Is a "Made in Korea" Squier P-Bass Worth $250?
 

A local seller has a 1992 MIK Squier P-Bass up for sale. He's willing to part with it for $250, which I think is too high.

It's eggshell yellow with a white p/g and appears to be in great condition. The serial # (CN2*****) does indicate its Korean origin and dates its manufacture to 1992. It's one of the few with the large "Fender" logo and a smaller "Squier Series" decal in the middle of the round part of the headstock.

I haven't gone to check it out yet because I first want to get some opinions from my fellow bassists on whether I'd be crazy to spend $250 for this baby.

I've heard some positive things about MIK Fenders from the late '80s and early '90s. I would like to have a P-Bass to round out my collection and this one certainly wouldn't break the bank.

Thanks for helping me out with this reality check.

I'd say thats definitely high.

For $250 you can probably find a Fender MIM bass.

I see them locally for $200, and I usually get a laugh because the poster/seller makes the boast that they are far superior to the Squier 'crap' being made today. Not all Squiers are Affinity-quality anymore and the MIK models are given a run for their money from the Vintage Modified series and especially the Classic Vibes.

I had a `96 Korean Squier [ Gold Logo ] 50th Anniversary Jazz Bass and it was killer , used it for my main gig bass for 8 years . Your CN serial number identifies the Cort factory in the nineties and the first number is the year, as you have stated . In comparison I bought picked up a VN serial number one, which had the extra 2 bridge screws on the front end of the plate , and it didnt come within a mile of the CN one . People who say " you can get a MIM for that money " arent particularly steering you in the right direction , a lot of MIM Basses ive played are horrible and came nowhere near the mighty Korean ! .
Who cares , its only $250 and if it plays well youll have a Bass that will last for years ,some musicians are such tight a##@!, come on, some people blow 250 in one night at a casino .......If you gig regularly that $250 Bass will earn you thousands , and youll still probably get 200 for it when you sell it .

BTW a picked up a Classic Vibe and A/B`d it to my Korean , the CV was back on the net for sale again the next day

IMO that is high but the headstock decal on your's is different from the 3 I just bought. I got two late 90's Squier II one was $65 the other $100. The best was an 87' MIK bullet also $100. To me that is high but until I see it and play it I can't say but to me $150 sounds fair.

i recently picked up a 1993 mik squier pbass. it also has the big fender logo and smaller squier logo. its a great bass. the quality is definitely there.

Nope. That's MIM Fender territory.

Agreed - $150 sounds more like it, especially given the current market...


- georgestrings

Maybe so, but it's not very bright to pay considerably more than what something's worth - the last MIK Squier P Bass Special I bought only cost me $100...


- georgestrings

Agree..good bass that can be had cheap like I said $150 tops for me.

Well thanks for weighing in folks, I appreciate your input.

Yeah, I gigged one of those MIK Squiers for around 10 years - never let me down, and made me a pile of money... The original electronics were pretty cheap, but it had a great neck on it...


- georgestrings

I say go and play it anyway. My 2000 ibby was made in the Cort Korea factory, and it plays like buttah:) If it plays nice and you can talk him down a bit it might be worth it

Yes the electronics are pure crap with little mini pots and thin wiring. I rip it all out and put in good wire ,CTS pots, switchcraft jack. orange drop cap and they are good to go. Its about a $15.00 investment and good under the hood then.

The necks are the issue for me. Like I said the two maples I bought back to back had bow/reflief issues. One I fixed right away the other still has a bit more relief than I like but plenty playable. The 87' E series bullet I just grabbed has a great flat neck and seams to be built way better overall than the 90's Squier II's. Of all the Squiers I have owned from MIJ ,MIC, MII whatever I never had neck issues like I have seen in the 90's Squier II's

Give me $250 and I'll sell you something you could potentially make thousands with. And you'll probably get $200 for it when you're done with it, so no worries.