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upgrade a Squire or get a Standard Fender?

#21
tjh said:
... thanks for the info ... the beginners kit Squier is pretty much the bottom of the Squier line, but with that said ... it is probably better than some of the cheap junk that some of us old timers cut our teeth on 40 years ago ... most will tell you that the 'Beginners Pack" that Squier offers are probably not the best way to go, but you have it, so may I suggest use it until you feel you have exhausted what you can possibly get from it, and in the mean time play EVERYTHING YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON until you find what really hits your switch ... not to sound condescending in any way, but at this point you really do not know what you want next, so take the time to learn and educate yourself with what it is that you like ... it may not even be a Fender product once you get out there trying stuff ...

just a quick thought, the weakest part of your 'package' is that amplifier ... possibly look at an improvement in that department, and I think you may find your bass is actually OK for now ...

Keep in mind, a Squier Affinity in the hands of a master, will sound amazing ... I have heard it myself, its more often than not the hands, not the electronics or hardware ... if your bass is uncomfortable to play, by all means look into fixing it ... otherwise wear it out while you are learning what it is that you want next :)
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As far as the Amp, yeah I don't use that much at all. I plug strait into my MacBook via an Apogee One interface. I use Ableton Live as my Daw with their Amp sim plug-in. I have a preset that sounds clean.
Right now here is what I know I like. I prefer light instruments with high action. I like being able to mix between the two pick ups...which is why i dig the Jazz style bass. I definitely prefer long scale also.
 
#22
tjh said:
I am not really sure how you can say that, since he hasn't even told us what he has ??...

it may be mid 80's Japanese Squier ... not likely, but there is also a possibility that he is playing in his basement every other month with a couple other guys, and just practicing by himself in his bedroom until then ... and the household money is tight right now ...

BTW, I have seen more than a few guys spending very REAL money that they made playing what you are calling an UNREAL thing .. and are quite happy with it :)
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My studies are a personal thing. I begin every day with a 90-120 minute practice. Typically technique followed by scale/arpegio studies and of late I've been studying walking bass lines. Suffice to say my goals are to just continue studying and Improve my abilities on the instrument. Also home recording is a goal... laying down "sketches" in Ableton Live.
 
#24
tjh said:
... thanks for the info ... the beginners kit Squier is pretty much the bottom of the Squier line, but with that said ... it is probably better than some of the cheap junk that some of us old timers cut our teeth on 40 years ago ... may I suggest use it until you feel you have exhausted what you can possibly get from it, and in the mean time play EVERYTHING YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON until you find what really hits your switch ... not to sound condescending in any way, but at this point you really do not know what you want next, so take the time to learn and educate yourself with what it is that you like ... it may not even be a Fender product once you get out there trying stuff ...

... the weakest part of your 'package' is probably that amplifier that comes in the kit ... possibly look at an improvement in that department, and I think you may find your bass is actually OK for now ...

Keep in mind, a Squier Affinity in the hands of a master, will sound amazing ... its more often than not the hands, not the wood, the electronics or hardware ... if your bass is uncomfortable to play, by all means look into fixing it ... otherwise wear it out while you are learning and deciding what it is that you want next :) .. JMHO
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Trade it in at your local Guitar Center for a Squier CV or VM Jazz..
 
#25
Is there something wrong with the sound and/or feel of the bass? If there isn't, I wouldn't mod anything or buy another bass at this time. Remember that one man's "upgrade" is another man's garbage. Also remember that anybody can post here; you will find people offering criticisms and advice on $5,000 basses they've never even seen, let alone played or owned. I seldom mod my basses because I can almost always take care of the problem without throwing money at it. Learning how to properly set up an instrument is a valuable skill and one that can save you tons of cash in the long run.
 
#26
citizenchris099 said:
Also I should add that I adore my bass. I know I'm new and maybe that just doesn't mean much as I have little experience with others. Even my uncle who is an old school pro was surprised at the "feel" for such a low cost instrument. So ultimately their is nothing wrong with my Squier, and I'm not hell bent on buying a new one if modifying this one will due.
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if you adore your bass as is, then modding it won't necessarily make you like it any better. In fact there's a good possibillty it will have the opposite effect.
 
#28
If you like the way it sounds and feels; just leave it ;)

That said; I love the way each and every one of my basses feels and sounds. But then, I keep getting new ones aswell..
Trying to make them even better is a natural thing I guess. Different strings, pickups, bridges. Experimenting with electronics on some of them. Just make sure its reversible :P

I don't really know what the Affinity series feels like. But I absolutely love the CV and VM Squiers. That's all I can say on the Squier thing ;)
 
#29
Mexican Fenders, and I guess that's what your referring to can be really iffy. My instructor once told me that a Squier can be as good if not better then a MIM Fender. It just all depends on the particular bass you happen to get. I'd go with the upgrades on the Squier.
 
#30
I've seen and heard players modify their basses just because they can and mostly because they think something magical will happen if they use certain hardware. This is in most cases guess work and the parts manufacturers just love such customers.

If you were more specific about the problems such as: I want more natural sustain from the bass... Or the frets are not to my liking, or the bass sound is hollow with no low-end or something similar... That would help you get a more focused response.

In general USA made Fenders have excellent hardware and close-to perfect final finish so you save money in case that's very important for you and you want a bass guitar that lasts a lifetime. If you are a big time collector of bass guitars and like all kinds of variations, getting USA-made Fenders is expensive unless you have the revenue to back such a hobby, otherwise Asian-made Fenders and Squiers are pretty good for this kind of activity.
 
#31
Bassliner said:
I don't really know what the Affinity series feels like. But I absolutely love the CV and VM Squiers. That's all I can say on the Squier thing ;)
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I have an Affinity Series Squier. I don't know, I must have gotten a good one. I've had two professional bass players play it and they said they were really impressed with it. Others will say the Affinity is crap. Like the MIM Fenders, it all depends which one you happen to pull off the shelf.
 
#32
lonote said:
Is there something wrong with the sound and/or feel of the bass? If there isn't, I wouldn't mod anything or buy another bass at this time. Remember that one man's "upgrade" is another man's garbage. Also remember that anybody can post here; you will find people offering criticisms and advice on $5,000 basses they've never even seen, let alone played or owned. I seldom mod my basses because I can almost always take care of the problem without throwing money at it. Learning how to properly set up an instrument is a valuable skill and one that can save you tons of cash in the long run.
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... very well put ... this pretty much wraps up most of the threads of this type on here ...
 
#35
When comparing Sq to Fender - usually the pickups and tuners are the first to go via the mod route. Next, necks are a popular mod but expensive - add all three of these up + labor - whalla - You could have bought a std Fender Jazz. Take it back and buy a american fender jazz, not a MIM and never second guess yourself.

All these guys buy Squiers and then come on here second guessing their purchasing decision - buyers remorse. Just buy the damn Fender Am Std and be done with it. I did!:D
 
#37
lonote said:
Is there something wrong with the sound and/or feel of the bass? If there isn't, I wouldn't mod anything or buy another bass at this time. Remember that one man's "upgrade" is another man's garbage. Also remember that anybody can post here; you will find people offering criticisms and advice on $5,000 basses they've never even seen, let alone played or owned. I seldom mod my basses because I can almost always take care of the problem without throwing money at it. Learning how to properly set up an instrument is a valuable skill and one that can save you tons of cash in the long run.
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That's all well and all but here's MY scenario..........

Squier Affinity 4 string P-Bass received as part of a trade. I would have never bought a Squier. The bass was already tricked out a bit but starting from head to toe........

Tuners replaced. Stock square shaped tuners were cheap and did not hold tune nor turn smoothly.
Pots and jack replaced. Stock pots and jack were cheap. Were scratchy and did not rotate smoothly. Jack would not hold plug securely.
Received bass with a Badass (1G). Base plate way to big which did not allow for low action. Replaced with a stock Fender bridge.
Received bass with a Bartolini 5 string pickup?????? (Previous owner did not know what he bought) Replaced with an EMG.
Frets leveled and polished.
Neck tweaked to perfection.
Action lowered.
Some other minor mods made.

Bass is now a pro level, reliable instrument.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I'd like to add that I own a US Fender Jazz which I also modded because tonally, for me, it sucked!
 
#38
My Affinity P Bass: a 1998 model that came with the full pack: amp, cord, gig bag, etc.

I parked it for a while (years really) in a closet and just one day took it to GC as trade in fodder when the bass guy took it and said: "Hey, this really is nice - keep it and put these (ROTO66) strings on it and try it again".

I still have the original (junky? crappy?) but functionally silent mini pots in it, and although I had to replace the p'ups since one half of the split pair died, it is physically stock. The jack too is original and holds things just fine.

Oh yeah - I added a .1uF cap and a toggle switch to it, but it still has the 1-ply PG and the original nylon Fender strap.

My opinion is to not mod it - don't fall into the idea that you have a piece-o-doo doo, 'cause it isn't.

The Affinities are pretty good, have the same finish as far as the polyurethane of other basses other than 'nitro' and the neck - on mine at least - is most of the worth of the whole bass anyway since body woods mean NOTHING.

Get a decent (read: many WATTS and multiple drivers) amplifier for it and then pass judgement.

Oh - and don't even think of resale - since an artist places value on the performance of their instrument, not how much they can profit from it financially.

Buying with an eye to future sales sounds like a used car salesman to me.
 
#39
Jawbone said:
When comparing Sq to Fender - usually the pickups and tuners are the first to go via the mod route. Next, necks are a popular mod but expensive - add all three of these up + labor - whalla - You could have bought a std Fender Jazz. Take it back and buy a american fender jazz, not a MIM and never second guess yourself.

All these guys buy Squiers and then come on here second guessing their purchasing decision - buyers remorse. Just buy the damn Fender Am Std and be done with it. I did!:D
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"All" is quite inclusive and not accurate to say the least. But you are correct in saying that the money spent in the end can equal what the cost of a Standard Fender would have been at the start. So really, it's a matter of what a person wants to do. There is validity in the enjoyment and experience of having a "project bass" like this. The drawback is what I mentioned earlier...resale value.
 

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