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Please help me decide which Squier P-Bass

J

jeghers

Nov 17, 2008
3
0
#1
Greets all, please help me make a well-informed decision...

Here is my situation in a nutshell:

* I have some store credit at MusiciansFriend.com with which I can get a low-end bass

* I am a guitar dude, not that much bass experience, but I've wanted a bass for light non-gig use at home

* I want the bass for recordings which currently have computer-generated bass tracks, some sound ok, others could be better. I want to replace some of these tracks with a real bass.

* My style is rocked-up blues, so I want a FAT PUNCHY driving sound. Funky slappy twangy is NOT what I want.

* I have narrowed down to a few Fender Squire models. They seem to have the sound that feels right for me.

* I am not satisfied with any J-basses I've tried, they seem thin and wimpy compared to the P-bass, which is (more) punchy and fat.

* IMPORTANT: I've played an Affinity P-bass (single pup) and like the sound. Good punch. Downside: single pup means less options when I eventually want other tones.

* IMPORTANT: I am intrigued by the Standard P Bass Special, which is basically a P-bass but with a Jazz neck (easier for me to play) and plus a J-pup at the bridge. This would have more options and only costs a little more. HOWEVER, I have not been able to play one firsthand.

So...... I have no way of knowing if the Standard P-bass Special has the same great punchy fat tone in the P-pup like the Affinity does. The Affinity is a known quantity, but the techno-nerd in me really wants the added versatility of a 2-pup model (like the Standard P Bass Special).

What do you all think? Any of you have firsthand knowledge of how the 2 compare? Does the Standard P Bass Special have the same fat punch as the Affinity? Does the thinner neck change the tone? Would I be disappointed with it in comparison to the Affinity?

Thanks in advance,
/Mark
 
#2
Squier P/J bass...yes. That's the one to buy. I just bought one second had from GC for 150.00 on line. Narrow nut, fat P and treb J pickup...this is a perfect bass/fun bass. I also have a second hand EB-0 Epiphone...only 99.00 from GC used on line section. The shipping was about 20.00 for each bass. But back to the P/J Squier...do it man, it is a great axe...dy.
 
#3
I wouldn't get an affinity series if you can also buy a standard series or even better a vintage modified or classic vibe series. The built quality on those is a lot better than on the affinity (esp. the VM and CV series have a very good rep.). I would personally go with the single P pickup because the J pup will only give you more treble (and deeper lows for some reason but not the fat lows I like). If it is your first bass however than having something versatile is never wrong. The precision special will most likely also have the standard P sound.
 
#4
Mark, for the music you play, and sound you want, a P bass, one that you like the Feel and Sound will work regardless that you believe a single pup is limited (lets not get into that one). Now as for the P special, I guess if a single P is boss an added J couldn't hurt. The Affinity is Squier's lowest entry model, sorry to say, everything up from there in their production line will be much better.

Conclusion go for the Squier P Special, but do try to get one in your hands for feel and comfort compatibility. I am positive you will like the tone. You will not be disappointed.

BassHowLowCanUgo
 
#10
If your after a fat punchy sound you probably won't need that 2nd pickup. The Classic Vibe series is good. I would have probably bought one myself but I didn't like the varnished neck.

Invalid Link Removed
 
#12
TMBTC said:
60's classic vibe and a set of flats will give you everything your looking for.
Click to expand...

I'm always very hesitant to push flats on new players. I feel like there is a necessary minimum of experience a player needs before they can appreciate flats. Maybe this is just me. All I know is hated them for years. Perhaps this is not the proper time nor place for this argument...

I will agree with the first part though. 60s classic vibe p bass.
 
#14
JEGHERS,

I had a Squire Vintage Modified Precision Bass for about three years and it was a great bass (and even better because I sold it for what I originally paid for it!). I only sold it because I bought a Nash P-Bass had needed to keep the peace with my wife.

I bought the Squire bass after it was recommended highly by Bass Player magazine. Anyways, here is a review I wrote of the bass in 2007. I hope this is useful in making your decision:

I went looking for a loud, aggressive-sounding (and cheap) Precision Bass and found it in this Squire Vintage Modified Precision Bass. It has exactly the sound I was looking for: that slightly distorted, ton-of-midrange, classic Precision Bass tone.

The bass is decently-constructed and adjusts well. I had to tweak the neck and bridge adjustments, and everything fell right in to place and has stayed there, even after playing a few outdoor summer gigs.

The bass is light-weight but lacks the heft and solid-feeling you find when you pick up one of my other basses, including a vintage Jazz Bass and an ‘87 Musicman Stingray.

The tone control works great – at one extreme you get a nice “zing” for playing with a pick, and at the other you get a nice finger style “whoomph.”

The bass looks good: all white with a black pick guard. I considered putting a BadAss bridge on it, but after seeing that Sid Vicious’ bass had the stock bridge (this bass is modeled after his Precision) I decided to keep mine stock too.

I’m 100% pleased with the sound this bass provides but I’m curious why Fender would model it after an instrument played by a bad bass player (rumor has it that Sid Vicious was recruited by the Sex Pistols for his image, not his chops).

This bass doesn’t have the high quality feel and construction you will find on Fender’s American basses, but for a few hundred bucks, you can get nearly the same sound as the higher-priced bass.
 
#16
bass103.gif
 
#17
blendermassacre said:
bass103.gif
Click to expand...

so what is it your trying to say?
LOL

I have only had experience with the Precision Special
and I liked it alot:

lightweight
has that P bass thump
with the added benefit of the Jazz pickup that you can blend in ever so lighty for subtle nuance

plus its cheap to boot:

and you cant beat this for looks:
SQPBR-PTR_front.jpg

SQPBR-WAL_front.jpg



however, for the same price you can get the Vintage Vibe that has in my opinion better pickups and hardware:

SQVMP_front.jpg
 

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