Squier Affinity P Bass years and tonewoods

[The Great Genius]

I know that Squier has been building this model since the '90's. What I am not sure of is if they have used any other tonewood for it but Alder, if we discount the starter-pack offering.

Can anyone confirm or deny that they have used another tonewood?

 

[Dan_reeves]

I guess I have no official link or anything, but if memory serves for a long time they made the P basses out of basswood and the J basses out of agathis. I think making them out of alder is within the last 5 years or so?

Again, don't quote me on this, but if I remember correctly the all black logo Squiers were the earlier iteration, with the alder ones having the more gold-ish Squier logo. I would love confimation - I have owned (and modded) a boat load of Affinities in the last 5 years or so and this is what I remember. My intention is not to mislead if I have this wrong.

 

[The Great Genius]

I guess I have no official link or anything, but if memory serves for a long time they made the P basses out of basswood and the J basses out of agathis. I think making them out of alder is within the last 5 years or so?

I have only personally seen these tonewoods in the starter-packs, and some believe that the main production went to Asian Alder by 2002 given the general consensus. But is this correct?

Again, don't quote me on this, but if I remember correctly the all black logo Squiers were the earlier iteration, with the alder ones having the more gold-ish Squier logo.

This sounds like something they would do.

 

[The Great Genius]

I was thinking of buying the new Affinity PJ, and found the Fender Deluxe Active Precision Special PJ along the way (decisions, decisions...).

 

[The Great Genius]

I gotta say that the new Fender Player series looks real good.

 

[Dan_reeves]

I have only personally seen these tonewoods in the starter-packs, and some believe that the main production went to Asian Alder by 2002 given the general consensus. But is this correct?



This sounds like something they would do.

Yeah, I am not sure on the exact dates - sorry!

I do know I purchased a black logo P bass a few years ago and it was really light - looked like basswood in the neck pocket. But I could be wrong.

If you can afford the Fender and it speaks to you, I really see no reason to buy the Squier. I think Squiers can be perfectly serviceable basses and punch way above their price. But I honestly have never played one that I didn't want to replace at least some of the stuff (electronics more often than not) and probably some hardware. The hardware was not bad, but I have had a tuner or two with a not so great turning ratio or maybe slipped a bit. Usually I change the bridge more to play with the string spacing than because it really needs it. For the MIM Fenders, I usually only change the pickups - usually the hardware is more than fine. I think the further up the line you go, the less likely it is you'll want to change something. This is of course an incredibly broad generalization - your mileage may vary. But just what I have found.

 

[The Great Genius]

Have you seen the new Player series?

 

[jd56hawk]

I was thinking of buying the new Affinity PJ, and found the Fender Deluxe Active Precision Special PJ along the way (decisions, decisions...).

If you have to have a PJ you might want to consider the Fender Deluxe Precision Special instead.

 

[wraub]

I have a 2017 Affinity P Bass and it is silly good. All it's needed is a setup, a string change, and some fret ends filed...
Reportedly, it is alder bodied, with a maple neck and an Indian laurel fingerboard.

 

[The Great Genius]

If you have to have a PJ you might want to consider the Fender Deluxe Precision Special instead.

I don't see this model being currently listed.

 

[The Great Genius]

So now it is down to an Affinity PJ, or a Mustang PJ.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

So now it is down to an Affinity PJ, or a Mustang PJ.

Or an old Squier Standard PJ?

 

[CallMeAl]

So now it is down to an Affinity PJ, or a Mustang PJ.

This thread took an interesting turn. You want short scale or long? Let’s throw aPlayer Jaguar on the list for a PJ with a Jazz neck!

 

[The Great Genius]

Or an old Squier Standard PJ?

Only if it has an Alder body.

 

[The Great Genius]

This thread took an interesting turn. You want short scale or long? Let’s throw aPlayer Jaguar on the list for a PJ with a Jazz neck!

I prefer a short scale for playability, but precious few of them sound good. Also, Jags are nice except for their unusually large body that makes playing while sitting awkward and difficult.

 

[jd56hawk]

I don't see this model being currently listed.

I don't see this model being currently listed.

Invalid Link Removed
Not to mention you can get it for 15% off.

The thing with the Affinity line is the basses are pretty much hit and miss. I've played some good ones and some bad ones, and the bad ones have included a few with warped necks...someone said the wood probably wasn't aged enough.
If you want a Squier PJ, go with the Vintage Modified one.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Only if it has an Alder body.

I am not sure what either of mine has. I can't see it makes much difference as long as it's not basswood which dents easily or something heavy.

 

[wraub]

My 5 string basses are basswood, show only normal wear, and are from the 80s. Basswood can be fine.

I am not sure what either of mine has. I can't see it makes much difference as long as it's not basswood which dents easily or something heavy.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

My 5 string basses are basswood, show only normal wear, and are from the 80s. Basswood can be fine.

It can be. There's a higher risk of denting. With heavier ash a higher risk of hernia. Yer pays yer money, etc...

 

[Deleted member 271037]

I guess I have no official link or anything, but if memory serves for a long time they made the P basses out of basswood and the J basses out of agathis. I think making them out of alder is within the last 5 years or so?

Again, don't quote me on this, but if I remember correctly the all black logo Squiers were the earlier iteration, with the alder ones having the more gold-ish Squier logo. I would love confimation - I have owned (and modded) a boat load of Affinities in the last 5 years or so and this is what I remember. My intention is not to mislead if I have this wrong.

I've got a year 2000 Affinity P-bass with the all black logo. I'm 99% sure it's alder. I could be wrong but it's definitely not basswood or agathis, very different grain. The bass is made by Yako, Taiwan (CY serial number). It's very nice bass and I actually use it more than my US P-basses.

The neck is absolutely flawless. It has a typical "modern P" nut width but not quite the same as US Fenders. Probably metric. Slightly above 1.6". But it's slimmer front to back than most P-basses. Excellent fretwork. Excellent stability. Beautiful rosewood fretboard.

The finish is 2-tone sunburst and the wood (whatever it is) is a very nice looking one piece. Very impressive for such a cheap instrument.

The pickups weren't that great though so I replaced them with Fender Originals. The tuning machines are the closed back ones that everyone hates but they still work fine so I've had no reason to replace them.

Still, even with these shortcomings it's the best Affinity I've ever tried. Which is the reason I still own it.