True, I’ve played every level of bass from no name junk to vintage Fender P’s and everything in between. Must say that audiences at our early gigs, before we were signed and couldn’t afford expensive instruments, were ever bit as enthusiastic as they were once we were playing top end guitars and basses bought with record company advance money.
So true. As Tyler correctly says, as you advance, you can notice the difference in feel. In some places you will not want to bring your expensive gear and a Squier or Mexican made fender will do just fine.
It does matter to you. I know the Squier is okay compared to what it was 30 yrs ago, but gosh is he wrong saying they're perfectly fine and custom shop is no better. The tone of the Squier has a tonne of issues and in the mixing process there will have to be lots of hours spent fixing them. Good for fun, practice, maybe gigs. Absolute no-no in recording parts. You're better off with a Mexican Fender
it's normally the newbee 53 year olds who have NO idea who buys RIC and US basses and chat shit about cheaper stuff, seen it for years they need to concentrate less on brands and actually practice the trade. fuck you
@@darkmatter4132 Of course: 1- take the time to see what instrument looks good to you (it will give you motivation to play) 2- go to a local store to try some of the instruments that you like the look of it 3- Remember that the cheapest will not keep their value with time and will cost you more since lot of stuff will break on it. 4- Invest more in the begining with the middle range of Squier , Yamaha, Warwick, etc. and with time you'll be able to modify anything on it (pickups, bridge, nut, strings, tuners, neck, electronics) and this will last a lifetime for half the price. 5- Wait before considering buying a high end instrument and play with the middle range one. Because your ear will refine and your knowledge too. Then you will know wich one to look for. Or, keep your money for other things (and keep your average instrument and be happy with it).
My tip for any bass purchase is 1) see how much pressure is required down the headstock end on all the strings to get a clean note 2) If it feels like hard work, try putting a capo on at the first fret and see if it's easier Nine times out of ten, nut slots are cut a bit on the high side especially straight from the factory. If it plays more comfortably straight away with a capo on, it tells you the nut is too high. Not a big deal to get it fixed and will make all the difference! That Squire P sounds really good
He should really consider being a bassist, cos people dance to the bass, not the guitar... get an affinity PJ squier, it’s good and has all the tone from Motown to Rock.. and it’s so damn cheap for tones that i could drool on for days... bass amp = Fender Rumble 200 (u could hook it up to a PA and is super loud with great tones)
Largely agree, as someone old enough to have had new basses in the '70s I can say that many Fenders were rubbish, and according to guitarist friends at the time many Fender/Gibson guitars were pretty poor too. Gone were the lightweight seasoned woods, and production techniques were still mainly manual so there were huge variances in quality and weight, there were some good Fenders, but shouldn't they all have been good? What started a huge change was when Tokai started making Fender clones which were far better than the originals, CNC and now CAD transformed guitar manufacturing, with much improved quality and consistency so build quality is now almost exclusively great at almost every price point. It's the law of diminishing returns; you pay disproportionately more for small improvements. Skilled human labour is expensive and slow, so handmade instruments of the same quality as a mass produced instrument are going to be more expensive, arguably for no gain. Handmade gets you custom builds, I have a Sadowsky NYC5 string exactly as I wanted; quilted maple over swampash body in transparent black with an unmarked ebony fingerboard and chrome hardware; twice the price of a Metro series, but the only real difference is the aesthetics, and the NYC is chambered so is lighter. Twice the bass? no, by it's MY bass and I could afford it. Just one example; Sire basses are fantastic instruments, AND they are inexpensive
I agree also. My first bass,that i kept until today,is a peavey fury.The one with a slanted pickup.It plays like a p bass.Guitars are much better than they were in the early 70s.
Agreed. I had a Japan Squier Jazz that was miles better than lots of "vintage" instruments I played before they were old and bashed up. Learn to set up your gear yourself and then just worry about wood stability on the cheapos.
Undoubtedly expensive basses feel and look better, without necessarily sounding a great deal better. I don’t think anyone with an advanced technique would not have a problem playing a Squier. The reason pros have expensive basses is because they have the money to afford them. Expensive Basses have only subtle differences - beyond a certain point, subtle improvements require better materials and greater production time. It’s a bit like the fine wine marketing myth - arguably, anything over a certain price point (say, 20 bucks) is never going to be any better than the 15-20 bottle. Most wine experts can’t tell the difference in blindfold tests. But still, image and perception is important.
Wine experts definitely can tell which is "better", and bass experts can definitely tell which is "better." However, sound is objective, and minute differences really don't matter, especially if you run it through lots of amp settings and digital effects.
While I would agree that pros can afford more expensive instruments, expensive instruments can sound not so great, and that after a certain $$ amount you get diminishing returns on your invest. I would have to disagree that pros only buy them because they can afford them. As a musician who’s been playing for over 30 yrs with some of that time as a pro, I can tell you the main reason musicians buy expensive or custom instruments is over the years you develop certain preferences and requirements from an instrument that you just can’t get with “off the shelf” gear. That subtle difference makes ALL the difference. This is the main reason why you rarely find seasoned players in Guitar Center or Sam Ash. That and quite frankly we tend to know more about the fear in the store than most of the employees simply because we’ve been around much longer.
This isn't wine, it's a guitar with many parts. I have less expensive and more expensive guitars, and there is an easily noticeable difference- don't fool yourself. But much like he talked about in the video, the quality of the less expensive guitars has definitely gone way up since the '80's. Squier makes really good guitars- especially at the higher end of the price range. But I can tell you wholeheartedly that they aren't to the level of Fender American just yet. You are going to deal with inferior hardware, scratchy pots, having to resolder wires at times, and with tuning and intonation issues that will have to be fixed. It's totally doable, but the Fender stuff is just better. And believe me, a lot of pros aren't exactly rolling in cash. They just have to have tools that reliably perform when they need them to.
I have a squier classic vibe 70's precision bass guitar I just bought this month and ksm music in Logan Utah put a K.S.M bridge on the bass and a quarter pounder pickup in it now it is awesome 👌 I have fender pro two American sires jazz bass and a five string fender player series jazz bass guitar but I'm really liking the squier classic vibe 70's precision bass guitar
Just stumbled upon your channel, and watched a couple of videos. I wanted to thank you for your general attitude, thoughtfulness in what you address and why, and your honesty. There are tons of bass channels, like tons of basses, but finding the genuine keepers is always a boon. Keep it up and be well.
I just spent just over $2,000 Australian on two Fender Player Series Basses, a PJ Mustang and a Jazz Bass. I did have two Squier Jazz Basses, but had to sell them due to the weight. I have Fibromyalgia, and arthritis. The two new Player Series instruments are lighter in weight, and are better quality in general than the two Squiers were. But, the two Squiers were still really good instruments...
It's definitely all about the FEEL. I go to a local guitar shop and a while ago, I picked up one of the road worn MIM P basses that Fender used to make. I had played a bunch of the higher end stuff in the shop, but now every single time I go in and pick up a bass to try out a pedal or an amp there, I go get that bass. I've never thought I'd be one for the Road Worn stuff, but it's definitely been on my list for a while.
My analogy is this, an instrument is sort of like buying a car. You get a Nissan Micra or something like that when you're young, maybe you deliver pizzas for cash. Imagine that? You're little car is earning you money! Now fast forward 20 years and you're a taxi driver. Do you drive the same car? If you're driving all day every day, you want something really comfortable that's a treat to drive. Same with guitars. You get a Squier or Epiphone when you're young, play it in a punk band at the weekend, it does its job and you love it. Now you're a big shot session player (lol) or more realistically you're playing with a solid band regularly and also do some recording. You want an instrument that's easier to play and helps rather than hinders you. Just like with cars, they do the same job, just more expensive ones do it more elegantly.
I started playing Bass in the late seventies and wished there were such an opportunity like a Harley Benton or a Squier. My first Bass was an awfull no Name Bass. But I had to live with it. Had no Parents that supported me, so it took a while I could afford an Asco Rickenbacker, later I switch to Ibanez. And they all do their Job. Twenty years ago I bought my first Ernie Ball Musicman Sterling and this was a real game changer! It Shows me the way to Fender P Basses. Meanwhile I know a lot of Bassplayers with expensive Vintage Basses and High End Instruments, BUT, even These Players uses late 80's Squier P Basses for Studio work. Meanwhile I often use Marcus Miller Basses because of the versatility of the Sound and the very good Neck/playability. Now I am realy in love with the new Squier CV '50 Series. Is it as good as my Musicman and my active P Basses? It depends on. If you Play some Motown or old Michael Jackson or ZZ Top, thats the Sound you like to have. Forget About the Brand Porn! To me 95% of your Sound is in your Finger or Pick. An expensive Instrument doesnt make you Play better, but helps you to express yourselve. Sorry for my bad english;-)
Hello! I am actually looking at buying a Marcus Miller bass, the sire P7, one of my bigger concerns is, does it have fret buzz? I am coming from a no-name bass too, and that is honestly one of the most annoying things about my bass.
@@lightning1091 Did you set it up? If so, how did you set it up? This will be my second bass and my first setup, because on my first bass once I actually started getting real with it and learned what a setup was, I figured I would just get it on my new bass. I really have no experience with setting up my bass.
I own the Squire 70’ classic vibe P-Bass. I can not tell you how impressed with it. The classic vibe is a huge step up from standard squire. It is a great middle ground. Quality vs. affordability can not go wrong. But if you are going with a Squire go to the higher tier classic vibes for $100 more you get a a lot more quality and sound.
Thanks for the insightful video, Tyler. I have been playing since 1990 and yes the market really did change a lot. I started out playing a Japanese Fender Jazz because that's what I could afford in those days and the cheaper instruments back then weren't very reliable, a hit or miss market really. Over the years I have been trading up buying and selling used market because those hold their value pretty much, allowing you to keep trading until you find the brand and model you're most happy with. Now in my early fifties I play Zon, Warwick, Fodera and Fender USA basses and am absolutely loving it. However: When I think about those early days of gigging my cheaper japanese Fender Jazz and the backup Ibanez Soundgear I had back then, I was having at least as much fun back then playing on not such high end instruments. I think by 'upgrading' really all I have been doing is spoil myself. It is kinda like driving to the supermarket in a Lamborgini - totally unnecessary but it does feel good. So I fully agree with you. Yes there is a difference between cheaper and top end gear. No the difference is not all deciding. You can have tons of fun playing a cheaper Ibby, Squier or Sire bass. The quality of them is nothing short of amazing for the money spent. My advice to people starting out on bass is buy one you can afford that feels good. If the sound after a while makes you question the instrument you can easily upgrade the pickups, this won't cost you an arm and a leg. Spend time learning to set up your instrument to your liking, this makes a world of difference. There are a lot of videos on youtube on properly setting up your bridge and truss rod and it is worth getting into. A good setup on any bass is a day and night difference. Thanks again, this is a great video that totally makes sense.
Japanese Fenders are made with just as much love and care, Fender just doesn’t give them the ability to make the same parts as used in American Basses. They’re frequently not allowed to use whole techniques because those are MOSTLY reserved for American made Basses.
as a pro tech and musician: i can tell you, its difficult to buy a 'bad guitar/bass" these days. the inferior bits can be replaced to you liking (pickups,tuners pots are the iffy parts). i have many expensive gibsons and fender guitars but my absolute fav bass is a fender'modern player' made in the fender chinese factory. my goto guitar is an epiphone factory 2nd les paul with one pickup upgrade and sperzel tuner upgrade. your dad is correct in the 60's-early 80's a cheaper end guitar was sometimes made of plywood and built by hand....nowadays CNC machines do must of the work perfectly for the wood and neck. you can thank all the great heavy metal players of the 80's for demanding better products as lead playing/technical playing means a better instrument.
As a guy who owns a classic vibe 60's jazz bass but also gets to try expensive Fenders at my local favorite shop Classic Vibes will do you just fine. The first thing i go by is the "feel in the hand" and then the sound, you can always upgrade pick ups, the bridge, tone pots, tuners, ans the nut but you can't upgrade how the bass feels in your hands. My Classic Vibe has good acoustic resonance but I've played Fenders that are dead and lifeless unplugged and that translates evwn when plugged in. Just my two cents 👍
Yup, been saying this for the past couple of years. When I started playing in the 80s you could find a REALLY crappy instrument but with CNC, better tech, etc. Now if you spend $400-600 (like bargained at Guitar Center) at then you are likely to get a something pretty nice. You may have to swap electronics or Pick Ups, but it's not like you won't have a well made, playable instrument that stays in tune. Higher end instruments now have design features and cosmetics, but if your are starting, or just getting your feet wet, it's much easier nowadays...
I had a Fender Precision bass for many years, customized with a J-Bass bridge pickup. Despite its beautiful sound, I always preferred the feel of a Jazz Bass, but never thought I could afford one. Not long ago, I decided that someone else could make good use of my Fender, and I sold it to get a Squier Affinity J-Bass. The bottom line is, I enjoyed the comfortable low-end J-Bass more, and the audience has no idea the difference. It's just a low, thumpy thing in the mix no matter which bass I play. A year ago, I bought Squier again, this time a Jaguar SS short scale. Love it! I then tuned the J-Bass to BEAD, keeping the Jag as my main bass. I am so happy with my new brace of basses, much happier than with the top-quality Precision. For the resale price of the P-Bass, I was able to get the two Squiers and a Rumble 40 (I already have a stage amp), with change to spare. Both of my Squiers have great workmanship and sound great, even with stock pickups. Good hardware, good balance, tight fits of parts. The contoured body, light weight, and playability of the Jag SS is so valuable to comfortable playing, something much more important to me as an experienced bassist that has played 5-hour gigs.
As a follow-up, I ended up selling the 34" Affinity a few days ago because I am happier with the 30" scale Squier Jaguar SS. I'm a complete convert to short scale basses now. I've never played a more comfortable bass (weight, neck, body contour) than my $200 Jag. I use it mainly for reggae, Afropop, 1969-1973 Santana, and 1968-1974 Motown. I am in the process of upgrading the pickups. It wasn't necessary for the P (mid) pickup, but the J (bridge) was really lacking. I may replace a volume pot with a blend. I seem to have a different philosophy than many bassists. I try to improve the sound of my bass with my playing techniques, rather than spending more money on the initial cost of the instrument. Also, I love the idea of having a single bass, rather than having a collection. I've always had the money to buy more, but for all of my bass-playing career until 2019, I had a single P-Bass that served me well. However, on the instrument quality issue, I would think differently if I were a studio musician. I mainly play onstage. My bass helps define my sound and becomes my particular voice.
Even a novice like myself can hear the difference between these two. It’s quit drastic. But....the Squier doesn’t in any way sound bad. I’m torn on a Player Series or upper price Squier
To say it in a very concise manner: These days, a $/£ 400 instrument will rarely limit a performance or gig. A Classic Vibe with a proper setup is probably 90% as good as 90% instruments you've ever seen on stage. Certainly spending more $$ can get you a better feeling or sounding, a more versatile instrument or a different look but the notion that most players that have been playing five years or less would be held back by an upper end Squier or an entry level Fender... pure nonsense.
I started to buy and sell different basses about a decade ago and for me the truth about buying a bass in 2021 is that in most cases buying a new bass is not the best option. At least for a beginner.
Depending on where you buy you can return a used bass but a new bass return policies are usually better from the amount of time you have to return a used bass vs a new bass or a store credit or exchange as opposed to a cash refund or exchange
I agree wholeheartedly. The pioneer was Dr. William Demming in the post war era and the quality of Japanese manufacturing was forever changed when they adopted his statistical process control concepts. Followed by the process of continuous improvement processes primarily in automotive manufacturing. That eventually found its way into many manufacturing facilites in Asia and fortunately into musical instruments it was not happen stance. Thus the quality of Fender and others made in Japan.
I've bought a new CV 60's Squier P, bridge was bad, replaced with a 60's J sharp frets, loose bridge and one tuner not in line, replaced it with a 60's P, bridge out of line, one tuner not in line, sharp frets and dead notes on the D string, replaced it with a Sire V3 2nd generation and couldn't be happier, the latest series of Squiers are not up to their usual standard as the VM series was I'm sorry to say.
I totaly disagree with idiоts who tell that if you are new player you must buy crappy instrument !!! My mom bought me made in Germany Warwick bass when i was jast a begginer and this bass is with me since then and it is great!!!
ⰔⰎⰑⰂⰑⰀⰎⰎⰀⰘⰑⰂⰑ totally! My first bass was a USA Jazz - my dad’s a bit of a gear snob! If you can start out on an expensive bass - do it! But I know most of my musician friends didn’t have the backing from parents for that, or just couldn’t afford it themselves. This video is just mostly to say that if you aren’t in a situation to spend a lot of money, don’t worry about it, but spend as much as you can, and most importantly find something you like! T
Less expensive does not mean crappy. My first bass was a 1980 Peavey T40. My second bass was a Japanese made Westone 5 string. It is 25 years old now and sounds amazing. But my favorite bass? A Michael Kelly 5-String that cost $349. An amazing instrument. Some of us had to buy our own instruments and research by going to music shops and actually playing dozens of different basses as we didn't have the internet then to give us ratings.
Good for you if you keep playing for the rest of your life but most of the people play for fun or drop the bass after awhile. Also not everyone is rich, the point of the video is to say that your still getting a good instrument for that price.
I think a lot of people have instrument envy. They see the $3,000 custom shop fender jazz with the sunburst and the OG 60's pickups in the hands of a god and it sounds like angels singing. That same player can make a $300 squire do the same thing with only minor differences In sound quality. I have a good friend who is a luthier and he made my $100 Esteban acoustic sound like a $500 guitar with a proper set up. When we play, I play his 1960 fender P bass that was used to record records for incredible bands back in the day. His favorite bass to play? Some shitty Frankenstein squire he's modified to sound the way he wants it to. He showed me you don't have to own insanely priced instruments to sound good, just some love and pride in what you are playing. Switch up the pick ups, get good strings, maybe get a nice bridge and that $300 bass sounds as good as a $1200 fender. Name recognition is a bastard
My son and I went surfing with a close friend of his… this kid jumped in the car with this shitty looking board that had been snapped in half and reglued…a complete train wreck…anyway.. we got to the beach, headed out… and this kid is just tearing it apart…. The rest of us…humbled… I now try to live and think … it’s what can we do for the instrument, not what the instrument can do for us… some basses just seem to work against us .. so be it… and some basses after some TLC with new strings, a set up, and finding a tone on the amp that it responds to… and it’s like… wow…
Great video as usual! As to me: I've always played on expensive basses: Fender JB, Musicman sterling, Warwick Thumb until last year I tried Cort Action V Plus in the music store just for fun, it was the cheapest bass in there and I was blew away by the quality and comfortability of that bass, I payed 200$ for that bass and since that time I play gigs, recording TH-cam videos mostly on this Cort, it is the most comfortable bass I've ever held in my hands and it sounds great ! Also I've sold all of my expensive basses because after the Cort I cannot play on them anymore.
Tyler Spicer well i did get the same bass but the color i changed to black. I’m very satisfied with my purchase , plays very well and looks fantastic!!!
You've got the example of Rocco Paladino (son of Pino, and like his father a session bassist that plays for Tom Misch and others). Most of the time he plays with a Squier CV 60s jazz bass.
I bought a 70’s classic vibe p bass a few months back and I LOVE IT! Sounds and sets up better than my Japanese fender jag. No fret buzz out of the box and that was my biggest concern. Beautiful instrument.
Here here… I grew up with your dad, or at least in that generation and yes it’s true there was a lot of garbage to be had at the lower level, or entry-level instrument price. Not so much the case anymore, it’s amazing what a quality instrument you can buy for very little money.
Squier isn’t the cruddy brand it used to be. I actually just spent some time looking at budget-friendly guitars, and there’s so much out there that’s quite usable! This totally applies to basses, too! Thanks for spreading the good word!
I have been playing for 48 years. My first bass was a Sears guitar that I put a set of Rotosounds on. We are well past those days. The fact is that modern manufacturing is much better than it was in the 70s. If you feel like coughing up $5,000 for a boutique instrument more power to you. However you are not going to get something that is exponentially better than a lower priced bass. My favorite bass is a Bacchus Handcrafted Series that I picked up for less than a grand. I will stack that bass against a Sadowski anytime anywhere.
It's all about feel. Most times it's the radius of the neck, how the treats are smoothed out, the nut, and sharp edges. The bridge and how smooth it feels
As the very proud owner of a Yamaha RBX260, which was purchased for £200 back in 2003, and has had no upgrades done, has been gigged and travelled and gigged and rehearsed, and once fell out of a moving vehicle in a soft shoulder-carry case, has gone down three different flights of stairs unaided, has had an almost-full pint glass thrown at it, has been intentionally thrown across a road after a really bad gig (that wasn’t its fault), and has been used as a weapon in self defence, and gigged some more even during the lockdown, I can safely say that it still sounds like a charming eighties jazz bass, as it always has. And there is no way I’d have given it all of those adventures if it were an Alembic.
I find the neck shapes and finish on squiers to be a big difference. They have a pretty wide range of shapes, but you can always take sandpaper to them and maybe end up liking them even more!
I got an MiJ 1969 (Fujigen factory) Fender 62 reissue for £600, added RES-O-LITE tuners, a high mass GOTOH bridge and GZR pick-ups and it plays like a really really expensive P bass, I did a lot of work to it took everything apart even shimmerd the neck joint weighted it in the pots cavity to balance perfectly, copper foil, leveled the frets, the works. I played it next to a moollon and guess what I actually preferred the Fender and craziest thing is its a basswood body but it's a very very nice bass, has character.
I’ve bought basses from Squier, Schecter, high end Ibanez ehb exotic, Musicman Stingrays, 2 Spectors and a Dingwall along with a couple custom built Jazz and a 58 P bass and with a great setup...and....with knowing your bass and your playing technique.....a good player can make almost “anything” sound good in the studio and on stage!
Any instrument can be made to sound and play superbly. I have a beautiful 4 string Stagg cost me £80 on ebay. Had an action so high you could have sliced chips on it and the intonation was a full tone out. Yet it has a solid alder body, quarter sawn maple neck and a 2 octave fingerboard and is fretless. It is also a jazz/precision bass hybrid having a jazz bass pick up in the bridge position and a precision type pick up set about half way up the body. Took it apart, changed the neck screws to bolts, and reset the neck with a 1. 5° back angle. Moved the bridge bock back 1cm which corrected the intonation and replaced the Pickups with a set of Bloodstone scatter wound (hand wound) pickups (£60 on ebay). So I now have a bass that sounds like a 1950's jazz bass on the bridge pickup and a 1950's precision bass on the middle pickup, all in one instrument, and looks great on stage to boot. You can learn all you need to know about setting up your bass by watching and paying attention to videos on TH-cam on the subject.
Harley Benton are amazing for the price. As you go up it's the law of diminishing returns. I have a 2015 Mexican jazz bass that I paid £600 for - I had it set up and fret dressed. Plays lovely. Massive upgrade is always the pickups. I put Aguilar aghc4's in, and my instrument is now streets ahead of anything I played in the 80s. Do I need a £2000 bass? Nah. 🌴
Very insightful analysis. Thanks for the information! I know that a Squier Affinity PJ Bass is an awesome sounding bass. I knew that I wanted it to kick more, so I had it upgraded with an Audere Classic preamp and Delano pickups. It was definitely cool before the upgrade, but now it’s a beast! The Sire V3 is a beast! I will not have the preamp and pickups changed. For the Sire V7 Vintage Second Generation 5 string, I had Bass Mods Phatty 5 pickups added to it because unlike the V3, it didn’t seem to kick as much. Now with the different pickups, it is a beast! My Carvin SB4000 is probably my best bass as far as mid to high end basses. I learned a lesson from playing it recently. The strings are not new anymore. But when I play with a certain pickup and tone setting, the bass still has some “growl” and impressive tone. So I understand why I keep hearing people say playing the bass is all in the fingers (I don’t believe it’s ALL in the fingers, or else no one would ever buy new strings or upgrade; Marcus Miller would play a Squier with original stock electronics every time. Lol. So some of it is the bass, electronics, amp, etc.). Right now, my Squier Affinity PJ Bass, which also doesn’t have new strings will kick way better slap tone that the Carvin! So your video is accurate. A person can buy a budget bass and upgrade it to be a beast. Would the Affinity PJ be able to hang out with the Carvin if it didn’t have the Audere and Delano upgrades? I doubt it. So that proves that it’s not all in the fingers. Lol. A person can pick up some basses, and they think they are John Pataucci or Stanley Clarke.
You offer solid insights and advise here. The more experience one gains as a player, the more one can start to notice the differences in quality of instruments.
we bought a 1985 USA made peavey forum bass brand new 334 bucks still have it plays great sounds great i can not tell you how many thousands of dollars that bass has made us over the years ,,,best money on a bass we ever spent
Yamaha BBs are hard to beat if you can find one that fits! Fender Player series are great value for money and I've only ever heard good things about sire, even if I've never played them! T
@@TylerSpicer Thanks. Appreciate the input. I actually ordered a Sterling Stingray short-scale in Black with maple-neck. Played-one, and was blown-away. oNe LovE from NYC
I found a discontinued 2014 Squire P Bass made in Indonesia, on facebook marketplace for only $100, needed a little setup and new strings but other than that it was in really great shape so i snatched it up. It also has a rosewood board instead of the current pau ferro/indian laurel boards on squiers these days....You think I made a pretty decent score? also, I think this was a great video and a good topic. Buying is much much different these days, and I remember buying a squier bullet strat in the early mid 2000s, it was absolutely garbage....so much pickup noise, sharp fret edges, cheap unfinished neck etc....This 2014 squier bass feels WAY better quality than I remember that 2003 squier bullet guitar having...
I started playing in the early 90s and the market has changed quite a bit since then. You can get a decent bass for 300 bucks these days. When I started 300 would buy you a headache. Obviously you will get better quality for more but you can buy a new bass for 300 and play gigs without wanting to run the thing through a wood chipper. I have higher end basses but I have quite a few cheaper basses that i play regularly. Good time to get into bass.
Biggest thing for me on any guitar in the budget range is finish. If the strings are a mile high off the fretboard and you can't lower them without fret buzz or adjusting the neck, or the fret ends are like a cheese greater. That's a deal breaker. My advice is to try in store. There are good budget and bad budget instruments. Also a lot have high frets in places on budget range. You can get away with it on some guitars but frets should be same height ideally. Also check intonation. Some can be in tune in one place and go horribly flat or sharp up the neck. Most guitars you can cure this but some in budget range are not curable. I won't order guitars online because of all these problems in budget range. If you have to return it ends up costing to insure returns. A lot of couriers only cover for loss but not damage in transit. Go to a trusted store and try. There are good buys, take someone experienced with you if a beginner.
Just bought a p bass from wish and put a new neck on it with a total of 120$ and after setting it up, it sounds and plays literally just as well as my 1500$ American standard jazz bass.
The Squire 'vintage modified' range of basses and guitars are very good. I've been doing session work for 45 years, I also build and restore basses and guitars and among my basses is a vintage modified Jazz bass which is one of my preferred basses for sessions...it really is that good. I've used it live with a few named bands too, never fails. My 3 ultimate basses are a 1963 Rickenbacker RS1999, a 69 Jazz and a 68 P bass which I restored myself. The vintage modified jazz bass holds its own pretty well in this company.
My belief is that a cheap bass + an EQ pedal is the way to go. If you are not completly happy with your tone, then shake a couple slides and that's it. Also never forget to use a compressor, no matter what bass you're playing. No need to crank it, just let it do it's thing smoothly and your bass and your playing will shine.
I wasn't getting the compression argument until I realised my favourite amp has a compression button - makes the fretless shine :-). These Zoom B1 Four are quite useful ways to dial in tone options even from cheap pickups - plus runs of 4 AA batteries so you can practice anywhere via headphones.
That’s a great question! At that stage it’s got to be about feel - you really need to get them into your hands and spend a good amount of time playing them and working out the nuances of each. The more expensive the purchase, the more time I’ll spend in the shop playing it and comparing. I’ve been known to spend 4hrs+ on the highest end basses (MTD, Fodera Etc.) before feeling comfortable enough to make a decision. I made that very decision myself, and chose my 59 custom shop P bass over an American Original 60s. It was a very close run thing, but the quality of wood on the CS was more aesthetically pleasing and the fit and finish just a tiny bit better. However the biggest factor was the pickup: I found the Original 60s to be a little bit too hot, which I found lacked nuance in the sound. On the other hand the CS felt a little more open over the full range of the instrument whilst not being quite as “loud” - but there’s always the gain knob for that. As I say I’d have been happy taking home either, but I felt at that kind of price I wanted to go that extra mile and pick the bass that could be a companion I’d be happy with for life (I’m never gonna sell a workhorse P - always gonna be needed!). T
I bought a 2020 made Squire "J" bass to replace my older 2007 one (Which had a rosewood fingerboard can't get that on a cheap Squire anymore) with a "broken" truss rod and also to go with my 2016 Jaguar "PJ" bass I got from a friend in 2020. All made in Indonesia. They both needed a proper setup and new strings (Flats). Setting up the 2020 "J" bass was interesting as the neck was making all kinds of creaking sounds but eventually settled. I am happy with the price and products. And as a final note; The best bass is the one you have in your hands right then and there.
Great video and glad to see someone saying it. Now do this video with bass amps! :) I don't even play a bass, am getting into guitar but thinking of eventually moving to bass so I love these videos
I love it when people speak about “cheap” wood, as if there’s any study out there linking wood price/provenience to the ever subjective tone of instruments.
A difficult one really. The Foderas and MTDs I've owned have been phenomenal and bot builders are very specific about their woods. Of course they're also phenomenal craftsmen, but I do think there is some specificity from them in order to achieve their desired end product. It's all my opinions and experience at the end of the day, and I know many people have a very different perspective and I totally get that too. T
@@TylerSpicer Oh, just mentioned it as it is a common place around the globe, that type of assertion I mean. Maybe the way you said it, but I’m not trying to pick on you.
Well Mr. Spicer, I’m not saying you’re wrong but for me, to my ears it was just a volume difference. I listened through Raycon earbuds and they both sounded great except for a lowder volume from your custom bass. I think Bass playing is ALL about preference. I also own a bunch of other slightly more expensive Basses and my favorite go to Bass in my collection is my Squier VM Jag. 😊🤷🏽♂️. Thank you for this video. It was VERY informative and I’m certain that you’ve answered many questions. 👍🏾
Thank for the kind words! I really like the VM Jags so I can understand your happiness with it, and it’s nice to have a Fender with a difference in the collection! T
Decent basses - I have the short scale. Only mods I made was new jazz pickup and heavier bridge - nothing wrong with stock except heavier bridge helps reduce neck dive.
Just got home from the music store. Bought my first Fender P Bass. I've been playing bass for 25 years. And am just now getting into more Jazz and funk. I've done rock and roll, heavy metal and Blues for my whole life. My last few bases were an epiphone Thunderbird bass I paid about $500 for cuz it's the ProSeries and then I've got a really nice Jackson Bass that was about $800 so when I was looking into a Fender bass I didn't want to get the cheapest Squier for $250. I went ahead and got the 70s vintage with the beautiful fretboard for about $500. I got home today and plug it in and the most obnoxious was coming from it. I couldn't take it anymore and I opened it up and found that two of the wires were not started properly which I started both of them. And I should mention I shouldn't have to do that. Not at this price point. I'm still having ground issues because the buzzing is still there it's not as bad as it was but it's still obnoxious. I've got a $89 Glarry bass I bought just to have fun with recently. And I have to honestly say that the Glarry bass plays better at this point in time then my $500 70's vintage Fender Squier.. the only difference is the $89 Glarry bass has cheaper wood and is a lot lighter
I recently played a Fender Player fretless bass. The pau ferro fretboard was better than it seemed to be on guitars. I've got a Fender American Performer Mustang bass that I put flatwound strings on and that is not the bottom end nor the top end but it does the job for me. I like the shorter scale and the circuit for the pickups to be able to blend variable amounts of P and J pickup sounds. I prefer the P bass pickup but a little of the J pickup blended in is a nice variation. Great video!
Just got my 1st bass guitar!! Glarry G-JAZZ II... < $150.00 to my door! Best fretwork on any stringed instrument I have purchased. Wilkinson pickups and strings, bone nut, Canadian maple neck, impressive!!!
I have a Korean 90s fender Jazz Bass. The seller said it was a Squire but the fender decal and serial no look real to me. I’m no bass expert but I put a new set of strings on and it sounds and plays fine, the action is reasonably low.
As a Luthier and bass tec I can tell you what you said about Fender USA selecting better quality wood and taking care of how the wood is seasoned is complete rubbish , as for custom shop its one of the worst hyped piece of marketing ever stressing a body by running an orbital sander over it and the machine heads doesn't make it better , however what you said about squire basses is spot on they are very good value for money that can be a great building block , change the pickups to EMGs for a hotter sound or Bartolini's for a sweat sound ,you could change the bridge at a later date if you desire an even brighter sound , take it to a tec or try yourself to round the edges off a little on the fret board it will make a lot of difference .
I have one of those CV 70s P basses but it's back in the US. I'm currently living in the UK. I really miss that bass. Its really great. I could only bring one with me and decided on my '09 road worn jazz bass.
I own a squier vintage modified telecaster bass and it's a beautiful instrument, I recommend the vintage modified line, or the classic vibe line in the Squier brands. I should have purchased a 60s classic vibe mustang bass when I had the chance, very cool looking instrument.
Thanks for posting Tyler this was very informative and helpful. Had a 2013 American precision then down graded to a Mexican 2015 the difference was minimal then from that to a new player now thinking of a squier classic vibe. Decisions decisions lol
You know what we never see in these types of videos? Handing a off the shelf budget instrument to a beginner and asking them to do the demo. Then, a breakdown as to why it sounds horrible, proceeded by a setup, then a before/after video. Explain WHY in real time it doesn’t play good and WHAT can be done to correct it. Anyone that is proficient on an instrument can espouse the virtues of setups and practice for clicks. Why not do a real time walk through series with an actual beginner?
I recently A-B'd my squier classic vibe (2008/9) against my american vintage 62 P bass, which are separated by around £1500. With the same set of strings, DI'd with nothing added, the ONLY way I could tell them apart in sound was a slight variation in the high end in the voicing of the pickups. Which I actually prefer on the classic vibe! I think there are some things that really are worth the extra money though; things like neck stabilisers/graphite rods. Other than that, I really think the stigma alone is the big difference maker between companies like squier and fender.
I agree those CV pickups come up darker. I think neck reinforcement/how a neck is built can really help the longevity of an instrument, and really I think an instrument should be built to last as long as you do on this earth, and beyond! T
Good video! The "higher end" basses (Fender, USA made, AP) has graphic rods in the neck to help with climate change and stability, most are lighter, "better" bridge, fluted tuners (helps considerably to stay in tune better), and neck "varnish" to name a few upgrades that are worth it in my estimation and I have had both lines (lower-higher end basses). I won't even touch the sound or pick-ups here, but aside from that the extra money is money well spent because myself and many people I have spoken to keep this line of bass "for life". Again, weighting the pros/cons is key.
We are living in unprecedented times for musicians. While you can spend a small fortune on a bass and gear, the less expensive options have gotten VERY good. CNC machines can crank out precise fitting parts quickly and inexpensively. The biggest difference between a $2000 bass and a $200 bass is the quality of the materials. Provided the wood is not warped or twisted, then it won't really matter. Tuners, bridges, knobs, pots, jacks....can all be upgraded easily. The dressing of the frets is also an area where less expensive instruments often fall short, but watch a few TH-cam videos and buy some fret files and you can dress them yourself. I'm at a point in my life that I can afford to have some nice things and I even have a custom made bass. But at the end of the day, put a Harley Benton in the hands of a great player versus a $8000 Fodera in my hands....and the great player will still sound better. You can't buy skill. Before you upgrade your bass, spend some money on lessons and education.
You're absolutely right man. I did a show where I play my Ibanez BTB bass and I took my daughter's $200.00 Squier Jazz bass and I ended up playing the bass the rest of the gig. With a little eq adjustment she rocked.
... until the bass gets stressed by the seasons (temperature/humidity/salt) or by your sweat, until the frets get stressed by years of fretting them, until it gets beaten by loading the van thousands of times, then you're going to get the difference between a cheap bass and a professional instrument. I do agree that the entry level/cheap instruments nowadays are made way better than 30 years ago, when a cheap bass was good for feeding the fireplace only.
The truth about buying a bass in 2020 (if you live is Oz) is everything is sold out everywhere, stocks are really low, and if you do find something, get it now before someone else does. Just bought a bass and it was the last of the series I was looking at in Sydney.
Hi Tyler, I was going to buy my first Bass in September but life and Covid got in the way so I can only get it in December (hopefully), meanwhile I can't decide between a Yamaha TRBX174EW and a Fender Squier Affinity PJ Bass. I always loved Fender's Basses but I'm loving Yamaha's Tobacco Brow Burst color, I really can't decide which one I should get.
I've never played bass before and I've watched a ton of videos and most of them are played in a rock style. This was refreshing. Do you recommend this for beginners who want to play and write surf rock and indie rock/pop music?
Troy Sanders of mastodon played a squire jag for virtually their entire career. Hes my bass idol. Cheaps good enough for me if I get to get creative with fx chains
Great insight and advice. I think playability is key if using a highly processed sound chain. If recording in the box the considerations are different again. I think a single 'go to' comfortable bass is essential. Can take time to find. I think modding a cheapo is a good long-term term strategy.
I also own a similar bass: Squier '70 CV but black with gold pickguard, lyndy fralyn pickup with thomastick flatwound strings. Payed 280€ used. I have no amps, I use an eq pedal, a preamp and an ir simulator (both sonicake), so I go direct to PA. I spend less then 500€ for everything...
I just ordered my firstbass, Yamaha BB234, It's a 300$ bass brand new. Also, I'm a beginner and is just starting to get into the bass world, do you think i made the right choice?
Great choice! You can’t go wrong with a Yamaha and it will last you many many years. I wish you luck and hope you enjoy the experience - being a bassist is great! T
Just bought the same thing a few days ago in what they call a Surf Green (Sea Foam, really). Not a popular color, so I got it for $100 less ($329 vs, $429) from Musician's Friend. Surprisingly, it even came in a Godin padded gig bag--both came in a Takamine box. Thought I got "used" deal. Maybe I did, but the bass and gig bag was pristine. Wasn't expected. Not sure if they made a mistake. Bonus! I don't have any experience with high-end basses, but I can tell you that this one sounds and plays great. I run it through a Hartke HD50 amp at home. I need someone with better chops than me to play it and critique it. Great deal just the same.
I play a squire precision in my band and I just added a Peavey Jazz bass both are immaculate. to be hones if you play in a small band and are not a professional then to be honest it is hard to know how you sound to an audience. I get the other bass player to play my basses to find out but the audience don't know and don't care too much. I appreciate that in time hopefully I will be able to compare to expensive instruments but you can get a lot more by getting a good set up good amp and strings and loads of practice.
What do you think of the Yamaha TRBX 304? I am a pro-touring acoustic blues and folk player & singer songwriter looking to get a bass just to lay down tracks on top of the guitar at home. I have been sending music out to friends who are session pros and former band mates but thinking I want to ecpidite the process. I never played bass but have been playing guitar for a very, very long time. Acoustic finger picking blues and finger style What do you recommend? I like what I have seen and heard of the Yamaha TRBX304 but never played one. They are on back order everywhere so have to wait to get one. Hey, anybody want to put down some bass tracks? Let me know.
Hello! You can’t go wrong with a Yamaha, but I’d personally shoot for the BB434 due to the PJ setup. You’re gonna have more of those classic tones for your genres from those pickups. It’s gonna make getting the right tones easy and simple. The TRBX is versatile in that you have the EQ, but it’s gonna give a more active sound which wouldn’t be my choice for your genres either. Just my thoughts - I’m a big Yammy fan, but that’s what I’d shoot for! Always up for laying down bass too - contact on my website - a quick google will get you there! T
also remember; those players in the 60's-70's NEEDED a tonally solid instrument as the amps of the day were very limited on tonal choices and near zero effects. you can make a popcicle stick banjo sound good with the processing today!
Hi greetings from Mexico! I've been watching some of your videos and I love them. I'm looking to start playing bass, I've already been studying the theory, just still have some doubts which one to choose from. Among my options are 3 Squier. They are the Classic Vibe '60s precision, Classic Vibe' 50s precision and Classic Vibe '60s Jazz. I just don't know which one to decide on
Thank you! “Block Inlays” is the term for them. They were a 70s feature, so they only really appear on basses emulating that 70s vibe by Fender and others. I think they look really smart, but in general I think cost and time to add them is the reason they often appear/didn’t become standard. I think some people also find them a bit glitzy and just want a simpler looking bass. I personally love them and have them on my Sadowsky UV70 and Warwick Starbass II. T
Thank you! “Block Inlays” is the term for them. They were a 70s feature, so they only really appear on basses emulating that 70s vibe by Fender and others. I think they look really smart, but in general I think cost and time to add them is the reason they often appear/didn’t become standard. I think some people also find them a bit glitzy and just want a simpler looking bass. I personally love them and have them on my Sadowsky UV70 and Warwick Starbass II. T
My feeling on the subject is.......Get the cheap Bass first and when you can play the shit out of it. Graduate to the Bass you want. A good musician can make anything sound good.. Truth!
I agree with everything you say 👍 a solid great example of this is Vulfpeck. So many of their recordings use cheaper basses. Joe uses a squire mini Pbass a couple times and this random 300$ Carlo Robelli bass from the 80s that looks like his Joe Dart signature. And Regi Wooten (Victor Wootens brother/teacher) played a squire guitar live. I think expensive instruments are good for beginners because they're less likely to get discouraged and blame the instrument for the reason they're not progressing. And you kinda feel bad If you get an expensive instrument so you're more likely to play so you don't feel like you wasted your money. And i think it's a pride/shame/insecure thing for some people. People feel cool being seen playing a Fender, but r Embarrassed playing a Harley Benton or Glarry lol
A quick question if you believe a solid body bass is an acoustic instrument: When was the last time you played one for a performance or gig without amplification? Have you ever done a performance or gig where you used a microphone on your solid body bass, not on the bass amp?
I have not, but the pickup acts as microphone for the strings, which are producing sounds acoustically, as you can hear when you play unplugged in a quiet room. If it was a synthesiser then I’d definitely say it’s not at all an acoustic instrument. However, I believe the qualities of a great acoustic instrument do translate when choosing a bass guitar, for me. Ymmv of course, as with everything in life! We all have different experiences and view points and that’s totally cool and what makes us all different! 👌🏻 T
Try playing your bass sometime with, say, nylon strings sometime and see how it sounds through your amp:) Unless it has a piezo pickup, I suspect you'll be doing a performance of John Cage's 4'33" Sorry, it's one of my pet peeves that musicians try to rationalize things that aren't rational like why we like expensive instruments--well, at least solid bodied ones, I think I _can_ tell you why a $20,000 carved bass or a $5,000 acoustic guitar is worth it without resorting to waving my hands or using a dead chicken, but even that might be a struggle given vacuum kilns and CNC machines.
![โรงเรียนดัดสันดาน นักเรียนเถื่อน..!! [โรงเรียนไดเม่]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vRKPeXn4Fl4/mqdefault.jpg)
Nobody in the audience cares what name is on the headstock. If it sounds good keep playing it.
True, I’ve played every level of bass from no name junk to vintage Fender P’s and everything in between. Must say that audiences at our early gigs, before we were signed and couldn’t afford expensive instruments, were ever bit as enthusiastic as they were once we were playing top end guitars and basses bought with record company advance money.
The only people in the audience who care are other musicians, and musicians are arseh*les
The only people who care are your guitard in your band- honestly, they are the only ones who ever try to put down a bass based on the name IME.
So true. As Tyler correctly says, as you advance, you can notice the difference in feel. In some places you will not want to bring your expensive gear and a Squier or Mexican made fender will do just fine.
It does matter to you. I know the Squier is okay compared to what it was 30 yrs ago, but gosh is he wrong saying they're perfectly fine and custom shop is no better. The tone of the Squier has a tonne of issues and in the mixing process there will have to be lots of hours spent fixing them. Good for fun, practice, maybe gigs. Absolute no-no in recording parts. You're better off with a Mexican Fender
I’ve had too many run ins with gear snobs. That attitude is still present, even online.
Oh yes. I remember buying a Fender Precision back in the 80s. Eergh piece of dirt. Then I swapped it for a squire jazz. Dream bass
it's normally the newbee 53 year olds who have NO idea who buys RIC and US basses and chat shit about cheaper stuff, seen it for years they need to concentrate less on brands and actually practice the trade. fuck you
This guy just saved me 400$ bucks , I'll give him a thumb !
Tommie Bouchard Pellerin thank you my man! Much appreciated and glad I could help! T
@@SONDER00 a used squier p bass classic vibe 60's
@@tommiebouchardpellerin1574 I am a beginner and I don't know what to buy to start with can u help me
@@darkmatter4132 Of course:
1- take the time to see what instrument looks good to you (it will give you motivation to play)
2- go to a local store to try some of the instruments that you like the look of it
3- Remember that the cheapest will not keep their value with time and will cost you more since lot of stuff will break on it.
4- Invest more in the begining with the middle range of Squier , Yamaha, Warwick, etc. and with time you'll be able to modify anything on it (pickups, bridge, nut, strings, tuners, neck, electronics) and this will last a lifetime for half the price.
5- Wait before considering buying a high end instrument and play with the middle range one. Because your ear will refine and your knowledge too. Then you will know wich one to look for. Or, keep your money for other things (and keep your average instrument and be happy with it).
im not giving him my thumb i only have two
My tip for any bass purchase is
1) see how much pressure is required down the headstock end on all the strings to get a clean note
2) If it feels like hard work, try putting a capo on at the first fret and see if it's easier
Nine times out of ten, nut slots are cut a bit on the high side especially straight from the factory. If it plays more comfortably straight away with a capo on, it tells you the nut is too high. Not a big deal to get it fixed and will make all the difference! That Squire P sounds really good
I'm searching these videos to convince my friend that he should buy a bass instead of guitar so he could be our bands bassist 😃
show him davie504
can you subscribe my chanel pls?
I hope it helped! He’ll get a lot more work that way too 😉 T
He should really consider being a bassist, cos people dance to the bass, not the guitar... get an affinity PJ squier, it’s good and has all the tone from Motown to Rock.. and it’s so damn cheap for tones that i could drool on for days... bass amp = Fender Rumble 200 (u could hook it up to a PA and is super loud with great tones)
@@ShazShaun yeah too bad he already bought a guitar 😒
I'm still trying tho
Largely agree, as someone old enough to have had new basses in the '70s I can say that many Fenders were rubbish, and according to guitarist friends at the time many Fender/Gibson guitars were pretty poor too. Gone were the lightweight seasoned woods, and production techniques were still mainly manual so there were huge variances in quality and weight, there were some good Fenders, but shouldn't they all have been good?
What started a huge change was when Tokai started making Fender clones which were far better than the originals, CNC and now CAD transformed guitar manufacturing, with much improved quality and consistency so build quality is now almost exclusively great at almost every price point. It's the law of diminishing returns; you pay disproportionately more for small improvements. Skilled human labour is expensive and slow, so handmade instruments of the same quality as a mass produced instrument are going to be more expensive, arguably for no gain.
Handmade gets you custom builds, I have a Sadowsky NYC5 string exactly as I wanted; quilted maple over swampash body in transparent black with an unmarked ebony fingerboard and chrome hardware; twice the price of a Metro series, but the only real difference is the aesthetics, and the NYC is chambered so is lighter. Twice the bass? no, by it's MY bass and I could afford it. Just one example; Sire basses are fantastic instruments, AND they are inexpensive
I agree also. My first bass,that i kept until today,is a peavey fury.The one with a slanted pickup.It plays like a p bass.Guitars are much better than they were in the early 70s.
I've been playing for 30 years and I've never played a Fender I liked.
Agreed. I had a Japan Squier Jazz that was miles better than lots of "vintage" instruments I played before they were old and bashed up. Learn to set up your gear yourself and then just worry about wood stability on the cheapos.
@@nellsonogmore5938 You are in the minority.
Undoubtedly expensive basses feel and look better, without necessarily sounding a great deal better. I don’t think anyone with an advanced technique would not have a problem playing a Squier. The reason pros have expensive basses is because they have the money to afford them. Expensive Basses have only subtle differences - beyond a certain point, subtle improvements require better materials and greater production time. It’s a bit like the fine wine marketing myth - arguably, anything over a certain price point (say, 20 bucks) is never going to be any better than the 15-20 bottle. Most wine experts can’t tell the difference in blindfold tests. But still, image and perception is important.
Wine experts definitely can tell which is "better", and bass experts can definitely tell which is "better." However, sound is objective, and minute differences really don't matter, especially if you run it through lots of amp settings and digital effects.
@@thierry18 wine experts also routinely get fooled in blind tests. same is true for other "connoisseurs"
While I would agree that pros can afford more expensive instruments, expensive instruments can sound not so great, and that after a certain $$ amount you get diminishing returns on your invest. I would have to disagree that pros only buy them because they can afford them.
As a musician who’s been playing for over 30 yrs with some of that time as a pro, I can tell you the main reason musicians buy expensive or custom instruments is over the years you develop certain preferences and requirements from an instrument that you just can’t get with “off the shelf” gear. That subtle difference makes ALL the difference.
This is the main reason why you rarely find seasoned players in Guitar Center or Sam Ash. That and quite frankly we tend to know more about the fear in the store than most of the employees simply because we’ve been around much longer.
This isn't wine, it's a guitar with many parts. I have less expensive and more expensive guitars, and there is an easily noticeable difference- don't fool yourself. But much like he talked about in the video, the quality of the less expensive guitars has definitely gone way up since the '80's. Squier makes really good guitars- especially at the higher end of the price range. But I can tell you wholeheartedly that they aren't to the level of Fender American just yet. You are going to deal with inferior hardware, scratchy pots, having to resolder wires at times, and with tuning and intonation issues that will have to be fixed. It's totally doable, but the Fender stuff is just better. And believe me, a lot of pros aren't exactly rolling in cash. They just have to have tools that reliably perform when they need them to.
I have a squier classic vibe 70's precision bass guitar I just bought this month and ksm music in Logan Utah put a K.S.M bridge on the bass and a quarter pounder pickup in it now it is awesome 👌 I have fender pro two American sires jazz bass and a five string fender player series jazz bass guitar but I'm really liking the squier classic vibe 70's precision bass guitar
You have alot of knowledge for such a young person buddy. You're a good bass player too!
Keep up the great and informative work man!
Thank you for watching and the support Adam. Massively appreciated! Just happy to help where I can. T
Just stumbled upon your channel, and watched a couple of videos. I wanted to thank you for your general attitude, thoughtfulness in what you address and why, and your honesty. There are tons of bass channels, like tons of basses, but finding the genuine keepers is always a boon. Keep it up and be well.
I just spent just over $2,000 Australian on two Fender Player Series Basses, a PJ Mustang and a Jazz Bass.
I did have two Squier Jazz Basses, but had to sell them due to the weight.
I have Fibromyalgia, and arthritis.
The two new Player Series instruments are lighter in weight, and are better quality in general than the two Squiers were.
But, the two Squiers were still really good instruments...
Sounds like you got a bargain, four basses for $2000 Australian wow
@@paulevans4334
No, Two new basses.
😊
The weight is an issue for me too. I'm about to buy a new, slightly more expensive bass because the Squier is pretty darn heavy.
Pretty sure Ibanez basses are rather light weight as well.
unwatch this
It's definitely all about the FEEL. I go to a local guitar shop and a while ago, I picked up one of the road worn MIM P basses that Fender used to make. I had played a bunch of the higher end stuff in the shop, but now every single time I go in and pick up a bass to try out a pedal or an amp there, I go get that bass. I've never thought I'd be one for the Road Worn stuff, but it's definitely been on my list for a while.
Feel is everything
I'm with you man. I got a roadworn 60's Jazz Bass because it felt and sounded better to me than all the other Jazz Basses in the store.
@@PhilosophicalCat Doesn't matter if it's road worn or not. If it feels and sounds good, you gotta have it!
Same here. I have a MIM Road Worn Fender P bass, which is now my go to bass for performances, and I love it!
My analogy is this, an instrument is sort of like buying a car. You get a Nissan Micra or something like that when you're young, maybe you deliver pizzas for cash. Imagine that? You're little car is earning you money! Now fast forward 20 years and you're a taxi driver. Do you drive the same car? If you're driving all day every day, you want something really comfortable that's a treat to drive.
Same with guitars. You get a Squier or Epiphone when you're young, play it in a punk band at the weekend, it does its job and you love it. Now you're a big shot session player (lol) or more realistically you're playing with a solid band regularly and also do some recording. You want an instrument that's easier to play and helps rather than hinders you. Just like with cars, they do the same job, just more expensive ones do it more elegantly.
I started playing Bass in the late seventies and wished there were such an opportunity like a Harley Benton or a Squier. My first Bass was an awfull no Name Bass. But I had to live with it. Had no Parents that supported me, so it took a while I could afford an Asco Rickenbacker, later I switch to Ibanez. And they all do their Job. Twenty years ago I bought my first Ernie Ball Musicman Sterling and this was a real game changer! It Shows me the way to Fender P Basses. Meanwhile I know a lot of Bassplayers with expensive Vintage Basses and High End Instruments, BUT, even These Players uses late 80's Squier P Basses for Studio work. Meanwhile I often use Marcus Miller Basses because of the versatility of the Sound and the very good Neck/playability. Now I am realy in love with the new Squier CV '50 Series. Is it as good as my Musicman and my active P Basses? It depends on. If you Play some Motown or old Michael Jackson or ZZ Top, thats the Sound you like to have. Forget About the Brand Porn!
To me 95% of your Sound is in your Finger or Pick. An expensive Instrument doesnt make you Play better, but helps you to express yourselve. Sorry for my bad english;-)
Hello! I am actually looking at buying a Marcus Miller bass, the sire P7, one of my bigger concerns is, does it have fret buzz? I am coming from a no-name bass too, and that is honestly one of the most annoying things about my bass.
@@jacobroy317 Hi Jacob, go for it. P7 is a great Bass. There is no fret buzz on both of my P7
@@lightning1091 Did you set it up? If so, how did you set it up? This will be my second bass and my first setup, because on my first bass once I actually started getting real with it and learned what a setup was, I figured I would just get it on my new bass. I really have no experience with setting up my bass.
I own the Squire 70’ classic vibe P-Bass. I can not tell you how impressed with it. The classic vibe is a huge step up from standard squire. It is a great middle ground. Quality vs. affordability can not go wrong. But if you are going with a Squire go to the higher tier classic vibes for $100 more you get a a lot more quality and sound.
Another awesome video! Thank you for posting the video.. it’s really helpful.
Thank you for watching! T
Thanks for the insightful video, Tyler. I have been playing since 1990 and yes the market really did change a lot. I started out playing a Japanese Fender Jazz because that's what I could afford in those days and the cheaper instruments back then weren't very reliable, a hit or miss market really.
Over the years I have been trading up buying and selling used market because those hold their value pretty much, allowing you to keep trading until you find the brand and model you're most happy with. Now in my early fifties I play Zon, Warwick, Fodera and Fender USA basses and am absolutely loving it. However: When I think about those early days of gigging my cheaper japanese Fender Jazz and the backup Ibanez Soundgear I had back then, I was having at least as much fun back then playing on not such high end instruments. I think by 'upgrading' really all I have been doing is spoil myself. It is kinda like driving to the supermarket in a Lamborgini - totally unnecessary but it does feel good.
So I fully agree with you. Yes there is a difference between cheaper and top end gear. No the difference is not all deciding. You can have tons of fun playing a cheaper Ibby, Squier or Sire bass. The quality of them is nothing short of amazing for the money spent.
My advice to people starting out on bass is buy one you can afford that feels good. If the sound after a while makes you question the instrument you can easily upgrade the pickups, this won't cost you an arm and a leg. Spend time learning to set up your instrument to your liking, this makes a world of difference. There are a lot of videos on youtube on properly setting up your bridge and truss rod and it is worth getting into. A good setup on any bass is a day and night difference.
Thanks again, this is a great video that totally makes sense.
Japanese Fenders are made with just as much love and care, Fender just doesn’t give them the ability to make the same parts as used in American Basses. They’re frequently not allowed to use whole techniques because those are MOSTLY reserved for American made Basses.
Good read. 😊
as a pro tech and musician: i can tell you, its difficult to buy a 'bad guitar/bass" these days. the inferior bits can be replaced to you liking (pickups,tuners pots are the iffy parts). i have many expensive gibsons and fender guitars but my absolute fav bass is a fender'modern player' made in the fender chinese factory. my goto guitar is an epiphone factory 2nd les paul with one pickup upgrade and sperzel tuner upgrade. your dad is correct in the 60's-early 80's a cheaper end guitar was sometimes made of plywood and built by hand....nowadays CNC machines do must of the work perfectly for the wood and neck. you can thank all the great heavy metal players of the 80's for demanding better products as lead playing/technical playing means a better instrument.
As a guy who owns a classic vibe 60's jazz bass but also gets to try expensive Fenders at my local favorite shop Classic Vibes will do you just fine. The first thing i go by is the "feel in the hand" and then the sound, you can always upgrade pick ups, the bridge, tone pots, tuners, ans the nut but you can't upgrade how the bass feels in your hands. My Classic Vibe has good acoustic resonance but I've played Fenders that are dead and lifeless unplugged and that translates evwn when plugged in. Just my two cents 👍
1thess523 you for sure can upgrade the way a bass feels in your hand if your talking about 95% of basses in shops they all need a setup
Yup, been saying this for the past couple of years. When I started playing in the 80s you could find a REALLY crappy instrument but with CNC, better tech, etc. Now if you spend $400-600 (like bargained at Guitar Center) at then you are likely to get a something pretty nice. You may have to swap electronics or Pick Ups, but it's not like you won't have a well made, playable instrument that stays in tune. Higher end instruments now have design features and cosmetics, but if your are starting, or just getting your feet wet, it's much easier nowadays...
I had a Fender Precision bass for many years, customized with a J-Bass bridge pickup. Despite its beautiful sound, I always preferred the feel of a Jazz Bass, but never thought I could afford one. Not long ago, I decided that someone else could make good use of my Fender, and I sold it to get a Squier Affinity J-Bass. The bottom line is, I enjoyed the comfortable low-end J-Bass more, and the audience has no idea the difference. It's just a low, thumpy thing in the mix no matter which bass I play. A year ago, I bought Squier again, this time a Jaguar SS short scale. Love it! I then tuned the J-Bass to BEAD, keeping the Jag as my main bass. I am so happy with my new brace of basses, much happier than with the top-quality Precision. For the resale price of the P-Bass, I was able to get the two Squiers and a Rumble 40 (I already have a stage amp), with change to spare. Both of my Squiers have great workmanship and sound great, even with stock pickups. Good hardware, good balance, tight fits of parts. The contoured body, light weight, and playability of the Jag SS is so valuable to comfortable playing, something much more important to me as an experienced bassist that has played 5-hour gigs.
As a follow-up, I ended up selling the 34" Affinity a few days ago because I am happier with the 30" scale Squier Jaguar SS. I'm a complete convert to short scale basses now. I've never played a more comfortable bass (weight, neck, body contour) than my $200 Jag. I use it mainly for reggae, Afropop, 1969-1973 Santana, and 1968-1974 Motown.
I am in the process of upgrading the pickups. It wasn't necessary for the P (mid) pickup, but the J (bridge) was really lacking. I may replace a volume pot with a blend.
I seem to have a different philosophy than many bassists. I try to improve the sound of my bass with my playing techniques, rather than spending more money on the initial cost of the instrument. Also, I love the idea of having a single bass, rather than having a collection. I've always had the money to buy more, but for all of my bass-playing career until 2019, I had a single P-Bass that served me well.
However, on the instrument quality issue, I would think differently if I were a studio musician. I mainly play onstage.
My bass helps define my sound and becomes my particular voice.
Even a novice like myself can hear the difference between these two. It’s quit drastic. But....the Squier doesn’t in any way sound bad. I’m torn on a Player Series or upper price Squier
Agreed! Definitely not bad! I’d shoot for the Player Series if you can. An even better platform for upgrades and really great quality basses. T
To say it in a very concise manner: These days, a $/£ 400 instrument will rarely limit a performance or gig. A Classic Vibe with a proper setup is probably 90% as good as 90% instruments you've ever seen on stage.
Certainly spending more $$ can get you a better feeling or sounding, a more versatile instrument or a different look but the notion that most players that have been playing five years or less would be held back by an upper end Squier or an entry level Fender... pure nonsense.
Totally agree! 💪🏻 T
Yes but some luthiers don't want to improve the instrument because it's says Squier on the headstock, is them "adding value to the instrument"
I started to buy and sell different basses about a decade ago and for me the truth about buying a bass in 2021 is that in most cases buying a new bass is not the best option. At least for a beginner.
The best thing about buying new is that they usually have a returns policy ;)
Depending on where you buy you can return a used bass but a new bass return policies are usually better from the amount of time you have to return a used bass vs a new bass or a store credit or exchange as opposed to a cash refund or exchange
Been playing for 40 years. Basses these days are really nice. Heck, I leave my vintage stuff home now and gig with Sires. They're great!
I play guitar in church on Sundays...now i also play on Saturdays so that I can play bass. It really gives the music foundation👌
It really does- that’s awesome to hear! Nothing feels better than providing that solidity imo! T
I agree wholeheartedly. The pioneer was Dr. William Demming in the post war era and the quality of Japanese manufacturing was forever changed when they adopted his statistical process control concepts. Followed by the process of continuous improvement processes primarily in automotive manufacturing. That eventually found its way into many manufacturing facilites in Asia and fortunately into musical instruments it was not happen stance. Thus the quality of Fender and others made in Japan.
The majority of my instruments have been Japanese - you can’t go wrong! T
Great info. You're right, the better you get, the more you will notice quality and eventually you want something solid.
I've bought a new CV 60's Squier P, bridge was bad, replaced with a 60's J sharp frets, loose bridge and one tuner not in line, replaced it with a 60's P, bridge out of line, one tuner not in line, sharp frets and dead notes on the D string, replaced it with a Sire V3 2nd generation and couldn't be happier, the latest series of Squiers are not up to their usual standard as the VM series was I'm sorry to say.
I totaly disagree with idiоts who tell that if you are new player you must buy crappy instrument !!!
My mom bought me made in Germany Warwick bass when i was jast a begginer and this bass is with me since then and it is great!!!
ⰔⰎⰑⰂⰑⰀⰎⰎⰀⰘⰑⰂⰑ totally! My first bass was a USA Jazz - my dad’s a bit of a gear snob! If you can start out on an expensive bass - do it! But I know most of my musician friends didn’t have the backing from parents for that, or just couldn’t afford it themselves. This video is just mostly to say that if you aren’t in a situation to spend a lot of money, don’t worry about it, but spend as much as you can, and most importantly find something you like! T
Less expensive does not mean crappy. My first bass was a 1980 Peavey T40. My second bass was a Japanese made Westone 5 string. It is 25 years old now and sounds amazing. But my favorite bass? A Michael Kelly 5-String that cost $349. An amazing instrument. Some of us had to buy our own instruments and research by going to music shops and actually playing dozens of different basses as we didn't have the internet then to give us ratings.
Good for you if you keep playing for the rest of your life but most of the people play for fun or drop the bass after awhile. Also not everyone is rich, the point of the video is to say that your still getting a good instrument for that price.
@@F.Castle My mother was not rich!!!! My mother was very low income!!! But she bought me wonderful instrument because of love
I think a lot of people have instrument envy. They see the $3,000 custom shop fender jazz with the sunburst and the OG 60's pickups in the hands of a god and it sounds like angels singing. That same player can make a $300 squire do the same thing with only minor differences In sound quality. I have a good friend who is a luthier and he made my $100 Esteban acoustic sound like a $500 guitar with a proper set up. When we play, I play his 1960 fender P bass that was used to record records for incredible bands back in the day. His favorite bass to play? Some shitty Frankenstein squire he's modified to sound the way he wants it to. He showed me you don't have to own insanely priced instruments to sound good, just some love and pride in what you are playing. Switch up the pick ups, get good strings, maybe get a nice bridge and that $300 bass sounds as good as a $1200 fender. Name recognition is a bastard
My son and I went surfing with a close friend of his… this kid jumped in the car with this shitty looking board that had been snapped in half and reglued…a complete train wreck…anyway.. we got to the beach, headed out… and this kid is just tearing it apart…. The rest of us…humbled… I now try to live and think … it’s what can we do for the instrument, not what the instrument can do for us… some basses just seem to work against us .. so be it… and some basses after some TLC with new strings, a set up, and finding a tone on the amp that it responds to… and it’s like… wow…
Purchased a squier classic 60s Jazz Bass... very good Instrument and well worth the outlay.
Great video as usual! As to me: I've always played on expensive basses: Fender JB, Musicman sterling, Warwick Thumb until last year I tried Cort Action V Plus in the music store just for fun, it was the cheapest bass in there and I was blew away by the quality and comfortability of that bass, I payed 200$ for that bass and since that time I play gigs, recording TH-cam videos mostly on this Cort, it is the most comfortable bass I've ever held in my hands and it sounds great !
Also I've sold all of my expensive basses because after the Cort I cannot play on them anymore.
Thanks I’m ordering the exact same squire bass with the walnut finish. Thanks for your research and input!!!
No problem, thank you for watching and your kind words! T
Tyler Spicer well i did get the same bass but the color i changed to black. I’m very satisfied with my purchase , plays very well and looks fantastic!!!
You've got the example of Rocco Paladino (son of Pino, and like his father a session bassist that plays for Tom Misch and others). Most of the time he plays with a Squier CV 60s jazz bass.
Hard to go wrong with these Squiers in many situations! T
I bought a 70’s classic vibe p bass a few months back and I LOVE IT! Sounds and sets up better than my Japanese fender jag. No fret buzz out of the box and that was my biggest concern. Beautiful instrument.
That’s great to hear! There’s so much value to quality to be found in that lower price range these days! T
Just bought a Squire 70s CV P bass on sale for $278 brand new. Can’t go wrong at that price haha.
Here here… I grew up with your dad, or at least in that generation and yes it’s true there was a lot of garbage to be had at the lower level, or entry-level instrument price. Not so much the case anymore, it’s amazing what a quality instrument you can buy for very little money.
Squier isn’t the cruddy brand it used to be. I actually just spent some time looking at budget-friendly guitars, and there’s so much out there that’s quite usable! This totally applies to basses, too! Thanks for spreading the good word!
I have been playing for 48 years. My first bass was a Sears guitar that I put a set of Rotosounds on. We are well past those days. The fact is that modern manufacturing is much better than it was in the 70s. If you feel like coughing up $5,000 for a boutique instrument more power to you. However you are not going to get something that is exponentially better than a lower priced bass. My favorite bass is a Bacchus Handcrafted Series that I picked up for less than a grand. I will stack that bass against a Sadowski anytime anywhere.
It's all about feel. Most times it's the radius of the neck, how the treats are smoothed out, the nut, and sharp edges. The bridge and how smooth it feels
As the very proud owner of a Yamaha RBX260, which was purchased for £200 back in 2003, and has had no upgrades done, has been gigged and travelled and gigged and rehearsed, and once fell out of a moving vehicle in a soft shoulder-carry case, has gone down three different flights of stairs unaided, has had an almost-full pint glass thrown at it, has been intentionally thrown across a road after a really bad gig (that wasn’t its fault), and has been used as a weapon in self defence, and gigged some more even during the lockdown, I can safely say that it still sounds like a charming eighties jazz bass, as it always has.
And there is no way I’d have given it all of those adventures if it were an Alembic.
I find the neck shapes and finish on squiers to be a big difference. They have a pretty wide range of shapes, but you can always take sandpaper to them and maybe end up liking them even more!
Definitely! Surprisingly wide range, but great if you can get out and try them! T
I've even flattened the neck slightly near the first few frets because I didn't like the roundness up there.
I got an MiJ 1969 (Fujigen factory) Fender 62 reissue for £600, added RES-O-LITE tuners, a high mass GOTOH bridge and GZR pick-ups and it plays like a really really expensive P bass, I did a lot of work to it took everything apart even shimmerd the neck joint weighted it in the pots cavity to balance perfectly, copper foil, leveled the frets, the works. I played it next to a moollon and guess what I actually preferred the Fender and craziest thing is its a basswood body but it's a very very nice bass, has character.
I never worry too much about body wood as far as tone goes. It’s all about how comfortable the neck is.
Definitely got to be playable - totally can understand that point of view! T
I’ve bought basses from Squier, Schecter, high end Ibanez ehb exotic, Musicman Stingrays, 2 Spectors and a Dingwall along with a couple custom built Jazz and a 58 P bass and with a great setup...and....with knowing your bass and your playing technique.....a good player can make almost “anything” sound good in the studio and on stage!
Totally agree! T
Any instrument can be made to sound and play superbly. I have a beautiful 4 string Stagg cost me £80 on ebay. Had an action so high you could have sliced chips on it and the intonation was a full tone out. Yet it has a solid alder body, quarter sawn maple neck and a 2 octave fingerboard and is fretless. It is also a jazz/precision bass hybrid having a jazz bass pick up in the bridge position and a precision type pick up set about half way up the body. Took it apart, changed the neck screws to bolts, and reset the neck with a 1. 5° back angle. Moved the bridge bock back 1cm which corrected the intonation and replaced the Pickups with a set of Bloodstone scatter wound (hand wound) pickups (£60 on ebay). So I now have a bass that sounds like a 1950's jazz bass on the bridge pickup and a 1950's precision bass on the middle pickup, all in one instrument, and looks great on stage to boot.
You can learn all you need to know about setting up your bass by watching and paying attention to videos on TH-cam on the subject.
Harley Benton are amazing for the price. As you go up it's the law of diminishing returns. I have a 2015 Mexican jazz bass that I paid £600 for - I had it set up and fret dressed. Plays lovely. Massive upgrade is always the pickups. I put Aguilar aghc4's in, and my instrument is now streets ahead of anything I played in the 80s. Do I need a £2000 bass? Nah. 🌴
Very insightful analysis. Thanks for the information! I know that a Squier Affinity PJ Bass is an awesome sounding bass. I knew that I wanted it to kick more, so I had it upgraded with an Audere Classic preamp and Delano pickups. It was definitely cool before the upgrade, but now it’s a beast!
The Sire V3 is a beast! I will not have the preamp and pickups changed. For the Sire V7 Vintage Second Generation 5 string, I had Bass Mods Phatty 5 pickups added to it because unlike the V3, it didn’t seem to kick as much. Now with the different pickups, it is a beast!
My Carvin SB4000 is probably my best bass as far as mid to high end basses. I learned a lesson from playing it recently. The strings are not new anymore. But when I play with a certain pickup and tone setting, the bass still has some “growl” and impressive tone. So I understand why I keep hearing people say playing the bass is all in the fingers (I don’t believe it’s ALL in the fingers, or else no one would ever buy new strings or upgrade; Marcus Miller would play a Squier with original stock electronics every time. Lol. So some of it is the bass, electronics, amp, etc.). Right now, my Squier Affinity PJ Bass, which also doesn’t have new strings will kick way better slap tone that the Carvin! So your video is accurate. A person can buy a budget bass and upgrade it to be a beast. Would the Affinity PJ be able to hang out with the Carvin if it didn’t have the Audere and Delano upgrades? I doubt it. So that proves that it’s not all in the fingers. Lol. A person can pick up some basses, and they think they are John Pataucci or Stanley Clarke.
You offer solid insights and advise here. The more experience one gains as a player, the more one can start to notice the differences in quality of instruments.
Not necessarily true if you read above I bought $100 eBay base that is a hell of a lot better than the $500 Fender that I just purchased
we bought a 1985 USA made peavey forum bass brand new 334 bucks still have it plays great sounds great i can not tell you how many thousands of dollars that bass has made us over the years ,,,best money on a bass we ever spent
I find so much satisfaction in getting value out of any purchase in life - it sounds like you nailed it with that one! T
I am looking for a 4 String Bass ( under $800 ) - Any Input? ( Fender, G&L, Sire, Ibanez, Music Man, Fujigen, Yamaha ) - even a Short Scale?
Yamaha BBs are hard to beat if you can find one that fits! Fender Player series are great value for money and I've only ever heard good things about sire, even if I've never played them! T
@@TylerSpicer Thanks. Appreciate the input. I actually ordered a Sterling Stingray short-scale in Black with maple-neck. Played-one, and was blown-away. oNe LovE from NYC
I found a discontinued 2014 Squire P Bass made in Indonesia, on facebook marketplace for only $100, needed a little setup and new strings but other than that it was in really great shape so i snatched it up. It also has a rosewood board instead of the current pau ferro/indian laurel boards on squiers these days....You think I made a pretty decent score? also, I think this was a great video and a good topic. Buying is much much different these days, and I remember buying a squier bullet strat in the early mid 2000s, it was absolutely garbage....so much pickup noise, sharp fret edges, cheap unfinished neck etc....This 2014 squier bass feels WAY better quality than I remember that 2003 squier bullet guitar having...
I started playing in the early 90s and the market has changed quite a bit since then. You can get a decent bass for 300 bucks these days. When I started 300 would buy you a headache. Obviously you will get better quality for more but you can buy a new bass for 300 and play gigs without wanting to run the thing through a wood chipper. I have higher end basses but I have quite a few cheaper basses that i play regularly. Good time to get into bass.
Golfers and guitar players actually think the gear makes them better. Bass players know it's all in the fingers.
Truth! T
As a bass AND guitar player, I'm very confused by your ( stereotyped ) comment....
@@lefrenchwithacbg4732 don't care
@@longsnapper5381 I didn't expect more from you
@@lefrenchwithacbg4732 Go buy another pedal....
Biggest thing for me on any guitar in the budget range is finish. If the strings are a mile high off the fretboard and you can't lower them without fret buzz or adjusting the neck, or the fret ends are like a cheese greater. That's a deal breaker. My advice is to try in store. There are good budget and bad budget instruments. Also a lot have high frets in places on budget range. You can get away with it on some guitars but frets should be same height ideally. Also check intonation. Some can be in tune in one place and go horribly flat or sharp up the neck. Most guitars you can cure this but some in budget range are not curable. I won't order guitars online because of all these problems in budget range. If you have to return it ends up costing to insure returns. A lot of couriers only cover for loss but not damage in transit. Go to a trusted store and try. There are good buys, take someone experienced with you if a beginner.
10.27 is a good example of what bass to buy. Tyler is hugging his custom shop. XX
Just bought a p bass from wish and put a new neck on it with a total of 120$ and after setting it up, it sounds and plays literally just as well as my 1500$ American standard jazz bass.
My 100$ starting squire bass is still my favorite out of all of them I own
The Squire 'vintage modified' range of basses and guitars are very good. I've been doing session work for 45 years, I also build and restore basses and guitars and among my basses is a vintage modified Jazz bass which is one of my preferred basses for sessions...it really is that good. I've used it live with a few named bands too, never fails. My 3 ultimate basses are a 1963 Rickenbacker RS1999, a 69 Jazz and a 68 P bass which I restored myself. The vintage modified jazz bass holds its own pretty well in this company.
My belief is that a cheap bass + an EQ pedal is the way to go. If you are not completly happy with your tone, then shake a couple slides and that's it. Also never forget to use a compressor, no matter what bass you're playing. No need to crank it, just let it do it's thing smoothly and your bass and your playing will shine.
I wasn't getting the compression argument until I realised my favourite amp has a compression button - makes the fretless shine :-). These Zoom B1 Four are quite useful ways to dial in tone options even from cheap pickups - plus runs of 4 AA batteries so you can practice anywhere via headphones.
Whenever I try out a bass ,I ask for a strap,balance (no “neck dive”) is something to always consider..
Makes a World of difference doesn't it? Nothing worse in a bass than a neck diver! Well, noisy pots suck too... lol
Cool video!
What is your take on something like a the American Vintage Reissue or the American 60 Original vs a Custom Shop for more advanced players?
That’s a great question! At that stage it’s got to be about feel - you really need to get them into your hands and spend a good amount of time playing them and working out the nuances of each. The more expensive the purchase, the more time I’ll spend in the shop playing it and comparing. I’ve been known to spend 4hrs+ on the highest end basses (MTD, Fodera Etc.) before feeling comfortable enough to make a decision.
I made that very decision myself, and chose my 59 custom shop P bass over an American Original 60s. It was a very close run thing, but the quality of wood on the CS was more aesthetically pleasing and the fit and finish just a tiny bit better. However the biggest factor was the pickup: I found the Original 60s to be a little bit too hot, which I found lacked nuance in the sound. On the other hand the CS felt a little more open over the full range of the instrument whilst not being quite as “loud” - but there’s always the gain knob for that. As I say I’d have been happy taking home either, but I felt at that kind of price I wanted to go that extra mile and pick the bass that could be a companion I’d be happy with for life (I’m never gonna sell a workhorse P - always gonna be needed!). T
I bought a 2020 made Squire "J" bass to replace my older 2007 one (Which had a rosewood fingerboard can't get that on a cheap Squire anymore) with a "broken" truss rod and also to go with my 2016 Jaguar "PJ" bass I got from a friend in 2020. All made in Indonesia. They both needed a proper setup and new strings (Flats). Setting up the 2020 "J" bass was interesting as the neck was making all kinds of creaking sounds but eventually settled. I am happy with the price and products. And as a final note; The best bass is the one you have in your hands right then and there.
Hello, Tyler and everybody! It's good and important to play bass or any other instrument, not do the fighting about brand names
Great video and glad to see someone saying it. Now do this video with bass amps! :)
I don't even play a bass, am getting into guitar but thinking of eventually moving to bass so I love these videos
Thank you for the kind words, and definitely move to bass at some point - it’s a lot of fun! I can do this video with amps 100%, good shout! T
I love it when people speak about “cheap” wood, as if there’s any study out there linking wood price/provenience to the ever subjective tone of instruments.
A difficult one really. The Foderas and MTDs I've owned have been phenomenal and bot builders are very specific about their woods. Of course they're also phenomenal craftsmen, but I do think there is some specificity from them in order to achieve their desired end product. It's all my opinions and experience at the end of the day, and I know many people have a very different perspective and I totally get that too. T
@@TylerSpicer Oh, just mentioned it as it is a common place around the globe, that type of assertion I mean. Maybe the way you said it, but I’m not trying to pick on you.
Well Mr. Spicer, I’m not saying you’re wrong but for me, to my ears it was just a volume difference. I listened through Raycon earbuds and they both sounded great except for a lowder volume from your custom bass. I think Bass playing is ALL about preference. I also own a bunch of other slightly more expensive Basses and my favorite go to Bass in my collection is my Squier VM Jag. 😊🤷🏽♂️. Thank you for this video. It was VERY informative and I’m certain that you’ve answered many questions. 👍🏾
Thank for the kind words! I really like the VM Jags so I can understand your happiness with it, and it’s nice to have a Fender with a difference in the collection! T
Decent basses - I have the short scale. Only mods I made was new jazz pickup and heavier bridge - nothing wrong with stock except heavier bridge helps reduce neck dive.
Not gainsaying anyone, but let's not forget there's a mic and TH-cam's compression algorithm between the source and your lovely earbuds, Hank!
Just got home from the music store. Bought my first Fender P Bass. I've been playing bass for 25 years. And am just now getting into more Jazz and funk. I've done rock and roll, heavy metal and Blues for my whole life. My last few bases were an epiphone Thunderbird bass I paid about $500 for cuz it's the ProSeries and then I've got a really nice Jackson Bass that was about $800 so when I was looking into a Fender bass I didn't want to get the cheapest Squier for $250. I went ahead and got the 70s vintage with the beautiful fretboard for about $500. I got home today and plug it in and the most obnoxious was coming from it. I couldn't take it anymore and I opened it up and found that two of the wires were not started properly which I started both of them. And I should mention I shouldn't have to do that. Not at this price point. I'm still having ground issues because the buzzing is still there it's not as bad as it was but it's still obnoxious. I've got a $89 Glarry bass I bought just to have fun with recently. And I have to honestly say that the Glarry bass plays better at this point in time then my $500 70's vintage Fender Squier.. the only difference is the $89 Glarry bass has cheaper wood and is a lot lighter
I recently played a Fender Player fretless bass. The pau ferro fretboard was better than it seemed to be on guitars. I've got a Fender American Performer Mustang bass that I put flatwound strings on and that is not the bottom end nor the top end but it does the job for me. I like the shorter scale and the circuit for the pickups to be able to blend variable amounts of P and J pickup sounds. I prefer the P bass pickup but a little of the J pickup blended in is a nice variation. Great video!
Just got my 1st bass guitar!! Glarry G-JAZZ II... < $150.00 to my door! Best fretwork on any stringed instrument I have purchased. Wilkinson pickups and strings, bone nut, Canadian maple neck, impressive!!!
I have a Korean 90s fender Jazz Bass. The seller said it was a Squire but the fender decal and serial no look real to me. I’m no bass expert but I put a new set of strings on and it sounds and plays fine, the action is reasonably low.
Nice! Sounds like a great find! Some of those Asian-built basses can be killer! T
As a Luthier and bass tec I can tell you what you said about Fender USA selecting better quality wood and taking care of how the wood is seasoned is complete rubbish , as for custom shop its one of the worst hyped piece of marketing ever stressing a body by running an orbital sander over it and the machine heads doesn't make it better , however what you said about squire basses is spot on they are very good value for money that can be a great building block , change the pickups to EMGs for a hotter sound or Bartolini's for a sweat sound ,you could change the bridge at a later date if you desire an even brighter sound , take it to a tec or try yourself to round the edges off a little on the fret board it will make a lot of difference .
I have one of those CV 70s P basses but it's back in the US. I'm currently living in the UK. I really miss that bass. Its really great. I could only bring one with me and decided on my '09 road worn jazz bass.
I own a squier vintage modified telecaster bass and it's a beautiful instrument, I recommend the vintage modified line, or the classic vibe line in the Squier brands. I should have purchased a 60s classic vibe mustang bass when I had the chance, very cool looking instrument.
You have the tele bass?! Man, you're lucky! 😀
Thanks for posting Tyler this was very informative and helpful. Had a 2013 American precision then down graded to a Mexican 2015 the difference was minimal then from that to a new player now thinking of a squier classic vibe. Decisions decisions lol
I'm a guitar guy but I feel those days where I need bass
You know what we never see in these types of videos? Handing a off the shelf budget instrument to a beginner and asking them to do the demo. Then, a breakdown as to why it sounds horrible, proceeded by a setup, then a before/after video. Explain WHY in real time it doesn’t play good and WHAT can be done to correct it. Anyone that is proficient on an instrument can espouse the virtues of setups and practice for clicks. Why not do a real time walk through series with an actual beginner?
This is a great shout! I’d be happy to give this a go! Thank you for the awesome suggestion! T
I recently A-B'd my squier classic vibe (2008/9) against my american vintage 62 P bass, which are separated by around £1500. With the same set of strings, DI'd with nothing added, the ONLY way I could tell them apart in sound was a slight variation in the high end in the voicing of the pickups. Which I actually prefer on the classic vibe! I think there are some things that really are worth the extra money though; things like neck stabilisers/graphite rods. Other than that, I really think the stigma alone is the big difference maker between companies like squier and fender.
I agree those CV pickups come up darker. I think neck reinforcement/how a neck is built can really help the longevity of an instrument, and really I think an instrument should be built to last as long as you do on this earth, and beyond! T
Good video! The "higher end" basses (Fender, USA made, AP) has graphic rods in the neck to help with climate change and stability, most are lighter, "better" bridge, fluted tuners (helps considerably to stay in tune better), and neck "varnish" to name a few upgrades that are worth it in my estimation and I have had both lines (lower-higher end basses). I won't even touch the sound or pick-ups here, but aside from that the extra money is money well spent because myself and many people I have spoken to keep this line of bass "for life". Again, weighting the pros/cons is key.
We are living in unprecedented times for musicians. While you can spend a small fortune on a bass and gear, the less expensive options have gotten VERY good. CNC machines can crank out precise fitting parts quickly and inexpensively. The biggest difference between a $2000 bass and a $200 bass is the quality of the materials. Provided the wood is not warped or twisted, then it won't really matter. Tuners, bridges, knobs, pots, jacks....can all be upgraded easily. The dressing of the frets is also an area where less expensive instruments often fall short, but watch a few TH-cam videos and buy some fret files and you can dress them yourself.
I'm at a point in my life that I can afford to have some nice things and I even have a custom made bass. But at the end of the day, put a Harley Benton in the hands of a great player versus a $8000 Fodera in my hands....and the great player will still sound better. You can't buy skill. Before you upgrade your bass, spend some money on lessons and education.
You're absolutely right man. I did a show where I play my Ibanez BTB bass and I took my daughter's $200.00 Squier Jazz bass and I ended up playing the bass the rest of the gig. With a little eq adjustment she rocked.
... until the bass gets stressed by the seasons (temperature/humidity/salt) or by your sweat, until the frets get stressed by years of fretting them, until it gets beaten by loading the van thousands of times, then you're going to get the difference between a cheap bass and a professional instrument. I do agree that the entry level/cheap instruments nowadays are made way better than 30 years ago, when a cheap bass was good for feeding the fireplace only.
The truth about buying a bass in 2020 (if you live is Oz) is everything is sold out everywhere, stocks are really low, and if you do find something, get it now before someone else does. Just bought a bass and it was the last of the series I was looking at in Sydney.
Big time shortages worldwide that I'd never have anticipated before this year commenced! Glad you managed to get hold of one! What did you get? T
Hi Tyler, I was going to buy my first Bass in September but life and Covid got in the way so I can only get it in December (hopefully), meanwhile I can't decide between a Yamaha TRBX174EW and a Fender Squier Affinity PJ Bass. I always loved Fender's Basses but I'm loving Yamaha's Tobacco Brow Burst color, I really can't decide which one I should get.
I've never played bass before and I've watched a ton of videos and most of them are played in a rock style. This was refreshing. Do you recommend this for beginners who want to play and write surf rock and indie rock/pop music?
Thank you for watching, I really appreciate the kind words! Would definitely suit those kinds of music, no question! T
@@TylerSpicer thanks so much! Just bought one and got a set up with some flatwound strings! Really diggin it :)
Troy Sanders of mastodon played a squire jag for virtually their entire career. Hes my bass idol. Cheaps good enough for me if I get to get creative with fx chains
Great insight and advice. I think playability is key if using a highly processed sound chain. If recording in the box the considerations are different again. I think a single 'go to' comfortable bass is essential. Can take time to find. I think modding a cheapo is a good long-term term strategy.
I also own a similar bass: Squier '70 CV but black with gold pickguard, lyndy fralyn pickup with thomastick flatwound strings. Payed 280€ used. I have no amps, I use an eq pedal, a preamp and an ir simulator (both sonicake), so I go direct to PA. I spend less then 500€ for everything...
I just ordered my firstbass, Yamaha BB234, It's a 300$ bass brand new. Also, I'm a beginner and is just starting to get into the bass world, do you think i made the right choice?
Great choice! You can’t go wrong with a Yamaha and it will last you many many years. I wish you luck and hope you enjoy the experience - being a bassist is great! T
Yes, that's a nice bass ! 👍.
I also learned on a yammaha. I believe it's a b series. I bought it used 10 years ago its a pj style at least. You can't go wrong with it
My first was a Nathan East Bb404 . I still play it. .
FYI: All good stuff. Just wrap it up sooner. All the best. Sincerely.
Thank you for the support and thoughts, I appreciate it! T
Just bought the same thing a few days ago in what they call a Surf Green (Sea Foam, really). Not a popular color, so I got it for $100 less ($329 vs, $429) from Musician's Friend. Surprisingly, it even came in a Godin padded gig bag--both came in a Takamine box. Thought I got "used" deal. Maybe I did, but the bass and gig bag was pristine. Wasn't expected. Not sure if they made a mistake. Bonus! I don't have any experience with high-end basses, but I can tell you that this one sounds and plays great. I run it through a Hartke HD50 amp at home. I need someone with better chops than me to play it and critique it. Great deal just the same.
the sound is very minimal to me, is it bad i think the squire sounded better ?
Not at all, we all have different ears and preferences! T
I play a squire precision in my band and I just added a Peavey Jazz bass both are immaculate. to be hones if you play in a small band and are not a professional then to be honest it is hard to know how you sound to an audience. I get the other bass player to play my basses to find out but the audience don't know and don't care too much.
I appreciate that in time hopefully I will be able to compare to expensive instruments but you can get a lot more by getting a good set up good amp and strings and loads of practice.
What do you think of the Yamaha TRBX 304? I am a pro-touring acoustic blues and folk player & singer songwriter looking to get a bass just to lay down tracks on top of the guitar at home. I have been sending music out to friends who are session pros and former band mates but thinking I want to ecpidite the process. I never played bass but have been playing guitar for a very, very long time. Acoustic finger picking blues and finger style What do you recommend? I like what I have seen and heard of the Yamaha TRBX304 but never played one. They are on back order everywhere so have to wait to get one. Hey, anybody want to put down some bass tracks? Let me know.
Hello! You can’t go wrong with a Yamaha, but I’d personally shoot for the BB434 due to the PJ setup. You’re gonna have more of those classic tones for your genres from those pickups. It’s gonna make getting the right tones easy and simple. The TRBX is versatile in that you have the EQ, but it’s gonna give a more active sound which wouldn’t be my choice for your genres either. Just my thoughts - I’m a big Yammy fan, but that’s what I’d shoot for! Always up for laying down bass too - contact on my website - a quick google will get you there! T
I'm getting a BB for Xmas! Can't wait 😊
also remember; those players in the 60's-70's NEEDED a tonally solid instrument as the amps of the day were very limited on tonal choices and near zero effects. you can make a popcicle stick banjo sound good with the processing today!
Hi greetings from Mexico! I've been watching some of your videos and I love them.
I'm looking to start playing bass, I've already been studying the theory, just still have some doubts which one to choose from. Among my options are 3 Squier. They are the Classic Vibe '60s precision, Classic Vibe' 50s precision and Classic Vibe '60s Jazz. I just don't know which one to decide on
Hi, i'm not Tyler but hope this helps: You can get some good used deals on E Bay. Look out for MIM fenders, Ibanez and top spec Squiers.
Great video Tyler. That Squier looos great especially with those fret squares (name?). Why don’t Fender still put them on their jazz basses?
Thank you! “Block Inlays” is the term for them. They were a 70s feature, so they only really appear on basses emulating that 70s vibe by Fender and others. I think they look really smart, but in general I think cost and time to add them is the reason they often appear/didn’t become standard. I think some people also find them a bit glitzy and just want a simpler looking bass. I personally love them and have them on my Sadowsky UV70 and Warwick Starbass II. T
Thank you! “Block Inlays” is the term for them. They were a 70s feature, so they only really appear on basses emulating that 70s vibe by Fender and others. I think they look really smart, but in general I think cost and time to add them is the reason they often appear/didn’t become standard. I think some people also find them a bit glitzy and just want a simpler looking bass. I personally love them and have them on my Sadowsky UV70 and Warwick Starbass II. T
Tyler Spicer Oh cheers Tyler. Block inlays rule!
@@RitchieRosson no problem at al! They do 💪🏻 Block inlays (almost!) every time!
My feeling on the subject is.......Get the cheap Bass first and when you can play the shit out of it. Graduate to the Bass you want. A good musician can make anything sound good.. Truth!
I agree with everything you say 👍 a solid great example of this is Vulfpeck. So many of their recordings use cheaper basses. Joe uses a squire mini Pbass a couple times and this random 300$ Carlo Robelli bass from the 80s that looks like his Joe Dart signature. And Regi Wooten (Victor Wootens brother/teacher) played a squire guitar live. I think expensive instruments are good for beginners because they're less likely to get discouraged and blame the instrument for the reason they're not progressing. And you kinda feel bad If you get an expensive instrument so you're more likely to play so you don't feel like you wasted your money. And i think it's a pride/shame/insecure thing for some people. People feel cool being seen playing a Fender, but r
Embarrassed playing a Harley Benton or Glarry lol
A quick question if you believe a solid body bass is an acoustic instrument: When was the last time you played one for a performance or gig without amplification? Have you ever done a performance or gig where you used a microphone on your solid body bass, not on the bass amp?
I have not, but the pickup acts as microphone for the strings, which are producing sounds acoustically, as you can hear when you play unplugged in a quiet room. If it was a synthesiser then I’d definitely say it’s not at all an acoustic instrument. However, I believe the qualities of a great acoustic instrument do translate when choosing a bass guitar, for me. Ymmv of course, as with everything in life! We all have different experiences and view points and that’s totally cool and what makes us all different! 👌🏻 T
Try playing your bass sometime with, say, nylon strings sometime and see how it sounds through your amp:) Unless it has a piezo pickup, I suspect you'll be doing a performance of John Cage's 4'33" Sorry, it's one of my pet peeves that musicians try to rationalize things that aren't rational like why we like expensive instruments--well, at least solid bodied ones, I think I _can_ tell you why a $20,000 carved bass or a $5,000 acoustic guitar is worth it without resorting to waving my hands or using a dead chicken, but even that might be a struggle given vacuum kilns and CNC machines.