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Is a Squier Bass Really That Bad?

#81
Squier basses are fine. Just like with ANY brand, there'll be some hits and some misses. I know a guy that wouldn't be caught with a Lull, because he had 2 bad experiences with them, and we all know that Mike Lull builds some incredible bass. If you got a couple of bad ones, it's going to sour you on the brand, which is fine. But to be soured on a brand because of the next guy's experience is kinda stupid. I have a Vintage Mod 75 reissue with an Audere preamp, and it goes to EVERY gig and recording session.
 
#82
You see, that's just it. Those who say "I bought a Squier and it was junk, therefore they are all junk and I will never buy another." are judging an entire brand based on one or two bad PERSONAL experiences. I, of course have based my own positive opinion on Squiers by my own good experience, but I don't stop there. In just this thread alone, a good 90%-95% of the testimonials here have been extremely positive. That, along with literally hundreds of other such glowing reviews, leads me to believe that, in general, Squier makes excellent instruments worth more than what they cost, with a rare occasional clunker, (much the same as any manufacturer, regardless of their price point).
I guess what I'm trying to say is, don't dismiss Squier (or any brand) because of a few bad experiences, when their overall record, from many hundreds of satisfied owners, is an excellent one.
 
#83
I own a Squier Affinity P. Got it used for free. It came in pieces and I had to refinish and assemble it. I love it!
Now, I have been a musician and guitar player for well over 20 years. I've also been a guitar tech for about 14 years. I've played many different guitars, some cheap, some worth a whole lot of dough. I know a quality instrument when I see one.
First off, no, the build quality of my Squier is not equal to that of a MIA. The bridge and tuners are cheap, but they do their job. The pots are cheap, but they work fine and make no noise when I turn them. The pickup, while it doesn't say Fnder on it anywhere, works just fine, and sounds great.

I've said all that to say this: Yes, there ARE huge quality differences between a MIA and a Squier, but......
After a pro set up( level, crown and polish frets, adjust relief, adjust action, adjust pup height, intonate, ) the guitar plays and sounds just as good as any instrument, no matter the price, that I have ever played. Period. Is it the equal of a MIa, or even a MIM in terms of quality? No. But it sounds and plays every bit as good as any of them you'll ever pick up. And that's the bottom line.
I don't see anything wrong with people paying whatever they want to in order to get the best quality they can afford. If I were honest and had the cash, I'd tell you that I would definately own and play a MIA. No question. But the bass I own now, as far as playability and tone, IS equal to them. As far as build quality, fit and finish goes, most non musicians would not know the differences unless pointed out to them. But they are DEFINATELY there. However, when I play other basses, my Squier is the yardstick I measure them by. If they do not meet or exceed that standard, they're not worth my time. There's a lot said just in that sentence alone.
 
#84
Get your hands on a Squier Pro-Tone bass. They aren't made anymore but they are out there. Affordable and awesome.

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#85
Some Squiers suck, some do not.

Squier, as a *brand*, has always been the "low cost alternative" to buying a real Fender. They seem to have gotten a great deal more ambitious, offering a much broader range of products than they used to so as to go after the Ibanez (and similar) market share. That you can pay as little as $199 or as much as over $1000 for a new Squire kinda shows it all.

So, like Ibanez, it depends on the bass. To me, they'll always be "Budget Fenders", so I don't see owning one, but that's me.
 
#86
One of my two main basses is a Squier Affinity Precision Bass, stock, wearing D'Addario Chromes.

My other main bass is a Squier Standard Precision V (with Jazz pickups), soon to be wearing D'Addario Chromes as well.

Play your gear and forget the haterz :bassist:
 
#90
When you make instruments from wood, something that was once actually living, on a machine that cannot judge how good of wood it's actually using, it's going to create a lot of different variables. That's why buying online is generally not a good idea, and you should always try lots of different individual instruments of a certain make before you buy.
 
#92
Bought my Squier VM Fretless from AMS. Came with free 12-month warranty extension, so I wasn't too worried about buying online.

As I said earlier in this thread, the bass had it's shortcomings, but definitely looked, played and sounded like it should have cost double what I paid for it.:bassist:
 
#93
Of the 5 basses that I own, bought 3 in person, 2 used online. In general I agree always better to try first but what's interesting is the 2 I bought in line are both the cheapest and most expensive basses I own. I think the very mass produced basses like Squires and the high end ones tend to be the most consistent. Every Squier CV I played has been excellent, not a dud in the bunch and I've probably played 20 or so. As Bassplayer Live this year, Dimarzio had 3 CV 60s P's and 3 CV Jazzes and they all played and felt virtually identical. I've actually found much less consistency when playing several Fender MIAs or MIMs.
 
#94
Just wanted to get your opinion on something someone once posted on the Fender forums a while back in a discussion on Squier quality. Basically a young lady came on and posted how Squiers were garbage. When asked how many Squier she has actually played her father butted in and posted that he has personally played about 40 to 50 Squier basses and the were ALL garbage, and that he would not allow his daughter to buy any instrument that cost less than $500 because you get what you pay for.
IMO, the guy was just so wrong (and a liar to boot) on a number of different levels. What do you think?
 
#96
Theres no way I would pay 300$ for a new squier or even 199. I'd rather hunt down a used higher quality bass. My experience with squier has been with a ton of their infinity basses I find in pawn shops and noodle around on. I've bought a couple and sold them off(making some spare dinero to pay for my hobby) and tweaked them a bit. They all had crappy tuners which would not stay in tune very well, the bridge was your typical fender bridge and didn't feel to durable, the fretwork was ok... not too bad or too good either, and I remember two having warped necks. The electronics and pickups weren't very hot either.


Bottom line is, any bass thats reasonably built, after a good setup and strings played through a decent rig will get the job done. If you add in pickups and preamps even more so.

I much rather play and buy a used peavey t40 for 250 than a squier CV. Nothing wrong about playing a squier though.... just not for me...
 
#97
Well you obviously haven't tried a CV ;)
There's not a better bass in the world for the price. And why not used CV?
The bridge is fantastic himass with brass saddles and tuners are fine and mine didnt go out of tune even on temperature shifts from extremely cold to warm. It gets cold here in winter...
 
#99
The worst drawback to any Squier Affinity is the machineheads. Personally, if I didn't already have 2 jazz basses I would proudly own and gig with the Vintage Modified jazz bass. The natural blonde one. That is one of (if not THE) best bass under $400, most certainly the best one in its price range.
 
#100
played 10 of my last 12 gigs on a Squier CV 60s P. Tons of compliments...and I am rolling into clubs with my $350 bass and $500 Rumble 350 combo and haven't for a moment thought "I wish I had brought $2000 more of my gear with me...."

Love showing up with $850 total of gear, getting the smirk, kicking much ass and watching people wonder.....trust me it isn't my hands...just good quality, budget gear that sounds very good in 99% of gigs I am in these days...

Plus I have a little equation that if I can't pay for my entire gig rig with 3 gigs worth of pay - the stuff I am bringing is too pricey for clubs I am in...
 

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