• 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 vs Squire playability?

E

ensirider

May 17, 2011
4
0
Bay Area in CA
#1
This might be a stupid question, but I might as well ask.
I am thinking of getting a Squier P-Bass and changing the bridge and pickups, so it will probably sound nice. However, someone told me that Squiers buzz alot and are harder to play. Is this true? Is it really worth it to get a fender if you change the pups and bridge?
Thank you for your time and input, i appreciate it
 
#2
Does your squier buzz a lot and is it hard to play because of that? Unless you feel like there's a problem just stick with what feels best in your hands and pocket. With a decent set up and maybe some fretwork IF needed, the playability of your squier should be just as good if not better in some case than a stock fender you'd find sitting in guitar center.
 
#3
ensirider said:
This might be a stupid question, but I might as well ask.
I am thinking of getting a Squier P-Bass and changing the bridge and pickups, so it will probably sound nice.
Click to expand...

Why not save the money on insta-upgrades and buy a better bass. Changing the bridge and pickups won't always come up with the goods and it seems stupid to buy a bass just to instantly plan your modifications.


ensirider said:
However, someone told me that Squiers buzz alot and are harder to play. Is this true? Is it really worth it to get a fender if you change the pups and bridge?
Thank you for your time and input, i appreciate it
Click to expand...


Buzz as in poor grounding and screening, or just fret buzz? If a Squier has poorly dressed frets then you need to do more to it than just adjust the truss rod, which would be the first means of taming buzz. Not sure how they are hard to play though. If its a P bass you might feel that all P basses are hard to play. I'm not totally sold on a P bass's neck dimensions just because I know smaller and much easier necks exist out there.
 
#5
I've got a MIM P, MIM J, and a Squier P Bass Special I got for $100 from a Craigslist ad. All I did with the Squier was to adjust the truss rod and the intonation. It has a Jazz-width neck and dual P/J pickups, and it's just as playable as my other two basses. Regarding the pickups, do not assume that you can improve your sound by replacing the pickups. The ones on my Squier are perfectly fine. I replaced the pickups on my '90s Jazz because they were very noisy.
 
#6
I have 3 Squiers and they all play great with no mods and there's no fretbuzz etc. Action adjusted no probs.

Best if you can find them with 'Standard' on the headstock - as they will have USA pickups in.

The VM P has a great big Fender humbucker in it that I had to lower down to the body - it is so loud. The CV P plays wonderfully and the pickup output is good. I don't feel power loss if I swap from a Ric.

The P special has USA P/J pickups in and is quite versatile.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I also have a couple of USA Fenders (original 60th P) and a Jazz. both superb basses. Superior to the Squiers, yes - but the recent Squiers are fantastic.

I've has two older Squier P's and the pickups were all that let them down.
 
#10
BullHorn said:
From my experience with Squier, it's often more comfortable than Fender because the cheaper wood is also lighter and you'll probably suffer from less neck-dive.
Click to expand...

I feel slightly different about the neck-dive. The lighter wood from the Squiers are in the bodies, I feel that the necks are not much lighter than Fenders. As a result, they are more prone to neck-dive.

I am really happy with the weight of my 7lb 8oz Squier PJ, but its definitely neck-divey.
 
#13
My two Squiers are just as "playable" as the Fenders I have/had, (pretty much right out of the box, with a very minor setup) with no need to change anything. They both sound great, and look good to boot.
No neck dive either. (I personally have never had a problem with neck dive on any bass I've ever played, anyway.)
 
#14
arsie said:
I feel slightly different about the neck-dive. The lighter wood from the Squiers are in the bodies, I feel that the necks are not much lighter than Fenders. As a result, they are more prone to neck-dive.

I am really happy with the weight of my 7lb 8oz Squier PJ, but its definitely neck-divey.
Click to expand...

Both of mine (VM J and VM P)are somewhat heavier than that, between 9 and ten pounds. possibly because their bodies are both soft maple. Doesn't bother me, as I have to sit down to play anyway. (bad knee and back)
 
#16
A bass which has a good setup will play better than a bass with a bad setup regardless of the name on the headstock. Learning how to set up your bass is time well spent.

Failing that, take it to someone else and get them to set it up properly.

Of course, cheaper basses often have worse setups out of the box, but usually that can be easily remedied unless the frets aren't level or such.
 
#17
ensirider said:
This might be a stupid question, but I might as well ask.
I am thinking of getting a Squier P-Bass and changing the bridge and pickups, so it will probably sound nice. However, someone told me that Squiers buzz alot and are harder to play. Is this true? Is it really worth it to get a fender if you change the pups and bridge?
Thank you for your time and input, i appreciate it
Click to expand...

Whoever told you That is truly clueless, I'm sorry.

Buzz etc comes down to the set up. My MusicMan, my Fender, my Squier and my OLP are all set up the same way and all play well. Some are better instruments than others, but they all play nicely.
Whatever you buy, please, have it set up properly to the way you like it. Take it to someone who knows what they are doing. Some minor fret levelling is often needed with cheaper guitars... the good news is It's easy for a proper repair guy to do it, and cheap too.

I would not worry about replacing anything just yet. Spend your money first on a good set up. Probably $70 or so is all you need. Then you Will have an instrument that plays well. A Squier set up well is a reasonable instrument you can gig with, no problem.

Afterwards, if you want, replace pickup. Do your research first: lots of good replacements around, all slightly different sounding. Do you want a hotter sound, more midrange? Maybe mellow vintage like? Lots to choose from.

While you are at it, shield the pickup and control cavity. Actually, do this regardless of pickup replacement, do it the day after you buy the bass. A sheet of adhesive conductant coated copper foil will cost less than $10 and you can probably do two basses thoroughly.

Bridge... I would leave alone. I don't find the improvement significant enough to be worth the hassle and cost. But if you do... remember to set it up well or the result will be actually a worse bass than you started with.

Squier is fine... but you are more likely to find Squiers badly set up, and some people who don't know better conclude the instruments are always poor. Not true. The set up is 90% of that impression.
 
#18
I too have owned a few Squiers and completely agree with those who say that with proper setup they play just fine. My Vintage Modified P-Bass was especially enjoyable to play. I really liked the tone too.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back