Dean vs Squier P-Bass?

[Ian McLaughlin]

^ what @Mark Yurick said.

At that price, go with the Dean.

If you don't like it, sell and get another!

 

[dalkowski]

Squier. Play authentic.

 

[Kukulkan61]

There’s a Seafoam green Squier CV 70s Pbass in excellent conditions on Reverb for 350 Shipped!!
I’ve owned the fiesta red 60s Pbass and a Matt Freeman, these are all supreme instruments for the money, there is also a white Matt freeman on Reverb!!

 

[Sephiroth 420]

Here's a monkey wrench to throw into the discussion

Basses with P/J pup setups by Yamaha.

Yamaha BB234 - Vintage White - 9

Yamaha BB234 - Yellow Natural Satin - 9

Yamaha BB234 - Black - 9

Like the Deans, these use alder wood for the bodies. Squire is using basswood.
I definitely prefer alder over bass. But if you were going to replace the pups in any of these basses I would use a set of EMG GZRs. The body woods aren't going to matter much at that point. Those are some hot pups.

Want to up the ante a little bit, the Yamaha BB434s are $499 and come with 5 piece necks and Alnico based pups whereas the BB234s use Ceramic pups and one piece necks. But then again, if you are going to replace the pups, why spend more money on the BB434s? The BB234s would be just fine with a set of EMGs and it would only cost 478 for the bass and the pups.

Not to derail my own thread, but as far as P/J's go, I was also looking into the new (ish) Ibanez Mezzo SRMD200. Active electronics, which I'm not a fan of, but everything else seems alright. Electronics can be changed.

While I'm at it, I am also considering the Jackson JS2, Squier 70s Jazz, Squier 50s P, and Sterling S.U.B (Maple); all of which (except the 50s) are commonplace at my local GC.

Ah, decisions...

 

[Bass V]

if you're opening the barn door then the LTD B-50 has to be included, the Mike Tyson of budget basses

 

[Clark W]

if you're opening the barn door then the LTD B-50 has to be included, the Mike Tyson of budget basses

Truth is, when it comes to some good cheap basses, the barn door is pretty wide.

 

[Sephiroth 420]

if you're opening the barn door then the LTD B-50 has to be included, the Mike Tyson of budget basses

I'll probably get chewed out for saying this on a gear forum, but to me the look of a bass is the most important thing alongside feel. I play mostly country, jazz, and classic rock and would like to look the part. The LTDs, Yamahas, and most Deans and Ibanezs are a little to "metal" for me. The exceptions I guess being the aforementioned Jackson JS2 and Ibanez Mezzo.

 

[TheDominoKid]

I'd go Squier. I'm not a fan of the Dean headstock... Plus, upgrading the Squier could be fun and then you'd a have a one-of-a-kinder on your hands.

 

[B-Mac]

I doubt that's true. Most every music store and pawn shop has a Dean in it. Most people don't like the lower end stuff because its very bland and boring sounding. Sounds like your average, run of the mill P or J knockoff, nothing special. No one ever talks about the "Dean tone". Their higher end stuff is better though. At least with a Squier, you get Fender designed everything with their name on it and upgrades are cheap and easy since Squier/Fender stuff is everywhere.

I’m convinced otherwise.

 

[Bass V]

Truth is, when it comes to some good cheap basses, the barn door is pretty wide.

and I've been herding them into my apt. lol it's ridiculous that we have such a wealth of great low priced basses, and honestly, the cheaper the better, my favorites are my bottom dwellers! the others need strings / mods to get where my dogs are from the start. such is the learning curve!

I'll probably get chewed out for saying this on a gear forum, but to me the look of a bass is the most important thing alongside feel. I play mostly country, jazz, and classic rock and would like to look the part. The LTDs, Yamahas, and most Deans and Ibanezs are a little to "metal" for me. The exceptions I guess being the aforementioned Jackson JS2 and Ibanez Mezzo.

oh man, then you gotta check out the B-50, it's full up modern P plain Jane, but then I luv the LTD-F4e lol the 50 is small, light, looks cool without standing out, plays like a dream, and this stud will survive the planet. I can't plug'm enuf! I'm #1 on looks within the context of them being killer basses, then feel and tone / sound, potential string changes etc. nothing wrong with sex appeal, same reason we like sleek cars and girls lol

 

[Clark W]

I'll probably get chewed out for saying this on a gear forum, but to me the look of a bass is the most important thing alongside feel. I play mostly country, jazz, and classic rock and would like to look the part. The LTDs, Yamahas, and most Deans and Ibanezs are a little to "metal" for me. The exceptions I guess being the aforementioned Jackson JS2 and Ibanez Mezzo.

If a bass isn't visually appealing, I'm probably not going to pick it up to find out how it plays. Doesn't matter how well it plays. If I don't like how it looks I'm not going to buy it.

Here's my four basses. All except the Cort would fit in just about anywhere visually.

Left to right

• 1985 Epiphone, modded with EMG GZR P pups. I'd play it in any genre band.
  
  
• 2018 Ibanez SR400EQM, stock. Metal? probably not. Jazz? definitely
  
  
• 2012 Ibanez SRX2EX2, white works just about anywhere, jazz, country, rock, metal might be kind of iffy.
  
  
• 2000 Cort Curbow Signature Series, definitely metal as far as looks, maybe jazz. But it sounds best playing slap and funk.

4 basses right at 900 invested in all of them together. What's funny is the 2018 SR400 by itself is half of that total investment. Yet the bass on each side of the SR400 is a better playing instrument with the EMG loaded Epiphone "Epicision" being my #1($65 before upgrades), and the SRX2EX2($150 & no upgrades) being my #2. But I haven't changed the SR400 out to flats yet. So we'll see.

 

[TTPbass1]

I just got a brand new MIC Squier Affinity PJ, as part of a trade on another bass, for the value of $170.00, and let me tell you that is some very nice bass. Finish is flawless, alder body, satin finish on the maple neck is really nice, the Indian laurel fretboard looks and feels really rosewoodish, fretwork is great. Even the tuners, bridge and knobs are really nice. 3 ply pickguard... Only downside is on stock the electronics, not bad but... could be better. Of course we’re talking about a $200 bucks bass...

Well, Took al the guts off, replaced with Aguilar PJ pickups, DiMarzio pots, orange drop cap and Switchcraft jack... Result: and amazing bass for $420.00

So, IMHO get the Squier...

 

[mbell75]

Not to derail my own thread, but as far as P/J's go, I was also looking into the new (ish) Ibanez Mezzo SRMD200. Active electronics, which I'm not a fan of, but everything else seems alright. Electronics can be changed.

While I'm at it, I am also considering the Jackson JS2, Squier 70s Jazz, Squier 50s P, and Sterling S.U.B (Maple); all of which (except the 50s) are commonplace at my local GC.

Ah, decisions...

The Mezzo is lightweight with a comfy beck like most Ibanez but it sounds really bright and thin, almost hollow sounding and not in a good way. The P sounds nothing like a Squier/Fender P and the Jazz is decent at best. Not sure replacing the pickups will beef it up either. That didn’t work with my Glarry bass which is also super light like the Mezzo. Still has that bright, thin tone. A proper P bass needs some weight to it to sound right
iMO, especially when it’s made out of a cheaper wood like basswood or poplar.

The Sterling SUB Ray4 is a great bass for the price. I can’t speak for the others as I have no experience with them.

 

[Clark W]

The Mezzo is lightweight with a comfy beck like most Ibanez but it sounds really bright and thin, almost hollow sounding and not in a good way. The P sounds nothing like a Squier/Fender P and the Jazz is decent at best. Not sure replacing the pickups will beef it up either. That didn’t work with my Glarry bass which is also super light like the Mezzo. Still has that bright, thin tone. A proper P bass needs some weight to it to sound right
iMO, especially when it’s made out of a cheaper wood like basswood or poplar.

The Mezzo is also 32" scale instead of 34". Might that make a difference too?

Last week I stepped down and let another bassist plug in a Mezzo SRMD200 into my GK rig. I told him to feel free to change the EQ settings on the GK or settings on my Keeley compressor. It was last set of the night and I wasn't going to go back up so it didn't matter to me. He left the settings where they were though, and although it sounded good, it didn't seem to rock the room like my Epicision. But then my Epi has a bigger body, and therefore more wood, more weight than the Mezzo. Could he have eq'd it to have more bottom end with my gear? I certainly think so, if not, I need new gear.

Now I gotta go weigh my Epi, you got my curiosity up. It does seem to be the heaviest, and has the biggest body of all of my basses.

Edited: The Epi is coming in right around 9 and 3/4 lbs.

 

[swafran]

vs Dean ? Is that a real question ? Assuming troll/click bait

 

[Machiavelli]

I'm trying to choose between 2 P-basses: the Squier Classic Vibe 70s and the Dean Paramount (Maple). The Squier sells for $400 new and the Dean is on "sale" for $280 from $500-ish. Opinions? I'm mostly curious about the sound, fit and finish of the Dean (neck profile too), as I can't find one locally.

Thanks in advance, any and all info is much appreciated.

The Squier CV 70s is an amazing bass, but that is quite a price difference. Still, I’d go Squier.

 

[FugaziBomb]

The Mezzo is lightweight with a comfy beck like most Ibanez but it sounds really bright and thin, almost hollow sounding and not in a good way.

I had my buddy's Mezzo rattling my teeth through my 8x10.

The P sounds nothing like a Squier/Fender P and the Jazz is decent at best.

The P pick-up in that Mezzo sounds a lot like the P pick-ups in my other basses...

Not sure replacing the pickups will beef it up either. That didn’t work with my Glarry bass which is also super light like the Mezzo. Still has that bright, thin tone.

I put a Dimarzio Model P in my SUPER light weight Ibanez SR800 and it hits like Tyson.

A proper P bass needs some weight to it to sound right
iMO, especially when it’s made out of a cheaper wood like basswood or poplar.

Why? The only thing that the pick-ups read are the strings disturbing the magnetic field. The weight of the bass doesn't factor into that at all, and neither does the species of wood the body is made out of. I used to believe ash was the best sounding body wood, but fast forward a few years after buying and selling what I can only assume is close to 100 basses, I've found that body wood, fingerboard wood, bridge mass, etc don't really indicate a given character (higher mass bridge = more sustain, etc.) or even seem to really make that big of an impact. I can swap around the same set of P Pick-ups between a few basses and they sound damn near identical (save for action/fret bounce and varying resistance in the individual circuits of each bass)

The Sterling SUB Ray4 is a great bass for the price. I can’t speak for the others as I have no experience with them.

This I can agree on, though not all Subs are created equal and I am not as expert on which are the better ones.

 

[mbell75]

Why? The only thing that the pick-ups read are the strings disturbing the magnetic field. The weight of the bass doesn't factor into that at all, and neither does the species of wood the body is made out of.

Completely different than what most, including myself believe. A bass that's even a pound lighter can sound completely different than an identical one with more weight. As far as TONE woods...Play a Fender jazz with a maple neck and an ash body and then one with a rosewood neck and an alder body. If you cant hear a clear difference, might need your hearing checked

 

[mbell75]

I had my buddy's Mezzo rattling my teeth through my 8x10.

The P pick-up in that Mezzo sounds a lot like the P pick-ups in my other basses...

Im not sure what P basses you are used to playing, but it sounds nothing like a P bass to me. No warmth or thump at all and increasing the bass control just makes it muddy. You can hear his hand squeaking around the whole time in this video, even when he boosts the bass. Its like the treble is full boosted and its not. You cant dial that brightness out of it, its just too thin and bright sounding as many others here have stated. Glad you like it though.

 

[FugaziBomb]

Im not sure what P basses you are used to playing, but it sounds nothing like a P bass to me. No warmth or thump at all and increasing the bass control just makes it muddy. You can hear his hand squeaking around the whole time in this video. You cant dial that brightness out of it, its just too thin and bright sounding as many others here have stated. Glad you like it though.

What is he playing this through? How is it EQ'd? You can't really make statements about the tone of a bass by watching a video...