Yall think http://www.rondomusic.com/sjb62bk.html is better than the 170 dollar squier? WAY better or the same?
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ESSEX vs. SQUIER!
- Thread starter kpride_519
- Start date
Don't let the fact that I bought one of that exact bass, played it for half an hour and then took it apart to mod the snot out of it fool you, that is one nice bass.
I have the neck ready to go on another SX bass and the body is in my Geddy clone....
As to comparison between Squier and that SX...
To me, just for the price alone, the SX whomped the Squier. Now, if the SX price was the same as the Squier, I'd still probably buy one as the tuners on the Affinity Squiers are not my cup of tea....I don't like closed tuners or the small tuner shafts. Looks cheap, feels cheap.
Also, with the exception of one neck on one of my basses, the SX fret ends were all better than any Squier I played. The SX I mention has fret ends that are like a lot of the Squiers and even MIM Fenders I have handled. Not really bad mind you, but not great either. Though it is an easy fix....
The SX electronics, to me, were as good or better than those on the Squier. I played an SX and a Squier through the same amp and liked the SX better. Also on my black SX, I planned to replace the pots and pups with what Fender uses in the Geddy. I still might, but they sounded so good as they are I have left them for now at least.
The exception to all this was the Squier Vintage Modified, those are awesome! If Fender used that much attention to detail on all their entry level lines......but then we aren't talking about theVM series....
To be fair, the advantage to the Affinity and Standard series Squier goes to the radius on the fretboard. Squier is 7.5 inch and the SX are around 10.5 inch. The rounder fretboard is a wee bit easier for me to play......but then the standard is about 100 dollars more than the SX and they use Agathis or Basswood (I forget at the moment) instead of Alder or Ash like SX.
I know body wood is a preference to some, at least it is to me. I like Alder and Ash.
Also, I have read and been told, a Squier can have up to 5 pieces of wood where the SX are generally 2 or 3. Not a big deal really, but after reading here it matters to some.
I have the neck ready to go on another SX bass and the body is in my Geddy clone....
As to comparison between Squier and that SX...
To me, just for the price alone, the SX whomped the Squier. Now, if the SX price was the same as the Squier, I'd still probably buy one as the tuners on the Affinity Squiers are not my cup of tea....I don't like closed tuners or the small tuner shafts. Looks cheap, feels cheap.
Also, with the exception of one neck on one of my basses, the SX fret ends were all better than any Squier I played. The SX I mention has fret ends that are like a lot of the Squiers and even MIM Fenders I have handled. Not really bad mind you, but not great either. Though it is an easy fix....
The SX electronics, to me, were as good or better than those on the Squier. I played an SX and a Squier through the same amp and liked the SX better. Also on my black SX, I planned to replace the pots and pups with what Fender uses in the Geddy. I still might, but they sounded so good as they are I have left them for now at least.
The exception to all this was the Squier Vintage Modified, those are awesome! If Fender used that much attention to detail on all their entry level lines......but then we aren't talking about theVM series....
To be fair, the advantage to the Affinity and Standard series Squier goes to the radius on the fretboard. Squier is 7.5 inch and the SX are around 10.5 inch. The rounder fretboard is a wee bit easier for me to play......but then the standard is about 100 dollars more than the SX and they use Agathis or Basswood (I forget at the moment) instead of Alder or Ash like SX.
I know body wood is a preference to some, at least it is to me. I like Alder and Ash.
Also, I have read and been told, a Squier can have up to 5 pieces of wood where the SX are generally 2 or 3. Not a big deal really, but after reading here it matters to some.
Quadzilla
Supporting Member
I had an older (prob 1st gen) SX a while back and was unimpressed. The newer ones are significantly better. They still have a few quirks, but damn good for the money for sure!
I'd take a new one over a Squire anyday. If you are looking at a used one, make sure that it's fairly recent (because of what I mentioned above).
Don't get me wrong, neither a new Squire or SX can compete with Fender CIJ or MIA basses (sorry SX and Squire lovers) or boutique basses. But for $100 - $200 new, I'd go for the SX...
I'd take a new one over a Squire anyday. If you are looking at a used one, make sure that it's fairly recent (because of what I mentioned above).
Don't get me wrong, neither a new Squire or SX can compete with Fender CIJ or MIA basses (sorry SX and Squire lovers) or boutique basses. But for $100 - $200 new, I'd go for the SX...
How bout if i put better replacement pickups? like dimarzio? or duncans? Will it be better than the squiers vm?
If I'm not wrong, Dimarzio's most popular pickups are the Model J's, and Quarter Pounder P's for Duncan.
But that's just popularity. Wonder how the Seymour jazz pickups are...
But that's just popularity. Wonder how the Seymour jazz pickups are...
Does someone have a sound clip of an Essex bass? There is so many threads and stuff on these bass guitars I'm curious to hear what one sounds like.
My son has both, an SX and a Squire VM... frankly, the SX is just a hunk of crap. The Squire is on par w/ any MIM Fender I've touched.
Quadzilla
Supporting Member
Older or newer SX? Again, I had an old one a while ago. Agreed, it was a hunk-o-crap. I just got a new one and there have been significant improvements in built quality, hardware and even the pots, etc feel much more solid. Again, I'm not saying they are great, but they are more solid than they used to be.
This echos my experience with SX and Squier. Squiers are better in every way. Remember, though, your're comparing a $120 bass with a $170 one. There should be a difference. For the price, most SXes are servicable instruments, a bargain, play well enough, and sound good as well. SXes also tend to look a lot better than Squiers.
If it were my money I'd skip both and get an entry level Peavey or Dean. Both are better than either Squier or SX IME.
????
The poster you quoted was comparing a $270 Squier to the SX.
In what ways did you find the $170 Squier's neck, frets, pups, pots and bridge better than the SX? I really want to know.
If I thought the Squier was superior in any way to the SX, I'd be out gigging with one. The SX has the leg up on the Standard and VM Squier in almost every catagory IMO.
If people want to call the SX "crap" that's fine, but I've used my SX on more shows than I can count or remember over the past few years, and it's still going strong. Given a choice, I'll take the SX every time.
If people want to call the SX "crap" that's fine, but I've used my SX on more shows than I can count or remember over the past few years, and it's still going strong. Given a choice, I'll take the SX every time.
if we're talking Stock for Stock .. Squier hands down .. if we are talking about after modifying.. SX
I'd disagree with that. The SX has much more substantial tuners, and a better finished neck than any Standard Squier I've ever played. The neck finish on the Squiers seem very rough on almost every one I've ever played in the past 10 years. Given that and the fact that the SX uses a propper 3 piece Alder or Ash body, vs. whatever Squier happens to be using at the moment, I'll go with SX every time. All the other stuff is more or less equal, with a slight advantage to SX in the p/u department. I'd say that about the VM's too. That Duncan Design p/u isn't anything particularly special IMO.
Hmm, I'm unaware of any designation... but I'd say the SX was purchased about 2 years ago. It was bought under the old website. Virtually every piece of hardware fells completely breakable, or unreliable... tuners especially. I was also outraged, to find that the "Jazz bass", had a neck profile that was closer to that of a Warwick or a Rickenbacher....
So, it might be one of the older ones.
Frankly, I'm just amazed the Squire VM's are as good as the MIM Fenders... and they are.
huh ???? dude,, did you see my Squier pics posted above ???
let me see your modded SX....
as the saying goes,,, put up,, or ____ up
& the VM Squiers are even hotter than mine,, IMO...
I've had mine well over 2 years, and have gigged it consistently for over 2 years as my primary "workhorse" bass, and I can tell you from experience, that your assesment of the stock hardware as "unreliable and/or breakable" is just not accurate IME.
The Squier VM closes the gap, and is a good value, but the non Alder/Ash body earns it a minus IMO. They're also nearly 3 times the price.
