This would only make sense for an endorsement I guess. If you are using the premium wood, pickups, tuners, what's left that's non premium? Surely it's cheaper to start with a Fender as opposed to taking a Squier and changing every component.
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Professionals using a Squier
- Thread starter Wade10987
- Start date
This would only make sense for an endorsement I guess. If you are using the premium wood, pickups, tuners, what's left that's non premium? Surely it's cheaper to start with a Fender as opposed to taking a Squier and changing every component.
I used to have a mid 90's Squier P. I updated to a 2008 American Standard. Was actually intending to buy a Highway 1, but the American standard was clearly a better instrument. Not perfect though, I have to say, but as good as I need.
If I was snobbing, I would probably be looking at a Sadowsky or something. But if I was snobbing I wouldn't use my old Ibanez Jazz copy (that was my first bass) or my Greco Beatle bass on stage.
If I was snobbing, I would probably be looking at a Sadowsky or something. But if I was snobbing I wouldn't use my old Ibanez Jazz copy (that was my first bass) or my Greco Beatle bass on stage.
It's pretty common for indie bands to play squiers. It looks cool to look like you don't care about gear
No. My point was that if a company endorses you and sends you bass after bass via UPS, you don't really worry about the cost and problems destroying a nice piece of a bass on the road.
You are also forgetting that these pro musicians are probably touring a lot. And on a tour that you fly through many states would you rather risk your 2000$ Bass getting lost? Or a 200$ squier that you can always just go to the nearest Guitar Center a buy one that plays the same. If it were me i would play the Squire unless i knew for sure where my expensive bass was everytime (like a tour bus)
You're only right by accident, though. FMIC doesn't actually pay endorsees, no matter how big you are. Unless they've changed things fairly recently, the only actual money that changes hands is a contribution to an NPO of the artist's choice from FMIC artist models (which I imagine can get fiddled into a two-way tax break, which is as good as cash in that income bracket). They do give you a lot of free gear, whatnot and support.
My gigging days are over due to a hand injury, but I never did and never would gig with a Squier for the simple reason it would be a distraction for someone.
The first time somebody asks himself, "Why is that guy gigging with a Squier?" I would have achieved an incremental presentation failure.
Same with anything that was non-pro-standard gear of any kind, or otherwise conspicuous, like in some hideous color.
My final "working" basses were a plain-vanilla MIA new sunburst P and a plain-vanilla new MIA sunburst J.
Pro-standard stuff nobody would give a second thought to, one way or the other. Nobody's going to love it or hate it.
I have much more valuable and impressive gear, but I wouldn't use it any more than I would a Squier.
The music is important and you're the show, as the performing musician. The gear's presentation should not distract focus from that in any way, unless you're some kind of clown act with wretched excess in everything [cough! Bootsy! cough!].
If you're a young act, though, uber-nice gear will convince people you are somewhat better than you are. Always has, always will. Deal with it.
The first time somebody asks himself, "Why is that guy gigging with a Squier?" I would have achieved an incremental presentation failure.
Same with anything that was non-pro-standard gear of any kind, or otherwise conspicuous, like in some hideous color.
My final "working" basses were a plain-vanilla MIA new sunburst P and a plain-vanilla new MIA sunburst J.
Pro-standard stuff nobody would give a second thought to, one way or the other. Nobody's going to love it or hate it.
I have much more valuable and impressive gear, but I wouldn't use it any more than I would a Squier.
The music is important and you're the show, as the performing musician. The gear's presentation should not distract focus from that in any way, unless you're some kind of clown act with wretched excess in everything [cough! Bootsy! cough!].
If you're a young act, though, uber-nice gear will convince people you are somewhat better than you are. Always has, always will. Deal with it.
I think the quote in your signature is a good answer for this.
This whole premise that "real Fenders" are great instruments escapes me. They're the Fords and Chevys of basses and guitars. And like Fords and Chevys, most of the ones that work well have aftermarket parts.
Oh, I never said that. I also never said that Squiers were bad instruments.
What I said was, effectively, these are irrelevant points to audience expectations.
Did I say they were rubbish? I asked a question because I respect all of your opinions and I wanted to learn more about their reputation from all kinds of bass players. If I thought they were rubbish, I would have said "why would anyone play a Squier".
I ask a question and people want to overreact and put words in my mouth. I began my post by saying "I am NOT hating on Squier". And people still freak out like I am some shallow materialistic prick.
One of the reasons I ask was about reliability. I treasure my Squiers for economic AND sentimental value. They were my first bass (01 Affinity P-Bass) and my first guitar (00 Standard Tele). But the bass pickups were always a weak, the tuners loose, and the pots noisy and the Tele always had pickup problems and issues with the wiring.
So on a positive note, thanks for the responses. I didn't realize so many people considered them near MIA Fenders. And to backtrack, I really should have called the VM and Classic series great. I truly do think they are great. I said decent because so many people here show off their 15 Spectors or 8 Warwicks, so compared to that kinda gear, somebody is gonna have a problem with a 300$ bass.
I ask a question and people want to overreact and put words in my mouth. I began my post by saying "I am NOT hating on Squier". And people still freak out like I am some shallow materialistic prick.
One of the reasons I ask was about reliability. I treasure my Squiers for economic AND sentimental value. They were my first bass (01 Affinity P-Bass) and my first guitar (00 Standard Tele). But the bass pickups were always a weak, the tuners loose, and the pots noisy and the Tele always had pickup problems and issues with the wiring.
So on a positive note, thanks for the responses. I didn't realize so many people considered them near MIA Fenders. And to backtrack, I really should have called the VM and Classic series great. I truly do think they are great. I said decent because so many people here show off their 15 Spectors or 8 Warwicks, so compared to that kinda gear, somebody is gonna have a problem with a 300$ bass.
I have 7 basses at home, none of them are boutique basses but really "on the budget" instruments... I´m really proud of my MIM Fender P Bass, its one of my favorite bass... but now I have GAS for a blue Squire Classic Vibe Precision '50s
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And since I LOVE to tweak musical instruments, I know I could get what I want with less money!
I like it!
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And since I LOVE to tweak musical instruments, I know I could get what I want with less money!
I like it!
I didn't know that about Peter Baltes. I a huge Accept fan. I always assumed it was a Fender p bass.
Wade10987 said:
Sorry, haven't gone through all ten pages yet. But I can say, with great confidence, that Regi Wooten uses a Squier almost exclusively. He explained to us, at a fairly recent camp, that he bought it for $95 during a trip to NYC with his little brother, Victor. (Vic bought his first Fodera during this same trip.)
HTH!!
Mongol Chief: "Conan, what is best in life?"
Conan: "To crush enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of the women."
Mongol Chief: "Ah...good!"
The meaning of "good" or "bad" is all in the eye of the beholder. My '87 Jazz Bass Special seems to feel and sound better than my '01 American Jazz. But, the Special isn't made better, nor does it have better hardware or electronics. It's just me. It's the same when comparing a Squier to, say, a regular Fender, or anything else. Both may sound the same, one may feel better to one player or not to another player. It can be good or bad, depending.
No doubt, though, that Squiers are a good buy and play well. I've thought about getting one myself, just to play with something different without having to spend a mint. But, you just never know what may be "good" or "bad." Hey, my '01 MIA Jazz sounds better since I put a black pickguard on it. It can crush enemies.
Conan: "To crush enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of the women."
Mongol Chief: "Ah...good!"
The meaning of "good" or "bad" is all in the eye of the beholder. My '87 Jazz Bass Special seems to feel and sound better than my '01 American Jazz. But, the Special isn't made better, nor does it have better hardware or electronics. It's just me. It's the same when comparing a Squier to, say, a regular Fender, or anything else. Both may sound the same, one may feel better to one player or not to another player. It can be good or bad, depending.
No doubt, though, that Squiers are a good buy and play well. I've thought about getting one myself, just to play with something different without having to spend a mint. But, you just never know what may be "good" or "bad." Hey, my '01 MIA Jazz sounds better since I put a black pickguard on it. It can crush enemies.
The "real Fender" part was referring to post #1 of this thread, not your post. I should have specified that.
Right, they aren't the actual signature models at all. They are super high-end versions of them made from scratch just for the artist but LOOK just like their $299 models that anyone can go out and buy.
Most MIMs are Squenders right? It's just the name printed on the headstock. Same goes for 'brand name' anything.
