A twist on the Squier CV vs. Fender thing. Need advice.

[khutch]

Originally Posted by ThudThudThud

After 35+ years of playing and never having owned an MIA Fender I'm rewarding myself for all my hard work (and climbing out of a huge hole) in the last year.

If your reward is to, at long last, own a real Fender then I would suggest that you really get a Fender or spend the money on something else entirely because the Squier you already own and love is as good as any other Fender clone and it is essentially a real Fender when compared to any third party clone. Only you can tell what sounds and feels like your Squier. If a MIA Fender fits your budget then there are several you can try and several more MIM Fenders you can try too. Most likely one or two of them will meet or exceed your "sound and feel" goals.

A Fender MIM is a completely authentic Fender, a Fender clone is not. If that makes a difference to you. A couple years ago I went out looking for a new bass for the first time in decades. I wanted a Fender for the same reason you do. I tried some Squiers and they were excellent basses but I wanted an actual Fender because I had wanted one since I was a kid. So I bought a Fender MIM. And I have picked up three more MIMs since then because I always like the MIM model a little better than the closest Squier. You hear a lot of MIM bashing here on TB but I would suggest that you ignore it, try some, and make up your own mind. There is certainly nothing wrong with MIAs but you may find exactly what you are looking for in a MIM.

Ken

[One Drop]

I'd look at a Roadworn or an AV reissue.

[mystic38]

If you are delighted with your Squier, then i am not sure that the right thing to do is to go for a MIA Fender P bass... which one will you play?..

Of course, economically you cannot go wrong in the long run buying any MIA Fender (usually) but i would, given your satisfaction with the CV, go for something a little different... say a MIA Jazz bass?..

..or given you like Fender designs think outside the box and checkout the G&L line.. after all there is nothing "clone" about a G&L..


here is a glamour shot to die for on this bass.. http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-G-L-SB-2...tem460bcd6861:)

[tekdiver500ft]

I would add the Roadworn P to your list of basses to check out. It won't feel exactly like your Squier, but it does have the vintage frets so it will feel really good in the hand, and it will sound much like your Squier, and very much like an actual late '50s P Bass.

[ics1974]

I would bring your Squier to the music store and compare it directly to the other Fenders.

[tekdiver500ft]

Originally Posted by ics1974

I would bring your Squier to the music store and compare it directly to the other Fenders.

That's a really good idea! I'd've saved thousands over the years had I thought of that.

[blindrabbit]

Originally Posted by mystic38

If you are delighted with your Squier, then i am not sure that the right thing to do is to go for a MIA Fender P bass... which one will you play?..

Well worth giving this a long think - no point in getting a "dream bass" to have it then become a case queen.

Other ideas:

- Put the money towards a custom build
- Buy more Squier CVs as backups
- Buy the amp of your dreams
- Buy the effects of your dreams
- Take a trip to someplace warm and beautiful

[dave64o]

Originally Posted by ThudThudThud

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And no, I am not interested in starting another thread with people coming here to tell me that their Squiers are better than anything except possibly a Wal...
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Actually, that would be the SX fans.



And before the fanboys come after me with torches and pitchforks, let me state for the record that I am quite familiar with SX's and currently own 3 of them.

[ThudThudThud]

All excellent points (and duly noted on the SX!).

I do already have a couple of custom and Warmoth builds, a great Jazz and a P-bodied/Jazz p'up/Series-parallel wired thing (HUGE sound).

I'll certainly try the Road-Worn, Japanese, and MIM models. I really like the Guitar Center only Honeyburst American Special Precision as well. Decisions, decisions. But not a bad place to be.

The MIM and CIJ models do the 3TS/White/Maple too... Too bad that MIA doesn't (they do the tort guard - easy fix, but....you know...).

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[George Mann]

Originally Posted by tekdiver500ft

I would add the Roadworn P to your list of basses to check out. It won't feel exactly like your Squier, but it does have the vintage frets so it will feel really good in the hand, and it will sound much like your Squier, and very much like an actual late '50s P Bass.

I need some clarity on this statement. you say it will sound much like his Squier, and very much like an actual late '50s P-Bass.

Yet these two basses sound nothing alike!

[C.Linton]

Originally Posted by George Mann

I need some clarity on this statement. you say it will sound much like his Squier, and very much like an actual late '50s P-Bass.

Yet these two basses sound nothing alike!

And how do you know that? Have you directly compared the two out of the same amp with the same setings?
(just asking)

[tekdiver500ft]

Originally Posted by George Mann

I need some clarity on this statement. you say it will sound much like his Squier, and very much like an actual late '50s P-Bass.

Yet these two basses sound nothing alike!

Well, I've heard a CV P and a '58 at the same venue, on the same amp with the same settings, on the same day, and I will state categorically that you would need substantially more discriminating hearing than I have to hear the difference. My partner (audio engineering company) and I both were amazed at the similarity in tone, but it was indisputable.

[lfmn16]

This may be the wackiest thread ever - I love my bass, how do I spend more money to get what I already have?

Before you spend a dime figure out what you are trying to fix. If you aren't trying to fix anything, then get another bass that sounds completely different. You've already got one sound covered.

[Lowbrow]

Not for nothing, but I've played P basses of every vintage and country of origin over the last nearly 40 years and the differences in sound are never much more than a turn of bass tone knob or tweek of the amp EQ apart. Note that I'm not saying there is no difference at all, but it ain't much, guys.

[George Mann]

Originally Posted by C.Linton

And how do you know that? Have you directly compared the two out of the same amp with the same setings?
(just asking)

Actually, yes. And although one can make a vintage '50's split-coil sound reasonably close to the CV, the opposite isn't true.

We are talking about an actual '59 here, not a so-called reissue. There is just no substitute for it's full, meaty sound!

[George Mann]

Originally Posted by tekdiver500ft

Well, I've heard a CV P and a '58 at the same venue, on the same amp with the same settings, on the same day, and I will state categorically that you would need substantially more discriminating hearing than I have to hear the difference.

Actually, I am quite renowned for my hearing acuity.

[gurensan]

Originally Posted by ThudThudThud

... I really like the Guitar Center only Honeyburst American Special Precision as well.

Agreed. Those are BEAUTIFUL. I prefer the vintage feel, though. Maybe a neck-swap with another 60's CV? Should fit....