• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Professionals using a Squier

#101
Bongolation said:
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.
Click to expand...

You are dealing with bass player trainspotters. A rough estimation is that of 1000 people attending a show, one or two are such things. And one thinks it's bad and the other that it is cool if someone plays a Squier. As for the general audience, they have a hard time even figuring out that a bass has four strings, not six.

And if you are into that kind of nit-picking, avoid the MIM Fenders as trainspotters will also zoom in on those...
 
#102
sourcehill said:
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.
Click to expand...


WOW. One person gave a clear and concise answer without responding like I am some brand whore with Pepsi tattooed on my forehead. Thanks!

Not only does that make sense, but I also have more respect for the Squier lines. (I already had, contrary to how most of you acted, a good deal of respect for them)

And by the way, NO ONE responded to my questions/points about wiring issues. I guess you are here to argue and not talk about this beautiful instrument with a balanced state of mind?

That's kinda sad.

EDIT: I am the ready for the onslaught of 'OH MY GOD YOU ARE THE ONE WHO CAME HERE ARGUING ABOUT WHAT RUBBISH THEY ARE!! I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW INSULTING YOU ARE!!!"
 
#104
Wade10987 said:
But years ago I saw ads with people playing Squiers on stage, with their best (or worst, its hard to tell) guitar face.
Click to expand...

I've seen advertisements where the smiling guitar and bass players are happily playing instruments that aren't even plugged in. They all seem to have that pose of "I'm pretending to be a groovy musician, dude!"

One ad for a local music store had a guy riding a giant guitar that was as big as a truck... THAT HAS TO BE FAKE, RIGHT?

I went to the store and asked to see the giant dino-guitar but nobody knew what I was talking about.
 
#105
airbagtester said:
I've seen advertisements where the smiling guitar and bass players are happily playing instruments that aren't even plugged in. They all seem to have that pose of "I'm pretending to be a groovy musician, dude!"

One ad for a local music store had a guy riding a giant guitar that was as big as a truck... THAT HAS TO BE FAKE, RIGHT?

I went to the store and asked to see the giant dino-guitar but nobody knew what I was talking about.
Click to expand...


Actually there IS A giant replica out there.

 
#106
All I can say is that the electronics and hardware on my Squier Strat are not anywhere as good as that on my Standard Fender Strat. It doesn't mean Squier is bad, only that there IS a difference. Add to that rough fret ends on the Squier, and at that point, overall, I'm more satisfied with my Fender.
 
#107
For the record Wade, I did not call YOU a "brand whore", but more to people who would diss the Squier brand simply for the logo.

If that same person was none the wiser that it was a Squier with instead a Fender logo applied and no other tell-tale signs, and deemed it an incredible instrument, only later to find the ruse, would it change their perception of the instrument?

That's what sometimes separates those that are genuinely happy with an instrument regardless of the label, vs. those that buy into the label first and liking the instrument second.

No big whup, but the latter group I find kinda sad. That's it. That's why some pros are just fine with using a Squier. They LIKE the guitar. Sometimes there need not be any other criteria.

I won't get into the wiring / electronics issue as I have no interest past whether it sounds good or not.
 
#108
ErikP.Bass said:
You have a P that's 6.5 lbs!!! Wow, awesome.
Click to expand...

6.5 pounds AND louder and more aggressive than any other passive bass (and even a few active ones) I have ever played. I have said it before, and I will say it again: it sounds like the angry offspring of a Stingray and a Wal with some Warwick growl added in for good measure. It even has a pretty good Fleasque slap tone. And it only cost me $100. Not to mention that it is quite loud and resonant unplugged which is good as I do 99% of my practicing unplugged. I think it is due to the agathis body which is not only lightweight and resonant, but (if memory serves) very renewable and sustainable. Have I raved enough? I think so.

In all honesty, I think I sound better on a cheaper instrument. This is a shame because I am a true brand whore. That is not to say that I would judge anyone for using a Squier or even an SX, I just have a certain psychological block to using one onstage. I am actively trying to change this. I would not hesitate to recommend a VM or CV Squier to anyone.
 
#110
lsabina said:
Same here. I have 3 MIJ SQ series Bullet basses. Full scale, lighter than a P-bass, great neck, and I like the Tele headstock. And I'm a professional.
Click to expand...

Hey I have that same bass! The neck on it is killer, rolled edges better than any USA Fender neck I have had. I also love the headstock how lightweight it is.. weighs nothing. Do you know what the wood is?
I also have a 83' SQ P bass in Sen ash, 3TS that is killer ..love my SQ's and I will put them up angainst any MIA Fender anytime. BTW..I am not a professional.
 
#111
My Squier Strat sounded fine at first, but after a couple of years the pots shorted out. It also develops static when playing. Except for the ragged fret ends there's nothing that could've been detected at first sight and playing that would distinguish it from a Fender. So, yes, a Squire can compete. But, mine didn't last. The tuners were not good from the get-go.

Hey, I ain't putting Squier down. I'm just saying that mine didn't measure up.
 
#113
Matt Freeman is one pro artist that comes to recent mind that plays Squier basses regularly at his shows/gigs. Granted it is his signature model, however still counts. With the introduction of the VM and Classic models I have grown a bigger respect for the Squier brand, not that I hated it before or anything. Generally speaking and not calling anyone out on here or anything, but I find that only the "gear snobs" need to have the well known names on their head stocks and thousands into their bass and rig. Again not that it is bad.
 
#114
klejst said:
Matt Freeman is one pro artist that comes to recent mind that plays Squier basses regularly at his shows/gigs. Granted it is his signature model, however still counts. With the introduction of the VM and Classic models I have grown a bigger respect for the Squier brand, not that I hated it before or anything. Generally speaking and not calling anyone out on here or anything, but I find that only the "gear snobs" need to have the well known names on their head stocks and thousands into their bass and rig. Again not that it is bad.
Click to expand...

Just because someone likes something different doesn't make them a gear snob.
 
#115
Russell L said:
Just because someone likes something different doesn't make them a gear snob.
Click to expand...

No, a gear snob is someone who will only play certain brands because they yammer on about how cheaper "X" brand is garbage based solely on the few (if any at all) bad examples they've played or because it "only" costs less than $500, or because of where it was made, or because of the name on the headstock.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tg42
#116
Russell L said:
Just because someone likes something different doesn't make them a gear snob.
Click to expand...

Of course not, that is not really what I was implying in my original post either though.


C.Linton said:
No, a gear snob is someone who will only play certain brands because they yammer on about how cheaper "X" brand is garbage based solely on the few (if any at all) bad examples they've played or because it "only" costs less than $500, or because of where it was made, or because of the name on the headstock.
Click to expand...

Exactly.
 
#117
Wade10987 said:
I never understood why anyone remotely professional would use a Squier. Why would they not just use a real Fender?
Click to expand...

Mind if I ask how you reconcile that statement to what you have listed as personal gear on your profile?

I'm going to assume that you don't count yourself as one of those "not remotely professional" people.
 
#118
Wade10987 said:
Actually there IS A giant replica out there.

!


Yeah, a cheap instrument will have lower grade electrics and cut various corners. I don't care. I still want a Squier Jag, a MIJ Jag and a Dingwall amongst others.

Frankly, who give's a rat's posterior about what's written on the headstock. Shut your eyes, play, now does it sound good?

I inherited a mint '66 Fender Jazz, and I like to play out with it. However, due to it's value, I'm afraid it will be stolen so I scratched off the logo and put on a Squier sticker and reliced it myself.










Kidding, of course – The only thing I inherited was a bad sense of time.
Click to expand...
 
#119
Russell L said:
My next question is: price aside, what makes a Squire equal to or better than another bass?

Don't get me wrong, I know the answers to my questions, and I'm not putting down Squier. I just want to hear what ya'll say. For instance, my MIA Jazz has a graphite reinforced neck, rolled fingerboard edges, and very smooth fret ends, better tuners, better pots and pickups, for starters. Maybe the wood selection is better, but I don't know that for sure. In my opinion, these things make it a better bass. It also makes it cost more. But, I don't mind since I feel that these things DO make it better. I don't want to buy something else and do upgrades. Besides, that could come out to cost even more, overall. However, if one feels comfortable without these things, then that is their own way. And that's ok. Sure, a Chevy can go anywhere a Ferrari can, but when the differences mean something to a person, then that's what counts. Nothing wrong with paying out the yazoo if ya want to.

Hey, I'm not trying to go against the grain here, but just to point out the other side of the coin, that's all.
Click to expand...

I'll tackle this one for the other side. There's really no difference in the sonic qualities of alder vs basswood. Basswood is a softer wood but it's not tonally inferior to alder. Maybe on a case by case basis you may find one better than another but in general, no.

The neck, frets on my CV are finished just as well as any MIA Jazz I have ever owned and I can have the edges rolled for $50 if I thought I needed it.

I've heard and done A/B comparisons between the stock pickups and my bass and those on a 62RI. Soloed you'd have a hard time telling them apart blindfolded and in band mix, never. There are full size pots in a CV that sound just fine and if I chose to change them it would cost me about $10.00

I'd say that it's pretty much the same with the tuners but if I did decide to replace them that's $80.00

I'll spot you the graphite reinforced neck.

So, by my count I could upgrade all of the components listed on my CV for about $100 or less and have the edges of the fret board rolled for another $50. Roughly $150 in upgrades.

An MIA Standard Jazz lists for roughly $1700 and a CV Jazz for $580. Is that graphite reinforced neck really worth around $1100? I could replace that too and have enough left over for a bass amp.

From my perspective it's about value and at $1700 list and a $1300 selling price vs about $300 for the CV to me that MIA just isn't worth $1000 more because if it was I'd be playing that instead of my CV because I take pride in my craft and I won't play a crappy instrument no matter whose name is on the headstock.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tg42

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back