• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Fender Squier

StarscreamG1

StarscreamG1

Dec 17, 2007
1,860
16
#1
Ok, I have commented to the fact that I really dislike Fenders. It is a direct result of the Fender P bass copy I had as my first bass and learned on.

Now since I have been here I see a LOT of talk and praise about Fenders. I was also doing some reading on line and read where Fender was a pioneer in the electric bass. And my fav basses, Peaveys do resemble Fenders (at least to me they do) and I seem ok with a Peavey looking like a Fender but not a Fender.

Well all of this got me reconsidering my stand on Fenders....I ran across a solid black Squier (2 points in its favor since I love solid black basses). I know nothing about this model...but its in good shape and Cheap is the key word here. I am not willing to pay a lot to try a Fender... so... opinions on the squier would be most welcome.

Thanks
 
#4
Squier are to Fender what Epiphone is to Gibson. I.e. The cheap cut down version for people who need a starter bass. That being said, the Squier Vintage Modified series are capable of toughing it out with cheaper Fenders. ;)

REAL Fenders are far nicer to play than Squiers...

Edit: Also, learning and practicing on a P-Bass neck is a good thing. It means when you finally progress to more expensive instruments and such, you can handle practically any neck thrown at you. At first I was kind of hating at my P Neck, but now I've come to understand when I got given that instead of a Jazz. It's sort of like learning to play guitar on an accoustic first.
 
#5
Star-
I also disliked Fenders when I first started playing (quite a while ago!) I thought they were an old-man's bass. Now that I'm an old man, I really appreciate them. There are a ton of electric bass models that are built on the Fender design. Leo did something very right 50+ years ago.
The new 'modified' Squiers are getting a lot of good press, and for good reason.
You should check out the Squier that you're interested in....you might find a real value.
 
#6
N8116B said:
A Squier is not a Fender. If you are looking to try a Fender then get a Fender not their cheaper copy.
Click to expand...

Oohhh I didn't know that. :p

musicelectronix said:
You honestly believe you can judge fender by playing a squier?
Click to expand...

I know absolutely NOTHING about Fenders, uhm, which is why I started this thread? :eyebrow:

I thought Squier was a model of Fender not the Epiphone of Fender.

The /only/ Fender I have EVER played was a '75 Strat (I went off into rhythm guitar for a couple of years and in a jam one night the strat owner put it in my hands and said 'have a ball'. Yes the neck was awesome on it I must admit)

J.Stone said:
Squier are to Fender what Epiphone is to Gibson. I.e. The cheap cut down version for people who need a starter bass. That being said, the Squier Vintage Modified series are capable of toughing it out with cheaper Fenders. ;)

REAL Fenders are far nicer to play than Squiers...

Edit: Also, learning and practicing on a P-Bass neck is a good thing. It means when you finally progress to more expensive instruments and such, you can handle practically any neck thrown at you. At first I was kind of hating at my P Neck, but now I've come to understand when I got given that instead of a Jazz. It's sort of like learning to play guitar on an accoustic first.
Click to expand...

My P Bass copy's neck was atrocious to be honest. I don't know if it was anything like an actual P bass neck but OMG...the only good thing that did come out learning on it was yea, I can handle pretty much any neck I wrap my hands around (which perhaps in a backhanded way has made my lower my standards on what I consider a 'good' neck or not. Whats fast and fine to me might be a chunk of wood to the next player..all because I learned on the biggest chunk of wood out there IMO). Then again, it might have helped had I know how to set the truss rod and action on that copy when I was first learning many moons ago.

And Thunderlizard, thank you very much for your comments. :)
 
#9
Well ok, Ive learned that the Squiers are the cheapos...mmm....shame cause that squier is dead pretty man but if it may not give me an idea how a real fender bass is, what is the point? So what is an actual Fender bass thats cheap that one would recommend?
 
#10
StarscreamG1 said:
Well ok, Ive learned that the Squiers are the cheapos...mmm....shame cause that squier is dead pretty man but if it may not give me an idea how a real fender bass is, what is the point? So what is an actual Fender bass thats cheap that one would recommend?
Click to expand...
Hold the phone a second. Just because Squiers are cheap doesn't make them "bad". I personally use a selection of second hand pulled from the dumpster kind of basses and to me, they sound wicked. You should try and not let your self be blinded by brand names as not everything ever made by a "cheapo" company is really terrible. The Squier Vintage Modified series is a good example, but you may find that there's a Squier you dig and to you it sounds far more impressive and "you" than the £2,000 Fender sitting on the wall.

The best thing to do is go out to a music store with a biggish selection of basses and have a field day. Test everything that seems to tickle your fancy or even everything they've got up on the wall. There isn't and never well be a "best bass", everyone is different and what people want is different so you just have to get out there and find it!:bassist:
 
#11
There are PLENTY of other pretty, solid black basses out there :p
I can't really recommend any as I'm stuck with a Stagg BC300 starter, but I'm hoping for a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz off eBay :D £353.91, awesome price, 99.4% positive feedback.
It's kinda boring, black w/ white pickguard but I'd replace it with a red tortoise pickguard :hyper:
 
#13
J.Stone said:
Hold the phone a second. Just because Squiers are cheap doesn't make them "bad". I personally use a selection of second hand pulled from the dumpster kind of basses and to me, they sound wicked. You should try and not let your self be blinded by brand names as not everything ever made by a "cheapo" company is really terrible. The Squier Vintage Modified series is a good example, but you may find that there's a Squier you dig and to you it sounds far more impressive and "you" than the £2,000 Fender sitting on the wall.

The best thing to do is go out to a music store with a biggish selection of basses and have a field day. Test everything that seems to tickle your fancy or even everything they've got up on the wall. There isn't and never well be a "best bass", everyone is different and what people want is different so you just have to get out there and find it!:bassist:
Click to expand...

Oh I think I might have given the wrong impression here. I don't care about brand names. I love my Brownsville Bat and will take it any day over some higher brand name because I know its a great bass. I am just so clueless about Fenders and this Squier that I was asking for opinions and so far more seem to side thats its not a good example of a Fender which is what I'm the most interested in. The comment to go for it anyway if I liked it though is standing out to me and at the money it is I just might say the heck with it and grab it. Even though I know...

Insanity^2 said:
There are PLENTY of other pretty, solid black basses out there :p
Click to expand...

:D:D:D :bassist:

And good luck Insanity^ with what you are looking at now!!!
 
#16
I have a Squire Jazz, and it is pretty sweet. Pretty close to the real thing, but not quite there.

Bare in mind that being a cheaper version means the factory tolerances will be greater. This means the quality can vary quite drastically from bass to bass. I went to the store and tried a bunch, as they had many in at the time, and found my little gem. I also had some far more experienced players try them and were all impressed with the one I got.

It can be a very good bass, just try before you buy. And they are only about $200 brand spankin' new. Remember that when you are looking at this one you have in mind if it is used.
 
#17
if cheap=low quality, then SX basses suck.

I myself have a Squier Affinity (gasp!) P-bass that I love. Granted, straight out of the box they're kind of lackluster, but if you set 'er up and maybe change out parts to better suit your taste, you'll have a decent instrument.
 
#19
Siegy said:
if cheap=low quality, then SX basses suck.
Click to expand...

Well, apparently cheap does not equal lower quality because they are on par or better than Squiers. My first bass was a MIJ Squier Bullet, and my most recent is a SX SJB-75 LTD. It looks just like the Squier Vintage shown above except it has a white pickguard and white blocks. Oh, and better tuners, and a better bridge, and the blocks on my neck are actual inlays, not painted blocks.


Take a look at it here:
Link Removed

If you want a good starter bass go with a SX or Squier.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back