Squier or Fender Mexico?

[tjh]

Originally Posted by awilkie84

I would disagree with you first sentence. Squier Affinity basses feel cheap & sound cheap, too.
CV & VM basses are nice and can be on par with a MIM Standard. Of the ones I've tried, the MIM Road Worn, Roger Waters, Geddy Lee, and a couple others, are much better than the CV/VM, IMO. Some of the upper-end MIMs can even rival an MIA Std or Special.

That being said, there are good & bad runs. Pick each one up & play play play. Find one that fits you. You might be surprised, if you can get past the stigmas & prejudices set out by the rest of us. ^_^

... how refreshing to see a post taking the time to express an opinion comparing specific models ... AND giving good sound advice no matter what your opinion may be ...

[el basso]

immediately disregard the opinion of anyone that spells "SQUIER" incorrectly...

[SquierJazz72]

You might want to stay away from the Affinities, if you just want to play.
I bought mine mostly as it was what I could afford, and I don't mind tweaking it over time to improve the weak points, but they are low end. Solid enough, but the electronics are not the greatest. Half of mine are replaced already.

The Squiers with Duncan designed pickups sound good enough to me, I've played a few.

Always though, it's important to try them yourself and see what feels and sounds good to you. The above is just my opinion, after all.

[spaz21387]

I have owned 2 squiers(still have one) and 3 mims. the squiers were great. But the mims arent bad either. All my mims were used so i didnt pay more than 250$ for them.

[mexicant]

I would feel shame with squire on my headstock.....just saying

[mexicant]

Bet that kid has a I phone and not a trac fone.....

[Laza]

Originally Posted by mexicant

I would feel shame with squire on my headstock

stick w fenda

[C.Linton]

Originally Posted by mexicant

I would feel shame with squire on my headstock.....just saying

Then you sir, should get a Squier instead. Nothing to be ashamed of there.

[soulman969]

Forget all about what name is on the headstock. Everything you're concerned about is below that anyway. There are well made ones in both lines.

If you're looking to buy new then I'd say that for the most part the Squier CV line is better than the MIM Standard line and lower in cost. There will be exceptions on a case by case basis but in general the Squier CVs are probably the best overall value in a Fender style bass out there. I wouldn't play them if they weren't.

If you're buying used you may find the cost difference between a Squier CV (when you can actually find them used) and an MIM Standard to be very little. The CVs seem to stay closer to their original selling price than the MIM Standards from what I've experienced.

There are also MIM models that are every bit as good or better than a Squier CV. As most of the others have posted the only one who can truly make the best judgement is you. Play a few and when you find the right one for you well then that's your bass no matter what it says on the headstock. Good Luck!

[awilkie84]

Originally Posted by tjh

... how refreshing to see a post taking the time to express an opinion comparing specific models ... AND giving good sound advice no matter what your opinion may be ...

:P I'm learning...slowly.

[el basso]

Originally Posted by C.Linton

Then you sir, should get a Squier instead. Nothing to be ashamed of there.

thank you - i think it went over the heads of many.

[stretberas]

You should compare it directly at the music store, because you can tell the difference in detail ... based on my experience, I would choose fender mim, fender mim last few years have a product with good quality ...

[ShowLow]

As usual, tjh called it correctly. There are significant variations among the various Squier and Fender lines, and then within a given line, more variation still!

In general, if you buy used you will not lose much if you decide later to sell. If you decide to go new, VM and CV Squiers seem to hold a higher percentage of original street price compared with MIMs.

Some of the MIM Fenders are truly astounding instruments. I just grabbed a Black Friday local deal on a lovely Fender FSR Jazz MIM in Natural Ash that blows away almost any other bass I have played in my scant 6 months as a neophyte bassist. A used one would have been $50 cheaper.

So...bottom line...consider a used MIM Standard, or a new Squier CV or VM for a similar price. Play it first if you can. Good luck!

[GBassNorth]

I own a number of Squier and Fender basses and guitars many of which aren't even in the picture below. I can speak from first hand experience when I say the $220 Squier Affinity Jazz 5 in this picture looks, sounds and plays every bit as good as the $1800 Fender American Deluxe Jazz 5 in this picture. Does the MIA Fender have higher quality components - yep. Have the Squier Affinity components ever failed me - nope. I don't get a chance to play out much any more but when I did the Affinity 5 string was the main bass and the MIA Jazz 5 was the backup.
Is every Squier bass better than every MIA Fender - nope. That's why I said in my previous post try the MIA, then try the MIM and try the Squier versions - buy the one that best fits you and your budget.

front row left to right:
early Fender Flower Tele reissue CIJ, Fender Tele Modern Player, 1968 Fender P bass all orig and near mint, 2005 Fender American Deluxe Jazz 5 Swamp ash, early model Fender P bass Plus in rare black pearl burst
back row left to right:
Squier Bronco (bought to mod, havent had time to do it yet), Squier Mustang plays fantastic wouldn't ever mod it, Squier Jaguar SS played very nice stock but I dropped a spare John East preamp in it to see what it would do (it rocks), Squier Affinity Jazz 5 with tapewounds (this thing thumps as good as my MIA Jazz 5 with tapewounds)

For the record - my favorite player of the bunch is the Mustang followed closely by the Affinity, the most valuable of the bunch is the 68 P Bass and the best built one of the bunch is the P bass Plus followed closely by the MIA Jazz 5.

[Indiana Mike]

to clarify my posts .... As they were vague ...and written that, if I understood what I meant , everyone else would to . I apologize and make the following corrections.

I have an MIM classic '60s jazz that overall is fantastic and is very light . It has an awesome body that could be used for MIA . Brand new these are $700+


The squires I referred to are the newer CV/MV series . P and jazz in particular. $250-350

The MIM I have referred to are the standard series. $550+



carry on

[C.Linton]

I would say, whichever you choose you should be able to find one you really like. They'e both good.

[39-Bassist]

Personally I would rather play a Squier CV before the MIM...BUT it comes down to YOUR taste and feel.....Play them ALL 1st!
And have fun!

[MevagisseyMedic]

Hi all just an update, I have got my self a squier vintage modified in sunburst, good price and in good nick, now for an amp, I have 2 practice guitar amps a vox ad30 and
a Line6 Spider IV 15, i am thinking of cashing those in and getting a ampeg that will be good for both guitars, Bass and Strat.

[tdub0199]

Do your self a favor and go play both and decide with YOUR ears & eyes......

[MevagisseyMedic]

Well Setup now is Squier VM with the Ampeg BA115HP and to my ears my MIM Strat and CD140 Semi acoustic dont sound too bad on it either.