This. There's ABSOLUTELY NOTHING wrong with a Squier. If it sounds good and plays good, you're good.
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Is Fender overrated?
- Thread starter punkbass45
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This. There's ABSOLUTELY NOTHING wrong with a Squier. If it sounds good and plays good, you're good.
After several bass played for a long time, FOR ME the Fender Precision (AM STD) is the best upgrade i have ever made.
I don't necessarily disagree with that, but I don't think I'd show up to a cold call audition for an act that pays decently with a Squier. Once I got the gig, then I'd trot it out sometimes, but image counts in the music business, yes it does.
Well lets put it this way...you don't HAVE to buy a Fender to get a good J-bass or P-bass. Squier CVs and VMs are great and there are PLENTY of other people who do their spin on the J and P basses with great success. See if you like em and play as many as you can.
In my country Fender is way too far glorified. To me its very overrated, especially because its a MASS PRODUCTION. Any handmade bass will have lot more "magic" of every single touch of a chisel, than a Fender that was done by machines. Lucky in USA bass players can approve a non-Fender bass, but not really in Poland.
Otherwise bass guitar is a very simple construction. As I wrote in my first thread about guitars in Poland over years, I described a 50's handmade bass guitar with phone microphones as a pickup. Shape like a tele, but without cutaway, wooden bridge, piano strings, nails as frets etc. And it played (tho it sounded higher than a bass does, to the owner it was more a baritone), and till early 60's he played the damn thing.
So if you feel that Squier fits you better spend money on something different, or start collecting money for a new car/flat etc.
Otherwise bass guitar is a very simple construction. As I wrote in my first thread about guitars in Poland over years, I described a 50's handmade bass guitar with phone microphones as a pickup. Shape like a tele, but without cutaway, wooden bridge, piano strings, nails as frets etc. And it played (tho it sounded higher than a bass does, to the owner it was more a baritone), and till early 60's he played the damn thing.
So if you feel that Squier fits you better spend money on something different, or start collecting money for a new car/flat etc.
you really need to explain why you need to upgrade. is the tone bad? is the playability bad? are you hanging around with 12 year old gear snobs? have you tried a good setup? new strings?
If you don't like Fenders, you might say they are overrated. If you do, you might not. I think the whole issue is irrelevant. "Overrated by whom?" is the central question. Professional musicians? Your middle school buddies? Anonymous guys on the internet?
For what it's worth, the jazz bassists I see around here play Fenders. Ask them.
Don't ask me: I have three Precisions.
For what it's worth, the jazz bassists I see around here play Fenders. Ask them.
Don't ask me: I have three Precisions.
I just recently bought a Squire 5-string, active electronics. It sounds better than any Fender I've ever played (except the Marcus Miller signature model). I've had three Fenders in my life, the first being a '72 original American Fender Precision. I had that bass from '79 until '84, when it was stolen from me. I loved that bass, but this new Squire sounds much better. The new Fenders ( and I'm talking about the American made Fenders, those others are garbage), but the new ones don't sound any better than that '72 P-bass I had. This Squire that I just bought sounds much better. So, I do think Fenders are overrated, that is, by today's standards - they're living off their name.
However, they do have a new active model that just came out a couple of years ago for about $1700. I 'm waiting to try that.
But the best bass I've ever played was the Yamaha TRB series (or the Patitucci signature model, they're both excellent). I own both, and I've put them up against all my other basses which are 2 Ken Smiths, an original Tobias, an Alembic (Stanley Clarke model), 2 Spectors, a Conklin. I can go on, but you get the message. My Yamahas are much better, sound and precise construction-they're perfect.
However, they do have a new active model that just came out a couple of years ago for about $1700. I 'm waiting to try that.
But the best bass I've ever played was the Yamaha TRB series (or the Patitucci signature model, they're both excellent). I own both, and I've put them up against all my other basses which are 2 Ken Smiths, an original Tobias, an Alembic (Stanley Clarke model), 2 Spectors, a Conklin. I can go on, but you get the message. My Yamahas are much better, sound and precise construction-they're perfect.
your Squier is a Fender product. if you like your Squier you should like a higher end Fender. You should be most proud of the sound that comes out of your fingers, regardless of what gear you play.
And like other folks here have said, play all the different kinds of basses you can and pick what you like best.
You will notice that the vast majority of electric basses out there are Fender copies of one sort or the other. So I don't think you can call them overrated if everyone else copies their designs!
And like other folks here have said, play all the different kinds of basses you can and pick what you like best.
You will notice that the vast majority of electric basses out there are Fender copies of one sort or the other. So I don't think you can call them overrated if everyone else copies their designs!
Do I think Fenders are overrated? No. Do I think the MIAs are idolized and set on a pedestal above most other basses without due cause? Yes.
I own 2 Fender basses, have owned 5 in total. My MIA P5 is NOT the best of them. My 96 MIM P/J is. It plays better, has a greater sonic range and has a better finish. The MIA is only lighter and has a 5th string. The build quality is on par for both.
The few Squiers I've owned were better than some of the MIAs I've played, too. This is all subjective, but there are definitely some knuckleheads out there who BELIEVE MIAs are better, but aren't willing to back it up in double-blind testing or research.
My best playing basses are my Spectors. I have a 2006 ReBop5DLX and a 1996 NS-2000/5. Both of these basses, despite being picked up for MUCH less than a used MIA Fender would go for, blow every Fender I've played out of the water. Tonal versatility is HUGE, the necks are fast, and the fit/finish is amazing. I've spent probably $1200 total on 2 basses, or about what it would cost just to buy 1 MIA Fender, and have 2 excellent instruments that I won't be parting with any time soon.
I own 2 Fender basses, have owned 5 in total. My MIA P5 is NOT the best of them. My 96 MIM P/J is. It plays better, has a greater sonic range and has a better finish. The MIA is only lighter and has a 5th string. The build quality is on par for both.
The few Squiers I've owned were better than some of the MIAs I've played, too. This is all subjective, but there are definitely some knuckleheads out there who BELIEVE MIAs are better, but aren't willing to back it up in double-blind testing or research.
My best playing basses are my Spectors. I have a 2006 ReBop5DLX and a 1996 NS-2000/5. Both of these basses, despite being picked up for MUCH less than a used MIA Fender would go for, blow every Fender I've played out of the water. Tonal versatility is HUGE, the necks are fast, and the fit/finish is amazing. I've spent probably $1200 total on 2 basses, or about what it would cost just to buy 1 MIA Fender, and have 2 excellent instruments that I won't be parting with any time soon.
You guys are really helping me decide between a MIM or MIA Jazz Bass. I'm leaning towards the MIM because with my Bonus from work and Money from Gear I've sold plus a trade, I could get one for virtually nothing. Part of me wants to take that money and add more money from savings to put towards an American Made because it's more expensive and I somehow have it burned into my head that more expensive is probably better. The only thing I don't care for on the MIM are the pickups (which don't sound bad but could probably be better) but I can always swap those down the line.
I agree Jimmy; there are a lot of bad vibes around here with some people lately - but I would say more anger than angst. However, the OP sounds young (my guess is high school), and is not experienced in gear (judging from his posts/threads). We should cut him a little slack.
To the OP: If you don't like the Squier for anything other than the name, I doubt you will like a Fender that much better. They're largely the same basses. With that said, I love my Fenders - they're awesome instruments.
Schecter makes decent instruments too. I haven't played too many but I liked the 004 and Raiden I played.
I'll say the same thing a lot of other people said here - play what you can at Sam Ash or anywhere else you can find gear, see what you like best. You can also take a chance ordering online where they have much better selections.
My personal favorites were always Fender and Yamaha. I've been shying away from Fender lately because of the rising prices, though. I also appreciate G&L. Lately, I've also discovered KSD Burner basses - they're made in China, but have very comparable quality and the nice-looking designs of Ken Smith. These are just my preferences - see what's out there for you!
P5 says it all. For some reason, Fender hasn't had much luck at building 5-strings in Precision and Jazz format. Some folks may like them but I never thought they did such a great job at it.
Excuse me? Knuckleheads? How do you double-blind test a bass?
I only know how it was when I worked there. One of my jobs there was handling store owned and customer owned repairs. When repairs went back to the vendor, Squiers went to Fender.
That may have changed in the last 11 years, but if it has, I haven't heard about it. I'm only speaking from my experience actually dealing directly with Fender. You? I've admitted twice now that this may have changed in the last 12 years.
12 years ago Squiers were crap, so were MIM Fenders. Fender quality at that time from best to worst were MIA, MIJ, MIM. Just curious where your knowledge stems from. I can sit here and claim unsubstantiated that those disagreeing with me are wrong, as you seem to be doing, but at least I'm drawing from experience and admitting I could be mistaken.
If I am, I'd like you to point out how and why instead of being a pretentious blowhard.
I dunno about george's knowledge, but my knowledge comes from a 2002 Fender MIM Jazz V that I owned. 2001 brought a major change in the MIM Fender basses. Mine was definitely not "crap", I played that bass for 5 years. I even regret selling it. Loved the way it sounded and felt. Whoever played it actually liked the way it felt and sounded - it was just a good bass. My MIM from 2011 is definitely better, but not by much.
Squier I'll agree was terrible 12 years ago. I'll also agree when you say that the MIMs with the poplar bodies and really bad pickups from 1991-2000 were crap. I can't say the same once the MIMs were redesigned the 1st time though. The 2nd redesign made them even better.
I am so glad this thread turned into a Squier vs. MIA vs. MIM vs. MIJ. I miss those threads terribly.
The problem with the P5 isn't the B. It's the tone & playability. The bass is comfortable, but it doesn't play as easily as my other basses. That being said, the best 4 string fender I've played was an MIJ 70's reissue.
Maybe knuckleheads was a bit much, but they're a very devout group with little to no swaying of opinion. Most won't even listen to reason.
The way I do a double blind test is this:
1. Blindfold the participant. Select a wide range of basses with similar features. Turn the volume & tone knobs completely up. Have the participant play each bass & rate them from best to worst.
2. Turn the tone knobs completely off & have the participant repeat the process.
Doing this in a local store, I've never once chosen an MIA as the top bass. I've had MIJs, MIMs & MIK/MIC come up as the top bass more often than not.
It may not be a double blind test in the actual sense of the word, but it's the best way I can describe the process.
That being said, none of the MIA devout I've spoken with, including a retailer at my local store, have ever volunteered or submitted to participating.
It's funny when you look at this...Fender vs Non-Fenderfeels very much like the Creationists vs Evolutionists (not saying Fender or Non-Fender is related to either side of this specifically) debates that are going on ALL over North America & Europe.
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