Watched a guy with a Squier Jazz last night

[76Dub]

Where in New Jersey were you?

I went to a blues jam last night and the house bassist pulled out a Squier Jazz bass. I don't know the year or the exact model. I don't know if the pups were modified or not either. Ill tell you what though. It did not matter. It did not matter in the least. Once I got over the Name on the headstock, I just settled back and listened to one of the best bassists I've ever heard. Forget that I was at a blues Jam in New Jersey. This cat had it going.

Point is that my next bass is going to be a squier. And then I need to focus on my playing. Because thats what mattered last night. I forgot all about the bass and just listened to the bassist. The Tone was fine. Nothing i noticed lacking, wanting or needed to change.

Just an observation

 

[Slaphound]

Edison NJ. Right over the Goethals Bridge. Its called the Robins Nest R&B

 

[76Dub]

Very familiar I have played there a bunch of times with my blues trio

 

[Slaphound]

Thats cool. I'm gonna TRY to get there next Wed. Night. I'll probably get there alone. I hope that in the next few months we(my band that is) can get down there together.

 

[Old Fart]

Golfers are forever spending stupid money on expensive clubs. Lessons would yield a better return. Same with basses.

It's not the size of the magic wand that matters. It is the tricks the magician can do.

 

[lucas vigor]

Fart, what if you can do both? Have a nice instrument AND take lessons? Seems like you are making it an either/or.

There are plenty of musicians who give no thought to their instrument, feeling like if it has 4 strings and can produce an output, then it's sufficient for the task. I am not one of them.

For the music I like to play on electric bass, I prefer a very sophisticated and luxurious tone...and I cannot get that from the Squire or Sx.

 

[Slaphound]

Well. I think I definitely need the lessons. Ah. To each his own. I just figured that it was pretty interesting that something so raw could sound so good. And serve its purpose and beyond.

 

[blindeddie]

i would much rather be a great player with a cheap crappy instrument that to be a average player with a Fodera!

 

[lucas vigor]

True,....but I am aiming for being a great player WITH a great instrument!

There are plenty of great players here, who love to brag about owning the sadowskys and the Foderas but prefer their squire or even SX. Again, I am not one of them!

And no, I don't believe the higher end basses always make you play better if you are average or worse...but if you are alread pretty good, the great basses will make you sound better.

 

[blindeddie]

what really sucks, is when you go into the studio with you expensive handmade custom boutique beauty, and end up tracking with a japanese or mexican fender.

 

[Slaphound]

what really sucks, is when you go into the studio with you expensive handmade custom boutique beauty, and end up tracking with a japanese or mexican fender.

I know nothing about that. Is that what happens?

 

[lucas vigor]

It happens all the time. The engineers always prefer a jazz or P, any model.

They love me because I show up with a P and a sansamp...ready to record.

 

[4001]

I wonder how many of you would be so in love with these things if you could sample some of the high end models?

I've tried out 'high-end' Fender Jazz Basses and like my Squier CV Jazz Bass more.
I have a Wal Bass that I would gladly put right next to my Squire CV Jazz Bass any day, any time. They are both equally great to me.

 

[lucas vigor]

Let me ask you: If SX made a Rick clone for $129 bucks....would you take THAT to the studio or on a major tour instead of your "actual" rick?
Would you be on this forum telling everyone how great the SX rick is and that it totally measures up in everyway to your real Rick?

 

[zon6c-f]

I love retelling this story...

After years of being a gear snob, I am no longer such a person; I own a "boo-teek" Zon which will never see a gig except in a "laboratory environment party"...LOL.. Although I would gig a used one....I digress...

So a few years ago, I went to GC to buy that MM 5er I always wanted as I had a HM gig requiring a 5 and my Zon wasn't going to be exposed second-hand smoke. So I tried the MM and balked at the $1700 tag...not for this gig... So I held my breath and took the $339 Squier Active Jazz 5 off the wall.

It even amazed the GC Guy: Tones were equal and feel nearly identical and @ $1500 less...My wife ordered a new Squier and premium Fender case for it then and there for my birthday. Now the Squier is my main go-to-bass.[ Keeps wear and tear off the ZON, DONCHA KNOW...LOL]

Main difference IMHO, is "pawn shop value": The Squier would net $150 and the MM would net $850 in Pawn Shop Value.

"A good carpenter never blames his tools..."

 

[jthurston]

True,....but I am aiming for being a great player WITH a great instrument!

Not me. I want to be a terrible player with a crappy instrument.

 

[ksandvik]

I bought a 2010 Squier VM Jazz 77 from a fellow TB member this weekend just to check out what's so special about them. So far it's been up on stage four times, here last night at a local jam where I was the house bass player. They are indeed nice! I'm at a point where I don't care about the logos and brands as long as the instrument is fun to play.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[giacomini]

I've seen (and heard) guys with Sadowskys, Fenders and other boutique basses sounding like crap and guys playing low end basses but sounding like a bass should (tone-wise and technique-wise). And vice-versa too, so I'd agree that what matters is the player, not the instrument.

 

[Blue_Whistle88]

While I do agree that the ideal scenario consists of one being a great player with great, "high-end" bass, at the end of the day lessons AND gear cost money. You've gotta spend the bucks on good enough gear sooner or later, but really the more you can save on gear and instead pay to a good teacher for lessons, the better. I use two basses, an Ibanez SR506 and an ESP LTD B-1005, the former costing $1100 and the latter $2000. They both do a great job and aren't high-end, though also not cheapie basses.

My point is that they're comfortable, sound good, and I won't replace them unless they die. I would rather spend any other cash on some sort of musical education, lessons or a diploma say. I think the same logic and reasoning should apply to anyone who is comfortable with their instrument and can make it sound good, no matter what it is or how much it cost.

 

[KCLRbass]

this hype about brands like Squire (the "new" SX on this forum) is a form of reverse elitism, as so many of you take such a delicious pleasure in crowing about your 200 dollar basses. I have never fully bought into the hype.

This is an interesting point. Admittedly, I'm one of the Squier lovers on TB (started a gushing thread yesterday), and won't back down. That said, I'm sure many of us Squier lovers deep down are sometimes guilty of the reverse elitism attitude (guilty!). Still, there's a reason why my Squier gets a lot of stage/studio/rehearsal time in spite of my Vadims: it's a sick playing/sounding bass.

No disrespect to my Vadims...they get plenty of love too.