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Squier vs. Fender ?!?
- Thread starter Atshen
- Start date
the only question that matters
I recently went to my local shop. I had 2k I was willing to spend. I test drove every precision they had. Fender Am pro II, MIM, 62 reissue, a Lakland, squier affinity, and a CV 60s. I walked out the door with the Squier CV 60. To me it sounded and played the best of all of them. Didn't care for the gloss neck but I knew I could take steel wool to it. $500 and couldn't be happier. Not concerned with the decal in the headstock. YMMV.
Bro, they can’t offer everything all the time…the Mod shop has a lot of options,, Fender Custom Shop has even more…between those and looking up some used/vintage stuff, you should be able to find what you want or get close enough that you can get the rest of the way with slight mods you can do yourself, like a pickguard swap, etc..…
FWIW the OP wasn't talking about what's on the headstock or expense. I believe he's talking strictly aesthetics.
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Neutral colors are fine. You can put whatever pickguard you want on there and tart it up however you like.
It's ironic that a million years ago (back in the 70s), Fender ran print ads (they were in things called "magazines". Look them up, kids) which read:
"Never change, never adapt an die cold, naked, and alone" with a couple of Fenders juxtaposed with a picture of a T. Rex.
Fender strikes me as a company which wants very little to do with changing/improvising/innovating. Oh, they do some things, but blessed few for my liking.
"Never change, never adapt an die cold, naked, and alone" with a couple of Fenders juxtaposed with a picture of a T. Rex.
Fender strikes me as a company which wants very little to do with changing/improvising/innovating. Oh, they do some things, but blessed few for my liking.
This video chronicles a visit to Fender’s factory in Corona two years ago. I think it speaks volumes about where the company’s head is at when it comes to guitar building. I was surprised how antiquated it all seemed. Felt like being in a living time capsule from the 1940s. The only thing missing was the ashtrays and pinup calendars.
I guess the ghost of Leo Fender and his nigh on legendary (or infamous depending on who you talk to) frugality still lingers on at the company that bears his name.
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I totally agree. But I'd also say that historically, when Fender does try something different, it doesn't sell well. Or well enough. The Ashbory, JP90, Katana, Performer, Rascal, Urge... I don't know. Maybe they're just really bad at innovating? When they actually do something different, nobody wants it.
I was speaking more to the lack of 24 fret basses/guitars (Fender owns Jackson, after all and they've been doing it for [?]35[?] years?)
HSS or HSH pickup placement.
I don't understand the ... hesitancy - forgetting about their Jackson ownership - to "use" the Squier division as some kind of experimentation lab (although they have, to a degree. I've seen the active Jazz basses, etc, coming out of Squier).
I think they're wasting a golden opportunity. YMMV
HSS or HSH pickup placement.
I don't understand the ... hesitancy - forgetting about their Jackson ownership - to "use" the Squier division as some kind of experimentation lab (although they have, to a degree. I've seen the active Jazz basses, etc, coming out of Squier).
I think they're wasting a golden opportunity. YMMV
My guess would be because in recent years thay have been made in Indonesia, still very good basses but not near the quality of the "Crafted in China" basses that are still revered and ate a ton of Fenders "branded" bass market.
in the legacy world Fender wins
Squire is a marketing afterthought to Fender brand
I own/play both Fender/Squire
Squire is a marketing afterthought to Fender brand
I own/play both Fender/Squire
The only big difference I see in MIM Fenders and Squires is the country of origin. Sound and build quality seems comparable. The American Fender is a higher quality product with a much higher price tag. (jmho)
I think the Squire stuff looks kind of gimmicky. Not much of a contest for me. I do see the value in them though. I own some and will probably buy more. For me they don't really compete with an American Fender.
I sometimes think that Squier, besides being a way for Fender to compete in that price range, would make an excellent incubator for them to try things far cheaper than what it would cost as a 'real Fender' to gage interest in a given design. But I have no way of knowing IF that's actually at work.
Waiting for a post like this one ..
In effect the latest basses Squier put out are very beautiful .. you need to buy a Custom Shop instrument to get one from Fender.
May it be since the jazz and precision bass are just simple instruments?
No come on .. they’re killing us .. we want shoreline gold!!! Burgundy mist !!!
This constant need for electric pop instruments to change is perplexing. If I want a new Cello...I buy a new but traditional Cello, I wouldnt want it any other way. Why the need for innovation, and especially in bass...its just bass.
