Squier Owners Club (Part 3)

[96tbird]

Originally Posted by tomnomnom91

Does anyone have a five string Affinity Jazz? I'm looking into getting a budget five string, and I own a few Squiers but the only Affinity I've played was a friend's P Bass and I hated it. I was just wondering what the five string Jazz is like in terms of how solid it is in tuning terms, and how good the pups are, especially re noise etc.

Bottom of the Squier line. Need we say more? Some love the Affinity but from what i see on TB and personal experience compared to vm, no contest. Do yourself a favor and get the VMJ 5. $300 bucks is still budget.

[Bluelephant4]

May I join?

[Liam76]

Originally Posted by mtshaw

Nice! How do you find the build quality of the VM Fretless?

Considering one for myself.

Well to be honest, there were a few finish blemishes, and the neck screws were unaligned (screw heads on the neck plate were angled), but mine was from a batch of the first runs after they introduced it.

I loved playing it, though.

I bought it as a toy, my first fretless. This was after receiving a GC giftcard from my brother, and it actually led to me to putting together my Warmoth fretless.

[Tvrtko]

I am multiple owner of Squier out of today.

Last year was VM Jazz 77, and today just came in family VM P Amber...
Blond is just amazing girl....

[mtshaw]

Originally Posted by Liam76

Well to be honest, there were a few finish blemishes, and the neck screws were unaligned (screw heads on the neck plate were angled), but mine was from a batch of the first runs after they introduced it.

I loved playing it, though.

I bought it as a toy, my first fretless. This was after receiving a GC giftcard from my brother, and it actually led to me to putting together my Warmoth fretless.

Loving playing it is the key, though, isn't it. I may follow through the Squier or try a Warmoth as my first semi-custom. So many ideas, so little money.

Thanks, dude.

[RockBobby]

Just picked this up. Put a used set of Zon nickels on it.

[mogpipe]

Twas a merry Christmas for me. Sportin the Squier 70's VMJB, and loving it!!!
Guess I have a number comin soon as i can get a pic to load!
Thanx

the Pipe

[Cougmeister]

Bout time I joined this one, here's my cv precision.

[mogpipe]

http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps26867574.jpg

Here's a link to my photo. Can't figure out why pics aren't going in the same as usual. Anyway, send a number my way! I absolutely LOVE my Squier 70's VMJ Bass!


the Pipe

[Cney]

Does anyone know when the numbers are gonna come?

[billgoodwin]

Recently traded my Squier '77 VM jazz for a VM Jaguar as a back-up for my '70 VMJ. Very pleased with the switch, a better pairing with my work-horse jazz, the '77 just wasn't there. Here it is on it's first gig out a couple weeks back. A set of DR Black Beauties (which I use on all 3 of my basses) and it was ready to go.

[Flux Jetson]

Originally Posted by billgoodwin

Recently traded my Squier '77 VM jazz for a VM Jaguar as a back-up for my '70 VMJ. Very pleased with the switch, a better pairing with my work-horse jazz, the '77 just wasn't there. Here it is on it's first gig out a couple weeks back. A set of DR Black Beauties (which I use on all 3 of my basses) and it was ready to go.

Is that a "Ball" mic hanging in front of the Acoustic bass cab? If so, how is it working out?

[billgoodwin]

Originally Posted by Flux Jetson

Is that a "Ball" mic hanging in front of the Acoustic bass cab? If so, how is it working out?

Yepper....something the sound guy pulled out. He had me miked with that and also DI..... my vintage Acoustic rig was kickin' arse as always.

[Cney]

I had a hard time in the shop choosing between those exact 2 basses. took the VM jazz eventually.

but i am going to get the jaguar or build one myself if i get the chance

[Flux Jetson]

Originally Posted by billgoodwin

Yepper....something the sound guy pulled out. He had me miked with that and also DI..... my vintage Acoustic rig was kickin' arse as always.

I have 2 of the blue ball mics, I've yet to use them (time issues). I suppose I'll find out how they work when I go to use them. I intend on using them for instruments .. my Hammond/Leslie, guitars, basses, and so on.

[Cney]

i have a lot of equipment... but Flux makes me jealous still :P

[kurosawa]

Originally Posted by 96tbird

Bottom of the Squier line. Need we say more?

Lots. The Affinity 5 is fully giggable. It has the formula old school sound--rosewood on maple neck, alder body (at least the one I bought a year ago did--they've stopped listing Squier woods on the Fender site). What difference do block inlays make? Chrome knobs (mine had plastic)? The pickups say they're designed by Duncan, but where are they made, and by whom? Is a soft maple body really an improvement? Maybe the maple fretboard, but only if that's your personal preference.

Between the Affinity 5 and the first Fender Jazz 5 I played in the early 90s, there wasn't much difference. The B wasn't happening. But when I bought the Affinity, out of curiosity, I looked at the Fender Jazz 5 specs. It had tapered core strings. So I slapped some on the Affinity. The B opened right up. I'd guess Circle K strings would have made an even bigger improvement on that B.

See, when a giant company makes a zillion models, they go for product differentiation. They want a range that spans this price to that price, and then they figure out how to make enough difference that they can motivate people to drop as much cash as possible. Most of it is obvious--appearance and electronics. The string switch, well, it's right there on the web site.

As smart consumers, it's up to us to find those points of differentiation and see if they're worth the price diff. The most significant sound diff was a set of strings that isn't worth $200 to me. And the pickups worked fine, although realistically, don't most players change out Chinese pickups sooner or later?

Now I bought the Affinity 5 on a whim off the web. But anyone buying their first or only bass should read the specs carefully, understand what differences they can expect, and actually go play them side by side. I do think the Affinity will satisfy many folks who would ordinarily buy the most expensive model they can afford.

[geckoman1220]

i'll join the club, here is a Squier Standard P-Bass that has been modded.

*Reranch Sonic Blue Nitro re-fin
*Allparts mint pickguard
*Fender Pickup cover & thumb rest
*Fender '62 RI Pickup
*"LOVE" sticker from the yellow submarine dvd

strung with flatwounds and piece of dense foam by the bridge.

[PrietoBass]

^^^ +1! Great post kurosawa!

[Cney]

if i look at the difference between thenecks on my affinity strat and a standard strat i see and feel a difference.

pickups and wiring are different. so could body. 2 piece vs 1 piece but everything is upgradable.