Squier Introduces Vintage Modified Telecaster Bass and Telecaster Bass Special

Squier has beefed up their Vintage Modified Bass series with the introduction of the Vintage Modified Telecaster Bass and the Vintage Modified Telecaster Bass Special. The new models feature classic body and headstock shapes as well as a medium 32″ scale.

Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Bass

Available in Black and Vintage Blonde, the Telecaster bass sports a single Duncan Designed PB-102 SCPB single-coil pickup controlled with a special 3-way switch that toggles between tone circuits. The middle switch position offers a modern bass sound with volume and tone controls, while a softer “double bass” sound is had in the neck position and a tic-tac “baritone” sound is gotten by switching to the bridge position. The latter positions are only controlled by the volume knob.

Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Bass Special

The Telecaster Special differs in pickups and electronics, featuring a Fender-designed Wide Range humbucking neck pickup and a Duncan-designed JB-102B single coil Jazz Bass bridge pickup. It also has a three way switch, but it functions more traditionally by toggling between the pickups.

To provide the old school feel, Squier includes black barrel switch tips, inurled chrome control knobs, vintage style bridges, and vintage style tuners on the basses.

The Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Bass and Telecaster Bass Special are available now with MSRPs of $499.

Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Bass Specs:

Body:Basswood
Body Shape:Telecaster Bass
Neck Shape:“C” Shape
Number of Frets:20
Fret Size:Medium Jumbo
Position Inlays:Black Dot
Fretboard Radius:9.5″ (24.1 cm)
Fretboard:Maple
Neck Finish:Polyurethane
Nut Width:1.7″ (43.2 mm)
Scale Length:32″ (81.28 cm)
Pickup Configuration:1 Single-Coil Pickup
Middle Pickup:Duncan Designed PB-102 Single-Coil Middle Pickup
Pickup Switching:Position 1: Special Tone Circuit- “Baritone” – (No Tone Control), Position 2: Modern Bass (Volume and Tone Control), Position 3: Special Tone Circuit – “Double Bass” – (No Tone Control).
Controls:Volume, Tone
Hardware:Chrome
Bridge:2 Brass Barrel Saddles, Vintage Style
Tuning Machines:Vintage Chrome
Switch Tip:Barrel Style Switch Tip

Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Bass Special Specs:

Body:Basswood
Body Shape:Telecaster Bass
Neck Shape:“C” Shape
Number of Frets:20
Fret Size:Medium Jumbo
Position Inlays:Black Dot
Fretboard Radius:9.5″ (24.1 cm)
Fretboard:Maple
Neck Material:Maple
Neck Finish:Polyurethane
Nut Width:1.7″ (43.2 mm)
Scale Length:32″ (81.28 cm)
Bridge Pickup:Duncan Designed JB102 Single-Coil Jazz Bass Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup:Fender-designed Wide Range Humbucking Neck Pickup
Pickup Switching:3-Position Blade: Position 1: Bridge Pickup, Position 2: Bridge and Neck Pickups, Position 3: Neck Pickup
Controls:Volume, Tone
Hardware:Chrome
String Nut:PPS
Tuning Machines:Vintage Chrome
Switch Tip:Barrel Style Switch Tip

Get Bass Gear News in your inbox.

Stay up to date on the latest bass gear news (every Thursday).

Leave a Reply to oxfan Cancel reply

  1. Not sure how I feel about these, I think I like them. They’re deffinetly interesting.

  2. I like this body shape better as a guitar. Not bad though, and the price is nor crazy.

  3. Nice to have a couple more medium-scale options… they’re the optimal reach for guys like me. Will be checking these out.

  4. Shouldn’t the VM Tele bass be the Esquire Bass?

  5. Got a full scale sunburst one with the just the humbucker in it. The bottom end on it is unreal.

  6. I’m loving this so far, Always wanted a tele bass that had the actual tele guitar body – really think this a great looking instrument, can’t wait to find one and try it out.

  7. If I’ve only had the money and the gear…

  8. If it had jazz pickups with a that body and neck….perfection. Or a humbucker right at the bridge. Not a fan of switches…or knobs, really. I really like the design though, and it is quite beautiful.

  9. I find that VM Special to be strangely arousing.

  10. What about a version with Pbass picups?

  11. Love the Black VM. 3 Positions is a nice touch. If I understand it correctly is Bass roll off, normal and then tone 50%. Like the Esquire look. Cool

  12. I like the bass, but mine has a loud enough hum that I have to turn the volume down in between songs, i would like to correct this without changing the pickup, i have the single pickup model.

  13. I’ve gigged mine about 5 times. I have the 2 pup model. It is really REALLY loud. The loudest bass I’ve ever played. I did have to take it back to get the solder checked because I had the same problem with hum. They found a few small issues, and since then it’s fine so you may want to get the shop you bought it at to take a look. I also found it took some fiddling with my amp to get the sound just right, because of the power of the pickups.

  14. I have wanted a Tele Bass with Guitar Tele body and headstock shape. The Squire, not Fender name does not bother me, because I own Fenders, Squires and Gibsons and Epihones, and each one is what it is.I have recently been gravitating toward the short scale basses, and enjoy the medium scale too.I have been to 3 Alto Music stores, 2 Sam Ash Music Stores, and 4 Guitar Centers, and have not found one of these to try! I like the vintage model, but I think I may go for the Vintage Modified Telecaster Bass Special model withe the Humbucker/jazz pick up model.I would really like a bass to match Bruce Springsteen’s guitar, a maple neck and a blond wood grain body. I DO appreciate the quality and price point of the squire line these days.I recently bought a Squire Jaguar Bass, and have nothing but awesome praise for the sound and feel and quality of this bass.

  15. I’ve had the Vintage Modified since the week it came out. I had immense hopes for it, because the Esquire body style and overall look is so appealing. I own some Squier products (P-bass and short scale Jaguar, both of which have given immense satisfaction), but this the VM has been quite a problem. Lots of hum in the pickup, and the pickup itself stands so far above the surface of the bass that the strings will actually stick to its magnets when playing. WTF? The answer is not to raise the strings, because they’re set about where they need to be. Playing at performance volume also produces an immense amount–I mean a lot–of weird distortion. I reach for my other Squiers a lot as fun little basses to play, but so far this rascal has been quite a disappointment.

  16. Humbucker and single coil together? Not liking that combo.

  17. How can you the bass with itself with only two saddles?

  18. oxfan

    Bought one of the Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Bass Special’s in Honey Blond a few weeks ago. It is a great playing bass. The Humbucker is outrageous, while the Duncan designed bridge pickup is rather anemic. I have a VM Modified jazz that have the on it and they’re weak, but, not a dealbreaker.

    The fit and finish is good. My only upgrades would be to the bridge pickup and the tuners.

    The fact that it’s a medium scale is barely noticeable.

    Just a word of caution, these are HEAVY! 10 lbs, 2 oz. Definitely want to try one before you buy it. Personally, I’m in love with it..

    While it may not be for everyone, I’d recommend it in a heartbeat.

  19. Nice, but disappointing that there’s no full-scale 34″

  20. Kevin Duvernay

    The Telecaster bass special is awesome.. why no long scale?

  21. cappetti fabrizio

    Vorrei comprarlo