Squier Affinity Jazz Thread

[chuck norriss]

Thread specific to affinity Jazz & Jazz V please post pics reviews etc
Indo / China / Starter Pack / Used / New / Love / Hate
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[Olde Axeman]

Are the new Affinity Jazz basses, particularly the Burgundy Mist and Lake Placid Blue models, made in China?

They seem to be made a bit differently than the older black/red/blue models that were made in Indonesia, but I can't tell for sure.

 

[chuck norriss]

To my knowledge they are. From what I've read they started making them in china around 2007 I might be wrong. I'll know for sure Monday.

 

[chuck norriss]

Are the new Affinity Jazz basses, particularly the Burgundy Mist and Lake Placid Blue models, made in China?

They seem to be made a bit differently than the older black/red/blue models that were made in Indonesia, but I can't tell for sure.

2013 burgundy mist affinity "J BASS" (on the headstock) says "crafted in China" on the back of the head. S/n starts with CY then 9-digit #

Intonation is good out of the box! Can you believe it? Tuners are holding up after 1hr of play still in tune.

I can't tell the difference between this Affinity and the vmj. Obvious difference is pickups. And paint job--maybe the wood is ugly under the paint who knows. If you told me this was a mim standard with a sanded neck id believe it. If you said this was MIJ or USA I'd do a double take.
It doesn't feel as robust or as heavy as those--you know that feeling--yet this has an alder body. Don't know the weight. It feels light enough.

I haven't looked under te hood yet. I already notice the plate is thinner than the 3-ply.
Jim777 hooked me up with some better pups! supa-thanks Jim! When I get them I'll take pics of the guts.
I may have a knock-off bridge put in but this one is just fine. I was afraid it would be terrible but it is okay. Good enough for government work. Strings have a lot of zing. I'm a flats guy.
Neck is excellent no issues.
Bravo squier affinity! You have my confidence. I'm getting an affinity pj next.
Pics later

 

[chuck norriss]

slightly shorter than the vmj. the horn is a little smaller. this was taken with both lined up--the bottom is even; the top as you can see, isn't.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] by CXK, on Flickr

 

[chuck norriss]

the affinity is plain & completely dry (no finishing); the mim neck is lacquered headstock & satin back of the neck

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] by CXK, on Flickr

 

[FourBanger]

As I was told here recently the Affinity bodies are not as thick as a 'regular' Fender body either, whereas the VM is.

 

[chuck norriss]

some pics to go along w what i wrote

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] by CXK, on Flickr

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] by CXK, on Flickr

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] by CXK, on Flickr

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] by CXK, on Flickr

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] by CXK, on Flickr

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] by CXK, on Flickr

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] by CXK, on Flickr

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] by CXK, on Flickr

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] by CXK, on Flickr

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] by CXK, on Flickr

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] by CXK, on Flickr

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] by CXK, on Flickr

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] by CXK, on Flickr

 

[chuck norriss]

As I was told here recently the Affinity bodies are not as thick as a 'regular' Fender body either, whereas the VM is.

i didn't measure it but i can. at first glance it does look thinner, maybe by 1/2cm or 1/4 inch

 

[FourBanger]

I think that is about right. I always noticed it one the guitars and it is always mentioned in threads about the guitars but I had never heard it about the basses until I asked specifically. That thread was maybe a month old? I forget who answered.

 

[chuck norriss]

I need lightweight so it's beneficial to me otherwise I wouldn't notice unless I was comparing or cognizant of it.

I can't find anything wrong with it so far.
Truss adjustment tonight & string height.

 

[MrSaturdayNight]

If these new affinities are anything like the red/blue/black ones made in Indonesia then I think your in for a real treat.

I ordered one back in 2008 I believe and I got the blue one (made in Indonesia). I paid $330 for the starter pack off of musicians friend. First thing I did was have a professional setup done, as I had no idea at all of what I was doing and I got a great deal.

The action was crazy high when I got it, I was nearly able to sling arrows! But the truss rod and neck when right into place and everything adjusted awesomely. I wouldn't say insanely low action but pretty low.

For a ~ $200 bass, my squire affinity is an awesome instrument and I find myself going back to it even with a yamaha BB604 and a SBMM Ray34 now in my possession.

I have no gripes at all! I don't own and haven't played a Chinese affinity but hopefully they're just as good!

 

[chuck norriss]

If these new affinities are anything like the red/blue/black ones made in Indonesia then I think your in for a real treat.

I ordered one back in 2008 I believe and I got the blue one (made in Indonesia). I paid $330 for the starter pack off of musicians friend. First thing I did was have a professional setup done, as I had no idea at all of what I was doing and I got a great deal.

The action was crazy high when I got it, I was nearly able to sling arrows! But the truss rod and neck when right into place and everything adjusted awesomely. I wouldn't say insanely low action but pretty low.

For a ~ $200 bass, my squire affinity is an awesome instrument and I find myself going back to it even with a yamaha BB604 and a SBMM Ray34 now in my possession.

I have no gripes at all! I don't own and haven't played a Chinese affinity but hopefully they're just as good!

I set it up last night--low & fast so I don't have to press strings or use my thumb on the back of the neck. It makes me laugh how well it plays. I assume it will improve w pickup upgrade.
For $145 no gripes at all.

 

[jweber76]

I'm planning on ordering an LPB affinity jazz this fall!

 

[chuck norriss]

The LPB is nice. It looks good on the jazz.
I have no regrets. Even the pickups sound just fine. There isn't much difference when you turn the knobs--not as drastic as other jazz basses or others I've owned--but it sounds fine as it is, and can only improve w upgrades. If I'm not comparing it to other basses, it's just fine, but then I like a dark dry tone which is a little easier to achieve than let's say a good Marcus Miller or Jaco.

 

[jweber76]

That's my sound, basic jazz bass. No active guts, no crazy effects, both pickups dimed (occasionally neck pup solo) with the tone rolled back about 1/3 to 1/2.

 

[esoxhntr]

I set it up last night--low & fast so I don't have to press strings or use my thumb on the back of the neck. It makes me laugh how well it plays. I assume it will improve w pickup upgrade.
For $145 no gripes at all.

I have one that is basically a clone of your purple one. Yeah I know - burgundy mist - still looks purple to me.

I have to echo what you said here, mine plays unbelievable well. I cannot believe it's a $150 instrument. I like mine so much that I replaced the pickups and bridge and have used it on all my outdoors gigs this sumer. I've even been busting it out at some rehearsals. This is a very playable, very good sounding instrument with low action and pretty even fretwork. I don't know if they all set up this well, but like you I giggle every time I pick it up.

 

[chuck norriss]

That's my sound, basic jazz bass. No active guts, no crazy effects, both pickups dimed (occasionally neck pup solo) with the tone rolled back about 1/3 to 1/2.

then you'll be stoked

 

[chuck norriss]

I have one that is basically a clone of your purple one. Yeah I know - burgundy mist - still looks purple to me.

I have to echo what you said here, mine plays unbelievable well. I cannot believe it's a $150 instrument. I like mine so much that I replaced the pickups and bridge and have used it on all my outdoors gigs this sumer. I've even been busting it out at some rehearsals. This is a very playable, very good sounding instrument with low action and pretty even fretwork. I don't know if they all set up this well, but like you I giggle every time I pick it up.

that's a good idea--to use it for outdoor or more hazardous gigs where you don't want to risk banging up or losing your nice instruments. good to know there's a cheap one out there that will do the trick. I'm not saying it's a '61-nice, I'm jsut saying it's nice.

I have a babizc clone that i may put on. the only thing is the saddles are tall, & at minimum height i can already tell by eyeballing it that the lowest height of the clone is taller than where I have the stock bridge now, where it's just right.

 

[Draculea]

I recently got the Jazz Bass V, and I love it. My only minor complaint is the B string, not a very nice sound unless you EQ it properly, but the bass is extremely well crafted, it's balanced, relatvely light, and I didn't have to do a major setup, just lower the saddles a bit so it plays the way I like, with low action. It has no fret buzz at all, and I dare to say it does feel like a more expensive bass, like a MIM or even a Made in the US Fender.