I love my Squier Affinity PJ. I put DiMarzio pickups, Hipshot bridge and TI flats on it and it's absolutely a favorite instrument.
Last edited:
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Thoughts on Squier basses? Im skeptical.
- Thread starter Drewsmith00
- Start date
You will do zero damage to the bass if you play it without an amp.
HOWEVER, speaking from personal experience of playing without an amp for too many years, it will harm your technique. Specifically you're going to learn to "dig in" too much so you can hear yourself and that will become your default muscle memory. Unless that's what you want, then never mind.
Can't speak personally for headphone amps but they get love here on TB. Do a search.
(Oh and before anyone asks, I ADORE the Squier that I'm selling; I'm just not giving it any action.)
Last edited:
This doesn’t make sense. $15 more dollars for a 5 string? You’re only adjusting one additional saddle.
Too much stuff to buy? Get something like this from amazon, a set of allen keys, and a phillips head screw driver (really everyone should have the last two anyway), and you’re good to go for less than half the cost of a setup.
As far as Squiers go, anything from the VM or CV lines should be fine for the most part. A few years ago I gigged with a VM P5 over my Stingeay 5 more often than not. Stay away from the Affinity line. If youre looking for cheaper also check out the lower Ibanez and Sire lines.
IMHO, playing without an amp or headphones isn't bad for the bass, but it could hamper your technique. An unamplified bass is difficult to hear, so you really can't tell if your notes are even and full. I have the Vox bass headphone amp and it works very well for quiet practicing. Personally, I recommend playing through some sort of amplification so you can "hear" your technique.
Also, I have a Squier VM fretless jazz and I love it. It is in rotation with my American Fender Jazz and Nash Jazz.
As always, your mileage may vary.
Last edited:
It's literally two allen wrenches ($3) to do the major adjustments, it's nice having a pro setup, but it's very smart to be able to make tweaks yourself. Just changing strings for example may require small adjustments.
The problem here is, setting up a bass is not a "set it and forget it" thing. Your bass will need adjustments periodically due to weather/humidity changes, changing string gauges, etc. I am an idiot when it comes to DIY stuff but learning how to properly set up my basses was not that bad. You will save money and find it to be a rewarding experience.
I see that you just joined TB today.
If no one else has said it then let me be the first; Welcome to TalkBass!
Second!I see that you just joined TB today.
If no one else has said it then let me be the first; Welcome to TalkBass!
Haha, good ad for the Squier. Yeah, ive noticed I do dig in a bit on both hands playing without an amp(playing dry?) And sometimes i got out of tune without even hearing. I think ill get a headphone amp.
Yeah, had my eye on a marcus miller sire and am DEFINITELY staying away from affinity. Btw, the 15 extra is going from 45 (Normal guitar) to 55 (Normal bass) to 60 (extra string)
I know, its just alot of measurement and risk of turning the truss rod too far, but i should probably learn. I guess i can practice on this crappy bass haha.
Your Yamaha TRBX is actually a pretty fine bass if set up properly.
Not only that a full string change and set up on a 5 string takes maybe 30 minutes so, I guess if the OP wants to pay $120 an hour to do something that is, as you say, pretty easy and rewarding, its his money.
FWIW OP, my Squier VM is one of the best put together basses I own and needs a lot less regular adjustment than my higher end basses. That being said, if you want a better bass a higher end Yamaha would be my suggestion. The one you have is their lowest end model and probably needs a set up bad, so I wouldn’t judge the brand based on that experience.
Just do it a quarter turn at a time and your fine. And make sure you turn it the right way.
This guy does a nice job of demonstrating setup. Check out the rest of his videos. I learned quite a bit from his videos. Good luck!
You really should learn to do your own setups. It's not difficult and the tools necessary are minimal. A Sadowsky with a terrible setup is going to play worse than a Squier with a good setup.
The only thing I got out of this title from op is “Thoughts on setup? I’m skeptical”
Echoing a lot from the response here, look into setting it up and your concerns should be resolved. Or sell off those cheaply made Basses for a quality bass
Echoing a lot from the response here, look into setting it up and your concerns should be resolved. Or sell off those cheaply made Basses for a quality bass
I have a Squier Jazz that gets played out as much as my Fodera.
I have a Squier VM 70's Jazz. Great bass. Also, the Vox bass amplug headphone amp is great .
There are lots of great choices out there in the Squier CV or VM price range. Affinity's are essentially beginner's axes, though lots of guys have done well with them. The best Squiers make me wonder why I'd pony up for the 'real thing'.
Over the last several years I've bought three Squiers, the JJ Signature Jazz, a P5, and the Cont Active Jazz 5. They are 'built to a price' for sure, but I'd have no problem gigging them stock. I did customize the JJ Jazz, mostly as that's what I had in mind, but it was perfectly useable as-is. The P5 and CAJ5 punch WELL above their weight and only needed strap locks !
I've been playing for a very long time, have owned lots of axes, and at this point in my life, the basses are sufficient, an idea overlooked in a 'more is better, and more is more better' society. The great thing about them is they are Fender clones, so there are LOTS of hot-rod or update parts available out there should you want to use them as the bass equivalent of a 'resto-mod'.
Again, there's lots of choices: I love Soundgears, but they're too skinny for me. Sire's just don't hit me. I've owned MANY Yamahas over the years, and I'm just not into them now. And there are terrific used buys out there. You just have to decide what you want.
Over the last several years I've bought three Squiers, the JJ Signature Jazz, a P5, and the Cont Active Jazz 5. They are 'built to a price' for sure, but I'd have no problem gigging them stock. I did customize the JJ Jazz, mostly as that's what I had in mind, but it was perfectly useable as-is. The P5 and CAJ5 punch WELL above their weight and only needed strap locks !
I've been playing for a very long time, have owned lots of axes, and at this point in my life, the basses are sufficient, an idea overlooked in a 'more is better, and more is more better' society. The great thing about them is they are Fender clones, so there are LOTS of hot-rod or update parts available out there should you want to use them as the bass equivalent of a 'resto-mod'.
Again, there's lots of choices: I love Soundgears, but they're too skinny for me. Sire's just don't hit me. I've owned MANY Yamahas over the years, and I'm just not into them now. And there are terrific used buys out there. You just have to decide what you want.
