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What makes a Squier not a Fender?

#21
blopazone said:
: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.
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No they shouldn't effect the tone. Cheaper tuners may have trouble staying in tune or turn a bit rougher but most of times even the cheaper tuners are decent nowadays.

While I am pointing out the lower quality stuff I do want to once again say that I think Squiers these days are great bargains. Many people end up liking them more than a MIM Fender Standard.
 
#22
well you're asking a tough question as both Fender and Squier have many different levels of price and quality. in a lot of cases the sound will be only very slightly different.

Squier have gone through many different stages of production - for example the 80s Japanese models are highly sought after and are considered on a par with higher level Fenders.

(uh, yes, the Wikipedia article would be a good start :) )

also the modern Classic Vibe and Vintage Modified series (which i think are made in Indonesia) are very different to - and generally of a much higher quality than - say, the Affinity series.

mainly the answer is, they are made in a different factory to Fenders, and to different specs.

in terms of upgrading, most of the parts are interchangeable so a Squier should be a great platform for customising.

i will post a link to Ed Friedlands excellent review of Squiers directly compared to Fenders, in a bit. right now, i need beer :ninja:
 
#23
blopazone said:
Does (sic) tuners actually affect the sound? Or it affects whether the bass stays in tune or not?
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Wood, neck construction, fret finishing, bridge construction, etc., will all affect tone. Poor quality tuners will let strings slip and go out of tune quickly.

I'm disappointed in the closed Schaller tuners on my Spector. They don't hold nearly as well as my early Telecaster. Doesn't affect tone once in tune though.

As much as I like my NS-2-JA-R overall I'm considering getting a Forte sometime next year. At some $1600 less than the street price of a regular NS it has less expensive open Schaller tuners than the Gotoh GB7 closed tuners that come standard on the NS.

Building any product to a price has its pitfalls.
 
#29
Here's a youtube vid of Ed friedland comparing 3 Squiers to their Fender counterparts. I can't hear enough of a difference to say I'd pick the fenders over the Squiers- In Mr Friedlands talented hands the Squiers don't give up a thing to the Fenders in terms of sound. Imho, ymmv, yadayadayda of course

 
#31
dryheatbob said:
Here's a youtube vid of Ed friedland comparing 3 Squiers to their Fender counterparts. I can't hear enough of a difference to say I'd pick the fenders over the Squiers- In Mr Friedlands talented hands the Squiers don't give up a thing to the Fenders in terms of sound. Imho, ymmv, yadayadayda of course

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I seem to see YouTube videos coming up relatively often comparing sound qualities between instruments. For several reasons, I contend that it is an insufficient medium for judging tones between instruments.
 
#34
saxmachine777 said:
I seem to see YouTube videos coming up relatively often comparing sound qualities between instruments. For several reasons, I contend that it is an insufficient medium for judging tones between instruments.
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Well what I'm hearing are comparable instruments run through the same equipment and played through the same cruddy computer speakers in my house. I don't hear a decernable difference; that is they have the same sonic 'vibe' to my ear.

At about 40seconds into the vid Mr Friedland says the Squiers "come close to nailing the sound, the look and the feel of the originals". Sounds to me that he feels their sound is similar, and he's doing without cruddy computer speakers. I'm of the opinion that he's right and i agree with him.
 
#35
marchone said:
Poor quality tuners will let strings slip and go out of tune quickly.
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This is something that gets posted around here constantly and is dead wrong. The cheaper tuners everyone talks about -- e.g., Geddy Lees and Squires -- do not slip. They are stiffer and less accurate so they are harder to get in tune -- they tend to skip instead of turn smoothly, but they do not slip unless they are defective.
 
#36
dryheatbob said:
Well what I'm hearing are comparable instruments run through the same equipment and played through the same cruddy computer speakers in my house. I don't hear a decernable difference; that is they have the same sonic 'vibe' to my ear.

At about 40seconds into the vid Mr Friedland says the Squiers "come close to nailing the sound, the look and the feel of the originals". Sounds to me that he feels their sound is similar, and he's doing without cruddy computer speakers. I'm of the opinion that he's right and i agree with him.
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Sorry, I didn't mean to attack your post. This video was just the latest video of several that I've come across recently, some more presumptuous than others in describing or comparing tonal qualities (of anything, really, not limited to bass) of instruments. While the reviewer can undoubtedly accurately assess (or at least opine on) sound quality, once it goes through amplification, then a mic, then through computer speakers... What once was detailed tone has most likely been extensively adulterated.

I apologize for the bitter rant. I meant no harm or offense, and I do believe Mr. Friedland's assessment of the tones, just based on his credibility, not the sound coming out of my speakers.
 
#37
king_biscuit said:
This is something that gets posted around here constantly and is dead wrong. The cheaper tuners everyone talks about -- e.g., Geddy Lees and Squires -- do not slip. They are stiffer and less accurate so they are harder to get in tune -- they tend to skip instead of turn smoothly, but they do not slip unless they are defective.
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Then how does movement occur and why do the better makers use more expensive components for their highest end guitars? The Schallers on my NS Reissue turn smoothly. So do the tuners on my Tele, but once tuned stay there through a lot of play. The strings on my Spector frequently need retightening to retune.

I'm happy to learn.
 
#38
blopazone said:
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:
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First off, Squier is a musical instrument brand name owned by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. That's what makes it "not a Fender". They are a separate company that is licensed to make Fender knock offs. And they do a dang good job at it too. I would not hesitate to buy one if I were in the market.
 
#39
saxmachine777 said:
Sorry, I didn't mean to attack your post. This video was just the latest video of several that I've come across recently, some more presumptuous than others in describing or comparing tonal qualities (of anything, really, not limited to bass) of instruments. While the reviewer can undoubtedly accurately assess (or at least opine on) sound quality, once it goes through amplification, then a mic, then through computer speakers... What once was detailed tone has most likely been extensively adulterated.

I apologize for the bitter rant. I meant no harm or offense, and I do believe Mr. Friedland's assessment of the tones, just based on his credibility, not the sound coming out of my speakers.
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No biggie- I didn't take it as a rant or attack. To paraphrase someone I know we can all disagree and still be bassists, right? Besides at the moment I could be running my Sony Vaio into a 1000 watt amp and vintage 4X10's. :D
 
#40
marchone said:
Then how does movement occur and why do the better makers use more expensive components for their highest end guitars? The Schallers on my NS Reissue turn smoothly. So do the tuners on my Tele, but once tuned stay there through a lot of play. The strings on my Spector frequently need retightening to retune.

I'm happy to learn.
Click to expand...

I don't know what to tell you, but unless the tuners are defective, they are not slipping -- period. Higher quality gears have a higher turning ratio, and they operate smoother, so it is easier to get the instrument precisely in tune. Lower quality tuners tend to skip and jump (they tend to have more play in them) and they have a lower turning ratio.

Once they lower quality tuners are actually in tune they will not actually slip out of tune unless they are defective.
 

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