I taught myself to play on an early 80's Squier II p bass. I don't want that bass back, realy, but I would definitely consider it a perfectly capable bass. A top of the line instrument? Not really. But fully capable of good sound and playability? Absolutely! I'd record with it.
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I Just Can't Get With The Squires
- Thread starter Vintage P
- Start date
Amen.
I'll never forget my Hondo P that had bridge saddles made out of a substance that was slightly stiffer than pudding. I can't remember how many strings I broke because they sank into the saddle, created a channel, and then slipped out of it when I played hard, thus snapping the string.
The metal on all the Squiers I've tried in the past decade or so has been just fine. Actually, I could probably say that about any bass I've tried, with maybe the exception of a MIM Precision I owned for an amount of time measured in hours.
EDIT: I can see how my comment in the second paragraph was misworded. My criticism of the MIM Precision is more of a broad one, I didn't specifically find the "metal" on the bass to be lacking. It was just a dog of an instrument overall, so really I shouldn't have mentioned it here in this context.
My rephrase would be to say that the metal on pretty much every bass I've tried in the past decade has been fine, period.
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I find the tuners and bridges to be just fine. I can't imagine using cheap wiring to save 2 cents a bass. It's a bit of a mystery. Why are the MIM subpar hen they're essentially the same parts as aMIA? (Though you can get a good one now and then). My guess is that it's the workmanship and the wood.
Clear picture(s), (videos etc) of you with all your 11 basses would be nice... more to the fact that you'd just joined TalkBass yesterday (?).. I (and we) always like to watch people's (and their) basses.
I think I first mentioned cheap wire in an inexpenesive bass. I was referring to the wiring associated with the 9V battery connector. It is, IMO, of substantially less quality/durability than a replacement battery connector I could buy at my local Radio Shack.
I'm away from home right now so you'll just have to trust me, but will post a pic soon of the "family." They are... a 97 MM Sterling (not to be confused with the budget line Sterlings) , a MIA 2012 J, a 2011 Rick, a 1987 62 reissue P, an Ibby 4 and an Ibby 5, a Hofner, a frankenfretless, a Squier deluxe, a Stingray SUB and a no name cheapo upright that isn't bad at all.
I play Squiers from time to time, sometimes really beat up ones, for my reggae band. They do the job. But I still prefer the better feel of the neck of my Fender P-bass.
It's not bashing, but prefering. If you prefer a Squier then good for you.
It's not bashing, but prefering. If you prefer a Squier then good for you.
With me personally it depends - I have used Squier P basses before and for me at the time they worked and sounded decent. The Affinity models make for great budget entry level basses for someone who is say just getting their feet wet with starting to play bass. And then you have the newer Vintage Modified models which are awesome IMO. Great quality playing and sounding basses for again not a lot of money. And then you have the 80's/90's (and possibly 70's and 2000's I am not sure) Squier's that were made in places like Japan which may rank up there with the Mexican (probably better), Japan and maybe even American made (depending) Fender branded basses. Squier basses also make for great project basses and a foundation for upgrades and mods as well as cheap backup or players basses you don't have to feel too bad about if you get a little "mean" with them. Don't always let major brand names rule your opinions.
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Bottom line in reading 6 pages of comments is that the OP made comments based on his experience with this brand of bass, yet it seems that was enough to start the name calling. Being able to put forth eloquent speech is one thing, reading comprehension is something else. This particular brand did not work for him in certain instances and his comments again are his opinion, so why get all bent out of shape over it. Meaningless banter better served in doing something else, like enjoying your bass.
Sorry for being unclear, I did edit my original post. I didn't find the "metal" on the MIM to be specifically lacking, it was more that the bass as a whole was a dog, for whatever the reason may be.
I enjoy my Squiers. As a retired novice bass player who plays in his living room, my experience with them has been overwhelmingly positive. Strangely enough, I migrated TO Squiers after first owning a gorgeous 2011 '75 AVRI Fender Jazz (natural). I sold my last vintage motorcycle (back problems), and after lurking at TB for months, decided which kind of bass I wanted, and found the aforementioned AVRI Jazz listed at Bass Northwest for a very decent price. When it came in, it was drop-dead gorgeous and so minty, I couldn't tell it from new. Over the next few weeks, I might have played it for a couple hours, tops. I was intimidated at the thought of putting a single scratch on it.
This became a problem for me. Being too paranoid to play it, I wasn't getting any practice done. After receiving a gift certificate at a big box retailer, I took a chance on a Squier VM Jaguar. On sale, the final cost was such that it didn't matter if I used it as a boat oar. I played it with abandon, and started enjoyed practicing. After having ordered one Squier sight unseen and unplayed, I took a chance on a VM 70s Jazz, to take the (cosmetic, at least) place of the now-sold AVRI Fender Jazz. I was not disappointed. To my untrained ear, at my level of playing ability, the VM Jazz sounded as good as the now gone AVRI Jazz (especially with Fender 9050 flats).
This was followed by another Squier, this time a VM Precision (amber). I liked being able to explore the different tonalities between the various Fender (Squier) designs and have a choice of which to play, given the very affordable prices. I followed suit with a CV Precision 50s, then a VM Mustang, and very recently, a VM Telecaster. I have made modifications on a few of these. Many have simply had a string change. All of them are keepers, as they all bring something different to the table. None of my Squiers have exhibited problems with construction, finish quality or grade of hardware used on them. Most importantly, they all sound good to ME.
I mention all of this just to put into perspective MY personal experience with Squiers. Obviously, someone making a living as a musician probably has other priorities. Some people have unfortunately bought a Monday/Friday Lemon that had "Squier" written on the headstock. It seems to me that it is never a good reason to proclaim that an entire brand is somehow inherently defective because of one experience. The OP claims that "every" Squier he owns fails him at some point. That would make him extremely UNLUCKY in my book.
OTOH, I consider myself to be EXTREMELY lucky to be playing bass at this very moment, when it seems that the Squier brand is making basses of a quality that far exceeds their cost, and is introducing new models at a breathtaking pace. So for me......
...........Vive le Squier!
This became a problem for me. Being too paranoid to play it, I wasn't getting any practice done. After receiving a gift certificate at a big box retailer, I took a chance on a Squier VM Jaguar. On sale, the final cost was such that it didn't matter if I used it as a boat oar. I played it with abandon, and started enjoyed practicing. After having ordered one Squier sight unseen and unplayed, I took a chance on a VM 70s Jazz, to take the (cosmetic, at least) place of the now-sold AVRI Fender Jazz. I was not disappointed. To my untrained ear, at my level of playing ability, the VM Jazz sounded as good as the now gone AVRI Jazz (especially with Fender 9050 flats).
This was followed by another Squier, this time a VM Precision (amber). I liked being able to explore the different tonalities between the various Fender (Squier) designs and have a choice of which to play, given the very affordable prices. I followed suit with a CV Precision 50s, then a VM Mustang, and very recently, a VM Telecaster. I have made modifications on a few of these. Many have simply had a string change. All of them are keepers, as they all bring something different to the table. None of my Squiers have exhibited problems with construction, finish quality or grade of hardware used on them. Most importantly, they all sound good to ME.
I mention all of this just to put into perspective MY personal experience with Squiers. Obviously, someone making a living as a musician probably has other priorities. Some people have unfortunately bought a Monday/Friday Lemon that had "Squier" written on the headstock. It seems to me that it is never a good reason to proclaim that an entire brand is somehow inherently defective because of one experience. The OP claims that "every" Squier he owns fails him at some point. That would make him extremely UNLUCKY in my book.
OTOH, I consider myself to be EXTREMELY lucky to be playing bass at this very moment, when it seems that the Squier brand is making basses of a quality that far exceeds their cost, and is introducing new models at a breathtaking pace. So for me......
...........Vive le Squier!
Turns out the Squier CV Precision I've been gigging with is not up to the task, even though I've been getting tons of compliments from musicians and non-musicians alike on the Phat tone. Plus it plays like butter with a super low action. Wish I wouldn't have read this thread, ignorance was bliss
nyuk nyuk nyuk
This Squire HAS fenders, but that doesn't mean it IS a Fender.
thanx Dad.
Out of curiosity, why not just build a complete Warmoth in this case - where you're probably getting a higher quality slab of wood?
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,059
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- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
I have lots of USA vintage stuff. I bought VM Precision to keep at work to practice with. Great bass regardless of cost, I don't care where it was made.
Definitely. And many of the mods are really easy to do, and are much more easily accomplished on the Squier than on the Fender. Shielding the bass comes to mind. The channels are fairly flawless on the Squier vs. somewhat rough with MIM Fenders, and although shielded with paint and with grounding lugs installed, copper foil will really clear out the clutter from which those pickups can suffer. Change the 500k pots (especially IMO on the maple-necked basses) to 250k pots, with a more accurately made cap (Orange Drop/Emerson - it's probably just me but I don't trust the little ceramic jobbies), and you'll be surprised at what kind of tonal doors you'll open. My Squier VM70s underwent that route not too long ago, and while it was a good instrument previously and gigged all over the midwest from nightclubs to festivals, it really expanded it's voice after that. Added some D'Addario rounds into the mix and it was a much more focused instrument. Grindy and nasty when I want it to be, and with a huge single-coil voice when I roll off either volume pot.
I have a Squier VM Fretless, too. It has Fender '62 RI pickups, Fender American guts, brass nut, Wilkinson tuners, CV bridge with brass saddles. I picked it up used for $200. Sounds very good with the right kind of tapewounds on it. Not as happy about how "zingy" the board sounds with straight flatwounds, though. Deals can be had, and basses can be seriously customized to match what YOU want to sound like from any manufacturer. Squiers, however, are a much better starting point due to the initial price. No, you won't likely get the 700 bucks you put into buying and customizing the bass in the case of my fretless, but you will have a bass that sounds exactly the way you want it to sound, and if that's what you're going for, then by all means don't be hesitate.
