Inexpensive bass...Squier Affinnity?

[Basslice]

Like any instrument in a particular run, there are good ones and poorer ones. The best approach is to play a few and then buy one you like. The problem with anecdotal stories of "this being a problem" or "that being a problem" is that they are just as likely to be outliers. Ditto with people claiming distinctions between basses made in one foreign factory vs another don't have any real flaw data behind their claims.

You can tell a lot simply by price. If the price is low, the components and, more importantly, the time spent making and finishing an instrument are the only things a company can adjust to make money.

There are plenty of good cheap instruments, you just have to play some and pick one you like.

 

[Jev1]

I picked up a good deal on a used Squire Affinity Jazz bass 'cuz I didn't want to let my kid play my Fender P-bass and my Warwick 5 string. When set up well the Squire plays well and sounds way better than I expected when I first picked it up.. (especially after playing my Fender P for years prior to acquiring the Squire). The hardware is noticeably cheaper, but the sound is still there. For the price... it's a great bass.

 

[J-Mags]

I like the Affinity P-J basses. They play nicely, they sound pretty good, and they're not too heavy. I've not tried any of the Harley Bentons. For any reputable brand, most of the low end offerings should be tolerable.

I've played loads of Squiers, entry-level Ibanez and Yamaha, Sterling Ray 4, etc., and as many of them have been good as not. If possible, you're gonna want to try before you buy, and have a little bit of leeway as to price. Also don't sleep on used Japanese brands of the 70s, 80s and 90s like Ibanez (again), Westone, Vantage, Aria, Fernandes, etc. The prices are creeping up, but there are still bargains under $300.

 

[J-Mags]

I forgot about one brand! Tagima!

Tagima is a Brazilian company. Their TW series basses are made in China. I had a Jazz bass that was really nice, and I've played several others that were also great. I think they're made in the factory that made the old Classic Vibe Squiers, although I don't know why I think that. I might have made it up. Anyway, I bought a JB in 2020. It sounded and played great.

Quality control seems better than Squier. The necks and hardware don't seem to conform to Fender spec quite as well (I found the neck to be wider than a Squier/Fender neck pocket, bridge didn't have the 5-hole pattern and seemed to be the kind of bridge used on lower-end Sire basses). But it played and sounded great out of the box, and all the hardware worked fine.

 

[And I]

Check out Harley Benton

 

[UNICORN BASS]

+1 on Tagima, very reminiscent of the MIC Classic Vibes.

 

[Wfrance3]

$300 at the most new

Be open minded to the notion of a used. There are plenty of people who like the idea playing music, and buy a bass before thinking through all of the ramifications. Those basses end up on CL, etc...
My advice is be good with a used instrument, allocate some of your budget to the cost of a new set of strings and a proper setup, and you will be tons happier than you would with a shiny, budget-stretched, not setup bass.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

I bought an 18 year old Squier for $20. I would not sell it. Neck like a '62 aged to a golden amber. Sounds incredible! Don't know why? If you could shop for a deal. Then get a good/ great Hartke HD combo, starting at $99. You can dime the volume on these amps!

 

[bassliner50]

Find a used Squier Classic Vibe or Vintage Modified P-bass. Excellent utility instruments. Easily sold when you are done, easy to modify with parts available everywhere. Remember anything you get at this level will likely need to be set up properly. Learn how to do that if have not already.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Good call in SX! Forgot about those! Does that compare favorably to a Squier Affinity?

I thought it was pretty close, the pup's were maybe a little quieter but it was a good bass in my opinion.

 

[salmon256]

As many others have said, Affinity is good but is among a giant debate of having quality control issues. It's very hit or miss, I would agree with many others with, look for a used vintage vibe or another brand that is know for lower end models, however I am not discounting the affinity, this is just my thoughts as someone who had an affinity series in the past.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

At $300 it may be difficult to find a new Squier, check the used market on Reverb for maybe a Mustang or something.

If he's new and not wanting to commit alot of $$ the Squier Bronco is a good choice. Nice neck and if he really likes it changing them is easy too.

Another one to consider that would fit that budget is SX basses from Rondo Music Home Page

I had an SX Short Scale Jazz that was nice, wish I hadn't sold it.

Just some thoughts.

Squier Affinity basses are $229 at GC. Squier has multiple levels of quality with the Affinity being the lowest. Having said that, there's nothing wrong with an Affinity. My son got an Affinity P-bass kit for my Grandson for Christmas about 4 years ago while we were visiting them in Australia. It has the P/J pickup configuration. Of course I had to play it a bit and show my grandson a few things. I generally do NOT like the neck on Precision Basses. After playing on my Jazz neck for so many years, that wider and fatter P-bass neck just isn't comfortable to me. So I was pretty shocked when I played his Affinity P-bass and found that it was actually pretty darn comfortable for me to play. Reason for that is that it is a slim neck (front to back) and that makes all the difference. I was impressed with it. It sounded good and it's playability was good. Coming from someone who's played Jazz Basses only since 1965...that's high praise.

I think you're on the right track considering a Jazz or a P-bass from them.

 

[CaptainWally]

Thank you very much for all posts so far, and any that follow. I read them all, and it was all very helpful.

 

[lark_z]

Check Craigslist and go with him for testing. $300 will take you a long way there.

 

[CaptainWally]

Totally agree on used and try before buy -- not really an option due to specific circumstances :-/

 

[ThudThudThud]

Find a used Squier Classic Vibe or Vintage Modified P-bass. Excellent utility instruments. Easily sold when you are done, easy to modify with parts available everywhere. Remember anything you get at this level will likely need to be set up properly. Learn how to do that if have not already.

Unfortunately, the price of used Classic Vibe Squiers has gone out of control. It's unlikely you'll find one for less than $500. However, if your friend can borrow a bit of cash: https://www.guitarcenter.com/Squier...s-Limited-Edition-Sonic-Blue-1500000348214.gc
GC has a deal on these new ones. I had the Fiesta Red one that I lost in the fire, and it was a GREAT bass.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Revisiting the Ibanez Talman…
I have a TMB-100 that I got for $169 brand new during GC's April sale (don't remember what it's called).

I keep it in my work truck 24/7/365. It's actually really, really good for the money. It has a lot of Punch and has a very hot signal, I only use the treble cut on the preamp and keep the Bass flat.
My only complaint about the bass is with the fretwork, at around the 14th fret and up. Seems like I get a lot of buzz around those points, and it's hard to maintain a low string action and be buzz free. I wind up tightening the truss rod to [almost] no relief. I don't want to take it for a fret job that'll cost as much as the bass did.
But when you look at basses at that price point, it will happen more often than not.

My Squier VM (2014, purchased at $348 out the door new) has a superb neck and the frets are almost perfect at any point on the neck. I would hope that with the new Affinity's coming out of the same Factory as the VM's and new CV's, perhaps the fretwork will be comparable?
The frets on the old Chinese Affinity's would wear out very quickly. After 6 months of regular playing my 2014 Affinity's frets looked worse than those on my 25 year old G&L.

 

[ruju]

Squier Affinities are decent. I really love my Yamaha trbx174ew in mango top.
Passive PJ, 24 fret. Plays great and looks awesome.

 

[bassliner50]

Unfortunately, the price of used Classic Vibe Squiers has gone out of control. It's unlikely you'll find one for less than $500. However, if your friend can borrow a bit of cash: https://www.guitarcenter.com/Squier...s-Limited-Edition-Sonic-Blue-1500000348214.gc
GC has a deal on these new ones. I had the Fiesta Red one that I lost in the fire, and it was a GREAT bass.

Try Craigslist. I bought 1 Squier CV ($200) and 2 Vm's for $100 each. They play beautifully.

 

[brianrost]

EDIT

I am removing my original post so as to not take the thread further OT.