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Squier 70s Jazz Bass: How Can They Do It?

#43
I played a American made Geddy Lee jazz side by side with a VM jazz couple yrs back.....brought the VM jazz home - played & sounded better. It's my main bass - a real workhorse, no mods, only DR Black Beauties exclusively. also own a VM jag (black / red tort) good bass too, but still not the jazz.
 
#45
bolophonic said:
If it sounds good, why would you even care about what wood it is made out of? And the idea that one side of the globe grows high quality trees, while the entire Asian Pacific region is populated with "inferior" trees that can't hold a screw is ludicrous. Even on the cheapest basses I have ever owned, there was never a problem with screws working their way out of the wood.

I own about six or seven Precisions, all built from a variety of different parted out Squiers, MIM Fenders, USA Fenders, Hondos, Mighty Mite, No-Names. I couldn't even tell you what wood most of them are made out of. I think that 99% of the people talking about wood choice on sub-$400, poly-coated basses are frankly talking out of their behinds.
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AMEN !! - I agree with you whole-heartedly ! I played a friend's Squier Precision, and could not believe how good it sounded. Later on, I helped him when he had a problem with it, and when we took the pickguard off - I was shocked to see that it had a plywood body. So much for THAT theory !!
 
#46
WretchedExcess said:
You're definitely getting a different species of wood in the Asian guitars, compared to what you'd get in the American or Mexican guitars. At least the Mexi basses can use the same species of woods.

Some things to consider: yes, the labor rates cost less in the third world, but the Asian woods are cheaper was well. The quality of the Asian wood isn't equal to what you're getting in the American or Mexican basses. IME the species of Asian woods used for the Squiers is softer than the North American woods, and doesn't hold screws as well.

With that in mind, I tried out a Squier 70s J at my local GC and it didn't feel anything at all like a 70s bass. The neck has nothing in common with a 70s profile, so I'd have to say that the only thing 70s about the guitar is what it looks like from 10 feet away.
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+1

Ordered one for my daughter and it was constructed so poorly that I returned it. THe binding and inlays were horrible. I have seen better ones in stores but I agree nothing like Fender 70's bass. I also think the body thickness is thinner.

But a 70s SX from Rondo-awesome quality-cant say enough good things.
 
#48
Im a friend of cheapo basses, too... our old bass player (back when I only did the singing) hat a VM and it was great, better than those mexican jazzys I tried out at the music store... I for myself play an SX and I'm in the process of modding a harley benton... you just need to find the good ones... a good setup and a set of strings bringt many cheap basses to life... still no boutique instruments but I play rock n roll, no need for the details ;-)

I wouldn't want a 2000$ instrument for I would hate myself for every ding and dong I caused....
 
#49
rootsnfifths said:
I too wonder how hey do it.
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Generally speaking, through labor exploitation, currency manipulation, trade balance cheating, patents infringement, non-existing environmental regulations, and things like that. All that pollution, BTW, is carried over by air and sea and it reaches all of us... It is a global environmental problem, not just Chinese air or Mexican air.

Companies move their manufacturing operations to China (example), downsizing domestically and leaving thousands w/o jobs. It doesn't take long for the Chinese to not only learn how to operate the machines, but also to steal/copy that technology, and in some cases, to then "fire" the foreign company and establish a local (Chinese) company with all the intellectual capital they extracted from the original company. And it's not just basses... go to Walmart (example) and look at the labels... And it's happening across some heavy-hitting big stuff industries, like aerospace. (I posted a link to a video in another thread; feel free to watch.)

So my answer to this (how do they do it) is through extremely minimal production cost relative to that of their their non-Chinese (example) competitors, multiple factors included. And their labor force will increase dramatically as they are talking about lifting their long standing one-child per family policy. It'll be like a conveyor belt of workers ready to be used (exploited?) on manufacturing and defense.

Now, them Sqwaiers? They look and sound good, don't they? For the money they offer a great modding platform and tremendous value. Is there a hidden cost? Only time will tell.
 
#52
Wallace320 said:
latest Classic Vibes come from Indonesia too

A fan of Scot finest Biffy Clyro's James Johnston, and proud owner of his signature's (take on Classic Vibe Jazz bass with lake placid blue matchin' headstock and mint green pickguard) I was shoppin' for lead singer, guitarist, songwriter Sam Neil's signature Stratocaster (again, Classic Vibe Stratocaster with Fiesta red/Salmon pink finish and mint green pickguard)
I came across a surf green Squier Stratocaster with three lipsticks, clearly recallin' a glossy Classic Vibe kinda model, except this writin' behind headstock: "made in Indonesia".

Chinese QC is so consistent, Fender's goin' to place a specific Fender - and Fender only - line into former Squier Classic Vibe plants, not sharin'
'em with Squier anymore, movin' to Indonesia

Cheers,
Wallace
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I can see that with the Modern Player line. All I'm saying is that even though I've had better experiences with Indonesian-made instruments than Chinese-made, the latest Squier series have all been pretty killer.
 
#53
I'm picky about my basses, my main gig basses are a US Lakland JO5 & and an 83 Stingray. I've never played with Precision Basses, recently I decided to change that. I shopped around with a $1200 budget, tried out a crap load and ended up with a squier p "classic vibe" in fiesta red with RW neck and tort guard.

The bass looks beautiful, the neck looks and more importantly feels awesome. I did have to lower the strings and tweak it a little. I took it out this week as a back up bass...I ended up using it for 3 full sets last night. Best 350 I've ever spent.
I'm getting used to the squier headstock too :bassist:
 
#54
6stringpanda said:
+1

Ordered one for my daughter and it was constructed so poorly that I returned it. THe binding and inlays were horrible. I have seen better ones in stores but I agree nothing like Fender 70's bass. I also think the body thickness is thinner.

But a 70s SX from Rondo-awesome quality-cant say enough good things.
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I've consistently had the exact opposite experience regarding SX and Squier, but I will concede SX's wood is a little better. The VM and CV build quality was superior, IMO.
 
#55
I Love my Cv 60 P, nice sounding Tonerider Pup, nice paint job,issue-less alpha pot, great hi-mask bridge, tight neck pocket, nice neck, easy play vintage fret with no sharp fret edge, Straight neck+low action+Chrome flat =No Any Single Buzz!

So...... what should i complain with that Cheap Price??

The Con just little dead spot right C on G string & .........it sound not like Roadworn P.
 

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