Why is a Fender bass so much more than Squier? (And is it worth it?)

[@IceNinja2007]

Ironically, the Japanese made Fender's are some of the highest quality produced guitars in Fender's history.

[@whoohaaXL]

Thank you! Somebody knows where they're bloody talking about!

[@error404m]

My '97Japanese Jag is a beaut'

[@Sreven199]

Love my MIJ Fretless Fender Jazz Bass Special

[@chrischillax6245]

True I have japanese telecaster. Top notch.. American pro my ass

[@wesjett2008]

Yeah Fender Japan have been putting the US instruments to shame for a long ass time.

[@markwarrensprawson]

I've been doing repairs on strung musical instruments since I began my apprenticeship in 2002. (My prices still haven't changed since then.) Something worth mentioning and emphasizing is that the basses that come in at the higher price points do tend to have faaaaaarrrr better electronics. I can set almost any really cheap bass- give it a little fret dressing - and it'll probably play just as well as any Fender American Standard. The troubles people will have will often be most noticeable when it comes to the wiring, pots, capacitors, shielding and all of that jazz. That being said, I've sold loads of cheap basses to beginners along with a nice setup, new after-market pickups and a nice rewiring and in a lot of cases, those players have gone on to use those bases for years and years as backups or as that bass that one finished the set with and doesn't mind banging up a little bit. Those guys have ended up being really grateful to me. So that's a thing to remember, all you beginners out there, and all you who are looking for an instrument to take greater risks with and that. The luthier/decent guitar tech is your friend. But if you want a good guitar from the get-go, just go for broke and buy the bass that makes your special places tingle. But if you're not a Rockefeller and have a limited budget, or aren't sure how serious you are about playing the bass, look for a nice-looking cheaper bass and a decent tech. You'll find your way. You'll see.

[@schmaler68]

You're so damn right. I never had much money for instruments. Rockinger Bass handmade in Germany from 1986 (cost 1500DM=750Euro) I didn't have to do any neck or woodwork, the string action was as flat as a Marleaux bass, only the pickup wasn't that great and the active electronics still in their infancy, still my beloved bass for more than 30years...Thought if I bought a 1600Euro Ibanez bass it would be an equal replacement, but it's not. Had to finish the frets anyway. My Harley Benton is better off. You have to straighten and adjust it too, but 129 euros, plus homemade pickups and active electronics for 125 euros make it a cheap daily driver and I even use this fretless at gigs. The logo has been removed, nobody has said it's bad yet...

[@TheTruthMatters1971]

I have one of these vintage vibe squires. Overall, pretty good. I put a set of Fender ‘74 jazz pups in it, and it made a world of difference. The quality of the sound rivals that of my +$2000 American Elite J. I wish I had known a guy like you to setup my first bass. Would have made a difference. I’ve learned to do my own setups, truss, saddle heights, intonation; but have yet to tackle fretwork. There are virtually no good luthiers in this area. I had to replace my bone nut when it snapped off a corner by the low B. Glad you are helping these new players out. Might be a big factor in them sticking with the instrument.

[@secallen]

Thank you for your helpful comment. I am going to get a Squier and upgrade it when I can.

[@DadPlaysBass]

I want a pbass but I don’t wanna spend over a thousand dollars on a fender. I just wanted to buy a squier and change the pickups and strings. Do you think that’s enough to sound as great and have the same feeling?

[@beornthebear.8220]

That makes sense. Thank you for doing an excellent job.

[@majormal1]

I have an Affinity Jazz bass in my home studio since 2005. It records great and nobody can ever tell I'm using a Squire.

[@johnwalsh9883]

I just kinda said same thing. Playing bass in a loud hard rock band nobody can hear any difference Even in these videos you see the difference is very marginal.

[@markdavis4754]

@@johnwalsh9883 True, Not just in a loud hard rock band. The only people that are closely listening are other bass players. And that may only be 5% of your audience, unless your playing at an open mic.

[@valk67]

That's correct for now. I also have a Squire P-Bass on the bench, always. The only important thing is that you can test such an instrument in peace and harmony in the shop, because orders are a risk when it comes to product distribution. Especially when it comes to electronics. It's worth replacing them with more valuable ones later anyway.

[@powerchord9342]

I picked up a used Squier Affinity PJ bass, put Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Precision and Jazz bass pickups in it and honestly it rips. Super versatile guitar. I may at some point upgrade the pots. But it would be more out of boredom (need to tinker) than necessity.

[@ramencurry6672]

Squire pickups sound great probably because the nature of bass pickups is that it’s easy to achieve a great sound. Unlike budget guitar pickups, they tend to sound mediocre unless you spend a little extra for an aftermarket pickup.

[@Bobby-wn5yr]

When I started building pickups this was the lesson I really learnt. The electric parts are far better on the higher end basses. But… only a small part of it is actually the cost of those components. Once you start building pickups in particular you realise pretty fast the price difference between a squire pickup and an American elite pickup or whatever is pretty small. Sure you can get custom shop parts that cost a bit more because they use old old parts not made in volume anymore … and that have no effect on tone, but actually the cost of winding your own pickups that transform a squire is pretty small. People would definitely be happy to pay that difference. Then it hits you. Sure they’re nickel and diming on pots and resisters too, but actually these are super simple circuits and a lot of what they sell you on makes NO difference to tone. They are saving a couple of bucks, but actually the sound is worse purely because they must be, because if a squire sounded like an am pro 2 (which it easily could for only a couple of dollars more), less people would buy an am pro 2.

[@Daddy53751]

100% nail on the head there! As a guy who builds and mods, “paying for the name” is a real thing, although there’s a ton of people who’ll argue that all day long.

[@FrankCadek]

My question is how does my neck through Carvin compared to the Fender Jazz Bass how how do you think it would compare thank you I appreciate your time

[@Daddy53751]

@@FrankCadek Bobby is totally correct about PU’s. (Naturally active and passive are two totally different animals) Guitars and basses fall into the same business model as fishing equipment. The running joke there is “it’s designed to catch fishermen more so than fish”. I’ve owned a few neck thru instruments, and my brother actually owns a Carvin 5 string bass. It’s just a personal opinion of mine, and opinions vary wildly, But as far as specifically neck thru VS bolt on, I’ve never noticed any difference at all, other than maybe the tiniest bit of sustain. Number 1 thing is the neck has to feel good. Everything else to a large extent becomes minutiae. (Other than “it functions”, and $1 pots vs. $5 pots) Same thing with string thru body. I’ve done some experimenting with the cheapest Chinese eBay PU’s, wax potting and experimenting around with magnets, and you can get these ultra crappy PUs sounding just great, for about 1 100th of the price of a lot of the ultra high end jobs. IMO, your sound is almost completely dependent on your amp and effects, with the towering caveat of YOU. Great example of what I mean is Geddy Lee. You can have your GL American made signature model bass, and all his signature equipment, but unless your right hand attacks the strings in the way he does it won’t sound like him, even if his equipment emulates his sound to a good extent. I’ve often said that even if I had a $20’000. Carl Thompson bass, I’d still just sound like me.😂

[@Johny9405]

@@Daddy53751 Nailed it. The base can be buit of the most premium premium materials but it won't make you a guitar or bass god. that depends on you, the musician.

[@Wingman52]

I'm an old guy and have been playing guitar seriously since the late 1960s. At that time all the guys I knew playing in all the bands I saw were playing Gibson SGs, 335s and Les Pauls so that's what I wanted. I bought a used Gibson ES-335 at a little local music store that sold cassette decks, cheap stereo systems, guitar strings, etc., and a few guitars. I bought the guitar in 1970 (it's a 1967) for $225 dollars which was a fortune to me (list price at the time was a little more than 2x that). I had to get a loan from a bank to pay for it and I remember the payments were $18 a month for 12 months. I told my Dad that it was a guitar that could last me a lifetime and I could use it for any kind of music, so with some reluctance he co-signed the loan for me. I wasn't lying! I'm 71 years old now and still have that guitar. Today, it's worth in the vicinity of $7000 - $8000 maybe, and I still think it's an incredible guitar, and after 53 years of use it is a true relic. So... if you can, buy the Fender.... used, and when you're an old man you'll be glad you did.

[@bassboi5052]

Just bought a used fender jazz bass for $650. Asking price was $850. It's the most expensive bass i got and it plays amazingly. I prefer active and it's passive but it was totally worth it and im glad i have it in my aersenal

[@Wingman52]

Good for you.. I hope you enjoy it. I have a Fender Jazz bass too that I bought new about 20 years ago. I ordered it from Wildwood guitars which at the time was about a mile and a half from my house, 1 piece ash body, in 2 tone sunburst. It's a keeper. Good luck with your latest addition.

[@bassboi5052]

@@Wingman52thank you! i definitely am glad i got it

[@bookerbosq]

The investment aspect is often overlooked

[@grannydeen1586]

I'm an old man, too. The way you described it, it sounds like we shopped at the same store in the early 70's. Actually got my first bass and little amp at Jamesway in probably 1969. Tough to play but I practiced until my fingertips were like leather. My next bass was a Silvertone copy of the Beatle bass along with a Wards stack with 15" Jensen's. Then I graduated to a Ventura, Fender Precision copy and a Carvin FH1400. Divorced, needed money, sold it all. Wish I still had the Ventura and Carvin. Want to play again but it's been 40 plus years.

[@jorgewolynski9125]

Been playing bass for over 23 years. For 21 of those I invested more heavily in my rig/effects/recording equipment. I basically never owned a bass with a list price higher than $400. For the most part I never had an issue. I bought a Squire jazz bass in 2013 using my employee discount for $99. My only complaint was that the electronics were garbage. The tone was ok, but definitely didn't measure up to the classic Fender tone and it made a horrible popping noise if I plucked it too hard. I couldn't use it in a professional setting for this reason. I ended up buying Fender 60's custom shop jazz pickups for $120, new control plate and replaced them on my Squire. Holy hell! it was night and day. Turned my cheapo bass into a $1500 sounding bass. How do I know this? I got a nice bonus this year and given we saved a ton of money during Covid lockdown I decided to treat myself for my birthday. I felt I deserved a nice quality bass for once after 23 years. I purchased a $1500 American Jazz bass. While it feels a little more solidly built than my modified Squire, I can't say I hear a difference in the sound quality. The tone is a bit warmer on my Squire due to the nature of the Fender pickups I installed, but they both sound very comparable. I use my Fender mostly on settings where there's a high expectation of professional sounding in the recording (so in other words the Fender brand is mostly for show). I use them interchanbly in my own recordings and I sometimes forget which is which. If you are a seasoned player and you have expectations set upon you, then the appearance of a $1500 Fender bass helps, if anything to keep appearances and for credibility. "You can't tell me you are not sure about the bass tone because it's a high end Fender bass guitar, with brand new strings recorded through DI with your cables using the control knob settings you asked for. You can't expect a better Fender Jazz sounding tone." Some people will look at the brand and make up their mind about it before they even hear it. For all other practical purposes, I would advise buying a middle tier Squire and upgrading the pickups. You'll have a great sounding/feeling bass that objectively you can't go wrong with. That won't do much for external perceptions in some situations but you'll be personally satisfied every time for cents on the dollar.

[@arthurverlaine6434]

Bro thanks for this. I kinda already knew it because I tried different basses and had the same experience with a not awsome guitar. After I bought the TV Jones humbucker sounded killer, amazing. Btw I have a bass that needs a bit of "adjustments" by a luthier. (No less than 150€ in my opinion) Plus I need to buy a pickup/humbucker for it because the one on it sucks and is miscellaneous one (Only one slot). I was thinking of some seymour duncans recreating Music Man or Hofner signle pickups. Even if I would like more of a Precision/Rickenbacker type of sound, but they both have two pickups which wouldn't fit in the bass. Would it be crazy to buy just the neck pick up of the Rickenbacker by seymour duncan? Or it would be wiser to buy a miscellaneous one like Hofner or Music Man? I was very curious by experimenting the neck rickenbacker, but at this point I would like to spend money wisely. ANY ADVICE?

[@copperfish543]

You know I always thought what were to happen if a car company in Japan made a carbon copy of a Porsche 9-11, and had the name plate have the Porsche design. But have the cost 1/3rd less. People would buy them but many would always feel that it still isn’t a Porsche. I see people that get Harley Davidson knockoffs. They look and sound the same (to me) but I know a guy that bought one. He rode it for 6 months and sold it and bought a HD with the same color.

[@Doped_out]

Lol i used the fake stingray , the sterling sub by musicman and finally i got my original musicman stingray and i can say you just saying bullshit lol the stingray original its just perfect

[@TheMemo659]

@@Doped_out You are missing the part in your story where you replaced the electronics in your sterling. The stock pickups in Squires/Sterlings/Epiphones/etc are always a weakness. Upgrading electronics on a cheap bass makes it no longer sound like a cheap bass. Now, if it played like shit, it still will... but there are LOTS of amazing to play cheap bases. My #1 to this day cost me $350 in 89. My American Jazz is gorgeous, sounds and plays amazing, and did not become my #1 like expected. My old bass just plays and sounds better. Nothing wrong with being proud of your new bass, but dismissing what OP said without even understanding what they said is derpy AF.

[@AKAxeMan]

My first bass was a squier p-bass that i bought in 2003. The electronics are failing which is probably due to lose solder joints. I plan on upgrading it similar to how you did, but i just bought a Rickenbacker 4003 so I've been playing with that exclusively. I'll fix up by old bass eventually.

[@untensil]

I bought my USA standard jazz about 9 years ago. I paid a lot for it but I knew I would never need to buy a better bass again. It has stood the test of time so far perfectly.

[@cliffords2315]

my 99 USA Jazz Bass is still in perfect shape, i did upgrade to Seymor Duncan pickups but thats all.

[@Djole_NS246]

@@cliffords2315 You just confirmed that buying expensive big-name instrument is not "satisfaction guaranteed". If Fender made instrument were perfect, one never need to replace anything. Big name instrument are sooo overpriced.

[@poopoppy]

Yeah I just bought an American Professional as my first Bass. I would rather just buy something once, and have it for life.

[@Beef5]

​@djolemadzarevic no. He just confirmed he wanted different pick ups. It's not difficult to understand. And his bass will increase in value greatly while a cheap one will always remain cheap.

[@kcapkcans]

I was watching and thinking in terms of the actual value adding features, what would it cost to recreate the tangible benefits of the US bass. So, basically, the bridge, the tuners, the pickups/electronics. I paid about $40 USD for a Hipshot high mass bridge. A shot in the dark on tuners would be about $60 USD (Give or take). New pickups/electronics, $150 USD. Rolling fretboard and dressing frets is free if you have the tools. So, we're talking $250 USD to get really close with an Affinity. Hell, if you're that bothered, a waterslide of the headstock branding is about $12 USD on eBay (don't do that). Great video, and you just saved me hundreds of dollars!

[@colin_a]

Only a personal finding on this, but I have a Mexican Fender Jazz Bass..., and I found that replacing the standard bridge with a Badass, made an enormous difference... It was like night and day. Much brighter, more sustain, and just a very worthwhile upgrade to the bass. Just my take on it..

[@macplayerspecial]

Brighter??? What do you mean by that? A bass needs to sound like a bassguitar in my humble opinion. Except when you play metal I can see what you mean. I don't like sustain either, cause I still see bassguitar somewhat as a electric version of a upright bassguitar.

[@sclapple3192]

probably means more punchy sound/more mids@@macplayerspecial

[@Daddy53751]

I actually like the Hipshot bridges better than the Badass, as I like the ability to change the saddle pieces to other materials which gives you some tonal options, and string spacing adjustability. Not to mention, a much better price.

[@hypnodelica]

I switched out the factory pickups on my Mexican Fender Jazz to Seymour Duncan Antiquity II pickups and that made a massive difference

[@RoyCousins]

A good well considered review. It's always interesting to see comparisons between "original" and "replica" basses. I have a Squier Vintage Modified Precision PJ (made by Cort in Indonesia). Apart from the slightly dodgy machine heads, it's a good quality instrument and only cost around £300 in 2017. The Fender American PJ equivalent is at least 4 times the price.

[@pipkins1972]

For me, having owned Squier & Fender guitars, i only have Squier guitars & basses now. I'm no professional but have played guitars for over 35 years. There was a point when having Fender on the headstock was very important to me. Not anymore. Squier knock out some amazing guitars and basses.

[@RinaldoJonathan]

isn't Squier actually owned by Fender?

[@pipkins1972]

@@RinaldoJonathan they are

[@dcuss7294]

For the last 15 years or so, I've been into 7-string guitars. Fender doesn't make one, but Squire does.

[@treeherder2201]

Same...I own an Ibanez, an EBMM Stingray, a Squier, and a Fender P bass. I still gig with with my Squier. Nothing at ALL wrong with those basses.

[@thatoneguy9437]

Adam T - me too... I used to care, and I've had US and Japan Fenders... now it's Squier Vintage Modified... my VM Jazz had an amazing neck, fairly light and balanced, sounds amazing... all I need.

[@johnwelch557]

I have a 5 string Affinity bass since 2007. Gigs, recording, etc. No issues with sound or playability. Excellent bass. Mine came with nice tuners. I rolled the edges years ago. Easy work. Have no desire to change. Thanks!

[@betterwithrum]

yeah same my Affinity has really nice tuners as well.

[@voornaam3191]

What does "rolled the edges" mean? English and Enigma are the same. A bass has lots of edges, you know. It could be anything!

[@johnwelch557]

@@voornaam3191 Hi Voor, Sorry this is 1 yr late. "Rolled edge" is slightly rounding the transition of the fretboard edges at the top sides of the fretboard that transition into the sides of the neck. This gives a more comfortable thumb and inner fingers feel while playing. There are many tutorials on YT. One must be sure there is ample fret and board remaining before beginning. Thanks!

[@johnniedelong9322]

Your the first person to ever explain the cost to valve and backed it up with a chart. Super vid...

[@johnniedelong9322]

@@Peter-ff1tp thanks for the kind words

[@ramencurry6672]

I don’t think he mentioned the primary reason. Squires are low in price because it’s not made by Fender. Squires are made by Cort guitars. So your buying a Cort guitar with Fender’s permission

[@jan-ovepedersen5764]

Thank you for the video. I'm a bass player, been for 30+ years. I own 4 basses that I regularly play. Among those I own 2 made in Japan Jazz Basses. My first bass, which I bought used from a family member for 40 GBP, is a Kasuga JB from 1979, only 600 were made at Hoshino Gakki in 1978-1979. The other one is an Ibanez silver series JB from 1977 also produced by Hoshino Gakki, this one I got for free from another family member. Both basses are bone stock still, and they sound absolutely great. I have played Fender JBs and there is no difference in quality over the Japan made JBs IMO. A good setup and the Japanese JBs sounds absolutely great. I will never sell them as they mean a lot to me, and there you have it. The name on the headstock doesn't mean anything to me, only what the instrument feel like playing and the sound it produces thru my Ashdown rig and pedals. I also own two new Ibanez SDGR 5 and 6 string basses with active electronics for the more modern sound they produce, they play great but they sound very different from the JBs.

[@charlesmcgehee3227]

Lower cost instruments are getting better as the years pass. Manufacturers, regardless of where they are located, are really producing fine stuff. Liked your Apple example. Nice production.

[@paulblack3608]

I have a lefty, Fender made in mexico jbass bought used 10 years ago. Played nearly every day, and is still amazing. I have done nothing to it and it is fantastic. Holds tune forever and just works. 300 bucks with the case in the local pawn shop which was a hard sell for them due to being a lefty model. Best 300 I ever spent.

[@bert_buikema]

Interesting comparison, very credible reasoning, and of course your personal view. Great video. Personally I prefer to have fun with four or five cheaper basses instead of spending their combined cost on one USA Fender. Everybody should do what they like best.

[@garywillacey9979]

@@Ryzanu You can still get good quality in a cheaper bass, Vintage Modified, Classic Vibe. These are robust, you can gig with them no problem. I can't fault anyone who wants a very high quality bass, but I do think that the difference in quality is any way reflected the same as the price. Give me a few good quality budget basses over one overly priced American Pro Series. It's a personal choice, such as yours.

[@stephenhookings1985]

@@garywillacey9979 particularly when you learn to set up guitars and basses. Sometimes I wish Fender would see a Classic Vibe kit guitar - but neck/body. Let me buy my own pickups and hardware.

[@MrMOGHammer]

I really like my squier affinity , and it does have the Fender name in small print on the headstock. Without the price tag coming from branding, case, and maybe quality (one that can be improved if you know what you're doing)

[@MrChopsticktech]

@@Ryzanu That is a fine attitude until something happens to your only bass.

[@tjsogmc]

If you have the skills to do a setup on the bass yourself, then buying a lower cost instrument makes sense. More often than not the price difference between expensive and cheap basses is not the materials, but the time it takes to correctly assemble them and then attend to the details of a proper setup.

[@TubeRJF]

I have a used Chinese Squire bass I bought for $100. Plays friggin' great. Stays in tune. Paint job is great. The pick ups are a little weak compared to an American P Bass but you could always swap those out if you really notice a big difference.

[@ThatFilmisGnarly]

quality of the products are fine. its the quality of the working conditions for the employees you gotta worry about. the standard of living for factory workers in china is LOW. the pay is LOW even compared to their own national averages. the hours are LONG. if you dont want to support corporations exploiting 2nd and 3rd world labor, save up for an American/European/Japanese made guitar.

[@cejpta4789]

@@ThatFilmisGnarly words.

[@lenonel3286]

​@@ThatFilmisGnarlyso... I can give the company exploiting cheap chinese labour $200, or I can choose to not support them by giving them $1200? It's the same company at the end of the day

[@Weird_Old_Uncle_Kenny]

The bass I currently own was given to me in a trade, where I traded 2 guitars with an old friend for 2 different guitars. In my end of the deal, one was a 1990s Left-handed Squier "P-Bass Special" (P/J) made in Indonesia, strung "Righty" and flipped over, looking like Hendrix's Strat. I was really interested in the other guitar I got, I thought this was a joke, a novelty, never even plugged it in for at least a couple years. The previous owner had removed all the pots and wired it "wide open", which is the way he normally plays anyway, because with it flipped over, they got in the way of his right hand while playing. Eventually I dragged it out, and I installed new CTS pots and wired it back up, volume/volume/tone. The first time I plugged it in, I was struck by how GOOD it sounded. Incredible tone. With the split "P" pickup still essentially inverted, it lends a distinctive sound. Blended with the "J" pickup at the bridge, even better. The neck feels and plays great, just a tiny tweak on the truss rod got the playability superb. Sitting down with it, I certainly experienced issues with my right hand interfering with the controls while playing, but standing up with a strap, that became a non-issue for me. With the strap button now on what was the lower horn, it makes the neck protrude away for a slightly longer reach with the left hand, but I quickly got used to that by playing it a little more vertical, which also helps me avoid screwing up the controls. Now, there's another "bonus". He had sanded off the Squier decals on the headstock, and replaced them with counterfeit "Fender" logo and "Made in U.S.A." decals, and a Fender Custom Shop logo on the back of he headstock. He didn't do this to cheat a "customer", he did it only to "show off" on stage at gigs, and he disclosed it fully to me before the trade. But that's why I'll never sell it, because some yahoo will try to pass it off as "genuine" and rip off some poor soul. I use it for recording, and I LOVE it!

[@MrDaneBrammage]

The interesting thing is when you can see them realize they've made a mistake. Such as the hugely popular Squier VM 5-string Precision, which they discontinued when it became clear that it was cannibalizing sales from the much more expensive Fender-branded basses.

[@hankrogacki8356]

With a good set up a 2x4 will play fantastic. Look I love the classics but enough is enough. Like much of the current labor cost vs quality US workers are wtf below many other countries.. It boils down to your choice.

[@thomaspaine6496]

I bought a Mexican Telecaster with 3 pickups. I don't think there's an American that can challenge it. They took that puppy off the market real quick.

[@thomasfarmer1730]

The 5 string Squire I bought years is tuff as nails and still plays well,it has active pickups and a hi-mass bridge which is how I purchased it.

[@Alifesalife]

Is it the all black one?

[@thomasfarmer1730]

JT58 nope...white pick guard with these straight square black pick ups

[@hcmao2]

Excellent video! I have an Affinity Squier and I'm very happy when I see content like this, as Affinity is unfortunately very underrated. Here in Brazil, unfortunately, even the entrance basses are extremely expensive, so getting a new Affinity was something amazing for me! For you to have a reference: the minimum wage in Brazil is R$1100 (equivalent to US$212). A new Affinity costs around R$2800 (US$540). A new Fender American Professional costs R$16000 (U$3085)! The price is 15x the Brazilian minimum wage! Unfortunately here in Brazil, instrument is a lux item. So I'm still very happy to have a Squier Affinity. And even happier to see with this video that, no doubt, it's a bass that's worth it, especially for those who want a Fender and can't have it.

[@JulesGuitar]

Thanks for the alternative perspective. Very easy for people with access to high end guitars to criticise cheaper guitars as poor quality. But I’m certain anyone decent player will sound good with an affinity.

[@AbsurdistAsian]

I feel you! Ugh third world countries and their super weak buying power, I come from the third world as well so I can relate. Even the Affinity is expensive where I come from... hearing ppl say "just buy a standard Fender, it is only SLIGHTLY more expensive" but where I come from the price jump is crazy high.. basically months of minimum wage salary

[@viciousdope66]

Just curious, but, couldn’t you guys in the Third world order online? For instance, using Reverb, you could order a used Mexican Fender bass and it would essentially be cheaper than a new Affinity bass in your country. I’m just curious if it’s hard to get instruments shipped in, or if they slap on extra taxes?

[@MrMatts99]

@@viciousdope66 taxes screw you over big time, it sucks

[@AbsurdistAsian]

@@viciousdope66 the tax and shipping fee would be crazy high that it won't be worth it. there's also a slight price increase than its original USD price (after currency conversion and before tax). thats just how it is my friend. lower pay and weaker currency vs increased price. I'll be sticking with my affinity and rumble 15 for a while, but I do hope to upgrade to a "standard" gear someday

[@lustforlow-end6022]

I’ve had a Squier Affinity J bass for around 5 years now & it’s never let me down. It sounds good & is very well made. It cost me €300 with a 15 watt amp. Being “well made” is quite subjective at this price though. I’ve come across other basses which were more expensive than mine & had sharp fret ends & problems with the electronics etc. Definitely try before you buy if possible 👍

[@rothloaf1980]

I have an Affinity. Notes below A on the e-string sounded less rich, kinda flatwound sounding but I cured that with the cheapest heavy bridge I found on Amazon. It's no beauty in looks, but it's a great playing/sounding instrument.

[@Curtybob]

I picked up an Affinity P for $100. Put in a $50 tonerider pickup, $25 wiring and pots, $25 bridge, and spend some time and effort on the neck and installing shielding. Nicest playing 4 string I have. I'd put it up against any USA Fender. It may not whoop 'em due to subjectivity, but it would absolutely impress the most die hard Fender purist.

[@EvilSean62]

@@Curtybob totally ... i bought a squier wildkat ... plays well , sounds awful i bought a squier bass V ... set up was abysmal took me some time with a dremel ... is now amazing bought me a classic vibe telecaster in the white ..ish finish ( it looks like white chocolate thinly coating the wood and is fantastic ) best sounding / playing tele i have ever touched including some embarrasingly 'spensive stuff my crown jewel is the classic vibe strat ... i tried ALL the strats ...ALL!!!! after i got it home and set it up properly i went out and bought a Roland GR-55 GK pickup and routed out the scrathplate to fit ... yes i have the synth :) OMG its the perfect fit as far as dynamics go ... the input level is even across the board ...didnt have to tweak the input sens apart from the G was alittle high but i fixed that with a balanced set of strings ... it is quite simply out of this world !!! and played clean is stupid good ...the frets needed edge dressing and i tightened the truss rod a little as i like a low action but that was it

[@mauriciosierra8523]

​ @Gary Willacey Absolutely. I agree with you 100%. Both basses serves their function very well. And yes, there'll always be that one guitarist/bassist snob acting like they know better but really not, I know I've met some myself. I believe you have to be sort of a connoisseur to know what you're looking for. So for someone to really buy that expensive Fender should have a fairly reasonable explanation, or just an outright squanderer but at least be honest about it.

[@rothloaf1980]

@@mauriciosierra8523 An early Les Paul was basically a necked and fretted 4×4 post and I bet Les played TH out of it. We buy necks and frets and pickups with optional farkles and sparkles, usually marketed at our perception of what makes a "musician." Musician can make any POS sing...

[@bobt5778]

Thanks for emphasizing durability. Few reviewers even mention it. Compare the control cavities on these two and you may find some scary differences. Dull solder joints, wires cut half way through from the stripping step, dinky potentiometers. Stuff that won't hold up to the rigors of gigging, with all the bangs and bumps that go with it. You'll pay big bucks for a road worn Fender, but you won't find many road worn Squiers (not stock anyway).

[@petegaslondon]

I think I'd rather save a grand and get the soldering iron out, personally! (But hey, I always end up putting my own electronics in - I have a few lil secrets ;) )

[@bernardjharmsen304]

Squiers are fantastic value, no doubt. But they will require more maintenance. eg, input jacks become sloppy, tuners become imprecise. Cheaper components as a result of cutting costs of manufacture.

[@bepitan]

i have the jazz classic vibe ...and quite a few other basses well over ten times more in price...i was pleasantly surprised at how good the vibe held its own, i bought it as a cheap throwaway for practice during lockdown fully expecting to sell it on but i still have it, there is something about an instrument that you don't have to worry about dropping in the studio that still plays great, i love it.

[@edwarddelbar]

Back in 1997 I bought my first “real” bass….in my mind it was a choice between two… an American Jazz, or an American Precision. I chose the Jazz. $795 US. About 1350 British pounds at the time. I’ve replaced one tuner, and had one LCP done in 24 years. It is my absolute favorite bass to play, and has a sound that I can not duplicate with any other bass that I own.

[@SloopyJohnG]

The exchange rate ($->£) that you've used is wrong. The US dollar has never been worth more than £UK1.

[@MickMod]

@@SloopyJohnG Could also be different due to prices usually being higher here in Europe, or he just mixed up the currencies.

[@EvilSean62]

@@MickMod i have frequently seen the price the same $ to £ so a $1000 costs £1000 im almost certain nobody with fender shares finds this a problem but then ... making $£$£$£ for your shareholders is what made privatised industries like the UK railways fall down and cant get back up plz help also the banks .. casinos for the over priveledged ... bailed out by the gov. our money . come on !! if i went to the races and bet large ( 35 billion) on a squirrel to win and it lost ... i dont think there is a hope in hell that my bet would get wiped the banking system ...the guys that take your house and foreclose and offer loans etc .. THOSE are the guys that got bailed out with tax money ??? not the nice guys ... the assholes ...they invented a new thing ... the reset !!! ...come on man ...wouldnt everyone like at least one of those ....i have done stuff im not proud of and a reset sounds ...to use the american ... "peachy" to get back to the point ( thank you for your patience and YAY ... you made it to the end of part 1 of my rant ( apologies for making you read all this ... also the irony of you having to read the apology is NOT lost on me ) i agree ... but also might be a scam i could have just typed that but i thought you would like to burn your mortal candle in discourse rather than simple statements of opinion also your name ... is that a beach boys thing ?

[@galetinm]

@@MickMod I think that he just doesn't know how to calculate the exchange rate

[@kierans1159]

@@SloopyJohnG 1350 USD £795 is more likely

[@ThatOtherMikeyGuy]

Interesting, useful,, level-headed approach. I'm not a bass player but enough of the content applies to guitars generally to keep me watching to the end.

[@andyhbassman]

Hi Jules - a terrific informed analysis. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I sense. I have a 1967 Fender Jazz bass that I purchased second-hand with my first paycheque in 1978. I replaced the original bridge, as the grub/Allen screws kept collapsing on me, with a Schaller bridge, and never looked back. I was also fortunate to have received, as a birthday present, a Squier short scale Jaguar bass - 2019 model. My word - that Squier Jaguar surprised me in all the right ways. The sound and richness of the tone is beautiful - and for the gigging musician - it is significantly lighter than my '67 Fender Jazz. It feels completely different - I prefer the long-scale Jazz in that regard (probably through decades of familiarity), but I have not been able to knock the Squier in terms of delivering a rich sound and doing what I want it to do. It continues to surprise me.

[@fredcowles3299]

I have two US Fenders, a pj and a j, recently added a squire contemporary p, very nice! The only real difference is the quality of the finish and the quality of the components, tuners, knobs, etc. They all sound great! I’d have no problem recommending squires now.

[@josephmiller997]

Absolutely brilliant breakdown. Thanks. It comes down to how much loot you have available. If you're loaded, you might prefer the posh bass. If you're tight, the Squier works just fine.

[@acemechanical275]

The squire classic vibe series is all you need. The ‘70s jazz bass, telecaster custom, ‘50s telecaster, ‘50s and ‘60s strats are all great guitars.

[@TommyWashow]

got one of the 60s esquires a few months back played better than every other tele in the store

[@frankvozak7280]

This is a great presentation . When I was young I owned a 67 Jazz Bass, a 67 Fender Mustang Bass and a Gibson EB-O. When I went into the Army I began selling off basses eventually being bassless. When I retired at age 67 I decided to go back to playing bass so of course I returned to Fender but being a retiree I bought a Squier. I started with a Squier PJ Precission and after a set up it played really well but a 34 inch neck was hard for me to play fingering exercises so I bought a Squier CV Jaguar Bass and then the new Squier Precission Junior and since I play regularly with an acoustic band I bought a Fender CB-60. My biggest problem I think is that both the mail order and the local Fender dealer really did not do a great job with setup so in many ways the mailrorder basses and local Fender dealer basses felt less good than my trio of 67's did----I think it was more the quality of the luthier than perhaps the basses itself. I agree with you that tapewound strings really are a pleasaure though I remain with the string that came on the basses to save money. I think your comparrison format is the best that I have seen and would be an excellent one for someone deciding at which Fender price point to buy. My big surprise was my Squier Mini Precision which came just about perfect from the factory

[@someonebald2022]

Did you ever consider the Squier VI six string bass? 30" neck and guitar tuning, but an octave lower. However, the OE strings are not heavy enough so you'd need to replace them with something a little more beefy.

[@lahondafolk4334]

Wow, you had a long break from playing.

[@josiptomic9077]

Š

[@petersage5157]

Regarding the feel of the neck, a few minutes with a sanding block on the edges of the fingerboard and a ball of 000 steel wool on the back will bring the Squier on par with the Fender. Darrell Braun has done videos about doing this kind of thing, and it's worked a treat on my Chinesium Strat copy. Only caveat is you need to make sure not to get any steel wool dust on the strings or pickups.

[@copperfish543]

Yea but put lipstick on a Pig and what do you have?

[@yellowcat1310]

chinesium, lmao you must watch that guy who does power tool reviews.

[@petersage5157]

@@copperfish543 Well, since you had to drag Gibson guitars into this discussion, you have an overpriced Epiphone that probably won't play and sound as good as its shaffordable counterpart.

[@richardrichard5409]

You could buy a US Custom and still need to dress the frets. Fret sprout comes with new basses and, they all need a proper set up to get them up on their toes, end of.

[@davetheimpaler204]

@@copperfish543 You have a well-playing instrument to play music instead of paying for an expensive showpiece that you probably don't need unless you're a professional musician.

[@nohandleforme....]

I own a Squire Music Master guitar. I upgraded the bridge, the tuners, and the nut. Now it is one of my favorite guitars, and it sounds and plays awesome!

[@loumutt7899]

Great video Jules! Thanks for taking the time to be so thorough. When I was looking for my 1st bass, I considered the Affinity. They have gotten better since then, but back then, they were low quality, entry level instruments that if it didn't work out, would make a nice wall hanger. I opted instead for a Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass. Cool name and cool look! Not exactly the best criteria for choosing a bass. I didn't know that there was a P bass, a J bass or PJ Bass. I bought it because of the Fender name but I didn't want to drop $1200+ on something I wasn't sure I was going to keep up at. I came across a real good opportunity to buy a Fender American Special Jazz bass. It was a demo, and I bought it for $400! I played it for a few months, and honestly, I liked the feel on the Squier better than the Fender. I sold the Fender American Special for $900. About a year later bought a Marcus Miller Signature (made in the USA). I was on top of the world! I have used my Squier as my go to and have gotten loads of compliments on the tone. And let me tell you, it can sustain a note! I put flat wounds on it and it made it just that much better. So where is my Squier? On my bass stand so I can look at it and play it whenever I want! Where is the Marcus Miller? In the case, and only use it about 10 times a year. No argument, the Marcus Miller is a better bass in every respect and when you kick in the active electronics, it's a different and much better world! But there is a lot of truth in that you never forget your first! I will never get rid of my Squier. I wouldn't have a problem selling my Marcus Miller.....eventually! 🙂

[@johnvrabec9747]

One way to make a less expensive guitar (or ANY guitar, for that matter) play better is a good set up - neck relief, string height and intonation. For minimal $ investment, get some better pickups and strings, and it will sound really great.

[@gioigeniale6711]

I would say, as for an Amp the speaker defines the sound quality, for a guitar /bass the pu defines the quality of the sound. - But with lousy guitar and trashy PUs you can get really cool sounds. ,

[@SilverPaladin]

Better yet, learn to do it yourself! I have purchased a lot of guitars, and when they come home with me I take them apart, clean them, polish them, adjust the neck, new strings, intonation, string height. They always feel amazing after, even the cheapo $150 LPJ lol! It is a great hobby.

[@tjsogmc]

I agree. A part of the cost is labor at the factory. A more expensive bass will have a luthier do a proper setup before it gets shipped out the door. A cheaper bass will often leave that labor intensive step up to the retailers or customers in order to sell it cheaper. But are you really going to save money on it if you have to spend $200 or $300 at the shop to get it playable? I've bought lots of good basses for dirt cheap because the setups were shit and the owners had no idea why the bass was a dog to play.

[@MrClassicmetal]

@@tjsogmc $300 for a setup???!!!😳

[@tjsogmc]

@@MrClassicmetal That's if they need to do a fret level, neck shim, or whatever. "worst case" scenario. That's if you can even find somebody that works on them in your local area. I think it's better to pay more up front and get a bass that is ready to play. There is nothing that will turn off a new player more than having an ax that isn't set up right and doesn't play properly. The new student doesn't have the knowledge to know what the problem is, so they conclude that music is too hard of a thing to learn. On the other hand, I've bought brand name basses for next to nothing because they weren't set up properly and I did the work myself. One or two hours on the bench and they were perfect.

[@pauls4742]

I've had lots of basses including Fenders both US and others. The nicest bass I had was a Mexican Jazz Bass - loved everything about it and gigged it for years. Wish I still had it.

[@daltonauto]

Weird I prefer my MIM precision over my USA and even my Sandberg tbh

[@toneyisaiah3556]

Did you sell it, Sir?

[@toneyisaiah3556]

I'm not a fan of Fender gear but I like the guitars mainly the early Stats and Teles.

[@toneyisaiah3556]

I'm a Gibson man.but I'm willing to try others name brand guitars.

[@xxparan01axx11]

Just bought a Mexican J bass and damn shes good!

[@diegoalejo15]

you´re absolutely right in everything! I´m from Argentina and here we all dream of having a Fender made in USA too, so I never thought of buying a Squier, I never even tested one! But recently I bought a 2001 PJ Indonesian Squier and it sounds amazing! I really don´t need a more expensive bass, certainly not for gigs and not even for recording where engineers do their magic and nobody can hear the difference if there is one.

[@richsackett3423]

You'd be astonished of the improvement of that instrument by putting a Fender American bridge (as seen in the video) on. It can also be top-loaded. You will feel the difference instantly and go, "Ohhhhhh. I had no idea".

[@diegoalejo15]

@@richsackett3423 cool thanks! what difference would I feel, a difference in sound?

[@richsackett3423]

​@@diegoalejo15 Feel first. On the stock bridge, the saddles are free to slide around. That's bad for feel and for sound. All aftermarket bridges have addressed this flaw. It will absolutely feel better and more solid. It will also make it sound more solid, with more attack. It's not about mass per se, but about material. Any cast bridge beats any chromed stamped steel bridge. That's just physics. The Fender American ones are nice. So are the Gotoh and the Babicz. Look for the two channels under each saddle. I have a Squier P in the other room I'm about to give the treatment to. If I was on a budget, I'd first go after the nut, the bridge, new genuine string tree button (that's where your G string dead spots live - check out the one on the high D!), machines (Hipshot's good for the money). Funny enough, the stock J pickups are not hardly different from the American ones. However, since you are doing some session work, the Fender Noiseless Jazz pickups are great. Voicing is indistinguishable from MIA single coils. I've had a couple sets over the years. Don't forget to use shielding tape inside the cavity. The paint they use hardly does anything at all.

[@danadane2501]

This is an excellent financial breakdown/cost analysis if I've ever seen one. I have to say the kind of money Fender is charging for their Mexican Made and U.S.A. made models are absurd. Especially in this day and age where there are countless lesser known companies that put out better instruments for way less.

[@mr.albro14yearsago11]

As a guitarist, the Squire sounds exquisite to my ears. Why waste money on a morally Fender when you can save money with a Squire of the same quality?

[@joeywilson5998]

And I just sand the squier name off the headstock on the day I buy it.

[@markward3730]

Excellent review. I just bought a squire affinity which is still in the box unopened. I’m picking up the base as a fifth instrument to write a symphony. This base will serve my needs. Thank you for your outstanding assessment.

[@chasing_dragons]

Thank you for this objective presentation. I have not owned a guitar in almost a decade. Long story. That Squier bass, even used and beat up would be a Godsend for me now and would baby it.

[@kijekuyo9494]

I am a former Fender Precision player, and after 16 years of stage performance, I finally sold it because I didn't like the ergonomics. I replaced it with a Squier Affinity J-Bass, and I love it. I am so happy I didn't spend more. The only reason I don't play my Affinity often is because I am now a convert to short scale basses, and I bought a Squier Jaguar SS.

[@Ndlanding]

Maybe your next move should be to ukelele?

[@kijekuyo9494]

@@Ndlanding Goldilocks tried the J-Bass, but the J-Bass was too big! She tried the Kala, and it was too small! Then she tried the Jaguar, SS and it was just right!

[@ZeroMod]

Meticulous presentation. As a player and builder for 45 years I really enjoy people like you taking the time to run down these ideas. CNC and global manufacturing had totally changed the game in "cheap vs" expensive". My first bass in 1973 was a Kay for $65 ($411 in today's dollars!)and it had toy pickups a baseball bat neck and sounded like dump....I own two 4003 Rics, a 78 Fender, a Kubicki Jazz and many others. I find so many affordable basses that kill once they have had a setup and maybe some minor upgrades. The BIG THING you get with paying more? Consistency ! The cheaper the bass - the more it becomes a "pick of the litter" thing. I went to a friend's shop to get an Epi EB3 and he let me try out all six he had in stock to pick one. The biggest variations are in the neck/fretwork on cheaper basses( one to another).

[@micktomazou]

I like most of what you said (especially about getting your gear set up properly) however I disagree about your point on consistency. Most guitar producers now have CNC machines and the variation in quality is getting harder and harder to spot. Go and buy a mid range Yamaha bass and you'll see that they build amazing basses which are up there with the best American made Fenders for less than half the money. Close your eyes and most people wouldn't know how much the bass they're playing costs. It's getting really hard to buy a bad "new bass" - even the rubbish is infinitely better than the mediocre stuff produced in the 70s and 80s. I've owned lots of high end basses - Ritter, Overwater, Wal - none have been leaps and bounds over mid range basses - you certainly don't get lots more for your money. You don't have to spend thousands to get a good bass today.

[@ZeroMod]

@@micktomazou We really overall agree here - the big difference that still exists is choice of wood. More expensive basses *should* be using much more seasoned choice pieces of wood. This is where "consistency" becomes a thing. An otherwise perfectly rendered bass from Indonesia may turn out to be a dog when that unseasoned neck wood declares itself a year later. The other area I see shortcomings still abound is in the fretwork quality. But most often can be brought up to standard with a dressing and working the fret ends.

[@progrocker84]

Phenomenal breakdown of the price difference and cost-benefit considerations.

[@ramencurry6672]

One of the reasons why Squire is cheaper is because it’s not made by Fender. Fender hires Cort (I think that’s the correct company) to make the guitars under their instructions. That makes a big difference in price. So you’re buying a Cort guitar with Fender’s permission basically

[@markvonwisco7369]

A couple of thoughts... 1. I started learning to play guitar in the early 80s. For the price, the Affinity series instruments are a upgrade in quality and playability, compared to most of the instruments I learned on. This was very noticeable when I began learning the bass in the early 2000s. 2. I'd be interested in seeing the same comparison done with the comparable Classic Vibe series bass. Finally, I agree with your conclusions on the relative quality and value of each instrument. There's something about the feel of a higher quality instrument that you recognize as soon as you start playing.

[@punkoid76]

The most important point is that spending more will not make anybody a better player, I’ve owned every level of bass and I make any sound good, it’s all in the fingers, as they say.

[@gioigeniale6711]

So it is. I can't sing better with a better microphone... If I sing lousy, the better micro will tell everyone how lousy I'm singing.

[@GrexKhusan]

Nor does it make the song any better... (if you write your own songs)

[@BassClefCity]

Agreed. A well experienced bassist will appreciate the finer appointments of a better built, more attention to detail, professionally crafted bass.

[@manomanomano79]

The most important point is that spending more will not make anybody a better player, I’ve owned every level of bass and I make any sound...... awful, it’s all in the fingers, as they say.

[@irwingca]

I agree most people won’t need a priced true vintage era bass but as a beginner player it does make a difference having a decent instrument to learn

[@rickcourier8451]

Good review. Either one will do good job. I played '63 Jazz bass for ages. I started getting more calls to play guitar. Recently I wanted to get back into bass playing. Picked up a new Squire for $129. It does everything I ask of it. I've never drawn my self esteem from name on the head stock. Some people do, it doesn't bother me.

[@Last_one_before_I_go]

I have a 2019 Squire Affinity P-Bass and a 2003 Fender Jazz. With the affinity, the hardware is a little more basic, but solid. Even with the lack of setup/intonation/quality fix (sharp fret ends not filed, paint issues at back), the Affinity was a GREAT buy. But I got the Jazz used with Seymore Duncans for a great deal at $875. It needed a partial re-fret ($250), but nothing more. It has a few dings, but VG condition. It plays a little better the neck profile is just a tad different. In summary, its a good horse race between the two, but yes, with the hotter pickups and slight neck differences the Jazz is probably 10-15% better player than the Affinity. The Affinity is maybe a pound lighter, thinner body. But Dollar for dollar value...Affinity wins - No shame ever in playing out with it. Enjoyed your review.

[@philosophicallyspeaking6463]

I've never been caused to say this 'ever' before...GREAT video: its honest, well-considered, measured, unbiased, accurate, well paced, and thorough. Most of all it sticks to the point and never becomes long-winded or self-aggrandizing. The audio samples were well played, well recorded, short, appropriate, and effectively edited together. That being the case, give Rickenbacker the same treatment relative to...Fender.

[@nerfnerfification]

When I was young (in the 60's) we were told 'buy American' the reason being the action and playability of US instruments was far better then contemporary European ones. Back in those day luthiers were few and far between which meant you took the instrument with it's action 'as is' and could not easily get it adjusted - although again Fender had built in adjustments that say Hofner lacked. Nowadays the story is totally different as you can get well built, adjusted, and adjustable instruments made in China PLUS there are people around who can set them up properly without charging an arm and a leg to do so. So the choice is yours - I have both and the US made stuff mostly stays home, the other goes to gigs.

[@pensnut08]

I have a Squire Jazz.. Added a Hipshot bridge and new Seymour Duncan PUPs and pots.. It sounds AMAZING. First time I recorded with it the studio engineer could not believe it was a Squire.

[@teuast]

Earlier this year I picked up a Yamaha TRBX605. This thing feels powerful. It's well-balanced, it's exquisitely crafted, every note, especially on the B string, feels like like I could be punching God, and it's got a versatility of tone like you wouldn't believe. Plus, the visible wood grain in the "natural" finish that I got it in is just stunning to look at. It was also $650.

[@error404m]

Not quite in the same league, but I got a Yamaha Pacifica for about 300 US dollars, to have a cheaper guitar for taking to places and letting the kids go wild on (to protect my Jaguar really) and it's a **fantastic** guitar.

[@teuast]

​@@error404m For real. Those Yamaha guitars are built for the road, even the cheap ones. Safe to say I'm a fan.

[@micktomazou]

I've got 4 Yamaha basses currently (two BBG5S) and they're as good as any Fender I've tried. Build quality from the factory is amazing and there's no need to swap out pick ups and wiring looms to get great tone. I'm convinced that the "F" on the headstock is merely the musical equivalent of "The Emperor's clothes".

[@deadpoinsettia]

My first bass was a Squier Jazz Bass. Had it for 20 years....in that time I also owned 3 different Fender Jazz Basses. Sold them all. Liked the Squier the most. :) I no longer have that Squier....have a Fender.... it's the first Fender Jazz Bass I ever loved. :)

[@murraypollard]

I had a Made in Mexico Strat, it cost me $300 in 1995. Everyone told me I need an American made one, and I decided to follow the advice and bought a 1997 Strat for $1,000. I could not tel the difference! After that waste of money I have stuck with guitars in the $400 - $500 range, and they are great! I bought an Epiphone Les Paul for $400, put on custom wound pickups from Performance Guitar (Hollywood, CA) and had them do a set up. Total investment was now $700. I would put this up against a $3,500 Gibson Les Paul any day.

[@ramencurry6672]

I own both Mexican and USA Strat, I prefer the Mexican because it’s a slightly ore comfortable neck. With proper maintenance a Mexican Strat is actually an A list instrument

[@scifiartman4974]

I grew up playing Fenders and Rics (got my first Ric at 16yo) an I must say I always enjoyed the respect these old basses received from my peers and opponents. Even at 17 all my gear as top-of-the-line (not from wealthy family, but from hard work, savings, and a good dose of luck), and that made ME look professional. And that image was worth something, then and looking back now. BUT, through the years I've found many lessor known basses that play and sound excellent, and have used such basses with total confidence I was putting my best sonic foot forward! So I say, don't get too caught-up in the name brand battle - get lost in your playing and craft and always play on instruments that are comfortable, reliable, and present a sound you are proud of! If you last in the music game there's plenty of time to snag those legendary instruments along the way. And never be afraid to buy "used" gear if you know what you're doing or have a close friend to make sure your investment is sound!

[@kerpoise]

There are SO many cognitive biases that reinforce people's belief that either a higher price, or a more well thought of brand is better. Choice Supportive bias, Post Purchase Rationalisation, Confirmation Bias, The Decoy Effect, Anchoring, Social Desirability Bias, Spotlight Effect...etc. We're constantly fighting human psychology when we've been drummed into us by friends, family, brands, marketing, idol, heroes that Fender is better than Squier, Gibson is better than Epiphone that we struggle to remain objective. Additionally to this when people talk about *FEELING* that a guitar is better, it's largely psychological between things like a Classic Vibe and a Player.

[@brucedeleon9505]

I wish we had a time machine to bring this guy back to the 50s. Today’s Squier may have been better than an American bass in the late 50s.

[@1joshjosh1]

I can sure say that about drums. I have seen some of the quote-unquote good stuff from the 50s. Can be a little rough sometimes unless it's absolute top end.

[@charbokh]

Specially the vintage modified series.

[@fredriksvard2603]

But now squier is competing against sterling, ibanez and harley benton etc, and fender against dingwalls and stuff.

[@kh884488]

Overall, manufacturing quality control has improved dramatically in recent decades. I have an Indonesian made Ibanez bass which is great. Had it been made with manufacturing quality controls of 30 years ago, it would likely have been terrible.

[@tannertuner]

Um, no. There’s no comparison in wood quality.

[@randallporter6841]

I completely agree with your assessment that the real value can only be known over time. I do think you under valued the case...a lot! I lost the case for my 76 p-bass in a hurricane a few years back. Its almost impossible to replace.

[@LouTufillaro]

Great video, absolutely nailed it. I have a $300 Mexican P bass, and a $2300 American P bass. Both Fenders. I love them both! Tones are a bit different, but they have their unique uses. The quality of the hardware on the American cannot be understated. The tuners are far superior. On the Mexican, the switches and input jack have all been replaced. That's one thing I would add to this video: cheap knobs and input jacks will have to be replaced eventually. They wear out much faster than the American made models.

[@nisselarson3227]

The only thing I would add to your presentation is that the RESALE value is different if you're buying and selling instruments and not just playing them yourself.

[@J--5]

100%. the only two reasons to buy a fender over a CV are 1: resale value and 2: to fulfill a dream of owning a fender, if you have such a dream. otherwise... CV and some upgraded tuners.

[@Direwoof]

squie affinities still go for a decent amount used. But also im a left handed so its really hard to find instruments for a good price -.- like I see two of teh same bass one RH and one LH and teh LH one costs like 80% more.

[@martijn_yt]

The resale value of the Fender obviously will be higher than that of the Squirer. The Squirer, you could probably resell for 100 pound , the Fender may be for 1000-1200 pound. That would mean that you would still only lose 100 pound on the Squier, while you would lose at least 300 pound on the Fender... Thus, also on resale value, the Squier is a better buy ;).

[@superxorn]

In absolut terms you'd lose more on the american.

[@JerryLeeHowell2]

@@Great-Documentaries The right instrument unfortunately does not exist.

[@johnpillow481]

Well-played! A pleasantly informative, rational comparison without any hyperbolic ranting. I own three of the Squier Vintage Modified series made in Indonesia and find them the equal if not superior to the MIM for electronics, especially. The 'Fender Made in USA' doesn't really mean much anymore excepting pre-CBS vintage instruments. Now those really add value ($$$$) ! Cheers from across the pond.

[@JulesGuitar]

Thanks, appreciate the feedback! Agree the old vintage mods punched above their weight.

[@johnpillow481]

As a postscript, I must say I recently had the chance to play a fretless American standard circa 2015 and I was impressed

[@ejor31]

Excellent video. This underscores the role of emotion in advertising and how the USA label holds such value. Fender is a global company whose business model sees players upgrade to the premium-and more profitable-product. That is not to say that non-USA Fenders , or Squier, are poor instruments. My own Mexican Classic '50s P Bass is of very high quality, period-authentic, very playable and sounds great. Its low price, relative to a USA Pro bass, is largely explained by wage differences between the USA and south of the border. At twice the price, though, the Pro has a few incremental improvements but is definitely not twice as good. Indeed, many players are using old vintage basses for decades with original components that are found on today's budget instruments-and are still going strong, my own 1966 Jazz Bass being a case in point!

[@MrClassicmetal]

That's very a good point, actually. Those vintage instruments _are_ kind of similar to the budget instruments today, quality wise. I never thought of that.

[@craigwillms61]

The same could be said for high-priced cars, right? They all get you from point A to point B. Would you rather have a Chevy or a BMW? One will cost you many $$$$ more than the other. Is it worth it?

[@BluegillGreg]

What's the difference between a Chevy and a BMW? The BMW's made in the USA.

[@craigwillms61]

​@@BluegillGreg touché

[@kenmorgan9470]

Well done. Agree with your analysis. Have a Squire CV but I don't play it whole lot so I think I made the right choice saving some bucks but also getting sufficient quality for my personal usage

[@martinreuter1060]

You're complete right. Last year I bought a mexican player precision bass, because I love the body-shaping of this serial. The neck was way to thin and sounded dead. I replaced it by a japanese allparts-neck and changed the cap to a 1uF Cap. Done!! It's so close to my 72 precision, witch is one of the better samples. My mex player now runs cicles around most pro and customshop p-basses. Thank you for this video!

[@LukeLendrum]

Let me start by saying this is a great video and a lot of people have made some very insightful comments about things like the ecological and ethical impacts of different country's manufacture practice and also the resale value of genuine Fender versus Squier. The areas I think you have missed are to do with comparing 1 example vs 1 counter example as opposed to a larger selection size. Having played many many many Fender basses of all vintages and labels I would observe the following: MIA Fenders tend to have the best timber quality which will directly affect weight, sustain and how well an instrument holds its tuning in varying weather conditions. Going down the line of MIM, MIJ, MII, MIC, etc I would say that the cheaper instruments tend to have younger immature timbers which have been grown rapidly and dried using an industrial process which does not yield the same tensile strength as naturally matured timbers which leads to a bendy neck. Fender USA (particularly for the custom shop) reserves the best timbers for its most expensive basses. Genuine vintage (particularly pre-CBS) Fenders are desirable for this reason in particular as the timbers they had access too then are much stiffer and resilient with the added benefit of getting both lighter and stronger as they age. This folds into my next observation which is to do with build quality across the different lines. It is an absolute fact that you can find a cheap Squier which is better than an MIA Fender. However the likelihood of encountering a gem decreases in the cheaper ranges and the likelihood of encountering a lemon increases immensely. Simply put, the consistency on more expensive instruments is part of the premium you pay. I'd comfortably order an MIA or MIJ Fender online without having played it, I would not for any other country. I would also like to add the observation that the longevity of the basses themselves is a huge factor that should be considered. Cheap parts deteriorate quickly. I have a lot of experience with Fenders Made-In-Indonesia Vintage Modified Squier series which I still say is the best bass you can buy in its bracket (although that may have changed in recent years. It should be observed that the nuts are cheap plastic which can break under tension (happened to a student), the bridge saddles were not metal but coated plastic and complete crap, the pickups (though Duncan designed) were badly shielded and noisy. However, if you have a good neck you can replace almost everything else quite cheaply and end up with a cracker of a bass.

[@t.m.1502]

I have a couple of MiJ Fender Aerodynes and an MiM Fender Jaguar Bass. Those have been great so far. The made in Indonesia Squier Affinity J that I started on, I still have and it plays decently enough. I've yet to get rid of it since it's my first bass and I'm sort of emotionally attached to it. I've also kept my Squier Jaguar since it's the first bass I've had slightly customized (sling stud behind the neck), so I'm also attached to that one since it's the first bass I had adjusted to me.

[@scottfrommaryland7658]

As a bass and guitar player I think the differences on higher end guitars are much more noticeable than on the bass. The bass doesn't require such tight tolerances to play good as a good guitar does. CNC machines have been a good quality equalizer

[@diegobanos2675]

So true!

[@IgnacioSepulveda2112]

Finally! this is absolutely true!

[@joshuahernandez6945]

There’s a pretty huge difference in playability and durability on high end basses than cheaper production instruments. You can get a usable tone from virtually any reputable brand at any price point for either instrument

[@copperfish543]

And people that say there are no difference are Poor Assed people that are cheap.

[@colinburroughs9871]

facts here. There's a difference, but it's basically you who notices because of the nature of the bass

[@DaisyHollowBooks]

Interesting video. You cover a lot of issues I think are important. I think the high end stuff makes sense for pros. A lot of us can get along with lower end gear.

[@Basslightning666]

Nice review and breakdown! I think you are right about the pricing, the jumps don't justify the differences. It comes down to your budget, and preferences, like anything music gear related. I have used USA Fender and Gibson for years now, and I know the quality is better than any knock off, but in the early days I had a much lower budget for my gear...lol So, I've owned Squires, Korean Made Spectors, MIM J and Ps, etc, and always got by with them sounding good enough on stage, but can't go down in quality at this point in my musical life. Also, USA Fenders increase in value over time, import versions never do. EX: Ever price a Vintage Fender? This is just my humble opinion after 30 years of Professional experience....

[@turtletown456]

i had the privilege of using a 63 Jazz Bass for some session work a year back or so. it was setup almost the exact same as my squier jazz. and to be quite honest, even if it was identical in setup and feel to my squier, i would probably still prefer my squier. only problem with them are the electronics, specifically the knobs, but those are swapped out faster than you can say bass.

[@greenmedic88]

Resale value. The reality is that modern production Squiers and Epiphones that are international production versions of Fenders and Gibsons tend to be starter, back up and even disposable instruments. But people tend to buy Made In USA when they're for collections, professional use (not that there's anything against using cheaper instruments depending upon musician/band funds) or something that the player intends to keep as opposed to something they'll "upgrade" later budget permitting.

[@frostriver4547]

I agree. My 89 MIA Fender Jazz V and 06 Modulus Quantum 5 will only continue to increase in value. Play them. Take care of them and they will take care of you and possibly someone else In your family after you’re gone

[@brentsykora7541]

I have two J-basses: a Vintera and an Ultra. Obviously, the Ultra has more features, controls and is active, but the Vintera is great. The Vintera makes a great sound, and while the Ultra is capable of being a little "cleaner", I really dig the sound of the Vintera. It's just a "meat and potatoes" type of bass. I own 5 basses in all - and I typically purchase for sound differences. I think the great thing about the Squier line is that you can buy a couple basses that make a great number of sounds for a fraction of an American Fender. My first J-bass was a Squire, and I loved that thing. And, that's where my love of J-bass came from.

[@larrymeegermonswotzki981]

@bflo1000 A lot better IMHO. I own a Vintera 70s Jazz and the neck is absolutely stunning. There is really no describing that 7.25" vintage C neck with the binding in Pau Ferrero. Some people don't like the lighter look compared to rosewood but I've come to love it and the midrange growl it contributes to.@Brent Sykora is so right when he talks about the bass being more growly and "meat and potatoes." My band is in love with my bass's tone. To be honest with you, the fact that the Vintera has American pickups (American 70s Vintage Revoiced) gives me very little reason to upgrade. I absolutely love my Vintera Jazz I wouldn't trade it for an American Std.

[@caljerm]

20% quality increase from Classic Vibe to MIM is being pretty generous

[@thewomble1509]

The Vintera series is far too expensive, especially with the Player models coming in at around £590.

[@ramencurry6672]

You’re probably right. I have a Squire Classic Vibe P Bass. There is nothing I can fault. Even the tuners and bridge is fine and there was not need to replace it and I love the stock pickups

[@mp-kq3vc]

In this video, you taught me so much about the bass, which as a guitarist, has always been rather a mystery. I also gleaned a few of your licks from that bit with the drum track. Thanks, man.

[@pedropenduko2714]

Very detailed comparison, and highlighted important features. You make the difficulty of choosing easier!!!🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@charlesp9888]

The bass is a tool , the most important issue affecting the sound is the individual playing it.

[@madmaximilian5783]

Charles P...you would be surprised at a good quality made guitar or any other instrument...it does make a difference dude. (Sorry)

[@petegaslondon]

I think the raw beginners should get the real expensive ones that 'play like butter' rather than the Pro's - might make em way keen to continue ;) My first exps were with some 'real' bands with 'real fenders, so maybe I was lucky and got to kerrang on something nice, pretty early - tho I STILL aint tried any 3+grand basses to see if theres that much difference Once you've got your own style, well,.Lemmy would still sound like Lemmy on a P-bass! ( or a freakin electric Ukelele, right?)

[@charlesp9888]

I have all fender , g&l, guild and Gibson basses. I bought a Glarry Pbass for a hundred bucks, changed the pickup with an overwound pup with 13600 wraps and the volume and tone pots. The output is phenomenal as is the sound . I am into this bass for a little over $200 including the bass, it is amazing .

[@petegaslondon]

@@charlesp9888 Kewl .. I DIG hot pickups! Mine cost a shade more to make - but not much ;)

[@charlesp9888]

@@petegaslondon I had the pup custom wound by a friends company in town. His website is Cavalier pickups and obviously he makes Cavalier pickups . The pickup is a hot 57 P bass pup. I paid the friend price , that was why it was so inexpensive. The pots , especially the tone increased the sweep dramatically. We also changed the input plug , the original was garbage.The pup is hotter than my G&L Fullerton SB 1 and the sound a little more on the Vintage side. He usually winds 12,000 wraps , I requested it be overwound and left it to his discretion. I will probably never spend more than a couple of hundred dollars on another bass ever again. This has become one of my favorites ,if not my favorite. It did need a setup , the fret ends filing and a light sanding of the neck, by the which is literally a baseball bat.

[@xjack2312]

I've had two Mexican Fender Jazz basses and upgraded pick ups (Lindy Fralins) electronics and hardware on both and they were both great players after a full set up and fret dressing and still a lot cheaper than the USA models. I did play a pre CBS P-bass once though and that did feel and sound amazing.

[@GetMoreMellow]

Impressed with your expertise and knowledge Jules. I've been playing for years but mainly I'm lazy, my playing has never really all connected, and watching things you do, I realised I can learn a lot and learn how to play properly. I know some theory, learned some baroque by learning how to read a little but needed some help as to how to interpret all of the rests and symbols, etc. I also play some jazz and blues but haven't learned soloing properly, I do play from the heart, what I want is to be able to play what I feel and hear in my head and to be able to play with others far better than I am able right now. So I will be looking into what you have online. I'm wondering how you learned so much, all self-study or schooling? Or practical experience and studying while playing in bands perhaps? I would say you have had musical training, it's easy to follow you. Thanks

[@motnik]

21:48 Kudos for showing a Ritter as the higher end option; I definitely love mine! :-) But I agree with your video, a Squier - once properly set up - will get you started, can serve as your main instruments for quite a while, and even be a solid backup for a pro gig. Spend more and you get a higher quality product that will definitely amuse the queen. Also, playing music is about transporting emotions, so the way an instrument feels makes a huge difference in a performance. So when an instrument feels worthy, the performance will improve. We're emotional creatures after all. Thanks for this thorough video!

[@davidburman451]

I have that exact Fender Jazz ! Same sunburst finish. Mine is a 2008 and to me it is s thing of beauty...a work of art. Much more than you really need to spend to have an excellent bass. However after years of pawn shop specials I bought it as a gift to myself after surviving the "Widow Maker"..... Of course it plays beautifly and stay in excellent tune.

[@weightlessfilms5651]

Great review! Having played many Fenders and Squiers, I would differ a little bit in terms of the quality based on manufacturing origin. Yes, you're paying extra for the Fender Made in USA name, paying extra due to the cost of labor and the identifiable hardware/features/finish differences...and the Squier Classic Vibe series (or Mexican/Japanese Fenders for that matter) are prime example(s) that quality products can be manufactured anywhere. But quality control is IMO a big differentiator between USA Fenders and the others. You may receive a perfect Squier Affinity, but it's a crapshoot. In my experience, the USA Fenders are the most consistent of all Fenders in receiving a consistent quality instrument. Whether or not that's worth the extra chunk of changes depends on how much you have rattling in your pockets, but if money is no object, then the USA Fender will save time and headaches. Not to mention, they'll retain their value much more if you're ever considering selling/trading. You can upgrade the lower lines incrementally until you have a comparable instrument, and that's a great option if you intend on keeping the instrument. But upgrades rarely add any resale value, so it's just something to think about.

[@jeramym9506]

Also supporting fair(er) labor practices means something to me now that I can afford to do so.

[@jacquescousteau217]

To put Mexican made ,and Japanese made in the same sentence is a blasphemy ! Fender Japan are easily as good as USA made Fenders since 1982 when Fender shipped the Japanese their machinery …

[@MrClassicmetal]

@@stephenfrancis303 You mean there are people who would rather pay extra for a _used_ Fender USA bass rather than getting a new one?

[@barondavis5692]

Points well made.

[@MJTbreww]

While I can’t talk thanks to my collecting abilities (Not a good thing) in reality, I could do everything on a Squier and it’d sound pretty much the same. I just love the collectability of higher end gear, shame my wallet doesn’t agree

[@angelacevedo2112]

Not much difference between the 2 basses.. I'm not really a fan of that Fender Jazz sound but the best sound advice to a bass player is to invest in a great amp it will make all the difference. instead of playing a $2,000 bass through a rumble amp get a decent affordable bass and put it through a really good amp you'll never talk about bass brands ever again it's all about the amp.

[@emilzatopek8241]

Bravo!

[@eaglebauer944]

Exactly.

[@Bass.Player]

Very good review! I played an American Jazz Bass a few years ago at Guitar Center and I have to say it was very good and so much better than the same series I bought back in the 80's. The quality was so bad back then that I moved to playing American schecter Basses which were so much better. Now I own a variety of Basses none of which are Fender, The 4 or 5 new Fenders I bought back in the 80's forever changed the way I feel about them...

[@micktomazou]

I started playing in the early 80s - the build quality of Fenders at that time was so bad that it allowed small independent custom bass builders to carve a niche in the market which wouldn't have happened had Fender not dropped the ball. They only have themselves to blame. I've never been able to get over this. I've owned MANY basses since - I think that I've owned 4(?) Fenders in that time - none of them suggested that they were built by the market leader. I don't think that I've missed anything by not having a "F" on the headstock of my gear.

[@AntiActionFox]

I dont usually comment but I wanted to say not only is this an excellent video with a very intelligent host, but when he talks about the manufacturing process at the end of the video , and the geopolitics of it , he in my opinion said one of the most elegant speeches about manufacturing and how it truly is that I've ever heard. I'm extremely interested in the logistics and philosophy of manufacturing and tearing down the masses of ignorant beliefs about how other countries choose to create products. Thanks man. Wonderful video

[@peterrussell8409]

Had Chinese and USA my current Basses are CIJ Which I prefer, great vid tho.

[@TheDamesBand]

From my experience, it's about quality control. You can get a wonderful Squier, but you can never be remotely sure whether a new Squier is good enough and will remain so. And remember, problems can appear way down the line. So it's very much buyer beware. However, if you find one that has some mileage on it, hear it played (best by a pro) and it sounds and feels good, go for it. Of course, quality control is rarely a problem for high-end brands. Their reputations depend on it.

[@bobstranzenbach4700]

I had 2 Mex. Fenders I loved but the necks were very unstable. I sold them and got MIA Fenders and the necks have been fine. I really liked the MEX. Fenders and I’d often wondered if they used less seasoned wood or something that allowed them to move all the time. I’d heard the same thing from a luthier friend about students Squiers. I also have a Squier fretless now that I love. The fretboard had to be planed but I really like it. No problems with the neck so far…. I don’t know what to think. Just glad I’ve finally got some nice lightweight basses. 🙂

[@Seethenhagen]

My experience is that Squier guitars are that they have fit and finish dependent almost entirely on the contracted manufacturer. I've noticed that my Squiers that come from the Indonesia factory have FNF that are far greater than most guitars at their budget. If the typical feel of Indonesian Squier guitar is something you're okay with(or prefer even), then the only think that keeps you from getting that high end sound is an electronics upgrade and new pickups. You do get what you pay for to a degree, since high end Squiers get gloss necks and higher quality hardware, but it still won't be the same quality of hardware that you'd get from a MIA equivalent model. That isn't to say each factory isn't capable of putting out bad guitars, and amazing guitars, even within the same run of guitars, as my first guitar, a Squier Bullet Strat, has the original pickups and hardware and I think its absolutely amazing to play and listen to.

[@musicartguy1]

This is absolutely spot on. I work in MI, have played everything, and can say this: 1. The higher the level, the better the hardware, woods, finish, and electronics. That said, I would gig with any Fender Classic Vibe and up. 2. The higher the level the better the setup, playability, and QC (typically) 3. The resale value difference is immense. 4. More expensive instruments come with cases 5. Undeniable snob appeal Is a Murphy Labs Custom Shop Les Paul superior to an Epiphone? Undoubtedly. Is it 12 times better? That is up to you to decide. The good news is that garbage guitars made by brands with a good reputation are almost non-existent these days. And if you don't like your guitar, invest in a professional setup and Plek job if you can afford it. You will be amazed.

[@raymartin9146]

I've had both and no way is the Fender worth that much more than the Squier. A few upgrades around £100 and the Squier will last a very long time. It's the name pure and simple.

[@LouCarlozo]

Hi Jules: Hats off! If every video took such a thoughtful and easily relatable approach to the topic as you do here, KZbin would be a much safer place as there are a ton of crap guitar pundits here. I've been a producer/engineer/studio musician for some time and learned at least half a dozen new things by watching this. Thanks so much...

[@ryanr5139]

I saw this bloke’s grill and knew the accent I was about to hear from 0:01

[@ryanwood6407]

For me the US JAZZ has a lovely silky neck and just feels great to play. Worth it if you’re playing it everyday IMO

[@vooveks]

Yeah, they vary. I’ve got an American Professional Jazz, and it’s superb. Perfect action and intonation across the neck and sounds great, but I’ve also got 2 old-ish Squiers (Silver series Japanese, late 90s), Precision and Jazz. The Jazz (£250 ish) plays nearly as well as the AP, but the pickups aren’t as good. The Precision (again, £250 or less), on the other hand, is great. It’s the ‘mojo’ bass. Really growly with the tone open, and really subby with the tone closed. Very ‘Paul Jackson’ sounding, and I love it to pieces. I’d be much sadder to lose it than the AP Jazz (except financially). I’ve picked up entry-level Fenders before that were absolutely awful, in playability and tone, so really it’s a crap shoot. I had them all set up professionally, which was well worth doing and completely transformed the Squiers, particularly.

[@poopoppy]

I just bought my first Jazz Bass. I bought a second hand American Professional. I would rather just pay a bit more and buy something once. Since I paid a bit more I feel a bit pressured to keep practicing.

[@merkridge8780]

I skipped this 22 minute video, went straight to the comments, and found the answer in a minute. Thank you.

[@captainsergeant]

I purchased a brand new made in Mexico (MIM) Fender player series P bass recently and have fully customized and restored both a Chinese Squire and an Indonesia Squire P Bass. The Chinese Squire went back together like a dream, and after making some upgrades mainly to the electronics I feel it plays and sounds just as good as my MIM Fender. The made in Indonesia Squire was a nightmare to work on. It required new everything, and I noticed it did not use standard hardware like the MIM and China P Bass. Aside from virtually all of the hardware being junk, of the biggest issues with this bass was the neck pocket was routed too deep (the original paint was present so it had not been modified). Once I finally got it fully repaired and set up properly it seems to be performing just fine. I definitely could tell the difference in quality, fit and finish between the two Squires, both of which coincidently were made in 2004.

[@jdrukman]

I was looking for a fretless bass recently. I’m not a great player, just wanted to mess around and have fun. The squier vibe was under $500 and everything else was more than 3 times the price. I got the Squier. I’m loving it! Interestingly the color scheme is the same as your USA Fender. Looks great, plays good (I’m not an expert so maybe it’s lacking something but I can’t tell what it would be). I figured I’d be missing something spending so much less but your video really explained it all. Great job.

[@denniscaton3894]

It's refreshing to read your observation, "I can't tell what it would be". Neither can I. Good strings and a professional set up make it a fun instrument that can be played anywhere.

[@superbroadcaster]

Honestly a budget electric player's best friend is learning how guitars and basses are wired and how to solder. I've torn apart many Squier guitars to pull out everything but the pickups and replacing everything else with American made pots, capacitors, switch jacks, etc. and having a great player for less than $60 of rebuild cost. My main strat is a bullet strat with Custom Shop '54s and Switchcraft everything else. $75 for the guitar, $200 for the pickups (got a deal) and about $45 for the rest of the parts and that's probably less than what I paid for the pots and jack, and capacitors. Built an Esquire from scratch, machining the body and neck and it was less than $400 for parts including the pickup. Buy a Squier and learn how to solder!

[@xephachi]

Thanks for adding this. I personally find that the problem I have with budget guitars and bass guitars are imperfect necks, hotspots on the frets, cheap tuning hardware, bad electronics. The former can be avoided with bringing a seasoned player to the store to find some of the better made models but I've definitely enjoyed my fair share of modding and electronics swapping on my budget guitars which I'd never do on a much more expensive one that I'd rather take to a luthier or a tech, great advice

[@GavinMorris1]

Totally agree. I just dropped a £70 'Hendrix' (cloth wired CTS and Switchcraft harness) into an old Marlin Strat that cost me £40 and wired in a bunch of pickups I've had lying around from projects. 150 US ish for great vintage guitar. Squiers are way better than Marlins.

[@JohnWhite-xc3md]

The Squire Affinity is actually a very good instrument. Where they lack is the electronics. The pots, pickup wire look like they were made by Mattel. Decent sound, but long term gig worthy durability? Not there. Just my experience. I like less expensive instruments when out in public. If someone steals it, or it falls off its stand, I won't be heart broken.

[@hellerjon1]

Great job on this. Last year I found a guy selling a bunch of fender basses including a bunch of mexican basses where he upgraded the pickups to seymour duncans. I went there to get a mid priced $500 bass, but once I played the American jazz, I was sold. The neck was so much better and felt like butter in my hands. The Mexican bass with the seymour duncans sounded great but I bought the american bass for about $850 (this was a few years ago), and have zero regrets.

[@robarini]

I was so sad when my '75 Jazz reissue was stolen in a home burglary. Loved that bass! And it was japanese-made, so nice. I found out from insurance that they were no longer made in Japan so they let me pick a replacement. At about double the price I went for a G&L 2000 custom shop and that was an amazing guitar too. I still would have traded it for the stolen Jazz.