Squier Affinity Jazz V

[mellowinman]

Second time lucky on eBay!

Today this arrived. Here's me with my Squier Affinity Jazz V, and my Squier/Fender Frankenjazz; both ordered and delivered through eBay.

In neither case did I change the headstock. For some reason, I have only bought fake Fenders. The four string is a Squier with a Maple Fender Custom Shop neck, tort pickguard and EMG Select pickups added. I have played it for about a year, and the only mod I made was the DR Black Beauty strings.

I absolutely LOVE this bass, and consider it my #1.

The five string is a Squier Affinity, that has had some custom pots added, as well as the black pickguard, and Fender decal.

None of these mods were done by me.

I have played five string bass for exactly one hour, and I don't see what the big deal is. Just remember the low B isn't your E! How hard is that?

I was struggling to think of songs we do in Eb, and songs we don't do in Eb, and songs we do in E that could use some added low octaves on some notes. I don't play on any of our Drop D songs; my wife does.

Anyway, there were a number of threads I could've put this photo in, but I couldn't decide which, so I started my own.

The Affinity has flats, which I have never played before. At first, I thought I'd be in a big hurry to take them off, but I think I will just play them for awhile, and see how it goes.

 

[mellowinman]

So how often do I go to the well of playing some extra low notes? I plan to do tomorrow's rehearsal on the new bass, without telling anyone, and see if they notice when I go below E.

Life.

 

[msb3671]

So how often do I go to the well of playing some extra low notes? I plan to do tomorrow's rehearsal on the new bass, without telling anyone, and see if they notice when I go below E.

Life.

Very cool rides! Lucky...

I rarely ever go lower than 'D' on my five, but I do use the notes on the 'B' above the 5th fret often; makes for a lot less hand movement. I dig those Squier 5s; awesome basses. Rock!

 

[Temcat]

Congrats with the Affinity V! Ordered one from the USA in July, never regretted it!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Every Affinity J-bass I have ever played has been incredibly nice considering just how little they cost. My only peeve is that the bridge pickup tone does not have quite the clarity I would like when soloed. This is a problem with the Squier Jazz Deluxe Active bass too. For some reason, the Squier VM Jazz Bass V, is perfect and sounds as good a nice Fender when the bridge pickup is soloed.

 

[Temcat]

Interesting. For me, it's the neck pickup in my Affinity V that I don't quite like the tone of when soloed, but the bridge one is heaven.

 

[Session1969]

I just picked one up as a backup and the neck is pretty nice. I'm looking forward to putting in some nice pups one of these days.

 

[bazzanderson]

played one (squier affinity 5) a few months ago. Picked it up and had LOW expectations.
It completely blew me away in terms of playbility, solidness and tone. I was VERY surprised at the quality for such little $$.

 

[Marko 1]

I really like mine… Oly white, and I put a tort pickguard on it.


And Mellowinman, I typically dig your posts… cool to see what you look like.

 

[mellowinman]

I really like mine… Oly white, and I put a tort pickguard on it.


And Mellowinman, I typically dig your posts… cool to see what you look like.

Thanks! My internet time just got massively cut down, so you won't be seeing many for awhile, but I do like to drop in here.

I played the Affinity during rehearsal the other night. Arthur, our guitar player, said he thought it had kind of a phased sound when I played it with both pickups all the way up. He said he liked it.

What I'm not loving is the flats on it. I really might have to get a set of fairly stiff rounds because that B string doesn't have the presence I want. Our drummer, Jamie, said he likes the new bass a lot better than the other one, but he's going to be disappointed. The five string is my "second" bass for now, until I get more time driving it. I'm really only using it for Eb songs, so I don't have to cheat, and don't have to downtune.

I'm not going to do anything yet. I'm just going to play these two basses, and let them tell ME what to do.

 

[bassist4dalord]

I used to own one. I should have never sold it. I think that's all I need to say

 

[GBassNorth]

I have one and love it too, just wait until you slap some LaBella Tapewounds on it - OMG just stand back, some of the best tones I've ever gotten out of any jazz at any price.

 

[stingray69]

Congrats on the Affinity Jazz V!

I've had up to 4 of these at one point over the years. Too many, so I let a couple go, but I still have 2 of them & agree wholeheartedly with the GBassNorth's comment above. Playability is superb on them too. Mine have very low action without buzz. They setup very, very well!
The 2 hotrodded Affinities I still have:

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Congrats on the Affinity Jazz V!

I've had up to 4 of these at one point over the years. Too many, so I let a couple go, but I still have 2 of them & agree wholeheartedly with the GBassNorth's comment above. Playability is superb on them too. Mine have very low action without buzz. They setup very, very well!
The 2 hotrodded Affinities I still have:

WOW!!! Those are seriously hot!

 

[stingray69]

WOW!!! Those are seriously hot!

Thank You Doc! They are my two favorite Affinities of the several I've had. Keepers - both of 'em.

 

[jallenbass]

An absolute steal at $229. If anyone is thinking about getting a 5 string just to have one to learn on then this is it.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Thank You Doc! They are my two favorite Affinities of the several I've had. Keepers - both of 'em.

If I survive Christmas shopping, I may get a Squier VM Jazz V or maybe a Fender Blacktop Jazz. We'll see because it seems every time I turn around something is getting my money!

 

[Temcat]

Congrats on the Affinity Jazz V!

I've had up to 4 of these at one point over the years. Too many, so I let a couple go, but I still have 2 of them & agree wholeheartedly with the GBassNorth's comment above. Playability is superb on them too. Mine have very low action without buzz. They setup very, very well!
The 2 hotrodded Affinities I still have:
<skip>

Back to this beautiful Affinity Jazz V we've discussed before. Do you use .130 B string gauge on yours?

The stock B string (thinner than .130, dunno exactly the number) feels only adequate on mine, but not great. On one .125 set I tried, the B was sloppy. Cannot try different strings often, they're outrageously expensive where I live...

 

[stingray69]

Back to this beautiful Affinity Jazz V we've discussed before. Do you use .130 B string gauge on yours?

The stock B string (thinner than .130, dunno exactly the number) feels only adequate on mine, but not great. On one .125 set I tried, the B was sloppy. Cannot try different strings often, they're outrageously expensive where I live...

Hi Temcat,

Thanks for the kind words. Yes, I use a .130 B string - it works very well on the Affinity 5's. Tighter than the stock string (.125 I think) and a little beefier on the low end as well.

 

[DaDrummaOnBass]

Congrats on the Affinity Jazz V!

I've had up to 4 of these at one point over the years. Too many, so I let a couple go, but I still have 2 of them & agree wholeheartedly with the GBassNorth's comment above. Playability is superb on them too. Mine have very low action without buzz. They setup very, very well!
The 2 hotrodded Affinities I still have:

Sweeeet!!!!! Where did you cop the black pickguard from?? Is it a 4string pickguard that you modded??