Squier Info Needed

[PennyroyalWe]

Also the protons series is one that doesn’t pop up often, but those who own them seem to love them.

 

[Fender_Bender]

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.

It’s probably basswood at that price point and weight. Might be a neck diver if you haven’t already checked for that.

 

[jd56hawk]

Certain models aren't easy to find, but the Crafted In China Classic Vibe Jazz basses from ten years ago or so were some of the finest Squiers made, and the recent 40th-Anniversary basses are every bit as good as Fender Player basses, including the Player II series basses. The satin-finish necks are as comfortable as anything Fender currently makes and I prefer them over the similar Vintera basses...sorry Fender fanatics.
The 40th-Anniversary basses were disconnected about a year ago but they're readily available for $300 or so.

 

[murphy]

I bought a new Squier Jazz bass in 1986 or 1987 and stripped the body to what appeared to be Plywood.
Repainted it Black

 

[FullumMusic]

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).

I know it's sacrilegious in most music circles, but i'd say the same thing about Pre-CBS Fenders. People seem to think they're all 100% perfect magical instruments. But they're not. There was something about the craftsmanship put into those years when compared to the Post-CBS eras. But also, they weren't all gems. There were a lot of Pre-CBS dogs out there. Yes there was something special about the gems, and maybe there were slightly more gems by percentage than other eras of Fender. But mostly they were just very good regular instruments, but nothing as special as people make them out to be.

Same probably goes for the CV Squiers, and probably for the JV early 80s Squiers. There's gonna be a percentage of gems, a percentage of dogs, but most of the runs are just regular-ol' well-made instruments, but nothing magical.

That said, the more regular-old well-made instruments out there, the better, even if their "magic" & "mojo" is more hype than reality.

 

[JTNuney]

I got back into playing in 2010 after a long (sad, bass-free) hiatus. Couldn’t justify the cost of a “real” Fender, so I ended up coming home a Chinese-made Classic Vibe 50s P.

I wasn’t on TB at the time, so I didn’t know anything about the supposedly “coveted” status of these CIC CVs - it was just the bass in my price range that felt best in my hands at the time. Dumb luck, I guess.

In the 15 years since, I’ve GASsed for a lot of basses, but nothing’s pulled me away from that P yet. The build quality reminds me of my (long-ago sold) 80s MIJ Fender Jazz - just a solid, reliable player, far from the “starter Squiers” I remembered. I wouldn’t hesitate to gig it hard if the opportunity presented itself.

Gratuitous pic of my precious…

 

[ravelax]

I know it's sacrilegious in most music circles, but i'd say the same thing about Pre-CBS Fenders. People seem to think they're all 100% perfect magical instruments. But they're not. There was something about the craftsmanship put into those years when compared to the Post-CBS eras. But also, they weren't all gems. There were a lot of Pre-CBS dogs out there. Yes there was something special about the gems, and maybe there were slightly more gems by percentage than other eras of Fender. But mostly they were just very good regular instruments, but nothing as special as people make them out to be.

Same probably goes for the CV Squiers, and probably for the JV early 80s Squiers. There's gonna be a percentage of gems, a percentage of dogs, but most of the runs are just regular-ol' well-made instruments, but nothing magical.

That said, the more regular-old well-made instruments out there, the better, even if their "magic" & "mojo" is more hype than reality.

I agree with you. The one thing than can be said for pre-CBS Fenders however, is that they are historically interesting in a way that something like a Squire CV will never be. That said, being an interesting historical artifact doesn't necessarily make them superior instruments in a strict sense.

 

[wraub]

Notably guitar centric, but there's a lot of info on the early Squiers here-


21frets.com - guitar information and forum about JV - Japanese Vintage fender squier stratocaster guitars, squier telecaster and basses

 

[UNICORN BASS]

Since someone asked i will chip in but only about those i have a personal connection with. I bought a Samick made Squier Jazz in 1998, my first bass, will never sell. Poplar body, MEC active pups with passive VVT added by me. My next favorite is almost anything made in China from the start of the Classic Vibe era, the James Johnston signature Jazz was especially tasty. I am not a fan of Indonesian made Squiers although i must concede they did make a couple i liked. The Chinese made Affinities of late also seem to be really good quality. Just my humble opinion.

 

[Malak the Mad]

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.

Now that I'm on a proper computer, instead of my phone, I should mention my "one that got away" bass. I'll spare everyone the "how I got it" story, since I've already told it several times on TB, but I will say this; I still kick myself for trading away this fantastic, new-old-stock Classic Vibe '60s gem that was literally found boxed up in a stockroom.

Damn GAS-induced stupidity got the better of me and I foolishly traded it away. Lesson learned and all that.

 

[Malak the Mad]

This is also worth mentioning. The only reason I did not snap up a Squier James Johnston Jazz, which was pretty much a CV '60s Jazz with an even cooler finish (matching headstocks for the win!), was because a very rare bird of a bass, a particular non-export Fender Aerodyne, presented itself to me at the same time.

As far as I'm concerned, the Johnston Jazz is the ever-loving' crown jewel of Classic Vibe Jazzes. If I had known and understood how great those first-gen CV's were, I would have likely snapped up a brand-new unit when they were still in production.

 

[Malak the Mad]

No such thing as a boutique ak-47

Sure, there is...even more so in the Sixties when the C.I.A. was offering a $25,000 bounty on a working model!

 

[PennyroyalWe]

This is also worth mentioning. The only reason I did not snap up a Squier James Johnston Jazz, which was pretty much a CV '60s Jazz with an even cooler finish (matching headstocks for the win!), was because a very rare bird of a bass, a particular non-export Fender Aerodyne, presented itself to me at the same time.

As far as I'm concerned, the Johnston Jazz is the ever-loving' crown jewel of Classic Vibe Jazzes. If I had known and understood how great those first-gen CV's were, I would have likely snapped up a brand-new unit when they were still in production.

You might like this one, then. Squier Classic Vibe '60s Jazz Bass Olive

I’d grab one if I didn’t know well enough that I already have about 2 basses too many.

 

[Malak the Mad]

You might like this one, then. Squier Classic Vibe '60s Jazz Bass Olive

I’d grab one if I didn’t know well enough that I already have about 2 basses too many.

Tempting, but even if I wanted one...

1. I'm already considering having one of my Jazzes refinished in Subaru's Autumn Green Metallic.
2. All the listings in the U.S. say "Out Of Stock", so...

Now, if my wife were interested in learning, that would probably be the one for her. She's the professional artist who's super-into olive green tones.