never owned a bass before and since I wasn't buying a bass that is an heirloom quality instrument I was very concerned about quality. I looked at G&L, Sire, and other comparable makes. I settled on the Squier and kept my fingers crossed.

Fit and finish:
The fit and finish are nicer than the Mexican fenders I played at the store. I couldn't find anything locally due to the supply chain shortages nationally and I always buy through Sweetwater when not available locally. The frets are filed nicely and the action and relief are excellent. I needn't adjust anything. My American Professional Tele and Tele Deluxe both required a lot n of setup work but the Classic Vibe Bass from sweetwater was awesome straight out of the box. I was SO nervous but I'm thrilled with this bass.

Tone:
Infinite tonal options. The pots and dials are SOLID. I'm not thrilled with the knobs/pots on other instruments I own but these are stellar. No complaints. I'm so impressed that the quality is so high.


If you can get over the fact that it says SQUIER, this is as much as any non professional bass player could ever want in a bass. Bass is not my primary instrument and I don't see ever wanting another bass.

If you're in the fence, this thing is SWEET. GET IT.

So I changed the pickups to Seymour Duncan qp's, high mass bridge (Fender) rotosound flat wound bass strings and Emerson prewired electronics and this thing sings like an angel

This is a great bass guitar. Have done a couple of mods
Had Sweetwater upgrade the bone nut and flat wound strings of you are on the fence between this one and a MIM Fender I would say pick this one. My other bass is a made in US but still sometimes I prefer this
Squier

Beautiful natural wood grain,soft maple,with maple glossy fingerboard make this a stunning bass.The thin neck makes for ease of playing.I now have a beautiful,quality bass that will last me a lifetime.Hard to believe the workmanship on this beauty.And for the price,you can not beat it.I love my new Squier Classic Vibe 70s Bass.

Don't sleep on this one. I have the 5 string in natural finish. I noticed that this bass was easier to play than my Fender, Sire and Yamaha. I have short little fingers compared to most bass players I see. Getting good tone was easier on this one. I compared all fingering and noticed that with the tall narrow frets I could be farther from the fret and still get great tone. In fact I could be centered in between and still be crystal clear. I changed the strings , as I have on some others,but I believe it is the frets that make the difference. True Fender only sound with the right amp and perfect (for me) string spacing makes this my number one favorite bass of the 10 I have owned. I plan to get a 4 string also. In addition, the edge binding seems to make it smoother than even the rolled fretboard edges on others. Ray H.

This is an economy instrument. A quick set up and new strings=WOW. Started when I was twelve. Played until I was 26. Quit and restarted in Feb. 2020 I'm now 67. This bass is my workhorse and I love it. Intonation and action is perfect...for $... what a deal. This bass is better than my 70's Ricky and P-Bass's. Sweetwater always treats me well...so well I purchased six more instruments. Some Squire, some Fender and one Yamaha! Thank you to Ryan and Sweetwater for your superior service and customer relations! I'll be Bok! How many bass's does one need to own to have a collection?

Was going to save up for a fender Jazz Bass not sure what one but heard about this Squier jazz cv70. And the reviews were great. So I gave it a try and glad I did this thing is a beast and it is still stock. Want to try And put in Seymour Duncan qp's. But the tones are awesome now so we will see!

This has been a great bass to learn with. Very solid feel and sound. As I learn, I feel that I cannot "outplay" this bass, Which means there is room to grow with this one. After 30 years of Drums, I wanted to learn bass. This guitar had been FLAWLESS in delivering. Strong enough to put up with my mistakes yet well built that it delivers a sound that makes me want to practice MORE! The greatest moments are when I play a song in Itunes and MY guitar can hit the exact same note and tone. That tells me I can "do it" but I need to put in the practice. This bass guitar is a joy to own and I suggest it to anyone starting out. But please pick another color so still stand out :) The Sweetwater employee, Corey Elliott, is my go-to guy for help in guiding me thru this new process.
Buy one before the next shutdown and learn at home in your free time.

I'm a brand new bass player so it's hard for me to compare this to any other basses. However, I've played six-string guitars for years and the one thing I can say is the Squier line has really come a long way. It used to be Squier's were garbage...couldn't keep them in tune, cheap parts, etc. but this guitar is flawless. The fit and finish is great for what this guitar costs, it stays in tune, the action is very good...I couldn't be happier.

I just bought one of these and have had it about a month. I don't believe the quality of this guitar. Plays and sounds GREAT. Don't let the Squire name fool you. I've owned Fender Precision bass guitars before and cannot tell the difference. The sound and playability is just as good as my old 1976 P bass. I love this guitar. Glad I have it and you will be too. I would definitely recommend this bass!! And when you add to it all the great people at Sweetwater you will not go wrong. THANKS Aaron!!!

I recently purchased this bass, and I must say I am blown away with the quality of this product. I used to have a Squier J bass back about 15 years ago and the quality and playability was no where near what I am experiencing with this new purchase. The setup was spot on and did not require any further adjustment. The sound and playability amazingly close to the more expensive J basses from the fender offerings.

Liked the sound of the guitar with the stock electronics. However, we're always looking for that killer tone and i think I found it. The Fender performer series J Bass comes with their new Yosemite pickups so I thought I would try them. A must is also the Emerson J Bass drop in electronic plate, with treble bleed mod. I had to change the EQ on my amp(new pups were brighter and go with a more vintage tone on my Fender 200 Rumble. I now have a J Bass with all the qualities of the Performer series… (bass and modifications). the bass and mod kit is well worth every $

I needed a full scale bass as I've begun doing double duty in my band: Bass and rhythm. I did not want to spend too much for what is really my "second" band role. After discussing it with one of the best musicians/sound men in our area, he suggested going with the Squier Jazz. The minute I took it out of the box, I knew I'd made the correct decision. It was set up so damned well: No fret buzz/slap, my right hand position felt like it was custom made for me. At this point, I'm still experimenting with different pick up sounds, etc. I hadn't really played much bass, but some decades ago (ahem) I would play my (high school band) bass players Precision. I think this Vintage Squier Jazz plays as well or better. As far as construction, pot knobs feel smooth and tight; 1/4 inch jack has no issues; and my Supervisor (wife) pre-approved my purchase when she looked at the natural wood body and informed me THAT was the one I was to buy. I am not a believer in gig bags, so I consulted with Paul Eckert as to which case would be appropriate, and I settled on a molded Gator. As I type this, I confess I am so pleased with this bass that last night, I practiced with it for an hour and a half and did not get myself to bed until 11 pm. It is so much fun to play. I make no claims to being a "bassist." However, I am able to lay down some basic bottom, and for me, this instrument is a lot of fun.

Squire has done it again! Great fit and finish! Sounds great too!

I have been looking for a Fender Jazz bass that I could afford and one that I wouldn't have to treat with kid gloves because of the cost. Then , Viola! I came across this gem. It's a Squire to be sure, but I can't find anything sub par about this bass. I thought the Squire bodies were made of poplar, but this bass is way too heavy for any kind of lightweight wood. Yes, it's maple. I'm of the opinion that I got a "good one", because it plays so well, has no electronics issues, and the hardware, being what it is, can easily be upgraded in the future if needs be. Check one of these basses out, it will be worthwhile.

These lower level (price wise) instruments have come a long way since 10-15 years ago I love this new bass and playability finish and sound are great and I played a jbass at twice the price to try an amp and didn't see the difference

Love this bass
It weighs a butt ton
Looks really cool

I just got this bass a couple months ago. Coming out of the box, it was a great instrument. But the thing with Squiers is that they need a little bit of love to get the most out of them. This guitar hits like an eighteen wheeler with new pickups, new electronics and a new bridge. If you want to put some effort into modding a guitar to your liking, then definitely go with one of these.

I was watching guitar gallery, Sweetwater can't seem to keep these in stock. I ordered mine Thurs 12th when there were 4 in stock. AS of writing my review a week later, there are none in stock.Here is my verdict. I own a CV P/J bass that is equipped with after market EMG Geezer Butler pups. These are bit on the darker side tone wise. However I do like it for heavier rock songs that our group plays. Now to the CV Jazz. The tone is more focused on mid range with great bottom. The bridge is great for solos. like those played by Geddy from Rush. Here is why I gave it 4.5 stars. When the pickups are used alone there is a slight hum. However, when I blend the two to achieve my preferred tone the hum disappears. Problem could be solved with a pickup swap and I'll still be ahead $ wise as compared to a Fender with hum canceling pups. Finish: top knotch, Playability: excellent. I've got small hands and the 1.5" neck at the nut is to die for. Set up: Frets are fine, neck and string height are great, intonation is spot on. I'd recommend this for any level played and would not hesitate to play it live. If you are on the fence, take the plunge. You'll be pleasently suprised as I was.

This Bass is very good. It looks gorgeous and was really impressed by the stock pickups. Will still want to upgrade them at some point, but I was overall impressed. For the money, this is incredible bang for your buck.

While the aesthetics are on point, I did wind up having some issues with the bass. I had a lot of high frets I had to have a local tech fix on the one I ordered and wasn't thrilled with the nut, bridge, and tuners. I did have a bone nut installed and replaced the bridge and tuners to higher quality pieces and it's made a big difference.

I also re-wired and shielded the bass cavity, but that was also due to me just enjoying doing that stuff and wouldn't call it strictly necessary as the stock ones seemed fine enough and it was relatively quiet in terms of hum.

After the repairs and upgrades, you can get a monster bass to your liking for a fraction of the cost of getting something similar outright, but it's not necessarily going to be the bee's knees out of the box.

I GOT THIS ONE BEEN MISSING AROUN WHIT FOR ABOUI A WEEK LOVE IT THE FEEL IS NICE

For the money, I don't think you could ask for more. I like the looks and sound of this bass. Plays fairly easy. Although I didn't to much for the strings, replaced them with a quality set of flatwound.

Sounds and plays well but the tuners are literally falling apart and the bridge is worse as I had to swap out the saddles because the stock ones wouldn't even let me adjust them. If you're looking for an instrument that is gig ready out of the box look elsewhere.