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Squier quality control?

B

bluesy_92

Aug 25, 2008
201
3
#1
Ok, so my Squier Vintage Modified P-Bass, with an agathis body, came with stripped screws (may have also been the setup I had done on it....)

I think it may be a one-off, bad-luck situation, so I'm planning on getting another P-Bass.

Has anyone else had similar quality problems? Is a Squier worth it? I know stripped screws are more likely to be on a P-Bass, since agathis (Squier) and alder (Fender) are both soft woods, but HOW common are they? I don't want another stripped-screw Squire.
 
#6
Darkstrike said:
Plug 'em with toothpics and re screw them, I have to do this to instrumens often.
Click to expand...

+1 Certainly doesn't warrant a new bass, unless you happen to have OCD or something. I've done it before; no problem. Put a drop of wood glue on the end of a toothpick, insert toothpick into said stripped hole, break off toothpick level with bass, and insert screw again. Voila, tighter screw hole than when it was brand new..... wait.... this is starting to sound like an innuendo.... :eek:
 
#7
Zoidberg523 said:
+1 Certainly doesn't warrant a new bass, unless you happen to have OCD or something. I've done it before; no problem. Put a drop of wood glue on the end of a toothpick, insert toothpick into said stripped hole, break off toothpick level with bass, and insert screw again. Voila, tighter screw hole than when it was brand new..... wait.... this is starting to sound like an innuendo.... :eek:
Click to expand...

Not yet it isn't.........





"It slips in easy, and all you have to do is screw it tight"










Now it does.:D
 
#9
As a tech at a store that sells quite a bit of squire...

Their QC was slipping a bit early last year, but has picked up in the past few months especially. As for stripped screw holes, that is not really a "replacement instrument" issue, it is common enough with any many manufacturers overseas. Instruments get put together as fast as possible, and sometimes screws get overtorqued.. chewing up the wood. (this is about pickguards/jackplates,bridges, not necks)

Usually, the quick repair is to fill the hole with hardwood a hardwood toothpick, cut off the excess with a single sided razorblade, and add a drop of hot stuff Cyanoacrilate. takes a second to harden and boom... though if you don't have a steady hadn withthe hot stuff, you can make a helluva mess.

Its something i fix on MANY MANY import instruments, guitars and bases from all manufacturers, and even a few usa manufacturers.... simple enough fix. If the store you got it from has a tech on site, they shouldn't have an issue doing a quick fix. (I do it all the time)
 
#10
I purchased a Squier Jazz bass 3 months ago and within the first week the volume knob fell off and the input jack was very loose which caused a lot of static. Both minor fixes I know but you wouldn't expect it to happen so soon on a "quality instrument". That said the bass sounds great and i'm very happy with it.
 
#11
+1 to the toothpicks, I once tried to pull out my cord and the control panel came with it (J). Toothpicks, or in my case matchsticks, did the job right. You don't need Cyanoacrilate, you can just break the toothpick, drop it in and re-screw.
 
#12
I have the squire vm P, and I also had stripped screws. It's the extremely light weight ones. I accept that as the price of a 6-7lb P bass. Think balsa wood.

So I filled every screw hole with toothpicks just in case. My back thanks me every gig. I like how the lighter wood resonates and feeds back. I am sure it has a little less natural sustain, but it has infinite sustain created by feedback when I want. But I mostly play with flat wounds, and sometimes foam. That soft wood also gives it a soft and woolly tone with lots of punch.

I don't think you can have a plank that big and that light with out having soft wood.
 
#14
Zoidberg523 said:
+1 Certainly doesn't warrant a new bass, unless you happen to have OCD or something. I've done it before; no problem. Put a drop of wood glue on the end of a toothpick, insert toothpick into said stripped hole, break off toothpick level with bass, and insert screw again. Voila, tighter screw hole than when it was brand new..... wait.... this is starting to sound like an innuendo.... :eek:
Click to expand...

I was already planning on getting a new bass, anyway.

And honestly, I am slightly overprotective of my gear.....:ninja:

Wait? Are you looking at my gear? MY GEAR? BANZAI!
 
#16
higgi said:
I have the squire vm P, and I also had stripped screws. It's the extremely light weight ones. I accept that as the price of a 6-7lb P bass. Think balsa wood.

So I filled every screw hole with toothpicks just in case. My back thanks me every gig. I like how the lighter wood resonates and feeds back. I am sure it has a little less natural sustain, but it has infinite sustain created by feedback when I want. But I mostly play with flat wounds, and sometimes foam. That soft wood also gives it a soft and woolly tone with lots of punch.

I don't think you can have a plank that big and that light with out having soft wood.
Click to expand...

Same here......Vintage Modified P-bass:)
 
#17
I agree with the toothpick and woodglue. It works wonders, even in neck screws. As a Squire you're not really looking to resell anyway. I haven't had a single bone to pick with my Squire I bought a few years ago, only praise. If I stripped a single screw, I chalk it up to me over torquing.

What's the screw in question? From that we can focus blame from Fender to the guy who did the setup and visa versa.
 
#18
I've been GASing for another bass and checked out a few Squiers and decided to stay away. Picked up a new one at the local music store, started to play it and there was a terrible buzz on the G and D strings. I looked it over and saw the nut was broke in half, on a new bass. Tried to get a few $$ off on it but they're sending it back. The ones I play buzz and a few cosmetic things that I just didn't like.
 
#19
It's Squire....


My VM Jazz has a high fret and I had to buy a metric allen set for one screw on one saddle, and I did notice a few of the screw on my pick guard are either not screwed down all the way or slightly stripped. lol

adds character I guess
 
#20
Slax said:
I agree with the toothpick and woodglue. It works wonders, even in neck screws. As a Squire you're not really looking to resell anyway. I haven't had a single bone to pick with my Squire I bought a few years ago, only praise. If I stripped a single screw, I chalk it up to me over torquing.

What's the screw in question? From that we can focus blame from Fender to the guy who did the setup and visa versa.
Click to expand...


Couple bridge, few pickguard screws. Luckily, not the strap button screws.......imagine the pain.....
 

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