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Gospel Instruments => Bass Guitar => Topic started by: berbie on July 08, 2014, 08:30:30 AM

Title: Squier Basses
Post by: berbie on July 08, 2014, 08:30:30 AM
I was reading another thread about bass tone when the subject of Squier basses came up.  During some idle moments, I checked on the price and reviews of the Squier Active V Deluxe Jazz Bass at Musician's Friend.  The price, before any sales discounts, was $329.00.  The reviews by the people who had purchased them were for the most part very good, even as they claimed to be comparing them with much more expensive basses that they owned.  I wonder if anyone here has had experience with that bass.  If so,  what did/do you think of it?  And incidently, are Squier(Fender)basses that much more suitable for black gospel music?

Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: funkStrat_97 on July 08, 2014, 09:23:02 AM
I was reading another thread about bass tone when the subject of Squier basses came up.  During some idle moments, I checked on the price and reviews of the Squier Active V Deluxe Jazz Bass at Musician's Friend.  The price, before any sales discounts, was $329.00.  The reviews by the people who had purchased them were for the most part very good, even as they claimed to be comparing them with much more expensive basses that they owned.  I wonder if anyone here has had experience with that bass.  If so,  what did/do you think of it?  And incidently, are Squier(Fender)basses that much more suitable for black gospel music?

Bass guitars don't discriminate.  There is nothing unique about Fender/Squier basses that make them any better or worse for any one particular style of music.  In fact, you'll find Fenders used by a variety of bassists from country to jazz to extreme forms of heavy metal.  So if you like the bass - buy it.
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: berbie on July 08, 2014, 09:54:35 AM
Bass guitars don't discriminate.  There is nothing unique about Fender/Squier basses that make them any better or worse for any one particular style of music.  In fact, you'll find Fenders used by a variety of bassists from country to jazz to extreme forms of heavy metal.  So if you like the bass - buy it.

I might would at those prices, FunkStrat.  With a 15% discount, the bass would be under $300.00.  I am really just a hobbyist at this point.  I keep a bass on hand because I find that when I am without one, I miss it a great deal. 

Oddly enough, I rarely see a Fender bass amoung the gospel players in my area.  I had really thought of them as country/western/pop basses. When I was playing bass(not as extensive as most posters here) and went into a music store, I wouldn't even look at them.

The price of these basses puts them in the "something to noodle around with" range.  Maybe it's a diamond in the rough.  Just checking the knowledge base here for comments from those who might have one.
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: malthumb on July 08, 2014, 12:04:08 PM
I do not personally own a Squier, but I did buy my son a Squire VM fretless Jazz Bass a couple years ago for Christmas.  It is very well built, decent hardware, and sounds pretty good.  He has played it in church and I'm sure he will play it again in church.  Being a fretless, it is not his "everyday" bass.

I have played Squier VM and CV basses in stores.  I like them.  For the money they are a steal.  There are some who would say "Squier basses are every bit as good as MIA Fenders".  I am not one of those people.  I think they would be more accurate in saying that their Squier does everything they would need from an MIA Fender.

The other good thing about a Squier is that most parts that can be used to mod a Fender can be used to mod a Squier.  So if you want to upgrade the bridge, the tuners, the preamp, even the pickups, go for it.  It is an excellent upgrade platform.  If you want to go all out, you can pickup a decent used Squier for, say $250.  Add one of those bridges with the name you might have to cover up in church  ;D for @ $75 - 100, an Audere preamp for $150 - 180, or a J-Retro preamp for $300,   nicer pickups $50 - 200, a custom pickguard for $50 - 80 and you can have a killer bass for $575 - 900.  A used MIA Fender will cost you 8 - 1,200.  A new one $1,500 - 1,800.  More than likely the MIA Fender will maintain an advantage in terms of the look, feel, and finish of the wood, provided it was well taken care of and not abused.  For a lot of people, that doesn't matter.

In my opinion, Squier is definitely worth looking at.
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: Docdb04 on July 08, 2014, 12:07:17 PM
I think it is all in your amp.  I have an Ibanez and I love it.  I have a combo amp now.  However, I think if I invested in a better amp, it would sound a lot better. 
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: berbie on July 08, 2014, 04:57:59 PM
Thanks for the info, Malthumb.  They do seem to be a good buy.  Might be just what I need to work(play)around with.  Thanks  again.
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: Mysteryman on July 09, 2014, 07:44:12 AM
I was looking at a squier jaguar over the weekend and tempted to by it.
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: stix_clgi on July 09, 2014, 03:46:10 PM
I've owned 3 Squier AJD V's and a Squier VM. For the price you can't beat them at all for build and sound quality. Comfort is subjective, but I found them to be comfortable. I kept 2 of them stock and modded the others. I say go for it, you'll be very happy.

Like Funkstrat said, you can play just about any bass in any kind of music, it depends on what kind of sound you personally like. I've P basses, J basses, Alembics, Smiths, MTD's, etc....they all work for the people who play them.

I do not personally own a Squier, but I did buy my son a Squire VM fretless Jazz Bass a couple years ago for Christmas.  It is very well built, decent hardware, and sounds pretty good.  He has played it in church and I'm sure he will play it again in church.  Being a fretless, it is not his "everyday" bass.

I have played Squier VM and CV basses in stores.  I like them.  For the money they are a steal.  There are some who would say "Squier basses are every bit as good as MIA Fenders".  I am not one of those people.  I think they would be more accurate in saying that their Squier does everything they would need from an MIA Fender.

The other good thing about a Squier is that most parts that can be used to mod a Fender can be used to mod a Squier.  So if you want to upgrade the bridge, the tuners, the preamp, even the pickups, go for it.  It is an excellent upgrade platform.  If you want to go all out, you can pickup a decent used Squier for, say $250.  Add one of those bridges with the name you might have to cover up in church  ;D for @ $75 - 100, an Audere preamp for $150 - 180, or a J-Retro preamp for $300,   nicer pickups $50 - 200, a custom pickguard for $50 - 80 and you can have a killer bass for $575 - 900.  A used MIA Fender will cost you 8 - 1,200.  A new one $1,500 - 1,800.  More than likely the MIA Fender will maintain an advantage in terms of the look, feel, and finish of the wood, provided it was well taken care of and not abused.  For a lot of people, that doesn't matter.

In my opinion, Squier is definitely worth looking at.

Lol I agree with Malthumb too. A Squier is not an American STD or Dlx J-bass, but it does nail the spirit of those basses. I personally had one with Sadowsky pups and pre....nailed the Sadowsky J-bass on steriods sound. My other tricked out Squier had Bart 59 classic J-bass picukps and an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp....I wish to this day that I'd never sold that bass! My sister even remarked on that bass...she hasn't said that about any of my other basses, Brubaker and Cirrus included lol.

I think it is all in your amp.  I have an Ibanez and I love it.  I have a combo amp now.  However, I think if I invested in a better amp, it would sound a lot better. 

Amps generally just amplify the sound of your bass....if you have a garbage bass, it's going to sound bad no matter what amp you play it through. I had an older Squier MB-5...before Squier's were nice basses. It didn't matter what amp, pedalboard, or strings I used....that bass sounded like a string over wet cardboard lol!
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: funkStrat_97 on July 10, 2014, 06:49:08 AM
A few words abut modding:  Be Careful....it can become addictive.  Yes; it is certainly an option that can allow you attain an instrument with the features you want, but if you're not careful, it can become a money pit.  If you ever decide to sell it, you'll have to take a loss at best try to recoup as much of the costs of the upgrades as the market will allow you.  The other day, I was looking through C/L and somebody was selling an Epiphone Les Paul Standard for $200.  Now Epiphones seem to get mixed reviews and there are a lot of people who will tell you that  you might as well do the "right thing" and get a real Gibson (you can get a new Gibson LPJ or a used LP Studio for a little more than the price of new upper-tier Epihone LP).  But what made this a potential great deal is that the owner had installed a set of Seymour Duncan pickups (I think they were the JB and '59 humbuckers).  Now with features like that, I would be willing to take a change on the guitar, but I'm sure that the seller taking a loss unless he originally obtained the guitar for next to nothing.  I have a Squier Stratocaster which was acquired for $60.00.  It is a cheap guitar, but plays decently.  After evaluating it, I am willing to invest in a better bridge (the stock one truly is garbage) and some decent tuners and that's it.  Guitar Fetish is a good option for finding low-priced replacement parts as are on-line classified ads.
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: Mysteryman on July 10, 2014, 01:09:52 PM
I guess you guys don't keep the cheap parts after the upgrade.  :D Because I would certainly put them back in the instrument if I could not recoup my loses.
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: floaded27 on July 14, 2014, 11:25:54 PM
I had  a MIM Deluxe Jazz V (i regret selling, although i still have the original neck as a souvenir because the truss rod doesnt work). That bass was awesome sounding, although funny to play after using my other basses that were 24 frets 35" scale.

When I was playing out regularly, I hardly took that bass. Why? Because it was heavy as heck. My other 3 basses were a relief on my shoulders and back after lugging that around and playing a rehearsal and/or service. The Fenders just arent lightweight. And that factors in after a while, regardless of sound. And for most places that arent equipped for a bass player, odds are you're standing and bearing all the weight for the entire time.
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: funkStrat_97 on July 15, 2014, 06:34:03 AM
I had  a MIM Deluxe Jazz V (i regret selling, although i still have the original neck as a souvenir because the truss rod doesnt work). That bass was awesome sounding, although funny to play after using my other basses that were 24 frets 35" scale.

When I was playing out regularly, I hardly took that bass. Why? Because it was heavy as heck. My other 3 basses were a relief on my shoulders and back after lugging that around and playing a rehearsal and/or service. The Fenders just arent lightweight. And that factors in after a while, regardless of sound. And for most places that arent equipped for a bass player, odds are you're standing and bearing all the weight for the entire time.

I currently have one of those and yeah....it's a heavy weight.  Also, the neck isn't the most comfortable to play and after having made the "mistake" of playing a new American Deluxe Jazz V, my GAS has been ignited.
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: DWBass on July 15, 2014, 07:17:36 AM
Not all Fender/Squier basses are heavy. Go to a store and play a few. You're sure to come across a lightweight one.
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: Gemini47 on July 15, 2014, 12:57:09 PM
+1 with DWBass. I have the Vintage 70's Jazz Bass which is heavier compared to the lighter newer Vintage Jazz Basses.
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: malthumb on July 15, 2014, 02:12:40 PM
I agree with DWBass and Gemini47 on the weight thing.  A lot of the Squiers I've plunked around with lately seem to be on the light side.  But then, what do I know....my main piece weighs in over 13 lbs   :D

funkStrat_97 - that neck thing is EXACTLY what I'm talking about.  Most people can probably do fine with a stock Squier.  Others can probably mod one up to get the sound and tone they want.  But it's the intangibles that hit you when you pickup an AmDlx that make you go..."whoa!  This is what I need". And it usually starts with the feel and finish of the neck.

Peace,

James
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: SavnBass on July 26, 2014, 09:19:51 PM
Some of those Squires are pretty nice.. I have a buddy in MD that had one he modded with a U Retro pre in it and it was KILLER.
Now a days you can get a lot of bass for under $500. Moreso than back in the day.
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: phbrown on March 15, 2016, 10:39:09 PM
thinking about buying one today ...


yep decision made the neck does feel ... and a lot fewer frets but it makes me want to try slapping more I almost sounded like I knew how to do it LOL. So it might just be the ticket for me to develop a new technique and in that case it would be worth it

thank you for reading this you helped me make my decision to pull the trigger and buy it tonight.
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: phbrown on March 18, 2016, 07:39:00 PM
just got my squier vintage modified jazz five bass ... still need to get it set up ...


better yet where is that post on how to set up your bass
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: sixstringpoet on March 25, 2016, 04:02:54 PM
Photo please  ;D
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: phbrown on March 28, 2016, 09:42:13 PM
soo big ... how do i make it smaller?

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/40474691/basspic.jpg)
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: sixstringpoet on March 29, 2016, 11:22:33 PM
Nice Bro,  Alder or Ash ?
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: Motifman33 on April 04, 2016, 01:33:11 PM
I bought my son the Squier Vintage Modified 5 string bass.  He loves it! It's a little heavy to me, but he loves the weight, feel and tone.  I am actually amazed at the different tones this jazz bass will produce. Great buy at a Great cost.  My son says his Ibanez 5 string feels like a toy compared to the Squier.
Title: Re: Squier Basses
Post by: phbrown on May 14, 2016, 09:01:38 PM
Nice Bro,  Alder or Ash ?

maple