NBD Squier Debut Series…

[Deleted member 271037]

Having a P-bass split coil closer to the neck isn't necessarily a bad thing. Personally I would much rather have it closer to the neck than closer to the bridge, which doesn't work for me at all with P-bass split coils. I believe the Orange O-basses have the split coil even (slightly) closer to the neck than these Debut Squires, and they sound great!

Having said that, I'm sure the quality can vary a bit for $129. In this price range I would NEVER buy without testing (which is obviously not possible in this case). But it sounds like you got a good one, congrats!

 

[C Stone]

$129 is PRETTY great, even for a marginally tolerable bass. Body and hardware alone would be worth it for me if it's solid.

The pickup placement is a concern IMO, but I wonder if it's enough to make any difference tonally.

I mean it sure seems like it might, can’t tell yet I haven’t had any real time with it but will send through the daw “as is” and I’ll A/B it when/if I can (routs being agreeable) to dropping it to down 3-3/4”

 

[C Stone]

Having a P-bass split coil closer to the neck isn't necessarily a bad thing. Personally I would much rather have it closer to the neck than closer to the bridge, which doesn't work for me at all with P-bass split coils. I believe the Orange O-basses have the split coil even (slightly) closer to the neck than these Debut Squires, and they sound great!

Having said that, I'm sure the quality can vary a bit for $129. In this price range I would NEVER buy without testing (which is obviously not possible in this case). But it sounds like you got a good one, congrats!

Thanks, fit and finish wise this one is a no-brainer just need larger sample size.

Good info on the PU placement, I agree better a neck side creep than the bridge.

 

[MartinB]

I was thinking about putting a Music Man-style pickup in one of these, so if the Precision pickups are slightly closer to the neck than normal, I might be able to both fit pickups without overlap

 

[UNICORN BASS]

To the O.P. Wow, nice photos, also the fret quality looks amazing for just about any cheaper bass. These look great. As someone noted they look very similar to the early 2000-2001 P Bass specials. I owned one back in the day and kind of miss it.

 

[C Stone]

I was thinking about putting a Music Man-style pickup in one of these, so if the Precision pickups are slightly closer to the neck than normal, I might be able to both fit pickups without overlap

Welp if you are thinking 5 1/4”-ish from neck heel to MM style, that lands right in the middle of the lower split, 6 inches is about as close as you could get without having to move some stuff around not sure if you were messin but there it is!

 

[Killing Floor]

I like that matte red.

 

[C Stone]

To the O.P. Wow, nice photos, also the fret quality looks amazing for just about any cheaper bass. These look great. As someone noted they look very similar to the early 2000-2001 P Bass specials. I owned one back in the day and kind of miss it.

Thanks, yea that was me…and I just measured my ‘99 P Bass Special it is
a Standard but the pick-up top is right
at 3-1/2” from neck heel mark so same spot for the new Debut Series P, ok then.

Still nearly impossible to find the older 14 hole pick-guards that just might fit the Standard PJ split from that era. It’s no big deal I’ll leave it for now, live with the white guard, keep and eye out for a P Special, have one cut or move the PU
lower to standard sweet spot…(options).

 

[MartinB]

Welp if you are thinking 5 1/4”-ish from neck heel to MM style, that lands right in the middle of the lower split, 6 inches is about as close as you could get without having to move some stuff around not sure if you were messin but there it is!

Good to know - thanks!
I was basing it on this example, where I thought it looked like there ought to be enough clearance, but it's no big deal. I never planned to keep the P pickup - it just would have been interesting to have both in there at once.

()

 

[creaturegods]

Dang, I love the matte finish and the "outline" logo on the headstock. These look really nice for the price!
Thanks for the write-up, OP! I know a lot of people on here have been curious about the new Debut series.

 

[Relayer71]

Hey all I thought I’d put this up since this is a new offering from Squier and I’m not sure anyone here has one yet.
Anyway I believe this to be an Amazon exclusive as far as I know and the only place offering them right now at least.
The Squier Debut Series Precision bass

The site description really doesn’t have much spec info other than it’s “Poplar”
I grabbed one as I was curious to see what a $129 bass from Fender/Squier
was all about. It’s been marketed as a beginner bass with free lessons, maybe they are trying to drive people to the “Fender Play” subscription with these basses or trying to get some of the SX Glarry, Harley Benton, Ktaxon market?
All-in-all I am flummoxed
at how well this bass is put together at
a price point of $126 US. Serial-CMCA and is “Crafted In China”. Take it easy!

They're definitely trying to fill that Harley Benton gap in their line-up. That looks pretty nice for $129 . Judging from those pics, the frets and matte finish look good.

Wait, they have the nerve to charge $129 and those aren't made in the U.S.????

 

[BassAndCigars]

Really nice. Screaming to be torted. Nice bass.

 

[C Stone]

Dang, I love the matte finish and the "outline" logo on the headstock. These look really nice for the price!
Thanks for the write-up, OP! I know a lot of people on here have been curious about the new Debut series.

Of course, I thought the same . For anyone who didn’t read through or may have missed on an above post there is good info or “for food for thought” here.
The pickup placement (after measuring) is the same as my Squier Standard PJ’s.

I just ran through a bunch of tunes and this bass sounds perfectly good as is or at least as good as one would expect for a budget friendly bass wearing ceramic pick-ups. I will leave it for now, change strings and give it another go. I do have extra CV 60’s and ToneRiders pickups as options but I am enjoying it stock so far.

 

[bherman]

Of course, I thought the same . For anyone who didn’t read through or may have missed on an above post there is good info or “for food for thought” here.
The pickup placement (after measuring) is the same as my Squier Standard PJ’s.

I just ran through a bunch of tunes and this bass sounds perfectly good as is or at least as good as one would expect for a budget friendly bass wearing ceramic pick-ups. I will leave it for now, change strings and give it another go. I do have extra CV 60’s and ToneRiders pickups as options but I am enjoying it stock so far.

Thx for the info - I cant find these listed anywhere on Amazon, would you mind posting a link?

 

[JC BASS 91]

Hey all I thought I’d put this up since this is a new offering from Squier and I’m not sure anyone here has one yet.
Anyway I believe this to be an Amazon exclusive as far as I know and the only place offering them right now at least.
The Squier Debut Series Precision bass

The site description really doesn’t have much spec info other than it’s “Poplar”
I grabbed one as I was curious to see what a $129 bass from Fender/Squier
was all about. It’s been marketed as a beginner bass with free lessons, maybe they are trying to drive people to the “Fender Play” subscription with these basses or trying to get some of the SX Glarry, Harley Benton, Ktaxon market?
IDK but one was delivered today so for anyone interested here is the rundown.
View attachment 5477626
I grabbed the Dakota Red (matte) they currently also have a burst and black, all with matte finishes, first impression it’s very good (for the money) no sharp frets the set-up and action was playable right out of the box and the neck is straight…
View attachment 5477639
The neck feels “almost” unfinished, it’s surely sealed though and the neck feel
is very thin (front to back). The nut is “standard” Jazz width at 1.5” (38mm)
so it’s very much like a P Bass Special.
The open gear tuners work fine so far.
Frets themselves are surprisingly nice.
View attachment 5477647 View attachment 5477646
Quickly measured it seems a standard size P but with a thinner body. The fit and finish is surprisingly good and not just for the price, it seems like it is put together pretty well for a very budget friendly bass, at least my example here.
View attachment 5477651
View attachment 5477656
The bad: strangely enough for a full 34” scale bass the pickups are approx. 1/4” closer to the neck so no Fender/Squier
p bass guards are going to fit without checking under the hood to see if the rout is large enough move them down
a 1/4” to the standard P’s “sweet spot”
A quick overlay of couple other Squier guards looks like all but one of the PG screws line up (I’ll have to see when I pull it apart). The strings are garbage not 7250’s. All-in-all I am flummoxed
at how well this bass is put together at
a price point of $126 US. Serial-CMCA and is “Crafted In China”. Take it easy!

I have been watching for these to show up on the US Amazon, but they only show up for me as a being part of a package with the amp, gig bag and cord for a hair over $250. Can't seem to find just the bass. I wanted to grab one to tinker with.

 

[C Stone]

Really nice. Screaming to be torted. Nice bass.

Thanks man, I do have tort and a 20+ year old single-ply aged white that is now more gold colored, both work well.
I’ll repost pics here if I change ‘em out.

 

[C Stone]

Thx for the info - I cant find these listed anywhere on Amazon, would you mind posting a link?

I have been watching for these to show up on the US Amazon, but they only show up for me as a being part of a package with the amp, gig bag and cord for a hair over $250. Can't seem to find just the bass. I wanted to grab one to tinker with.

No problem I saved a link fellas, it is strange I could not find them through Amazon on my Chromebook, then tried the PC and then my IPhone nope again.

My wife pulled it up on her phone, found them sent me a link, here’s what I have.

https://www.amazon.com/FenderPrecisionBeginnerWarrantyLessons/dp/B0CSLM

 

[ggvicviper]

Every once in a blue moon, Fender does things like this. They'll provide a short lived, ultra-budget product in limited availability to certain retailers. Anyone remember the Starcaster effects pedals?

I'm glad your experience with this P has been largely positive.

 

[C Stone]

Every once in a blue moon, Fender does things like this. They'll provide a short lived, ultra-budget product in limited availability to certain retailers. Anyone remember the Starcaster effects pedals?

I'm glad your experience with this P has been largely positive.

Thanks, yea so far so good it was really just out of curiosity I do have far better players but just couldn’t help myself.

 

[Dust2Dust]

Squier fanboy here
Sweet bass, bro