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Fender Player Plus
- Thread starter P Cheen
- Start date
If history is any indicator, as the (relatively) new Pac rim manufacturers mature they will only improve their quality. Unfortunately, if history is any indicator, the prices will go up along with the quality.
When Japan was the only Pac rim country importing consumer goods to America, they sent literal tons of flimsy, throwaway junk to America, but it sold because it was priced so much lower than any competing domestic or european product. As those products became more accepted here, the quality started improving by leaps and bounds, but the prices went up as well.
I’m not sure how long China can contain the capitalist revolution they’ve allowed to flourish before labor gets tired of working for starvation wages and begins attempting to unionize. Same with other countries currently paying poopie for labor.
Although my Fender bass needs are already well met, it’s nice to know that there’s a growing array of choices within the Fender family. I feel very fortunate to own two MIA Fenders (both bought used) that I love, but there’s nothing wrong with (or inferior about) the MIM line or the Squiers nowadays as far as I’m concerned.
My problem with most MIMs are the fret jobs. They’re usually quite lacking and can quickly kill a bass for me. Otherwise, solid instruments.
As has been well documented here on TB, the MIM Fender is different product intended to be priced lower to reach a different market segment. Plenty of pros leave their MIA Fenders at home and rehearse, record, and tour with MIMs, which makes perfect sense—the MIMs are serviceable instruments but if one gets stolen or broken it is easily and cheaply replaced.
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My Steve Harris MIM has great fretwork. My Fender American Pro P-bass has no defects.
I don’t know enough about China to speculate on whether unionization is a real possibility; nevertheless, it’s an interesting question.
They flourished in America in spite of union busting business owners hiring private armies to harass, intimidate, even murder workers and their families. I realize we are talking about an authoritarian communist regime but once enough businesses become established to the point of being able to influence policy, things will begin to take a more pro business tack. Add to that labor becoming more accustomed to a higher standard of living, and it’s going to be hard to force them to accept a lower or stagnant, standard of living.
But the former junk producers will be turning out high quality goods while the emerging players will assume the role of producing chea pass consumer goods.
I dunno. I think guitar makers have learned how to churn out pretty good stuff regardless of where. Talent knows no geography or culture. At this point it is just how much labor you put into the instrument and how cheap the labor is.
Talent may not be bound by geography but specific product knowledge and more advance equipment and techniques are. Twenty years ago people in China were working in houses on tabletops, as they learned to make and build a particular product. The successful products from that era are now produced in state of the art production facilities by workers with a couple decades of experience on that product and its manufacture.
The tech company I used to work for moved all their hard-disk drive and display manufacturing technologies to completely under-developed parts of South Eastern Asia in the 90's. They had no problems. And trust me, if you think making a guitar requires knowledge and techniques, it has nothing on the semiconductor industry. Today you can buy a tool and move it anywhere. Start-up and debug time is measured in months, not years.
Well aware, I've been involved twice consulting on deals with an Asian manufacturer for two different variations of the same product about three years apart, and differences in their capability the first time versus the next was like going from making flint arrowheads to producing MIRV warheads. You also have to consider that solid state electrical component manufacture has been Taiwan's bread and butter since the early 70's so the semiconductor industry in the two China's has been a fully mature, global supplier of all things IC for going on five decades.
Indonesia is better in my eyes because of the wood.
Chinese Modern Players and Chinese Squiers are beautiful from top to bottom, no joke.
But they make the guitars out of 50,000 year old trees or cement blocks.
I swear the modern player jazz bass weighed 12 or 13 lbs.
(or maybe they snuck in lead paint that weighs a few lbs lol)
Chinese Modern Players and Chinese Squiers are beautiful from top to bottom, no joke.
But they make the guitars out of 50,000 year old trees or cement blocks.
I swear the modern player jazz bass weighed 12 or 13 lbs.
(or maybe they snuck in lead paint that weighs a few lbs lol)
Very nice P!!
Went in my local store today and played everything on the wall. The Fender MIM player series P bass had the best feel and sound. Very nice sound, great fretwork and weighed about 7.5 lbs! I was quite impressed. And I too have been on the Squier train lately truly touting how great they are for the price.
The next best was the American Professional. I also played the American Ultra and performers. But honestly, the MIM was so nice that there was no way, in regards to the basses in front of me, that I would justify the professional or ultra over the MIM...in that lot at least.
As for the Squier CV P and J they had, with a good setup, they would be great players. I’d do a little sanding on the neck too...as others have suggested. The Indian laurel fretboard on the Squier P did have more of a dead wood look (gray) rather than that rich rosewood we’ve all come to love.
I must say I though, I’m really intrigued by the Sire V5 and P5 with the roasted necks. Cant seem to find one anywhere to try out. Anyone with experience of those vs CV Squiers?
Went in my local store today and played everything on the wall. The Fender MIM player series P bass had the best feel and sound. Very nice sound, great fretwork and weighed about 7.5 lbs! I was quite impressed. And I too have been on the Squier train lately truly touting how great they are for the price.
The next best was the American Professional. I also played the American Ultra and performers. But honestly, the MIM was so nice that there was no way, in regards to the basses in front of me, that I would justify the professional or ultra over the MIM...in that lot at least.
As for the Squier CV P and J they had, with a good setup, they would be great players. I’d do a little sanding on the neck too...as others have suggested. The Indian laurel fretboard on the Squier P did have more of a dead wood look (gray) rather than that rich rosewood we’ve all come to love.
I must say I though, I’m really intrigued by the Sire V5 and P5 with the roasted necks. Cant seem to find one anywhere to try out. Anyone with experience of those vs CV Squiers?
I'm sure the MIM Fenders might have some QC issues (I've encountered a couple). However, ~$1,000 isn't what it used to be. When I was a getting into playing, back in the 90's, you could get A LOT of bass or guitar for ~$1,000--not so much these days.
I have yet to buy a bass (or a guitar) in this price range that doesn't have QC issues. Some are worse than others. Fortunately, I like tinkering with my basses (and guitars) so I don't mind making them the way I expect a ~$1,000 instrument to be.
As for Squier...meh. I guess I've never really given them much thought. Maybe I should.
I have yet to buy a bass (or a guitar) in this price range that doesn't have QC issues. Some are worse than others. Fortunately, I like tinkering with my basses (and guitars) so I don't mind making them the way I expect a ~$1,000 instrument to be.
As for Squier...meh. I guess I've never really given them much thought. Maybe I should.
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