I currently own a Fender Squire Jazz Bass that was given to me as a present. It is reasonably well made, but has a bit of difficulty keeping in tune and keeping all the notes along the neck in tune. I have been thinking of switching to an American Standard Fender Jazz bass. I play mostly jazz. Is it worth the extra money for an American Standard?
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Squire vs American Standard
- Thread starter pdmeade
- Start date
+1
Definitely get a setup and throw some Ernie Ball Cobalts on there!
Also, like said above, it's spelled SQUIER, not Squire. Someone once told me that every time someone misspells "Squier" as "Squire", a guitarist is born.
the squier setup well can hold there own.
but to answer your question in my opinion YES totally worth it!
let nothing stop you just play as many as you need to make the best decision for you!
but to answer your question in my opinion YES totally worth it!
let nothing stop you just play as many as you need to make the best decision for you!
This sounds like a set up issue to me. For what it is worth, a good bass will sound like poop when it loses its intonation too.
is this Squier a Chinese one? Japan? Indonesia? some of the Chinese ones from a few years ago can feel kind of junk-y. the Japanese ones are generally superb, and often better than US Fenders. Indonesian Squiers can also be good, but are a roll of the dice. the main thing is to have a good setup.
A good Squier is just that a good Squier. Yours does not sound like a good one or it needs setup or strings replaced. I have Squiers and I have Amer/standard P basses. The Amer stand is a much better built bass than a Squier made today. The Squiers that are closer to a MIA standard are the CV series..great bass.
The only Squiers that match MIA quality are the early first edition JV and SQ Squiers and they are hard to find and expensive anymore.
So a Squier jazz today in not as high of quality as a MIA jazz but will it sound better? To my ears often times... no. Are they (MIA) worth the extra money? Again in some of my cases no. That is what you need to find out.
The only Squiers that match MIA quality are the early first edition JV and SQ Squiers and they are hard to find and expensive anymore.
So a Squier jazz today in not as high of quality as a MIA jazz but will it sound better? To my ears often times... no. Are they (MIA) worth the extra money? Again in some of my cases no. That is what you need to find out.
The vast majority of post-2008 American Standards I've played have been very, very nice. Better than the good Squiers. If you have the money and want a Fender, then do it. Just make sure the neck pocket is pretty tightand there are no glaring fret or neck issues.
The TalkBass community will never try to talk you out of a purchase, only encourage you to spend your hard-earned coin. I don't say that as a dig to anyone who has replied to you. TB is full of great people who take time to offer their sincere advice. I just say that as something you should be aware of when you ask a question like this.
Whether or not you choose to upgrade, do you know how to intonate the bridge? It's a pretty easy thing to do if you have a few simple tools (screwdriver or hex wrench, but probably just a screwdriver) and a tuner. The basic gist of it involves adjusting your string lengths so that they're "in tune" with the fretboard, so that when you play, the bass stays in tune as you move up and down the fretboard. Might be all you need to fix the issues with your Squier.
Whether or not you choose to upgrade, do you know how to intonate the bridge? It's a pretty easy thing to do if you have a few simple tools (screwdriver or hex wrench, but probably just a screwdriver) and a tuner. The basic gist of it involves adjusting your string lengths so that they're "in tune" with the fretboard, so that when you play, the bass stays in tune as you move up and down the fretboard. Might be all you need to fix the issues with your Squier.
Agreed, a professional set up and new strings could help your current bass, but also yes, an American Standard is quite a big step up in quality and tone overall.
Actually an American STandard is only a small step up in quality, but a BIG step up in money. Some Squiers are pretty bad. But some are pretty good. And all can be improved with some work and or mods. American Standards are usually (but not always) quite nice. They cost a LOT of money compared to a Squier or even a Squier with mods.
So why spend a lot of money for a small step in quality? Because that difference is WORTH IT to you!
I've got a Squier PJ 5er. It took some mods and setup but it's about as good now as Squiers can get. But would an American Standard be better? Well, If Fender actually made a PJ 5er it would. They don't. But if they did, then I'd have to ask is that small bit of "better" worth the big extra cash? And that obviously depends on lots of things such as how tight money is and how much I desire achieving that last bit of "extra" tone and playability.
When you reach the "high end" of any gear small improvements in quality usually mean large amounts of money. And if you want those improvements you have to pay because there is no other way to get them.
Bassbenj,
Thanks for the guidance. Fortunately, I have reached a point in my life where money is less of an issue. Of course, I realize playing bass is often in the technique more than the equipment, but sometime quality equipment can be a little more forgiving on the technique....maybe!
Thanks for the guidance. Fortunately, I have reached a point in my life where money is less of an issue. Of course, I realize playing bass is often in the technique more than the equipment, but sometime quality equipment can be a little more forgiving on the technique....maybe!
Like someone said, new strings and a pro adjustment/setup on that bass and it will probably last you a long time 
If you want a Fender (GAS process has started...), you'll probably get one, but it too will most likely need a setup
If you want a Fender (GAS process has started...), you'll probably get one, but it too will most likely need a setup
