Buying a Bass? Here's the Truth About Buying a Bass in 2021!
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- Опубліковано 27 тра 2024
- In this video I give you the truth about buying a bass in 2021.
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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'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
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
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
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
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.
Great info. You're right, the better you get, the more you will notice quality and eventually you want something solid.
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.
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.
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
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 advice, Tyler. Thank you so much!
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 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
Another awesome video! Thank you for posting the video.. it’s really helpful.
Thank you for watching! T
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 UA-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.
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.
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!!!
Thank you for taking the time
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.
Hello! Thank you for the frank conversation. I’m watching your channel with pleasure. All your content, in my opinion, is correct and useful ... I ask you one thing, brother, do not be sick!
I wish you all good health and good luck! Sincerely, Alexander.
Thank you for the kind words and supporting the channel! Same to you my man and everyone who watches the channel. Stay safe! T
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 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
Hi Tyler, thanks for your videos and insights. I agree that set up of the instrument is really important. I would also add, check for neck dive…I appreciate that doesn’t bother some people, but I found that to be something, over the years, that I couldn’t live with.
This is such a useful video, many thanks
Thank you Ricardo! Really appreciate you watching! T
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
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. 😊
Very well said Tyler!!!
I've checked out a couple of your vids bro, you got good stuff so I subbed. Thanks man
Really appreciate that! Thank you for the sub and the support. T
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 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.
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....
Very informative, thank you👍
My pleasure! Thank you so much for watching! T
Spot on T and I agree with you totally. Set up most important and the feel of your neck,, ditto. Great image of your video and thanks again for another great topic. Have a good one mate. Cheers👍
Stephen Costello thanks for the support Stephen, much appreciated as always! T
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.
Thanks for all the honest thoughts (this video and others)!
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
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 UA-cam on the subject.
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!
Purchased a squier classic 60s Jazz Bass... very good Instrument and well worth the outlay.
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.
Great info bro.
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.
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 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
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 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.
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.
Really helpful video, thanks 🙂
Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching! T
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
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
Thanks for the explanation.
You're welcome! Thank you for watching! T
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.
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
I'm a guitar guy but I feel those days where I need bass
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
Sounds like you got a pretty solid bass collection man!!
Good post that will give confidence to a aspirational bassist. To me a good set up is the is the most important issue for a starter as a bad set up will set you back...
Absolutely! A setup can change the game, no question. T
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...
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
im amazed by the video!!!
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.
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!
Man, thats solid advice and much appreciated... i bought the Cv 70s in black after your review video and LOVE it.. i also own a fender us perf bass which is really cool, but, although the Squier feels a bit cheaper, its a great bass for a third of the price of the Fender U.S.... and that said, ive literally just ordered a set of fender vintage pickups, a fender vintage bridge, fender 70’s style tuners, and a new coloured pick guard all for the Squier cv... I figured that I could’ve sold the Squier and bought another Fender, but, i love the Squier CV block inlays and feel of the neck... plus the lighter weight suits my back pain 😄I don’t think I’m making a €240 mistake?!?... Well I could be, but I think its gonna be a fun project and might become an amazing bass 🤷♂️
I bought a SQ CV 60s P-Bass for just over £300 and the jack plug failed after a few days but
I had already fell in love with playing it. So I am going to upgrade the pick ups, pots, machine head as I progress in my playing.
I tried that same Squier bass but this guy put new pots and DiMarzio pickups... and it sounded AMAZING.
GVike Got to say I’m a big fan of dimarzios on bass. Never heard a bass sound bad with dimarzios in em! 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
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 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.
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.
A few days back I stumbled with your channel and I've been loving your content, thanks Tyler :) Your camera angle looks great, in terms of light I would say how about putting something white like a foam board or even a second lower output light source, next to your main light source so you get a nice fill light on the left side of your frame, your face looks a bit too dark on that side. I love how punchy the bass sounds in your videos. Cheers :)! stay safe
Amazing stuff! Thank you for watching and tuning in! I think the second light may still be needed on the left side, agreed. Thanks for the pointers and supporting the channel! T
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.
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! 😀
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'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.
Jolly Good Bass . . . . .Tyler. Thanks from the USA.
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
Good points on modern built quality. A lower end instrument may be all that's needed and certainly a good idea for starting in on bass. In the long run, one may want a higher end bass if finances support it and playing skill increases.
Hello, Tyler and everybody! It's good and important to play bass or any other instrument, not do the fighting about brand names
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
Everything looked good.Well presented
Liked your honesty man thank you. Scott🇦🇺 i’m a life time guitarist but respect the bass roll and looking at buying one . Still not sure to go acoustic or not. Any comment appreciated.
Well said. A prime example is watching Jack Pearson play a Squier Stratocaster Bullet series (that has *not* been modded beyond recognition!). A factor I see is perception. At some point the difference between instruments becomes more perception than actual difference. This is very common with high end acoustic guitar "aficionados."
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 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
I own the squire cv 70s pbass. I Absalutley love it. Just did a normal service on it, sanded the gloss off the maple neck and moved the thumb anchor and I was pretty much good to go. I play it more than what I do my Fender. Might fiddle with the pickups later on, but for now I am pretty happy with it
10.27 is a good example of what bass to buy. Tyler is hugging his custom shop. XX
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.
Hi, interesting video, been playing bass now for about 18 months and thanks to ebay been able to find a few bargains.
However I bought brand new a Bryce 5 string J bass copy for £87 and its brilliant. Lovely trans red finish, pups a little weak but can be upgraded in fact I'm experimenting with neodymium magnets with it. I've swapped some of the hardware out from chrome to gold finish and pit a pearl guard in, the whole thing has cost me around 150 quid and I've got a very good bass that I'm very happy with.
Now I play 6 string too, I've had Squires, Epiphones, Jacksons and still have a PRS SE so I sort of know how a decent instrument should feel.
Imo as long as you have a decent solid wood in the instrument its all about the set up. Hardware can be changed to suit. Yes I could have spent a few hundred on an instrument with a slightly higher spec rather than doing my own upgrades and experiments, but where's the fun in that.
Also, while trialling an amp just before lock down 2 I was playing with a Mexican P bass, not saying it felt fantastic or Miles better than anything I've played before or even own but, I enquires about it after sleeping on it for a day or two. Turns out it's a bargain and may well be heading to my collection very soon.
It'll be the most I've spent on a bass in one hit but still less than I spent on a new epiphone 6 string in the 90s.
There are always bargains and deals to be found out there people.
Sorry for the long comment.
Glad I found your channel, you showed some very nice comparisons with these instruments. It helps to see that you own a Custom shop and a Squier too, I now know that you own them and are not making stuff up. I think I am going to buy that walnut Squier you reviewed earlier, after you said it was more mid-range focused.. I play with a pick and that suits it well! I am not sure about the whole 'tonewood' thing. Going back and forth with changing pickups on p basses in particular made me realise that there's no big impact in the tone coming from the wood.. but everyone tells me there is, perhaps it's just me. I think changing a pickup in a solid body electric instrument makes a world of difference in sound, atleast that's what it does to me. I don't get the whole debate around rosewood and maple fretboards affecting tone either. I tried it out actually, swapping necks, but I could not hear any difference.. I mean I tried, tried to force myself thinking there was a difference and in the end there was... maybe it was true, maybe it was my imagination.. but currently I pick necks for the feel lol. I like rosewood because it's less sticky than maple. Something simple like filing down frets on a Squier can make it feel like a USA Fender. Rough frets have so much impact in the feel of the instrument. even MIM Fenders can be improved by this, I don't do it myself though; worried that I mess up the frets filing down too much.
A.A. The pickup is definitely the biggest and primary impact on tone. I do think tone woods and fingerboard do have an effect on the tone but it can be in many different ways, and trying different woods over many basses is the biggest way to develop a broad understanding of what it does. One example is ebony, I’ve had conversations with a couple of prolific luthiers about how ebony has an effect on the attack of the more more than anything, it makes a bass feel very punchy and quick on the attack. Again, this is gonna vary from hand to hand and ear to ear, but that’s just one example, and as ever, we’re trying explain sound with words which is always going to leave us coming up short! Most important thing is being comfortable and happy with the range of sounds that a bass can achieve for you, so choosing your neck on comfort sounds like a good take to me! T
@@TylerSpicer I did not knew that wood affects the attack of the bass, ebony would be the type of wood I'd be after then; with the extra attack. Yeah true, it's very difficult to explain sounds especially to people who're not playing instruments. And there's just so much variables, one turn on the amp knob goes a long way, cabs mics, the room and whatnot. But yeah, the wood is always there with you, the amp needs power, the cab needs power and the room changes every gig haha.
A.A. Haha! So true, so many variables and once in a mix a lot of them disappear! 😂
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.
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
In my experience, the week link with cheap bases or electric guitars is electronics and hardware . I owned an expensive Squire many years ago, I changed some of the hardware out and upgraded electronics and it turned out to be a guitar I used a lot , especially for recording .
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
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.
FYI: All good stuff. Just wrap it up sooner. All the best. Sincerely.
Thank you for the support and thoughts, I appreciate it! T
My 100$ starting squire bass is still my favorite out of all of them I own
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 UA-cam's compression algorithm between the source and your lovely earbuds, Hank!
I did a few things to my Squire VM Jazz that I love. Seymour Duncan 1/4 Pound PUPs, new pots, Hipshot bridge and tuners (D tuner too) and a brass nut. And it is my recording bass without a doubt! Is this necessary?? Maybe not, but it def helps and I love it. I did it bit by bit. I bought the bass used for $199 and probably these upgrades have it SCREAMING tone and growl. I had a guy doing the recording come in to the iso booth just to make sure I really was playing the Squire. He thought it was a Geddy.