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Can I go pro with a Squier Affinity P Bass?

Can I gig and tour with a Chinese Squier Affinity?

  • Don't ever let anyone tell you who to love! Rock it like you stole it!

    Votes: 134 81.2%

  • Dress her up, you can't be seen in public looking like a cheap date!

    Votes: 15 9.1%

  • Dump her and find somebody respectable if you ever want any respect yourself!

    Votes: 16 9.7%
  • Total voters
    165
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Jhclark

Jhclark

Jul 13, 2014
214
39
Philadelphia
#1
Title says it all.

I got a p bass starter pack when I was 12/13 back in 1997. Still playing it as my only bass.

It stays in perfect tune, and has good flats (I forget the brand).

I just bought an Ashdown 115 combo, and my wife noted that I should have bought a better bass instead of amp (my only bass amp until today was the one that came in the Squier pack 15 years ago!!)

I'm no fool names shouldn't matter, and I'm a good musician (cellist for 20 years). BUT I'm afraid of being laughed out of a rehearsal or studio. (Common fear?) It's black with a white pick guard that is magically warped somehow, and has a sticker between the bridge and the pg that I put there when I was 14. You all know the bass I'm talking about...

What's a guy to do? Do I need to sell off a couple of guitars and invest in a new bass? It sounds fine to me, and if it didn't I feel like I could upgrade the P/U... (Intonation is great) Do I dress it up with a chrome bridge cover (to cover the foam mute I'll probably use) and pickup cover? Do I sand the Squier decal off and put something silly like my name or a fake brand?

What would you do without much cash or valuables?
 
#4
If it sounds good, it is good. Period. I know a pro guy here in NYC who plays a weekly gig, in front of 350-600 people, plus numerous private gigs, fly dates, etc., with a squire. He had it professionally set up, though, and got a pickup upgrade; that might be a good, relatively inexpensive way to improve the tone, if you feel it's necessary.

Do be aware, though, that cheaper basses can only be adjusted and tweaked so much before they can't be "improved" any more. For instance, cheaper basses often have cheesy fret work and necks that need constant truss-rod tweaking on tour, especially when you go from hot/humid to cold/dry environs (Canada to Texas!). Also, in a recording or live situation with pro DIs, consoles, speaker systems, mics, etc., those tools may reveal all sorts of buzzes, pops, hisses, etc. or even ever-so-slight intonation discrepancies that you never heard in your bedroom, and which may be unacceptable in those contexts.

However, if those situations are few and far between, then by all means, play your cheap bass with pride! My most expensive bass in an ESP/LTD Vintage 204 that cost me $200. I know its strengths and weaknesses and adjust accordingly.

(I would get rid of the sticker, though - looks juvenile, unless you're trying out for a punk band...)
 
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#5
Keep in mind I'm talking about going pro like a day job

(at some point... Still going to do session work as a cellist of course...)


[edit]: thanks for the tip on the sticker. It's on there so straight and the color blends so perfectly that I forgot all about looking like a teenager, mostly because it's a crap Chinese thing (back when the Chinese squiers really were terrible...)

The setup is always me, but like you mentioned, I'm not traveling with it so I don't know how it will respond. Also, I'm sure there is some noise, but I play w the tone rolled all the way off so I don't notice it I guess...
 
#8
Probably getting a little ahead of yourself, when you say "Going PRO !" and "Gigging and Touring !",

then questioning if you will get laughed out of rehearsal or studio?

First off, if the crowd you associate with are more concerned for the gear rather than musicianship,
find a more appreciative group who know what really counts.
I see nothing wrong with what you have.

At some point when you get a few paying gigs done, you might want to save a bit away for a second bass and keep the old one as a backup,
I always gig with a backup bass, things can go wrong, jacks malfunction, strings break, and it is good to have a backup plan.
 
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#9
Thanks, guys.

I am in talks forming a new project with established musicians. If I was playing guitar or cello, I'd have no qualms about my gear, but I hate to be the lame-o who shows up with a "toy". You guys have more experience in the world of modern music than I do, though, so I'll trust this small consensus.

Of course I won't be touring this month, but a southeast tour could happen this winter, but I wouldn't expect crowds of over 200 regularly. Small venues. Of course I will get a nice instrument when I get the cash, but I guess I'm just feeling self conscious after MY WIFE looked like she was embarrassed *for* me. She wanted me to get a fender and use a 15w practice amp (she doesn't know better, she just loves me :-) )
 
#11
I understand what some of the others are saying about brand not mattering, but then again would you go to a professional-level job interview wearing a clip-on tie? Would you show up as a wedding photographer with a Samsung point-and-shoot? Pros use pro gear. Sure, some big names may pull out a Squier now and again (perhaps for novelty sake, perhaps not), but they're big names. They can do whatever they want now. That's not you yet.
 
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#12
Good point about wife encouraging gear acquisition......

Also good point about the clip on tie - I think that's what I've been feeling. Good news is I'm not trying out for a band that I'm a founding member of...

Of course that said, it makes sense that I better get at the very least a fender neck (Hahahaha) until I am established enough to have the confidence to get away with goofy stuff like playing a squier wearing a tux...
 
#14
Doesn't matter what bass you play as long as it is set up properly and doesn't limit you. As for sounding good and doing the pro gigs, the amp is going to be more important because it will determine your sound and what people hear. What it says on the headstock doesn't determine your musicianship.

Decent bass>good amp=great sound
Decent bass>poor amp=poor sound
High end bass>good amp=amazing
High end bass>crap amp=amazingly crap
 
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#15
.. if it bothers you, either sand the headstock blank (or paint it black to match the body) and then forget about it (it wont hurt the value of a 'beginner pak' bass, in fact it may help it) .. BUT, don't put a 'fake' logo on it just to impress anyone, spend your time, money and effort honing your chops to the point that people want you playing with them and could care less the name on your gear ...

... in the mean time, you may want to be playing/evaluating everything you can get your hands on so you will know if/when the current bass is holding you back ... JMHO
 
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#16
the bass turns into the main tool for your job. So it´s advisible the bass to be a pro level one. At least the main one, the other can be whatever float your boat.

So, would I go to a session with a Squier bass, yes, but accompanied by a pro level other. So putted that way, I´d go with a Fender Jazz and a Squier Precision, or the other way arround.
 
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#17
Seems like you enjoy playing the Squier, and it sounds good to you. I say its a keeper. My .02: don't sand off the headstock decal. Wherever your bass playing takes you in the future, it'll be a nice memento. But not so nice if you take off the decal because you were worried about what some fools would say about the brand.

It's great your wife is encouraging you. I say she's a keeper, too!

Side note about the brand name question. These days I gig a Sadowsky--because it feels right and sounds good to me. Sometimes other musicians in the crowd will want to chat a bit, on my breaks. As always, there's some gear talk. I could be wrong, but I get the feeling that a couple of them might have thought my bass was an off-brand, because it wasn't a Fender. Ain't worth the trouble to straighten them out.
 
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#18
IMO use the Squier and the Ashdown EB180 you currently have, play some gigs and earn some cash. Over time upgrade your bass if your amp is a good workhorse. So on and so forth. Let the gigs pay your way. Who knows, you might be so satisfied with your gear that you're not going to worry about acquiring more.
 
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#19
The first bass I bought was a Squier Affinity P Bass. I've owned different Fender USA basses since then and I keep going back to the Squier when I need that specific sound. There's no shame in playing an affordable instrument professionally. Quite the contrary: if you can make a cheap instrument sound good, that's awesome in my book. I think 95% of the sound is in your hands. Those who don't know the name Squier won't care what instrument you play and those who do know the name will appreciate you not giving a poopie and sounding great with a tool that most people in the know consider low end. The only thing I'd change in my Affinity P Bass is the white pickguard because it looks dull to me. Other than that, it is an awesome instrument: is sounds great and has great playability.
 
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