Squier Affinity Precision Bass Review - Very Detailed

This is my very detailed review of the Squier Affinity Precision Bass. The goal of the video is to determine if this entry level Squier is actually usable to the studio and stage. Can it get the job done or is it junk?
I also (over) analyze the bass to really give you a feel of instrument. Why do I do this? Because when I want to buy new gear, I don't want to just hear a really flashy set of sound examples, I want to really know what its like to hold the bass and look it over as if it were in my own hands. If I'm interested in buying it, I want to listen to what someone else who owns it has to say. So yes, there's a bit of me talking, but it's intended for potential buyers - I'm not trying educate, not to entertain anyone.
I didn't need this bass, nor was it on my A list of new gear I want to own. But, the economy is tough right now, so I wanted to find out if its possible to save some money on a new bass and buy something entry level and make it work. I also have never owned a Precision bass before and have no 4 stringers in my lineup. So this was also an affordable way to test the waters.
I'm not sure I'll keep it since its just an experiment, but the more I play it the more I like it. In the week of owning it during which the review was filmed, I did studio recording with it and played it live 3 times at two different churches. While I could tell it wasn't a nicer bass, it performed well above my expectations.
Shop smart these days - maybe you don't really need that pricier bass, maybe something more affordable is all you need.

[@richpuzzo953]

I really appreciate that you're playing bass. Most reviews have bass players riffing, slapping and popping. I want to hear the bass as it's meant to be. The instrument that drives the band. Thanks for playing. This is exactly what I needed to hear. How the bass sounds as a bass guitar.

[@WorshipBlender]

Thank you for your comments! I appreciate it.

[@cyrilbrocard]

This, Sir, is truly useful on a practical level. Thanks !

[@WorshipBlender]

Thank you so much!

[@ClubberLogan]

Thank you for a thorough review has been a great help .

[@WorshipBlender]

My pleasure!

[@naveeth8867]

The tips about setting up the bass for beginners is gold dust! I hear so many reviews skip over that like we all know what that means

[@WorshipBlender]

I'm so glad to hear your feedback. I try to approach my reviews with the goal to answer all the questions I would have if I were the buyer. Thank you for your comments!

[@MarcG7424]

Thank you for such a great review I'm interested in this bass especially as a modding platform

[@WorshipBlender]

As long as the neck on it is good, its a great modding platform.

[@joaquinbetter599]

Thank you for this review very helpful. I will be getting one of these

[@WorshipBlender]

Glad it was helpful!

[@EarthtonesCymbals]

Thank you for taking the time to make this thorough and comprehensive video review of the Squire Affinity P-Bass guitar. I am getting this exact model guitar and feel really good about my decision to do so. Best wishes! ♪

[@WorshipBlender]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nordin1975]

Great, informative video. Thank you!

[@WorshipBlender]

Thank you! I really appreciate that!

[@paulcornwell5581]

Very useful review. thank you!

[@WorshipBlender]

Glad it was helpful!

[@book3100]

One thing about these Affinity basses is that they are well worth the price for beginners, and with some upgrades as budget allows, they have the potential to sound great. As a first upgrade, fairly cheap is to replace the split pickup with an EMG GZR. Very easily done yourself for about $100. Makes a big difference. I think this guitar is great for beginners also in that it's a bit imperfect. It affords an opportunity to learning how to do some small maintenances, like fret ends, pickup replacements, maybe a bit of smoothing on the neck... It's not too expensive an instrument to make mistakes on. And after all that, the potential of surpassing it's original outfitting into something really competitive with higher end guitars. The bones are there, go have fun with it. Great review!

[@WorshipBlender]

I totally agree!

[@chrisb48907]

everyone says to swap pick ups, but they don't make that much difference...just make sure sure you a good amp. !

[@domizidor]

i would start with pots first. those are usually really cheap. Than nut, strings and setup, maybe lighter tuners and you are good to go.

[@phoneme52xxx6]

Thank you for this. I have played a Rogue Violin Bass for a number of years purely for fun and home recording. I usually play rhythm in my band. But I’ve been promoted to the bass as he moved away…So, I purchased this Squier bass this week. I know a bit about guitars so, like you, I took it apart. The strings it came with are cheap so I Replaced them with Ernie Ball slinky’s. I did feel that back of the neck was a little rough so I sanded it lightly with 3500 grit paper. This made a fantastic difference to the feel. I dressed all the frets with 400, 600 and 1000 fret rubbers. They are nice and smooth now. My biggest problem is with the bridge which is junk. Intonation was very tricky as the E saddle is loose. I’ve ordered a Fender replacement bridge which I will fit as soon as I can. I find the tone from the pick ups is fine and a lot different to the Violin Bass. It’s easy to play and I have no string buzzing. On the whole, it’s fine for what I need but I’ll check out the Ibanez series.

[@WorshipBlender]

Great feedback - loved hearing how you fixed it up!

[@uwilllu]

Great review. Thanks. This is the bass I have. I started playing one year ago and this is what I bought at Guitar Center. Now I'm playing most rock songs (with tabs) and some worship songs using the notes and tutorials from this site. The bass is all I know, so I like it, but would also be open to additional suggestions for my next bass purchase.

[@WorshipBlender]

Keep on rocking it! Regarding you input about additional suggestions, if you like the bass, the new Yamaha BB series might be something to consider. They have a few tiers to the series so you can pick one for your budget. It's been on my short list for awhile. Otherwise, check out my review on the Ibanez EHB - it's the one I use most now due to comfort and tone. Thank you for the feedback!

[@outermarker5801]

Thank you. Thinking about picking up a low cost P just for fun. Little trick I learned long ago after fighting with stuck knobs, grasping the knob itself just tightens it's grip on the post. Tighter you grip and pull, the harder you work against yourself. Instead wrap string loosely around the knob base, hold both ends and pull straight up. Another one - protect the body around the knob and use flat tools to pry both sides up 👍

[@WorshipBlender]

Thank you - great tips!

[@buhrrito]

Duuude. Thank you so much for taking the guitar apart lol. I was curious as well but didn't want to take it apart myself lol cheers!

[@WorshipBlender]

Glad to take one for the team! lol

[@Loagz_Beatz]

Thank you for this review. I needed a bass for some recording for instrumentals / production and saw this for a decent price. I didn't want to spend as much as I did say on my PRS guitar (I'm primarily a guitar player and not a bass player) so I did some minor adjustments like you said and I must say I'm pretty impressed with the overall sound / quality of this instrument. I don't use it for live gigs, and mixing at home I can get the tone I want. It's fun to play, and I'm happy with the price tag. Out of the box strings were very high from neck, not strung the best etc. but like I said, some minor adjustments and it plays fine. Slight buzzing on the higher frets but 9 out of 10 times I'm playing simple lower stuff anyway. I'm sure in the future I will upgrade but for purchasing my first bass this to me is worth it. Could it be better? Sure - I have played very expensive and very cheap ones in my years as a producer and guitar player and this definitely "gets the job done". For someone learning this is great, or someone like me who only needs it occasionally for certain parts of recordings it works. Also, upgrading the strings and pickups doesn't ever hurt anything. Awesome review, again! :)

[@WorshipBlender]

Thank you! Your review of it is pretty spot on. I appreciate your feedback.

[@dizzykillteam]

Awesome video many thanks

[@WorshipBlender]

You are welcome!

[@OliviaIsTyping]

14:34 thanks I’ve been putting off purchasing a Squier bass because of people saying fender is the only way to go and I was ashamed to use a cheap bass so this is really what I needed to hear

[@WorshipBlender]

Thank you for your feedback!

[@bubuAndBass]

great video !! that's exactly what I needed !! thank you so much !! I'm a novice and I'm looking around to spot the right first bass to buy . This model is it !! 🤩

[@WorshipBlender]

Thank you for your feedback! I hope it is working out well for you.

[@bubuAndBass]

@@WorshipBlender Hello !! Yes !! I bought it !! 🤩 I'm so happy for this choice !! I love it !! ❤ My bass teacher agrees 100% with that, too !! Thank you !! 😁

[@marcelmcanally8046]

Great review, nice relaxed informative style without too much rambling on. I too was a bass snob, have now realised with a good setup and strings you can make pretty much anything work. Stil don't like P basses though lol

[@WorshipBlender]

Thank you so much for the feedback! I really appreciate it! P bass isn't really my preference either. lol

[@vmxd]

Great review. It helped me to decide which one to get :) I got the same bass with maple neck, but black body. it was open box, so it was way cheaper, comparing to new one. 234$ with tax included and free shipping from Adorama. Bass came without any issues at all, neck was straight, frets are ok, no buzz at all, and pickups are working fine. The maple neck is silky smooth and looks beautiful, the only issue was action - it was too high. I gave it to local shop to do the setup and they told me this bass is great for the money with good neck and in case I would like to upgrade it with better components it is possible. It sounds great in the stock form with Fender Rabmler 40. Best bass for buck for new players like me and my daughter :)

[@WorshipBlender]

That is great to hear! Glad that I was able to help in some small way in what turned out to be a good decision for you. Enjoy that bass!

[@afrizal9541]

Hi thank you for super detailed review on this bass. This is very helpful. I agree with the adjustment. I did 2 times adjustment in the gear shop to make it feel comfortable to play. What do you think about if we do slap with this bass? I just bought this bass around 2 weeks a go. And the only weird thing I feel is when I do the slap. Previously I owned much more cheaper bass (Cort action), an active one. In term of slapping I feel the Cort action is better. Is this because the character is different or it is true (I heard some people say) that this squier precision is not nice for slapping?

[@WorshipBlender]

Thank you for the feedback. I'm not really a slap player, so I'm not the best expert on this question, but universally, it seems most slap players gravitate more to the Jazz bass. But in the end, it's all a matter of personal preference.

[@thomashalley7258]

I like that the neck has a maple fret board. I'm tired of rosewood type fret boards.

[@creamysauce7966]

Should I buy this as a beginner? I've never played bass before. Not sure which one to buy for affordable price.

[@Garedot]

Deep dive into this Affinity P Bass, I like the new Squier Affinity with the gloss paint on headstock, also that one piece maple neck with maple fingerboard in Olympic white looks great.

[@WorshipBlender]

I'm not familiar with a Squier Affinity bass with gloss paint on the headstock - that may be one of the higher end (non-Affinity) Squier models. But I agree the Olympic White looks nice.

[@Garedot]

@@WorshipBlender The Affinity series with gloss paint on the headstock are the new Affinities with big letters on it. Yours is one of them

[@milosstepanovic443]

Thank you for great review, it was very helpful for any kind of decision for squier p bass. Can you, please, tell me how much it weighs that bass?

[@WorshipBlender]

Thank you for the feedback. I thought I provided a weight in the video, but if I didn't it was somewhere between 8 and 9 pounds, I think? I sold it. All basses will vary in weight somewhat, so checking the weight of the particular instrument you want to buy is more important.

[@analogman9697]

I love mine. The fret ends were finished correctly, the neck is fast. Action is great. I agree about the tuners and might upgrade. I could spend two grand on the american model and have probably the same axe.

[@WorshipBlender]

Fender QC is not as consistent in my opinion as other brands I come across, so I think your assessment could be true of a modded Squire and American version, depending on what you got from the factory. I added the part about basic maintenance to the video to help confirm your assessment.

[@Zant517]

Hi, is there a difference between this bass and the PJ bass? I have one which is similar but the fret board is darker.

[@numerohvh]

this is the PJ bass

[@stevewindsenergy]

Guys, I replaced the original pickups : I installed Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Set pickups: This sounds SOUCH BETTER! Like a 1000 usd bass

[@WorshipBlender]

Classic P-bass pickup upgrade.

[@PRILIPAK61]

I bought the same guitar. It's great, but as you said, the octaves on the same string are a bit high. I'm very interested in whether the octaves were in tune when you put the new strings on.

[@WorshipBlender]

I think you are referring to intonation. I don't recall, but I made adjustments regardless as needed.

[@jamesgibson3242]

The Squier looks cool. Reminds me of Pete Farndon's P Bass from the 70s.

[@WorshipBlender]

It is a nice look.

[@terryku5095]

Thank you for the honest review, i love p bass so much, but now I'm giving up this piece of crap. Plus, in Taiwan, the new affinity is almost as expensive as classic vibe, about 40 bucks left.

[@WorshipBlender]

Thank you for your feedback. Wow, if the Affinity is priced that close to Classic Vibe, then I would opt for the CV.

[@Antonio-iq4yj]

I bought this very same p bass 2 months ago or so, and I had to spent almost half of the price on fret alignment and set up after not being able to get rid from the fret buzz. *After the fret job* it sounds good and very enjoyable playing, the neck is comfortable and the precision pick-up is decent (can't tell about the jazz I don't use it). The knobs could be smoother as well as the tuning machines. So after all the affinity was not worth it because of what I spent on the fret job. A thing to consider, usually beginners go for this bass and they also don't have the skills for all the tweaking it needs. I also have a Squier CV JBass it's double of the price but I didn't have to spend half of the price on repairs, got nickelwounds on it and no buzz at all. But at the end of the day, it's a precision, it's on flatwounds and it really sounds good. Great review btw.

[@WorshipBlender]

Awesome feedback - thank you! I agree on what you say. I tried to include some basic setup instruction to help new players get it playing better in the event theirs needs adjustment.

[@FlankinspanK]

I just bought a affinity jazz and i dont see any notable flaws in the fit and finish. ive been playing it a ton after setting up everything. changed the pickups to SD stacked jazz. No issues. Easily competes with my other basses….$$ stingray, $$ corvette, streamer stage 2.

[@WorshipBlender]

That's awesome!

[@capercrusader7129]

Is it the same bass you get in the bundle packaged with the amp and bag? Just curious 😅

[@WorshipBlender]

If the bundle includes an "Affinity Precision Bass" then I would assume yes.

[@emmanuelgutierrez6306]

What is the name for the Ibanez model bass you have?

[@WorshipBlender]

The Ibanez I currently have is the EHB1005SMS. This would be the grey headless one. The green one I sold is the TMB35.

[@oldasrocks9121]

Some of the FSR versions use the same bodies as the Classic Vibes with better finishes. Often the rebuilt serial-number-delete resales are in vastly better shape than the new ones, having been rebuilt. Depending upon which one you choose they can be great bodies for Partscasters provided you resell the neck. Otherwise, especially considering the ceramic magnet pickups, Affinitys are best for kids starting out.

[@WorshipBlender]

Thank you for your helpful feedback.

[@Capitan_Chaos]

My first bass was an Affinity P and it kept me from buying those basses. Tbh, Squiers are in that Fender price range from when I first began playing in 2004.

[@WorshipBlender]

I hear you. My American Jazz 5 string was like $800 new when I bought it all those years ago.

[@pleromicpastry5445]

It's strange to me. Seems like people resist the p-bass because it's so ubiquitous. I know I originally wanted a J-bass for the look but went with a PJ bass like yours (in race red which I painted a vintage blue). I recommend DiMarzio's model P and model J. You're right, the stock J pickup is horrible. The P is acceptable but the Model P will blow you away by comparison

[@WorshipBlender]

Good to know - always heard good feedback on the DiMarzios.

[@mikasubba]

Sir, i am thinking to buy this bass guitar for my church. But i have second option too, Ibabez SR 300EB. Pls do give ur opinion.

[@WorshipBlender]

I'll admit to not liking Ibanez SR series basses, but that is just a matter of personal preference. However, I'm very impressed with the Micro and Mezzo series basses by Ibanez and Ibanez does cheap better than most other brands. Unless you're married to the Precision look and feel, I'd probably suggest the Ibanez. However at the same price point I'd actually go with a Yamaha BB234 or BB235 myself, but get what speaks to you the most - the Ibanez and Squier will feel very different.

[@mikasubba]

@@WorshipBlender thank u so mich for ur kind reply. What about Sire Marcus Miller V3?

[@book3100]

@@mikasubba in my opinion, you'd be better off with a Sire V5, if you can afford it. That said, the V3 is ok too, just not as nice. It's worth the extra little bit for the V5.

[@mikasubba]

@@book3100 Thank u so much. reply was so late, so I ordered Fender Squier PJ in Olympic white with maple fretboard. Nyway, thanks so much.

[@book3100]

@@mikasubba a solid choice. Let me know how you like it.

[@tubes5150]

Hahaha You had me at “ 4 string basses are foreign to me “. Haha Brother ?? The 5 string bass - IMHO - should never of been invented. I’m die hard rock and roll and been playing bass since 1980 . Everything from The Beatles to Hard Rock and Punk and basically just anything that sounds great . Many many adventures in and out of all types of local bands . Anyway - I sat in for this wedding babd one night . They only had a 5 string bass on hand . I literally left the event and drive home to get my more familiar 4 string . For sone reason that 5 th string just freaked me out . Haha Good times 🤠♥️🙏

[@tubes5150]

Oh sorry … I forgot to mention that I have this bass now too . Exact bass !!! I use as my drop D tuning bass at shows . ( I got tired of changing the tuning 11 times a night - especially if you just played a song in drop D and your next song is in standard tuning . I have made the mistake of forgetting. That’s not a good feeling !! Also - I changed the strings to black beauties ( makes the bass look a little cooler - those jet black strings against that white body ). And finally- Switching out the pickups to Seymour Duncan’s . This bass definitely does the job !! You don’t need to spend a fortune anymore . It’s a great project bass . Little here Little there over time you will have a really great bass . Just my little opinion . Have an awesome day 🤠

[@WorshipBlender]

Thank you for you feedback - enjoy the bass!

[@bobt5778]

I agree on changing the tuners, however not all brands will line up with the four screw holes. I can tell you that Fender's standard tuners do not align.

[@WorshipBlender]

Yes, be careful to get the correct screw placement for the tuners since there are various layouts. Thank you for the reminder.

[@numerohvh]

which decent budget tuners do fit?

[@davis9357]

bb234 or this, I don’t know which one to choose. I saw people on reddit saying that Yamaha’s is better and Squier’s quality control is not good (I will probably buy a new one until it breaks).

[@WorshipBlender]

I lean towards the Yamaha BB, but I just wanted to try the traditional P bass design first. I think of the ones I have played (Squire Affinity's and BB23x), the BB is better quality off the rack.

[@user-uy3bq6lx2z]

Я купил месяц назад точно такой бас за 400 $ в интернет-магазине! Бас очень порадовал глаз внешним своим видом и качеством! НО, увы, и здесь ложка дегтя, - при подключении к усилителю очень расстроился, - гитара сильно фонит! Менял разные шнуры, дело не в них, и не в усилителе, а явно в темброблоке гитары! При игре сплошной шорох и щелчки по струнам, а прикоснёшься к крутилкам или струнам пальцами - сразу тишина.. Вобщем, не знаю, очень жаль такую гитару отправлять назад в магазин из-за фона, но с другой стороны придётся теперь мучиться разбирать пикгард и экранировать самому (и то, если получится)!Я купил месяц назад точно такой бас за 400 $ в интернет-магазине! Бас очень порадовал глаз внешним своим видом и качеством! НО, увы, и здесь ложка дегтя, - при подключении к усилителю очень расстроился, - гитара сильно фонит! Менял разные шнуры, дело не в них, и не в усилителе, а явно в темброблоке гитары! При игре сплошной шорох и щелчки по струнам, а прикоснёшься к крутилкам или струнам пальцами - сразу тишина.. Вобщем, не знаю, очень жаль такую гитару отправлять назад в магазин из-за фона, но с другой стороны придётся теперь мучиться разбирать пикгард и экранировать самому (и то, если получится)!

[@WorshipBlender]

Not sure what you wrote, but thank you for your feedback.

[@blackie75]

I'm a guitarist of 32 years, many of those professional and I'm about to buy a bass for the first time. I'm considering this model for a first bass, just as in all-rounder. Would you recommend this bass for someone in my position? Thanks, love your in depth videos.

[@WorshipBlender]

I'd say it is a good first bass, and since you have a lot of experience on guitar, you likely have skills needed to making any adjustments out of the box it may need. In the same general price range, I'd also recommend looking into the Yamaha BB234/BB235 series. If I was buying a beginner bass in this price range, I'd probably go with the Yamaha - but either way you should be good.

[@blackie75]

@@WorshipBlender Thanks for your reply. I've had a good look around and Yamaha was certainly on my radar, the models you mentioned along with the TRBX304 which seems to be in a similar price range and quite versatile.

[@joed9171]

I did lots of gigs on this model. But it’s hit or miss

[@WorshipBlender]

It definitely requires more user care to ensure it's is at optimum playability.

[@coreyoffman8739]

Do you still have that type of bass

[@WorshipBlender]

Not currently. Nothing against the bass, but I'm not a P bass guy. It was fun while I had it, thou.

[@stevewindsenergy]

The necks on Affinity Series Squier instruments are dual sourced, and one of the factories does not use a skunk stripe on models with an Indian Laurel fretboard, such as yours. This is because a skunk stripe is only required when using a neck without a fretboard, as it is the point of installation for the truss rod. On an instrument with a fretboard, the truss rod is installed through the front of the neck during manufacture. This isn't a specification that we reference anywhere and does not affect the performance of the instrument.

[@WorshipBlender]

Good information. Thank you.

[@mattfoley6082]

You didn't say what strings it came with.

[@WorshipBlender]

To be honest, I'm not sure. My assumption is Fender strings. The Fender website lists this as the strings: Nickel Plated Steel (.045-.105 Gauges).

[@charlesfick729]

I think the Squire has better bottom end

[@mtp04987]

Squier killed the fender

[@WorshipBlender]

Video killed the radio star.

[@JLB31721]

@@WorshipBlenderNetflix killed the Video Store!

[@daveweed2765]

I have no idea why Fender marks it Precission bass when it's actually a PJ. I live PJs ove Precission or Jazz basses. I have three Squiers. And have no problem with the tuners. Pretty much feels the same as my Fenders and cheaper. Brand snobs? Jesus. You gotta play to make anything sound good.

[@WorshipBlender]

Thank you for your feedback, but I doubt Jesus was a brand snob. And I bet he could play much better than me.

[@daveweed2765]

@@WorshipBlender I don't know about that. Jesus was too busy to take all the mundane time to learn how to play music and all, right. To be honest you can goto any music store say like guitar center and play all the guitars that you have in mind and you will find those high dollar instruments don't necessarily sound better if you are looking for a specific sound. Sometimes the cheaper wood adds to tonal qualities. I have an Epi Les Paul that will blow a Gibson away for metal anyway. But moving to bass. The snobbery really comes out. From how you pick to how you fret to pretty much everything.

[@DNA2000-8bit]

Man that's a lot of talking...

[@WorshipBlender]

I had a lot to say.

[@Neightlive]

They do pop off go to the gym dude

[@WorshipBlender]

Thank you sir, can I have another.