Is Squire a bad thing ?

[ejaggers]

I disagree!!!! A Squier Can Be A Bad Thing.

My modded 2003 Squier Affinity Precision is “BAD TO THE BONE”

o Hipshot drop D tuner
o 60’s Style Fender Precision decal sealed with satin acrylic
o Custom nut crafted from Dear Antler
o 60’s RI electronics
o Dome Precision knobs
o Precision Ashtray Bridge Cover
o Aluminum tape shielding
o Limited Edition Custom Series Neck plate with serial
o Switchcraft output jack
o 3-ply Parchment Pickguard
o Lindy Fralin pup

057912

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Affinity basses are agathis.

thanks. A tonewood if I've ever heard one.

No matter - the affinity is fine entry level instrument.

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

They are better. A VM jazz is $300 and an American Standard is $1400. Is the betterness of the American Standard worth $1100? Not really, but it's definately better. Better wood, better pickups, better hardware. It's just better.

Better wood? A good VM is Alder.

Better pickups? The Duncan pups sound as good as any of my American basses (that's subjective).

Better hardware? Not a significant difference. Tuners, bridge.

Lower tolerances for parts fitting? The neck pocket is tight, knobs are not loose, no extraneous rattle of parts, nut is cut perfect, almost zero fret buzz.

Maybe I just got lucky.

 

[Gorn]

Better wood? A good VM is Alder.

Better pickups? The Duncan pups sound as good as any of my American basses (that's subjective).

Better hardware? Not a significant difference. Tuners, bridge.

Lower tolerances for parts fitting? The neck pocket is tight, knobs are not loose, no extraneous rattle of parts, nut is cut perfect, almost zero fret buzz.

Maybe I just got lucky.

Better. Not $1100 better, but better.

 

[Quilbert]

The Japanese ones from the 1980s are excellent and much sought after.

 

[Rocky]

I recently purchased a Squire Modified Jazz Bass. Dealers tell me it's nothing like a genuine Fender American Jazz Bass.I happen to like it.It plays very well, and the pickups sound OK. Am I just being awed by the Fender mistique or are there significant differences ?

There are differences certainly, but if you like your bass don't let others sway you. Of course dealers are tempting you with promises of a better instruments merits, and if you have the cash, and decide after playing one that you'd like to own one great, but its thier job to tempt you too buy so take thier opinion with a big grain salt. I'm of the opinion that if a person loves thier instrument thats all that matters, and if that somehow bothers others to the point of making condescending comments they are more than welcome to pony up some cash, and help me get something nicer.

 

[Thumper19605]

I own one and love it, had fenders too no big difference.
sound? well here you go.

 

[lbbc]

I bought a Squier Aiken that was modified with tone knob, new pickup and white pearloid pickguard....and am keeping it! Sounds. plays and looks great!

 

[Echovox]

For the money Squier makes some pretty amazing instruments. I have played some Squiers that play much better than some USA made basses.
I don't think you can go wrong it that price point with a Squier instrument.

 

[Hopi76]

Yes I believe so. One more thing. I attempted to put a different neck on this VM, and noticed that the mounting space was notas wide. A neck from another bass I have(precision bass) wont fit in the VM's slot. Is this common ?

I bought a Squier VM fretless when they first came out, and a few years later, I wanted a fretted bass to leave where we used to rehearse (I already had built a fretless Warmoth bass to take care of my fretless needs). So, I swapped the neck for an old MIM fretted jazz neck I had in my pile of parts. The bolt holes lined up, yet you could fit almost fit a dime on each side of the neck pocket. I compared the neck heels together, and they looked like they came from polar opposites of the bass manufacturer spectrum.

 

[SamJ]

I recently purchased a Squire Modified Jazz Bass. Dealers tell me it's nothing like a genuine Fender American Jazz Bass.I happen to like it.It plays very well, and the pickups sound OK. Am I just being awed by the Fender mistique or are there significant differences ?

there IS a significant difference, but it's not a bad thing for $200-300... Fender USA basses are $1200-$7000 depending on model.

 

[SamJ]

For the money Squier makes some pretty amazing instruments. I have played some Squiers that play much better than some USA made basses.
I don't think you can go wrong it that price point with a Squier instrument.

that's 99.9% likely related to the setup and not the instrument.. a $199 brand-x with a good setup will play better than a $10000 Alembic with a bad one..

 

[spaz21387]

Squiers arent bad id take them over an mim fender thats for sure....

 

[Robus]

No, it's a great thing when American companies offshore jobs.

Those workers in China earn pennies on the dollar compared to American wages. They don't have the freedom to form unions or protest their wages and working conditions, because they live in a communist party dictatorship. All this adds up to profits for the company and low cost products for American consumers, which is great because well-paying jobs are getting hard to find.

Win/win.

Now if only they would reintroduce slavery somewhere in the world, we could get our goodies even cheaper.

 

[Jaco Taco]

Never!!!!

 

[SamJ]

No, it's a great thing when American companies offshore jobs.

Those workers in China earn pennies on the dollar compared to American wages. They don't have the freedom to form unions or protest their wages and working conditions, because they live in a communist party dictatorship. All this adds up to profits for the company and low cost products for American consumers, which is great because well-paying jobs are getting hard to find.

Win/win.

Now if only they would reintroduce slavery somewhere in the world, we could get our goodies even cheaper.

and frankly this is the ELEPHANT in the living room of the OP's question... even IF the two instruments were identical in quality and features, I'd buy the Fender MIA because I wouldn't want my job farmed out to China either.

 

[Mazinger]

One of you grammar nazis should tell Chris that he spells his name wrong.

 

[DwaynieAD]

Squier CVs and VMs are good bargain basses. So good that we should be happy Fender isn't upping the prices by $100. I've even read here that the Affinity series basses are much better than they used to be.
You might notice the Squier CV Jazz bass in my avatar. It's an amazing bass for $375.

The new affinities are insane values. Great basses. Tuners aren't the greatest, but they sound like you'd expect a jazz or p to sound, so for 179 you really cant complain. The necks impress the hell out of me on them too.

 

[Jim Miller]

In April 1984 I bought a brand new Squier P-bass, one of the "SQ" series. I put a Badass on it back then and it has a DiMarzio in it. Played hundreds of gigs with it and still have it. Feels great, sounds great. In 31 years I've only played one Fender P bass that came close to having the same feel and playability as my Squier. I own/have owned a lot of Gibson/Fender/Hamer basses but the Squier will never leave. Can't say all Squiers are that way and maybe I just got lucky, but that's my $00.02.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

and frankly this is the ELEPHANT in the living room of the OP's question... even IF the two instruments were identical in quality and features, I'd buy the Fender MIA because I wouldn't want my job farmed out to China either.

Only Affinities are made in China. All of the nicer Squiers are made in Indonesia, a much more politically free country.