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Squier vs. fender
- Thread starter Justin89
- Start date
I have owned both...this is just short of apples to oranges and the only way to know is to have live gigging, studio or simple a/b. There are so many variables. A squire can't compare to an American Fender in a plethora of ways. To be specific: DIFFERENT COMPONENTS
DIFFERENT WOOD
CHEAPER HARDWARE ON THE SQUIRES
AND DIFFERENT BODY MASS/WEIGHT.
As far as playability is concerned, it's a crapshoot.
But a Squire is much more apt to neck issues, with a few
exceptions. Quality control overseas by a contracted builder/ assembler is just not under the same supervision as US/MEXI built Fenders. A good friend of mine has toured these Asian facilities and they are essentialy sweatshops. Good instruments DO come from these facilities(bassically an industrial complex half the size of Manhattan) but these are the same machines and 12 yr old kids pumping out stuff by the million every year. The standards there are weak, and I'm talking worker safety. Think about that when you buy a Beringer, a Squire, a Rogue, an SX or any other import.
I know, why support companies like Fender, MTD, and the whole gaggle of other sellouts while Asian kids sift through massive piles of broken electronics in order to re-use the metals of which their land is so deprived? Because those companies provide quality close to home as well. I am guilty and don't blame any kid or kid's parents who just wanna bass, any bass, at a reasonable price. I am luckily in a position to own a few decent basses.
One is an old US built 80's Schecter, the other is a MIM 50's P-bass, which may as well be American anyway since many mexican nationals actually build the US Fender instruments anyway. BUT that is where I draw the line. My rig, my cables,
my case and even...oh wait, I own a Line6 studio 110(I said I was guilty) are US made. It's nice to get to a point where you can be patriotic about your spending decisions, but I wholly understand that it's a ladder you have to climb both enlightened and financially learned.
DIFFERENT WOOD
CHEAPER HARDWARE ON THE SQUIRES
AND DIFFERENT BODY MASS/WEIGHT.
As far as playability is concerned, it's a crapshoot.
But a Squire is much more apt to neck issues, with a few
exceptions. Quality control overseas by a contracted builder/ assembler is just not under the same supervision as US/MEXI built Fenders. A good friend of mine has toured these Asian facilities and they are essentialy sweatshops. Good instruments DO come from these facilities(bassically an industrial complex half the size of Manhattan) but these are the same machines and 12 yr old kids pumping out stuff by the million every year. The standards there are weak, and I'm talking worker safety. Think about that when you buy a Beringer, a Squire, a Rogue, an SX or any other import.
I know, why support companies like Fender, MTD, and the whole gaggle of other sellouts while Asian kids sift through massive piles of broken electronics in order to re-use the metals of which their land is so deprived? Because those companies provide quality close to home as well. I am guilty and don't blame any kid or kid's parents who just wanna bass, any bass, at a reasonable price. I am luckily in a position to own a few decent basses.
One is an old US built 80's Schecter, the other is a MIM 50's P-bass, which may as well be American anyway since many mexican nationals actually build the US Fender instruments anyway. BUT that is where I draw the line. My rig, my cables,
my case and even...oh wait, I own a Line6 studio 110(I said I was guilty) are US made. It's nice to get to a point where you can be patriotic about your spending decisions, but I wholly understand that it's a ladder you have to climb both enlightened and financially learned.
Chances are you can correct this issue by loosening the neck and repositioning it so that it's in better alignment with the bridge. Neck pockets are loose enough to allow a little neck movement.
If a fret buzzes due to height issues then it can be corrected. If it buzzes due to a loose fit in it's slot, it can be fixed.
The plate is used to help distribute forces over a broader area and keep the screw heads from biting and sinking into the wood. I can't think of any reason why one would want a high screw to plate tolerance fit.
+1 !! A bass is just a collection of parts assembled by an individual. Sometimes the parts aren't the cause of a problem.
i,ve played some of both brands that sounded and felt like crap. last trip to buy a bass i had my heart set on a fender and ended up buying a squier.IMHO it just felt as good as any fender i picked up.i think the squiers in some cases are just as good and the price leaves alot extra cash for any mods you want to maketo make them sound better than stock fender and still have money left over.
IMO, and as warwick says "the sound of wood".
Anything else can be replaced. The Squiers always have wood of less quality than the Fenders, even if they have the same electronics and hardware.
On my Squier I only changed the bridge. The pups are pretty good, no need to change the electronics, I mean this is just what it is. The tuners are same as Fender. Changed the strings.
Compared to a Fender, it sounds a little too bright, a little heavier. But overall similar. I obviously (and always) get the look of "oh is that a squier?"
Anything else can be replaced. The Squiers always have wood of less quality than the Fenders, even if they have the same electronics and hardware.
On my Squier I only changed the bridge. The pups are pretty good, no need to change the electronics, I mean this is just what it is. The tuners are same as Fender. Changed the strings.
Compared to a Fender, it sounds a little too bright, a little heavier. But overall similar. I obviously (and always) get the look of "oh is that a squier?"
I was just a hobbyist playing in my basement with a $99 Vinci. My wife was visiting our neice in the hospital and ran into the pastor from her sisters church. Needless to say, I'm not a hobbyist anymore and need to replace the Vinci. I've played Squiers and don't see much quality difference between them and the Vinci, in fact the Vinci feels better. Don't skimp on whatever you buy because things may change.
I own an '08 Squier VMJ and I own a '95 Fender MIM P Special. They are my first Squier and my first Fender. My Squier must be the top of the top because it is perfect in every way. My Fender is the same. They are both excellent basses. The only other experience I have had with either brand was a used Squier Affinity P that was way more awesome then its given credit, an 08 Deluxe Precision and an 08 Deluxe Jazz. Ive also played briefly a '78 Precision once (and almost owned...grrr...whole other story). Every bass I just listed was good quality and just great. They are all the same company and a Fender rep even told me this flat out so what does it matter? Fender is Fender, Squier is Fender..... if someone wants to pay several hundred more to have the Fender logo bigger on their headstock so be it. But for financially challenged low enders like myself its just fine to have the Fender logo smaller and SQUIER written above it. They are the same basses IMO. Its all just marketing....
EDIT Sure, perhaps some of the quality of wood and hardware is slightly more average for a Squier but so what? The craftsmanship IMO is still there and unless one somehow ends up with a Squier that really got the short end of the stick is it really /that/ important to have to change everything around? Whats the point? If it functions and holds up theres no reason IMO.
EDIT Sure, perhaps some of the quality of wood and hardware is slightly more average for a Squier but so what? The craftsmanship IMO is still there and unless one somehow ends up with a Squier that really got the short end of the stick is it really /that/ important to have to change everything around? Whats the point? If it functions and holds up theres no reason IMO.
I once owned an Indonesian made VM Jazz, (I posted it in the Squier Club) it was a great a bass, inexpensive yet sounded like expensive bass but I had to let it go because it was way too heavy for me. I now play an '82 JV Squier '62 RI P-Bass (see it in my signature). I can say that the JV has better craftmanship, better choice of woods and electronics and yes..... it was the very first Squier. Something that holds it value, as you can see JVs are now collector's item, especially in Europe where these Squier were first exported.
