Squier Basses better build quality than Guitars?

[Killed_by_Death]

Their fixed bridge guitars are just fine, but once you get the vibrato bridges involved, it's a crap-shoot.

remember folks, it's SquiER:

 

[ThundarStruck]

I've had a Jag and a Bass VI, both VM, both fantastic. Have also had an MIM P Bass, which was great. My American Deluxe Jazz feels a lot fancier (but actually maybe even too fancy). All are great instruments. Love how confident I feel about buying Fender stuff. Unfortunately I'm more of a Gibson guy, actually, which means I basically avoid instruments made after the 80s.

 

[cheechi]

My theory is that modern manufacturing techniques are so good, that entry-level gear made by a major company is going to be really, really good.

This is the most significant part. A new Squier bass can (and I have seen several first hand examples) be as good or better than a vintage Fender, one for one in terms of build quality & fitment of the wood, and the functional hardware (specifically tuners, but all of Fender's newer bridges are marginally better than all of Fender's older bridges, specialty versions excluded). It's more dependent on the Fender though, there are some very bad instruments out there, and some amazing ones, while the Squiers tend to be a bit more consistent.

I haven't found a Squier bass that interests me enough to buy one, but I do own a CV Tele that gets played once a year or so when I feel like picking up a guitar, but it's not as nice as my Schecter whatever-it-is. Both are hard tail; I think the trem is a lot of what can make an otherwise good guitar bad. Worse with Squiers than Fenders, but even still the higher level Fenders get it better.

However, none of this changes the fact that Squier are still entry level instruments and a little more money gets you a lot better instrument, even if it's not made by Fender. With the option to play it, I'd suggest a used Fender will still be a better value than a new Squier all else equal. Without the ability to play it, there are a lot of other manufacturers out there making a better instrument than a Squier.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

I've only tried the Squier CV guitars and they are every bit as good as the CV basses. Which means they are really good instruments and outstandingly good for the price.

I'm talking about the Chinese CVs from the last couple of years though. I have no idea how the new Indonesian CVs compare.

 

[nilorius]

Who told You that ???

 

[mdogs]

This is the most significant part. A new Squier bass can (and I have seen several first hand examples) be as good or better than a vintage Fender, one for one in terms of build quality & fitment of the wood, and the functional hardware (specifically tuners, but all of Fender's newer bridges are marginally better than all of Fender's older bridges, specialty versions excluded). It's more dependent on the Fender though, there are some very bad instruments out there, and some amazing ones, while the Squiers tend to be a bit more consistent.

I haven't found a Squier bass that interests me enough to buy one, but I do own a CV Tele that gets played once a year or so when I feel like picking up a guitar, but it's not as nice as my Schecter whatever-it-is. Both are hard tail; I think the trem is a lot of what can make an otherwise good guitar bad. Worse with Squiers than Fenders, but even still the higher level Fenders get it better.

However, none of this changes the fact that Squier are still entry level instruments and a little more money gets you a lot better instrument, even if it's not made by Fender. With the option to play it, I'd suggest a used Fender will still be a better value than a new Squier all else equal. Without the ability to play it, there are a lot of other manufacturers out there making a better instrument than a Squier.

it is just a matter of time in these threads, but someone always does it!!!!

 

[Greg Waldon]

Late last year, I acquired a Squier Affinity PJ. Going by the Serial # is was built in ‘14. It has great build quality. Tuners are smooth, pickups are quiet, neck is straight and has a great feel. Overall, it is a great bass. Pickups are a little low on output but overall it plays and sounds great for $75.

 

[One Way]

I own a Squier CV Telecaster (white with Alnico 3’s) and a CV 50’s Strat. Quality and playability of both are excellent. Tone from the Tele is amazing. Tone of the CV Strat doesn’t match the tone of my American Standard Strat HSS but it’s not supposed to. It’s designed to sound like a 50’s which it pulls off quite well.

I’ve had excellent luck with each guitar I’ve purchased manufactured in Indonesia since 2014, when I was willing to consider instruments manufactured outside the USA. A 2014 Squier VM 70’s Jazz Bass was my first Squier and it, and the others, have proven very reliable.

 

[mcnach]

Squier's guitars are equally as good as their basses. You need to remember that guitarists are FAR more elitist than bassists. This is why most guitar innovations take off on the bass side long before they succeed with guitar players.

I think there's some truth in this.

I haven't found Squier guitars to be any worse than Squier basses. But they seem to be bought mostly by people with little or no experience (not only, but mostly) who may just dismiss an instrument as 'bad' when it simply is just not set up to their liking, or even have some minor flaw that an experienced person may solve in a few minutes with a nut or fret file.
I have read reviews where someone was dismissing a whole brand (Ibanez in this case) because the instrument they tried (yes, one instrument) was set up with higher action than a similar instrument of another brand (I think it was ESP). Ridiculous. It shows that person has no clue.
Now Squier guitars sell a lot more than Squier basses, so you'll see a lot more dodgy reviews too.

Squier has been putting out some really good instruments for some time. The CV series in particular is really good.

 

[One_Dude]

I play both bass and guitar. As a result of significant GAS I have a number of both instruments. At the moment I have put a stop to guitar purchases because I just don't use them much right now.

Here is my experience; I have two or three Squier electric guitars that are decent players, and one Made in Japan Squier Telecaster that is a great guitar. I was amazed though when I played one of the early Affinity guitars. I found it to be of much lower quality than their regular Squier relative. Since that time I have avoided even trying another Affinity model Squier guitar.

I see that the Affinity basses get good reviews on Talkbass, but I have not tried one. I bought a Squier VM SS Jaguar new online and it is one of my least favorite basses. It plays well and sounds good at home, but I find it to be really a disappointment when playing out with it. I just can't get the sound I want when playing it live in a band situation. A few years back I passed on buying a used Squier Made in Japan P bass; that failure to purchase is one that I regret. At the time I did not have a P bass and didn't realize how good that Squier was.

Thump on,

One_Dude

 

[40Hz]

I’m still waiting for the inevitable “but” post that goes: “They’re ok for the price, but once you become advanced enough to be able to appreciate a genuine quality instrument from a top name…”

I figure first one will show up somewhere around the the fourth page at the latest.

 

[rollerskatedog]

Their build quality are always surprisingly good, but yes... the electronics are usually not that great. However a lot of squier basses actually sound pretty damn good. IME the squier guitars sound worse from the cheap electronics more so than the basses, but I recently bought and returned a 2018 VIntage Modified 70’s jazz that sounded like a turd giving birth to another turd... funny enough I bought it to replace the 2013 5 string version I own, but can’t quite get myself to get rid of it because it sounds so damn good.

 

[ToneMaven]

I have experience with Squier guitars and basses, but for the sake of this conversation, I'll stick to just the P-Bass. I own a lovely Fender American Special P-Bass. It is a top quality instrument throughout. I bought an Ampeg practice amp a while back that I wanted to carry around easliy(well, easier than my main rig). It came with a used, meh-looking Squier P-Bass, the Affinity model without the J pickup. I think new they sell around $200. I go through and check/test/setup/repair everything on my instruments. I am also in the camp that says their bodies and necks are quite good as the neck on this one is spectacular and just as nice as my American Special. The only exception is that the nut is plastic and deadens the tone. You must replace the plastic nut with your preferred material, mine being a TUSQ nut($12), which I did immediately. The pickups are not bad really and they could be kept, BUT, a set of Fender Original 62s is $62 bucks and an awesome upgrade so, I changed those. The pots and wiring are junk in my opinion. You will find all sorts of solder bits and other trash in the cavity along with the thinnest, cheapest wiring and a jack that usually crackles the minute you get it home. For $18 bucks, you can get top of the line CTS pots, an Orange Drop cap and a genuine Switchcraft jack. Obviously I installed those as well as a new pickguard for $15 bucks. Three bucks for vintage cloth covered wire. Total spent on upgrades is $110. This P-Bass is now equally as good as my American Special. They both play and sound identical. You can pick up a used Squier Affinity P-Bass for $100 so, a total investment of $210 will give you a bass that plays a well and sounds as great as a $1,000 Fender. This is fact.

One caveat: There are a ton of people out there that can't wrap their minds around this and will tell you a Squier is junk. There are cork-sniffers that will look down their nose at you for playing a Squier. If you are concerned with appearances, this is not for you. There are even band members that will think less of you for a Squier decal on the headstock. Personally, I could care less about these uneducated opinions. If you want an affordable instrument, go check out a used Squier, see if you like the feel of the neck. Change the nut, pups and electrics, this is where they cut costs the most. Enjoy!

EDIT: Forgot to mention that the tuners on the Squier P-Bass are just fine. I have no issues tuning and it stays in tune for hours.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

I own many Squiers, guitars and basses, and can say that they’re for the most part perfectly playable even at the lowest end of the price offerings. My CV duo sonic is my main player guitar, my MIM strat sits on the rack most days. Of course you gotta know how to do a setup. Pop on over to squier talk.com and you’ll find a whole wealth of knowledge on the ins and outs of the squier lines and models.

 

[buldog5151bass]

A generation ago, for the most part, cheap instruments were not great instruments. Today, with so little being made by skilled craftsman, it's a lot easier and cheaper to pump out a playable instrument. It all depends upon your standards, your interest in looks, and how long you will keep the instrument.

 

[alack]

I have a Squier Telecaster Custom (the black Keith Richards model). I love that guitar, which is right up there in quality with my 2 VM basses. All 3 of my Squiers hold up very well against more expensive instruments I've owned and/or currently have.

 

[klejst]

Depends and no two are the same so it's really a choice of what you feel is better build quality.

 

[tlite]

To address the guitar side- Squier makes great guitars these days. I recently bought a Squier Contemporary HH tele. Terrific instrument. I also have a MIM HH tele, and an Am. Strat. I loved an Affinity Tele maple neck I tried at GC so much I bought a neck to use as a model for a guitar I'm building myself.

My $0.02 are the people who turn their nose up at a Squier haven't really given one a serious try in the last ten or fifteen years. Yes, Squiers from the 80's/90's earned a reputation as craptacular guitars- many sucked. Totally different ballgame now.

Play your Squier with pride.

Squier-shaming is a thing of the past. Really. It's pretty much been over for a decade or more.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

To address the guitar side- Squier makes great guitars these days. I recently bought a Squier Contemporary HH tele. Terrific instrument. I also have a MIM HH tele, and an Am. Strat. I loved an Affinity Tele maple neck I tried at GC so much I bought a neck to use as a model for a guitar I'm building myself.

My $0.02 are the people who turn their nose up at a Squier haven't really given one a serious try in the last ten or fifteen years. Yes, Squiers from the 80's/90's earned a reputation as craptacular guitars- many sucked. Totally different ballgame now.

Play your Squier with pride.

Squier-shaming is a thing of the past. Really. It's pretty much been over for a decade or more.

Even on the older 80’s/90’s MIK Squiers, the ones that put the bad taste in consumers mouths in the first place, for the most part have AMAZING necks! The old MIK bullets (with the big BULLET on the headstock ball) are often sought after just to use the neck for a build. When you can get one for ~$50 though, why not?! And the late 80’s early MIK ones (w/silver logo) really are fantastic all around, from the experience I’ve had owning/flipping a few.

 

[cheechi]

it is just a matter of time in these threads, but someone always does it!!!!

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