I would..stay away.. From Squier.. I learned on an Ibanez ATK 100.. Korean Model.. I get lots of complements ..on how well, it sounds.. for being a cheap bass.. Its a bass , i will never sell.. The Atk line is GOLD
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Thoughts on Squier basses? Im skeptical.
- Thread starter Drewsmith00
- Start date
I have Squier Classic Vibe 60s P among my much higher-dollar stable. I love it. And, yeah, it could use a set up.
In no way should this be your last post.
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As others have said, there can be a big difference between models. The CV's I've owned have been great basses for the money. I find the affinity series to be lacking personally. I have gigged CV's quite a bit with just a setup required and never felt lacking at all. I've only had 2 affinities, but they were generally cheaper feeling all the way around and also the ones I had seemed to go out of tune easily. YMMV but a CV or VM Squier is a very giggable bass.
No brand has swung so widely and inspires the gamut of comments ranging from "junk" to "great bang for the buck" like Squier.
There was a time when "junk" most often was fairly accurate. About 20 years ago when I had a weekly roster of 30 guitar and bass students, I used to actively advise parents and students to avoid Squier and those dreadful "Squier Paks." I used to sell those things when I worked music stores and felt tremendous guilt for doing so. People bringing them back with complaints would drive the tech department crazy. Lots of returns and unsalvageable product. I would steer my students toward something from Rondo Music instead, with much better results.
But over the past decade or so, Squier has become Fender's petri dish for all kinds of interesting - and decent-quality - offerings. As a guitar and bass player I have been very impressed and downright excited by some Squier offerings, especially the hybrid custom stuff that Fender probably doesn't want to sink a bunch of money into, but that they know musicians looking for something different might appreciate. The quality has largely improved, but it's still one of those brands that produces it's fair share of lemons at its price point.
I just pulled the trigger on a Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH - Flat White w/ Maple FB. It arrived yesterday and I put my 20-minute set-up on it. The thing was cut and assembled correctly, finished nicely, I only needed to re-set the neck in the pocket (same as almost every bolt-on bass I've ever owned) and tighten up a control knob. It took to a nice low action set up very well, great intonation. The nut was cut perfectly in the factory (very rare IME with basses from all price points), no fret sprout, and it plays like a dream. I still need to play it at stage volume with the band to test out the active HH system, but I am expecting good things. Amazing bang for the buck for an active Jazzer. Maple fretboard and ash body! Dense and heavy, the way I like 'em!
You still have to be wary of the Affinity stuff, and sometimes a particular model just doesn't get the attention it should have in R&D or the factory and doesn't go over very well. It's best to try before you buy or at least ask a lot of questions in advance, read a lot of reviews, and watch a lot of demo videos so you know what you're getting into.
There was a time when "junk" most often was fairly accurate. About 20 years ago when I had a weekly roster of 30 guitar and bass students, I used to actively advise parents and students to avoid Squier and those dreadful "Squier Paks." I used to sell those things when I worked music stores and felt tremendous guilt for doing so. People bringing them back with complaints would drive the tech department crazy. Lots of returns and unsalvageable product. I would steer my students toward something from Rondo Music instead, with much better results.
But over the past decade or so, Squier has become Fender's petri dish for all kinds of interesting - and decent-quality - offerings. As a guitar and bass player I have been very impressed and downright excited by some Squier offerings, especially the hybrid custom stuff that Fender probably doesn't want to sink a bunch of money into, but that they know musicians looking for something different might appreciate. The quality has largely improved, but it's still one of those brands that produces it's fair share of lemons at its price point.
I just pulled the trigger on a Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH - Flat White w/ Maple FB. It arrived yesterday and I put my 20-minute set-up on it. The thing was cut and assembled correctly, finished nicely, I only needed to re-set the neck in the pocket (same as almost every bolt-on bass I've ever owned) and tighten up a control knob. It took to a nice low action set up very well, great intonation. The nut was cut perfectly in the factory (very rare IME with basses from all price points), no fret sprout, and it plays like a dream. I still need to play it at stage volume with the band to test out the active HH system, but I am expecting good things. Amazing bang for the buck for an active Jazzer. Maple fretboard and ash body! Dense and heavy, the way I like 'em!
You still have to be wary of the Affinity stuff, and sometimes a particular model just doesn't get the attention it should have in R&D or the factory and doesn't go over very well. It's best to try before you buy or at least ask a lot of questions in advance, read a lot of reviews, and watch a lot of demo videos so you know what you're getting into.
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I absolutely love my CV P bass. I put in Fralin pups, a vintage 1960's orange drop I had in my parts bucket (I don't really think they make a difference but what the heck it was free) and installed a Fender threaded rod bridge with the ash tray over it with foam and flats. I screwed in the pickup cover and removed it so there would be the two holes that belong there. I was going for old school '62 vibe. I now have my own version of a Pino bass for under $400.
The fit and finish of the bass is better than many US Fenders I played (I worked in Manhattan near music row and I'd play every fender on every wall lol). I have a couple of pricey high end basses but this bass holds its own, sounds great and is a pleasure to play.
I accidentally ran it over with my SUV in its gig bag and it survived with very minor damage that was easily repaired. I love it even more now and I'd gig it proudly any day.
The fit and finish of the bass is better than many US Fenders I played (I worked in Manhattan near music row and I'd play every fender on every wall lol). I have a couple of pricey high end basses but this bass holds its own, sounds great and is a pleasure to play.
I accidentally ran it over with my SUV in its gig bag and it survived with very minor damage that was easily repaired. I love it even more now and I'd gig it proudly any day.
I needed a cheap Jazz-bodied 5string a few years back, was prepared to buy new/used, and tried a number of Fenders and Squiers. The Squier VM Jazz V (from the "Duncan Designed" pickup period) was less than $300 out the door (it had been a display unit), and I swear it played better than any of the Mexican Fenders I had tried that sold for twice that. The pickups sound remarkably good when I dig in a bit fingerstyle. It *is* on the heavy side of the Jazz spectrum in terms of weight, 11-12 lbs. But an amazing value. Now, all that being said, I also tried a Squier Affinity Jazz 5er, and it was nowhere near the same level of quality, neither for components nor for workmanship. I did not like the tone of the Contemporary Active I tried (and I *wanted* to like it, because it looked cool), though it may be be that Guitar Center had let the batteries get too tired. But the VMs and CVs are for real.
My feeling has been pretty similar. I had a Squier Standard Stratocaster for a while, and it was a really nice instrument. The problem is that the price of Squier's better offerings is also comparable to that of Fender's lower tier, and I think this might hurt their sales. I just rarely see any really good Squiers around here; the stores are full of Affinities and Bullets.
It's easy to get wound up reading reviews and looking at price tags to make a conclusion. I felt the same and then I sat down with a few different ones, some I immediately put down, but there are a few I had to buy in that moment. I've owned some work horse squiers.
There's just as many expensive basses that sound bad as cheap ones that sound good.
The early Japanese squiers and the first classic vibes are pretty reliably great basses. or at least have the reputation to be solid
There's just as many expensive basses that sound bad as cheap ones that sound good.
The early Japanese squiers and the first classic vibes are pretty reliably great basses. or at least have the reputation to be solid
I purchased a Squier CV 70's P at the end of last year and after a few setups and the switch to Chrome flatwounds I was very pleased. To suit my personal taste ... I also swapped out the PU's to SD 1/4#'s and added a Kickass bridge. Now I'm ecstatic. I built the little cab using a 10" Eminence basslite and a cheapo (and tiny) TC Electronics BAM 200 amp have a nice portable setup. I think I'm all in at $850 (including amp and cab). I'm a drummer/keyboard player/vocalist ... so this is as much as I wanted to invest in something to play around w/. My bass player loves it and is pretty shocked at the quality achieved for the $$ invested.
If I did... you CERTAINLY will! It's really not as scary as you might think.
Bought a $140 used Affinity 04 P bass, nicely modded a few months back, I've shimmed and unshimmed, adjusted multiple times, new strings twice. It's the luck of the draw much more so. It will always be almost a POS. It was bought to practice with after hours at work. It does that fine. If it were me, I would stay away from Squier till you need a backup and only if a good one comes your way.
Classic Vibes are definitely a go to Bass.
A lot of people making a lot of generalizations. Especially about the Affinity series. Yes, there are a lot of "bad" Squiers out there, but there are some great ones as well. Advice like, "Stay away from Squier", will deny the opportunity to find the "great" ones. IMO, the best advice is, "Try before you buy", but definitely try!
I happen to own a Squier Affinity Jazz V that is totally stock and plays better than some basses that cost 10x as much! It might not be easy to find a great Squier, but they're out there.
I happen to own a Squier Affinity Jazz V that is totally stock and plays better than some basses that cost 10x as much! It might not be easy to find a great Squier, but they're out there.
Some Squiers play and sound way better than you might think. Like others have pointed out, YOU are the QC dept.
Try individual candidates. I'm not really a fretless player, but I like to use one ocassionally. I found a Squier Jazz for $150 locally and it really plays nice! Nice enough to consider upgrading electrics and tuning machines.
Try individual candidates. I'm not really a fretless player, but I like to use one ocassionally. I found a Squier Jazz for $150 locally and it really plays nice! Nice enough to consider upgrading electrics and tuning machines.
It's also worth mentioning the Squier factory makes more than the lowest end stuff, some is even Fender flagship branded.
I have a Fender FMT Telecaster. It's a Tele with a set neck, dual Seymour Duncan humbuckers and a figured maple top (hence "FMT"), made in Indonesia. It's a great guitar that sold for a middling price.
This reinforces that some decent or better Squiers may escape the factory, as they are capable of making decent stuff.
I have a Fender FMT Telecaster. It's a Tele with a set neck, dual Seymour Duncan humbuckers and a figured maple top (hence "FMT"), made in Indonesia. It's a great guitar that sold for a middling price.
This reinforces that some decent or better Squiers may escape the factory, as they are capable of making decent stuff.
I actually have a squire bass and its pretty good. It stays in tune, the frets are good, it works! But I also have a fender..
And the price jump is definitely worth it. I got the squier p-bass for 85 and a used fender jazz for 400.
The frets feel smoother, body feels more ergonomic, sounds more full, and the tuners are better so it stays in tune more. The fender jazz just feels a little bit heavier
And the price jump is definitely worth it. I got the squier p-bass for 85 and a used fender jazz for 400.
The frets feel smoother, body feels more ergonomic, sounds more full, and the tuners are better so it stays in tune more. The fender jazz just feels a little bit heavier
Yet the Made in China Classic Vibe basses of the previous generation are universally considered incredible, while the current stock from Indonesia is said to be inferior.
I haven't been able to try a MIC Squier but the current iteration of instruments coming out of Indonesia is really good.
