CoolCat
Well-known member
Ive had a Squier Jazz for 30yrs. Its from a Korea era, E series, with Alder body and Rosewood neck (they all used to be Rosewood until the recent change-law to Pau and Indian Laurel something). Ive not had to do anything to it ever, it still plays perfect for me. worth $200?
GAS SHOPPING UPGRADE?:
2018 I went through a few Bass guitars to see if the old Squier Jazz held up and it did. Reading about MIM Fenders, seems with the move over the history to more and more to robots and better CNC machines, MIM got better and better. (and their prices went up and up ). Wanting Rosewood neck lead to Used (over newer Pau ferro or Indian Laurel) Taking this logic, a 2013 seemed to fit the timeframe and parts. MIM would be an upgrade, logically.
$449+ tax...$487 Used at GC, done. 2013 in 2019. Alder, Rosewood, traditional stock P-Bass...Sunburst.
In the End...fired up the Reaper and played both. 2013 PBass and my old Squier Jazz. Apples to Oranges, intentionally.
JAZZ: the Squier Jazz pickups, other than the single coil noise issue, sound great, I love it still. If I sit just right the noise is gone 98%. With a MIX track the noise is not heard, imo.
PRECISION: The MIM P-Bass, dead silent, no position issue.Humbucker/Split single....its great, no noise. The MIM is so well done, its hard to imagine anything worth more to me. Im not a collector but Ive had US models in the house, there might be some subtle things, maybe...Im skeptical. This MIM has all the "parts" of a standard original Fender P-Bass in general.
Im not flaming, maybe my silver logo Squier is an exception? the Precision is worth more, cost more, and possibly built better for a real bassist who plays live and would hold up better due to components. I don't play much other than in the studio closet so... it wouldn't surprise me if a Squier affinity P-bass, setup well, toss in some top line pickups would work in my HR environment. I don't see it as a Upgrade really in sound or for my needs.
Last year I had a Affinity P-Bass and it played well .it was $80 used. Maybe some sanding on the neck edges would work, maybe $80 in pickups would bring the tone way up. Its bizarre and common , the US Elite P $2000 real hard core bass players spend more money "fixing it"; this always confused me. "fixing" a $2000 guitar? Fixing a $80 guitar makes more sense to my wallet. But by the time you spend cash on the "fixing" a $80 Squier Affinity....a MIM is the same cost, and has the Alder body and Rosewood neck etc..etc..
I'll probably take the P-Bass back. I only need one bass, imo….and the old Jazz works fine as long as I sit in the non-noise tilt angle.
Heres the spec sheet for the gear gang...
Manufacturer Description 2013
THE STANDARD IN PRECISION STYLE
Combining traditional design with contemporary features, the Standard Precision Bass is an elegant and affordable classic designed for the bassist who appreciates great style, rich and muscular tone, and excellent value. Time-honored Fender style and performance-minded modern upgrades don’t have to break the bank, and this model delivers the best of both in a design ideal for Precision Bass players everywhere at every level.
Features
Tinted maple neck with “C” profile
Rosewood with 20 medium jumbo frets
Modern split single-coil pickup
Shielded body cavity
Vintage-style bridge
’70s-style headstock logo
Specs
BODY MATERIAL: Alder
BODY FINISH: Polyester
BODY SHAPE: Precision Bass®
MIDDLE PICKUP: Standard Split Single-Coil Precision Bass
CONTROLS: Master Volume, Master Tone
SWITCHING: None
CONFIGURATION: Split Single-Coil
BRIDGE: 4-Saddle Standard Vintage-Style with Single Groove Saddles
HARDWARE FINISH: Chrome
TUNING MACHINES: Standard Open-Gear
PICKGUARD: 3-Ply Parchment
CONTROL KNOBS: Knurled Flat-Top
NECK PLATE: 4-Bolt Standard
OTHER FEATURES: "New" Knurled Chrome P Bass®; Knobs
NECK MATERIAL: Maple
NECK FINISH: Tinted Satin Urethane
NECK SHAPE: Modern "C"
SCALE LENGTH: 34" (864 mm)
FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: Rosewood
FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 9.5" (241 mm)
NUMBER OF FRETS: 20
FRET SIZE: Medium Jumbo
NUT MATERIAL: Synthetic Bone
NUT WIDTH: 1.625" (41.3 mm)
POSITION INLAYS: Black Dot
TRUSS ROD: Standard
CASE: None
MFG: Mexico
GAS SHOPPING UPGRADE?:
2018 I went through a few Bass guitars to see if the old Squier Jazz held up and it did. Reading about MIM Fenders, seems with the move over the history to more and more to robots and better CNC machines, MIM got better and better. (and their prices went up and up ). Wanting Rosewood neck lead to Used (over newer Pau ferro or Indian Laurel) Taking this logic, a 2013 seemed to fit the timeframe and parts. MIM would be an upgrade, logically.
$449+ tax...$487 Used at GC, done. 2013 in 2019. Alder, Rosewood, traditional stock P-Bass...Sunburst.
In the End...fired up the Reaper and played both. 2013 PBass and my old Squier Jazz. Apples to Oranges, intentionally.
JAZZ: the Squier Jazz pickups, other than the single coil noise issue, sound great, I love it still. If I sit just right the noise is gone 98%. With a MIX track the noise is not heard, imo.
PRECISION: The MIM P-Bass, dead silent, no position issue.Humbucker/Split single....its great, no noise. The MIM is so well done, its hard to imagine anything worth more to me. Im not a collector but Ive had US models in the house, there might be some subtle things, maybe...Im skeptical. This MIM has all the "parts" of a standard original Fender P-Bass in general.
Im not flaming, maybe my silver logo Squier is an exception? the Precision is worth more, cost more, and possibly built better for a real bassist who plays live and would hold up better due to components. I don't play much other than in the studio closet so... it wouldn't surprise me if a Squier affinity P-bass, setup well, toss in some top line pickups would work in my HR environment. I don't see it as a Upgrade really in sound or for my needs.
Last year I had a Affinity P-Bass and it played well .it was $80 used. Maybe some sanding on the neck edges would work, maybe $80 in pickups would bring the tone way up. Its bizarre and common , the US Elite P $2000 real hard core bass players spend more money "fixing it"; this always confused me. "fixing" a $2000 guitar? Fixing a $80 guitar makes more sense to my wallet. But by the time you spend cash on the "fixing" a $80 Squier Affinity....a MIM is the same cost, and has the Alder body and Rosewood neck etc..etc..
I'll probably take the P-Bass back. I only need one bass, imo….and the old Jazz works fine as long as I sit in the non-noise tilt angle.
Heres the spec sheet for the gear gang...
Manufacturer Description 2013
THE STANDARD IN PRECISION STYLE
Combining traditional design with contemporary features, the Standard Precision Bass is an elegant and affordable classic designed for the bassist who appreciates great style, rich and muscular tone, and excellent value. Time-honored Fender style and performance-minded modern upgrades don’t have to break the bank, and this model delivers the best of both in a design ideal for Precision Bass players everywhere at every level.
Features
Tinted maple neck with “C” profile
Rosewood with 20 medium jumbo frets
Modern split single-coil pickup
Shielded body cavity
Vintage-style bridge
’70s-style headstock logo
Specs
BODY MATERIAL: Alder
BODY FINISH: Polyester
BODY SHAPE: Precision Bass®
MIDDLE PICKUP: Standard Split Single-Coil Precision Bass
CONTROLS: Master Volume, Master Tone
SWITCHING: None
CONFIGURATION: Split Single-Coil
BRIDGE: 4-Saddle Standard Vintage-Style with Single Groove Saddles
HARDWARE FINISH: Chrome
TUNING MACHINES: Standard Open-Gear
PICKGUARD: 3-Ply Parchment
CONTROL KNOBS: Knurled Flat-Top
NECK PLATE: 4-Bolt Standard
OTHER FEATURES: "New" Knurled Chrome P Bass®; Knobs
NECK MATERIAL: Maple
NECK FINISH: Tinted Satin Urethane
NECK SHAPE: Modern "C"
SCALE LENGTH: 34" (864 mm)
FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: Rosewood
FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 9.5" (241 mm)
NUMBER OF FRETS: 20
FRET SIZE: Medium Jumbo
NUT MATERIAL: Synthetic Bone
NUT WIDTH: 1.625" (41.3 mm)
POSITION INLAYS: Black Dot
TRUSS ROD: Standard
CASE: None
MFG: Mexico