Hi, guys and gals.
Once again I'm thinking of getting a(n original) Precision bass and I'm wondering if, for the same price, it would be better to get a Fender or a Squier. The most obvious answer would be Fender ... my budget would be 400-650. So, for that price range in the used market, would a Fender be better than a Squier?
Tell me about the MIA vs MIM vs MIJ thing too (although I guess that MIAs are faaaar out of my price range)…
So far I haven't even tried a Precision because there aren't near me which I can try, but I'd like to... to see what the neck feels like and how heavy they are ... I've heard that MIJs have the best, fastest necks.
My aim, by the way, would be either a Squier Precision SQ (the MIJs of the 80s, but they're fairly rare where I live) or any cheap Fender that feels good when I try it. I want only the P-pickup, by the way.
About the Affinity series uhm.. I've read only terrible things, both on facebook posts and here on talkbass threads, so I'm not very trustful about those.
There are several models from each country of origin, and within those you will find some substantial differences … to categorize by
country of origin alone might not be the best inquiry …
When it comes to P's in general, I don't usually think it terms of 'fast' neck … but then, I am more comfortable on a Jazz spec, 9.5" board neck … within the P's produced, you will find a variety of neck profiles, some with (A) 1.5" nut width, the 1.65" is the most common, but you will also find several as wide as 1.75" … front to back variances as well, and the Fender with the Posi-Flex rods, heel adjust, will be different from the headstock adjust profiles …
The 80's MIJ Squiers have gone up substantially over the last year or two … the $3-400 days of grabbing them seems to be gone … I actually saw one
listed recently for $900, not that 'listing' price means anything, but it seems to be a trend … they will still be feasible to find within your price range …
With regards to MIA out of your $$ range, in USA anyway, one of the best kept secrets are the early (made in USA) Highway 1 series … I have seen them sell (in the USA) in the $500 range … the later Hwy One and American Specials can be found in your < $650 range … the earlier Hwy series P will have a bit slimmer neck profile, 1.65" nut, and headstock adjust truss rod, the later Hwy and AmSpecials utilize the Posi-Flex rods and are heel adjust … all 9.5" radius boards, medium jumbo fret wire … there are American Standards (pre 2000's), the American Series (up to mid '07), which is where you may possibly find a little lower pricing, the very top of your $$ range possible, especially after the S-1 was added mid '03-mid '07 as they don't seem to have much appeal on the P-bass, and then the post '08 model year return to the 'New' American Standards (which you are not likely to find used in your $$ range) … all three will have some differences in components, and all the AmStands and AmSeries came new with different style hard shell cases (when figuring pricing)...
Post '01 1/2 MIM Standards will have a neck profile very similar to early Hwy 1 series, and share the headstock adjust truss rods and although weight can be all over the board on MIM Standards, especially on the very early poplar bodied (90's) and early alder bodied up through the mid 2000's, you will find post 2008 consistency is much better, and a P in the 8-8.5 lb range not all that unusual … price ranges for these used in the US are $250+/- for earlier, to $450+/- for the later, and worth it in both cases ..
The Fender MIM Classic Series was mentioned earlier in the thread, they are excellent and seem to be very consistent … just be aware, the neck profiles on the Classic Series 50's P is a wider 1.75" at the nut, 7.25" radius board, with vintage fret wire (same on Road Worn P) … they seem a bit thinner front to back as well …
In your OP, you refer to 'better' … keep in mind,
better is completely subjective, and you may find your responses a bit tilted by which ever crowd happens to be doing the responding … doing your homework on differences and particular specs/components will go a long way to determining which is more suited for YOU ...
I included your comment regarding the Squier Affinity above, to further attest to the subjectivity … we opened an outdoor show last summer for a nationally touring blues act, they did well over 250+ shows a year, and the bass player for the act played a Squier Affinity, completely stock, right down the tiny, enclosed rectangular machine heads … his tone/play sounded great through the FOH … after a back injury, I put my Fenders away last summer as well, opting for my $150 (used), 7 lb, early Squier VM '77 Jazz … I made more money with that bass than with any of my Fenders worth 5 times that, and never felt I gave up anything in terms of playability or performance …
'Better' and 'best', are completely subjective terms … (along with the use of the word 'upgrade')
JMHO's, as always …
