• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Squier vs. Epiphone quality- Who is better?

#21
I am a Gibson bass fan so yes I buy Epiphone basses I have an Embassy and a El Segundo acoustic electric I love both and quality and playability is very good.

I have played a couple of squires P's they were just okay I found the pick ups to be weak compared to Fender brand P's and the frets work was poor to say the least in fact I bought a Silvertone P for my little guy when he shown some interest in playing bass (girls are more important now) And the fret work right out of the box was better then the Squires I tried ime.
 
#23
I just got in an older MIK Epi EB0 and I like the sound (though I might add a series/parallel switch) - but it has the worst neck dive of any bass I've ever tried. Even worse than my Dean EVOXM which is another Gibson (Les Paul Bass) copy. Oh, and on the EB0 you can't see the fretboard when standing because of the way the strap positions it :hmm: . OTOH it makes a good couch bass as the jack is on the face and it sits well on the leg - and maybe I'll try it in the Jazz group I play with as we use charts and I'm seated. Completely useless standing up IMO.
 
#24
LOOONG POST...
My first "real bass" was a brand new cherry-red 1970 Epiphone: Double cutaway, SS, 2 HB PUPs. I am told it was first year for MIJ Epi's. Price was $125. It was a sort of birthday gift from my parents. I had really wanted a Fender Precision fretless, as I had taken string bass in symphony. The Fender's sticker price was absurdly high; I didn't know the difference between SMRP VS actual retail price; I was 16 or 17 and very naive. Didn't know of nor understand value differences between USA or MIJ, etc.

I wasn't going to have my parents buy an expensive instrument as I knew they didn't have much $$ and my dad worked a job and 1/2 to take care of us. An amp was out of the question, but as my first bass; a $25 used KAY: Single cut away, SS, single pup hollow body "died", I asked for the Epi. The Epi made the KAY seem like a toy to me. New bass..no amp..sighs...folks wouldn't let me get a P/T job.

I cherished and polished my EPI weekly. My grandma loaned my parents $$ for my first amp; 1971 Kustom 200B which I still own and use. I was instantly an in-demand bass player; welcomed at parties and jams everywhere.

When my folks moved us from Atlanta, to the quaint little town of Jonesboro, which I thought was worse than HELL or "Mayberry". Oddly, I met the best musicians ever; David T. Chastain, for one..yepp he's originally from Jonesboro.


That's when I quickly learned that my EPI was a short-scale piece of @#$%^. Tone?? What tone? Pups were also very microphonic. Everyone I met seemed to own either: Gibsons or Fenders. I pridefully played my Epi, regardless. By late 1972, it's pups died. [ bought new in 1970] By that time, I had a job and my own $$, so I bought a Rickenbacker 4001-S. No one ever laughed at my bass again. I BECAME A PROG LOVING GEAR SNOB. I have never had a failure of any kind with a Rick.

OK..So a few years ago, my wife bought me a Squier Active JAZZ 5. ..another long story..No pup failure ,which I cannot say same for my Epi, which failed in 2 years. I love my Squier AND I DO NOT EXPECT ANY ISSUES WITH IT. Hard part is spelling Squier...LOL..

On the other hand...I believe newer Epis are better now than decades ago. My actual ownership opinion is in favor of Squier. BTW..I still have the EPI..I am a sentimental old fool, I guess, as the Epi was the "one who brought me to the dance"
 
#25
I can only comment on my own experience with 3 of my basses:

1 - Squier CV Jazz - I can't find much wrong with this bass. Good fretwork, a bit heavy & good sound (better through my Sadowsky outboard preamp)

2 - Epiphone Thunderbird (Arctic White MIK) - I wasn't expecting much from this bass & was pleasantly surprised - more versatile than I had assumed. Strap buttons needed re-mounting - I hear the bridge anchors can also come loose...

3 - Squier VM Jazz - possibly the worst bass I ever owned - very dull sound-wise. I changed strings, adjusted the pup height & added an Audere preamp & BAII bridge - still a dud... I even sanded off the "Squier" logo & it still sounded terrible... Finally I replaced the body with an Ash one from Mighty Mite, filed the fret ends (which were sprouting) & it's a decent bass - much more articulate & playable.... I think others have had better success with the VM series...
 
#29
EagleMoon said:
Do people actually buy Epiphone basses? Guitars yes, but basses?
Click to expand...

yes, we do...

MVC-020S.jpg


...and the Epi compares favorably to the Gibson. Of course the EPi line featuress a wide variety, from beginner instruments on up, and this T-bird is a step up from the entry level models, and is priced accordingly.

I've never run across a Squier I considered worth owning. I owned a (Japanese) Squier Strat in the 80's; it was junk comared with my Mexi Fender Strat. In basses all my Fenders are Fenders. Others can rant and rave about Squiers, they don't do it for me.
 
#31
I have both and I really like them for different reasons. My Squire modified vintage P-Bass is great. Constructed well and has that great Precision sound. I like it better than my MIM, MIJ or American Fenders. The Rivoli reissue is great too, constructed very well (Peerless factory) and it has that classic sound, although I did drop a 67' EB2 mudbucker in it.
 
#32
zon6c-f said:
LOOONG POST...
My first "real bass" was a brand new cherry-red 1970 Epiphone: Double cutaway, SS, 2 HB PUPs. I am told it was first year for MIJ Epi's. Price was $125. It was a sort of birthday gift from my parents. I had really wanted a Fender Precision fretless, as I had taken string bass in symphony. The Fender's sticker price was absurdly high; I didn't know the difference between SMRP VS actual retail price; I was 16 or 17 and very naive. Didn't know of nor understand value differences between USA or MIJ, etc.

I wasn't going to have my parents buy an expensive instrument as I knew they didn't have much $$ and my dad worked a job and 1/2 to take care of us. An amp was out of the question, but as my first bass; a $25 used KAY: Single cut away, SS, single pup hollow body "died", I asked for the Epi. The Epi made the KAY seem like a toy to me. New bass..no amp..sighs...folks wouldn't let me get a P/T job.

I cherished and polished my EPI weekly. My grandma loaned my parents $$ for my first amp; 1971 Kustom 200B which I still own and use. I was instantly an in-demand bass player; welcomed at parties and jams everywhere.

When my folks moved us from Atlanta, to the quaint little town of Jonesboro, which I thought was worse than HELL or "Mayberry". Oddly, I met the best musicians ever; David T. Chastain, for one..yepp he's originally from Jonesboro.

That's when I quickly learned that my EPI was a short-scale piece of @#$%^. Tone?? What tone? Pups were also very microphonic. Everyone I met seemed to own either: Gibsons or Fenders. I pridefully played my Epi, regardless. By late 1972, it's pups died. [ bought new in 1970] By that time, I had a job and my own $$, so I bought a Rickenbacker 4001-S. No one ever laughed at my bass again. I BECAME A PROG LOVING GEAR SNOB. I have never had a failure of any kind with a Rick.

OK..So a few years ago, my wife bought me a Squier Active JAZZ 5. ..another long story..No pup failure ,which I cannot say same for my Epi, which failed in 2 years. I love my Squier AND I DO NOT EXPECT ANY ISSUES WITH IT. Hard part is spelling Squier...LOL..

On the other hand...I believe newer Epis are better now than decades ago. My actual ownership opinion is in favor of Squier. BTW..I still have the EPI..I am a sentimental old fool, I guess, as the Epi was the "one who brought me to the dance"
Click to expand...

That's a really awsome story :D I made the same mistake; I got my Epi at 15 (naive, but I loved that V shape) and at 17 I found out how bad it's sound actually is (not so bad but it doesn't fit me, too metal)..well I'm 17 now and I'm selling it so I can get something new for xmas :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Outbush
#33
I have both a very good Squier P Affinity with '62 original Fender P pups in it, and an Epiphone Accu Bass, which is a P Bass copy. The Accu bass is not too bad, although I like the Squier better. The tone on the Accu is not as "punchy" as the Affinity, and I like the neck of the Squier much better, although that's definately personal preference. Before I changed the pups in the Squier, they were more comparable in tone, but I like the feel of the Squier much better.
 
#34
Hey, long post ahead. I was wondering if any of you could give me some opinions. I'm looking for a new bass and have pretty much narrowed it down to two: the Squier CV 60's P or the Epiphone Goth T-bird.

I have some concerns about both of them.

The stores around me don't have the CV, so I have never actually played one, but I've seen the rave reviews it gets. I know they have glossy finishes on the neck, which I don't like (though I hear it is easily buffed with steel wool). I am wondering how much better this bass is, tone-wise, than my Affinity P, and if it is worth getting.

I have played the Goth and I like it, though the one in the store was poorly set up, and the E was very buzzy. Other than that, it's great. The neck-dive isn't a big deal to me.

I play a lot of Beatles, and I know the P is great for that with its warm tone. I play more aggressive stuff also, and the T-bird does that well IMO, but can't get quite the warmth of a P.

Thanks if you took the time to read all that, I'd love to have your thoughts.
 
#35
I have a squier vm jaguar longscale that i love, it has the duncan designed p j pickups & rings through that sweet fender sound! I also own multiple epiphones that i love and my primary go to bass is a pro 4 thunderbird, that i have invested hundreds of (luthier) dollars in. That being said, save up a little more money if you are going with the tbird, and buy the pro. It is far, far superior to the other epiphone thunderbirds!!
 
#39
from what I have played I would take a top line squier over an epiphone anyday. I think the QC is so much better. But it also comes down to what style bass you want. Squier ain't making thunderbirds and Epiphone isn't making 60's reissues of P's and J's.
 
#40
Party Poison said:
Squier basses ove Epiphone basses.
Epiphone guitars over Squier guitars.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. My son bought an Epi Les Paul (guitar). It looks nice and plays nice. There is no discernible difference between the Epi bridge and the corresponding Gibson bridge. I changed out the tuners, pots and caps. I was gonna change out the pickups, but after extensive A/B-ing with an early 60's Gibson Les Paul we decided not to. Those particular Epi pickups are nothing short of AMAZING!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back