If Squier was Fender

[rrohde]

Just to quote this from the official Squier site: "Squier is Fender—sharing its product platforms, trademarks, standards and iconic designs."

Getting happier and happier with my 'lil VM Jazz

 

[dvh]

At first glace I also thought it would be a 2piece body, as one cut it just in the center. However I had to discover that the cut away areas and the hip of the body show another cut.

There's nothing cheap or wrong about that. It's how guitars are made Fenders, Squiers, whatever

 

[Ephminus]

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Thanks, that was really interesting!

I still think they need to go back to that old headstock design though.

 

[ProfGumby]

Just to quote this from the official Squier site: "Squier is Fender—sharing its product platforms, trademarks, standards and iconic designs."

Getting happier and happier with my 'lil VM Jazz

There is no reason not to be happy with a VM. I prefer top let ones playing tell me if they are a good player, not the brand on the headstock. High priced bass does not equal great talent.

Don't get me wrong, there is NOTHING wrong with a high end instrument, I want several eventually myself...

 

[MaxRossell]

But that's one of the points. There is a reason it is half the price and it's not just the Fender decal.

Does it have the vintage neck (one piece maple, 7.25 radius, vintage frets)? I don't believe so. Plus, the parts themselves - pots, tuners, etc. - are higher quality in the Fender.

I guess I understand the "price:quality ratio" point. However, I think the higher quality of the product merits a higher cost. Is the higher quality going to mean anything to the buyer? I guess it depends on the buyer's own needs and values.

It is a generalization, but, you do get what you pay for.

It has a one-piece maple neck with a 9.5" radius board and vintage frets. Which, for my money, is as good (I'm not a fan of extreme roundness, but that's a matter of taste). And sure, the components are slightly higher quality, but in meaningful terms we're not talking hundreds of dollars' worth of quality improvements.

Yesterday I A/B'd a US Fender Jazz and a Squier Affinity Jazz, which is about top-and-bottom as you can get (in terms of Standard models).

Now bearing in mind that the US Fender is FIVE TIMES more expensive than the Squier Affinity, I don't think the "get what you pay for" math works out here.

The woods used are not five time more expensive. Neither are the parts, nor is the labour. The build quality of the Squier is not 20% of that of the US Fender, and crucially it doesn't sound 80% less good. Sure, it does sound less good, but not by any kind of significant margin.

Now I'm not necessarily saying that the Fender US is overpriced, but I am saying that what I've seen of the handful of Squiers I've tried out over the past week indicates that in terms of value-for-money, Squier gives you astounding bang for your buck.

 

[MaxRossell]

... And I could also point out that I would get the Squier Classic Vibe Jazz over the Fender US Jazz any day of the week, even if they were the same price. As it is, the Squier CV is less than one-third of the price of a US Fender, so it works out really well for me.

 

[Ephminus]

I wonder what die hard Fender enthusiasts would say about Squier having their headstock changed back to the original Fender logo + Squire series logo?
I mean, it would be "authentic".

Maybe a poll is in order?

 

[WoodyG3]

I wonder what die hard Fender enthusiasts would say about Squier having their headstock changed back to the original Fender logo + Squire series logo?
I mean, it would be "authentic".

Maybe a poll is in order?

You know, I've got this old Jazz bass that says Fender on the headstock with no mention of Squier anywhere. The serial number seems to indicate, though, that it was made in Korea, and the body is plywood. I wonder if this was pre-Squier or what?

Doesn't matter too much, I guess. I mixed and matched the body parts with other parts and the original bass is now part of two different basses. Both sound and play pretty good.

 

[kenjikun]

I wonder what die hard Fender enthusiasts would say about Squier having their headstock changed back to the original Fender logo + Squire series logo?

For me, that would be great since that was how Squier really started. And to make it even better, make it again MADE IN JAPAN. That would create a stir in the bassworld

 

[thehangingmist]

i agree totally! they'd be the new MIM fenders

 

[danharris86]

I found this quite amusing:
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RRP: £320

Somehow I don't think that's right surely? That's a lot of money considering that the local independant music store is selling this for the bargain price of £239 - and that isn't a sale price etc.

Dawsons list it as £320 RRP and make out you are saving £30 by buying it from them, when you can walk down the road and pick it up for £239.

They have some rediculous prices lately considering we are in a recession lol.

 

[wildhorse]

I don't think they'd sell any better. The snobs would still find something to be snobby about. "It's not a real Fender because it's not made in the U.S.A".....
I am sure Fender is selling plenty of Squiers and there is no need for that. I don't feel the need to take the Squier name off my bass, nor put the Squier name on my Fender Strat and Tele's.. MIA, MIM or MIJ. In fact I don't care if my Les Paul copy has the name Agile on it and it's made in Korea.

 

[Mikio]

the prblem is the price, it'd go up Dx

 

[ProfGumby]

IMHO, the problem is that Squier's USED TO BE relatively dung-heap compared to even MIM's. Their reputation was kinda besmirched because of that. Now they are making significantly better products, but it will take a while for their reputation to recover. I have no idea how long this will take - maybe forever? .......

Not for me, I'm sold now......and I know I am not alone. However, you are very correct, the name has a sordid past. And for what it is worth, I find it funny that Squiers from the dung days fetch a hefty price these days.

Squier will recover one player and one instrument at a time. And as long as the past and gear snobs keep the poor quality myth alive, guys that like the basses can buy a whole lot more of them now, to sell for 3x what they payed in 30 years......

 

[ProfGumby]

I found this quite amusing:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

RRP: £320

Somehow I don't think that's right surely? That's a lot of money considering that the local independant music store is selling this for the bargain price of £239 - and that isn't a sale price etc.

Dawsons list it as £320 RRP and make out you are saving £30 by buying it from them, when you can walk down the road and pick it up for £239.

They have some rediculous prices lately considering we are in a recession lol.

Nah, it's not just them. When I bought my VM Jazz, they were everywhere for $279 (US). The online places all had free shipping too! The local shop back in my hometown had one for 329(I think) and they made like it was a bargain and I was saving $50. Ya, save 50 bucks off of list! I asked them if they would drop the price to 279 and they said no.

Hey, no problem. I went home and bought the VM from TPB and got it sent to my door for about 100 dollars less than the shop wanted! (On sale and the TB discount )

That was the first deal the old shop ever turned down. I don't fault them, but I didn't have to buy it from them either....

 

[ProfGumby]

yeah - Limp pasta... Of the many epithets I've read for a bass neck, this is a new one!

Maybe the bass needs some Viagra?

 

[ProfGumby]

Yeah, but on the other hand, most audience members wouldn't know Fender from Squier from Chevy from Heinz, and most musicians are dimwits anyway.

Unfortunately, though, it's what's going on in my head that's the problem. Had I bought the Squier, I'd always be looking to upgrade to a "real" Fender. That's partly why I ordered the Fender instead, so I'd have the feeling of being "done" and "satisfied" and not feeling a constant urge to upgrade.

When's the last time you saw any major-label musician use a Squier instrument onstage, no matter how objectively good it might be?

First, paint the Squier Headstock to match the body...no logo then..

Second, there are many relatively big artists that do use Squiers, though you do make a point. But in all seriousness the person doing the playing has to decide what feels and sounds right to them. My only beef is when someone who is convinced that unless a person plays brand x they cannot be taken seriously. Or worse, the guy with brand x that feels compelled to show up in a thread and blast everyone for using such a cheap bass.

As to your comment on what's going on in your head with the idea of a Squier, if it causes you a problem, don't buy one. Buy what you feel comfortable with. Like my tag line says, "Play what ya likes and like what ya plays." That goes for instruments and amps as well as music. I try to remain positive and look for the pluses in any situation. And I know there are a lot of people who wont care what anyone plays, but do comment on or are drawn to how well said person plays their brand of choice. Pick what you want because you like what you feel and hear....

 

[Low Tone]

FWIW, I've owned both a Squier Affinity and a Squier Standard.
The Standards are superior basses the the Affinities.
Really there isn't that much difference between Squier Standards and a MIM or MIJ. At least not to me anyway.