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Whats the difference???? Fender vs. Squier

  • Thread starter Thread starter garretibanez
  • Start date Start date

What do you prefer Squier or Fender

  • Squier

    Votes: 23 14.6%

  • Fender

    Votes: 134 85.4%
  • Total voters
    157
#21
I was looking at the Squiers for the value, and knew from reading that they’re a great Bass, especially for the price.

Then came across a really-nice used Fender Jazz for the same price, even cheaper than some.

I’d have been perfectly happy with the Squier, but I have to admit, looking at the “Fender” logo on the headstock brings me pleasure.

It’s even kinda-nice that the “Made in Mexico” is in small print and my eyes aren’t that good. :)
 
#22
I'm not into the whole "cheap vs expensive" thing, I really don't mind. But Fender definetively has better quality in built, the body won't break and stuff like that NEVER, the paint won't easily die. Besides that kind of stuff; Fenders have more sustain and DO sound better, Squiers can sound AWESOMELY, but Fenders are better, if not always, most of the time.

the instrument is more than sound, it's like a TV.... you buy one that, by luck, has the exact same image as a expensive one, but... how much will it last?

it's something like that I guess
 
#25
garretibanez said:
Is thee any proof the 1k and under Fenders dont have the exact same woods and electronics as As Squier?
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garretibanez said:
I know it says that but I need proof from a luthier, companies lie all the time
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It doesn't take a luthier to see the difference between Maple and Alder or Ash on a bass where you can see the woodgrain through the finish.


Also all one needs to do is open up the control cavities to see that the Squiers use smaller, less expensive pots, and I'm sure if you examined the pickups, you'd see a difference as well.

The Squiers are built with more budget minded materials. They are VERY good instruments in their respective price range, but the quality of the materials used is very different than their U.S. built Fender counterparts.
 
#26
manicbassman said:
would you be able to tell a Squier from a Fender blindfolded? and not knowing what order the basses were offered up to you?
Click to expand...

By feel, yes. For the price there's no doubt Squier is putting out some great stuff. For the price there's no doubt the "Fender" logo makes it more expensive.

But, having noodled around with MANY Squier's and Fender's I have to say there IS a quality difference. You can feel it in your hands - blindfolded or not.

Squier's are made more cheaply - simple as that. I'm not knocking them and if they are the bass for you - cool.

Let's just stop with this nonsense that they are IN EVERY RESPECT equal to Fender.
 
#27
Jimmy Bones said:
Don't sweat it. Find a good Squier and rock out.

Save a little money over time and when you find THE bass, get it.

You'll know what THE bass is when it tells you.
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Amen! I used to work at a music store (guitar shop) and I always told my customers "We don't pick basses. They pick us.".

Now...back to your topic. It's all about consistency. I'll make it simple. The following is just my opinion. With MIM you can find 2 or 3 out of 10 will be fine, a few more will be just good enough and the rest no good by comparison. With the Korean made, some of them sound just fine. They all feel cheap to me. The consistency is actually a little bit better to me. With MIA you get (out of 10) a couple of real cherry guitars, a few really nice ones and a few junkers. Fender Japan stuff is the real kicker. The build quality of them is the best by far. The fit and finish of those basses is really outstanding. But for some reason some just sound better than others. Now that I just can't explain. Again, this is just MY experience having worked at a Fender dealer for several years and playing (no joke) hundreds of them over the years. So for me it has less to do with the name (Fender or Squire) and more to do with where it came from. Hope that helps.
 
#28
two fingers said:
Amen! I used to work at a music store (guitar shop) and I always told my customers "We don't pick basses. They pick us.".

Now...back to your topic. It's all about consistency. I'll make it simple.

Fender Japan stuff is the real kicker. The build quality of them is the best by far. The fit and finish of those basses is really outstanding. So for me it has less to do with the name (Fender or Squire) and more to do with where it came from. Hope that helps.
Click to expand...

I find this intersting, because Fender Japan has SUCH a good reputation, BUT some of the outright WORST neck pockets I've seen on new Fenders (past year) have been on CIJ's.

I'm talking 70's era bad, if not worse. While this isn't a a sampling of 100 basses, this was on 5 or 6 different new CIJ's that I had played over the course of few months. Very disapointing.

Others MIJ/CIJ's I've seen have been quite good, but it really comes down to each individual instrument.
 
#29
two fingers said:
Amen! I used to work at a music store (guitar shop) and I always told my customers "We don't pick basses. They pick us.".

Now...back to your topic. It's all about consistency. I'll make it simple. The following is just my opinion. With MIM you can find 2 or 3 out of 10 will be fine, a few more will be just good enough and the rest no good by comparison. With the Korean made, some of them sound just fine. They all feel cheap to me. The consistency is actually a little bit better to me. With MIA you get (out of 10) a couple of real cherry guitars, a few really nice ones and a few junkers. Fender Japan stuff is the real kicker. The build quality of them is the best by far. The fit and finish of those basses is really outstanding. But for some reason some just sound better than others. Now that I just can't explain. Again, this is just MY experience having worked at a Fender dealer for several years and playing (no joke) hundreds of them over the years. So for me it has less to do with the name (Fender or Squire) and more to do with where it came from. Hope that helps.
Click to expand...

Although you've probably had a lot more Fender instruments in your hands than I have, your conclusions are pretty close to my own experiences. The consistancy out of Fender Japan is quite amazing. I will say, however, that the entire Fender/Squier lineup appears to have improved in quality and consistancy over the last couple of years, and the current Squier instruments are quite an amazing value.

As for why some instruments sound better than others, even though they may be the exact same model and made at the same time, it can be attributed to the natural inconsistances of wood. No two pieces of wood are identical. The grain pattern, density, etc. of one slab will be slightly different than the next one. Sometimes magic happens when you put together all the pieces, and you end up with a spectacular sounding instrument.
 
#31
News flash for most of you..THEY DONT SOUND THE SAME!
not even close. Granted I play a Squier, alot I love it, has a better set up than most MIM's.

I found out something Id forgotten about, American fenders sound better. Id played a Geddylee, and a Squier for a couple years in a band. Last gig I brought my MIA, and the sound blew away.. BLEW AWAY..the squier and the Geddy not a, better tone or cleaner , meaner sound. No it wasnt that. It was like a hurricane blowing the Geddy and the squier like little toys off the stage. Massive tone, ringing sustain for days.
 
#32
Rathead123 said:
News flash for most of you..THEY DONT SOUND THE SAME!
not even close. Granted I play a Squier, alot I love it, has a better set up than most MIM's.

I found out something Id forgotten about, American fenders sound better. Id played a Geddylee, and a Squier for a couple years in a band. Last gig I brought my MIA, and the sound blew away.. BLEW AWAY..the squier and the Geddy not a, better tone or cleaner , meaner sound. No it wasnt that. It was like a hurricane blowing the Geddy and the squier like little toys off the stage. Massive tone, ringing sustain for days.
Click to expand...

+1

MIA Fenders do sound really nice and full compared to Squiers, they also play a hell of a lot nicer. It's not because it cost me more than a Squier VMJ, it's because it's fact.
 
#33
I own and love both a Fender MIA P and a Squier P.

manicbassman said:
would you be able to tell a Squier from a Fender blindfolded? and not knowing what order the basses were offered up to you?
Click to expand...

Yes, straight away.

manicbassman said:
or be able to tell them apart when played behind a screen (with the same player doing it and the same strings fitted)
Click to expand...

Probably, that would be interesting actually.
 
#35
for the price you can't beat a squier.

That said, I didn't like the stock sound. After some upgrading it sounded as good as anything. But then again, good electronics make up a whole lot when this gets plugged in.

However, the squier neck feels better to me than any fender, except the custom classics. They aren't as thick. I think.

tuners and bridge work, most of the time. all I can say about that.
 
#36
If you were in a full blown touring band would you use a Squier as your main? Are the American built Fender's made to survive the road better than a Squier? I imagine I could use an American J forever but would destroy a Vibe in a month. Thoughts?
 
#38
sigh...
the people with Squires will say that they are better or just as good as Fenders and they paid so much less than the silly Fender owners, blah blah blah, and the people with Fenders will say that their's are better and there's no comparison in quality between theirs and crappy Squires...
just play what makes you happy and don't diss anyone else. And while I'm sounding like a grumpy old guy, get off my lawn!
 
#39
These comparison threads do come up often, and it always gets somebody's feelings hurt. But, the facts are undeniable. Squires are great for the money, whereas American made Fenders are just great. If you play a Squire, and you love it, that's good enough for me, but your Squire is not good enough for me. There's a huge difference.
 

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