Best value Squier bass..?

[Pierre]

I've recently realised that whenever a song pops into my bass, it stars with a stony bass intro. I have no bass, and I also have no imagination at all to play without one.

So I figured I'd get myself a cheap Squier Precision or Jazz.

I LOVE the round sound of the jazz, but I also do love the thumping low end of the precision... It'd be to play stoner rock, old school R&B (Sam & Dave), Ska, Blues... So it's a toss between a precision or jazz.

Choices:

http://www.thomann.de/lu/fender_squier_vintmod_jaguar_bass.htm

http://www.thomann.de/lu/fender_squier_vint_mod_jazz3csb.htm

http://www.thomann.de/lu/fender_squier_vintmod_precision_am.htm

http://www.thomann.de/lu/fender_squier_classicvibe_jbass60_ow.htm

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Best value Squier bass..?

The soft-maple P-bass is really nice. I messed around with one at a store and it was very well balanced and not as heavy as you'd think. All the Squier basses are great values and there are some pros who use them... Mike Watt being one.

I don't think you can go wrong with any.

 

[Pierre]

Re: Best value Squier bass..?

Mhmm a Fender standard precision or Jazz is 200 euros more (500 euros bass price)... also could be worth it... aaargh!

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Best value Squier bass..?

Jazz!

I bought one of these Squire Vintage Modified J-Basses a few years back:

It has been a really good purchase. The pickups sound awesome and you can get all kinds of tones from the two pickups, the electronics have been solid, the fret work was decent, and the neck is comfy to play. The only thing that I don't like is it's VERY heavy . . . like probably more than 11 lbs. Kinda blew me away for a Squire though. You can get pretty close to the P Bass sound by rolling back the bridge volume and using the neck pickup, but it does so many great bass sounds though . . .

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Best value Squier bass..?

+1 for the Vintage Modified series. Also check out the Classic Vibe series. Surely, there must be a PJ model in the Squier range.

IMO, you could do a lot worse than a pre-owned Yamaha Attitude Plus (P) or Attitude Standard (PJ). Just upgrade the pickups and bridge.

 

[Bass_Medic_05]

Re: Best value Squier bass..?

The soft-maple P-bass is really nice. I messed around with one at a store and it was very well balanced and not as heavy as you'd think. All the Squier basses are great values and there are some pros who use them... Mike Watt being one.

I don't think you can go wrong with any.

+1 I think the most versatile of the bunch is the Jazz bass, but all are solid performers.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Best value Squier bass..?

My son has a Classic Vibe P-Bass that's terrific. I had to replace the POS output jack (and the pots, while I was in there) but otherwise it's great.

 

[ACE 4080]

Re: Best value Squier bass..?

id go with a calssic vibe, people say they are just as nice as M.I.M. fenders

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Best value Squier bass..?

Just last week I was telling a co-worker that I have noticed that all my favorite songs
have a cool bass line running thru them

Boston's Higher Power

MJ's Smooth Criminal

BOC's Dont Fear The Reaper

etc

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Best value Squier bass..?

id go with a calssic vibe, people say they are just as nice as M.I.M. fenders

Yeah. I've heard some buzz about the Classic Vibe Teles. Made of pine, which was what Leo made the first ones out of, Alnico III mag pickups and decent construction. $350 new.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Best value Squier bass..?

Yeah, I don't see much difference between my MIM Standard Tele and my CV Thinline.

 

[Hagbard Celine]

Re: Best value Squier bass..?

I have a little Affinity P-Bass with a Quarter Pounder pup in it and it is surprisingly fun.

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: Best value Squier bass..?

I really dig the jaguar bass. Awesome looks and there's nothing in the world quite so useful and versatile as a P-J bass. I played one of the Squier versions in a store a few months ago and, while it had all the usual hallmarks of cheapness associated with the brand, it played and sounded great.

 

[saladin]

Re: Best value Squier bass..?

I would go for the Jaguar bass as well. Different look and it has a P/J pickup set (best of both worlds).

I didn't even know Squier was making these....might have to pick one up for myself!

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Best value Squier bass..?

I just bought a Squier Vintage Modified PJ Bass, and I think its great. I've just started playing Bass, but I've been playing guitar for almost 30 years. Its a well built guitar. No flaws. Sounds great to me, and I like the fact that I get a little of the P Bass and a little of the Jazz Bass because I couldn't choose between them. The newer Fender Rumble I bought sounds great too. It is a big improvement on the older Rumbles.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Best value Squier bass..?

Jazz!

I bought one of these Squire Vintage Modified J-Basses a few years back:

It has been a really good purchase. The pickups sound awesome and you can get all kinds of tones from the two pickups, the electronics have been solid, the fret work was decent, and the neck is comfy to play.

I have one of those too. Great bass for the price.

 

[Oinkus]

Re: Best value Squier bass..?

Jazz is a little more versatile then a Precision. The CV basses are pretty good to start for cheaper gear and improve dramatically with some upgrades.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Best value Squier bass..?

Vintage mod is THE correct answer.

This is coming from a man with an early 80's Hamer of BTMN's sitting in the room.

 

[teleblooz]

Re: Best value Squier bass..?

The first 'guitar' I ever made was actually a bass.....a Jazz bass to be precise. Hard to believe it was darn near 40 (1975) years ago! I have always thought a Jazz Bass was the best of the best. However, much like a telecaster, the simplicity of a P-Bass provides an amazing platform for a plethora of tones and techniques.

Now, to answer a question posed in the original post, the best Squier I've come upon is a made in Mexico beauty that came my way via trade. I had no idea a MIM Squier even existed, but lo and behold it's true. Anyway, I can honestly say this baby plays and sounds like a 'real' (???whatever!) vintage P-Bass.

Probably no help in answer to your question, but if you ever find a MIM Squier P-Bass, spend some quality time with it and see what you think.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Best value Squier bass..?

Vintage mod is THE correct answer.

+1

The combination of materials in these babies just seems to work nicely together, straight out of the box. Sure, the metal hardware is budget and the wood is not AAAA grade. Somehow, the Squier VMs manage to add up to more than the sum of their parts.

Right now, I own the fretless Jazz Bass model. The pickups on my example have Duncan Designed printed on them. (2014 examples do not.) The stock pickups impart some of the old school dirt and growl that chunkier bridges and expensive pickups did not improve upon.

I have recorded with this bass in stock spec. I do not see it as a poor relation to the famous brand American instruments at my disposal. I would happily gig with a Squire VM bass guitar. I am not sure that I would say the same for a Sterling By Musicman S.U.B. 'RAY4 - even though they are manufactured in the same factory! (At the time of this writing, Duncan Designed does not produce a Stingray type pickup!!!)

*

The popular consensus is that the very best Squier bass guitars are the early Eighties JV Series. This could well be the case.

For the best balance between quality and value for money, hunt down the late Eighties Silver Series. Whack in American pickups and control electronics. Good to go.