Sorry for the dumb and boring question but where were the super-duper Squiers made and when? There is a line of Squier basses that people are pretty wild about. VERY good build quality. Where/when were these made? School me up on how to identify a very good Squier. I'm looking at one that I have not held in my hand yet.
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Squier Info Needed
- Thread starter Old Fart
- Start date
Aside from the early 1980s JV MIJ basses, I think you are talking about the Chinese CV range - The Matt Freeman Precision Bass was also part of this series.
Yes, this is probably about the early Classic Vibe series, Made in China.
I had a CV Telecaster from this period which was close to perfect. Bought it new in 2015. I still regret having to let it go... although I now have a MIC Gretsch 5420T which is just as good.
I had a CV Telecaster from this period which was close to perfect. Bought it new in 2015. I still regret having to let it go... although I now have a MIC Gretsch 5420T which is just as good.
The most desirable Squier basses as far as I am aware are those made in Japan between 1982-1984 with serial numbers starting with “JV”. 62 reissue Jazz basses and both 57 and 62 style Precisions,
I understand the subsequent “SQ” serial numbers, also Japanese are also very well regarded.
The 21 frets website shows numerous examples, but the JV serial number is a good starting point
I understand the subsequent “SQ” serial numbers, also Japanese are also very well regarded.
The 21 frets website shows numerous examples, but the JV serial number is a good starting point
The bass in question is a 5-string "Made in Indonesia" Squier Jazz weighing about 8 lbs. Body is clear-coated and made from 3 poorly-matched pieces that look as though they could be Swamp Ash. Did they use Swamp Ash for the bodies of these? That might help explain how this bass could be in the 8-lb neighborhood.
My experience tells me that there are two eras of great Squire basses: 2010-2011. Also fairly recently the Squier CV's have really stepped up.
IMO what makes a Squier wIth "good bones" REALLY GOOD is a professional fret level/crown and setup, or alternately a Plek job. I'd say the same for MIM basses too.
IMO what makes a Squier wIth "good bones" REALLY GOOD is a professional fret level/crown and setup, or alternately a Plek job. I'd say the same for MIM basses too.
It comes down to: how does it sound? how does it play?
My intuition is that the lower price point of Squier instruments involves a certain relaxing of standards in production quality. That doesn't mean they're all bad, it just means there's more variation from one to the next and you might have to look around awhile to find a good one, but then it could be very good.
As far as SQ serial number Made in Japan Squiers - I did a setup on one a couple years ago that I really wished was for sale....
My intuition is that the lower price point of Squier instruments involves a certain relaxing of standards in production quality. That doesn't mean they're all bad, it just means there's more variation from one to the next and you might have to look around awhile to find a good one, but then it could be very good.
As far as SQ serial number Made in Japan Squiers - I did a setup on one a couple years ago that I really wished was for sale....
fwiw the best squiers i've had have been the recent affinity, sonic, and paranormal. my examples have been better than any classic vibe, vm, or 40th anniversary i've had.. i'm also in the minority where my best classic vibes were both indo, and my china examples have been the worst squier instruments i've owned. ymmv
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The Chinese Affinity PJ I bought recently is nearly perfect. Frets are level, nut is filed correctly. Neck doesn’t move. I’ve had MIM and US Fenders I couldn’t setup as nice as this one.
The thing with Squier or any bass really is you have to get your hands on them. I tried 3 other PJ’s that weren’t as nice as mine.
The only thing that tends to suck on Squiers is the tuners. Mine were garbage so I installed Hipshot HB7’s (direct drop in replacement) and they are phenomenal.
The thing with Squier or any bass really is you have to get your hands on them. I tried 3 other PJ’s that weren’t as nice as mine.
The only thing that tends to suck on Squiers is the tuners. Mine were garbage so I installed Hipshot HB7’s (direct drop in replacement) and they are phenomenal.
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Keith Williams did a pretty good history of Squier on his channel 5 Watt World recently. Talks about the different eras. Might help you narrow down when and where the "Super-duper" Squiers you're talking about were made, because it seems like everyone who replies has their own idea of which era/factory are the best. My initial though was you were referring to early 80s Japanese made in the Fujigen factory. Many people think of that as the creme-de-la-creme of Squiers. But there are tons of great Squier lines, from different eras, from different factories around the world, in different price ranges.
Honestly I think the hype surrounding those early CV Squires is completely out of proportion. Sure, they're good basses, possibly better than some slightly newer Squiers, possibly better than many Fenders, but I played several of these back in the day when they first came out (and there already was a hype) and there was nothing exceptional about them. I'd rather have an old JV (but there's lacklustre examples of those too - an acquaintance of mine has one that's very unspectacular, though still a perfectly good bass).
That sounds like it’s either a Vintage Modified or Classic Vibe ‘70s Jazz V. If the date stamp is 2018 or earlier, and the bridge pickup sits above the space between the bridge volume and tone pots, it’s a VM in the ‘60s position, despite the ‘70s designation. If it’s dated 2019 or later, and if the bridge pickup hovers directly over the tone pot, it’s likely a CV ‘70s.
As for what’s the most desireable, the three I’ve read the most rave reviews are the Japanese-made models, the Chinese-made, first-generation Classic Vibes and the Korean-made Pro-Tone basses.
The "great" squires were still factory instruments made to 50s or 60s designs/specs - nothing particularly special. (No such thing as a boutique ak-47)
The best bass is the one that feels right to you because there is plenty of variation in wood/production quality/qc/fretwork effort/etc.
The best bass is the one that feels right to you because there is plenty of variation in wood/production quality/qc/fretwork effort/etc.
I have two CV50s "Tele" basses. One from Chine 2014 and one from Indonesia. Both are very nice. I don't particularly like the dark stain on the Indonesian neck. Both can have very low action without fret buzz. I didn't like the large cast bridge on the MIC bass, so I replaced it with a 70s style bent steel one
Just as 70’s Fenders are poorly made, except, of course, all the ones owned by TB folks, I think that Squiers are similar - anyone who has one is and likes it is convinced that the one they own is special.
I bought a Squier Sonic Bronco kind of on a lark - all my other basses are one off custom 5 stringers, and my rationale for getting another bass was to have one that built mental plasticity - something about as different as I could get, and still be a bass guitar.
Turns out the thing is, in some aspects, a pretty good bass. The fretwork is, well, what I’d expect on a boutique level instrument. The neck is solid, free of anything anyone would consider a “dead spot”.
I am, of course, discounting the fact that the bridge was, well, I moved it about .050”. I also swapped the hardware for some I already had, and got a pickup that doesn’t hum. But, everyone does that….It’s the best $130 bass (that I have about $400 in so far, not counting the hardware I already had). We tend to remember the good things about stuff that we like and discount the “other” stuff.
People want to think they got a good deal. If you ask what run the good stuff was, people will tell you what they have. Finding unbiased data on something as subjective as musical instruments is just about impossible. Even from me.
I bought a Squier Sonic Bronco kind of on a lark - all my other basses are one off custom 5 stringers, and my rationale for getting another bass was to have one that built mental plasticity - something about as different as I could get, and still be a bass guitar.
Turns out the thing is, in some aspects, a pretty good bass. The fretwork is, well, what I’d expect on a boutique level instrument. The neck is solid, free of anything anyone would consider a “dead spot”.
I am, of course, discounting the fact that the bridge was, well, I moved it about .050”. I also swapped the hardware for some I already had, and got a pickup that doesn’t hum. But, everyone does that….It’s the best $130 bass (that I have about $400 in so far, not counting the hardware I already had). We tend to remember the good things about stuff that we like and discount the “other” stuff.
People want to think they got a good deal. If you ask what run the good stuff was, people will tell you what they have. Finding unbiased data on something as subjective as musical instruments is just about impossible. Even from me.
This has been my experience as well, although I've never owned a MIJ Squier. I have 2 Ltd Ed Sonic P's in Graffiti Yellow and they're both really good players.
BBB
The JV & SQ MIJ 80s basses are the ones that most would refer to as the “best” Squiers. You’ll pay dearly for them, and most are vintage spec, which you may or may not like. I personally don’t want to own anything that has a truss rod adjusted at the heel, so I stay away.
After that, the Chinese CVs, then kind of a tie between the VM, Indo CV, 40th anniversary etc. There were also a few other short lived lines that had some neat models such as the Vista line.
After that, the Chinese CVs, then kind of a tie between the VM, Indo CV, 40th anniversary etc. There were also a few other short lived lines that had some neat models such as the Vista line.
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