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Which of these three would you choose?

Which bass?

  • 2004 Squire Affinity

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Used Squire Classic Vibe

    Votes: 111 68.1%

  • New Sire P5R

    Votes: 52 31.9%
  • Total voters
    163
B

BassmanNate

Apr 10, 2006
280
291
#1
So, I've been on the lookout for a p bass. I've never had one abd this would be a third bass for me. I've seen a few pop up on marketplace lately in my area and wanted some opinions. Which of these would you choose and why? Just for grins, we'll make it a poll.

1 - an older Affinity. Made in 2004 so alder body, rosewood fretboard. I don't think it's completely stock because the fender info says open gear tuners and the pictures are not open gears. $300 used.

2 - classic vibe. Not sure of age but I'm hoping to hear from the seller about the serial number so I can get more info. Fretboard looks darker so I'm guessing it's rosewood and probably an older one? Definitely NOT stock. Fender hi mass bridge and what appears to be quarter pounder pickup. $350 used.

3 - keep saving for a new Sire P5R. Love the look but wanted to keep the price down since I've been playing 5 strings for the last 25 years. Not 100% sure I'll like going back but don't really want to go to 5 on a p. Just feels wrong to me. Also, by continuing to save, I may find another used bass I like more than this. $600 + sales tax brand new.
 
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#3
MIMike said:
If you committed to a 4 string, and you desire a classic P-Bass, the Classic Vibe series it top notch.
You say it's only $50 more than the Affinity, but in my limited experience, the CVs are 50 times better than the Affinity.
Click to expand...
Yeah only reason the affinity is in the running is because it's older and probably built a bit better than one made in the last few years
 
#5
$300 for a used affinity seems ... high.

i have what i believe is a 2008 affinity p bass, and it's perfectly fine. tuners are adequate (just), i can get the action low, and it sounds fine. if i had to play a gig with it, there'd be no problem. i've played other affinities that i wouldn't say that about.

i also have a chinese cv 50s p bass and 50s tele. you can tell improvement over the affinity series as soon as you pick them up. the tele is better than a lot of fenders i've tried. i'd pick a cv over an affinity without a thought.
 
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#8
gln1955 said:
I wouldn't make that assumption. The lower end basses coming out of Asia now are surprisingly good.
Click to expand...

Camaro69 said:
Older Affinity I would pass. One built in the last few years are decent, as are the Sonic series
Tough hit to get past the Sire headstock looks
Click to expand...
Good to know about that. I guess I haven't been in the market in a while and everything else around me seems to be dropping in quality.
kevrex said:
$300 for a used affinity seems ... high.

i have what i believe is a 2008 affinity p bass, and it's perfectly fine. tuners are adequate (just), i can get the action low, and it sounds fine. if i had to play a gig with it, there'd be no problem. i've played other affinities that i wouldn't say that about.

i also have a chinese cv 50s p bass and 50s tele. you can tell improvement over the affinity series as soon as you pick them up. the tele is better than a lot of fenders i've tried. i'd pick a cv over an affinity without a thought.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the insight!
 
#9
Well, you never get this kind of opportunity. YouTube just suggested a video that features the seller playing the exact classic vibe bass I'm looking at. 😂 Sounds killer. I think I'm going to sleep on it and message him tomorrow.
 
#10
My personal experience with a Sire P5 was a very good one. It was a beautiful fiesta red that I sold at a moment I felt I had too many basses :cool:
The neck especially was amazing, I liked the pickups too.
The hardware though is obviously were Sire saved money on. It felt a bit cheap but overall the value for money is excellent IMHO.
No problem with the headstock, I don't understand the bashing.

By the way the brand of the other models you are considering is Squier, not Squire.
I have had a Jazz Classic Vibe in the past too. Also very good value for money but I was not that fond of the neck. It felt and looked a bit cheap compared to Fender but YMMV of course.
 
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#13
You sound as if you are a serious player that is going to be playing for years to come. Maybe even become adept at it.

With that aspect in focus I suggest that you watch Am a zon and Ador ama for Fender bass sales. On sale you can often find nice brand new Fender bases.

I suggest being patient and looking for a new Fender J bass. This is an iconic and awesome bass guitar. Find one on sale maybe for the price of a used older one.
 
#14
BassmanNate said:
So, I've been on the lookout for a p bass. I've never had one abd this would be a third bass for me. I've seen a few pop up on marketplace lately in my area and wanted some opinions. Which of these would you choose and why? Just for grins, we'll make it a poll.

1 - an older Affinity. Made in 2004 so alder body, rosewood fretboard. I don't think it's completely stock because the fender info says open gear tuners and the pictures are not open gears. $300 used.

2 - classic vibe. Not sure of age but I'm hoping to hear from the seller about the serial number so I can get more info. Fretboard looks darker so I'm guessing it's rosewood and probably an older one? Definitely NOT stock. Fender hi mass bridge and what appears to be quarter pounder pickup. $350 used.

3 - keep saving for a new Sire P5R. Love the look but wanted to keep the price down since I've been playing 5 strings for the last 25 years. Not 100% sure I'll like going back but don't really want to go to 5 on a p. Just feels wrong to me. Also, by continuing to save, I may find another used bass I like more than this. $600 + sales tax brand new.
Click to expand...
Well...
You probably won't like my answer, but... you did ask. So... which of the 3 would I pick?
My answer is... none of them. I personally have no use for any of the 3, regardless of price, or the "nice-ness".
I have a Fender P-Bass that I bought from a friend, some 35 years ago now. It's a left handed '78, with the optional-at-the-time "A-spec" neck. Which is essentially a '78 Fender Jazz Bass neck, with dot fretboard inlays and a "Precision Bass" decal on the headstock. I loved it the first time I picked it up; and, I still do. So, even if the Affinity and/or the Classic Vibe basses were ever available as a lefty? I almost certainly would not like the neck(s). Yes, I suppose I could buy a lefty one, and replace the neck; but there's no spot in my 30- bass strong "Herd" for another P-Bass. Especially a cobbled together parts P-Bass. The one I have is plenty good enough... And, as for the Sire P5R? Even if they did make it as a lefty, I would give it a hard pass. I have absolutely no use for a 5-string bass; and, never have. They either have necks that are too wide for my thick, short stubby fingers, or the strings are too close together for my thick, short stubby fingers. And I've actually noodled around on some that had both problems.... So, thank you, but NO. I'll pass...
But, that's me. If, as you say, you are a 5-string player - and have been one for 25 years? I think the best bet is to keep saving for the Sire. Honestly? This "which 4 string P-Bass should I get" stuff sounds like you just want to buy something. And it really doesn't matter what; as long as it's something with bass strings. I get that way, too. Don't worry; it'll pass...:cool:
 
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#15
used affinity for 300$???? paid 120€ for JB affinity brand new. in store, not online sight unseen. in 2007, maybe.
sire, in my experience [V7 gen1] if far above anything fender produced outside of US. in every way.
YMMV
 
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#17
Any of those can be decent or not, try them out.
Personally, my answer to P question is always Yamaha BB. Get any of newer mid-tier models used (like 414, 424 or 434) or even 234. I haven't played that one, but two of my fellow bassists said they hit much higher than their price.
 
#19
CheckBass said:
My personal experience with a Sire P5 was a very good one. It was a beautiful fiesta red that I sold at a moment I felt I had too many basses :cool:
The neck especially was amazing, I liked the pickups too.
The hardware though is obviously were Sire saved money on. It felt a bit cheap but overall the value for money is excellent IMHO.
No problem with the headstock, I don't understand the bashing.

By the way the brand of the other models you are considering is Squier, not Squire.
I have had a Jazz Classic Vibe in the past too. Also very good value for money but I was not that fond of the neck. It felt and looked a bit cheap compared to Fender but YMMV of course.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I don't get the hate for the Sire headstock either. As for Squire vs Squier, phone autocorrect just won't let me win.

GIBrat51 said:
Well...
You probably won't like my answer, but... you did ask. So... which of the 3 would I pick?
My answer is... none of them. I personally have no use for any of the 3, regardless of price, or the "nice-ness".
I have a Fender P-Bass that I bought from a friend, some 35 years ago now. It's a left handed '78, with the optional-at-the-time "A-spec" neck. Which is essentially a '78 Fender Jazz Bass neck, with dot fretboard inlays and a "Precision Bass" decal on the headstock. I loved it the first time I picked it up; and, I still do. So, even if the Affinity and/or the Classic Vibe basses were ever available as a lefty? I almost certainly would not like the neck(s). Yes, I suppose I could buy a lefty one, and replace the neck; but there's no spot in my 30- bass strong "Herd" for another P-Bass. Especially a cobbled together parts P-Bass. The one I have is plenty good enough... And, as for the Sire P5R? Even if they did make it as a lefty, I would give it a hard pass. I have absolutely no use for a 5-string bass; and, never have. They either have necks that are too wide for my thick, short stubby fingers, or the strings are too close together for my thick, short stubby fingers. And I've actually noodled around on some that had both problems.... So, thank you, but NO. I'll pass...
But, that's me. If, as you say, you are a 5-string player - and have been one for 25 years? I think the best bet is to keep saving for the Sire. Honestly? This "which 4 string P-Bass should I get" stuff sounds like you just want to buy something. And it really doesn't matter what; as long as it's something with bass strings. I get that way, too. Don't worry; it'll pass...:cool:
Click to expand...
You know while there is a 5 string version, the P5R is a 4 string, right? And I'm just looking for a p bass that does the p bass thing well. Not to mention simplify for some things, thus going from 5 to 4 strings. Not getting rid of anything, either. The other basses I have serve different roles.
 
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