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Professionals using a Squier

#61
soulman969 said:
Seems to me that many who go around knocking them are simply trying to convince themselves that because they spent $1000 more they got $1000 more worth of bass. Maybe it would be just too embarrassing to admit they could have had great quality for far less which the may have learned if they'd even bothered to give a try to the bass they're knocking.
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Oh what do you know?? :hiding:

Seriously though...you make a good point. I've played some nice $300-600 Fenders and Squiers, that played just as good as my American Standards. I'll even admit that I probably spent a bit too much on my recent $2k + Fender, because it doesn't sound or feel like I got $1700 more bass. Does it play great, look great...sure...but part of it was lust over the finish and having USA on the headstock.
 
#62
If we get right down to the nuts and bolts, MIA Fender American Standard Jazz basses are living off of their reputation. They're cheaply made, basically the exact same thing as a Squier. The only thing people buy them for is to show off in front of their friends. Made in America? Everyone knows that's a kiss of death, look at Chrysler for cryin out loud!

Don't get swindled into buying these overpriced pieces of junk and if by chance, you have sadly been duped by the FENDER USA marketing machine, I strongly advise you to go to the classified section of TB and sell your bass, now.

Let's say $300? You can buy a new Squier with it, I'll pay shipping............

Don't get fooled by the elitist snobs!!
 
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#63
Well, here where I live, a MIA Standard Jazz Bass V costs about $4.000.00. A MIM, about $2.000,00. A Squier VM Jazz Bass V, costs around $1.000,00. A Squier Affinity J-Bass, about $750,00. I tried them all before I got one. My impressions where:

- the Affinity played, felt and sounded good
- the VM has a better finish and slightly better built than the Affinity
- the MIM is almost the same as the VM
- the MIA was better built and better finished than the MIM
- all basses had almost the same feel and sound (except for the VM, due to its maple fingerboard, wich I don't like - personal taste, don't get me wrong)
- all basses had the same siingle coil hum. Except for the MIA, all basses had the same bad grounding/shielding noise.

I went with the Affinity (it's my main working tool since I got it, about 4 years ago. I've been gigging and recording for 15 years now). I think the differences between this basses didn't justify the huge differences on their price tags in this case. My opinion anyway.
 
#64
WokenDeer said:
All due respect, I don't really feel cars equate to basses. I do love to play my ric at shows but no I wouldn't drive a Ferrari 24/7. I also have an Epi thunderbird that I have absolutely no qualms with or would even think of hiding the headstock. But I do have to say they're are noticeable differences in the quality of the make, not just sound, of the bass. Regarding fret dress. Comfort, overall vibe. Though they are two different basses regardless. And fender vs squier seems to be a closer relation. I know a few people who play squiers and they feel and sound absolutely fine. Not to be on a high horse at all or to shove my ric headstock in anyone's face. But I do absolutely love it. And that's why I bought it. That's why I play it :). Then again. I'm no pro so..
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I like a good, quality, high-end bass as much as anyone(ok, maybe not, since I'd rather play something that won't make me really upset if I drop it or step on the cable and rip the jack out... That probably explains my Toyota Yaris too) and I absolutely get that there are differences... But my point is that there are reasons to play different basses like there are reasons to drive different cars.
I like to play my Squiers because they're easy, sound good enough for me for what I do. I'd love to have a high-end bass too, but mostly it would sit and gather dust. Just like I like driving my Toyota because it gets me to work w/ 40mpg and, if I had a Ferarri, like most, it would sit in the garage. I might take it to the race track occasionally, but only if I was feeling adventurous at the time.
 
#66
I've played arena shows with $80 basses before. Nobody gave a rat's ass, either. All they cared is how I played and that I had an appropriate sound. So all I can say to the OP is "Nobody asked you."
 
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#67
I have 7 basses with the nicest being a BFR Stingray and the cheapest being an Affinity P (lots of mods). Also have a VM J with lots of mods.

I like to play with thick flats and very low action. One thing I notice is that I can't get the action on any of the others as low as I can on the Stingray. But, you can buy what, like 6 to 8 Squiers for the price of one Ray.

Most players who use rounds and use a heavier touch would just raise up the action and probably not notice. I feel the difference, but like having a variety of basses and can't justify spending to have 7 that each cost $2000 when most of them will just get picked up once in awhile.

The VM J was my first bass. I'll never sell it and with mods the tone is great. It doesnt feel like a $3000 bass but thats ok.
 
#68
mrbell321 said:
I like a good, quality, high-end bass as much as anyone(ok, maybe not, since I'd rather play something that won't make me really upset if I drop it or step on the cable and rip the jack out... That probably explains my Toyota Yaris too) and I absolutely get that there are differences... But my point is that there are reasons to play different basses like there are reasons to drive different cars.
I like to play my Squiers because they're easy, sound good enough for me for what I do. I'd love to have a high-end bass too, but mostly it would sit and gather dust. Just like I like driving my Toyota because it gets me to work w/ 40mpg and, if I had a Ferarri, like most, it would sit in the garage. I might take it to the race track occasionally, but only if I was feeling adventurous at the time.
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I understand that logic. And i think it comes down to each his own. I'd personally never want to own a Ferrari for that exact reason. It sit and gather dust. But I'm not really worried about taking my ric out. I bought it to play. It has a couple of minor nicks. But I was prepared for that when I got it. I don't plan on selling it. That's not why I bought it. But back to the subject. I do agree in that I don't see anything wrong with gigging a squier or even an sx if you like it, it feels good, and does its job. I would like to have a frettless in the near future and I'd probably go with squier. I don't need a flashy frettless. Just one that does its job and that I like.
 
#69
mrbell321 said:
I like a good, quality, high-end bass as much as anyone(ok, maybe not, since I'd rather play something that won't make me really upset if I drop it or step on the cable and rip the jack out... That probably explains my Toyota Yaris too) and I absolutely get that there are differences... But my point is that there are reasons to play different basses like there are reasons to drive different cars.
I like to play my Squiers because they're easy, sound good enough for me for what I do. I'd love to have a high-end bass too, but mostly it would sit and gather dust. Just like I like driving my Toyota because it gets me to work w/ 40mpg and, if I had a Ferarri, like most, it would sit in the garage. I might take it to the race track occasionally, but only if I was feeling adventurous at the time.
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That's a good point.
 
#70
I have a live performance coming up next Thursday and one of the first things I thought of was that I would love to use my Squier Classic Vibe 50's P Bass! Then I realized that people may think that I am a beginner if I used it. But that is far from the truth! I have been playing hard for 12 straight years and, in fact, own many "fancy" basses such as Rickenbackers, MusicMen (haha), Warwicks, and such.

It is just that I will be playing jazz (by that I mean the style of 60s post-bop but with electric instruments) and I think that the simplicity and cutting fundamental harmonic of the 50s P setup would be perfect for the performance. All of my band-mates love when I use that bass in practice (most prefer it to everything else except maybe the MusicMan Bongo).

So I still haven't decided, but this thread certainly will make me cautious about whipping out the Squier in a live performance!
 
#72
Rutherford_Fan said:
.

So I still haven't decided, but this thread certainly will make me cautious about whipping out the Squier in a live performance!
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I wouldn't worry too much about it. I'm definitely a Bass-Wonk and have my share of expensive gear, and when I hear another player the first thing I notice is groove, feel, notes, ideas, etc. The instrument he's playing always is a poor second to all of that. If you like it and your bandmates like it, play it!:bassist:
 
#75
ksandvik said:
Just to note that many of those arena/big stage bass players most likely are sponsored by Fender (or someone else) so they don't need to worry about what the cost of a bass is. Or worry about resale value.
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I'm not. Our guitarist uses Squiers and Epiphones and he's not sponsored. I know a butt-ton of guitarists who do high profile gigs with a Squier and they don't have endorsements either. The only people who really care about stuff like that are high school kids.
 
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#77
Our second guitarist is having a baby (ok, his wife is...) and won't be playing our next few gigs. I have noticed that my affinity P sits alot better in the mix than my MIA standard J when we play as a three piece so that's what I 'll be playing. I admit to having some reservations due to a nagging case of headstockitis but I got past it...
 
#79
JimmyM said:
I'm not. Our guitarist uses Squiers and Epiphones and he's not sponsored. I know a butt-ton of guitarists who do high profile gigs with a Squier and they don't have endorsements either. The only people who really care about stuff like that are high school kids.
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Right on, what kind of bass are you playing in this vid?

 

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