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Squier Affinity P-Bass Alder Body?

#21
Just because a bass is touted as having a 'solid (not plywood) alder' body doesn't mean it uses the best cuts of alder lumber available. I've stripped plenty of inexpensive basses with alder bodies and usually the worst cuts of wood that look like they were made from the a$$ end of an alder tree are the ones that end up on solid color basses. One of my frankenbasses (just recently added) is solid alder alright, but from 5 pieces in drastically varying quality cuts of lumber, so different they could be confused as a different species. It's not pretty (OK, it's ugly as sin) but it is solid, light and plays/sounds great.

In summation, yes an Affinity P-Bass body can be made of alder, but it won't be anywhere near the quality of an MIA body.
 
#22
Sammy Camden said:
I recently bought one of the new MIC Squier Affinity P-Basses. I got it to use as a practice, jam, just basically a "throw-down" instrument.

I have been absolutely dumbfounded with this bass. The only mods I've done to it are bridge and pup covers and a thumbrest. All else is stock.

This damn bass plays better than my AmStd P, and sounds just as good. And I've got a good AmStd P!

The neck feels as good as the new AmSer. There are no sharp, or even flat fret edges to be felt when running your fingers up the neck. The neck has a nice rounded edge that's very comfortable to play. It intonated very nicely. It's sound is solid P-Bass.

The only fly in the ointment that I can find is the real cheezy tuners. But, they don't slip, so the bass stays in tune. That's what tuners are supposed to do, so I guess I can't complain too much.

I paid $149 for mine with another $28 for the covers and thumbrest. So, for $177, I've got one hell of a nice bass. I got the Baltic Blue. A very nice looking dark blue with a lot more character than the black I almost got.

I've been playing bass since 1962, owned a lot of Fenders over the years, and I've really got to say that this is the best Fender, for the money, that I've ever owned (not the best Fender I've ever owned, just the best for the money). If this bass holds up over time, and I don't know why it wouldn't, it'll be an even better buy.

Yep! If you're looking for a really nice bass, with a really nice price, the Squire Affinity is worth looking at.
Click to expand...


Dont ya love finding a budget bass like that Fender that kills. Puts a smile on a mans face fo' sure :D
 
#23
Diogenes said:
Just because a bass is touted as having a 'solid (not plywood) alder' body doesn't mean it uses the best cuts of alder lumber available. I've stripped plenty of inexpensive basses with alder bodies and usually the worst cuts of wood that look like they were made from the a$$ end of an alder tree are the ones that end up on solid color basses. One of my frankenbasses (just recently added) is solid alder alright, but from 5 pieces in drastically varying quality cuts of lumber, so different they could be confused as a different species. It's not pretty (OK, it's ugly as sin) but it is solid, light and plays/sounds great.

In summation, yes an Affinity P-Bass body can be made of alder, but it won't be anywhere near the quality of an MIA body.
Click to expand...

would you say if it looks like the a$$ end of an alder tree that it automatically sounds worse?
 
#24
I have a 20th anniversary Squire Affinity P bass (made in Indonesia) & the body is "not" Alder or Agathis ... it is some kind of "wood" product injected in a mold.

The stock pickups are really bad ... the neck is pretty good though.

I gave $50.00 bucks for it & that's about what its worth in stock form.... IMHO
 
#25
bertbassplayer said:
gut the ENTIRE electronics system, get new Pentoimeters, wires, pickups.
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I still have my Affinity P-bass, the pick-up change made a lot of difference, but the second biggest change in tone came from changing out the wiring harness.
Picked up pre-wired one from fleabay and it was probably the best $35 investment I ever made for a bass upgrade. I actually wish I would have done the harness change first but you can't go wrong with quarter pounders either!!
 
#26
Colonel_Claypoo said:
would you say if it looks like the a$$ end of an alder tree that it automatically sounds worse?
Click to expand...

If it comes from that end then yes, logically it'll sound like shite. Funny you should be the one to ask, Colonel_Claypoo ;)

Seriously though, I can honestly say that I couldn't tell the difference in a bass' tone no matter what wood is used and after several decades of searching I have yet to find anyone that could, despite their claims of having a 'trained' ear.
 
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#27
I remember reading somewhere that Fender does not always guarantee that the wood used, is the same as advertised. The wood used in Squier plants, (usuall a Cort Factory) in Asian countries is not from the same source as wood used in MIAand MIM basses. I would not classify Squier bodies as being inferior to MIM. In some cases, the wood may be as good or better. I also read that all bodies and necks for MIA and MIM are made at the Corona, CA factory. During manufaturing, they are classified as to which model they will be used for accoding to the quality. Those that may not be of the highest quality are then sent to Mexico for finishing and assembly. This process may have changed because this info I had was from over 10 years ago.
Rocky
 
#30
Colonel_Claypoo said:
i guess i'll stay away from poo-wood then but hearing that supposedly MIM bodies are made from many pieces glued together makes me:spit: and:confused:
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I wouldn't fret over it. This is a picture of Les' C.T. Rainbow bass which is glued together from a lot of different pieces of wood yet it's a killer sounding (and expensive) bass. ;)
lesRain.jpg
 
#33
I have an affinity that I spent $30 for the neck and body. I stripped it and refinished it in black lacquer. It turned out to be a 3 piece alder body. It was actually pretty nicely matched too. I put all new hardware on it, and a tonerider P pickup, with cts pots and orange drop cap. It is one of my favorite basses. I also have a MIM P. When I stripped it and refinished it was 7 pieces of alder, between to veneers. I love this one as well, but I actually like the squier better. I've stripped and refinished several squiers and Fenders. In the case of the affinities they were either 3 or 4 piece alder bodies. Of the 5 MIM fenders I've stripped. They were 5-7 piece bodies, or 7-9 piece bodies if you count the veneers. One thing to keep in mind. The body thickness is thinner with Squiers. Closer to 1.5" for squiers, and 1.75" with fenders.

Squier P
Blackbass004.jpg


MIM P
CorasCam020.jpg
 
#34
I dont know why all you guys get so caught up in multi piece bodys. Like the example of Claypools Thompson...who cares? Lot of high end basses are made of muti pieces of glued wood. If it is glued and assembled right will the tone be different then say a 2 piece or a 3 or even a solid body? where are your facts to back it up or prove it? I have had many cheap plywood type basses that were tone monsters...wood if done right is good.I might worry more if some of you start having your basses shatter into sticks or pieces of wood during a gig :eyebrow:
 
#35
bassbully said:
I have had many cheap plywood type basses that were tone monsters...wood if done right is good.I might worry more if some of you start having your basses shatter into sticks or pieces of wood during a gig :eyebrow:
Click to expand...

yeah that's the point. i've made bad experiences with cheap wood. the many pieces aren't the real problem for me because, as you said, a lot of highend basses are made like this.
i was just asking because i wanted to make shure they use the wood the advertise with and not use some scrap wood.

but thanks guys.
 
#36
i have a p bass (affinity) made in indonesia in 2000 and i love it! it has worn in nicely....i have several "upgrade" basses also but i still love my old affinity p. Dont let anyone tell you they are junk. :-)
HOWEVER....i would suggest you play before you buy, or buy from a reputable company with a good return policy.
LOL i know this sounds contradictory, but honestly give one a try, i think youll like it.
 
#38
I had a Squier Affinity Jazz V, with a sunburst finish. You could tell that it was made from 3 pieces of wood (not much room to hide more seams in the reduced dark-light color transition area), definitely alder, and all pieces with a nice even grain that made it difficult to tell where the parts had been glued together.

As far as quality and feel, call me crazy but this thing sounded like a high end Fender, and felt like one as well. Only complaint was the somehwat lowsy B string, but I expected the thing to sound like that.
 
#39
I have an alder Affinity in which I replaced pickups & electronics, now is loaded with a Fender custom shop 62 pickup, Custom CTS A250K pots, one Orange Drop 715P 0.047mf capacitor and a Switchcraft jack. It is also equipped with Fodera strings.
Mine has a three pieces body and weights 3.78kg.

It just sounds and plays like a dream...

1zcpm6v.jpg
 
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#40
Hey'all, got a new Squire Affinity P Bass 2 days ago. Alder body, sunburst with maple neck and rosewood board. Painted ones are Agathis as far as I can see on the sales sites that have that info. My Fender P Bass needs some work. It's in the case and the new Squire is filling in nicely. Smaller neck like a jazz bass. Enclosed tuners, but they work great with the big ol, tuning knobs. Sounds great through a real 65 B-15 and my Roland Cube Bass Amp. Nice little punchy amp and the bass is as real as Jamey J and Motown.


I'll post a pic later with my tortoise pickguard.
String Strangler
 
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