Beautiful bass. Build quality is beyond compare at that price. Someone is going to a proud new owner soon I'm sure. Already have one myself otherwise I would be tempted.
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$200 Squier vs. $700 Fender
- Thread starter Fluffy94
- Start date
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
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- I suck, but nobody really notices
The player series are excellent. They are the replacement series for the made in Mexico fenders. Very good quality instruments for a very good price.
there are so many great, affordable players out there --- i'm with the suggestions posted, but the best suggestions are the ones telling you to try as many as you can! try as many as you can just to 'get your bearings' on a nice PJ for yourself. and give up that "fender-on-the-headstock" thing unless you have a need to please folks who could care less (and who don't have to play it!).
good luck with your PJ quest!
- Aug 21, 2003
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- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
I hear the age old argument all the time "well if you sell it"
This is nothing at against you @vindibona1 and I'm saying this not necessary to you but I'm general on that sentiment. So please know that first.
Ok here it is
Ppppffff...F that I'm not a collector or some financial thought out flipper. I'm a player first and formost...I want a killer paint brush to help me with my job and art. I don't care what it is worth.
I have been called arrogant on this forum for having that attitude but it is what it is IMHO.
I could care less about resale value and those who do, should probably look into some other kind of "hobby" that yeilds more profit. They remind me of the Ferengi from Star Trek.
Ok my $.02
Cheers
The T40's name should tell you something, think Russian tank, cause they're built like one and weigh like one too. If weight isn't an issue, then T40s are great basses.
Then there's the Peavey Accu Bass. Preferably an 80s model vs the 90s model. The 80s didn't come out until 1985 or so, look like a Precision except for the headstock, which is similar to an Explorer style.
The 90s models retain that Precision look but have what is called the batwing headstock and really, depending on one's tastes, could be the worst looking, mass produced, headstock of all time. But the basses, 80s or 90s, can be found anywhere in the 50 to 200 price range.
I bought a late 80s model for 60 bucks, did a little cleaning up on it, and dropped a EMG GZR split p pup in it. Of the 7 basses I own it's tied with one other as my favorite bass for recording with. Funny thing, the bass it's tied with to hold that spot, is a 2000 Peavey Millennium BXP 5 string jazz style bass. Those basses can be found around the $150 - $200 mark as well.
Peavey Furys are priced higher, but not worth anymore than the Millenniums. I've seen them priced as high as $450 on Reverb. But there's a translucent aqua blue 5 string near me right now with OHSC priced at $200 and looks to be in excellent condition. The case alone is worth half of the asking price.
Peavey gear has always been underrated, and their used gear whether it's amps, cabs, or basses can be found for pennies on the dollar.
See if you can get your hands on one of the early Classic Vibe 60's Precisions and compare it to what you have now...
I hear the age old argument all the time "well if you sell it"
This is nothing at against you @vindibona1 and I'm saying this not necessary to you but I'm general on that sentiment. So please know that first.
Ok here it is
F that I'm not a collector or some financial thought out flipper. I'm a player first and formost...I want a killer paint brush to help me with my job and art. I don't care what it is worth.
I have been called arrogant on this forum for having that attitude but it is what it is IMHO.
I could care less about resale value and those who do, should probably look into some other kind of "hobby" that yeilds more profit. They remind me of the Ferengi from Star Trek.
Ok my $.02
Cheers
My statement, while having something to do with "if I sell it?" has more to do with "should I sell it now before spending money to upgrade and buy something better?" We I an experience bass player at the time I bought most of my basses I might have gone with something better in the beginning. Perhaps my regret with my Squier is that it's a 4 string Jazz and I had no idea how much I'd like the 5 string basses at the time I upgraded.
As I look back, I now realize that there were few basses available to demo, in spite of living in the middle of a "Guitar Mecca". I'm not saying I'm unhappy, as I have a lot of good basses. But would I be happier if I took the money I spent on cheaper basses and upgrades to buy a higher grade bass? I dunno. What I do know it that I wouldn't currently own two upgraded jazz basses.
More money doesn't necessarily mean better bass, just always remember that.
So, this is my Squier in question (as well as my pedal board and practice amp) and I suppose I don't have many quarrels with it. I have thought about doing upgrades on it in the past such as upgraded tuners and pickups, maybe a nice bridge.
As far as the neck goes, it isn't bad. I do like more tapered necks though like what is on my Thunderbird so maybe modding is the route I should take first before diving into a new instrument. I do wish the Squier handled drop tunings better but I may just need a higher string gauge to compensate for lack of tension.
I appreciate all the responses and insight you all have given me, it's given me a lot to think about and consider and it feels good to hear from knowledgable people that have tons more experience than me
As far as the neck goes, it isn't bad. I do like more tapered necks though like what is on my Thunderbird so maybe modding is the route I should take first before diving into a new instrument. I do wish the Squier handled drop tunings better but I may just need a higher string gauge to compensate for lack of tension.
I appreciate all the responses and insight you all have given me, it's given me a lot to think about and consider and it feels good to hear from knowledgable people that have tons more experience than me
+X for Yamaha BB. I have owned a 424 and a 415 and currently own a 1025X. All of them built flawlessly. A bit on the heavy side maybe, but all the PJ-ness you may want.
Edit: they all have 5 piece laminated necks that hardly budge. Could be an advantage for downtuning.
Edit: they all have 5 piece laminated necks that hardly budge. Could be an advantage for downtuning.
Here are my two beans...
I had gotten a used Squier CV 70's bass for about 250 from GC. I loved it ,felt and played great. quality of the build was top notch. Worth more than what i paid. My only desire was better pickups and electronics.
Enter into the picture a store demo model Flea RW Jazz. Plays and feel as good as the Squier, Sounds way better and looks more cool. I decided to sell one for the other...
In retrospect it wasn't really worth it. The $900 difference after 6 months of having it left me confused, I would of been better served spending a good amount of money and putting better pickups and electronics. I could of even had the body stripped and refinished in any color i desired and still saved a good chunk of change. Do I regret my purchase? No but would I look past the decal and take it for what it really is? Yes. Live and learn, sometimes ad nauseum....
I had gotten a used Squier CV 70's bass for about 250 from GC. I loved it ,felt and played great. quality of the build was top notch. Worth more than what i paid. My only desire was better pickups and electronics.
Enter into the picture a store demo model Flea RW Jazz. Plays and feel as good as the Squier, Sounds way better and looks more cool. I decided to sell one for the other...
In retrospect it wasn't really worth it. The $900 difference after 6 months of having it left me confused, I would of been better served spending a good amount of money and putting better pickups and electronics. I could of even had the body stripped and refinished in any color i desired and still saved a good chunk of change. Do I regret my purchase? No but would I look past the decal and take it for what it really is? Yes. Live and learn, sometimes ad nauseum....
- Oct 18, 2012
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For $700 (maybe slightly more) you should be able to find a used American Fender.
BobDeRosa
Commercial User
- May 16, 2012
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- Owner, Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camps
I had 2 Squiers (VM), 1 SX, a Yamaha 374 and now I play a Fernandes Tremor.
BY FAR! The Yamaha had the best neck and build quality. If I could find one of the newer TRBX or BB 234 - 434 cheap and close to me... I would just buy it without a doubt. Yamaha is an underrated brand.
BY FAR! The Yamaha had the best neck and build quality. If I could find one of the newer TRBX or BB 234 - 434 cheap and close to me... I would just buy it without a doubt. Yamaha is an underrated brand.
I have nothing against Yamaha but opened this thread to see Squier Vs. Fender pro and con dialogue and found a Yamaha fan boy convention. Who knew.
I should clarify this though. Squier Affinity is known as the beginner model from what a lot of people associate to a beginner brand.
Typically speaking a Fender is going to be better than a Squier in terms of build quality and parts, but it's not a guarantee. There have definitely been some Fender duds that I've played where I would often choose to play it Squier VM P5 over my Stingray 5 because it just sounded that good.
As a general rule you can expect better parts and build quality with the more money you spend, but there are exceptions and al come down to the individual pieces used.
Just because a bass says Squier doesn't mean it's garbage and just because it says Fender doesn't mean it's the holy grail.
My '57 reissue Precision is seriously one of the nicest basses I've ever played. I've been looking at other MIM fenders and everything I've tried in person feels great. Definitely amazing value for the price.
I have this new 70s Squier CV jazz that is truly an amazing bass. I was initially disappointed but overtime it gradually has impressed me and keeps impressing me. Other than the lollipop gotoh tuners the bass is stock. One complaint I'd have is the bridge...but I'll get a Fender Pure Vintage bridge soon(I'm a fender fan boy
). The day I picked this up I compared it to a see-through blond finished Vintera 50s P bass costing R24k or $1.6k(Yes Americans! these stuff cost so much more outside of America 
). I'm not one to speak like this but other than the weight I couldn't tell the difference in sound quality or feel. This is in no way me bashing that bass. The vintera was gorgeous and very well balanced in terms of weight but I think it goes to show how good this CV is.
I also have this beautiful looking and buttery playing FSR MIM Fender Precision strung with Labella flats(paid the equivalent of $700 which is somewhat cheaper than what MIM sell for in South Africa). This bass makes we often wonder how an American can be so much better or even any better than this particular bass
My advice to the OP would be to find something you like and to play as many of those that you can find. I feel like I just got lucky with these 2 because I couldn't play before I paid for it...which is a risk when you can't stand deadspots on a bass...just my 2cents and a bit more
). The day I picked this up I compared it to a see-through blond finished Vintera 50s P bass costing R24k or $1.6k(Yes Americans! these stuff cost so much more outside of America ). I'm not one to speak like this but other than the weight I couldn't tell the difference in sound quality or feel. This is in no way me bashing that bass. The vintera was gorgeous and very well balanced in terms of weight but I think it goes to show how good this CV is.
Modding a sweet necked Squier is smart in my opinion,
even if you decide to buy a second bass.
And of course, only you know what is lacking that you want to improve.
BUT…
The things you mentioned are the strong points on my Affinity.
· Three of my tuners are stock (I added a drop D).
· I added a Gotoh 201 only because it looks cool, but the saddles are bigger.
So, I need smaller saddles, a shimmed neck, or to put the stock bridge back on(and add an ashtray).
· Other than tuners, body, and neck, everything else was replaced.
So,
If I had not turned into a Mod-Aholic, what I hate the most about Affinities is that cheap ass PG,
Which bugs me even more than the PUP and electronics, which are second on my need to go list.
Nice looking Jazz, I love me some Lollipops!!!
I put lollipops on my Mustang.
I'm curious to know what the problem was that initially disappointed you.
All of my Squier bridges and tuners have been functional, I only changed them for aesthetics.
Can you elaborate?
057912
My disappoint wasn't justified. Since the bass was new it had tuning issues and I guess hearing people continuously rave about their CV's had me expecting more. However the last few months the bass has really come into its own. The stock tuners worked well so I changed the tuners purely because I love me some lollies lol. As far as the bridge is concerned, the bridge doesn't function as well as the one on my Fender. Maybe I'm expecting too I don't know but I'll change out the bridge as soon as this Corona lockdown is over. I have to mention the pick ups on these CV j's...I've heard they're different from the Chinese CV but these ones offer so much more than you'd expect from a $400 instrument...definitely love these. I might throw on pick up and bridge covers so that it fits my precision's look
