+1 for the Classic Vibe Jazz Bass, and +1 for the Chris Aiken sig. - GREAT basses, hard to beat.
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Considering a Squier. Need input.
- Thread starter Spent
- Start date
My Classic Vibe P is stealing all the gigs from my Rickenbacker 4003 lately.
I'd vote an emphatic YES! I own 2 newer Squire P's and love them dearly. One from the Classic Vibe series (the fiesta red "60's" version), and the other from the Vintage Modified series (an amber maple "70's" version). The fiesta is my main weekly player (chosen over my USA Fender J5) and it's just awesome. I did replace the pickup and pots/cap/wires in it, although the stock weren't bad at all. I just had some vision for how I wanted to make that P. On the other hand, the amber P is stock except for new strings and a pickup cover, and so far that bass has really done it's job!
It's true that within the last 5 years or so, Squier turned a corner. They have some series out there right now that are exceeding the import Fenders in build quality, sound and value. CV, VM, and artist signature squiers are just phenomenal basses for the money.
I vote Squier CV! I have a 2010 Squier CV Thinline Tele, and I love it! Okay, it's not a bass granted, but, before buying it I consulted with the brainiacs over at TDPRI, a Telecaster forum, and they know their stuff.
One of the long time members had developed a friendship with the Squier Chinese production manager.
This member knew of what he spoke. They are better quality that the MIM, and I believe in many cases
the MIA's as well. I'm in the slow burn mode to buy in the fall, and the Squier CV 60's Jazz Bass is at the
top of the value list. If my funds elevate, maybe a D. Lakin...but, the white Squier with the tortoise shell,
I probably would replace the pg...looks very nice. Good luck! I also love Spectors, I slow danced with
one many years ago at a NAMM show, swept me off my feet! : } ~
One of the long time members had developed a friendship with the Squier Chinese production manager.
This member knew of what he spoke. They are better quality that the MIM, and I believe in many cases
the MIA's as well. I'm in the slow burn mode to buy in the fall, and the Squier CV 60's Jazz Bass is at the
top of the value list. If my funds elevate, maybe a D. Lakin...but, the white Squier with the tortoise shell,
I probably would replace the pg...looks very nice. Good luck! I also love Spectors, I slow danced with
one many years ago at a NAMM show, swept me off my feet! : } ~
My vote would be SX (I got lucky with mine, an two piece ash body with bound maple neck $199). The VM jazz look like a really interesting bass and I rather like the YouTube sound clips. Maple bodies on the VM's so I bet they are bright (in a good way).
The Affinity has always been the bottom-rung, entry level product. The Standard series was the next step up and has been replaced by the VM and CV lines, which to many people are near in quality to MIM - or in some cases better.
Simply dismissing all Squiers as low level is incorrect, as there is a differentiation between the Affinity and others lines. Affinities are great mod platforms, while CV and VM are definitely gig and recording worthy, though in the latter case many are upgrading electronics.
Simply dismissing all Squiers as low level is incorrect, as there is a differentiation between the Affinity and others lines. Affinities are great mod platforms, while CV and VM are definitely gig and recording worthy, though in the latter case many are upgrading electronics.
How many Squiers have you actually Played? From that bolded part, as it is utter BS, I would say few to none.
Marko's correct. According to the 2008 catalogue in my possession, the VM and Standard series' were selling at the same time. The following year Squier introduced the CV series and started to fully phase out the Standards. I had previously thought 2008 was the last year for the entire line, but someone corrected me by pointing out the 2010 Standard model (I can't remember what instrument…probably a six-string guitar) they had purchased. So it seems the transition was something like;
- 199? - Standard
- 200? to 2008 - VM & Standard together for a while (Does anyone know what the first year for the VM series and which model(s) they put forth first?)
- 2009 to 2010 - VM, CV & Standard for a year or two
- 2010 to today - VM & CV, No more Standards
I wanted to learn fretless so I picked up the Squier VM 'Jaco' Jazz, I was surprised by the Indonesian made bass and after learning fretless I started using it for some of our shows along with my Spector basses. The quality of the Squier basses are on a higher level, not saying that you might not run into a problem but most guys buy these basses and modify them adding a different bridge, pickups, tuners, etc. I sold my Squier once I purchased a Spector Legend that was converted to fretless but I found out that the introduction level Squier bass is standing on its own with a lot of seasoned players commenting on how good they sound and play...take a chance and see if you might feel the same!
I'd say go for it. I have three, all P bass variants. The 5 string and the 50's model only needed a setup, the TB needed some fretwork. They always raise eyebrows when other people get a hold of them. Excellent basses in the <$500 category. All of mine play and sound great. My 50's model is better put together than my old MIJ 50's P.
None of them will replace my 83 P though. I do play my squiers pretty regularly and would gig with any of them. Fun basses.
Sweetwater can be a good place to pick one up if weight or wood grain is a concern. Don't work for them just a very satisfied customer.
None of them will replace my 83 P though. I do play my squiers pretty regularly and would gig with any of them. Fun basses.
Sweetwater can be a good place to pick one up if weight or wood grain is a concern. Don't work for them just a very satisfied customer.
I say Yea. The Vintage Modified/Classic Vibe Squier models are awesome!
wanted to get a squier cabronita at gc for the 4th 15% sale, but of course they don't stock them, now i'm just going to play my 84 squier jazz and plan for my next move
I used to have a VM Jaguar (the first version they came out with, 34" passive P/J), and it was a great bass - I'd take it back and gig with it in a heartbeat. There's been at least one thread on TB where a guy played his VM Jag on Jay Leno. Also, I recall going to the venerable Kingston Mines blues club in Chicago, and meeting a dude there who was gigging his VM Jazz. It sounded fantastic. I can't speak for the current Affinity instruments, but based on what I've experienced and seen with the VM line at least - absolutely, you should find it to be a gig-worthy bass.
I bought a Squier Active Jazz last year for a tour and it worked out really well! Definitely a gig-worthy bass.
Vintage Modified is one hell of a bass for the money....Precision I have has played everywhere. Would check out more than one as they can vary
I've written this many times on here before, and I'll happily do so again right now...
Over the past couple of years, every time I go into the music store to try out basses, the Squier CV Jazz in particular proves itself to be the best playing and sounding jazz bass in the store. I have yet to pick up any other Fender Jazz regardless of country of manufacture that I would prefer over one of these. I've not been able to discern any quality issues with them either. I personally don't like the glossy neck and I also find them to be a bit heavier than my shoulder and back can handle, but I recognize that those are issues related to me and don't reflect the overall quality of the bass.
I owned a Squier VM Jazz for a year. I initially bought it for a tribute band project, and then kept it afterwards because it quickly became my #1 bass, beating out my German made Warwick Thumb NT. Yes, you read that right. My local luthier/set up guy told me that he thought it played and sounded better than his 70s Fender Jazz and tried to offer to buy it from me. Other bassists that tried it out and heard it drew similar conclusions, so these weren't just delusional ideas that I was having.
I ended up reluctantly selling the VM Jazz, but only because of its weight and my worsening shoulder and back problems, but the guy I sold it to has gone on to use it for studio/recording work. Would someone do that with a crummy bass? I don't think so.
Squier basses, right now, are fantastic instruments, and I say that without adding the qualifier "for the money". I mean, yes, they are great deals, but I also think that even at a higher price point they would still be "worth it" and seen as being high quality.
All of the above is IME/IMO of course, and YMMV, etc etc etc.
Over the past couple of years, every time I go into the music store to try out basses, the Squier CV Jazz in particular proves itself to be the best playing and sounding jazz bass in the store. I have yet to pick up any other Fender Jazz regardless of country of manufacture that I would prefer over one of these. I've not been able to discern any quality issues with them either. I personally don't like the glossy neck and I also find them to be a bit heavier than my shoulder and back can handle, but I recognize that those are issues related to me and don't reflect the overall quality of the bass.
I owned a Squier VM Jazz for a year. I initially bought it for a tribute band project, and then kept it afterwards because it quickly became my #1 bass, beating out my German made Warwick Thumb NT. Yes, you read that right. My local luthier/set up guy told me that he thought it played and sounded better than his 70s Fender Jazz and tried to offer to buy it from me. Other bassists that tried it out and heard it drew similar conclusions, so these weren't just delusional ideas that I was having.
I ended up reluctantly selling the VM Jazz, but only because of its weight and my worsening shoulder and back problems, but the guy I sold it to has gone on to use it for studio/recording work. Would someone do that with a crummy bass? I don't think so. Squier basses, right now, are fantastic instruments, and I say that without adding the qualifier "for the money". I mean, yes, they are great deals, but I also think that even at a higher price point they would still be "worth it" and seen as being high quality.
All of the above is IME/IMO of course, and YMMV, etc etc etc.
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