American Standard P or Squier CV and amp?

[gln1955]

There's not a right or wrong answer. I'd definitely try them out side-by-side with a very good amp. If you are blown away by the Ameican Standard, then there you go. If you're not, then maybe the CV will do just fine OR maybe you need to look at other options to a high end Fender.

 

[kdemello1980]

Another vote for the American Standard P.

 

[drummer5359]

I'd go with the MIA. As you say, that's something to last a lifetime and an investment which marks the achievement of graduating.

You can say that again...

I'd go with the MIA. As you say, that's something to last a lifetime and an investment which marks the achievement of graduating.

Oh, you did.

 

[Taha-b]

Get the American Pbass. A better instrument will inspire you to become a better player. You can always save up for a while and sell your Squier and old amp for some cash towards a new amp setup later. Plus, you probably won't ever want a "better" bass if you go with an American P. If you get the Squier I guarantee you'll be eyeing an upgrade pretty soon.

+1

 

[nocluejimbo]

There's not a right or wrong answer. I'd definitely try them out side-by-side with a very good amp. If you are blown away by the Ameican Standard, then there you go. If you're not, then maybe the CV will do just fine OR maybe you need to look at other options to a high end Fender.

This. I tried a number of Fenders at a store with no budget restriction, and went home with a Classic Vibe.

 

[fenderbassman40]

I had some time to kill before rehearsal so I went to my local guitar shop. I played the Squier Custom vibe jazz through a rumble 500 W combo.

I had my pedal case with me so I hooked it up (Hartke Bass attack, MXR Microamp, MXR 10 band eq). The sound was so amazing. I was floored.

With my pedals,The Squier bass, and the Rumble 500 combo The total cost came out to under $1300.

I could play this set up for any gig I needed and still have an amazing practice rig for home rehearsal.

In my humble opinion, get the Squier CV and an amp.

 

[DaddyFatBass32]

Thanks for the responses everyone! Y'all had some great input and I will definitely think about it some more. (Still got one semester left.)

In the meantime, I will definitely go out and try stuff out like many of you have suggested. Any things I should keep in mind while I'm out looking that often get overlooked?

Thanks again! Appreciate it

 

[blindrabbit]

Easy choice - get the CV and an amp. I find it to be a common mistake that the bass gets "upgraded" more than the amp does, when really it is the amp that is having a massive influence on your sound and the basses all sound like...basses. Plus, I have yet to try any Fender that sounds and feels as nice as the Squier CVs. If you go in and play them with your eyes closed, you may end up surprised with what you leave with.

Even with unlimited money, I'd still get the CV and an amp (and some pedals, and maybe another CV, and...)

 

[nerkoids]

Besides, you could get two, a P and a J. Tonal possibilities have just multiplied! You're outta control.

 

[HawldieMPB]

The answer is neither. Play everything in the store and see what strikes you. I play a CV Jazz and I'm buying an 8x10 to go with a modified 1970ish Marshall plexi (converted from super lead to super bass). No plans to trade out that Squier for the foreseeable future.

 

[blindrabbit]

The answer is neither. Play everything in the store and see what strikes you. I play a CV Jazz and I'm buying an 8x10 to go with a modified 1970ish Marshall plexi (converted from super lead to super bass). No plans to trade out that Squier for the foreseeable future.

Oh that must sound HUGE! Wow.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

Judge with your ears, not your eyes.
I have a MIM P Bass (Roger Waters Sig) that feels like home and is built like a tank, and I have a 90's MIA P that just feels kinda cheap. I've loved my Korean (now Indonesian) Lakland Skylines, and never wanted for an American Lakland, even after playing dozens of them.
I don't doubt there's a better chance of finding a quality bass amongst the MIA's, but quality can be found at all price points, and the right bass for you may be one you never expected.

Play everything. Get the bass you love, no matter where it's made.

 

[darrenmt]

Judge with your ears, not your eyes.
I have a MIM P Bass (Roger Waters Sig) that feels like home and is built like a tank, and I have a 90's MIA P that just feels kinda cheap. I've loved my Korean (now Indonesian) Lakland Skylines, and never wanted for an American Lakland, even after playing dozens of them.
I don't doubt there's a better chance of finding a quality bass amongst the MIA's, but quality can be found at all price points, and the right bass for you may be one you never expected.

Play everything. Get the bass you love, no matter where it's made.

Sure not forgetting the fact that Lakland Skylines retail for almost as much as MIA Fenders and are undoubtedly better built than Squiers and IMO on par with MIA Fenders.

I own both US Lakland and Skyline basses. The quality differences between the two are undoubtedly obvious to me and reflected in the price difference. The Skylines are great performers but don't feel anywhere as refined as a US Lakland which are totally worth the money if you can afford it. Same deal with MIA Fenders vs Squiers.

I agree that quality can be found at all price points but IMO price points also limits quality to a certain degree. Yes the rule of diminishing returns comes into play but that extra spent to attain the extra refinement matters if one desires it enough.

Also agree that trying before buying to be sure of what appeals to you is the best way to address this.

 

[osonu]

I just got a CV 70s and it was a nice bass- until I side-by-sided it with a MIM P at the store. Actually, I tried it against 4 MIMs at 2 different stores and through a few different amps. All of the Fenders sounded noticeably better to my ears (deeper and richer). The salesmen that got involved all agreed as well- of course, they're trying to make a sale, so...

I also tried a lone MIA p and couldn't tell much difference between it and the nearest MIM. My personal solution was to send the CV back and buy a used MIM for less than the CV ($300 with a hard case). There were 3 in that price range in my local Craig's List. Have fun shopping!

As always, YMMV

 

[darrenmt]

I just got a CV 70s and it was a nice bass- until I side-by-sided it with a MIM P at the store. Actually, I tried it against 4 MIMs at 2 different stores and through a few different amps. All of the Fenders sounded noticeably better to my ears (deeper and richer). The salesmen that got involved all agreed as well- of course, they're trying to make a sale, so...

I also tried a lone MIA p and couldn't tell much difference between it and the nearest MIM. My personal solution was to send the CV back and buy a used MIM for less than the CV ($300 with a hard case). There were 3 in that price range in my local Craig's List. Have fun shopping!

As always, YMMV

Although i think the Fender MIAs are great basses, i favor the MIM RW P and Js. Granted there's some extra attention given to those during production, i just love how they play and sound. They also tend to be pretty light weight.

 

[rhopper]

American Standard P Bass

 

[HawldieMPB]

Oh that must sound HUGE! Wow.

Hahaha yeah I'm pretty excited about the whole thing. Definitely going to have to post some recordings when it's all set-up and ready.

 

[AMJBASS]

Always upgrade the bass first. If you need an amp for a gig you can always rent something bigger. The 2008 and upward MIA Standards are outstanding instruments and will last you the rest of your life. With a Squier(even a good one) you will always be wondering if you should have gone for the Fender. Purchasing a great sounding great playing bass IMO is more important than the amp. Especially in the studio, or when you are going direct out to PA/FOH.

 

[paparoof]

I don't understand the repeated statements in this thread about an MIA Fender lasting "the rest of your life". Are you implying a Squier won't? Cause... uh... yeah it will.

OP - a couple other thoughts I had:

1. Since every single bass at GC has a horrible setup, hopefully you know a little something about doing your own setups. If you know the issues that are corrected by a proper setup, then you can separate those issues from issues that should actually make you pass on the bass (ie: neck relief vs neck twist). And if you're playing a CV side-by-side with an MIA, if the setup is drastically worse than the other, don't let that color your opinion of all CVs or all MIAs. Just keep driving to different stores and trying different instruments.

2. While comparing CVs and MIA Fenders side-by-side, do two rounds of tests; the first round being totally unamplified. The idea here is to focus a little less on sound and a little more on feel. Just pay attention to how the profile of the neck and the finish feels under your hand. The neck finish on the MIAs I've played have a very different feel than the neck finish on the CVs I've played. I personally prefer (by a lot) the finish on the CVs - I love the glossy gloss. Others complain that it gets "sticky" and compromises their playing and they end up sanding it down. You gotta decide which feels better to you. Another benefit to playing them unamplified is that (If no one else is filling the room with the riff from Sweet Child o' Mine) you'll get to hear the natural tone of that particular instrument - uncolored by whatever amp(s) you're gonna try out in round two. You'll be able to hear a difference - I promise.

I think it's important to decide which feels better before you decide which one sounds better since it's so easy to swap out the electronics and throw a [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] in there. And that's not to say you need to in either case, just saying you can upgrade the sound a helluva lot more easily than you can upgrade the feel of an instrument.

 

[Kukulkan61]

I dont understand the "get the american standard it will last a lifetime"idea...any bass will last a long time if you take care of it,Im sure if you throw your bass around on stage and never use or keep it in a gig bag or case its gonna fall apart no matter if its a Squier or fender...