Can I go pro with a Squier Affinity P Bass?

[Sal Z.]

Khclark, you did say "I'm no Federale, but I'd take Mexican over Chinese any day - heck, any of out allies (japan, Korea, England (amps), and I'm almost to the point historically that I could get something german, but that's just because I'm jewish...(Hofner is german, right?)"

The above indicates you have concerns with allies, along with where and by whom these instruments were made. I will agree China is making cheep copy's of U.S. products, then flood our markets with defective merchandise. I only buy German, U.S.A., and wherever quality products are made.
What does all of this have to do with "Can I go pro with a Squier Affinity P Bass?"

 

[Sal Z.]

Carl H, that was my reasoning. They are temperamental and need to be taken extra care of so warping does not apply. The Fender Company is now selling neck's and body's etc.... directly to customers. This came as good news.

 

[carl h.]

I've been working in a store that sells Fender/Squier and honestly, haven't seen any of the basses warp. I've seen Cort bass bodies bend, Deans that warped differently on different days, and Ibanez that warped at the scarf joint, but so far the recent F/S offerings have all been playable - even the boxed guitar/amp combo cheapies.

 

[Sal Z.]

Depending upon where you live and the climate, in Florida for example, the heat and humidity bends guitar necks. I have not experienced the same in Utah nor Arizona.

 

[spaz21387]

squiers aren't bad. they can't compare with musicman. but for the price they aren't bad. especially the VM/CV series squiers. If I still had my squier VM p bass Id probably gig it often. I gave it to a kid who wanted to learn bass. it was a very solid instrument it saw hundreds of shows and held up just fine.

 

[Hopkins]

Depending upon where you live and the climate, in Florida for example, the heat and humidity bends guitar necks. I have not experienced the same in Utah nor Arizona.

Florida like here in Texas has a pretty consistent high humidity. It doesn't cause necks to warp, necks move when they suffer a change in climate/humidity, but if they are in a pretty consistent environment they tend to hold their adjustments. Dry climates like Arizona can and will wreak havoc on acoustic instruments, causing cracks.

 

[bolophonic]

I'm no Federale, but I'd take Mexican over Chinese any day - heck, any of out allies (japan, Korea, England (amps), and I'm almost to the point historically that I could get something german, but that's just because I'm jewish...(Hofner is german, right?)

Where is your strat from, Japan?

I've been messaging people on cList lately (since this thread started) and even contacting people with squires to ask where they're from or what year. If I find a Japanese squier from the 80s I'll probably jump on it for $200 or less... (Seems to be the going rate around here)

Considering the fact that a brand new Squier retails for about $180, if you are commonly finding 80's MIJ Squiers for $200, you should probably just go into business flipping them.

 

[Jhclark]

Brand new *AFFINITY* squier sell new for $180, not other squiers (classic vibe, vintage modified, etc that go for $300-$450 I've seen)

Some of them have headstock decals I don't recognize so I've been asking for close ups and serials to check. If I found a Japanese squire, I would have bought it and told you guys already.

I'm sorry where this thread has gone. Alas, were on Page 10 so I guess it's to be expected
Eventually.

_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=

I'm currently contacting a couple of people with Mexican J 5s that have them listed around 300-350 to see what the years are and what type of strings are on them. Might talk someone down to 250 and then I'll be home free. I might like a jazz and I might like a 5 (maybe not the weight of it...) but if I had a choice, I would look for a P body PJ with maple neck or fretless (maple with an Olympic white body, fretless could be white or placid blue)

Haven't seen many P body PJs. Might look for a blacktop with 2 P pickups though.

I don't need another P, I figure if someone asks me to play a P I'll bust out the squire and hopefully they'll listen wih their ears.

 

[carl h.]

I'd be inclined to stick with a 4 string Fender. The guys who are hung up on names can be the same who don't care for 5 string basses - and I'm a 5 string exclusively player. There are better 5ers than the Fender offerings for similar money.

 

[Sal Z.]

Florida like here in Texas has a pretty consistent high humidity. It doesn't cause necks to warp, necks move when they suffer a change in climate/humidity, but if they are in a pretty consistent environment they tend to hold their adjustments. Dry climates like Arizona can and will wreak havoc on acoustic instruments, causing cracks.

Hopkins, you are partially correct , for example in Florida, the humidity and temperature rapidly change. I have witnessed rain, deep dark clouds, and bright sunshine at the same time. If not kept in a controlled environment, guitar necks will warp. In the west, I have witnessed 107 degrees
with 18 percent humidity and then the sun drops behind the mountain and temperature also droops to 48 degrees in a matter of 4 minutes. I know quite a bit about temperature change, humidity, and guitar necks. If you require proof, you can bring your favorite bass uncased, and visit with me.
I would bet within an hour or so, your neck has moved.

 

[ggvicviper]

An Affinity isn't a cheap suit. It's a pair of WalMart-brand jeans and a free t-shirt you got from the local auto dealership.

If a Squier Affinity P Bass is a WalMart jean and free t-shirt getup, what is a Fender USA P Bass? It's a nicer t-shirt and Nautica jeans from Macy's, not a suit. A Mike Lull P would be a similar, but higher quality outfit from Bloomingdale's, but its the same essential outfit regardless. Ditto the P Bass - It's the same instrument with the same function, controls, scale length, and style of pickup. It's just built with different materials and QC depending on who makes it. The suit vs. t-shirt and jeans comparison doesn't make any sense.

I hear you on what you and some others here are saying/thinking about someone showing up to an audition with a starter instrument. However, is really just brand snobbery. I bought a Squier Affinity Jazz a few years back for the sole purpose of donating it. It was a perfectly good instrument. This whole comment is irritating. I don't care if it's several pages back.

 

[RedHotFuzz]

I hear you on what you and some others here are saying/thinking about someone showing up to an audition with a starter instrument. However, is really just brand snobbery. I bought a Squier Affinity Jazz a few years back for the sole purpose of donating it. It was a perfectly good instrument. This whole comment is irritating. I don't care if it's several pages back.

Brand snobbery eh? Whatever. I guess everyone on TB (and everywhere else) should just sell all their $500+ basses and buy $150 Squier Affinities. Since they're "perfectly good" and all.

What baloney, equating a quality product with snobbery.

 

[mambo4]

If you really want to "Go Pro" then only buy music gear with excess music income.
considering how little most musicians (even pros) make , a squire affinity is a savvy choice.

 

[Sal Z.]

Ggvicviper, the woods used are different and come from different places. Also the process of drying the wood, bridges, tuning machines, pickups, strings, wiring, glue, workmanship etc...
are very different. Take a tour through the top guitar factory's. You can actually smell the different woods use to make guitars.

 

[Flad]

This whole thread reminds of a scene from the Richey Valenz movie - "Is THAT your amp Richie?" Then they didn't even want to let him try out for the band...

 

[ROBM700]

A number of years ago I went to a Victor Wooten show. I was front and center with my knees pressed against the stage with Victor all of 5-feet from me. Great show!!! His brother Reggie was playing lead electric guitar. During one of Reggie's solos, he asked me to hold his guitar while he tapped his way along with both hands. He was playing a beat-to-snot Squier Strat through a thoroughly road-worn Peavy 1-12 guitar amp. He didn't seem to care.

 

[carl h.]

Just calling it walmart speaks volumes of the posters mind set.

 

[Bassmunnky]

Sharay Reed

Find him on YouTube

Look at his résumé

Look at his bass. Old Mexi Fender V

I'm gonna bet it's been modded

There are other notables out there that prove themselves on talent and not gear.

Poor double bass brothers have to have good instruments, good bows, have to be able to read and play--at the same time. Then audition for people that can split hairs between knowing what's good vs great.

The Slabs have it made!

 

[bluesblaster]

You can be a rockstar with anything you want to make noise on. Having played tons of shows with what I like to refer to as Geezer rock acts , I can tell you that most pro's dont bring there really valuable stuff on the road, you'll see many a mexican strat and squier basses and even the occasional cort bass, in a live setting its loud and no one can really tell the difference. they save the vintage axes for the studio, mostly cause stuff tends to get banged up alot on the road, and if it gets stolen who cares, just go down to GC and get another. If I were going back on the road I'd go get a couple Yamaha basses, hard to be for price.

 

[wideyes]

In my experience, musos can be judgemental. And you can lose gigs because of it. Sure, you might say "Ditch those blowhards", but just be aware that, in a situation like that, you just lost a gig. So I think it comes down to what being a professional means to you. Ask any professional in any industry, and they'll tell you they've had to put up with less-than-stellar people here and there. And they did it because they were professional, and knew what they had to do to maintain their professional status. I'd definitely get a more 'respectable' bass if you plan to hang. American Fenders are well-respected, and good used instruments can be had for very reasonable $.