Should I buy a Squier Standard Jazz and mod it or just go for a Fender

FBS1996 · #1 07-03-2011, 08:45 PM

A friend said he'd sell me his Squeir jazz for 100 quid. So if I bought that, I'd spend another 100 on pickups so altogether, it would cost me 200. Fender MIM Jazz Basses go for 500 (I'm from the UK) so if I went for the squier, I'd have 300 left over for an amp. Is it worth the extra cash for the fender, or should I just go for the squier?

chadhargis · #2 07-03-2011, 09:06 PM

I bought a Squire jazz and put a custom Warmoth neck on it, DiMarzio ultra jazz pickups, Fender/Schller tuners, and used the Squire body, bridge, and controls.

I now have a custom bass, with all the components I wanted, for about the same cash as a Fender I'd have had to modify. I tried several Fenders, and none gave me what I wanted.

sethlow3 · #3 07-03-2011, 09:08 PM

I'd say play both and whichever feels better at the cost is the answer. If the Squire sounds fine unmodded and you are just starting out, don't even bother changing the pups. How long have you been playing?

Keep in mind if what you NEED the amp for. Practice? Playing with a loud guitar only? Playing with drums and guitar?

If practice get a little 1x10 combo amp.

If guitar only, use a 1x15 combo amp and tell him to turn down if too loud. Some guitarists don't understand it doesn't have to be blaring to be music

If for a drummer and guitarist, I highly recommend something over 300watts. Preferably a head and cab separate, but I don't know how much that would run you.

I highly recommend Gallien Krueger amps. They are the best band for the buck.. even the backline stuff which sounds up your alley...

sethlow3 · #4 07-03-2011, 09:09 PM

wow 2 Nashville posts in a row? freaky...

**funkybass4ever** · #5 07-03-2011, 10:22 PM

You can always modify -upgrade- the Squier as your skills increase

SpitfireCWII · #6 07-03-2011, 10:37 PM

Fender. Ive had a few bad experiences with Squier lately and I am not impressed, I would strongly suggest the Fender over the Squier. The squier costs 40% of the Fender, eventually you will want to get a Fender, why not just get the Fender now ? You wont regret getting a Fender. Trust me

Stumpy · #7 07-04-2011, 12:16 AM

I originally had a MIM Squire P Bass. I yanked the pickups and put in Bartolini's with the active pre. Then pulled the bridge and put the rocker-roller on...

Yeeeeehaaaaa

number11 · #8 07-04-2011, 01:32 AM

I've never modded a bass and sunsequently thought it was worth the money. People all too often think "mod" before they l;ive with a bass for a while

My money's on buy the Squier and just play it.

Drink the 100 quid networking with other musos!

LOL!

BadBassNo9 · #9 07-04-2011, 01:44 AM

I'd say, if you're just starting out, buy the Squier and if you continue to play bass, you'll soon envisage what you want in a bass, and then you can spend some real $$.

**BullHorn** · #10 07-04-2011, 03:43 AM

Try 50 basses without looking at the brand and choose the one that feels and sounds the best. You'll be surprised at the result.

JP Morin · #11 07-04-2011, 08:02 AM

If you're a beginner and want to try I'd buy the squier with an amp if you want to play with someone else one day or to try if I like to play bass, and after get a better bass if needed.
But if you're more advance I would buy none of them... I would pill and put more money on an mia fender instead... The squier I have tried up to now were "bof" to me and I had an MIA, which I sold and regret, and then I got a MIM jazz a bit after... and overall I prefer tone and growl of an MIA...

MikeD1687 · #12 07-04-2011, 08:11 AM

If youre just starting, dont worry about spending the money on a fender yet. Your ears won't be able to tell the difference, especially if you spent all your money on a bass and have no amp to play it with. Get the cheaper bass and an amp, and mod the bass if you really need to.

raymondl3 · #13 07-04-2011, 08:18 AM

I once made a bass consisting of Warmoth body, Fender MIM neck, Hipshot bridge, and Bartolini pickups. In the end I was not satisfied with the tone and it wasn't that much of an improvement over my MIM Precision. With the money I spend in upgrades, I could have purchased a more expensive bass that I could have heard before buying. It's fun if you like to tinker, but time consuming and expensive.

Rickengeezer · #14 07-04-2011, 08:35 AM

For 500 pounds (given the US dollar exchange these days) I think you could buy a USA Jazz in the classifieds from the States and have it shipped there.

SoVeryTired · #15 07-04-2011, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickengeezer

For 500 pounds (given the US dollar exchange these days) I think you could buy a USA Jazz in the classifieds from the States and have it shipped there.

Not when you add VAT at 20%...

But you might be able to find a second hand USA Jazz for around £600 on eBay.

C.Linton · #16 07-04-2011, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpitfireCWII

Fender. Ive had a few bad experiences with Squier lately and I am not impressed, I would strongly suggest the Fender over the Squier. The squier costs 40% of the Fender, eventually you will want to get a Fender, why not just get the Fender now ? You wont regret getting a Fender. Trust me

Well, I have had nothing but great experiences with Squier, so basically I would disagree with your assesment of them. If the Squier sounds and plays good as it is right now, there might not even be any need to upgrade anything. However, it's fairly easy and relatively inexpensive if you decide you need to upgrade. Get the Squier. The again, there's nothing wrong with saving up for a Fender, if having that name on the headstock is important to you.

ToneFreak11 · #17 07-04-2011, 09:41 AM

You should go for the Mexican one. It's much better built and sounds great. Remember, pickups aren't everything. The Fender is really worth the extra cash. But if you're in desperate need of an amp go for the Squier.

raymondl3 · #18 07-04-2011, 09:48 AM

I would try to find a used MIM. That's usually a good value.

Nev375 · #19 07-04-2011, 09:48 AM

IMO. The neck is the critical piece of hardware on a bass. Learn all you can about them and how to setup and adjust them and scrutinize every instrument accordingly.

Everything else is a matter of personal taste and preference, but you can't get good tone and playability without a stiff rock-solid properly set-up neck.

AuntieBeeb · #20 07-04-2011, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nev375

IMO. The neck is the critical piece of hardware on a bass. Learn all you can about them and how to setup and adjust them and scrutinize every instrument accordingly.

Everything else is a matter of personal taste and preference, but you can't get good tone and playability without a stiff rock-solid properly set-up neck.

This man speaks a lot of sense. What you might get by buying the Fender is a faster neck, maybe better quality wood, etc. Though as a lot of people have said, try the Squier - you may find the neck feels perfectly adequate under your fingertips.

And if either of them need a bit of adjustment, if you went for the cheaper Squier you'd at least have a spare £50 for a fairly comprehensive setup!