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Post subject: Buy Squier or save for Fender?
Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 4:04 pm
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New to the board so I might of posted this wrong or be totally off topic so bare with me if that is the case. Right now I own a Ibanez SRX350 and to be completely honest I have grown to hate it. Fender is looking wonderful right now but money is a problem, I was thinking about trading in my SRX at the local music shop and then buy a Squier Affinity P bass. Now the question is do I spend 200-300 on the Squier or save my money to buy a 550 dollar Fender P bass?


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Post subject: Re: Buy Squier or save for Fender?
Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 6:29 pm
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I'd give you two pieces of advice on this.

First, go and play one of each, play 'em through comparable amps or the same if possible so you can really hear the difference in sound, plus you'll be able to really get a feel for each one.

Second, keep an open mind regarding Squier. I have 3 Musicmaster bassses, 1 '78 Fender and 2 96-97 Squiers. And in all honesty, I think the Squiers are actually better built than the Fender. The necks are a little thinner/smoother, the bridge is set up for string through the body, the body is a little heavier, and for aesthetics the headstocks on the Squiers are painted to match the bodies, a nice touch.

The name shouldn't matter as much as which one you're more comfortable with and like better. Good luck.


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Post subject: Re: Buy Squier or save for Fender?
Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:48 pm
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What WI Kissfan said! My '07 Squier is better built than my '99 Fender MIM. Granted it is the VM series. Sound wise, well apple to oranges, since my Fender is moded. The Squier does have great quality though.

Try 'em both, preferably back to back, with the same amp. Or if you have a combo the store probably would let you bring it in and test both basses with your own amp.

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Post subject: Re: Buy Squier or save for Fender?
Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 7:02 pm
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Both replies were very good, take their advice. Play every bass you can get your hands on.


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Post subject: Re: Buy Squier or save for Fender?
Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 8:20 am
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At an absolute minimum I would go for a Squier Vintage Modified at $280-$300 or Classic Vibe at about $349 over an Affinity or Standard. Much better chance of getting a good Squier with those lines. And, as always, as has already been said, go to a store and try them out before you decide. I've heard that MIMs can be much more hit and miss than a VM or CV Squier, but you never know what you may find in a store, you may get lucky and find an excellent MIM. Try them both and you'll have a better idea what you need to do.

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Last edited by Bathead on Wed Mar 23, 2011 11:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Buy Squier or save for Fender?
Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 12:02 pm
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There you go. You've got a whole lot of great advice to make a good buying decision.

Don't forget to let us know what you bought.


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Post subject: Re: Buy Squier or save for Fender?
Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:09 pm
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...and, no pix no bass 8)

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Post subject: Re: Buy Squier or save for Fender?
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:53 pm
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fjbass wrote:
Don't forget, if the the sound is close to your liking, and the bass feels good, strings are easy enough to change.

That's so true. The SRX is no joke, it's a good quality bass. What sound are you looking for OP?

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'89 Power Jazz Bass Special-BadAssIII, EMG P/J
Project PBass-EMG PX, Schaller BM Light Tuner
'05 Aerodyne JBass
'06 Spector Legend Custom Neck Through
VT Bass
Hartke TA5000 w/XL Cabs(210, 410, 115)


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Post subject: Re: Buy Squier or save for Fender?
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 6:08 am
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All I can say is I have had two Squier Strats (one made in Mexico). Then, I got a Standard Fender (MIM). The difference is like night and day. There's a reason Squier costs less. Outsourcing labor costs are less, but that doesn't necessarily affect quality. But, components are different. My Mexican Squier is unusable now after about five years because the pots are junk. Also the fret ends never were right on it, very sharp and long, although I love the odd neck shape it has (kinda D-shaped). Pickups are different, sometimes more noisy. The tuners are junk, too. If I fixed all this I may as well have bought a Standard to start with.

The Standard is so much more of a pleasure to play in every way and has been functioning without a flaw now for about four years. I don't know about the Squier basses, but Affinity and the like may have issues like what I mentioned for my Strat. I dunno for sure, but I bet the components are not as good as the Standard.

Bear in mind I'm a working musician, so... Anyway, be careful.

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Post subject: Re: Buy Squier or save for Fender?
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 6:59 am
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This has been interesting, lots and lots of good information and first hand experience shared.


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Post subject: Re: Buy Squier or save for Fender?
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 7:34 pm
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Not for nothing, I've said this numerous times; my VM is better in craftsmanship and sound quality than my MIM(before the EMG). The volume was way louder. It feels more expensive than it actually is. The only thing I wish was better on my VM is the tuning pegs. Other than that I'm very satisfied with the VM.

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'06 Spector Legend Custom Neck Through
VT Bass
Hartke TA5000 w/XL Cabs(210, 410, 115)


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Post subject: Re: Buy Squier or save for Fender?
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 8:28 pm
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Hey "Pro," I see you have a Jazz Bass Special. So do I, but not the Power version. Mine's '87 as well. I really love that bass, as much as my US Jazz.

If you put new tuners on your VM, how much would you have in it then? Just curious.

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Post subject: Re: Buy Squier or save for Fender?
Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 2:36 pm
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RussL wrote:
Hey "Pro," I see you have a Jazz Bass Special. So do I, but not the Power version. Mine's '87 as well. I really love that bass, as much as my US Jazz.

If you put new tuners on your VM, how much would you have in it then? Just curious.


The 80s MIJ I think were some of the best stuff we could have gotten back then. It will go head to head with the MIA of the time. I love mine. Got it brand new. I wouldn't put new tuners on it, but if I did, it'll probably be the same ones I have on the '99, Schaller Lite Weights which were $65. I sold my Ibby BTB 450 for $390 - owned it 3 yrs, bought it for $500, got lucky with it. Then I bought the VM for $279 plus tax - 5.5%, then $55 for the BadAss II. So I had money left over when I got the BadAss bridge. I also put on the 'tophat' knobs from the '87 since I can't use them with the EMG posts. You know with the "F" script on the top of the knobs. I took off the pickguard too, not a fan of pickguards. I was going to put EMG HZ, but the Duncan Designed sound perfect on the VM. Just my opinion tho, I think any Squier below the VM aren't that good. VM and CV are the shizz from Squier personally.

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'89 Power Jazz Bass Special-BadAssIII, EMG P/J
Project PBass-EMG PX, Schaller BM Light Tuner
'05 Aerodyne JBass
'06 Spector Legend Custom Neck Through
VT Bass
Hartke TA5000 w/XL Cabs(210, 410, 115)


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Post subject: Re: Buy Squier or save for Fender?
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 12:03 pm
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Get both if you can


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Post subject: Re: Buy Squier or save for Fender?
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:48 am
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Now that's an idea.

Wait, that's what I have. Love 'em both. I messed around until I had them about as identical as possible, like to know my amp/volume/effect settings don't need to be greatly altered at a gig when I change out. But that's me.


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