I try to get with squiers but they tell me they just wanna be friends.
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I Just Can't Get With The Squires
- Thread starter Vintage P
- Start date
I try to get with squiers but they tell me they just wanna be friends.
And yet you have one that you love. For people who are very particular about tone this is about par for the course with mass produced instruments. Some will sound the way you want and some will not. I have an open mind about tone, every bass has its own and it is very rare for me to find a bass with a tone that I cannot work with. All the Squiers I have tried in stores sound fine. The Squier VI I own sounds great. But if you find that Squiers in general don't have the tone you want then don't obsess about it. Many people here feel the same way about certain brands or models or pickups or strings or .... Play what works for you and forget the rest, no matter how attractive the price may be. Or be willing to try a lot of Squiers to find the few that you like. You do have a Strat that you like and a J Deluxe that you, oh I don't know, tolerate? Making blanket statements about anything here will get you into a lot of trouble with its supporters. Squier has a pretty big fan base here so tread with caution. And of course everyone (except the TB spell check) knows that Squier is spelled Squier not Squire:
http://www.houseofnames.com/squier-family-crest
It is an interesting web site that unfortunately has recently started to pull back information in order to get you to pay for it. Except why would you pay for something you don't know that they have?? An earlier version of that same report on Squier, etc mentioned that in the first recorded use of the surname it was spelled Sciur, or something like that. Wouldn't that look nice on your headstock? In any event Squire is as good as Squier is as good as Squair is as good as Skair is as good as Skuyer is as good as ... in my book. Come to think of it, anyone know where I can get a "Skuyer by Fender" decal???
^This. I'm not a Pro, so I'm not sure I'd even recognize Pro sound if it... well you know what I mean. Different basses sound different. I love diversity, that's one reason I have so many basses. Some people have "that sound" in their head, whatever they consider to be the perfect tone, and everything gets rated based on how close it comes to "that sound". Not me. There are some sounds that I don't like, but for the most part, when I hear/play a bass that sounds different from what I have, I enjoy it for what it is. Music is art, and everybody has preferences, but there is no absolute about what sounds good, or is usable for making "good" music. Different strokes for different folks. Diversity is a good thing. One person's "noise" is another person's groove... and that's not a bad thing at all.
Oh yeah, I love my 2 Squier basses non-Pro sound and all!
As the avid owner of 2 Vintage Squiers, I maintain that there's more to any instrument than the name on one end.
As with pretty much all mass produced things, some turn out better than others. Basses are no different.
As with pretty much all mass produced things, some turn out better than others. Basses are no different.
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
This is opinion, based on my experience. Please, no one get all wound up. I am not trying insult you or your choice of instrument. Really. This is just my opinion.
There is a natural inclination for people to want something for nothing. In reality, we all know you don't get "something for nothing", so we often pursue "lots for very little" - as in we want great things while paying a low price. Marketroids like to call folks who are very focused on this "value minded consumers". Brands like Squier are designed to serve that marketspace but, in reality, don't entirely deliver. The old axiom "you get what you pay for" may sound tired, but it is an axiom for a reason. There are those that believe they are entitled - that they have a "right" to buy a professional quality instrument for the price of a student instrument; Because one is told an instrument is professional quality, and one believes that, does not make it so. Squiers were introduced, as a brand of musical instrument, by Fender many years ago as a low-cost alternative for beginners back in the '80s. At that time, most folks attracted to Fender avoided them, opting to buy a real Fender new or, if wanting to save money, a used one. Sure, Squiers sold - but mostly to beginners, which was what Fender anticipated. It's interesting to me that Fender continued to make lower-end instruments that overlapped the Squier brand (the Bullet instruments leap to mind) while discontinuing their older student models (Music Master, Mustang). I guess my point is that when you buy something that is non-professional, you can't really expect it to deliver professional results. I drive a newer Miata. It is not a Porsche. I could take it to the track, I could have fun - but if I wanted to race it, I'd get creamed by the Porsches. Similarly, when I go on a customer site to repair a system, I don't bring tools bought at Harbor Freight - I have professional tools to do a professional job. So if you want a professional tool, get a professional tool. If you just want to have fun, save some money and have fun. To the OP I suggest that it's time to step up and buy a professional quality instrument. Look in the TB Classifieds - someone is always selling a nice Fender, G&L or MM for a reasonable price (or a Carvin for a *screaming* price).
There is a natural inclination for people to want something for nothing. In reality, we all know you don't get "something for nothing", so we often pursue "lots for very little" - as in we want great things while paying a low price. Marketroids like to call folks who are very focused on this "value minded consumers". Brands like Squier are designed to serve that marketspace but, in reality, don't entirely deliver. The old axiom "you get what you pay for" may sound tired, but it is an axiom for a reason. There are those that believe they are entitled - that they have a "right" to buy a professional quality instrument for the price of a student instrument; Because one is told an instrument is professional quality, and one believes that, does not make it so. Squiers were introduced, as a brand of musical instrument, by Fender many years ago as a low-cost alternative for beginners back in the '80s. At that time, most folks attracted to Fender avoided them, opting to buy a real Fender new or, if wanting to save money, a used one. Sure, Squiers sold - but mostly to beginners, which was what Fender anticipated. It's interesting to me that Fender continued to make lower-end instruments that overlapped the Squier brand (the Bullet instruments leap to mind) while discontinuing their older student models (Music Master, Mustang). I guess my point is that when you buy something that is non-professional, you can't really expect it to deliver professional results. I drive a newer Miata. It is not a Porsche. I could take it to the track, I could have fun - but if I wanted to race it, I'd get creamed by the Porsches. Similarly, when I go on a customer site to repair a system, I don't bring tools bought at Harbor Freight - I have professional tools to do a professional job. So if you want a professional tool, get a professional tool. If you just want to have fun, save some money and have fun. To the OP I suggest that it's time to step up and buy a professional quality instrument. Look in the TB Classifieds - someone is always selling a nice Fender, G&L or MM for a reasonable price (or a Carvin for a *screaming* price).
That, however, is equating "professional quality instrument" with the name on the headstock. And, truthfully, that is NOT always the case, ESPECIALLY with Fender. Just because a headstock reads "Squier" doesn't automatically mean that the bass is not "professional quality." To even suggest as much is blatantly absurd. It's wood and a bunch of mass produced parts. Nothing more. Fenders, more often than not nowadays (at least the American versions) are laughably embarrassingly poorly made. There is a new $2000 white blonde '58 vintage Precision at my local GC that has possibly the worst applied finish (next to Gibson) that I've EVER seen. There is so little filler in the ash that it LITERALLY looks like a piece of old barn wood! I mean the grain in the body has nearly 1/8" gaps that weren't filled; it's THAT bad. It's cringe-inducing and downright insulting that Fender would actually try to SELL it to someone...but there will surely be some idiot who will think "It's supposed to look like that" just because it says "Fender" on the headstock. NO Squier made today is finished so horribly.
Another point...if you equate "Fender" as being "professional" while casting aversions that Squier HAS to be something lower than that, what about Modern Player Fenders that are made in the same factory next to CV Squiers with the ONLY difference being the name on the headstock? These Chinese made basses are some of the BEST finished and crafted basses the company sells regardless of the name on the headstock. It is LUDICROUS to suggest that the Fender is the "professional" one while casting the Squier as the "lower-end instrument" when they are made literally along with each other by the same people with the same parts.
Again, gear snobbery...
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So, how many failures have you had, and how many more will it take until you draw the obvious conclusion that you should stop bringing them to gigs?
And you are certainly entitled to your opinion. I am rather intrigued by your "axiom", as in "an axiom is a premise so evident as to be accepted as true without controversy". But if there's one thing that has consistently torn down premises once-thought to be incontrovertible and absolute is history and the passage of time. Squier has had over thirty years to chip away slowly, but surely, at your axiom and has been doing quite a fine job of it. And if you don't believe me, a relative newcomer, then how about a seasoned veteran and respected member of the musical community?
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My only complaint about my Jazz is it doesn't seem to stay set up correctly. Like there's too much slack in the neck even though I had it set up recently. Plus there's buzzing that drives me crazy. Maybe I'll throw flats on it and that will at least get rid of the buzz.
Chef
In Memoriam
Nah, not so.
Squiers are nice enough. Iv'e played some I like. The early 80's ones are even collected by some folks. I have a friend who has one, and it's nice enough. I may yet try a Modern Player Jazz 5.
But, they are made from lesser woods, lesser hardware, and lesser electronics.
I can't find a Modern Player Jazz 5 that's much under 11lbs, and it's because of poor wood choice.
Doesn't mean you can't buy one, gig it, be happy with it, etc, etc.
But to say there's no diff between Squier and Fender USA, Snap On and Harbor Freight, and so on; well...one could readily argue "that's reverse gear snobbery." No need to resort to any of that though. If it works for you and meets your needs, that's pretty much the end of that.
I will add this:
Squier are doing some neat things right now. Innovative, risky things. That's cool to see.
And; they sure up'd their game over the last 10 years and quality seems to be on the upswing from the bits they used to make.
I think the new Squires are an amazing deal for the money, but the QC is spotty, you really have to play a few to make sure you have one with no problems. I don't think I'd mail-order one, gotta be a floor model. I saw one in GC with a horribly bowed neck right next to a really sweet one, bit of a crapshoot.
You can't make that blanket statement. Some people PREFER a heavier bass. Just because a bass is heavy doesn't mean it has "poor wood choice." Just because a bass states "Fender" on the headstock doesn't mean it has "better woods, hardware, and electronics." It SHOULD, mind you, but sadly this is NOT the case with Fender.
There IS a difference. The current Squier basses are painted and finished MUCH more consistently and with better attention to detail than the majority of Fender USA product you see out there nowadays in stores like GC...sadly. That SHOULDN'T be the case, but it seemingly is. Alot of people simply refuse to see flaws if it states "Fender USA" on a bass, whilst at the same time searching for any tiny discernible speck on a Squier. To suggest that just because something states "Fender Made in USA" on it means that it is automatically "better" than a Squier is very, very shortsighted...and prejudiced.
If you can't melt faces on a Squier, you can't do it on a Fender.
After years and years of people saying, "cool bass, man" to me when I play one of my Ricks, it's kinda fun to see these same dudes' faces when I bust out the Squier. If the music is hot and the band is killing, it really doesn't matter what you're playing. It the players that make it pro-level, not the gear.
After all these years of gigging, it's been lots of fun recently to have the balls to play a bass I got for $180 and STILL put on a smoke show.
And just to clarify, I'm not trying to say a Squier is the same as or as good as a Fender. I'm just saying I've reached the point where it doesn't matter to me anymore. If it feels ok, stays in tune and makes sound, I'm pretty sure I can get the job done with it.
After years and years of people saying, "cool bass, man" to me when I play one of my Ricks, it's kinda fun to see these same dudes' faces when I bust out the Squier. If the music is hot and the band is killing, it really doesn't matter what you're playing. It the players that make it pro-level, not the gear.
After all these years of gigging, it's been lots of fun recently to have the balls to play a bass I got for $180 and STILL put on a smoke show.
And just to clarify, I'm not trying to say a Squier is the same as or as good as a Fender. I'm just saying I've reached the point where it doesn't matter to me anymore. If it feels ok, stays in tune and makes sound, I'm pretty sure I can get the job done with it.
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It's hit or miss with QC on anything mass-produced, a lot of boils down to taste as well. I'm consistently amazed by the playability, value, and comfort of Ibanez basses. I have a CTB5 and SRA305 that I am absolutely in love with. Upgraded/ing the electronics on them, but the playability is great. Only thing I might do to the SRA305 is give it a new paintjob. The black sparkle is kind of gross, but who knows...I may learn to like it.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
Chef
In Memoriam
