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What makes a Squier not a Fender?

B

blopazone

Sep 9, 2009
82
0
#1
Hello guys.

As always everytime I need to know something about bass I look for it here. However this time search tool couldnt help me on this one. :bawl: If there are any threads of this already hidden somewhere, I apologize and ask you to please post them.

I'm recently planning in getting a Squier Jazz Bass Vintage, It fits my budget just perfectly. So perfectly that I could even have some more money to spent, so I was thinking I could uprage it but what? What is it that fender has that makes squier cheaper? If its electronics, pickups or the bridge, I could get something better. Obviously that if its the feel or the body, I wouldn't be able to upgrade them, But I'm really not dissapointed or uncomfortable with any of them. Any tips on what else I cud do to make it better?

Thanks beforehand :hyper:
 
#3
The Squier CV basses are really nice for the money. You may find you prefer it to an entry level Fender. That said the body wood is generally better on the Fender as is the electronics and usually the hardware. Not that there is anything really wrong with what is on the Squier. Setup will probably be the same on both meaning that both will probably require a good setup when you get it.
 
#5
I wanna uprage my bass!
:D
On topic, the diff between Fender & Squier to me is who's slapping them together & how much they're being paid. NOT saying one is always better than the other- & 99% of the audience will never know the difference between a Fender, Squier, Wish or Fodera(IMO).
 
#7
pica said:
I think Fenders are bigger and heavier then squires but I could be wrong. I have a squire jazz and it seems smaller then the Fenders, to me.
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My VM Fretless Jazz has a body that is wider than a Fender but it is probably a quarter inch thinner. Just compare the bodies where the neck bolts on. It does seem to be lighter though. That might just be the difference in the wood that Squier uses compared to a Fender.
 
#8
bassteban said:
I wanna uprage my bass!
:D
On topic, the diff between Fender & Squier to me is who's slapping them together & how much they're being paid. NOT saying one is always better than the other- & 99% of the audience will never know the difference between a Fender, Squier, Wish or Fodera(IMO).
Click to expand...

Darn typos... :ninja:

Jefenator said:
Mostly the decal? :hiding:
Click to expand...

And Im not really worried about that I quite like it actually, not better then the fender's obviously.

My biggest worry is variety of sound since I play loads of styles of music (blues, jazz, funk, rock most of all)
 
#9
blopazone said:
Darn typos... :ninja:



And Im not really worried about that I quite like it actually, not better then the fender's obviously.

My biggest worry is variety of sound since I play loads of styles of music (blues, jazz, funk, rock)
Click to expand...

The Squier should be able to cover any sound that a Fender can. Maybe not spot on but it will be close. Most people can't tell a difference based on sound alone.
 
#11
Squier basically it's a fender, but for some reason people rather buying fenders because they're original and their better made and have better everything basically. Plus, any other brand might just make it worse.
 
#14
I needed a cheap bass since my Jazz was still in the shop. So I bought a $199 Squire Bass. It may be " cheap transportation" but when played through my Svt-4Pro and the 810, you could fool me. Which comes first the Bass or the Amp? I think the amp comes first. I'd buy another squire, :cool:
 
#15
blopazone said:
I'm recently planning in getting a Squier Jazz Bass Vintage, It fits my budget just perfectly. So perfectly that I could even have some more money to spent, so I was thinking I could uprage it but what? What is it that fender has that makes squier cheaper? If its electronics, pickups or the bridge, I could get something better. Obviously that if its the feel or the body, I wouldn't be able to upgrade them, But I'm really not dissapointed or uncomfortable with any of them. Any tips on what else I cud do to make it better?
Click to expand...

Better pickups can be an important investment (even on the more expensive American Standard Fender in some peoples' opinion, hence my earlier quip). Should you feel the need, for J pickups, there's a TON of good options out there (to put it mildly). (Check the Sticky in the Pickups & Electronics sub-forum.)

The tuning gears on budget instruments often feel sloppy to me. Fortuntately, a good set by Schaller, Hipshot or Gotoh can be had for not too much dough. (May require some drilling, though.)
 
#16
The Wiki article on Squier didn't really say anything about differences in construction from Fender, as far as I could see.

Most of the information I'm seeing online is second-hand at best. "I've heard that..." Can anyone actually confirm any of the following:

* Is the current Squier made from cheaper wood than the Fender? If so, what?
* How does the hardware on the Squier differ from, say, the MIM Fenders?
* What makes the fit and finish worse on the Squier? Is the finish thinner, for example?

I want details or specs. Has anyone ever tried writing to Squier to try and find out what the details are? Isn't there a single person on the internet who works at any of these companies and can give information? It's not like we're trying to get details on how to build a nuclear reactor here, people.

I'll put up a post on Reddit and see if we can track down someone at Fender who might have answers to these questions.
 
#18
Frettage said:
The Wiki article on Squier didn't really say anything about differences in construction from Fender, as far as I could see.

Most of the information I'm seeing online is second-hand at best. "I've heard that..." Can anyone actually confirm any of the following:

* Is the current Squier made from cheaper wood than the Fender? If so, what?
* How does the hardware on the Squier differ from, say, the MIM Fenders?
* What makes the fit and finish worse on the Squier? Is the finish thinner, for example?

I want details or specs. Has anyone ever tried writing to Squier to try and find out what the details are? Isn't there a single person on the internet who works at any of these companies and can give information? It's not like we're trying to get details on how to build a nuclear reactor here, people.

I'll put up a post on Reddit and see if we can track down someone at Fender who might have answers to these questions.
Click to expand...

What do you need to know? Fender posts all of their specs online. Most of the time you are looking at basswood bodies versus alder. A cheaper grade of maple in the necks. Lower quality pickups made overseas and lower grade electronics such as pots and what not. Usually the tuners are lower quality as well.

Regardless, quality is pretty good these days as most everything is done by CNC machines and overseas manufacturers are getting much better. But the bottom line is it's cheaper parts and wood assembled by a lower cost manufacturer.

Like I said the specs are all posted online. List what Squier you are interested in and I can show you the link.
 
#19
:hyper: :hyper:

Johnny Alien and Jefenator gave probably the best answers to this. I'm now looking at the pickup threads for any ideas.

Does tuners actually affect the sound? Or it affects whether the bass stays in tune or not? Havent had much basses and I can't really take the difference. If its just about feel then I wouldn't mind much.
 
#20
Frettage said:
The Wiki article on Squier didn't really say anything about differences in construction from Fender, as far as I could see.
Click to expand...

No, but it does address why Squier exists at all.

Even though a quick search found only anecdotal information the same points keep coming up. Lesser woods and more pieces, lesser quality hardware, pickups, etc. Squiers are built to a very low price to compete with Japanese and other foreign makes.

I'd look for a better quality used bass myself.
 

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