Squire Affinity Jazz V?

i'd rather get one of the SX five stringers.

I've owned my Squier Affinity Jazz V since July 2008. It is an absolute JOY to play! I'm no expert by any means, but this bass is very cool and very well-built. I was lucky enough to get mine for $160 (GC floor demo, before Fender jacked the prices) and I couldn't be happier! It's worth even the $230, IMHO. I haven't yet had it set-up by a tech; it's as it came from the factory, and the neck is still as straight as I'd hoped. Sure, it's not SUPER straight, but it is very nice considering.

Sound: It doesn't "really" sound like a Jazz. It sounds awesome, but it's not "very" Jazz-like. What I mean is that it's a bit warmer than most Jazz Basses I've played. I don't know what it is; the strings (Ernie Ball Slinky) have been on since September, so that could be it. I really like the sound. It's like a Jazz, but with a little more low-mid. IMO, IME and YMMV.

Fit and finish: Top notch for the price. Again, no expert here, but I've had guys with 20+ years bass playing tell me this thing feels really nice. No sharp frets, action is medium-low (where I like it) and the neck fits right in my hand.

Hardware: The pickups sound awesome. In trying to remove the pickguard (pickups still in place) I encountered a challenge, but not a big deal. Tuners could stand to be replaced; it stays in tune very well (two weeks or more) but they feel kind of cheap.

Overall: A very decent bass. My first Jazz Bass and my first five string, and I've had nothing but positive experiences with it. I'd rate it a 9/10, just because it's not perfect and I'm not an expert.

I say, play it, like it, buy it. Simple enough my man!

May I refer you to one of your prior posts, good sir:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=222112&highlight=bb415

See, you already had the answer to your question!

The Affinity V is a nice bass (especialy for the price), but for a little extra coin you have a quality, passive "workhorse" 5'er in the BB415.

...but you knew that already!

Ahhhh, I see.

In that case, the Squier might be the way to go then. Good luck!

I had one earlier this year, but sold it to get an avtive bass. I felt a constant yearning for one again, do I found a used one in GC last month....$99.99. I snatched it up and bastardized it to my little heart's content, it is now active and sports double humbuckers and coil split switches. I love this bass!!!! I has such a natural playable feel to it. Very comfortable. The neck could be a little stiffer, but it is still worth every penny. And the 18mm string spacing is perfect.







(sorry, I just had to post pics of it again... )

I've had one for a little over a year now & still love it. I was looking for a cheap 5 to see if I liked a fiver or not. Went down to GC to look at the Squier. They had the Affinity V, the higher end Squier (CV?), a MIM Fender Jazz 5 and an American Jazz 5. Spent some time playing them all side by side. The American & MIM were nicer, but not by much, and they were out of my price range anyway. I liked that the dimensions on the Affinity are basically the same as the Fenders, so that if I was into 5'ers I could always upgrade. I brought the Affinity V home. I got into the 5 but still don't feel the need to udgrage a thing.

I agree pretty nuch with everything that B4TL has to say about it above. Except maybe his comments on sound. Its my first Jazz, so I don't know how it compares. But it sounds good to me.

Dennis

wow, that's nice! I need a low-end bass, and have an SX but I want to try some Squier models. I think I really should make that a priority now.

I'm very seriously considering getting one of these as a backup or first string player if needed. I'm gonna spend a little time with one if I can find one at the GC next week. I really wish the arctic white wasn't a special order.

Squier Active Jazz V. Nice basses, good spacing, really nice feel.
Weighs almost 11 pounds though.

jmain said:

I'm very seriously considering getting one of these as a backup or first string player if needed. I'm gonna spend a little time with one if I can find one at the GC next week. I really wish the arctic white wasn't a special order.

Click to expand...

I got the white one a few weeks ago, no special order from Music123. Now if I can find a cheap tort, or even black pickguard (or just lose it completely) I'll like it much better.

CBgaragebassist said:

Squier Active Jazz V. Nice basses, good spacing, really nice feel.
Weighs almost 11 pounds though.

Click to expand...

My Affinity is 9lbs. One reason I passed on the deluxe was because I heard it was kinda heavy, and I just wanted a no-frills passive work/practice/backup to my Fender MIM V.

I’ve had one for a few weeks, and the only gig I did since then, i used in instead of the MIM, it just played better.

I'll just +1 with the above reviews.

CBgaragebassist said:

Squier Active Jazz V. Nice basses, good spacing, really nice feel.
Weighs almost 11 pounds though.

Click to expand...

It depends on the individual bass.

Marko5657 said:

I got the white one a few weeks ago, no special order from Music123. Now if I can find a cheap tort, or even black pickguard (or just lose it completely) I'll like it much better.

My Affinity is 9lbs. One reason I passed on the deluxe was because I heard it was kinda heavy, and I just wanted a no-frills passive work/practice/backup to my Fender MIM V.

I’ve had one for a few weeks, and the only gig I did since then, i used in instead of the MIM, it just played better.

I'll just +1 with the above reviews.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I really like the Arctic White, but mostly want to get one around 9 lbs. Most places that have them on display will weigh them for you. Its not so easy to get a weight if its coming from a warehouse.

I've hear the MIM pickguards work but leave a 1/8" gap around the neck pocket.

I most likely will get one of these. I may end up switching pickups and get a pickguard, but not in a hurry. I will check some out this weekend coming up.

Good to hear you guys/gals digging these.

I'm about to pull the trigger on one in black.

I missed on in Arctic White and the rumor from the distributor (after they said it was no problem and then called Fender to check - which was very cool of them) is they are discontinuing the finish. M123, GC and MF have the due date at 4/29/2010. Don't want to wait that long, but def don't want to wait and then find out I can't get one at all.

So I'm probably going with the black one. It's 9.6 lbs and they are doing a setup prior to shipping to take care of any wack frets or whatnot.

The bass came in yesterday but all I could do was bring it in the house and leave it in the box while I went to practice. (Freezing out, so needed to acclimate.)

Busted it out last night after practice for a few minutes and played it acoustically. Strings were loosened a bit, so had to tune up. Intonation wass spot on, nice new strings (D'addarios? not the factory Fenders), no sharp fret ends, nice medium-low action. I ordered it from Elderly Instruments, so this could be attributed to them.

I put about an hour on it tonight through the Tascam MP3 trainer and Westone UM2 IEMs. Woah!!!!

No gaps in the neck pocket, good acoustic tone, finish is nice, higher mass bridge, and the kicker...nice B string!!! Easily better than the MIM V I ordered new from another dealer in 2006. Dig the 34" scale and no problem slapping on the 18mm spacing. Very comfortable. Weighs 9.5 lbs, which is heavier than I would've wanted, but not bad for a bass well over the $230 I paid.

I could have gotten it cheaper elsewhere, but the setup was worth it and I asked them to take a look at the frets. If there was any sharp or high frets, there aren't now. So I'm cool with the price.

I'll get a chance to plug it into my LMII/PS112 rig tomorrow night. Looking like I may play it this weekend at church.

Okay, long day and I'm about to crash out in a few, so pics and more review later. (I'll try to do it tomorrow.)

I went to pick up some strings the other day at a local mom and pop shop and they had one of these hanging there. I picked it up and played for about 20 minutes and was thoroughly impressed.

I snagged one used offa TB awhile back, best $120 I ever spent. Used it as a platform to test different things. It's a nice playing bass with Fender standard sized pickups so it will cross-over easily. For what you are looking for, I think it's a good choice. Make sure the the truss rod has enough ooomph to straighten the neck though, it's pretty thin.