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are you to good to play a squier?

#81
I hate that crap about "I'm beyond that".... it's so elitist and usually has nothing to do with sound. I'm sure the guy who came up and complimented you on your playing and sound just assumed you were playing a fender - only when he saw Squier did he get his hackles up...very sad.

I mean, he didn't come up to you and say, "Man I was just sitting in the back wondering why you would ever play a Squier - I'm beyond that..."

Great instruments are indeed a step above, but if someone sounds good then it's important to realize that and try to learn about how they get the sound they do... especially if it's coming from their hands... regardless of the instrument.

In fact, it's this attitude - which I remember very well back when I first started playing - that discourages young players from just going for it... regardless of what they own... to get out and play everywhere and with everyone - that's the only way to continue to grow... most people who think they're great bass players aren't... there may be a few exceptions but most great players never stop striving to improve their areas of weakness... and encourage others to do the same.

Anyhow, my rants done...
 
#82
sevenyearsdown said:
A VM Precision would have blown away the Memphis P-copy I learned on.
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Another Memphis victim! I remember mine as being absolutely bloody godawful, but I had no idea how to do any adjustments back then, either. As someone else pointed out, I wonder what that bass would be like if I could have it now, and set it up properly. I imagine that an hour with some files and a couple allen wrenches would have improved it significantly.

As for the MIMs, they're perfectly fine instruments- especially the "Classic" series, which are very nice. The CVs I've played are absolutely phenomenal, though.
 
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#83
I would have LOVED a squire in highschool... i had a rusty Harmony p-bass that weighed a ton or two.


Most of the musicians i run with are pretty much non-caring when it comes to insturments. 99% of the snobbery i face is in regards to Amps and Cabs. Most people i know could care less if it's a Squire, Fender, or some rediculous custom $8000 bass. BUT... if it's not going through a Sunn, Orange, or Ampeg it matters VERY much apparently. Oh... and the more of those cabs and amps you have the better!

When it comes to insturments i've run into more people that hate/love my bass(es) because of their colors than what make they are...
 
#84
Hey, I still gig with a Squier now and then. :bassist:

Granted, it's a completely modded VM Jazz with more value in parts than in the original bass, but last weekend I played it for a set or two while the NYC Sadowsky PJ sat on its stand.

It's not as good as the Sadowsky, but with all the mods and setup tweaking and such, I'd put it on par with some of the MIA Fenders I've tried.

I'm not too good for a Squier. I don't suck too badly to play a Sadowsky either.

And 99% of the people at the gigs I play can't tell the difference. They do notice the different body shape when I play my old Steinberger, but that's about it.
 
#85
ooh, look at the guys fancy 'upgraded pick guard'. lol.

i personaly am not a big fan of squiers because i find a lot of the more common types of them to have often pretty shody builds, as you might expect.
i've also known too many guitards who though they were top Sh!# because they had a "Squire by Fender" guitar. :hmm:

however, i did play on this Squier Telecaster P bass thingy (the one with the fat humbucker right up against the neck? i dunno model name) and was quite impressed with it.
 
#91
nope.at first,"i thought i was" cause i bought the VM jazz bass,but it was in bad quality.all it really needed was a few screws tightened,and a string change.but i didn't think then cause i was more of a "noob" and i traded it in for my epiphone thunderbird.but now i've been seeing a few of them in guitar center that didn't have those minor problems,and omg...:bassist:

amazing quality,at least just as good as MIA quality :D:hiding:
played one twice thru an ampeg amp and it sounded like a $1500 bass! felt almost like one too..so that is why i am now convinced that i will never be "too good" for squiers.:)
 
#93
WildTrkey said:
Yes. I am too good to play a Squire. Unfortunately, that is the musical world I live in.
I will be 100% honest here. When I am depending on callbacks or scouts, the last thing I want to be seen with is a budget axe. That does not mean that I don't believe that 'chops' is what it's all about, to hell with gear, but I live in a VERY knowledgable musical community with waaay too many old school cats, session guys and studio owners to be showing up to a date with a Squire and a Line6. It is not that I think otherwise, it's just the way it is.
The last thing I wanted this to sound like was arrogant, but that's how it sounds.:hmm:

I know what music should be about and I know what the biz IS about. That's all. If tha's all you have to rock with, do it to the fullest, my experience is not the way it is everywhere for everyone, so take it with a grain of salt. But take it none the less.
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I understand in your situation why you might not want to play one, but most of us aren't in that situation.

For those of us that play in bar bands (probably most of us) there is no reason a Squier wouldn't do if that is what you want to play. I've played in a lot of bands, sometimes with more expensive basses, sometimes with cheap ones (I played a gig Wednesday night with an OLP), and I've never had a band member or anyone else complain about what I play. Tonight I'm playing a Lakland. No one else will care.
 
#97
LCW said:
Well i left my fender p bass at home on a recent gig and played my squier jazz. Alot of people talked to me after since it was at my school . One guy said great tone and nice playing. Than he looked at my bass in the most disgusted face "wow a squier nothing personal but i am way beyond playing one of those" I asked ok what do you play than he replied " a wine red MIM jazz with an upgraded pearl guard" hahaha i tried not to laugh my a$$ off. I mean come on i was playing a Classic Vibe squier probably better than his MIM but whatever, that was the biggest gear snobbery i have ever ran into.
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Yeah, you should probably have said something like "Well, my Alembic is in the shop, so..." Gosh, people are dumb.
 
#99
I was never much of a Fender/Squier fan. My daughter-in-law has a Fender P bass and I hate the action. But now I have a VM Fretless Jazz. It was one of those impulsive purchases made on a cruise through GC one afternoon. I picked it up and after 10 minutes I knew that I had to have it. A studio musician purchased it to play for a gig, unfortunately he died, but not until he had set it up to play perfectly! The family returned it and I bought it. It is now one of my favorites.
 

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