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Squier...Fender

#2
Fenders are generally higher quality instruments than squiers. However, people say the sound isn't always much better because Fender's quality is not as high as it was say back in the 70s. That being said, the vintage modified line from Squier is cheaper than most fenders yet offers better sound and construction than the Affinity and Standard series squires and even the cheapest fenders.
 
#3
Squire is Fenders entry level, budget line.

The hardware isn't as nice as the American or Mexican lines,but still functional, and of reasonably good quality for the price.

They save money where they can, and they can be built in Indonesia or China.

Good solid instruments for the price.

Typicaly a new Squire will run a fair amount less money than a similar Mexican made Fender, and tons less expensive than an American made on.
 
#5
laboitenoire said:
However, people say the sound isn't always much better because Fender's quality is not as high as it was say back in the 70s.
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The 70's are pretty much universaly accepted as the low point for quality in Fenders History. CBS corperation (Fenders owners at the time ) was cutting corners all over the place, and the equipment that they were using was worn out, and in dire need of updating, all in the name of increasing the bottom line. Things weren't much better at Gibson or Gretsch in those days either.

Although I'm very critical of the fit and finish on the new MIA Fenders, primarily fret sprout issues, they truely are light years ahead of where they were in the late 70's.
 
#8
Squier is Fender's budget line, made "offshore" (meaning Asia) but the designs are mainstream Fender.

It's a tribute to Leo Fender that the Precision and Jazz designs can be produced by relatively inexperienced outfits with good results.

You can save a lot of bucks by buying a Squier and upgrading the pickups. My first P was a Korean-made Squier II with a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound pickup (it now resides in my Fender '50s Precision reissue).
 
#9
savit260 said:
Try a early or mid 60's one, and report back. ;)

That's when they really were doing it right.

By 72, they hadn't srewed them up too badly yet.
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but electronics and wood age, and this has to affect sound - maybe the old ones sound so good because they're old, and maybe it's largely psychological; you expect the sound to make you cream because it's "vintage." Finish degrades, wood dries, lightens, settles, capacitors dry, etc. all of which will affect tone. Maybe they were once "hi-fi" and now just sound old and worn out, but this old and worn out tone has become "The Tone." Amps and recording gear would have been lightyears away from what they are today, and I suspect today's so-called "vintage" pickups are not so much made the way they used to be made as made in such a way to sound old and worn out. Just a theory, flame on.
 
#10
The earliest Squiers were every bit as good, if not better, than the USA Fenders, so it really depends on which Squier period you're talking about.

Link Removed

Since then, quality has gone up and down hill, but generally down. Things are changing again since the release of the Squier Vintage Modified Jazz and Precision basses, and apparently Fender threw some money at Squier Indonesia to improve quality control. If it's true, then it really paid off. Read the reviews on Musician's Friend to see the reaction: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#13
The Vintage modified series of Squier are definately putting Squier back on the map as far as quality and value.With the Squier line of guitars and basses its a hit or miss as far as getting a good instrument.That said I have to agree with a lot of forum members that Squier has in recent years raised the bar with over all QC.
 
#14
J-BassJarhead said:
Hey, whats the difference between a squier and a fender?

Quality? Sond? Is it better to have a squier if you dont have that much experence?

thanks
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If you don't have much experience playing bass, you will not be able to differentiate between good and not-so-good basses. Also, with expoeience you develop a preference for what you like and don't like. In the meantime, save your money and get a Squier or another 'entry level' bass.

A few years ago I wanted to try 5-string bass and I picked up a used Squier Precision 5. It's nowhere near as good as my MIJ and MIA jazz basses. But, for the money it is an adequate bass. I don't play a lot of 5 string, so I have no need to upgrade to a better one.

My only complaint is that the pick-ups do not produce a strong enough output for my liking.
 
#15
BillMason said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but electronics and wood age, and this has to affect sound - maybe the old ones sound so good because they're old, and maybe it's largely psychological; you expect the sound to make you cream because it's "vintage." Finish degrades, wood dries, lightens, settles, capacitors dry, etc. all of which will affect tone. Maybe they were once "hi-fi" and now just sound old and worn out, but this old and worn out tone has become "The Tone." Amps and recording gear would have been lightyears away from what they are today, and I suspect today's so-called "vintage" pickups are not so much made the way they used to be made as made in such a way to sound old and worn out. Just a theory, flame on.
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O.K. I will.

I've had plenty of opportunities to play 60''s Fenders when they were about say 20 years old. They were amost always full of life and usually lightweight high quality pieces of wood with a very thin finish. They had the sound and the feel that I like best. Remember that in the early 80's a 60's Fender wasn't really considered the "Holy Grails" that they are today. Yeah, you'd pay a bit of a premium for a Pre CBS Strat or Tele, but the market was nothing like it is these days.

Now that they are about 40 something years old, the same is true.

I've had the opportunity to play many 70's vintage Fenders when they were farily new, 10 and 20 years old. On average they were heavy as hell, not as high quality pieces of wood, somewhat irratic in build quality (particularly Strats, and Tele's in particular were worse than the basses) Not as comfortable (at least for me) neck profiles, generly lifeless by comparison, and finished with an icreadibly thick finish.

Now that they are 30 some odd years old. My take on them is exactly the same.

They earlier 70's stuff wasn't so bad IMO, but the later stuff, just doesn't stack up well against 60's production, now or even 20 years ago. Just my opinion.

I have played some 70's P's and J's that I really liked, but they are fewer and farther between than the 60's versions that I've managed to get my hands on over the years. Yeah, for the record I've played a few 60's dogs too, but not many.
 
#16
savit260 said:
O.K. I will.

I've had plenty of opportunities to play 60''s Fenders when they were about say 20 years old. They were amost always full of life and usually lightweight high quality pieces of wood with a very thin finish. They had the sound and the feel that I like best. Remember that in the early 80's a 60's Fender wasn't really considered the "Holy Grails" that they are today. Yeah, you'd pay a bit of a premium for a Pre CBS Strat or Tele, but the market was nothing like it is these days.

Now that they are about 40 something years old, the same is true.

I've had the opportunity to play many 70's vintage Fenders when they were farily new, 10 and 20 years old. On average they were heavy as hell, not as high quality pieces of wood, somewhat irratic in build quality (particularly Strats, and Tele's in particular were worse than the basses) Not as comfortable (at least for me) neck profiles, generly lifeless by comparison, and finished with an icreadibly thick finish.

Now that they are 30 some odd years old. My take on them is exactly the same.

They earlier 70's stuff wasn't so bad IMO, but the later stuff, just doesn't stack up well against 60's production, now or even 20 years ago. Just my opinion.

I have played some 70's P's and J's that I really liked, but they are fewer and farther between than the 60's versions that I've managed to get my hands on over the years. Yeah, for the record I've played a few 60's dogs too, but not many.
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Ok, never having played one from either the '70s or the '60s I'm not in a position to dispute what you are saying, but did you play a '60s when it was new? I don't know, so don't flame me too bad, ok? :-)
 
#17
BillMason said:
Ok, never having played one from either the '70s or the '60s I'm not in a position to dispute what you are saying, but did you play a '60s when it was new? I don't know, so don't flame me too bad, ok? :-)
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No, didin't play any 60's when they were new.

As stated, I was explaining my take on them each at around 20 years old.

I think that peoples perception of mid and late 70's quality being so high is because of the prices assosiated with them today. My opinion is that the prices are so high, because the prices of the 50's and 60's stuff is SO high, and it's dragged the prices up on the later 70's stuff.
 

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