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squire vs fender
- Thread starter svestheday001
- Start date
Iam glad this thread was revived, I own an American Jazz, that's about 20 years old, I love that bass, right now it is having some work done to it and I had to buy a second bass, I ended up getting an Ibanez Sound Deign CR405 5 string, I like, but there are tones I can get with the Ibanez that I can't get with the Jazz.
I have been looking into the Squier Jaguar, mainly because I love that design, and I would be just a fun bass to have. and for $200.00 how can it be a bad deal? Anyway I was checking out the Jaguar this weekend at the Wal-Mart of Music stores, The first thing I noticed was the frets were not flush.
After reading this I am going to check out other ones and see if it was just that particular one. One thing that I did like was how small the neck was, it is just cool. Now I did not plug it in, when I test out a bass I like to listen to it unplugged, I want to bass to have a nice tone with out the amp.But that Jag sounded like I through it would, a little mid rangy, were it would sit on top of the drums in the frequency, so a really cool rock and roll bass, but I will say this , while I am sure the bass is not bad, there is definite a noticeable different in the hardware quality, but that is also part of is tone.
To ad to the list of metaphors to compare the American and the Squier, I would say that while a T-bone is technical a better cut of beef, a good Hamburger will beat it when you want a Hamburger.
These thing are tools and the more variety you have in your tool belt the better, so while it has been 8 years I wonder what kind of bass the OP decided to get.
I have been looking into the Squier Jaguar, mainly because I love that design, and I would be just a fun bass to have. and for $200.00 how can it be a bad deal? Anyway I was checking out the Jaguar this weekend at the Wal-Mart of Music stores, The first thing I noticed was the frets were not flush.
After reading this I am going to check out other ones and see if it was just that particular one. One thing that I did like was how small the neck was, it is just cool. Now I did not plug it in, when I test out a bass I like to listen to it unplugged, I want to bass to have a nice tone with out the amp.But that Jag sounded like I through it would, a little mid rangy, were it would sit on top of the drums in the frequency, so a really cool rock and roll bass, but I will say this , while I am sure the bass is not bad, there is definite a noticeable different in the hardware quality, but that is also part of is tone.
To ad to the list of metaphors to compare the American and the Squier, I would say that while a T-bone is technical a better cut of beef, a good Hamburger will beat it when you want a Hamburger.
These thing are tools and the more variety you have in your tool belt the better, so while it has been 8 years I wonder what kind of bass the OP decided to get.
My experience is the sound from a less expensive bass can easily equal or exceed that of a more expensive bass. The player is far more important than the instrument. That being said, I have found the more expensive basses that feel better in my hands and feel easier to play or to push because more time isusually spent making them feel that way. A smoother neck, rounded frets, better hardware usually make for a more comfortable playing experience.
I agree that you could tell a Squier from a higher end Fender blindfolded by feel, but not just by sound.
I'm in the process of upgrading my bass to the next model up after playing the next model up and feeling the smoothness of the guitar and seeing the difference in build quality. I'm pretty much re-buying my exact guitar with a few minor differences that I feel are worth it. My current guitar street price is $500 and the new one is $900; and it's not a Fender. I don't collect guitars, so I just want my main rig to be the right fit for me.
I agree that you could tell a Squier from a higher end Fender blindfolded by feel, but not just by sound.
I'm in the process of upgrading my bass to the next model up after playing the next model up and feeling the smoothness of the guitar and seeing the difference in build quality. I'm pretty much re-buying my exact guitar with a few minor differences that I feel are worth it. My current guitar street price is $500 and the new one is $900; and it's not a Fender. I don't collect guitars, so I just want my main rig to be the right fit for me.
some of the squiers have this lean mean quick feel to them and work great with a ballsy rig, however some have felt like they were kind of cheap and sounded anemic
the best jazz i have ever played was a red affinity my music teacher set up perfectly
the best precision i have ever played was a sonic blue classic vibe my friend played
the best jazz i have ever played was a red affinity my music teacher set up perfectly
the best precision i have ever played was a sonic blue classic vibe my friend played
I have had, and still have several fender basses over the years. I also have owned quite a few squires. Most squires are good basses but Didnt always have the best electronics or fret work. Once you put some money into them they are great basses. The Classic Vibe series basses really stepped it up a notch and I would actually put them above the mim stuff. But my 1984 p bass and especially my 2012 American standard are leaps and bounds better. Better fret work, better out of the box electronics, etc. my 2012 is one of the best basses I have ever owned it sounds amazing and has a neck that's smooth as a prom queens thighs.
(I was taught in school that Mexico is part of America, as is Canada.)
Until relatively recently, Fenders were always made by Mexicans.
My Squier Pro Tone bass (made in Korea) is an absolutely outstanding bass. The neck and body are flawless in feel, tone, fit and finish. (This series was made in the same factory as Cort, using Mighty Mite pickups as does Cort.)
Until relatively recently, Fenders were always made by Mexicans.
My Squier Pro Tone bass (made in Korea) is an absolutely outstanding bass. The neck and body are flawless in feel, tone, fit and finish. (This series was made in the same factory as Cort, using Mighty Mite pickups as does Cort.)
My hybrid Squier Affinity Jazz 5 is now fitted with Fender American Jazz 5 pick ups and wiring harness and is a terrific bass for a total of $340 which includes shipping.
My Impression:
Squier basses give the best bang for the buck out of all Fender products, the rare masterpiece mex standard not included. They definitely not all have sharp fret edges, in fact most don't. They capture the spirit of the original J and P Basses much better than other cheap copys and on top of that they use the original shape, something that is forbidden to other manufacturers - they need to change little things. Sometimes hard to notice, sometimes very easy. Most of the time just not right looking. Squiers look just like the originals do.
Mexican Fenders can be awesome instruments for little cash, while the american made are usually of good build qualitiy, have the nicer colors and a better quality check. Still, of the three Fender/Squier Jazz Basses i owned, the Squier was without doubt the best. I had a mexican made CLassic 60's Jazz Bass, an American Standard 2011 Jazz Bass and a Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazz Bass. It had a warmth to it and a very nice organic tone, i absolutely regret selling it. I was so stoked by this bass, which i bought as a backup bass for my Musicman Bongo... i thought if the cheap variant is already this good, the Fenders must be godlike. Sadly neither the mex nor the us one was as good. I sorely miss that bass, but the new owner does not want to sell it back to me.
The recent Squier basses are all excellent, especially the Matt Freeman P-Bass or the complete Classic Vibe series. Just stunning basses in very good build quality that sound just like a P or J Bass made by Fender should.
Squier basses give the best bang for the buck out of all Fender products, the rare masterpiece mex standard not included. They definitely not all have sharp fret edges, in fact most don't. They capture the spirit of the original J and P Basses much better than other cheap copys and on top of that they use the original shape, something that is forbidden to other manufacturers - they need to change little things. Sometimes hard to notice, sometimes very easy. Most of the time just not right looking. Squiers look just like the originals do.
Mexican Fenders can be awesome instruments for little cash, while the american made are usually of good build qualitiy, have the nicer colors and a better quality check. Still, of the three Fender/Squier Jazz Basses i owned, the Squier was without doubt the best. I had a mexican made CLassic 60's Jazz Bass, an American Standard 2011 Jazz Bass and a Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazz Bass. It had a warmth to it and a very nice organic tone, i absolutely regret selling it. I was so stoked by this bass, which i bought as a backup bass for my Musicman Bongo... i thought if the cheap variant is already this good, the Fenders must be godlike. Sadly neither the mex nor the us one was as good. I sorely miss that bass, but the new owner does not want to sell it back to me.
The recent Squier basses are all excellent, especially the Matt Freeman P-Bass or the complete Classic Vibe series. Just stunning basses in very good build quality that sound just like a P or J Bass made by Fender should.
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
Interesting thread. I have a Vintage Modified Jazz and an Affinity P (both very modified) and have been happy with both.
I find it interesting that some have liked their Squiers better than MIA's.
By the way, why do we refer to the United States as "America" for short? Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, etc are all part of the Americas.
I find it interesting that some have liked their Squiers better than MIA's.
By the way, why do we refer to the United States as "America" for short? Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, etc are all part of the Americas.
I have had several Squiers and many MIA Fenders. 2 of the Squier bass(VM Jazz maple/maple, VM Precision), were absolutely terrific sounding basses. They were not on par quality wise with the MIA basses, but not too far off. Definitely an excellent deal if you are on a budget or looking for a good backup.
- Sep 5, 2011
- 774
- 130
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- Uncompensated endorsing user: fEARful
Miss the sold squier jazzbass. I was too young to really know/feel any difference, but my bass-teacher always told me that my squier bass was a very exquisite instrument.
The squier strat of my brother (nearly 20years old (the strat, not my brother)) beats the **** out of any fender strat ever made in both sound and feeling (to MY honorable ears and hands)
The squier strat of my brother (nearly 20years old (the strat, not my brother)) beats the **** out of any fender strat ever made in both sound and feeling (to MY honorable ears and hands)
Yes besides the obvious name too. Build quality, quality and grade of parts used. Many think of Squier as the little sister of Fender, but of course Fender has their tiers of quality too (MIM, MIJ/CIJ and MIA). Of course many can say VM and classic models of the Squier's are better then MIM Fender's and yada yada....really it comes down to whatever bass (within your means) is going to be the best overall for you. The Fender and Squier debate is just like the Fender Vs. ______ debate. Best is to try out some basses and choose based on your ears, hands and eyes.
I have decided that I will never buy a Squier. Why? Well, nobody cares how you spell Fender, Fander, Fendur, Fendre -- nobody. But as you can see from the above woe be unto you if you should type Squire!
I just can't live with that kind of pressure....
Ken
I just can't live with that kind of pressure....
Ken
I had a MIM Jazz that cost over £700 pounds, it wasn't a patch on my Squier VM straight from the box. I still have and use the VM, I traded the Fender.
