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Thoughts on Squire Basses for Professional Musicians?
- Thread starter blues_bassist
- Start date
Philosophy I follow is that of "it's the Indian, not the arrow that matters." A good player can do more with a cheaper bass than a bad player with boutique gear. If you play it well and it speaks to you, play whatever you want.
Mark Bedford (Bedders) the well respected bass player of ska/pop band Madness, is currently gigging a CV Jazz. If its good enough for him...
If you buy a good Squier and have to change the pickups, this is no big deal. I have owned US Standards and have changed the pickups on them. Anyone who thinks that the name on the end of the bass makes a player professional or unprofessional is seriously deluded.
If you buy a good Squier and have to change the pickups, this is no big deal. I have owned US Standards and have changed the pickups on them. Anyone who thinks that the name on the end of the bass makes a player professional or unprofessional is seriously deluded.
I don't think any audience will care what you play as long as you sound good. If I was actively gigging I would purposely buy something low rent to use. I'm not going to subject my choice stuff to gigging with all the horror stories that I've heard.
But you are making the same old mistake of thinking that a Squier bass simply can't have as good a neck as some "expensive" neck. Nonsense. Apparently Squier just takes a log and saws the whole thing up into neck blanks. What happens then is that SOME of those blanks are flat sawn, SOME are quarter sawn and some are a strange angles. People actually go around scanning Squier necks (both bass and guitar, but more for guitars) for the quarter sawn ones. MINE is like that! It's probably the finest wood neck I've got. Certainly more stable than the neck on my Fender Jazz. And having been personally hand-leveled and crowned by me, more money would not make it any better. Sure it's just dumb luck, but I found it and now it's mine. And I'm keeping it.
When I was at GC trying out jazz basses, this random dude was watching me play around with one of them while I was facing the amp wall. He saw the headstock from behind and asked me what model fender it was because I supposedly sounded good with it. I told him it was a squier standard. He kinda just stared at me in disbelief.... He didn't seem to grasp the concept of the player being the main source of sound rather than the bass.
I've used a squier CV thinline guitar live many many times. Even broadcasted on local TV regularly. I used to take a squier affinity P to gigs for the alternate tuned songs and got compliments on the gnarly sounds that thing could produce.
I personally don't think less of a player because they use a squier, but I'm biased since I use them and parts build that are cheaper then the average squier regularly.
I've used a squier CV thinline guitar live many many times. Even broadcasted on local TV regularly. I used to take a squier affinity P to gigs for the alternate tuned songs and got compliments on the gnarly sounds that thing could produce.
I personally don't think less of a player because they use a squier, but I'm biased since I use them and parts build that are cheaper then the average squier regularly.
Go try one and leave your eyes at home. If a bass sound good and feels good, it shouldn't matter what is on the headstock. You also shouldn't worry about what other people think.
I have not owned a Squier. From what I've read, a lot of folks do like them. My $.02 is that if you like a particular Squier and you're worried about what people think, then remove the logo and refinish the headstock either with no logo or a Fender logo - OR, build a similar parts bass (a vintage Tele bass in your case) using one of the various suppliers of necks / bodies.....
I am of the mindset that musicians should be judged by their music not what they play.. and they could be playing a cigar box and string but if it sounds good they will be considered a genius .. if it sounds bad they well just be some ditz playing a cigar box. I also think that if an instrument speaks to you you should play it.. I am also of the mindset that the really good musicians can take any instrument that is "their instrument and make it sound good..
- Apr 21, 2000
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- Gallien Krueger for the last 12 years!
See, I disagree with this. If this is the case, then you're a weak SOB (not you, BWood, but in general). Screw that! Don't judge me by what I'm playing, judge me on how I sound. If you want me to play a certain bass, then I will.....after YOU buy it for me.
The problem here is : if your arrow isn't well made it won't behave as it should and thus no matter how good you are you will never touch your target.
Same with musical gear ... why not use something that will let you be the best you can be ? I'm convinced that Victor Wooten use Fodera because those basses let him be at his best while a cheap Squier won't give him what he needs.
A craftsman is only as good as his tools.
Yes he needs to be a good craftsmen to begin with but he can't be without the tools to allow him to be.
but there is still a level of ingenuity that can get around this some of the time.
I don't think music is as black & white as this though. I think you just need to find a balance.
Yes he needs to be a good craftsmen to begin with but he can't be without the tools to allow him to be.
but there is still a level of ingenuity that can get around this some of the time.
I don't think music is as black & white as this though. I think you just need to find a balance.
A professional already working in a bad, wants something to take on the road and not sweat, Squier is PERFECT.
Heck, many professionals modify and customize their instruments so does it really matter in the grand scheme anyway what it started life as?
Now, a new, young musician rolling into a studio, or an audition for the first time? That would be the ONLY time I would think it would matter AT ALL, and even then probably not so much really.
I used to play with a monster guitarist in one of my old country/roots bands (sadly he's since passed on). His favorite guitar? An American made Squier Strat (look them up, first few years or something, he knew the story).
Anyway, it was a fantastic looking and sounding guitar, and was a joy to play.
Anyone who would have judged him by seeing his Squier would feel plenty foolish once they heard him play.
Heck, many professionals modify and customize their instruments so does it really matter in the grand scheme anyway what it started life as?
Now, a new, young musician rolling into a studio, or an audition for the first time? That would be the ONLY time I would think it would matter AT ALL, and even then probably not so much really.
I used to play with a monster guitarist in one of my old country/roots bands (sadly he's since passed on). His favorite guitar? An American made Squier Strat (look them up, first few years or something, he knew the story).
Anyway, it was a fantastic looking and sounding guitar, and was a joy to play.
Anyone who would have judged him by seeing his Squier would feel plenty foolish once they heard him play.
To a small degree this is true, but you are mistaken, your assertion that Squiers are inadequate for the task of professional work is just plain wrong. As has been seen in this thread alone, there are plenty of pros who use them and get as much quality work out of them as more expensive instruments.
I also have my doubts that a Fodera is going to allow you to "be the best you can be" any more so than a Squier, because any skilled player is going to play and sound as good no matter what brand they play. And the converse is also true, if your playing is crap on a Squier, it's going to be as much crap on a Fodera.
As cliché as it might sound, it is indeed the player, not the instrument that matters.
Definitely agree. The arrow comparison is not apt as the metaphor insinuates a defect.
I knew a cat growing up who would buy a $10000 mountain bike, only to discover that it didn't make him a better bike rider so he'd sell it for $5000 and buy another different bike for another $10000. Repeat.
A poor workman always blames his tools. There's a saying you can hang your hat on.
I just picked up a Squire Standard P bass Special. I'm in a rock cover band and this thing would be just fine. It would not be ok for Victor Wooten. For many pro musicians, a Squier will get the job done. Greenday would be fine with a squier. It is the proper tool for that "pro" gig. Victor Wooten would need something much better to match his skill.
