Weird problem, any ideas?

[NightTripper]

So, I'm a relatively new player, and have had my Squier P-bass since January. I've gotten better and feel that I deserve an upgrade. I prefer Ps over Js so I've been trying out some Fenders - Standards and American Standards specifically (what my local shop has) Strangely, I haven't liked any of them very much and I have preferred the tone of my Affinity. This doesn't make sense to me. Maybe the amps at the shop are bad combinations with these basses? Or maybe they aren't set up properly?

It just strikes me as mysterious that these higher-end basses everyone trusts don't do it for me.

 

[Audiophage]

Consider yourself lucky.

 

[mellowinman]

I'm not sure why you think you need an upgrade.

 

[DBH_Bass]

Keep it. It has it's own unique tone since it's not using the same parts as the Fenders and higher up Squires and if you dig how it sounds then why fix what ain't broken?

 

[sloppy_phil]

when you check those basses, do you bring yours with you to compare side-by-side? it's probably the best thing to do, and if you don't find anything you like, well.... then I guess you dig your bass more than you realize.

 

[NightTripper]

I want to upgrade because I have a Squier Affinity and a 15-watt amp (the package deal).

I like the warm yet agressive tones of the P, yet still can't zero in on the tone I want. The Fender Ps I've tried seem to sound too thin or too thick with no articulation. I think a semi-hollowbody like Epiphone's Jack Casady signature would suit me, but no shop in my area has it so I can't test it.

 

[DBH_Bass]

upgrade your amp. then if something is still off it could be the bass.

there are plenty of good affordable amps out there. check out the Gallien-Krueger MB series.

 

[NightTripper]

Thanks for the feedback folks. I'll look for that Gallien-Krueger and see if I can test one out.

 

[DBH_Bass]

No problem. I played a 100 dollar Washburn bass for years and loved how it sounded until I got my GK. Perhaps it was GAS but not long after I went and got my Spector after hearing my Washy through the MUCH better amp than my old one.

 

[VincentGrim]

Your Squier probably has 500k pots compared to the 250k pots in the standards, which means more gain/harsher tone. How hard do you push that 15 watter? You might be able to push that to the point of getting some good break-up in your home, but in a music store you really can't push an amp hard enough to get some good rawr going on. That being said, if your squier is set up then you already have a solid p bass.

Regardless, I agree with getting a new amp. Affinity bass + awesome amp is a wayyyy better set-up than american standard bass + not so awesome amp.

 

[Lobster11]

You might want to start by trying out whatever amps your local store has on the floor. Bring your bass to the store and try it out with those amps, so you can see what they sound like specifically in combination with your bass. And don't limit yourself to those amps that are in your price range: Find out what your Affinity sounds like through really good amps -- that might help you decide if you want to keep it.

It does seem to me that certain amps get along better with certain basses -- sometimes you find a pairing that just seems like they were made for each other. For example, my Jack Casady Epi and Ampeg B100R are a marriage made in heaven.

 

[Russell L]

You really need to take your bass to the store with you and try it side-by-side with another one through the same amp with the same settings. There's no way you can do it the way you have been doing it and be able to tell anything.

 

[Randall]

I bought a cheap used squier affinity p bass and have not needed/wanted to upgrade the pickups in it. It sounds very nice to me. Not sure how it compares to a stock fender p but through a good amp it sounds great. Others with both basses may chime in and compare the two.
I did upgrade to a Warmoth neck.

 

[P. Aaron]

I did not realize how much better my 2002 AM ST Precision was until I got a good amp for my rig. It has all the character of the popular Precision tone. Nice & growly, good low end, and with the right strings, the usually shy G string is more noticeable towards the nut.

 

[KingRazor]

That bass came with a Fender Rumble amp right?

I actually love the tone of the rumble. I'm getting one to replace my current amp. Only I'm getting the 75 watt version.

 

[fourstringbliss]

A lot of it could be string choice as well. A bass that sounds great with one set of strings might not sound that great with different strings. I don't like the way my G&L sounds with rounds but it sounds GREAT with TI flats.

 

[dougazbass]

Try a G and L L2000.

 

[fourstringbliss]

Try a G and L L2000.

+1 - that's what I've got. Lots of useable tones and easily modifiable. I'm rewiring mine tonight so that each pickup can be in series, parallel, front coil, or back coil. I'll be able to have both inner, both outer or any combination of coils together. I'm also installing a dual volume pot instead of the pickup selector switch. Very versatile!