I would invite fans of the look AND sound of black P-basses to sample the wares of one Jean Jacques Burnel, bass player with UK band The Stranglers: Peaches is a fine example of how far an amp can be overdriven by a set of Leo Fender's split coil pickups with one of the most extreme tones ever heard for 1977. The 3rd Stranglers album, Black & White, is JJB's finest playing. His tone becomes even more extreme but also starkly beautiful on Outside Tokyo. Nice 'N' Sleazy is also another good example of black P-bass mastery! An underrated player probably not to everyone's tastes but a Brit legend all the same, up there with Andy (Free) Fraser as a unique talent.
I just got my Squier Classic Vibe 70’s Pbass today. I saw one on display in a local music shop and asked the staff if I could try it out. I immediately fell in love with it and bought it right away. The neck feels so much better than other basses I’ve had (though I never had anything more expensive than the Squier CV or Ibanez Talman bass, and some other off brand ones). I took it home, tightened the truss rod a little bit by about a quarter of a turn, and adjusted the string height via the saddles and intonated them. The only small gripe I had with it was that there was a single uneven fret that really killed that one note I tried to play. Aside from that, everything else feels good. (Fret levelling is beyond me for now and I might take it to a lutheir) I’m glad you spoke from your experience on this one instrument, but it makes me sad that some comments would make it appear like every Squier has major quality issues. In mass production, there will always be some variation in quality, especially if they are being produced in large quantities.
Good point about the weak truss rod material! This is one of those "unseen" cost cutters which you have to be aware of in this price range. After all, Squier's are meant to get you into the Fender product family, not to compete with it.
I tried adjusting the neck relief on my Squier Affinity P-bass and there was no movement at all. The truss rod didn't respond at all and the neck just stayed the same. You're better off paying more for a Classic Vibe if you want some longevity from your "inexpensive" bass guitar needs! Edit: as Lobster rightly says, a used Made In Mexico Fender P-bass is a better choice but a Classic Vibe bass would do me :-)
I do have a squier and I am very agree with you, most people can buy a squier and upgrade everything just to make it feels like fender but the real business is you can't upgrade the woods, the fingerboard and the truss rod.. Squier has very light weight compare to Fender that makes Squier playability is less, the neck is also thin and not very comfortable im feel and the truss rod setup is can easily changed thats why it need to be setup almost everyday (in my cases).. That is the point that many people missed.
@@hanten10 in fact light weight is no quality characteristic and doesn't affect playability. I have played some light American Standard Precision Basses and other heavier Squiers. There is a big variation in weight with all of them and actually the holy grail P Basses of the 60s were pretty light
I just checked one out in person, and while agree with most of the points regarding quality, I liked how lightweight the bass is overall. That is nice to me for a practice use instrument where lugging the 10lb Alembic about gets old. I don't agree with the comments about upgrades though. I feel like I can mod the bass without worrying about ruining it. And if the neck really sucks I can just replace it with another one. Cheap bass, no worries.
This was my main rig for a couple years. Still own it. Stock neck got a bad twist in it and swapped the neck on it, I think its a known issue with these. Played a show the same day my band helped me bury my mom and unfortunately by the end of our set that night I took my pain out on the bass on the stage. Few months later, glued the body back together, threw the slightly twisted neck back on, recorded our first full length with it and continued to plays shows. She has some weird vibrations and obvious fit and finish issues.... But an amazing story and I would never part ways with this bass. I actually have thought about how much can I fix on it to make it playable again while still having it hold the sentimental value.... That answer is, its pretty
As an owner of both a Squier Classic Vibe 70s Precision and a Fender Player Precision I can tell you that you seem to have a Friday afternoon instrument there. I find both basses quite different but like them equally. I never thought I'd like the Squier but it actually blew me away. First one I tried had setup issues though. Wasn't truss rod, was saddle height. Second one played great out the box.
Thanks for the comment! That's interesting. Seems like they're all over the place. I have a couple other squiers coming my way over the next few weeks, we'll see if I have similar issues.
The pre-2019 crafted in china Squiers are totally different in quality than the new run of Indonesian made ones. The CIC Squiers are distinguishable by their brass saddles and chrome bridge covers. They have CGS serial numbers and came in Sonic Blue, Fiesta Red for 60s and Black, FSR Surf Green for 70s (I have one of each and a Affinity and Vintage Modified that don't even come close). Everything from tuners to pickups are cheaper on the new Indonesian ones. The CIC are more like the earlier Japanese ones while the Indonesian ones are basically Affinity/Vintage Modifed Squiers knocking off the earlier Classic Vibes. It's how they were able to LOWER the price on the new CVs by $50. It makes sense from a business standpoint as the CIC CVs were bumping up too close to the MIM basses in quality.
kobriola Have 2014 CGS CV 70s P in this color and a 2014 CV 60s jazz in Olympic white. They are fantastic, beautiful and solidly built instruments. They make the new Player series feel cheap. An Am fender is better but not 3-5 times.
@@wayward95 I think we will look back in a couple decades and realize Fender and Squier experienced another golden age. 2010-2018 is our generation's 1960-1968.
I just grabbed a classic Vibe 60s precision bass. It was an open box special online for $199. I adjusted the truss rod. I needed to level 8 or 10 frets. I replaced the jack with a switchcraft, the pots with CTS pots, and I put a pure vintage 63 Precision pickup in the base. It is a bit neck heavy when sitting, but hangs OK on a strap. The 'slim C' neck profile is very slim compared to my 73 telecaster bass.
I just got mine last week in the walnut finish and I love it. It was a return so I got the bass with a fancy gator gig bag and free shipping for a little over $300, a total steal! I swapped out the black guard for a red tortoise shell pickguard to give it even more of a 70’s look. I had to level and crown the frets above the twelfth fret but that wasn’t really an issue and now it’s low and fast. The pickup itself packs a wallop at a little over 11k. It kept up with my mint green SUB 5 setup with a EMG DC/CS combo outfitted with an older 18volt EMG BTS3 preamp. I play tons of Primus, Bungle, Maiden, Rancid, all sorts of funk (Sly, Brothers Johnson, Bootsy, etc.) I’m pretty much all over the place but this bass can balance it all pretty well. I play through a fender Rumble500 with the eq set flat and the gain and volume at midnight. It is super light and there is a little neck dive but that’s my only gripe so far. I plan on adding another p pickup closer to the bridge (because I can never leave well enough alone and have to mod all the things) so it will have CHONK for days. Also drill through body holes and add a new BADASS II bridge. It may seem like overkill for a cheaper bass but I like all my instruments to sound good even if they are a Squier or any other “knockoff” bass.
Hell yeah, Colton! Great comment. Sounds like you got yourself a good one and you polished her up nice :). I don't think the mods are overkill. Would I put those mods on a Glarry? No. However, if you found yourself a nice P bass that feels good in your hands... MOD AWAY MY FRIEND! :) Make it yours!
I’ve had 2 Squires and the fret work is crap but once it’s fixed, it’s smooth sailing. These bass guitars are sort of garbage but once modded and you fix the bugs, it’s fantastic. Like turning a rough stone into a gem.
I might've gotten lucky. The only issue on mine was it needed a little fret leveling. After keeping it stock for six months I then decided to overhaul everything on the bass and it's a gem now. A few of my friends love to play it when they visit. Some of the changes I made were; Pickup: Geezer Butler EMG Bridge: Fender Hi Mass Bridge Nut: Graphite Tuners: Graph Tech PRB-4401-CO Pickguard: Purple Pearloid Knobs: Abalone topped chrome speed knobs
@@Invictus13666 pickups are the biggest tone changer. Bridge and nut have big effects too in my experience. Tuners make it easier to tune to pitch and hold tune better. These things definitely make a difference, but worth keeping in mind that the pickups alone are a buck fifty. You're now firmly in fender territory. Whether it's worth it or not sort of depends on the particular bass due to Fender/Squire's garbage QA amongst some other considerations.
Can you please let us know how you did get the pickups into this bass. The EMG J Series for instance are slightly bigger than the Squire pickups which are a tight fit already. So you have done some woodworking?
I have a couple of Squire CV basses, a P and J. Both of them are great, came well set up and without any probems. I've heard their quality control can be spotty, but I was lucky
Great review, sir. I only ever hear positive reviews from retailers on classic vibes so it is refreshing to hear an actual consumer's opinions. BTW I am primarily a guitar player but your videos made me pick up the bass and I can honestly say I am really enjoying it so far. Keep up the awesome work, man!
Thank you! That means a lot :). I'm going to have some guitar player buddies on here to jam and try out some of my guitars (which I have for recording or for other people to use lol). So hopefully your guitarist side will appreciate that too
The way I do it for every guitar is I take it to a reputable repair shop and have it inspected and set up. If it’s a good shop that has a relationship with Fender, they will contact Fender and replace the neck if there is a problem. That was my situation.
i bought a Squier classic vibe Jazz bass and it's absolutely beautiful. I agree with the neck issues and it just gets worse from here. I have to agree and recommend to get a mexican Fender instead. i have one that still sounds amazing, and no neck issues.
My brand new 2020 classic vibe 70's p bass in walnut is a killer bass and it had the neck bow, she adjusted smoothly and held it's setup strong ! Right on !
Hi Lobster, I have one SQ Precision Bass Clasic Vibe 70´s crafted in China, but the body is of Tilo (basswood) and I haven't problems with the bridge or neck, and I think the sound is quite good, it has nothing to ask of a MIM, I believe is an excellent option.
Thanks Art! It's really a shame that the QC is so all over the place. Good examples exist, but the gamble that you take with Squiers is sadly part of the buying experience and should understandably turn off many buyers considering all the other great offerings at the same price point.
You said these line of basses started in 2019. I recently got a 2024 made in Indonesia CV 70s Squire, and it sounds flawless. I own a Made in Japan Marcus Miller 4 string jazz bass, i feel the Squire is a bit lighter. Apart from that, the squire doesn't feel cheap. Haven't seen any paint defects, scratches. And i have no buzz on the frets, which don't seem sharp at all. I noticed the bit more noisy electronics, but apart from that, it's a keeper. I ordered a CV 60s, and i'm planning to get a Cont P bass with 4 strings, the pearlwhite active one.
I picked up a used Surf Green one for $300 at GC with a beautiful flame maple neck. Plays like a dream and sounds fantastic. I like it much better than any of the MIM ones I have tried. I also have a 78 P Bass and a Fender Ultra Jazz to compare it to and although it’s not as nice as the Ultra, for $300 it is a steal and I will keep it and play it for years to come.
You must have a dodgy one mate. I've got both a P Bass and Jazz classic vibe and zero neck problems on either. They are both the newer indo made ones. I use quite heavy strings on mine as well. Honestly bad luck with then, you should definitely return it. Before I took up Bass I used to play guitar and owned a Japanese made Jem. I had exactly the same issue as you I could not keep the bugger in tune like at all, I sent it to a renowned Luthier in my town and it turned out the neck pocket was slightly too big for the neck joint.
That I did! However, I've gone through about 5 different CVs (different models) and only have gotten one without any QC issues. You're right that I got a bad one, but I must review the bass that I have as I want my videos to be representative of the customer experience both good and bad. I think the biggest point that I can offer from my CV experience is try before you buy if possible (or work with a shop that has a good return policy).
Maybe you received a lemon. I am actually impressed with the neck and the truss rod on mine more than most of the numerous other basses I have had over the years. I was able to get the action very low, the neck straight and no buzz. I agree on the hum in the electronics and I am wondering if a new pick up would fix it, or do I need to do something else. The tone on mine is quite good.
Mine came with long cracks in the paint, sharp frets, and I too had to spend some time setting it up. Unlike all the other basses in my collection where you just "set it and forget it", this one takes an occasional truss rod and bridge saddle adjustment to keep it optimal. It also seems to need more frequent tuning during a gig. In spite of its shortcomings, it does sound pretty decent, and I enjoy playing it; however, it does make me want a nicer P Bass to match the quality I'm used to.
Thanks Jeff! You hit the nail on the head. I really think they spent their budget on the looks and the pickup of this bass, as both are great. Once you get into the build quality and details, things definitely fall apart.
Since the pandemic hit, used prices for 90s and early 00s MIM Standard Precision and Jazz Basses have skyrocketed to about ~$600. I also personally think you got an absolute dog of a bass. The BEST bang for your buck no-frills, no-bells-and-whistles P or J is the Fender Player Series. Those are miles better than your average neighborhood MIM Standards from the 90s and 2000s.
Great comment Jaxon! I actually just restrung my ole MIM '13 P bass and did a quick comparison of 5 different P-basses at 5 very different price points. It's crazy how the market has changed so much since the start of the channel last year! I'm excited to see how the upcoming $500 Sire P5 stacks up against the competition too :)
@@LowEndLobster yeah! I’m super excited for the P5 with those tasty looking roasted maple necks. Given the release date, it looks like a good Christmas present!
I had almost the same impressions about a Squier VM JB and a Fender MIM JB many years ago. And that mexican guy is still one of my most beloved instruments after 13 years. In my opinion, your shirt rocked more than that P bass 😉
I bought this same bass from SWEET WATER SOUND, and I changed my pickup’s out to some Seymour Duncan 1/4#ers, and it still sucked. Hardly any sustain, and I had a couple of dead spots. The fret markers are painted, or decals. I have had some other squires, and I thought those were better build quality. I sold mine 70’s , and the guy was reluctant to buy it, but I threw some incentives at him, and he took the bait . I might as well have given it to him! I’m going to buy the 50’s precision CV as soon as I sell my PRS Kingfisher, and Schecter Stiletto five string. Thanks Lobster for the review, because I was considering the 70’s limited edition, but not now.
Sweet! I was looking at the new CV, mostly the Jazz 60s! I ended up with a (kinda) 60s spec’d Highway One Jazz I got for $600 + shipping. Cheers Lobster!
Hey Lobster! Here's what I have observed about Squier: The QC has gone down in recent runs, especially since 2019. My current number one bass is a franken-bass consisting of a Squier vintage modified 70s jazz bass body in natural finish and a Squier vintage modified 77 neck in maple with pearl block inlays. That instrument looks killer and sounds amazing. No issues with the neck and holds setup very well. Unfortunately the vintage modified series has been discontinued for a while now and the newer instruments have inferior quality of woods and parts in my opinion, not to mention the QC! All this being said, I also own a used Fender MIM P bass strung up in flatwounds and that instrument has convinced me that a used Fender is always a better choice than a new Squier!
I recently got a CV Strat and I was pretty impressed with the general quality out of the box. One rough fret. Set up pretty nice. The feel of the neck to me is nice and highly playable, which is really the only important/expected thing in this price range, imho. All that said, I can tell that the basses differ a little from your vid. The pups that came on my Strat sounded really great. For a first instrument and based only on that general description, I'd give it 4 of 5 stars/claws. As a modder would be a different story altogether. I upgraded everything on the Strat and it blows a MX Fender out of the water in terms of playability and sound. For $500, you can essentially rival many $1000+ guitars, as long as you personally like the feel of the neck and body. Otherwise, don't bother. It's real disappointing that the basses don't seem to be up to the same standard as the guitars, and I very much appreciate you calling out soft metals. That's just not cool. I really dislike when functional corners are cut. Use cheaper wood, crappier paint, but have some self-respect and release a proper instrument.
got a new MIM P two months back and i love it. set it up right after i got it, nothing has moved since. so i vote used MIM or new even, just save up a little longer.
I have owned two squire basses one from 2001 and one from 2010 both had the exact same problems with the neck. The sad part is that the truss rod is just weak it just relents and in a month or a few weeks the bow will most likely sneak back on you. This was the case on both basses for me. The first one I don't remember where it was made and the second one was made in Indonesia. It is sad that the same problems with their basses seem to have persisted over almost 20 years. There are so many other basses for slightly less, the same or slightly more that hit way above their price point in playability. Buying a squire today feels like a bad move no matter how you look at it. Or you know, save some more and buy a MiM fender instead. Stay safe and Ty for the video
I've purchased a few Squier Classic Vibe basses (or their immediate predecessor, the Vintage Modified series) and have never had any kind of neck issues like what's described here. In fact, my Squier Vintage Modified 5-string Jazz Bass is actually quite good. I think I've done a couple of minor truss rod adjustments to it with seasonal changes, but it pretty much felt great right out of the box. Not denying these issues at all… just saying that of course there's likely to be some QC issues and individual variation in these Squier instruments, but I think receiving one THIS screwed up is probably unusual.
Had one of this for a week and didn´t notice any electronics noise through an ampeg BA115HP, but i agree it´s a few steps away from MIM Fender P but still is a very good looking bass and over a regular chinese Squier i was really pleased i had the chance to play.
I own several Squier basses and none have had terrible neck issues, the only bass I’ve purchased that had a seriously curved neck is a Fender MIM Prec. standard, so there you go. I think it’s just a roll of the dice.
I have an American P Bass Delux(Humbucker in the bridge position) and just recently bought a Yamaha BB434, which is kinda on par as far as price range with Squiers...so far so good..
Got one of these and the electronics are NOISYYYY. I got it for cheap used so i cant knock it too much. I'm just gonna throw some flats on it and keep the tone below 4 but man when you put that tone up above halfway its unacceptably loud imo. Too bad cus i LOVE the look and feel of this bass.
I had the same issue with the trussrod nut, when I bought my Mexican Fender. The stock pickups on the Squier don't sound that bad. However, if I got a Squier, I'd stick some Geezer Butler pickups in it... much quieter.
Got this one and had the same issues. Very noisy PUs, the Potis were crooked and the cable jumped out of the Input jack all the time. The Truss Rod needed two turns to do anything. After a complete desaster with a Sire MM V3 2nd gen (came with defunct neck PU and broken nut) I'm done with budget Basses. Goin Lakland now.
Do you recall if yours had fret sprout? I just got mine in a few weeks ago and at least four frets are sprouting. I'm not sure if this is poor craftsmanship, extreme dryness from the shipping process, or a mix of both. I love the way the bass sounds and plays, but those frets are dang sharp when I hit one. LOL Debating on returning if this isn't normal, but I typically buy guitars in person, so I don't know any better. I know this video was made a few years ago, so I totally get if you can't recall.
My 2nd bass ever was a Squier Precision I bought at Sam Ash in New York City. I loved it, the neck was straight and it sounded as good as any Fender P I've ever heard. Sadly, an ex-friend stole it and hocked it at a pawnshop. I never saw it again.
Great review, as always! I always watch your videos with a smile and a good mood, since you yourself always smile and tell everything in a kind manner.
I think you got a dog here. I bought a Squier CV 70s Jazz years ago and I've never had any issues with the materials like you had with your neck. I put it through several string changes, even going from rounds to flats, back to rounds, and back to flats again, and the neck never needed much adjustment. And that's on the very thin Jazz Bass neck, mind you. I think the problem is just that quality control can be really lackluster. So if you get a lemon like this one, I would just send it back and try my luck with another one of the same bass. Squier CVs can be fantastic instruments if you don't get unlucky. Great base platform for upgrading pickups and hardware as well.
Thanks! I definitely don't disagree that this one isn't an ideal example, that being said I always review the bass I get. Squier QC is definitely not the best, and you're absolutely right that there are great examples out there. I should probably revisit some of the CV series as this review is on the older side of the channel :). Great comment!
A problem I have with mine is that the volume knob does literally nothing. The tone knob works fine, but the volume is at 100% regardless of what I do with the volume control.
I own a Squier P-Bass 1997 (I think) Made in Korea and honestly, construction wise, it is miles better than what you described. She got upgrades over time (USA Fender Originals pickup, Starr Guitar System harness). For my skills right now, I can't even imagine why I should buy a Fender except the name on the headstock. She stays in tunes, setup are long lasting, tone is perfect. I think it has to do with Squier having a really bad rep over cost cutting measure back in the 90's and Fender corrected this in the last years of producing in Korea by ramping up quality standards before moving to Indonesia. Either way, I'm going to my grave with it.
Thanks Maxime! Honestly, the Squier QC has really taken a beating. Their MIC stuff is/was on point, but the Indonesian CV stuff really is lacking. The only redeeming thing about it are the aesthetics and the pickup. Outside of that though, it feels like a knockoff suit. Sounds like your MIK is a killer bass, glad you're holding onto it! Enjoy :)
Love this guy. All you get from the Lobster Man is the straight, honest truth about the instrument. It's so refreshing when you don't have to watch some click seeking, free gear acquiring clown pushing inferior gear. LowEndLobster is the real deal.
I played this Precision in local music store, it was in that nice walnut color, and the truss rod was exactly the same, those string were about 1km above the fingerboard. It is issue with all these precisions i think. Bud the feeling was great, nicely made bass, nice sound, for that money it feels exactly like Mexican fender, and that neck is gorgeous :D And sorry for my bad english, greeting from Czech Republic
Hi! So sad about current cuality of the classic vibes. I have the same bass in the same colour but older version and is amazing. The body of it is basewood and his finishes are great. More than 2 years and still loving it! Keep it funky bro!!! 🤙🏼 (sorry for my English. I'm from Spain).
Hello there. I once owned a 70's black precision bass (had to sell). I just bought a second hand squire affinity. Made it my project for this winter to upgrade and sound like my old precision. I like your opinions on the squire, but surprised as to how crap its was put together. sounded thin. The trust Rod issue, Jesus how many turns. I bet you could have built better from scratch. Loving the claw look.
I bought this exact bass from Sweetwater and I love Sweet Water, but when I got this bass the set up was great like usual because they always do that with bass guitars over the price point of $250.00ish? Anyway I thought that the tone sucked so I bought a new pickup for it and I can’t remember what brand, but it was either Fender 60’s p-bass or a Seymour Duncan 1/4 #er? I have bought both from time to time. I have changed out bridges, pickup’s, capacitors, bleed downs, set up’s, refinishing. But anyway this bass even sucked after the swoop out, so I sold the damn thing and I tell you it left a bad taste in my mouth with Squier! However I am starting to feel better about purchasing another one, but I’m going to get the Squier Classic Vibe 60’s precision this time because I love the tone. I remember at a couple of gigs when I did have the Black 70’s p bass just like yours and I would pull it out of it’s case and it made people say something like we’re in for it now!? Or oh my God!😂 It’s a Killer looking bass there’s no doubt about that
Great question AMP! I have not played any of the Chinese CVs, people have been holding onto them. I have played the Paranormal Jazz which is MIC, and the fit and finish was far superior - though the CVs get better sounding pickups IMO.
@@LowEndLobster I have a both a P and a J CV and I'm really impressed with them. The Indonesian ones seem...fine...but definitely don't have the shine that the China made ones did. I've been doing some digging and it almost seems like Fender rebranded the VM's as the CV's rather than phasing out the VM line.
The condition of the neck, balance of the instrument, and the sound is exactly what mine was. I even switched the pick ups, just like you said, was like polishing a turd, lol. I definitely got rid of mine after a month or so. I'm curious what you think of the Squier Classic Vibe 60s Precision. I've been reading that it's noticeably better (especially the Made in China version from back in 2008ish).
Thanks Yuichi! That's a bummer that you had the same experience. The QC on the Indonesian CVs is really all over the place. I plan on checking out a 60's one, but honestly the MIC Paranormal felt so much better (though I think the CV pickups sound better).
Thank you for your honesty. I owned the dude from rancid bass a few years ago and returned it because of how bad the quality was squire is still to this day not so amazing. You should check out the 70’s p bass that fender did a few years ago but have fun finding it I’m still mad I didn’t buy it years ago.
You must've gotten a shoddy build. They're the matt freeman squier p basses and I had one back in 2013 and I completely regret selling it. They're still highly sought after and sell for $500.
Love these basses. I just bought one and sold one (exact same model) and although I'm a fan of more modern shapes and neck profiles, I couldn't get over how cool the laquered neck and maple board was. And the tone you get for such little money is crazy. Awesome review man.
First of all: great review, like all your other reviews. I own the same bass, but with a stock hi-mass bridge and a basswood body, made, or as they say 'crafted' in China. Did you test one from Indonesia? I've experienced none of the problems you describe here, except for the stock pickup. Mine feels really nice and with an SD-SPB-3 and CTS pots and a proper output jack in it, it sounds massive and is a joy to play. Bummer you got yourself a bad one.
Yesterday I've tried the same bass in Daphne Blue or light green. It looked amazing but I felt underwelmt. I've asked to try a fender player p and I felt a pretty big difference.
@@LowEndLobsterCompared to an American Pro Series 1 it's like day and night and I still do not know why exactly. It already begins when you grab them both by the neck in order to get them out of the guitar stand where you can feel the huge difference.
it looks really cool, but after just a few seconds of your playing i could tell the mex p is a better bass (& then hearing all the negatives of the construction, materials)
I have a Harley Benton PB-20 that I got as B-stock from Thomann, so it was dirt cheap but it looks like it's a better bargain than the Squier CV. It would be interesting to see how they would compare. I think they both are cheaply made and in need of a setup and some upgrades, but with the HB,you'll have saved at least $300 to use on it.
And, some one please let me know where I can get a used Fender Bass, made anywhere, for the same price as a Squier Vintage Series Bass...In Canada the Squiers are $560.
The QC has definitely dropped off over the past 2-3 years. The Chinese stuff is really solid but the indonesian stuff is hit or miss. It's not consistently bad, but I review the bass that I get and try to extrapolate what I can from the experiences
Prices have gotten weird since I bought it. I got mine for $400 on Reverb in early 2020, and my good friend has an identical P that he got for around the same price a few years ago too.
It could be this particular instrument or batch, but I gotta rate what's in my hands. Have two other Squiers incoming over the next few weeks, so we'll see if those fare better ;)
I totally agree, it's hard to beat a Mexican Fender when it comes to bang for your buck. I have two Mexican Fenders and one American and the only real difference is the hardware.
Hey, it takes outstanding design and craftsmanship to create a noisy P bass! I guess 3" of shielded cable and a slice of copper foil would have decimated their profit. Another fine video, Lob.
Thank you for this honest review. I’m a guitarist about to dip my toe into the bass pool. I’ve decided on the Precision as that seems to be the standard, plus I think they just sound great. I was debating between this and a Mexican made P bass. This video has sealed the deal for me on which I’m choosing.
SO.... you made me curious.......i weighed mine, which is the same except mine is seafoam or surf green. this one weighs 9 pounds even.. this one is body heavy rather than neck heavy ! Could anyone explain what may be happening here? TOM
Manufacturing inconsistency. I think that they're a bit willy-nilly with the woods that they pick. A small variance in weight is to be expected as no two pieces of wood are the same, but the squiers I've owned thus far recently have been really hit or miss.
Interesting. I've got a Chinese made CV 70s p-bass (black, just like this one in the review) and it's been a great player, with great tone and neck. Haven't had to change a thing on it other than the strings (Ernie Ball flatwounds). It sounds as if the newer runs may have had some QC issues after moving production to Indonesia. Squier's guitars (and basses) made in China have been the best, but more hit and miss for the newer ones from Indonesia. Too bad. Glad I kept mine.
Thanks Oz! It's interesting to see the contrast between Squiers based on where they're made. My MIC Squier Paranormal was much better in terms of fit and finish compared to all the CVs I've owned, though my one example is anecdotal.
Second that, I have a Chinese made one and bought it after trying several MIM ones that weren't as good tonewise...in my mind...on that one instrument...that day 😁, I love it !!
I have a 2018 model of this bass and it's a great sounding instrument I've had it for 2 years and have never had any neck issues and it's built very well and the binding is real I hope squier isn't starting to cut costs on these new basses every instrument I've bought from them in the past has been on par with the Mexican made Fenders in my opinion.
I think the neck issues I had speak more to the inconsistency between examples rather than a flaw evident among the entire model line. The Jazz V neck felt much sturdier and the paranormal jazz is super well built.
@@LowEndLobster I agree, I'm glad as a whole squier isn't seen as strictly beginner instruments anymore some of the stuff they're putting out is very impressive, I've got a 50's classic vibe p bass on the way you should do a video looking at one of those. Keep up the good reviews man.👍
I tried, a couple of days ago, the same one but the FSR model, in surf green. The look is amazing and it's a little bit more expensive than the walnut. I'm not a Precision player, I own just Jazz Basses, but I wanted to add a P to my arsenal to use it in some occasions and for some studio recordings. The bass is well refined, sounds fine but I found the neck a little too sticky. The action was a little bit too high but didn't compromise that much the playability. I didn't buy the bass anyway (399 euros in Italy) because I noticed one "little" issue: once adjusted the action, in 10 minutes the neck was bending back and the action raised a little bit again. Not for me...
Yep. That's what I found with the neck on this. What's interesting is that I have another Squier (vid on that soon) that is completely different in terms of feel.
@@LowEndLobster I have a squier jazz bass, 2009 signature James Johnston made in China, that's pretty awesome. I'm about to buy a used 2013 Squier precision made in China, the fiesta red edition (looks like the Pino Palladino one). I'll probably go checking in the weekend. As stated by someone here in the thread, the earlier China made are slightly better than the Indonesian ones. Who knows...
If I already have the BB734a, will worth buy this Squier just to have a a precision bass, or do you think that the the yamaha already do a good work with their split coil?
Hey Lobster, thank you for your review. I read conflicting opinions regards the Classic Vibe series, someone is really excited and others, like you, a lot less impressed. 😏 Here in UK a second hand MIM is usually not lower than 500£. I was thinking about upgrading my 1999 Squier PJ, new pickups, new wiring and new bridge. Maybe also a general refresh of the look. Your review, though, ends with not much confidence on such upgrades. Suggestions?
Hey Gianluigi! Great comment. I think it's important to remember that no two examples of the same instrument are truly the same, and I believe that the variance within the Squier CV lineup is high. We've reviewed four CVs thus far (P, J5, Mustang, J fretless) and the QC has been all over the place. Depending on how good the one in your hands is, you may feel a way about it. I personally wouldn't upgrade a Squier CV (brand new) as the additional mod money could just get you a better bass off the bat.
Thank you Lobster. At the moment I can't justify 400/500/600£ for a new bass guitar, my wife is a lot less accommodating than your girlfriend 😂. That's why I'm thinking on putting some money on my 80£ second Hand Squier 😁
Hey man, you may have noticed i commented on some videos saying im gonna buy stuff and mod them and youve replied and blah blah blah. But i never did them. Too much money for something thats not worth the price. But i just got an idea for something awesome and relatively cheap and exactly what i want. You know the squier jazz bass deluxe? The black one with the artificial wood fingerboard and black headstock? Im gonna put that neck on a black p bass body (not sure which yet because i need to buy one with a decent stock pickup because being a teenager i have more important things to spend money on than ALL BASS PARTS) and throw some custom bits on it and hipshot hardware. Im not worried about the neck because its coming from a different bass, i was just wondering though.... which squier p bass body (if you've acquired more) would you recommend? Sorry for the essay, its a bad trait of mine to type too much in a comment.
Hey! Great idea with that neck, that should fit any standard fender style body (not USA and this applies to 4 string only). Checkout stratosphere for bodies
I bought a Squire bass and here was the issues 1. The paint was inconsistent. It was so thin in spots that you could see the wood 2. The neck was wonky and needed a lot of adjustment 3. The frets looked as if 10th grade kids installed them in shop class. They needed work 4. The volume pot would not gradually increase the volume it would go from low volume then jump to loud. The pot would also crackle when touched. It had to be replaced. By the time I paid the local guitar shop to fix everything wrong with my Squire I could have bought a nice MIM or even a good used MIA Fender PBass
Guess I'm spoiled as I don't have to buy guitars or basses( or surfboards) on line so I get to touch them before buying.. I own 2 recent squier basses and one guitar and the only weakness I've found is the quality of the tuners on the Affinity series bass... everything else is solid. Minimal set up required but I got to play them at the store so I could tell if they needed 2 turns on the truss rod.. but I've never seen one that has.. Could it be what part of the world they're shipped to?
I have a Classic Vibe Jazz bass that I think is pretty nice. I'd have more faith in a used MIM Jazz bass over the long haul but comparing their sound as of about three years ago... stock for stock... I think the Classic Vibe is much better. I played one of the Classic Vibe 70s P bass with the walnut-look finish a couple years ago and was pretty underwhelmed.
i suck as a player of anything, but i know tone: the MIM strat simply kills that squier, really, really badly. i just got a 60s classic vibe P and wonder if i did the right thing
I can concur with everyone that Squier quality is all over the place. I purchased a new Affinity PJ and it came new with a bowed neck and lots of finish imperfections. I returned it and got one of these in surf green, neck was straight, action was great and finish was so much better. It's a crap shoot.
Black P basses with black pickguard and black pickup are the best looking P basses
Agreed, I had the choice between this and the "walnut" brown... I chose the black because the combo was on point.
I went with the walnut brown and can’t be happier. Still lovin the black on black though
No
Roger waters played one like it
I would invite fans of the look AND sound of black P-basses to sample the wares of one Jean Jacques Burnel, bass player with UK band The Stranglers: Peaches is a fine example of how far an amp can be overdriven by a set of Leo Fender's split coil pickups with one of the most extreme tones ever heard for 1977. The 3rd Stranglers album, Black & White, is JJB's finest playing. His tone becomes even more extreme but also starkly beautiful on Outside Tokyo. Nice 'N' Sleazy is also another good example of black P-bass mastery! An underrated player probably not to everyone's tastes but a Brit legend all the same, up there with Andy (Free) Fraser as a unique talent.
I just got my Squier Classic Vibe 70’s Pbass today. I saw one on display in a local music shop and asked the staff if I could try it out. I immediately fell in love with it and bought it right away. The neck feels so much better than other basses I’ve had (though I never had anything more expensive than the Squier CV or Ibanez Talman bass, and some other off brand ones).
I took it home, tightened the truss rod a little bit by about a quarter of a turn, and adjusted the string height via the saddles and intonated them. The only small gripe I had with it was that there was a single uneven fret that really killed that one note I tried to play. Aside from that, everything else feels good. (Fret levelling is beyond me for now and I might take it to a lutheir)
I’m glad you spoke from your experience on this one instrument, but it makes me sad that some comments would make it appear like every Squier has major quality issues. In mass production, there will always be some variation in quality, especially if they are being produced in large quantities.
Good point about the weak truss rod material! This is one of those "unseen" cost cutters which you have to be aware of in this price range. After all, Squier's are meant to get you into the Fender product family, not to compete with it.
Thank you! Well said
I tried adjusting the neck relief on my Squier Affinity P-bass and there was no movement at all. The truss rod didn't respond at all and the neck just stayed the same. You're better off paying more for a Classic Vibe if you want some longevity from your "inexpensive" bass guitar needs!
Edit: as Lobster rightly says, a used Made In Mexico Fender P-bass is a better choice but a Classic Vibe bass would do me :-)
I do have a squier and I am very agree with you, most people can buy a squier and upgrade everything just to make it feels like fender but the real business is you can't upgrade the woods, the fingerboard and the truss rod.. Squier has very light weight compare to Fender that makes Squier playability is less, the neck is also thin and not very comfortable im feel and the truss rod setup is can easily changed thats why it need to be setup almost everyday (in my cases).. That is the point that many people missed.
@@hanten10 in fact light weight is no quality characteristic and doesn't affect playability. I have played some light American Standard Precision Basses and other heavier Squiers. There is a big variation in weight with all of them and actually the holy grail P Basses of the 60s were pretty light
I just checked one out in person, and while agree with most of the points regarding quality, I liked how lightweight the bass is overall. That is nice to me for a practice use instrument where lugging the 10lb Alembic about gets old. I don't agree with the comments about upgrades though. I feel like I can mod the bass without worrying about ruining it. And if the neck really sucks I can just replace it with another one. Cheap bass, no worries.
Thanks Phil! Great comment
This was my main rig for a couple years. Still own it. Stock neck got a bad twist in it and swapped the neck on it, I think its a known issue with these. Played a show the same day my band helped me bury my mom and unfortunately by the end of our set that night I took my pain out on the bass on the stage. Few months later, glued the body back together, threw the slightly twisted neck back on, recorded our first full length with it and continued to plays shows. She has some weird vibrations and obvious fit and finish issues.... But an amazing story and I would never part ways with this bass. I actually have thought about how much can I fix on it to make it playable again while still having it hold the sentimental value.... That answer is, its pretty
As an owner of both a Squier Classic Vibe 70s Precision and a Fender Player Precision I can tell you that you seem to have a Friday afternoon instrument there. I find both basses quite different but like them equally. I never thought I'd like the Squier but it actually blew me away. First one I tried had setup issues though. Wasn't truss rod, was saddle height. Second one played great out the box.
Thanks for the comment! That's interesting. Seems like they're all over the place. I have a couple other squiers coming my way over the next few weeks, we'll see if I have similar issues.
@@LowEndLobster they're made by Cort, same as Ibanez, Epiphone, low end PRS and many, many more.
The pre-2019 crafted in china Squiers are totally different in quality than the new run of Indonesian made ones. The CIC Squiers are distinguishable by their brass saddles and chrome bridge covers. They have CGS serial numbers and came in Sonic Blue, Fiesta Red for 60s and Black, FSR Surf Green for 70s (I have one of each and a Affinity and Vintage Modified that don't even come close). Everything from tuners to pickups are cheaper on the new Indonesian ones. The CIC are more like the earlier Japanese ones while the Indonesian ones are basically Affinity/Vintage Modifed Squiers knocking off the earlier Classic Vibes. It's how they were able to LOWER the price on the new CVs by $50. It makes sense from a business standpoint as the CIC CVs were bumping up too close to the MIM basses in quality.
kobriola Have 2014 CGS CV 70s P in this color and a 2014 CV 60s jazz in Olympic white. They are fantastic, beautiful and solidly built instruments. They make the new Player series feel cheap. An Am fender is better but not 3-5 times.
@@wayward95 I think we will look back in a couple decades and realize Fender and Squier experienced another golden age. 2010-2018 is our generation's 1960-1968.
I just grabbed a classic Vibe 60s precision bass. It was an open box special online for $199. I adjusted the truss rod. I needed to level 8 or 10 frets. I replaced the jack with a switchcraft, the pots with CTS pots, and I put a pure vintage 63 Precision pickup in the base. It is a bit neck heavy when sitting, but hangs OK on a strap. The 'slim C' neck profile is very slim compared to my 73 telecaster bass.
I just got mine last week in the walnut finish and I love it. It was a return so I got the bass with a fancy gator gig bag and free shipping for a little over $300, a total steal! I swapped out the black guard for a red tortoise shell pickguard to give it even more of a 70’s look. I had to level and crown the frets above the twelfth fret but that wasn’t really an issue and now it’s low and fast. The pickup itself packs a wallop at a little over 11k. It kept up with my mint green SUB 5 setup with a EMG DC/CS combo outfitted with an older 18volt EMG BTS3 preamp. I play tons of Primus, Bungle, Maiden, Rancid, all sorts of funk (Sly, Brothers Johnson, Bootsy, etc.) I’m pretty much all over the place but this bass can balance it all pretty well. I play through a fender Rumble500 with the eq set flat and the gain and volume at midnight. It is super light and there is a little neck dive but that’s my only gripe so far. I plan on adding another p pickup closer to the bridge (because I can never leave well enough alone and have to mod all the things) so it will have CHONK for days. Also drill through body holes and add a new BADASS II bridge. It may seem like overkill for a cheaper bass but I like all my instruments to sound good even if they are a Squier or any other “knockoff” bass.
Hell yeah, Colton! Great comment. Sounds like you got yourself a good one and you polished her up nice :). I don't think the mods are overkill. Would I put those mods on a Glarry? No. However, if you found yourself a nice P bass that feels good in your hands... MOD AWAY MY FRIEND! :) Make it yours!
I’ve had 2 Squires and the fret work is crap but once it’s fixed, it’s smooth sailing. These bass guitars are sort of garbage but once modded and you fix the bugs, it’s fantastic. Like turning a rough stone into a gem.
I might've gotten lucky. The only issue on mine was it needed a little fret leveling. After keeping it stock for six months I then decided to overhaul everything on the bass and it's a gem now. A few of my friends love to play it when they visit. Some of the changes I made were;
Pickup: Geezer Butler EMG
Bridge: Fender Hi Mass Bridge
Nut: Graphite
Tuners: Graph Tech PRB-4401-CO
Pickguard: Purple Pearloid
Knobs: Abalone topped chrome speed knobs
Did all that really make a difference?
@@Invictus13666 pickups are the biggest tone changer. Bridge and nut have big effects too in my experience. Tuners make it easier to tune to pitch and hold tune better. These things definitely make a difference, but worth keeping in mind that the pickups alone are a buck fifty. You're now firmly in fender territory. Whether it's worth it or not sort of depends on the particular bass due to Fender/Squire's garbage QA amongst some other considerations.
@@peadookie yeah. I should’ve been more clear. 👍🏽 Thank you.
@@Invictus13666 no worries bruv!
Can you please let us know how you did get the pickups into this bass. The EMG J Series for instance are slightly bigger than the Squire pickups which are a tight fit already. So you have done some woodworking?
I have a couple of Squire CV basses, a P and J. Both of them are great, came well set up and without any probems. I've heard their quality control can be spotty, but I was lucky
Great review, sir. I only ever hear positive reviews from retailers on classic vibes so it is refreshing to hear an actual consumer's opinions. BTW I am primarily a guitar player but your videos made me pick up the bass and I can honestly say I am really enjoying it so far. Keep up the awesome work, man!
Thank you! That means a lot :). I'm going to have some guitar player buddies on here to jam and try out some of my guitars (which I have for recording or for other people to use lol). So hopefully your guitarist side will appreciate that too
This guys opinion isn’t absolute. It’s a great bass for the price.
The way I do it for every guitar is I take it to a reputable repair shop and have it inspected and set up. If it’s a good shop that has a relationship with Fender, they will contact Fender and replace the neck if there is a problem. That was my situation.
Ooohhh the FGN Mighty Power made it on to the wall! Looking forward to the full review of that one!
I'm excited to make it! It's coming soon :)
i bought a Squier classic vibe Jazz bass and it's absolutely beautiful. I agree with the neck issues and it just gets worse from here. I have to agree and recommend to get a mexican Fender instead. i have one that still sounds amazing, and no neck issues.
My brand new 2020 classic vibe 70's p bass in walnut is a killer bass and it had the neck bow, she adjusted smoothly and held it's setup strong !
Right on !
Hi Lobster, I have one SQ Precision Bass Clasic Vibe 70´s crafted in China, but the body is of Tilo (basswood) and I haven't problems with the bridge or neck, and I think the sound is quite good, it has nothing to ask of a MIM, I believe is an excellent option.
HEY ITS JOSEPH FROM THE ANDOVER UPS STORE. SUBSCRIBED AND SHOWING MY SUPPORT!!
Thanks my man!
I couldn't agree more with this review. I returned mine within 30 days for every reason started here.
Thanks Art! It's really a shame that the QC is so all over the place. Good examples exist, but the gamble that you take with Squiers is sadly part of the buying experience and should understandably turn off many buyers considering all the other great offerings at the same price point.
You said these line of basses started in 2019. I recently got a 2024 made in Indonesia CV 70s Squire, and it sounds flawless. I own a Made in Japan Marcus Miller 4 string jazz bass, i feel the Squire is a bit lighter. Apart from that, the squire doesn't feel cheap. Haven't seen any paint defects, scratches. And i have no buzz on the frets, which don't seem sharp at all. I noticed the bit more noisy electronics, but apart from that, it's a keeper. I ordered a CV 60s, and i'm planning to get a Cont P bass with 4 strings, the pearlwhite active one.
I picked up a used Surf Green one for $300 at GC with a beautiful flame maple neck. Plays like a dream and sounds fantastic. I like it much better than any of the MIM ones I have tried. I also have a 78 P Bass and a Fender Ultra Jazz to compare it to and although it’s not as nice as the Ultra, for $300 it is a steal and I will keep it and play it for years to come.
You must have a dodgy one mate. I've got both a P Bass and Jazz classic vibe and zero neck problems on either. They are both the newer indo made ones. I use quite heavy strings on mine as well. Honestly bad luck with then, you should definitely return it.
Before I took up Bass I used to play guitar and owned a Japanese made Jem. I had exactly the same issue as you I could not keep the bugger in tune like at all, I sent it to a renowned Luthier in my town and it turned out the neck pocket was slightly too big for the neck joint.
That I did! However, I've gone through about 5 different CVs (different models) and only have gotten one without any QC issues. You're right that I got a bad one, but I must review the bass that I have as I want my videos to be representative of the customer experience both good and bad. I think the biggest point that I can offer from my CV experience is try before you buy if possible (or work with a shop that has a good return policy).
Maybe you received a lemon. I am actually impressed with the neck and the truss rod on mine more than most of the numerous other basses I have had over the years. I was able to get the action very low, the neck straight and no buzz. I agree on the hum in the electronics and I am wondering if a new pick up would fix it, or do I need to do something else. The tone on mine is quite good.
I have just recently bought one of these.
I had Flatwound strings put on it and also had a Fender Pure Vintage 64 precision bass pickup installed.
Nice! How does it sound?
Has the pickup change made much difference ?
Mine came with long cracks in the paint, sharp frets, and I too had to spend some time setting it up. Unlike all the other basses in my collection where you just "set it and forget it", this one takes an occasional truss rod and bridge saddle adjustment to keep it optimal. It also seems to need more frequent tuning during a gig. In spite of its shortcomings, it does sound pretty decent, and I enjoy playing it; however, it does make me want a nicer P Bass to match the quality I'm used to.
Thanks Jeff! You hit the nail on the head. I really think they spent their budget on the looks and the pickup of this bass, as both are great. Once you get into the build quality and details, things definitely fall apart.
guess i spoke too soon haha! great review, stylistically i'm sold on this classic vibe basses
Hahaha, I actually reshot that intro just for your comment :P.
Since the pandemic hit, used prices for 90s and early 00s MIM Standard Precision and Jazz Basses have skyrocketed to about ~$600. I also personally think you got an absolute dog of a bass.
The BEST bang for your buck no-frills, no-bells-and-whistles P or J is the Fender Player Series. Those are miles better than your average neighborhood MIM Standards from the 90s and 2000s.
Great comment Jaxon! I actually just restrung my ole MIM '13 P bass and did a quick comparison of 5 different P-basses at 5 very different price points. It's crazy how the market has changed so much since the start of the channel last year! I'm excited to see how the upcoming $500 Sire P5 stacks up against the competition too :)
@@LowEndLobster yeah! I’m super excited for the P5 with those tasty looking roasted maple necks. Given the release date, it looks like a good Christmas present!
Hm, Jaxon, in 2022 the price for a Fender Player has soared high at 850 Euros in Europe, and its tone is just mediocre.
I had almost the same impressions about a Squier VM JB and a Fender MIM JB many years ago. And that mexican guy is still one of my most beloved instruments after 13 years. In my opinion, your shirt rocked more than that P bass 😉
Hahaha thank you!
I bought this same bass from SWEET WATER SOUND, and I changed my pickup’s out to some Seymour Duncan 1/4#ers, and it still sucked. Hardly any sustain, and I had a couple of dead spots. The fret markers are painted, or decals. I have had some other squires, and I thought those were better build quality. I sold mine 70’s , and the guy was reluctant to buy it, but I threw some incentives at him, and he took the bait . I might as well have given it to him! I’m going to buy the 50’s precision CV as soon as I sell my PRS Kingfisher, and Schecter Stiletto five string. Thanks Lobster for the review, because I was considering the 70’s limited edition, but not now.
Sweet! I was looking at the new CV, mostly the Jazz 60s! I ended up with a (kinda) 60s spec’d Highway One Jazz I got for $600 + shipping. Cheers Lobster!
Enjoy!
Hey Lobster! Here's what I have observed about Squier: The QC has gone down in recent runs, especially since 2019. My current number one bass is a franken-bass consisting of a Squier vintage modified 70s jazz bass body in natural finish and a Squier vintage modified 77 neck in maple with pearl block inlays. That instrument looks killer and sounds amazing. No issues with the neck and holds setup very well. Unfortunately the vintage modified series has been discontinued for a while now and the newer instruments have inferior quality of woods and parts in my opinion, not to mention the QC! All this being said, I also own a used Fender MIM P bass strung up in flatwounds and that instrument has convinced me that a used Fender is always a better choice than a new Squier!
Thank you for sharing Nihal :) Great comment!
I'm ready for that talman review now! I'd love to hear the P-bass V Talman and find out what that neck is like!
That'll be coming soon :)
I recently got a CV Strat and I was pretty impressed with the general quality out of the box. One rough fret. Set up pretty nice. The feel of the neck to me is nice and highly playable, which is really the only important/expected thing in this price range, imho. All that said, I can tell that the basses differ a little from your vid. The pups that came on my Strat sounded really great. For a first instrument and based only on that general description, I'd give it 4 of 5 stars/claws.
As a modder would be a different story altogether. I upgraded everything on the Strat and it blows a MX Fender out of the water in terms of playability and sound. For $500, you can essentially rival many $1000+ guitars, as long as you personally like the feel of the neck and body. Otherwise, don't bother.
It's real disappointing that the basses don't seem to be up to the same standard as the guitars, and I very much appreciate you calling out soft metals. That's just not cool. I really dislike when functional corners are cut. Use cheaper wood, crappier paint, but have some self-respect and release a proper instrument.
got a new MIM P two months back and i love it.
set it up right after i got it, nothing has moved since.
so i vote used MIM or new even, just save up a little longer.
Thanks Karl!
@@LowEndLobster np. you're welcome.
I have owned two squire basses one from 2001 and one from 2010 both had the exact same problems with the neck. The sad part is that the truss rod is just weak it just relents and in a month or a few weeks the bow will most likely sneak back on you. This was the case on both basses for me. The first one I don't remember where it was made and the second one was made in Indonesia. It is sad that the same problems with their basses seem to have persisted over almost 20 years.
There are so many other basses for slightly less, the same or slightly more that hit way above their price point in playability. Buying a squire today feels like a bad move no matter how you look at it. Or you know, save some more and buy a MiM fender instead.
Stay safe and Ty for the video
Man that's a huge bummer. The inconsistency in their basses is a real sticking point, especially now with so much more competition.
Same here! truss rod on both by basses just quit. They were $100 each, part of the vintage series. love their sound but the high action blows.
I've purchased a few Squier Classic Vibe basses (or their immediate predecessor, the Vintage Modified series) and have never had any kind of neck issues like what's described here. In fact, my Squier Vintage Modified 5-string Jazz Bass is actually quite good. I think I've done a couple of minor truss rod adjustments to it with seasonal changes, but it pretty much felt great right out of the box.
Not denying these issues at all… just saying that of course there's likely to be some QC issues and individual variation in these Squier instruments, but I think receiving one THIS screwed up is probably unusual.
Thanks for sharing! I plan on buying another one of these to revisit the model. Hopefully I'll have better luck this time around!
Had one of this for a week and didn´t notice any electronics noise through an ampeg BA115HP, but i agree it´s a few steps away from MIM Fender P but still is a very good looking bass and over a regular chinese Squier i was really pleased i had the chance to play.
Steps away from a MIM P at a price point of a used MIM P (in the US at least). Not a terrible instrument, but definitely felt cheap to me.
I own several Squier basses and none have had terrible neck issues, the only bass I’ve purchased that had a seriously curved neck is a Fender MIM Prec. standard, so there you go. I think it’s just a roll of the dice.
Thanks Airtow!
I have an American P Bass Delux(Humbucker in the bridge position) and just recently bought a Yamaha BB434, which is kinda on par as far as price range with Squiers...so far so good..
Nice! Looking to check those out
Got one of these and the electronics are NOISYYYY. I got it for cheap used so i cant knock it too much. I'm just gonna throw some flats on it and keep the tone below 4 but man when you put that tone up above halfway its unacceptably loud imo. Too bad cus i LOVE the look and feel of this bass.
I had the same issue with the trussrod nut, when I bought my Mexican Fender. The stock pickups on the Squier don't sound that bad. However, if I got a Squier, I'd stick some Geezer Butler pickups in it... much quieter.
Thanks Max! Tonally, the Squier CVs nail it - it's the QC and lightweight body materials with the heavy neck and cheap hardware that definitely hurt
Thank you! I was just about to buy one. Now I suppose I'll look for a MIM P. (The green Squire looks great ( 2022)
Got this one and had the same issues. Very noisy PUs, the Potis were crooked and the cable jumped out of the Input jack all the time. The Truss Rod needed two turns to do anything. After a complete desaster with a Sire MM V3 2nd gen (came with defunct neck PU and broken nut) I'm done with budget Basses. Goin Lakland now.
Do you recall if yours had fret sprout? I just got mine in a few weeks ago and at least four frets are sprouting. I'm not sure if this is poor craftsmanship, extreme dryness from the shipping process, or a mix of both. I love the way the bass sounds and plays, but those frets are dang sharp when I hit one. LOL Debating on returning if this isn't normal, but I typically buy guitars in person, so I don't know any better. I know this video was made a few years ago, so I totally get if you can't recall.
I think the white pickgaurd makes that bass sound brighter and the black pickgaurd makes the other one sound darker?
My 2nd bass ever was a Squier Precision I bought at Sam Ash in New York City. I loved it, the neck was straight and it sounded as good as any Fender P I've ever heard. Sadly, an ex-friend stole it and hocked it at a pawnshop. I never saw it again.
Aw bummer! Sounds like you had a good one too.
Pretty crappy "friend"
dam wtf
Great review, as always! I always watch your videos with a smile and a good mood, since you yourself always smile and tell everything in a kind manner.
Thanks Eugene!
I love the tee shirt. Lucky Bee Bee having such a cool human.
I think you got a dog here. I bought a Squier CV 70s Jazz years ago and I've never had any issues with the materials like you had with your neck. I put it through several string changes, even going from rounds to flats, back to rounds, and back to flats again, and the neck never needed much adjustment. And that's on the very thin Jazz Bass neck, mind you. I think the problem is just that quality control can be really lackluster. So if you get a lemon like this one, I would just send it back and try my luck with another one of the same bass. Squier CVs can be fantastic instruments if you don't get unlucky. Great base platform for upgrading pickups and hardware as well.
Thanks! I definitely don't disagree that this one isn't an ideal example, that being said I always review the bass I get. Squier QC is definitely not the best, and you're absolutely right that there are great examples out there. I should probably revisit some of the CV series as this review is on the older side of the channel :). Great comment!
The inlays on the neck aren't stickers. I have one and the inlay is imperfect and you can feel the edge.
I just bought one off marketplace it didn't play at all I adjusted the truss rod did a ruff set up. It plays good but has a slight bow.
Miss you lobster! Come back brother! Hope you are well !
A problem I have with mine is that the volume knob does literally nothing. The tone knob works fine, but the volume is at 100% regardless of what I do with the volume control.
I own a Squier P-Bass 1997 (I think) Made in Korea and honestly, construction wise, it is miles better than what you described. She got upgrades over time (USA Fender Originals pickup, Starr Guitar System harness). For my skills right now, I can't even imagine why I should buy a Fender except the name on the headstock. She stays in tunes, setup are long lasting, tone is perfect. I think it has to do with Squier having a really bad rep over cost cutting measure back in the 90's and Fender corrected this in the last years of producing in Korea by ramping up quality standards before moving to Indonesia. Either way, I'm going to my grave with it.
Thanks Maxime! Honestly, the Squier QC has really taken a beating. Their MIC stuff is/was on point, but the Indonesian CV stuff really is lacking. The only redeeming thing about it are the aesthetics and the pickup. Outside of that though, it feels like a knockoff suit. Sounds like your MIK is a killer bass, glad you're holding onto it! Enjoy :)
Love this guy. All you get from the Lobster Man is the straight, honest truth about the instrument. It's so refreshing when you don't have to watch some click seeking, free gear acquiring clown pushing inferior gear. LowEndLobster is the real deal.
I played this Precision in local music store, it was in that nice walnut color, and the truss rod was exactly the same, those string were about 1km above the fingerboard. It is issue with all these precisions i think. Bud the feeling was great, nicely made bass, nice sound, for that money it feels exactly like Mexican fender, and that neck is gorgeous :D And sorry for my bad english, greeting from Czech Republic
Thank you for sharing my friend! Your English is great :).
@@LowEndLobster thanks, but i still think that i have lots of things to improve. Also i’m very big fan of yours, forgot to mention that 😅
Hi! So sad about current cuality of the classic vibes. I have the same bass in the same colour but older version and is amazing. The body of it is basewood and his finishes are great. More than 2 years and still loving it! Keep it funky bro!!! 🤙🏼
(sorry for my English. I'm from Spain).
Thank you! Indeed, they don't make em like they used to. Hold onto yours :)
Hello there. I once owned a 70's black precision bass (had to sell). I just bought a second hand squire affinity. Made it my project for this winter to upgrade and sound like my old precision. I like your opinions on the squire, but surprised as to how crap its was put together. sounded thin. The trust Rod issue, Jesus how many turns. I bet you could have built better from scratch.
Loving the claw look.
Thank you my friend! Yeah the CVs have been really inconsistent in their QC, such a shame because they look the part.
I bought this exact bass from Sweetwater and I love Sweet Water, but when I got this bass the set up was great like usual because they always do that with bass guitars over the price point of $250.00ish? Anyway I thought that the tone sucked so I bought a new pickup for it and I can’t remember what brand, but it was either Fender 60’s p-bass or a Seymour Duncan 1/4 #er? I have bought both from time to time. I have changed out bridges, pickup’s, capacitors, bleed downs, set up’s, refinishing. But anyway this bass even sucked after the swoop out, so I sold the damn thing and I tell you it left a bad taste in my mouth with Squier! However I am starting to feel better about purchasing another one, but I’m going to get the Squier Classic Vibe 60’s precision this time because I love the tone. I remember at a couple of gigs when I did have the Black 70’s p bass just like yours and I would pull it out of it’s case and it made people say something like we’re in for it now!? Or oh my God!😂 It’s a Killer looking bass there’s no doubt about that
Have you ever compared the new Indonesian made CVs to the earlier China made basses?
Great question AMP! I have not played any of the Chinese CVs, people have been holding onto them. I have played the Paranormal Jazz which is MIC, and the fit and finish was far superior - though the CVs get better sounding pickups IMO.
@@LowEndLobster I have a both a P and a J CV and I'm really impressed with them. The Indonesian ones seem...fine...but definitely don't have the shine that the China made ones did. I've been doing some digging and it almost seems like Fender rebranded the VM's as the CV's rather than phasing out the VM line.
The condition of the neck, balance of the instrument, and the sound is exactly what mine was. I even switched the pick ups, just like you said, was like polishing a turd, lol. I definitely got rid of mine after a month or so. I'm curious what you think of the Squier Classic Vibe 60s Precision. I've been reading that it's noticeably better (especially the Made in China version from back in 2008ish).
Thanks Yuichi! That's a bummer that you had the same experience. The QC on the Indonesian CVs is really all over the place. I plan on checking out a 60's one, but honestly the MIC Paranormal felt so much better (though I think the CV pickups sound better).
Thank you for your honesty. I owned the dude from rancid bass a few years ago and returned it because of how bad the quality was squire is still to this day not so amazing. You should check out the 70’s p bass that fender did a few years ago but have fun finding it I’m still mad I didn’t buy it years ago.
Thanks for the comment! Honestly, I'm eyeing a FGN P-bass :).
You must've gotten a shoddy build. They're the matt freeman squier p basses and I had one back in 2013 and I completely regret selling it. They're still highly sought after and sell for $500.
Love these basses. I just bought one and sold one (exact same model) and although I'm a fan of more modern shapes and neck profiles, I couldn't get over how cool the laquered neck and maple board was. And the tone you get for such little money is crazy.
Awesome review man.
Yeah, it was definitely heavily finished. I was going to mention something cause it was a little sticky but I forgot ;P
Hi! I have a Squier 50's CV Precision bass and not had any issues (trusr road, frets, etc) with it. I think I was lucky then lol.
First of all: great review, like all your other reviews. I own the same bass, but with a stock hi-mass bridge and a basswood body, made, or as they say 'crafted' in China. Did you test one from Indonesia? I've experienced none of the problems you describe here, except for the stock pickup. Mine feels really nice and with an SD-SPB-3 and CTS pots and a proper output jack in it, it sounds massive and is a joy to play. Bummer you got yourself a bad one.
Your "as always" ending reminds me of Chef John's videos. Used Fender MIM all day.
:)
Yesterday I've tried the same bass in Daphne Blue or light green. It looked amazing but I felt underwelmt. I've asked to try a fender player p and I felt a pretty big difference.
Great comment! Yep, they feel cheap. It's very noticeable!
@@LowEndLobsterCompared to an American Pro Series 1 it's like day and night and I still do not know why exactly. It already begins when you grab them both by the neck in order to get them out of the guitar stand where you can feel the huge difference.
Great review. Thanks.
it looks really cool, but after just a few seconds of your playing i could tell the mex p is a better bass (& then hearing all the negatives of the construction, materials)
Thank you very much for this video!
Looks awesome
Thanks Bart!
Are my ears all wrong or did you go up a semitone when you switched to the MiM Fender P-Bass?
Yeaaah I def didn't do a good job tuning in this old video hahaha. This model is due for a revisit though!!
I have a Harley Benton PB-20 that I got as B-stock from Thomann, so it was dirt cheap but it looks like it's a better bargain than the Squier CV. It would be interesting to see how they would compare. I think they both are cheaply made and in need of a setup and some upgrades, but with the HB,you'll have saved at least $300 to use on it.
Thanks Sergio! Thank you for sharing, we'll definitely be checking out more HBs :)
And, some one please let me know where I can get a used Fender Bass, made anywhere, for the same price as a Squier Vintage Series Bass...In Canada the Squiers are $560.
Weird! I got mine back in 2015 and it didn’t have any issue, sounds amazing and the electronics are super quiet. Probably an issue with recent models?
The QC has definitely dropped off over the past 2-3 years. The Chinese stuff is really solid but the indonesian stuff is hit or miss. It's not consistently bad, but I review the bass that I get and try to extrapolate what I can from the experiences
where on earth did you find a mexican precision for 400 bucks? im seeing them used around 6-700
Prices have gotten weird since I bought it. I got mine for $400 on Reverb in early 2020, and my good friend has an identical P that he got for around the same price a few years ago too.
@@LowEndLobster thanks i will keep an eye out i had a steve harris p bass and sold it it had a neck issue
Have the squier VM Jaguar, haven't had these neck issues.
It could be this particular instrument or batch, but I gotta rate what's in my hands. Have two other Squiers incoming over the next few weeks, so we'll see if those fare better ;)
Just buy the Ibanez Talman TMB100 I'm trying to get one because my Squier P bass has QC issues.
Thanks, great review
I totally agree, it's hard to beat a Mexican Fender when it comes to bang for your buck. I have two Mexican Fenders and one American and the only real difference is the hardware.
Hey, it takes outstanding design and craftsmanship to create a noisy P bass! I guess 3" of shielded cable and a slice of copper foil would have decimated their profit. Another fine video, Lob.
Thank you!
Thank you for this honest review. I’m a guitarist about to dip my toe into the bass pool. I’ve decided on the Precision as that seems to be the standard, plus I think they just sound great. I was debating between this and a Mexican made P bass. This video has sealed the deal for me on which I’m choosing.
Awesome! Glad I could help Willy :)
SO.... you made me curious.......i weighed mine, which is the same except mine is seafoam or surf green. this one weighs 9 pounds even.. this one is body heavy rather than neck heavy ! Could anyone explain what may be happening here? TOM
Manufacturing inconsistency. I think that they're a bit willy-nilly with the woods that they pick. A small variance in weight is to be expected as no two pieces of wood are the same, but the squiers I've owned thus far recently have been really hit or miss.
The difference between the Squier and the fender isn't just tone. It sounded like different key. Is that just my ear?
Interesting. I've got a Chinese made CV 70s p-bass (black, just like this one in the review) and it's been a great player, with great tone and neck. Haven't had to change a thing on it other than the strings (Ernie Ball flatwounds). It sounds as if the newer runs may have had some QC issues after moving production to Indonesia. Squier's guitars (and basses) made in China have been the best, but more hit and miss for the newer ones from Indonesia. Too bad. Glad I kept mine.
Thanks Oz! It's interesting to see the contrast between Squiers based on where they're made. My MIC Squier Paranormal was much better in terms of fit and finish compared to all the CVs I've owned, though my one example is anecdotal.
Second that, I have a Chinese made one and bought it after trying several MIM ones that weren't as good tonewise...in my mind...on that one instrument...that day 😁, I love it !!
I have a 2018 model of this bass and it's a great sounding instrument I've had it for 2 years and have never had any neck issues and it's built very well and the binding is real I hope squier isn't starting to cut costs on these new basses every instrument I've bought from them in the past has been on par with the Mexican made Fenders in my opinion.
I think the neck issues I had speak more to the inconsistency between examples rather than a flaw evident among the entire model line. The Jazz V neck felt much sturdier and the paranormal jazz is super well built.
@@LowEndLobster I agree, I'm glad as a whole squier isn't seen as strictly beginner instruments anymore some of the stuff they're putting out is very impressive, I've got a 50's classic vibe p bass on the way you should do a video looking at one of those. Keep up the good reviews man.👍
Hello friend, I am thinking of buying this bass or the Marcus miller P5 Alder, what would you do?
thank you very much
P5 all the way
I tried, a couple of days ago, the same one but the FSR model, in surf green. The look is amazing and it's a little bit more expensive than the walnut. I'm not a Precision player, I own just Jazz Basses, but I wanted to add a P to my arsenal to use it in some occasions and for some studio recordings. The bass is well refined, sounds fine but I found the neck a little too sticky. The action was a little bit too high but didn't compromise that much the playability. I didn't buy the bass anyway (399 euros in Italy) because I noticed one "little" issue: once adjusted the action, in 10 minutes the neck was bending back and the action raised a little bit again. Not for me...
Yep. That's what I found with the neck on this. What's interesting is that I have another Squier (vid on that soon) that is completely different in terms of feel.
@@LowEndLobster I have a squier jazz bass, 2009 signature James Johnston made in China, that's pretty awesome. I'm about to buy a used 2013 Squier precision made in China, the fiesta red edition (looks like the Pino Palladino one). I'll probably go checking in the weekend. As stated by someone here in the thread, the earlier China made are slightly better than the Indonesian ones. Who knows...
Spitting the truth. Respect.
This dude is a real lobster 🦞
Another great video Lobster 🦞 The question is: used MIM P BASS or new Sire P5? (Assuming I can locate one)
I'd go with the P5
@@LowEndLobster Thanks Lobster!
If I already have the BB734a, will worth buy this Squier just to have a a precision bass, or do you think that the the yamaha already do a good work with their split coil?
I feel the same about the neck I have the first run of that bass and the neck just seems weak
Hey Lobster, thank you for your review. I read conflicting opinions regards the Classic Vibe series, someone is really excited and others, like you, a lot less impressed. 😏 Here in UK a second hand MIM is usually not lower than 500£. I was thinking about upgrading my 1999 Squier PJ, new pickups, new wiring and new bridge. Maybe also a general refresh of the look. Your review, though, ends with not much confidence on such upgrades. Suggestions?
Hey Gianluigi! Great comment. I think it's important to remember that no two examples of the same instrument are truly the same, and I believe that the variance within the Squier CV lineup is high. We've reviewed four CVs thus far (P, J5, Mustang, J fretless) and the QC has been all over the place. Depending on how good the one in your hands is, you may feel a way about it. I personally wouldn't upgrade a Squier CV (brand new) as the additional mod money could just get you a better bass off the bat.
Thank you Lobster. At the moment I can't justify 400/500/600£ for a new bass guitar, my wife is a lot less accommodating than your girlfriend 😂. That's why I'm thinking on putting some money on my 80£ second Hand Squier 😁
@@ingegnerevolante If you already have it, then go for it! If the bass feels good but isn't getting the sound you want, go to town my friend!
Hey man, you may have noticed i commented on some videos saying im gonna buy stuff and mod them and youve replied and blah blah blah. But i never did them. Too much money for something thats not worth the price. But i just got an idea for something awesome and relatively cheap and exactly what i want. You know the squier jazz bass deluxe? The black one with the artificial wood fingerboard and black headstock? Im gonna put that neck on a black p bass body (not sure which yet because i need to buy one with a decent stock pickup because being a teenager i have more important things to spend money on than ALL BASS PARTS) and throw some custom bits on it and hipshot hardware. Im not worried about the neck because its coming from a different bass, i was just wondering though.... which squier p bass body (if you've acquired more) would you recommend? Sorry for the essay, its a bad trait of mine to type too much in a comment.
Hey! Great idea with that neck, that should fit any standard fender style body (not USA and this applies to 4 string only). Checkout stratosphere for bodies
@@LowEndLobster thanks!
I bought a Squire bass and here was the issues
1. The paint was inconsistent. It was so thin in spots that you could see the wood
2. The neck was wonky and needed a lot of adjustment
3. The frets looked as if 10th grade kids installed them in shop class. They needed work
4. The volume pot would not gradually increase the volume it would go from low volume then jump to loud. The pot would also crackle when touched. It had to be replaced.
By the time I paid the local guitar shop to fix everything wrong with my Squire I could have bought a nice MIM or even a good used MIA Fender PBass
Hey Lobster big fan here,
can you make a video of your entire bass collection ?
Hey Safariball! I was planning on doing a Lobstervlog showing my office and the whole collection (there's a lot...). Stay tuned :)
Guess I'm spoiled as I don't have to buy guitars or basses( or surfboards) on line so I get to touch them before buying.. I own 2 recent squier basses and one guitar and the only weakness I've found is the quality of the tuners on the Affinity series bass... everything else is solid. Minimal set up required but I got to play them at the store so I could tell if they needed 2 turns on the truss rod.. but I've never seen one that has.. Could it be what part of the world they're shipped to?
I have a Classic Vibe Jazz bass that I think is pretty nice. I'd have more faith in a used MIM Jazz bass over the long haul but comparing their sound as of about three years ago... stock for stock... I think the Classic Vibe is much better. I played one of the Classic Vibe 70s P bass with the walnut-look finish a couple years ago and was pretty underwhelmed.
Thanks cz guy!
i suck as a player of anything, but i know tone: the MIM strat simply kills that squier, really, really badly. i just got a 60s classic vibe P and wonder if i did the right thing
I can concur with everyone that Squier quality is all over the place. I purchased a new Affinity PJ and it came new with a bowed neck and lots of finish imperfections. I returned it and got one of these in surf green, neck was straight, action was great and finish was so much better. It's a crap shoot.
So you think its better to buy the Sterling 4HH. Which of both do you prefer ??