Squier artist bass question

may differ depending on the artist

 

It seems as though they try to get as close to the artist instrument as possible but I dont think said artist uses the actual sig that Fender makes. I could be wrong though. I think its like you said, they take the specs of that artist bass and build it from those.

 

Curious about this myself.

Here's a photo of Mikey Way playing his signature bass, which is a Fender version:

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lht8fxDksc1qctlpio1_500.jpg

Whereas Pete Wentz is playing a model clearly labelled as Squier:

http://www.nancy-b-rapoport.com/nbr_blog/nbr_blog/pete_bears.bmp

http://www.mtv.com/bands/f/fall_out_boy/hard_rock_cafe/credit_levrock.com/flipbook/14.jpg

My guess would be they're custom made for the artist, and the Squiers you can buy are mass-produced versions built to the same specifications. I can't imagine a member of Fall Out Boy is playing an off-the-shelf Squier bass, and has just chosen to keep the original logo, but I'm just speculating here.

 

It covers all spectrums. Something like the original Clapton Strat was made for him to play and hopefully sell a few on top of that, designed firstly to make the artist happy. Something like the Wentz bass was a way for Fender to sell tons of Squiers by copying the bass he already had, Fender or Squier, and then asking him to play the Squiers as part of the deal. I can't imagine guys like Pete Wentz, Mikey Way, or Chris Aiken having the same deal with Fender as guys like Clapton, Steve Harris, and Geddy Lee.

 

Because they appeal to the minds of the youngsters and the wallets of their parents. These are the guys the kids see on MtV and hear on the radio that make them want to be musicians, and Squier is in the position on the heirarchy to market to young, beginning musicians with small budgets.