Teach me about Squiers.

[Axtman]

I understand the "Affinity Series" are the least expensive. Are the "Vintage Modified" the most expensive? What about the "CV Series" or "40th Aniversary Series"?

What country of origin is the "best"?

I know nothing about Squiers.

 

[Sharko]

Squier fan here!

the affinity series used to be the bottom of the line. The bodies are slightly thinner (front to back) than other FSOs. This has been replaced by the Sonic series.

VMs and CVS are great. There was a time when VMs came from Indonesia and CVS came from China, but over time it seems some models were made in both places. Both lines are generally great.

I’d avoid the older Squiers from other factories (Korea and India).

 

[Picton]

Your confusion is warranted: Squier often changes the designations of their lines, as @Sharko points out above, as well as where they're manufactured. So the year of manufacture matters.

In general, I think most people agree that modern Squiers are awfully good instruments for a beginner, at whatever price point, and that the higher-bracket Squiers are able to give MIM Fenders a run for their money. Certainly, I've always been impressed by the Squiers I've owned; for the money, they tend to be well-made. My first Strat was a Korean Squier "standard" made in the '90s, and remains the best Strat I've ever been able to find.

In general, factory lutherie in the Far East has improved enough over the past 15 years that it almost no longer matters where they're made anymore.

If you get an opportunity, play before you pay. I'd feel comfortable buying any CV-level Squier unplayed, but otherwise I'd want to pick it up and let my hands make the decision.

 

[Camaro69]

There are different variations over the years in each line, and some folks have preferences for each.

Worst case, post pictures or links here. Easier for us to suss out all the differences when we get something to look at
I'm currently still playing a 2010 Vintage Modified Jazz. It's been refinished, but all of the hardware and pickups work just fine

 

[UNICORN BASS]

Strictly my 10 cents worth. As most have said, variable quality is the rule. My MIK Jazz is wonderful in every way. Very early MIC production from the 2000's and up Affinity series could range from unplayable to excellent. I bought a P bass from G.C. in 2000 that was a good one but i had to play about 20 of them first. MII basses seemed more consistent but the woods were, or at least seemed to me, to be "greener" and less substantial. IMHO the breakthrough in quality came with the first MIC classic series, i loved those. In later years a return to Chinese production also saw some great stuff. I can honestly say that there isn't a bad Squier in the line up. Like i said, just my opinion.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

I haven't owned a Squier (bass) in a long time.

I've picked one up to demo in music stores, from time-to-time and nothing really "wowed" me.

Full Disclosure: 7ender and I have a "history" and with my health being what it is, I can now honestly say: I will NEVER buy another 7ender product again.

That said, I can't really say too many bad words about the quality (except the "Affinity" series. I've always found them to be lacking, like the old "Bullet" series), but I can't remember ever playing a Squier with which I had to walk out of the store.

I have a Squire, two 7enders, and a Jackson. Only two of those are leaving my service before the end.

 

[srosenthal13]

The VM, CV, and Paranormal lines are the current "high-end" of the Squier range, around $400-$500 new. That's roughly half the price of their Fender MIM counterparts. I've never played a MIM Fender, but from all of the discussion I've seen about quality and consistency, I'm not sure they're twice as good as the Squiers. Maybe a little better, maybe not, maybe it's a wash. By now, I think most of use with Squiers get what the cost-cutting measures are, so assuming the necks are good, everything else is fair game if you're inclined to mod/upgrade. That being said, I think it's fair to say that the out-of-the-box experience people have with the high-end Squiers is generally positive. A lot of folks don't feel compelled to make any changes.

For me, personally, I've got a CV Jag, a Paranormal Jazz, and a parts-build CV Jag body with Affinity Jag neck (which feels awesome). My threshold for modding/upgrading, etc. is the roughly equivalent cost of a MIM (original Squire cost + upgrades/mods). I figure I can end up with a potentially better build than a MIM for about the same cost and a little elbow grease. Then again, I prefer medium scale, and Fender doesn't make anything medium scale.

 

[Heiwa]

Most -if not all- Squier’s made after 2012 will be great basses. They stopped making crap like they used to, and the first gen of VM’s and CV’s is proof..

The cheapest ones (Affinity) can be great too..

 

[SteveCS]

Just be a bit wary of posts saying early stuff is a crap-shoot. The really early ('82-3) instruments, made in Japan with JV or SQ serial numbers, are superb instruments. If you are lucky enough to find one for sale be ready to drop some proper $$ on it.

 

[Heiwa]

Just be a bit wary of posts saying early stuff is a crap-shoot. The really early ('82-3) instruments, made in Japan with JV or SQ serial numbers, are superb instruments. If you are lucky enough to find one for sale be ready to drop some proper $$ on it.

Those 82 to 84 Squiers are MIJ Fenders under a different name, the real Squiers after and up until the early 2010’s were either great or trash, 50% chances of wasting money

 

[micguy]

Leo Fender designed the "AK47's" of musical instruments - they are designs that are tolerant of small errors (as were common in factories in the 1950's in the USA), and thus can now be produced in any factory in the world, and with minimal care and training, the thing will work. With modern cnc machining, this is even more true - the bodies made for Squiers nowadays are certainly more consistent than Pre-CBS Fender stuff. Necks, we have to talk wood aging and such, so that's a different situation, but they're pretty darn good nowadays as well. Squier is Fender's way of taking advantage of this design portability - they use different factories at different times, and the ones that make better stuff end up producing the "higher end" of the Squier line.

There are a lot of folks that will tell you that the country where their Squier was made is the place where the "good" ones are made, but in truth, they're not that different - as stated above, the designs are tolerant of small differences in manufacturing. You should judge each instrument on it's own merits, rather than generalizing about years and countries of manufacture.

 

[dkelley]

In the music store I'm employed at (Tapestry music), we had a white affinity strat that was clearly made with love by someone really trying to impress. It was an excellent axe in every way, fretwork was great (often an issue with cheaper axes), pickups sounded great (considering they were ceramic) and had appropriate heights selected, bridge came perfectly intonated, nut slots were cut proper depth (never happens), setup was really good in every way. Fit and finish were excellent, neck join was extremely solid and not shimmed... they nailed it first try, and sustain and attack and tone were great all over the instrument. I played it all the time there - it was better than the fender player series strat we had ... no joke, played better, better finish details, neck pocket was better fitted, and it simply sounded and played better out of the box. sold it to a very lucky customer for the standard affinity price.... they realized they were getting a far better guitar than they should have been getting, for whatever reason.

That's affinity for ya - you can get lucky LoL. But most are not that good, at least not without a TON of work done to them.

CV and VM are amazing instruments.... I see no reason they can't be used professionally, and they ARE often used professionally.

This ain't your dad's squier, where they were plywood bodies weighin twice as much as they should and with bizarre setup issues that couldn't be resolved, like in the 80s.

 

[srosenthal13]

In the music store I'm employed at (Tapestry music), we had a white affinity strat that was clearly made with love by someone really trying to impress. It was an excellent axe in every way, fretwork was great (often an issue with cheaper axes), pickups sounded great (considering they were ceramic) and had appropriate heights selected, bridge came perfectly intonated, nut slots were cut proper depth (never happens), setup was really good in every way. Fit and finish were excellent, neck join was extremely solid and not shimmed... they nailed it first try, and sustain and attack and tone were great all over the instrument. I played it all the time there - it was better than the fender player series strat we had ... no joke, played better, better finish details, neck pocket was better fitted, and it simply sounded and played better out of the box. sold it to a very lucky customer for the standard affinity price.... they realized they were getting a far better guitar than they should have been getting, for whatever reason.

That's affinity for ya - you can get lucky LoL. But most are not that good, at least not without a TON of work done to them.

CV and VM are amazing instruments.... I see no reason they can't be used professionally, and they ARE often used professionally.

This ain't your dad's squier, where they were plywood bodies weighin twice as much as they should and with bizarre setup issues that couldn't be resolved, like in the 80s.

Reminded me of this:

 

[CoughSyrup]

I sold a Squier CV 60s Precision to offset the cost of a MIM Player Precision I'd just purchased. Even used, I paid about twice for the Player vs what I got for the Squier. For that money, I saved about 1/2 a pound in weight and got a nice satin neck as opposed to the Squier's thick vintage gloss which I disliked, even after knocking down with Scotch pads. I think the stock Squier pickup sounded better than the stock Player pickup and the Squier bass looked great. I liked the vintage tint and dark laurel of the Squier.

If I had to do it all over again, I'd probably keep the Squier and spend that extra money on pedals and a nice gig bag.

 

[Reedt2000]

Try before you buy, or get a clear return policy. Like all mass-produced, less-expensive instruments the quality control is all over the place, regardless of where or when things were made (with few exceptions, the early MIJ Squier line are usually rock solid but as has been pointed out, no longer all that affordable). The best thing to do is get your hands on it and see for yourself whether it's a player or not.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

what to check:
THE NECK !! check for grain pattern, you want north/south grain, (tuners to body) minimal run out. If the grain has a crazy pattern, its possible (not for sure) the neck will not be stable. This applies to any bass, $300-$3000

 

[C Stone]

There are lots of variations of Squiers-
Hardware, pickups, 60’s/70’s, shapes, then there’s string spacing and pickup placement, fret board material, bent plate, high mass bridge, tuners, painted headstocks. QC and then fit and finish…

Made a list I think is generally accurate.
If you need information about particular Squier you will have to be more specific.

1. Squier JV, SQ (MIJ)
2. Squier Matt Freeman (China)
3. Squier James Johnston (China)
4. Squier Classic Vibe (China)
5. Squier Standard (various)
6. Squier Vintage Modified (Indo)
7. Squier Classic Vibe (Indonesia)
8. Squier Affinity (China/Indonesia)

 

[portpc]

I gig regularly with a Squier 40th Annv'y P Bass since I bought it during a $299.00 sale at GC last year. It blows any MIM P Bass I've played out of the water and I can leave my worn Highway 1 P Bass at home. Highly recommended & I see them now for $389 at GC.

 

[SteveC]

I think there are better options than Squier. People seem to like Sire. Yamaha makes a nice bass.

 

[Gervais Cote]

From all the Squier basses I saw and touched, the ones made in Japan were always very good and nice sounding.
For the Squier made in other countries, I saw some excellent ones but also witnessed some very bad ones in terms of quality and sound.
Generally speaking, the higher the grade (and price) the less chance you will get a bad one BUT better always try and inspect it before buying.
That said though, I own a 2020 Affinity jazz bass made by Squier in Indonesia and it sounds fantastic, this was the only one among the lot I tried……………..…..……but I had to replace the neck with a Warmoth neck as it warped ! It’s a keeper nonetheless for me because it sounds sooooo good !