For the same price: Squier or Fender?

[DirkP]

The one you like more. During a period in the '80s Fender Japan did sell the very same intruments under the Fender and the Squier label (the well known E-series). The only difference was the price. I guess it would have been more expensive to produce two different models. I bought a Fender Strat for $248,- in 1988 'cause I didn't know this back then.
In case you don't know this already: the first Squier instruments - the JV series - were about the best instruments Fender Japan did produce. Japanese produced instruments with a Fender label didn't exist back then, at least not for export instruments. These were superior the many of the early Fender labelled MIJ instruments. I guess the first Fender labelled MIJ instruments were produced in 1984 or 1985. The JV series was produced between 1982 and 1984.

 

[Nephilymbass]

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, yes, but I've read, for example, of the cheapest Epiphone Thunderbirds beating even the highest of Gibsons, so nothing woulde surprise me, really.

A few side notes: obviously I would buy it in the used market and it will be a bonus if I can get one from the 80s, but I guess that any Fender from the 80s would cost a shagton.. my budget would be 400-650. So, for that price range in the used market, would a Fender be better than a Squier? Also, example: 80s Squier > modern Fender or nah?

Tell me about the MIA vs MIM vs MIJ thing too (although I guess that MIAs are faaaar out of my price range).

Thanks in advance!

Language!!! There are some youngins round here

Anywho I’ve never owned a squier because I’ve always been able to find a used mim or CIC fender for either the same price as a new Squier or really close to it.

 

[Yahboy]

Just get the mic Squier CV70P before it discontinued.

 

[sailri]

Actually here you can buy a used Roadworn Precision on that price range. If you shop hard finding a $550 would not be impossible. Made in Mexico. If you don’t mind the worn appearance you’ll soon appreciate that new dings and blemishes don’t matter. There’s one in the classifieds here st $650. That is the most authentic Pbass you’ll get in that price range.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

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, yes, but I've read, for example, of the cheapest Epiphone Thunderbirds beating even the highest of Gibsons, so nothing woulde surprise me, really.

A few side notes: obviously I would buy it in the used market and it will be a bonus if I can get one from the 80s, but I guess that any Fender from the 80s would cost a shagton.. my budget would be 400-650. So, for that price range in the used market, would a Fender be better than a Squier? Also, example: 80s Squier > modern Fender or nah?

Tell me about the MIA vs MIM vs MIJ thing too (although I guess that MIAs are faaaar out of my price range).

Thanks in advance!

Look around at used fenders, but depending on how well they were taken care of, it'd be a toss up. If it were me, I'd go straight to the music shop, and try out new squires til "the one" screamed buy me. Instead of buying someone else's used bass online, that I cant play first.

 

[silentflash]

For me, 80s MIJ Squiers are no better than the CVs.

 

[fhm555]

Current production MIM basses are very nice pieces and within your budget, especially if you can find a low mileage used example.

 

[madbass6]

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, yes, but I've read, for example, of the cheapest Epiphone Thunderbirds beating even the highest of Gibsons, so nothing woulde surprise me, really.

A few side notes: obviously I would buy it in the used market and it will be a bonus if I can get one from the 80s, but I guess that any Fender from the 80s would cost a shagton.. my budget would be 400-650. So, for that price range in the used market, would a Fender be better than a Squier? Also, example: 80s Squier > modern Fender or nah?

Tell me about the MIA vs MIM vs MIJ thing too (although I guess that MIAs are faaaar out of my price range).

Thanks in advance!

dude just get what you want and can afford .. Just be realistic!

 

[phillipkregg]

The upper tier Squier basses are fantastic. There’s nothing you can’t do on them.

But in all honesty, the US made Fenders will always be more revered, and you’ll always get a better resale value on them.

 

[wraub]

I have two 80s MIJ SQ Squiers and a 2017 Affinity, so I may have some credibility here-
My 80s Squiers, a P and a J, are very good. Possibly comparable to a mid-line current Fender, likely not to a top-line model, but absolutely crushing to current Squier and most MIM offerings.
The Affinity is a newer one, with an alder body, indian laurel fingerboard, and decent p/j PUs, and is amazingly good... fit and finish are very good, and it sounds and plays great imo. Maybe I got lucky, but I'm actually impressed. Time will tell, of course, but that's true of pretty much everything.
Any questions, let me know.

Good luck in your search.

 

[JW56789]

For your price range, you could buy new Squiers (stick with the VM's) or any number of used Fenders.

With the proviso that a used Squier down the line will re-sell for less than a used Fender in like shape, I'd shop by your price range, try as many as you can, and I'm sure one will speak to you. After that it really doesn't matter what the decal on the head says. There are some Squiers that are better than lower-priced Fenders, but the reverse would be more likely. But instruments vary, so try as many as you can.

Those early 80's Squiers are minor legends, and clean survivors surprisingly sell for more than when new, they were that good. They led off the resurrection of the Fender we know today, born at a time when the new Shultz-led company was bringing in quite a few MIJ pieces as they resurrected the gone-to-seed plant, business plan, and product lines they purchased from CBS. Shortly after this time, they established the Fender Custom Shop, began their terrific re-issues of the older basses and guitars, and new Artist models, etc. But those little Squiers ($179 brand new back then) were the first real sign that things were going to get better pretty quickly. I bought a sunburst Precision, and have never had a better one since, at least until I bought the VM PBass Five last year. What an axe !

 

[Bass V]

I luv my old Fenders, I'm amazed by my Squier VM P/J, but once I got this Ibanez RB 620 for $0 outlay I've nearly forgotten about everything else, even my former #1. if you're lucky you can get'm for $100

 

[nilorius]

Which debil would sell you a normal MIA 80' Fender for 450-600$ ???

 

[knumbskull]

OK, so if you have to buy blind and/or from a limited selection and on a budget, here's what I'd look for, in order:

1) used MIM
2) used 80s MIJ Squier - SQ, JV and E series are all good, in that order
3) new Squier CV or VM

if you CAN find a good deal on a used MIA Fender and can afford to throw a bit more money at it, then you should cross hell or high water to get it. doesn't happen often in Europe but you never know.

(this is a US-based forum so some of the prices that get thrown around can be unrealistic for us eurobassists, but the advice is generally good anyway good luck!)

 

[Kerem Koseoglu]

This article might help you decide: Surplus of Expensive Guitars

 

[thanos k]

MIJ Squiers from the early-mid 80's are excellent, but not better than modern US Fenders

i own a MIJ medium scale squier p bass from mid 80's and you're right!!! they are fantastic intruments... in the begining i could not believe how amazing it was for a squier ... great necks, great stock pickups!!! great sound!!! giged with it many times and is a good sounding, reliable instrument. that being said my mexican classic 50's has a better tone and ofcourse an american will have more value for sure !!! if the op finds one used for sale this is what i recomend, a mex classic 50's !!! since their cost was aproximately 800, a used one will be on his budget

 

[vonbladet]

As for the best fastest necks...

The best fastest necks for metal, at least.

(The Fender website no longer shows even the 70s Classic Vibe, the last of its kind. There isn't even a single production single-pickup fretted Squier P listed!)

 

[vonbladet]

Yet they have one hanging up in the last five Guitar Centers I've been to.

They will for a while, is what usually happens, and if you want one you should certainly buy one soonish because when they are gone (also from upstream distribution channels) they will not be replaced.

Exactly this happened to all the other CV bass models. It would be nice to think they will be replaced with shiny new toys, but I wouldn't be especially surprised if they weren't in the short term. (Tin-foil hat alert: I suspect the CV's were simply too good and had started to dent the desirability of the MIM models.)

 

[jd56hawk]

Yet they have one have one hanging up in the least five Guitar Centers I've been to.
(Somehow deleted that)

 

[jd56hawk]

They will for a while, is what usually happens, and if you want one you should certainly buy one soonish because when they are gone (also from upstream distribution channels) they will not be replaced.

Exactly this happened to all the other CV bass models. It would be nice to think they will be replaced with shiny new toys, but I wouldn't be especially surprised if they weren't in the short term. (Tin-foil hat alert: I suspect the CV's were simply too good and had started to dent the desirability of the MIM models.)

I've been saying that since 2017.