$200 Squier vs. $700 Fender

[Guild B301]

I've never owned a cheaper model like an Affinity, but I can tell you that there is a noticeable difference between a Made in Mexico and a Made in USA model. So I probably would do what everyone above has suggested and get a USA made Peavey, for what you're spending.

 

[jd56hawk]

Hello all!

I'm currently looking at getting a new passive bass as an upgrade from my current Squier Affinity P bass. I'm looking at the Fender Player Jaguar because it's got a more unique look to it and I like the flexibility of the P and J pickups. I'm just worried that it won't be much of an upgrade and that I'll mostly be paying for the Fender name on the headstock. Does anyone have insight on the cheaper Fenders and if they are actually worth it? Or maybe recommendations for other passive PJ configurations that are solid?

When is a PJ not a PJ?

Spoiler

When it's a G&L SB-2!

Believe me, this would be a substantial upgrade!

 

[TerenceE]

For Sale/Trade - PRICE DROP : 1997 US G&L L-2000

Buy this before I do hahaha

 

[FRoss6788]

Love Laklands, had a 55-02 and still have 55-01.
Neither will do a P bass. Sorry.

For Sale/Trade - 2007 Lakland Skyline 44-02

That right there will do things a mexi fender couldnt dream of doing!

 

[TerenceE]

Close though hahaha

 

[Kukulkan61]

Checkout the G&L Tributes, lotta bang for your buck!!

 

[chadface]

I haven't looked at Peavey so much besides used T40s. I've looked into Yamahas a little in the past before I got my Schecter and I was intrigued but I have this underlying feeling that Yamahas weren't good but from the half-dozen recommendations I feel like I'm wrong lol

My schecter stiletto is my #1 but that's more due to familiarity and style but the fury is a close second. Low price influences me though, it's a bang for buck thing like my Korean squire.

BTW that korean is as good, if not better than, my mexi fender.

 

[elgranluis]

I just recently sold a 20k Pre CBS custom color fender.

I will only buy CV or VM squiers at the moment. Couldn't be happier.

 

[ejaggers]

Such a crap shoot. I do think the Players are very nice basses, and a safe choice. But I've also played Squiers that are fantastic as well. (The occasional Affinity, more so the VM and CV lines.) There are so many little details, and it's so subjective; what bugs me, you might not even notice- and vice versa. Best bet: try before you buy.

What year is your Affinity?
Can you pinpoint what you don't like about it?
Are you bored and itching to mail order Something?
Can you wait til stores open to try some out?

+1 look at Yamaha BB, and also Ibanez TMB lines.

Welcome to TalkBass Fluffy,
There's a lot of people here with plenty of knowledge about basses, so sit back and enjoy the ride.
One rule, "No Pic, No Bass", so be sure to post a pic of your Squier.

The Squire vs cheap Fender conversation has been done a lot,
so, you can search for even more info, outside of this post.

I agree with alanloomis about wanting to know what's lacking in your Affinity,
and what you are looking for in an upgrade.
He's done some amazing mods, you might want to check out as well.

I have said many times, I've had such good luck with Squiers (I got 5),
although I've read a few horror stories, so maybe I'm just lucky.
The other reason is, I've only bought one on-line, my VM SS Jag.

I will let everyone else suggest basses at this time,
so, I'll open up the glorious world of modding.

A good Affinity is an excellent platform, because parts are cheap, and everywhere.
Plus, modding is fun, even addictive, and generally the outcome is awesome.

My modded Affinity Precision pic and specs are here:
Hi, I’m <name goes here>, And I’m A Mod-Aholic
057912

Check out these threads:
Let's See Your Hot-Rodded Cheapo Basses!
Heavily modded Franken P ! "The Hybrid"
What's the best modification you've made?
Cheapest bass you've ever put aftermarket pickups in.
Best bass mod ever for you?

+1 My VM Squier Precision (with 5% overwound Fralins) plays and sounds as good or better than any other Precision I've played - including MIM and MIA

I also have this PUP in my AFN P, and can make the same statement.

 

[lbbc]

Upgrading to a "better" bass is always fun. Like others have said "if you can try before you buy", you may be happier in the long run. As far as upgrades....I really liked my MIJ Squier, have had a few G&L's and have looked at 1 Yamaha BB. All are fine choices but when I decided to go with just one bass I went with a Carvin PB4 (PJ bass). I got it for around $750 shipped from a very reputable music store. Good luck!

 

[Cracker7]

Yamaha BB434!

 

[Deleted member 271037]

The problem with buying new Fenders is that the quality control has been questionable the last couple of years, particularly with the necks (at least in my experience). Unless you try before buying you never know what you're gonna get. Even a $2000 MIA Fender can turn out to be a disaster. Sorry Fender but the stuff I've seen (and paid for) over the last couple of years has been shockingly poor.

If your Squier stays in tune, has 100% functional hardware and a good, stable, straight neck with no buzzing you might actually get a much better bass by simply upgrading the pickups on your Squier rather than buying a Fender. The pickups are usually BY FAR the weakest part of the Affinity basses IMO.

Some of my best P-basses are actually Squiers with upgraded pickup (and I have a nice selection of various MIAs, MIMs and MIJs).

It's all about the neck IMO. Most importantly you need to find a neck profile that suits YOU. It's like finding the correct size of shoes. There's no guarantee you will prefer the neck profile of a more expensive bass.

THEN, if the neck profile feels nice you need to make sure the neck is straight, truss rod works ok, no bad frets, no abnormal dead spots (some dead spots are ALWAYS present on Fenders though).

If you can tick all of these boxes with your Squier and your bass feels reasonably lively and resonant you might actually end up with a WORSE bass if you "upgrade" to a MIM (or even MIA).

If you like the feel of your Squier and the neck is stable my advice would be to upgrade the pickup rather than risk spending money on a Fender. If you absolutely want the Fender logo on the headstock try to find a used American Standard or American Vintage. They were far more consistent than the current models IMO.

And just to be clear: I'm not saying you can't find a top quality NEW Fender. I'm just saying I've seen enough really bad ones lately, including top-of-the-range MIAs, that I wouldn't automatically assume they are better instruments than a Squier... except the pickup. The pickup in the Affinity series has always been very poor IMO.

And finally: Yes, you pay a lot for the Fender logo on the headstock. You can find better, cheaper P-style basses from other manufacturers IMO. The Yamaha BBs would be one example.

 

[Gt6s]

Yamaha BB

 

[Ewo]

Welcome to TB, OP!

My .02: If you mostly like your Squier and have access to a good luthier...and what you're looking for is better playability and tone...you might consider just having some work done on the Squier.

Pickup swaps are easy, and not terribly expensive.

A good fret leveling and recrowning might improve the playability considerably. And if the limiting factor on the action is the well-known ski jump problem, the board can be planed. That'll cost more because it requires more labor.

Just sayin' you've got some options. Note that this is all predicated on the idea you can get the bass to a _good_ luthier.

 

[Skillet]

The Yamaha BB series seems to get a lot of love.

For Sale - Yamaha BB734A (updated with 2nd pickgard)

 

[HardNHeavy]

have only used affinity's as modding platforms. They come with cheaper parts and the body is thinner compared to my MIA P and MIM J, maybe making it less resonant?..just a theory...But you can always dump some good parts into them...I'd play as many as you can, until one grabs you by the cajones and says "take me home".....built this one not long ago.Not big on this red color, but i was bored

 

[TonyP-]

As odd as this sounds...

I would rather find a great playing squier and spend a some money on hot rodding it.

One of my best playing & sounding 4 strings is one of these all black modified squires with the ebonal fretboards.

I put in Dimarzio Model Js
Nordstrand 3 band
Schaller bridge
And a fret job from a well respected repair tech.

It's slays and this so coming from a guy with a signature Mike Lull that sells for just shy of $5k

Take that with a grain of salt the size of a Kardashian booty.

 

[vindibona1]

+1 My VM Squier Precision (with 5% overwound Fralins) plays and sounds as good or better than any other Precision I've played - including MIM and MIA

I went in a similar direction with my VM70, putting in Aguilar noiseless pickups. I did the same thing in my MIM 5er + and Audere ProZ preamP. Read my continued response to GuildB301 and Fluffy94...

I've never owned a cheaper model like an Affinity, but I can tell you that there is a noticeable difference between a Made in Mexico and a Made in USA model. So I probably would do what everyone above has suggested and get a USA made Peavey, for what you're spending.

One thing that might be pointed out is the year an MIM or USA has been made. 10 years ago Fender was relying on the "Fender" brand to compete with their foreign subsidiaries. I'm not sure what happened, but with the exception of the upper end Squiers, the MIM's and USA models seem to have taken a downturn in quality. The basis of my comparison is my 2010 MIM 5er, with the exception of being a bit heavier in weight appears to be better made than today's Fender offerings. JMO

My Squier is an '08 from China. It doesn't play bad, but I'm looking for something that is more solid and provides a little bit wider of a range. I'd also like for it to be able to handle lower tunings better too.

One thing that seems to be a repeating theme with many guitar manufacturers is the differences that come with different eras. Today's Squier Affinity model is a couple steps down from a VM or a CV, which IMO are probably better in many regards than today's MIM.

As odd as this sounds...I would rather find a great playing squier and spend a some money on hot rodding it. One of my best playing & sounding 4 strings is one of these all black modified squires with the ebonal fretboards.

I put in Dimarzio Model Js
Nordstrand 3 band
Schaller bridge
And a fret job from a well respected repair tech.

If getting a good instrument is the goal, this works. I've done that with my VM 70: Aguilar Noiseless, Gotoh bridge and fret job. HOWEVER, the downside to that is that if you ever want to sell it it is difficult to get your money out, even if you strip it and put it back to stock. That's where I am now, as I have two jazz basses and would rather turn one of them into a P bass or a PJ.

This thread is giving me gas for a BB735 :0

 

[bassliner50]

I suggest you first install quality strings and do a complete set up that infinity. Install Fender Original ('62) pickups (about $50 and easily atainable), you will likely feel and hear a 200% improvement. (the Affinity stock pickups leave a lot to be disired.) Do this and it will likely surpass the Jaguar (tone and possibly playability) not to mention you will learn quite a bit. I am not a fan of PJ's. The J pickup adds nothing that appeals to me. You want tonal variation? Do that with your fingers and your touch. Of course if you like the look of the Jag, go ahead and nab it. Take this advice from an old fart and do what you want with it. But good luck going forward.

 

[bassliner50]

I just recently sold a 20k Pre CBS custom color fender.

I will only buy CV or VM squiers at the moment. Couldn't be happier.

Yup those CV's and Vm's are surprisingly good. I like mine modded with replacement pickups but even stock they are surprisingly good.