Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazz Bass FRETLESS - Jaco of all trades? - LowEndLobster Review

[@ampthebassplayer]

This would be the perfect fretless to show up to gigs with because it looks and sounds enough like a normal bass that you won't get fired for bringing something weird.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks AMP! Definitely, this one will fly under the radar a bit more than your typical fretless. When I played Roundabout and Freewill briefly, I actually said "man, this doesn't really sound like a fretless"... but I cut that sentence out ;P.

[@2cakejake]

Yup, people don’t notice on a gig unless I’m really trying for that sliding gliss fretless tone.

[@34hedgehog]

If you're in a band that's prepared to fire you just because of the way your bass looks... then, my friend, you're in the wrong band.

[@jonathangroomsbassist]

Actually sounds really good without a finished or epoxy coated fingerboard. Where it may not have as much "m'wah" as a coated fingerboard, it sure is warm and vintage sounding. Just the right amount of mids as well.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Jonathan!

[@VHope94]

Bought this as m first bass ever, at the beginning I regretted it, now I love it but I'm now thinking of getting one fretted since you have to not only pay attention to the technique but also the intonation here. I've only been playing for two years so I guess I went for the extreme difficulty first.

[@jdrukman]

I just picked up one of these essentially on a whim. I wanted to mess around with fretless, but I'm not a serious player so I wasn't about to spend $1800. This was the cheapest model from a decent brand that I could find in stock. I really like it! Looks great, sounds pretty good, fun to play. If you want more "mwah" run it through a chorus pedal.

[@rome8180]

I'm about to do the same. There's one on sale for only $280. At the full price, I might hesitate. But at under $300, it seems like a no-brainer.

[@shipsahoy1793]

@@rome8180 I got a 2017 Vintage Modified Jazz Fretless for $170 back in 2019, bc I too wanted to play a fretless for some fun, and glad I did. It is great, considering jow cheap. Makes buying a case feel painful lol Have fun! 🎸🥳 Edit: Chicago Music Exchange was who/where I bought it online. Took a chance and it paid off..

[@andrewswindells8492]

I always love it when you slip a Rush tune into the mix! We are doubly spoilt with a Yes song:) Great work!!!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you Andrew!

[@andrewswindells8492]

@@LowEndLobster You are most welcome:)

[@donnix768]

So glad to see you finally got a great squier. Beautiful bass, I pulled the trigger on the 60s precision bass and it has the same sunburst with 4 ply tortoiseshell pick guard color scheme. Doesn’t get any more classic than that!! Great playing as always

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Don! Yeah, FINALLY! Took a while ;P.

[@tjmicsak]

Usually the hum can be almost completely minimized by turning in a 90 degree direction to the worst position where the hum is most present. Consequently, finding the source of the hum and turning that instead 90 degrees is also an option so your playing direction can remain the same. This is true for every single coil guitar or bass. Often times it can be from being too close to the amp.

[@Fishfishfishfishfishfishfishfi]

i was on the edge about this one, but watching this made me order it! thanks for the amazing demo

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Befu!

[@ghen]

ive had one of these for a few years now and recently sold my fretted because i only play this. i dont record, or care much about the "jaco" sound, but i like jazz and "stand up" bass and to me this is perfect. i have replaced the strings with some nice flatwounds and it is just a dream

[@jirayuchuenpukdi6444]

I'm thinkin' about buying this one today, and look what I found on this trusty channel. Thanks for the review!

[@LowEndLobster]

Suhweet :). Glad you enjoyed the vid!

[@sixstringcity3931]

That was the most unexpected intro ever!!! Dig it

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Rich :)

[@glenndjubilee]

Wow! you are the first person I have seen on the web to mention Rondo music! I bought three six strings from them, two of them fretless.I had to mod them to make them play well. The three of them cost as much as my '08 Fender jazz 24 5 string. :)

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Glenn! Rondo is a great shop. I had an SX as a beater in high school marching band that treated me very well

[@ejjacinto5014]

I really enjoyed the tone of the neck pick up 😍 it sounds so warm Great playing anyway 💙💙

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you :)

[@martinenstrom8206]

Good info about the fret board coating.

[@barondavis5692]

I had a chance to play one of these today. First time fretless and I REALLY enjoyed it. It’s the first Squire I’ve ever liked. Not harder to play but different.

[@rome8180]

I have a '60s Classic Vibe P Bass and love it. In fact, I like it way more than some of my much more expensive basses. I was looking for a fretless, and one of these popped up at a deep discount. So I figured I'd search for reviews. And lo and behold, I found your video. Nice to get an endorsement from someone I already subscribe to. At close to $500, I might hesitate. But the one I'm looking at is under $300. Seems like a no-brainer, right?

[@michaelblaney4461]

Hi Lobster , I've got the same bass . I was having trouble finding strings that I liked for it , I've never been able to match the "Mwuah" of my 30+ year old Moon bass years ago . I replaced the stock bartolini pickups that were in the Moon with active Seymour Duncan pickups . I put those bartolini's in the Squier CV fretless and made a world of difference in its sound . I'd like to see that review of that Sire V5 fretless , Thanks for a good review Lobster.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Michael! Sire vid dropping tomorrow :)

[@Below-Average_Joe]

I had horrible luck with one of these. The fingerboard was uneven with lots of choked or buzzing notes in the upper register. The fret marker slots were not well done and constantly came loose. My $99 Glarry has a much better fingerboard. Once I took a tuner and Sharpie to mark the notes properly on the side of the neck, the Glarry easily outperformed my sorry Squier. I am glad yours is good. All I can say is play before you buy, if you an. I will say that I can get a slap tone for a fretless.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Joe! Great comment! "Play before you buy" is something I can't say enough for these Squiers. The QC is all over the place that you can easily be left with a dud. Glad to hear you dig the Glarry! Seen some of your vids on it and it sounds good. Going to snag one and a Harley Benton and do a little comparison at some point :)

[@PushSueAside]

Yay!!!! Finally got a good one!!!! I would imagine buying Squires online...isn’t often heard, but congrats to you on your Squire Unicorn. Glad you and your......beat buddy are getting along. Cheers and thank you for sharing lobster. Have a great week.

[@LowEndLobster]

Haha thanks Tommy! I know, right!? I carefully inspect the instruments I review when I take em out of the box. I've come to know the "spots" to look. This one was solid! Hope you have a great week too my friend!

[@samsmelser_]

I've been eyeing one of these for a long time. I can't afford one though, of course

[@LowEndLobster]

Keep practicing kiddo and you'll get there!

[@rasmillion]

Save more, it doesn’t take long even if you can put away 20$ at a time. You will own a new sweetheart bass in no time. Also some music stores will allow you to pay as you go, if you can put some money down.

[@Bikewithlove]

$399 on Amazon right now, not a bad deal.

[@czguy3045]

Not sure if they still make it, but they had a fretless Vintage Modified Jazz Bass with the Ebonol (?) fretboard that was definitely more fretless-y sounding. Very similar but the different fretboard and no pickguard. I got a killer price on a used one with one dead pickup. Replaced/upgraded the one dead pickup with a used Benson and I cannot imagine a nicer instrument for anything close to that price.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks cz guy! Unfortunately they don't make those anymore, but I'm definitely going to snag one at some point.

[@floridamankyle5461]

You want the Jaco style? Take off the Pickguard on this CV Jazz Fretless, just like he did, it would look just like his "Bass of Doom", with the holes and all.

[@thenightlifezero9154]

Good vid 🦞. I did a quick video on this bass. It's such a fantastic fretless bass for 350 400 range. Can't wait to buy it out right. I'd like to put some different pick ups in it. However the stock ones were decent.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you!

[@revlewisrees9880]

I must say, I really enjoyed the sound of this bass. I’ve never played a fretless, and can’t see me ever needing one - so I’m not sure of the MWAH of which you speak.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Rev! You will see on Tuesday with the Sire V5 fretless review ;)... You will see...

[@scke3717]

Nice groov'n with the machine; a bit of context w/drummer helps hear the instrument in a new way. Can there be any advantage to a freless which lacks mwah and so is more subtley fretless? For the "fretless curious" among us who dont want to feel compelled to spend six months perfecting Donna Lee? How about a player who mainly plays fretless, so feels comfortable with that feel but might want to go for a blues jam or play someplace where the mwah is not what the music calls for.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you! That's exactly why I presented this as a double edged sword. I can see how this bass could fit in well in scenarios that don't call for a fretless, but could also leaving players wanting more feedback from the instrument. It's a solid instrument, but not as rewarding to play as some other fretlesses (I mean who doesn't love feeling like Jaco when they play fretless haha!?)

[@victorcohen6746]

I’m glad you reviewed this Squier fretless bass as I’m thinking it becoming my second bass. As a beginner, and as my first fretless, it will be fine.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Victor! As an entry-ish level Jazz bass fretless, it's solid! I have yet to check out any of the more wallet friendly fretless offerings of Glarry and Harley Benton yet, but this is a solid well rounded budget fretless jazz. Not exceptional, but hardly a bad instrument.

[@victorcohen6746]

@@LowEndLobster thanks for the detailed reply. It will be mine. 🎸

[@samlelowitch]

I’d like to see this bass compared to the Squier Active Deluxe Fretless and/or the Fender Player Series Fretless.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Sam! I've been curious about the Squiers with the ebanol boards, those supposedly had more fretless character with that board... but I wanna see for myself!

[@maciejbzura9057]

great video, very usefull ! Im relatively new bass player, and i've always wanted to pray fretless, so im thinking of buying this squier, and your review helped me for sure

[@LowEndLobster]

Awesome! So glad you found the video helpful :)

[@anderssvensson3894]

Sound just the way I want and I love Jaco ! ( Put Roundwounds on and the sound is there ! ) I am mostly concerned about the weight ! I wont touch anything above 3,8 kilos ( 8.37 Pounds )

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Anders! Honestly, I usually don't weigh my instruments unless the weight is either VERY light or VERY heavy. Weight can really vary a lot within the 8-10 lb range for two examples of the same instrument and I don't want to misrepresent the instrument if I by chance get a lighter one. I think your best bet if you're interested in this instrument is to work with a vendor that has multiple in stock, and see if they have a particular example that meets your weight needs. Good luck my friend :)

[@grizelda4526]

Very cool playing! Fretless bass can be so much fun. I tried the classic vibe and it was ok but I bought the Sire. Very glad I did. It has the MWAH!

[@LowEndLobster]

I snagged a Sire V5 fretless after seeing the Andertons video, review video was shot right after this... you made the right call... The neck on the V5 fretless is NUTS!

[@paloportugal]

Nice review! I play bass with a bare fingerboard, but using LaBella tape wound strings I get a very nice MUAH, as you say, tone.

[@dupajas4671]

I believe that “maaaa” tone that everyone looks for is achieved more with a specific setup and playing technique rather than with just a coating on the fretboard. I have a Warmoth fretless neck with an unfinished ebony board, and it makes that sound if I want it to. Many other fretlesses do that without finished fingerboards, I have read one person’s comment (not here) that his Tony Franklin fretless has so much of that sound, it’s borderline annoying. Again, an unfinished board on the Tony Franklin.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Dwarde! You're right, unfinished fretboards can definitely achieve this (my Status Electro II is an excellent example, gave that a 5 claw rating because it can do the funky fusion fretless sound and the thick upright bass sound so well!)- Ebony is a very hard wood that is great for fretless which is why it's so commonly used on higher end fretlesses. The Indian Laurel used on the Squier IMO feels a bit softer and though I can't offer anything more than anecdotal "it feels different", it felt like the fretboard wood was almost muffling the strings a bit giving it a more traditional sound and not as "fretlessy". I really wish they continued to use the Ebanol for the Squier fretless... I really want to check one of those out.

[@michaelblaney4461]

My older Moon bass is easy to get the setup right and it has a ebony board . no matter what I do to the CV Squier I can't get the same setup

[@static_cling_pine_cone]

With my fretless bass, I've found that boosting the mids on my amp and using the bridge pickup more increases the mwah sound response.

[@froccsos]

it seemed to me that several coats of lemon oil could bring out that sound, or at least improve the experience significantly. probably Tony Franklin's furniture polish would do the trick too :)

[@justinpayne3308]

I actually really love the sound pf the "not quite enough mwah". I had an Ibanez fretless for a couole years. It mwahed so hard, I just couldn't findba use for it. I sold it. I found a great deal on on of these used. I watched several reviews of this bass. While none are as comprehensive as this one; I did note that on many reviews, when the player dug in, this bass almost lost all it's fretless character. Sold. If it doesn't work out, i got a good enough deal on it that ill just put a fender Jazz neck on it and give up the fretless idea all together. Your reviews are among the best on KZbin.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you Justin! This definitely doesn't have as much mwah as I'd want from a fretless. My Sire V5 fretless is mwah city, and with some mods that bass is almost the perfect fretless J.... but my Status Electro II fretless is IMO the jack of all trades when it comes to fretlesses. Can do the upright thing, the fusiony, thing. It mwahs, it thumps, it does it all! Love that bass.

[@paulmullen2620]

I wish Fender would release these with unlined boards. I've found it makes no real difference to accuracy to have the lines since the side dots show you where to go, and the unlined board looks so much classier and professional.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Paul! I agree, also the line material tends to stay put when the boards shrink slightly causing the fretboard to not be even. Side dots or side lines is the way to go, right there with you!

[@blacktincrow2495]

@@LowEndLobster ...when you get higher up the neck the lines can become more useful ...I have heard too many KZbin videos where guys are proudly playing away on their unlined ...out of tune!

[@haakonhunter7621]

Well the thing is squier is for beginners mostly so it makes since

[@metemercan1147]

Can't help but disagree here...I really do believe having those lines will make your job easier, after all why wouldn't you opt to make your life a little easier? The dots are positioned in the centre of where two frets would be anyways, they don't necessarily function like frets unless you like playing a quarter-tone flat. Knowing the positioning of those dots still makes positioning your fingers on a fretboard without any lines a matter of guesswork but hey, that's just me I suppose. Edit: I'll definitely not disagree that having no lines does make your bass look a lot more classy. There's something about an all black fingerboard that just looks so sophisticated. Very nice indeed.

[@blacktincrow2495]

@@metemercan1147 …. I bet if every time you played an off note that you were to get an electric shock across your balls …you would be getting fret lines that positively glowed in the dark.

[@gefsty]

Thanks as always for your insight. I am getting mine soon but I noticed that the stock strings are stainless steel, therefore I have ordered some NYXL so as not to damage the fretboard.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks! Congrats on your new bass :)

[@room34]

"Freewill"!!! "Roundabout"!!! It was worth watching the video just for those… on a fretless! I used to own the precursor to this, the Vintage Modified. The main differences there were the lack of a pickguard, and a synthetic "ebonite" fretboard. It's kind of weird that they got rid of the ebonite for this model, but I suppose it doesn't fit the "Classic Vibe" description. Anyway, in my recent experience these "higher end" Squiers are pretty reliable instruments. More consistent and reliable than MIM Fenders that cost twice as much.

[@eaglebauer944]

They sound gorgeous with flats.

[@johntroxell4928]

I have a chance to buy one for 200 bucks locally & the guy replaced it with Seymour Duncan pickups. I had a hohner fretless years ago I loved & wish I never sold it. And notice with the tone down on this it’s more the sound I’m personally looking for. So probably going to pick it up. Great video.

[@johntroxell4928]

You convinced me I’m buying it!!!

[@LowEndLobster]

Awesome and congrats :)

[@2cakejake]

I picked up the Squire Vintage Modified fretless just like this bass in 2007 and paid $300 new. Differences are mine has an Ebinol synthetic fret board and has the mwah sound. The pickups are ok. At the time, they were called Duncan Design. Strung up with black nylon tape wound strings and this bass is getting a decent amount of rehearsal time with my jazz combo (when I don’t want to lug upright). Good bass. I left everything stock and just sanded neck.

[@2cakejake]

…if I ever get around to it.. pick up upgrade, tuner upgrade and bridge upgrade in that order.

[@aarondavis4341]

I played one of these a few months back,I loved it,I actually want to get one myself,I'm actually weighing in,if I want to buy an American fender, a Gibson thunderbird ,or take the money I'm spending on those one of those two single killer basses and buy a bunch of cheap basses,what would YOU DI LOBSTER 🦞🤔

[@LowEndLobster]

LOL Thanks Aaron! :)

[@williamdoyle4040]

To get intonation on my frettless fender. Fingers must on the fret line.!!! Have you found that so. 🙄 William

[@benjaminharris3438]

I have one and I do not have the noise that you referred to however I do agree the fret board should have a finish on it.

[@RoadKing-ky2bs]

Lobster: first, your chops are really good and I always like listening to you play. Ok, now I got that out of the way. As to this bass: well, I own a couple of Squier Classic Vibes and I do like them. However, if I were looking for a fretless and after hearing this one play it would be a hard pass. Lobster says, "But Patrick, besides your cool beard, you own Squiers so that makes no sense!?" True dat Lobster, but to me this is did not sound like a fretless at all. It has all the sound of a standard fretted model to my ear. If I really wanted to sound Weather Report or Return To Forever then I would save up a few more hundred and forgo this Squier. Also, the tone on this really sounded flat and muddy at 50% and less and above 50% a bit thin/bright 🤷‍♂️ That’s my take on this fretless model.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you Patrick (haha I know your name now ;P)! I agree, I just wanted MOAR FRETLESS TONE and it wasn't giving it to me. Tomorrow @ 10 AM EST, the Sire V5 fretless vid is dropping... THAT is a fretless jazz. I think you'll like what you see and hear in that vid :)

[@r3b0rn80]

Great video ! Playing with drums should be mandatory as it gives a better perspective on how it sounds in a mix. Regarding that 'mwhaaa' thing, the instrument just needs a proper setup (pretty sure the strings weren't close enough to the fingerboard). Btw, I found a good alternative : a Squier CV Jazz Bass 70s with a Mexican replacement fretless neck (pao ferro fingerboard). Don't know if this is due to the soft maple body or the pickup spacing on the 70s, but it sounds great !!! Thanks again for your review and keep on with the good vibe 👍👍👍

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you Arnaud! I'm curious to try out the MIM Fender Fretless with the Pao Ferro as well. The Laurel IMO isn't that rewarding of a surface to play on, esp compared to what I've seen from the Ebanol boards of the VM series that was the same price (I want to snag one soon). Thank you my friend!

[@r3b0rn80]

@@LowEndLobster That idea came up after having seen one guy playing a Stingray fretless with pao ferro fingerboard (slapping sound was AMAZING for a fretless). Btw, Harley Benton just came up with a new Stingray copy (MB-4 SDK)... I wish they made it fretless (they didn't do it yet until now). Maybe you could ask one ? Or just buy one (it's so cheap) and make it fretless for the fun of it !

[@guy5359]

A fretless "F" bass have the "wah" sound that we're looking for but at 10 X the price of that one but that's another story... Thanks for another great video LowEndLobster can't wait to see the one for that drum pedal!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Guy! Man oh man... probably about 9 or 10 years ago, I was visiting a local music chain and they had a used F Bass Fretless 5 string.... it was amazing. I played the hell out of it... and it was going for like $1800. I was but a poor college kid :(.

[@sknuts6429]

Not what I think of when I think fretless jazz but I really liked a lot of the tones out of it. Those were some pretty tasty licks on chicken btw

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you! :)

[@ribaluigi]

Hi lobster! Have you ever tried the Vintera? I've recently bought a vintera P and IMHO it does exactly what a P should do. I'm curious about your opinion on these.

[@LowEndLobster]

I have not, hoping to check out some more Fenders at some point. I usually steer clear as a lot of the MIM price tags are kind of ridiculous for what you're getting, that's not to say the instruments aren't well built.

[@ribaluigi]

@@LowEndLobster I agree and that's why I bought it used. It's insane how much a bass depreciate in one year. By the way, I've mentioned the vintera 'cause they really do what you expect a classical bass to do.

[@martinheath5947]

I don't know about the verdict, sounds pretty nice and there's ways to get the mwaah baked in with a bit more "playing in" or maybe an epoxy or even superglue finish (videos on KZbin) on the fingerboard if you so desire. It's not bad at all for the price

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Martin! Of all the CV 4 strings I've played thus far, this is the only one that I'd say commands the $400 price tag. This is not a bad bass, but not exceptional (though I'm glad I got a good one!).

[@WildWildWeasel]

This one is kinda perfect for me, I like the smooth sound and feel of a fretless with a moderate amount of "mwaaa", without it being too much. I like the subtlety of this bass for sure.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Jack!

[@anderssvensson3894]

The mwaaa comes from the fingers !

[@derpderpson8796]

Glad there is another person like me :D My left hadn lost a lot of its strenght and i prefer playing fretless basses nowadays. the FL jazz bass i have is really mwaaah-esque when sliding even slightly. This one is just a warm and mellow sound. Perfect for me, gonna try one out

[@VanBaylen]

“This probably won’t impress you” Moments later.. “Glad to have finallyfound the perfect Squire.”

[@LowEndLobster]

Haha, it was indeed perfect from a QC perspective which has grown increasingly rare with the Indo Squiers. I've reviewed many and all have had some sort of QC flaw that you wouldn't see in any other $400ish bass. However, tonally - this one was quite average.

[@rasmillion]

Wish the tone on my 2002 squier anniversary jazz bass had the tonal variety of that bad boy, I’ll be replacing it this week. Currently has about 20% of the sounds of that one. I bought a nice new harness for 50$ it’s got extra ground wiring between all the pots and resistors on the volume pots, and a better tone cap(I hope) it also has full size pots, the stock squier pots are tiny little dinky things. Wish me luck brother

[@LowEndLobster]

Good luck Ras! Lemme know how it turns out :)

[@carlosalmodovar3637]

Nice playing bro @9:30

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you!

[@deathrattle4558]

I was thinking of buying one this would be my first fretless Bass also play a lot of praise and worship like hill song and elevation worship do you think this would bring a cool feel to that type of music

[@LowEndLobster]

Hey Chuey! It can, though TBH it doesn't have a lot of 'that' fretless character. That being said, if you liked the tones you heard then go for it!

[@charliecarrot]

Worth $400+? Maybe not, but find one used for less than $300 like I did and it's well worth it! I replaced the pickguard on mine with a vintage white one and it's basically perfect.

[@wobbenbuffet3286]

yo i bought this bass a while back! wild to see it in one of your reviews so close to my purchase

[@LowEndLobster]

Nice! What do you think of yours?

[@wobbenbuffet3286]

@@LowEndLobster back then i was thinking it was really good for the price, but recently the bridge has been sorta floundering on me, the allen key holes aren't working on some of the strings, so there's definitely something i'm planning to upgrade. otherwise, it's pretty good! a little bit of chorus and you can emulate that sound

[@wobbenbuffet3286]

also may upgrade the pickups at some point, but that isn't priority #1 at the moment at least 😋

[@LowEndLobster]

@@wobbenbuffet3286 Dude, thank you for following up! That's super thoughtful of you! Yeah, the metal bits on squiers are generally very soft metal, luckily you can swap most out (minus the truss rod bit- I dunno, I'm no luthier haha). Glad you're enjoying it :)

[@wobbenbuffet3286]

@@LowEndLobster i kinda forgot i posted here tbh, and when i was looking into ways of fixing the bridge i rewatched the video and lo and behold, there you were! although i do think it's important to note that had there not been a 5 month gap, i wouldn't have mentioned the bridge problem. in terms of the truss rod, that part is probably thick enough where the softer metal may not really matter, but the bridge is so itty bitty tiny that it really messes it up. i noticed i was getting buzz and i try to adjust it, but to no avail. hi mass bridge it is!

[@BullyThaKidd]

I liked the tone out on the bridge... And second both pickups with the tone out.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Bully!

[@jcsk8]

Wow. At the begining it just sound very jazzy, diferent of mine. Than you said that the fretboard is not coated. Mine has epoxy. So is that that make all that raw sound? Thinking seriously in remove the epoxy from mine. Those are flat or round wound strings?

[@LowEndLobster]

I think it's the combination of the no coating and the laurel wood, which is very soft relatively. A harder wood will have a less mellow sound.

[@jcsk8]

@@LowEndLobster Do you think a uncoated rosewood would achieve a close result?

[@ChipsA17]

Not bad for a $400 fretless. That hum is a deal breaker for me . Nice to throw some Rush in. Thanks lobster!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Ross! We're going to be checking out the Sire V5 fretless later this week- shot a LOT of vids this weekend, just gotta edit em all ;).

[@ChipsA17]

@@LowEndLobster hell yeah! 👍

[@ricardobass4831]

i really hate poplar. totaly unrelated: i adopted 2 cats yesterday and theyre scared stiff under my counter top. HAVE A NICE WEEK LOBSTER

[@PushSueAside]

Congratulations on your new friends. Cheers

[@LowEndLobster]

Congratulations on your kitties!

[@russellzauner]

be patient...sooooopatient. We rescued a little girl from the woods last week and she's just now kind of craning her head out of her hidey hole to get pets and receive toy/food. Just let them feel safe somewhere and eventually they will come out - the patience and not taking it personally is the hardest part. They know you're not intending to hurt them, but they are currently programmed for life/death defense - many of our rescue animals never stop communicating in growls...but when they put their teeth on you without biting down and swat your hands with their claws pulled in, they're just PTSD kitty and need some extra attention but not of the picking up kind. They'll come to you soon enough if they feel they're not being trapped and can become less frantic. Sometimes they will trigger and you will not understand why - it's not you, they're probably tired and sore, and every time I've been homeless when I have finally got a roof I just wanted to sleep for a month and maybe poop once in a while until I could get my muscle mass back, and along with it, the energy required to enjoy it. I have a Peavey Unity PJ passive which is made of Poplar and it's my least favorite bass. I like every other bass I have, and they are all vastly different, tonewise better than that one. It always seems a little "plinky" to me, even though it's nice and light as well as being super flashy and great for rock picking, so it remains. For now.

[@ricardobass4831]

@@russellzauner bro i totally get what you mean. Geddy (one of the cats) is exploring my apartment and likes chilling with me but hes still sketched out by cuddles and Les (the other one) is still just coming out of his hiding spot. I have a huge ass pink floyd flag from The wall CD and i made them a tent in the middle of my living room with it so they had somewhere to hide after recon. Yeah i had a 5 string squire JB and i felt the same. it looked super nice but the tone was just caca. my experience with poplar is that it sounds great at the store but when i get home and noodle around on the bass for a month i end up disliking it. ps. i find it hilarious to imagine lobster alternating between world-ending-apocalypse- news and us shitting on poplar and talking about adopting cats

[@cctn2012]

I guess you could spay poly on the fretboard. I would like to try a fretless neck.

[@LowEndLobster]

That's an option... however, we're going to be reviewing another fretless J that'll push all the right buttons where this one fell a little bit short.

[@samlelowitch]

Marine epoxy. I’m pretty sure that’s what Jaco used-the kind of stuff you would use to coat fiberglass.

[@collinschlesinger3767]

I wonder if just putting like a finish of tung oil on neck would do make a difference

[@LowEndLobster]

Maybe? I just think the Laurel is too soft to be a good fretless fingerboard.

[@jdmarino]

Not much "mwah", but otherwise pretty nice sounding. I like the tone better than most other fretted jazz basses, which surprises me.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks John! In a part that I edited out, I talk about how this almost can sound like a fretted instrument if you play it like one (the roundabout and rush licks).... but I didn't want people being like "NUH UH", so I cut it ;P

[@kirtfulcher6288]

You need to compare it to the Glarry Jazz fretless... 1/4 the price for upgrade headroom!

[@LowEndLobster]

That's not a bad idea! Thanks Kirt!

[@FingalPersson]

so if you coat it with epoxy i've heard you can get that funky sound out of that specific bass you got there.

[@skraegorn7317]

maybe I should track down one of the Vintage Modified ones with the shiny Ebonol fretboard.

[@LowEndLobster]

Indeed, hoping to check one out myself

[@devintaylor2167]

This sounds good, but I think the VM fretless sounds a bit better (it's precursor). I use Tapewounds so it might help out a bit. It has much of a J-Bass growl.

[@birddispenser]

I was eyeing this bass since one of my local store has it (I live in Puerto Rico, so choices are slim unless I order online). I am a beginner and I wanna mess around with my cheap Goplus bass from Amazon, intonation and shimming the neck specifically. I haven't done anything yet since I really want to keep practicing every day, but my action is really high to alleviate fret buzz (even with the truss rod as relaxed as I can get it). So I was wondering if a Squier like this would be worth it while I mess around with my Goplus bass.

[@LowEndLobster]

Great question Scorpion! Honestly, I don't feel like the CV series is that good and instead playing off the looks/name brand vs the quality. Check out Sire and Cort if you're looking for a well equipped Jazz bass around the same price as the Squier (at least in the USA)

[@birddispenser]

@@LowEndLobster Would the Ibanez trbx300 be a good choice? I have seen it recommended a few times for the sub 400 range. I've seen you recommend Sire basses and they seem pretty sick, but I live in Puerto Rico so most of my options are brands like Fender, Squire, Ibanez and in a few places (overpriced ones unfortunately) they have bit of Yamaha stuff.

[@iluvgrapedrank]

I dig it. 🙂 Harley Benton has a Jaco style fretless Jazz bass maybe you would want to check it out?

[@LowEndLobster]

I will be checking that out! I'll be making another Thomann order soon :)

[@fm1057]

@@LowEndLobster I bought the Harley Benton JB-40 FL and sounds very clean, versatile and the playing is very good.

[@anderssvensson3894]

They say that they weigh a ton though !

[@MechanicalSnail]

Have you tried any of the yamaha BB basses? would love to see a review on one ;p

[@LowEndLobster]

I have one here that a friend sent me, vid coming probably next week :)

[@MechanicalSnail]

@@LowEndLobster oof

[@algernonmeakens7887]

Any pickups recommendations for this bass?

[@pilummurialis6490]

Get a better speaker in your cabinet first, that will fix your tone

[@gianzag7102]

Hi, what amplifier do you use in this video? Best regards

[@ramshaar2597]

Good for fretless beginers thats what i think warm colours 🙂👍

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Ram!

[@Bass.Player]

I had one of these about ten years ago, it had a ebonol fretboard...

[@LowEndLobster]

I really want to check one of those out, those were the vintage modified ones. I don't know why they stopped doing the ebanol thing

[@Bass.Player]

@@LowEndLobster Ebanol is very tough and really suited for this application

[@mrebear9758]

Sounds a little thin to me. Thanks for the review!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Jake!

[@dbvetter7485]

Is it easy (relatively) to play without frets? I guess you play right on the fretlines ?

[@LowEndLobster]

Yes after a little getting used to it. Fretless definitely challenges your accuracy/technique and you'll get punished with out of tune sounding notes if you aren't used to fretting on the line. That being said, IMO fretless can make you a better fretted player as you become more accurate and conscious of your finger placement.

[@LloydMajor]

Nice class and playing!

[@lukehunnable]

A question: this, the Harley Benson or the Sire V7?

[@FingalPersson]

So tell me @LowEndLobster Compare that Squire to a Fender Player Jazz bass fretless, whats the biggest differences and which one would you pick because i tried a Squire today and was supriced over how nice it was, i had a Squire Stratocaster as a kid and that guitar was.. well it was okei i guess for beginner. Anyways on the bass level i am actually wanting to buy a Squire fretless or if i should but in the extra 450USD and instead get the Fender Player Jazz bass fretless, what you think?

[@gupster24]

Old comment but if its your first fretless bass ever id suggest going something slightly cheaper or even making a cheap bass you own fretless yourself!

[@LowEndLobster]

TBH that Harley Benton that i reviewed is cheap and fun! The one i got was heavy AF but your mileage may vary. They use a fender style neck so you can swap bodies for fun

[@FingalPersson]

@@gupster24 I ended up with a Fender Fretless J-bass and i love it =)

[@FingalPersson]

@@LowEndLobster I have a Fender Fretless J bass along with my cheap bass with a J pickup and a P pickup! And the cheap VERY light one is very fun to play on! I will however change some components in that one one day, i mean after i have changed pickups in the fretless to EMG-J or Fender Noisless.

[@gupster24]

@@FingalPersson im jealous tbh, fenders are always outta my reach 😭😭 im gonna be getting a talman bass soon and im hoping to mod it and possibly make it fretless

[@static_cling_pine_cone]

I bet it would sound even better with flatwound strings.

[@LowEndLobster]

Indeed probably a bit more old school

[@tomrobinson4781]

Aye! Lovely

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Tom!

[@davidpost4216]

Where are the Squires made? Is it a Fender owned factory or are they contracted out?

[@LowEndLobster]

I believe they're made in China and Indonesia depending on the model. Not sure about the OEM.

[@anderssvensson3894]

@@LowEndLobster Classic Vibes are made in Indonesia

[@chrismorris3897]

It sounds pretty good 👍

[@kennethmeeker6369]

Wouldn’t be that hard to put a urethane finish on a fretless fret board either if you wanted that feel . Or any finish

[@williamadamsmusic3025]

I bought the Squier classic vibe 60's Fretless jazz bass... Unlike the bass reviewed here, mine has SERIOUS ISSUES! Quite a number of the fret position markers stick up and act as partial frets! It plays horribly, and this is the second one I've gotten... I returned the first one because the neck looked like part of a roller coaster ride! It was so badly warped there was no way to fix it short of buying a Fender Fretless jazz bass neck and that's ridiculous! So the bass I have now, I brought right back to the shop I bought it from (same shop as the first Fretless jazz)... They decided to send it to a local luthier... He said he would have to charge $160 to fix the "fret position marker" problem and do a nice set up! The shop said they'd pay $80 if I'd pay $80... Not too far above getting a nice setup done (AND it had already been two years since I'd made the first purchase!!!) so I said sure, go ahead! It took ONE WHOLE YEAR... I finally called the shop and asked them what the hold up was... They responded rudely that it had been sitting around forever waiting for me to come get it! I told them that no one had ever called me regarding the bass, they said "oh, sorry" like it was MY job to call them! Yeah, right! Soooo, I excitedly went and grabbed the bass, brought it home, and the luthier had done NOTHING as far as I could tell! The stupid fret position markers (which I don't need, nor look at!) still stuck up acting as partial frets, and IF he'd done a set up, I couldn't tell! At this point it had been three years since I'd first plunked my money down, and when I showed them that it was still completely unplayable and I wanted to send it back AGAIN, they said "no, too much time has passed and the warranty has expired." I took it back home, very angrily, stuck it in a corner, and ignored it for six months! I was soooo pissed and depressed! Then one day I was cleaning up a workspace and came across a single edged razor blade. I laid the bass out, loosened a few strings, and just went straight down the neck, perfectly cutting off every offending position marker. The blade just slipped through them like butter! When I got to the final (and worst) fret, I started to cut off the material sticking up, but this time the razor grabbed the position marker and pulled the middle section of it up and out of the channel! I trimmed the bottom of the position marker off until it fit perfectly back in place, I put a piece of blue painters tape on it to hold it in place, took it back to the shop I bought it from... told them the whole story and asked their guitar technician to glue that little piece of position marker into the opening, and then do a REAL setup on it, and the owner came over, got pissed at ME, and told me he never wanted to see that bass in his shop again! I've never gone back there, and never will, but I'm still stuck with a bass I cannot play! I've even talked to Fender, to no avail! This was the worst purchase I've ever made! I've bought three more Squier guitars (all from SWEETWATER), and they're perfect. Anyway, I just wanted to share my story so hopefully others won't fall into the trap of the "PARTIALLY FRETTED FRETLESS JAZZ BASS by Squier!!!" Be careful... Check every position marker to make sure it's not protruding upwards!

[@LowEndLobster]

Bummer to hear about your issues! The QC on the indonesian CVs has been ATROCOIUS. This was the best one I've gotten, with other CVs that I've reviewed just having awful neck or electronic issues.

[@williamadamsmusic3025]

@@LowEndLobster Thank you for consoling me... It's nice to finally have someone recognize how screwed I got on this Squier Fretless jazz bass... I want to glue the loose piece of position marker on by myself... Maybe then I could get my luthier to do a good set-up! What kind of glue would you recommend I use to glue this tiny piece of plastic back in place? I know better than to use krazy glue or super glue... Just wondering what you would use to glue it back in place?

[@paulevans4334]

So glad you got a good one... (eventually) I was lucky enough to get a good Squier vintage modified five string from ebay of all places at a steal too for £135 which is about $160. It's the only Squier I own but I'm pretty impressed with it.

[@LowEndLobster]

Congrats! Yeah, the QC appears to be all over the place but this one is indeed a nice one!

[@ingegnerevolante]

Have you tried Harley Benton JB-40FL SB or the 75FL?

[@LowEndLobster]

I have not yet, will be doing another Thomann order at some point soon.

[@mchoffman369]

Are you playing round wounds?

[@TAAK9SAR11]

Fretless with tapewounds. It’s like butter.

[@m_r2215]

Do the bridges have threaded saddles? Do you find they pop out of the saddles?

[@LowEndLobster]

I didn't have any issues with string or saddle retention on this one, but I don't remember the saddles.

[@m_r2215]

@@LowEndLobster thanks! just ordered one.

[@tooljunkie46n2]

Flatwounds?

[@johnjareo1047]

I had the VM fretless for a short time and sold it. The fretboard was uhhh inconsistent and the electronics rendered it inaudible in the mix. It sucked.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks John! Aw that's a bummer.

[@DiscreetHobo]

I immediately gave mine Chrome Flat rounds.

[@Jordanlopezmusic]

Yeahman! Fretless..... siiiiiiiiick! Lemonseed oil on the fretboard

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you :)!

[@ParanoidGoblinoid]

@5:33

[@sigmann66]

Any comments on how this bass sustains?

[@TheBeardofDOOM]

I think I'd be somewhat bummed with that sound if expecting that classic fretless sound as well.

[@MrClassicmetal]

It does sound pretty solid to me. But then again it's because of the player.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks! It just doesn't get all the way there... The Sire V5 fretless review is coming later this week... and wow... just wow...

[@TheBeardofDOOM]

@@MrClassicmetal yep. I can make any bass I touch sound like garbage!

[@MrClassicmetal]

@@TheBeardofDOOM Oh man!🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@ParanoidGoblinoid]

@2:55

[@willistaylor4077]

Gorgeous Dude, Where is the Beautiful Fluffy Puddy Tat ? 😆💕💕❤️🙂🎵🎸

[@LowEndLobster]

Asleep on top of my workstation hahaha, she didn't feel like being in the vids the day I filmed this

[@willistaylor4077]

@@LowEndLobster Oh.... 😆😆💕😘🙂🙂

[@E111DOG]

holy cow, the like button thing worked

[@LowEndLobster]

60% of the time it works... every time...

[@hetul784]

Lobsto Crustoreas 👀👀

[@LowEndLobster]

LOL

[@davidgoode7416]

Awesome

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks David!

[@davidgoode7416]

@@LowEndLobster I bought one, Thanks!