I’d like some thoughts on the Squire 60s Classic Vibe P bass. Or perhaps some options to look at to compare in the same price range.
Thanks
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Arguably the best bang for the bucks from Fender company in terms of build quality and overall package. The 40th anniversary is equally as reputable.
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You can’t go wrong, guaranteed.
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100% both. I have the 40th anniversary gold edition and love it!
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If you can still find one the Contemporary precision is definitely at the top of my list. I recorded a few track with them. Just gems. Looks great feel great and packed with high end features. I picked up a pair when ProAudioStars was clearing them out, what a steal. They are however, active.
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I like the ‘70s more than the ‘60s personally but the Squier CV series is solid. Definitely a cut above the regular Squiers.
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The one on the right looks familiar, Love mine great playing and sounding bass.
But it. I have the J version.
Why buy it? Great bass as is, however, the Squier platform is perfect for upgrading. To learn how to mod, I replaced everything on mine except the neck and body. Thought me a lot and ended up with an amazing bass. I mean amazing. All that said it was great to start.
other brands may limit a bit what fits/doesn’t with aftermarket. All that said these are great basses.
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Asking as a total noob, is active a downside?
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Nope, its neither good nor bad. If the goal is to play old school Motown and R&B though, the traditional configuration of P basses is passive and minimal tone shaping options (single tone knob). Active P basses are fairly rare.
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Not at all. It’s just a choice.
Players have options: a strictly passive bass, a strictly active bass, or a bass that provides both options in one instrument.
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Thanks! That’s a rabbit hole for me to dive into, I see some videos on YouTube I can check out. My first and only bass is active, but I hadn’t really put any thought into that at all other than trying to remember to unplug it lol.
I have the 70s classic vibe pbass and it’s one of my favorite to play
Not really as far as I can see.
However my complete guess at the numbers would be about 75% of new basses sold are passive (I have absolutely no data to back this up 
)
So you don’t need an active bass. It’s just another option. With an active bass you have a pre amp of sorts built into the bass.
With a passive bass you can achieve the same thing by using a pre amp pedal / EQ pedal or adjust the EQ on your amp.
Both options work. Active / Passive. Pick / Finger style. It’s all fine.
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The only downside is the battery. It only last about 300-350 hours per battery so you have to have one handy. The good news is your battery hardly ever runs out when you are practicing at home, it only happens when you are either about to go on your set or while performing on stage so it’s very predictable when it’s going to happens 
.
Some of my active basses has the Active/ Passive switch which is a life saver, I “had to” use it a few times, sadly and it’s not like I perform for a living, .
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I had a Squier CV 50s P. I specifically went for one of these as I don’t particularly like the standard Squier / Fender headstock, but do like the tele-style one.
It’s a great bass and I would happily recommend one.
It’s different. Not better or worse. The tone shaping is different.
Passive tone control is simple and provides a different sound from the EQ control of an active bass. It really depends what you’re going for.
I prefer passive because it’s simpler and quicker for me to make adjustments for different music styles. Twist one nob and adjust what I do with my right hand. As opposed to messing with 3+ controls.
And you never have to worry about batteries going dead.
Go to a store. Put hands on instruments. Find the one that makes you smile.
Also look at Sire, Yamaha, Schecter, Epiphone, and Ibanez.
Do not be afraid to buy used.
Very good bass but I’m not a fan of their limited finish choices…I prefer the late 50s P bass in blonde with the gold anodized pickguard.
I’d recommend this instead…it just might have the nicest Squier neck of all time, and there are still new ones available even though production has stopped.
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Sometimes it is, especially with the Contemporary Active Squiers…quite a few problems with the preamp dying.
Nothing wrong with active basses in general, but I almost always prefer passive.