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Thoughts on Squire Basses for Professional Musicians?

#241
I haven't spent much time on Squier basses, but I've tried out literally HUNDREDS of Fender telecasters. The only one I've bought is a CV tele. I've also got a Gibson Les Paul and a heavily modded Mexi-strat. Of my three guitars, my Squier tele gets like 90% of my attention. I love that thing. I don't care much about the name on the headstock, a nice axe is a nice axe. Pickups can always be swapped out. If the Squier basses are half as nice as my Squier guitar, I'd say play the heck out of it and don't fret (pun intended) about the name on the head.
 
#242
i started out on a squier strat and it was fair enough but i was that kid who started playing electric guitar and then lost interest.

i'll never go back to squier just because it'll remind me of all the heartache of wanting to play but not really enjoying it. 10 years later, here i am on bass which right.
 
#243
A month ago I was looking for a cheap P Bass. I walked into a used gear shop and saw this modified 2001 Indonesian Affinity. I picked it up that afternoon and other than going to work and the bathroom it hasn't left my side.

I've worked in music stores for many years and have played 1000's of instruments. Some amazing, many not. Even if the headstock on this bass read "The guy playing this bass is a stupid moron" I'd still be playing it every day. This is the easiest, most comfortable, fast neck I've ever encountered. It makes me a better player. I say this because that's how the bass came from Indonesia. No modding is going to change the feel.

Now, the previous owner installed a massive brass bridge, Rio Grande pickups and CTS harness with orange drop. That all makes the bass sound as good as it plays. I've gigged it. I've recorded it. It's a great bass. Thankfully it's a Squier or it would have cost me a lot more than $130.00.

2ljky7l.jpg


2gv8vw4.jpg
 
#244
My first bass was a Squier II Precision, circa 1991. It served me well while I had it, and a nostalgic part of me misses it given it's place in my bass playing career. Was it the best P-Bass I ever played? No. But if I needed it to that bass would have served me reasonably well at a gig.

I look at Squier for what the brand is: a budget line of instruments. Because it's a budget line it draws in plenty of beginners. Will these instruments serve a pro in the right setting? Sure. As long as it's set up well. So if you're gigging and a Squier is an instrument that is within your means, then go for it.

Do I think that the build quality of a Squier is on par with that of an American Standard or American Vintage Fender? No. But a Squier built today is superior to a Squier built 20 years ago. Improvements in production have made their way throughout Fender and Squier to their offshore operations. And the differences that you see between Squiers and American Fenders are in the details: wood quality, finishes, pickups and parts.

As for sticking with Squier as a professional? That's a personal choice. Your Squier might be totally functional and comfortable for you to play. But I think that if you're a professional, odds are that some of your clients *MIGHT* start looking at your gear. Is that fair? Probably not. But it does happen. The fact is that I've seen some of the Pro's in the ASK A PRO section here at TB talk about how some of their boutique / high end / vintage gear has drawn in some clients.
 
#246
I'm surprised no one is mentioning the JV's. Although I have US Fenders and Ken Smiths etc I have 4 early 80's (82, 83) Squier JV's that are the best 'Fenders' I've ever played. Played them around the world with various artists on many large stages. (from Sass Jordan, The Guess Who, The Drifters, Honeymoon Suite, Kim Mitchell to the Killer Dwarfs, and Icould go on a few more) I'll dig up a proper video to do it justice and I assure you, anyone who says they wouldn't take you in a band if you showed up with a Squier isn't the gig you wanna waste your time with.

Now, Quality...two out of the four necks have gone for a complete ****, the other two have banged around on tour busses, trailors and airplanes all over the planet and are still hanging in. The sound of these early Squires is vintage BASS. I can make these basses do a lot. Great for so many things. LOVE my Squires!
 
#247
probassace2 said:
I'm surprised no one is mentioning the JV's. Although I have US Fenders and Ken Smiths etc I have 4 early 80's (82, 83) Squier JV's that are the best 'Fenders' I've ever played. Played them around the world with various artists on many large stages. (from Sass Jordan, The Guess Who, The Drifters, Honeymoon Suite, Kim Mitchell to the Killer Dwarfs, and Icould go on a few more) I'll dig up a proper video to do it justice and I assure you, anyone who says they wouldn't take you in a band if you showed up with a Squier isn't the gig you wanna waste your time with.

Now, Quality...two out of the four necks have gone for a complete ****, the other two have banged around on tour busses, trailors and airplanes all over the planet and are still hanging in. The sound of these early Squires is vintage BASS. I can make these basses do a lot. Great for so many things. LOVE my Squires!
Click to expand...

Cool yeah some videos would be fun.
:bassist:
 
#248
FloridaSam said:
A month ago I was looking for a cheap P Bass. I walked into a used gear shop and saw this modified 2001 Indonesian Affinity. I picked it up that afternoon and other than going to work and the bathroom it hasn't left my side.

I've worked in music stores for many years and have played 1000's of instruments. Some amazing, many not. Even if the headstock on this bass read "The guy playing this bass is a stupid moron" I'd still be playing it every day. This is the easiest, most comfortable, fast neck I've ever encountered. It makes me a better player. I say this because that's how the bass came from Indonesia. No modding is going to change the feel.

Now, the previous owner installed a massive brass bridge, Rio Grande pickups and CTS harness with orange drop. That all makes the bass sound as good as it plays. I've gigged it. I've recorded it. It's a great bass. Thankfully it's a Squier or it would have cost me a lot more than $130.00.

2ljky7l.jpg


2gv8vw4.jpg
Click to expand...

Dat flamed neck...so nice!
 
#249
ShoeManiac said:
My first bass was a Squier II Precision, circa 1991. It served me well while I had it, and a nostalgic part of me misses it given it's place in my bass playing career. Was it the best P-Bass I ever played? No. But if I needed it to that bass would have served me reasonably well at a gig.

I look at Squier for what the brand is: a budget line of instruments. Because it's a budget line it draws in plenty of beginners. Will these instruments serve a pro in the right setting? Sure. As long as it's set up well. So if you're gigging and a Squier is an instrument that is within your means, then go for it.

Do I think that the build quality of a Squier is on par with that of an American Standard or American Vintage Fender? No. But a Squier built today is superior to a Squier built 20 years ago. Improvements in production have made their way throughout Fender and Squier to their offshore operations. And the differences that you see between Squiers and American Fenders are in the details: wood quality, finishes, pickups and parts.

As for sticking with Squier as a professional? That's a personal choice. Your Squier might be totally functional and comfortable for you to play. But I think that if you're a professional, odds are that some of your clients *MIGHT* start looking at your gear. Is that fair? Probably not. But it does happen. The fact is that I've seen some of the Pro's in the ASK A PRO section here at TB talk about how some of their boutique / high end / vintage gear has drawn in some clients.
Click to expand...

This isn't a good thing. Yes, it needs to be considered, but we (those who like Squier) shouldn't be the ones changing out minds. That needs to happen on the other side.
 
#251
I dunno, play anything you want. And if you have the rep that precedes you as being a great player, then no one will care what's on the headstock.

I do remember reading an article with Rickey Minor about when he gets a call to put together a band.
One of the first thing he likes to know is what type of gear and how reliable it is.
And I have talked with Kern Brantley about this as well (MD for Lady Gaga, Beyonce' and others).

So while, yes, there are a couple of guys using them out there on big gigs, my bet is their rep as players came across first. And there wasn't any worry by those who were hiring them as to what they were going to get from that player.

There are two parties here on TB, those with headstock egos- "look at what it says right there- it's AWESOME!!!!"
And those with ANTI headstock egos- hence all the "my Squire/SX is as good as a Sadowsky" type threads.

Personally, I could give a rats behind what the headstock says, but I'm sorry, I try to maintain a professional appearance in every aspect. I have a very very good reputation around the Detroit area, and could walk in with whatever. But I want to know that what I have, is going to be "money" every time the gig starts.
Does that mean I think a Sadowsky is better sounding than a Squire? Not necessarily.
But I know that every single time I plug in my Xotic or my Valenti or Sadowsky, it will deliver.

I just dont have the trust in a $300 bass for the long term gigging quality. And that means not only sound. but how well it just holds up in general.
 
#252
I proudly play my Squier VM Jazz at our church on Sundays, sometimes in front of 1000+ people. I receive only compliments on my sound. Play what sounds, feels, and looks right to you, and don't worry about that tiny handful of snobs who would turn there nose up at what the headstock says. I listened to plenty of local musicians playing expensive gear and sound like crap.
 
#256
I think if your playing brings you into the circles considered to be professional and decent paying, it can't really matter.

But, would it be a total game-changer if your headstock actually had a "SQUIRE" decal on it?? :hmm:
 
#257
Jason Bass'n said:
I proudly play my Squier VM Jazz at our church on Sundays, sometimes in front of 1000+ people. I receive only compliments on my sound. Play what sounds, feels, and looks right to you, and don't worry about that tiny handful of snobs who would turn there nose up at what the headstock says. I listened to plenty of local musicians playing expensive gear and sound like crap.
Click to expand...

A M E N !
 
#258
awilkie84 said:
This isn't a good thing. Yes, it needs to be considered, but we (those who like Squier) shouldn't be the ones changing out minds. That needs to happen on the other side.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I think some of the subsequent replies said it all. If your rep as a musician is above reproach, then you can probably get away with playing whatever instrument you choose. The caveat there being that it sounds good and it's reliable.

As for the attitudes regarding labels equating to quality? I think that's really much more of a societal thing that goes far beyond musical instruments. You can look at the attitudes of people regarding cars, computers, pieces of tech, etc. Many of their attitudes about a brand are based on their own preconceived notions about a name or the cost of a given item.

Look at how many people hold Apple products in high esteem. As a result of this brand "fanbase" Apple is able to charge very high prices. That love of Apple is bordering on cult status. And in the world of cars? Lots of people find a Honda or a Toyota to be a solid, reliable car that suits their needs. Other people won't drive those makes, and must be seen driving a BMW, Mercedes or Cadillac or similar high end vehicle.

I don't know if you can change attitudes about something as narrow as bass guitars before society really starts to address this whole fascination with high end brands.
 
#259
The thing is we are talking about details that are quantifiable and can be measured. That's what makes a difference between something like say, a bass built by Roger Sadowsky with hand picked woods and time taken to be precisely built, compared to a pile of parts randomly grabbed out of a box and bolted together by people with zero knowledge.

There is a reason there are high and instruments and starter instruments.

A Ford Festiva is a great car and will get you to the store the same as a Mercedes sl500. But what would you rather drive?
There is a difference and those differences and details are quantifiable and can be measured.

Sound or tone is completely subjective though. And let me be clear on that. I'm not saying that one is necessarily sounds better than the other that's all left up to the person who is playing it.
But overall quality and build is not subjective.
 
#260
MikeBass said:
The thing is we are talking about details that are quantifiable and can be measured. That's what makes a difference between something like say, a bass built by Roger Sadowsky with hand picked woods and time taken to be precisely built, compared to a pile of parts randomly grabbed out of a box and bolted together by people with zero knowledge.

There is a reason there are high and instruments and starter instruments.

A Ford Festiva is a great car and will get you to the store the same as a Mercedes sl500. But what would you rather drive?
There is a difference and those differences and details are quantifiable and can be measured.

Sound or tone is completely subjective though. And let me be clear on that. I'm not saying that one is necessarily sounds better than the other that's all left up to the person who is playing it.
But overall quality and build is not subjective.
Click to expand...


Good commentary there.

Keeping in mind J Mascis plays his signature Squier JM and he's a real player. While it can be argued that he could play on a better made instrument, he certainly can't be knocked for playing his Squier.
 

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