New offerings by Squier

[Nicklab]

It really does start to boil down to the name on the headstock, doesn't it? I'm in the market for a Nash right now and I know for a fact that I can get a bass JUST LIKE the one Jeremy posted from Nash for $5K less than what the Fender Custom Shop is offering. That being said, almost everything I've ever played from the Custom Shop plays like butter. But is there really any instrument on the market that's worth $6 grand?

[b5pilot]

I've taken apart numerous Squiers and found that the bodies were made of plywood.

 

Yes that was true with the older Squiers but I don't think that's true with the newer lines of instruments.

[b5pilot]

And of course our friends at Fender have been consistently raising prices over the past few years for both Fenders and Squiers.

 

The prices of the Custom Shop Fenders are fairly unbelievable.

 

Fender Custom Shop Master Built 1970s Jazz Bass Heavy Relic Black over Candy Apple Red $6,690.92

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/9/0/0/621900.jpg

 

I doubt if this bass sounds or plays better than my Mike Lull bass (or the Sadowsky that SteveC just sold for a sixth of that price).

 

$6700 for spiffed up mass production bass. Yikes! It sure is pretty though.

 

Speaking of Nash basses, Bill Nash gives an interresting argument about the authenticity and quality of Fender basses are compared to his in his opinion.

http://www.nashguitars.com/IMHO.htm

[Cthulhu Fhtagn]

Again, I inquire. What is a "real" bass?

 

Then again, it would be wasted on me. I might be ignorant.

[wraub]

I have a MIJ Squier jazz that, except for the binding, blocks, and covers, looks almost exactly like that custom shop offering.

 

Mine plays pretty nicely too, and sounds sweet. Most folks who play it seem to take right to it. I have had a couple of offers for it for more than I paid.

I basically bought it for pocket change.

 

It's not all about the label. Play with your fingers, listen with your ears. Leave your eyes out of it.

 

Peace,

 

wraub

[SteveC]

It's not all about the label. Play with your fingers, listen with your ears. Leave your eyes out of it.

 

True. Logical. Correct.

Easier said than done...for some of us.

I do really like both the Jaguar and Jazz that I played.

[wraub]

FWIW, for many years at a time, I have owned only one bass.

Although, I currently own 3, but each performs a distinct role, and here we are.

 

I also like a good pulled pork sandwich.

 

Peace,

 

wraub

[DanYmaL X]

Again, I inquire. What is a "real" bass?

 

Then again, it would be wasted on me. I might be ignorant.

 

Here... look... I googled it...

http://www.unionsportsmen.org/images/uploads/p1070521_optimized_400.jpg

[5 string Mike]

Again, I inquire. What is a "real" bass?

 

Then again, it would be wasted on me. I might be ignorant.

 

Here... look... I googled it...

http://www.unionsportsmen.org/images/uploads/p1070521_optimized_400.jpg

But the real question- did he land it with a Wal-Mart Shakespeare rig or a high dollar Bass Pro Special?

 

[Big Daddy from Motown]

Well not that any one you care, but I still look at the American made Fenders as the starting point for professional instruments.

I like Lakland basses as well and even the ones made in Korea are about 1200$.

I have a Squire and a MIM Fender bass and they are fine for the bedroom or beach, but they aren't "real Fender Basses."

[jeremy c]

I care, Big Daddy.

Feel the love.

[Big Daddy from Motown]

You're the Man Jeremy!

[Rocky McDougall]

If you want to screw with your friends heads, get a great playing and sounding Fender Custom shop bass and then refinish the headstock with a Squier decal on it.

Rocky

[kenfxj]

Most of them will swear it doesn't sound as good as a real bass.

[wraub]

Set and match to Ken.

 

Peace,

 

wraub

[b5pilot]

Most of them will swear it doesn't sound as good as a real bass.

 

Folks, we have a winner! There's a lot of truth in that statement.

[Cthulhu Fhtagn]

Ok, ok, I get it. I've figured it out. It's a $300 hunk of crap. It's firewood. It's termite food. I get it.

 

Thank God this was a thread where we were compairing a $300 knock-off bass to Lulls, Alembics, Rics and Sadowskis. Why, I'm going to sell everything I own and buy me a Lull tonight!

 

And get rid of my PT Cruiser (which probably sucks) and buy a Bentley! And ditch my Timex (sucks) for a Rolex! And my Brook's Bros. (more sucking) suit for Armani!

 

Oh, wait. It WASN'T a compare/contrast a $300 bass to a $2600 bass! And I'm not rich! And I'm not a studio musician or someone who plays so much that it REALLY makes that much of a difference. It was "have you played one - what do you think"!

 

Sorry I hijacked the thread.

[Nicklab]

Speaking of Nash basses, Bill Nash gives an interresting argument about the authenticity and quality of Fender basses are compared to his in his opinion.

http://www.nashguitars.com/IMHO.htm

 

QFT! Here's an excerpt from Bill Nash....

 

 

In my opinion, unless you are making guitars with set necks, and actually making the bulk of the parts you use, then you are assembling guitars from parts. Now, the big difference between me and many of my colleagues, competitors and the like, is that I actually admit to not making my necks and bodies. Very few manufactures make their own wood parts unless they are in the top two tiers of guitar makers. It is not my goal to "out" anyone so I will not be specific, but you may be quite surprised at who makes what for who. Read on....

 

I'd rather buy a REAL Fender than some parts-o-caster made by Nash.

 

It may be a bit of a strange concept, but open your mind and try and forget everything you know and feel about guitars. Now, here is a concept - Leo Fender left his company in 1964. You know most of this history, but now look at it from a MFG standpoint and what you consider a real Fender guitar. Those factories are all gone. Fender is dead, most of the people that put those guitars together are long gone. Virtually every facet of making a Fender guitar is different, completely different, than it was back in Leo's days. So what we have is something called a Fender Stratocaster that other than the shape of the body and headstock and some layout shares almost nothing with the "real" Fender Stratocaster as it was designed and made in the early days. Think of it this way - Ford motor Company makes a new Mustang that is a killer little car that does have an overall vibe from its namesake from the 60s, but it is in no way a 64 Mustang.

 

This brings me to my point. No one has made a real Fender guitar since 1964. FMIC, may hold copyrights and trademarks to some names and designs, but they certainly do not make real Fender guitars as Ford does not make a real Mustang any more. Now start thinking about all those crappy cars that share names with some really great cars and it becomes a real funny thing to think about. A 2006 Chevy Impala has as much to do with a 1960 Chevy Impala as does a Moped. Now, when someone buys a Made in Mexico Fender Telecaster, is it really a Fender Telecaster or is it as much a Fender Telecaster as a 2007 Ford Mustang is a FORD MUSTANG? Could you consider that FMIC is actually making Fender copies, and sometimes not very well? Some of the Fender reissues made by the Custom Shop are much more on target, however they are still hobbled by many factors, such as paint, pickups, hardware and other parts that are still made from more modern designs or elements.

 

So, for many people who buy our guitars, we put something in their hands something that is better to their liking - and may just do Leo a bit more justice. I hope so. Look at a thing for only what it is. Right here right now.

 

FYI, I own several post 64 Fenders myself so do not think I am trashing them. I do buy them with different expectations than I did years ago. I know they are copies and or replicas. My favorites are the MIJ reissues. Should I think just because FMIC holds the control of the name, that a guitar made in Japan, Mexico or China is actually a REAL Fender?

 

Now, so you do not think I am trashing Fender specifically, I feel that there are many makers that have put out guitars with their company name, model name and logos that share little with the "original" guitars. Gretsch comes to mind easily as they make a fantastic line of reissues, however except for the USA custom shop stuff, all of them are made in the orient. I think of these as copies commissioned for the holder of the trade name and though they may look and sound much like their vintage brothers, they are certainly a whole different instrument. Is a current Hamer Sunburst anywhere near the guitar that was the 1981 Hamer Sunburst? I think Rickenbacker is the only guitar maker from the old days that could actually claim that they are much the same as they once were, as they have not been bought, sold, moved, re-tooled, commissioned Asian factories and all the other things most makers have done. Gibson falls in a mid point as they certainly have been bought and sold many times and moved factories etc, but the end product in most cases has come full circle and in my opinion they make guitars as good if not better than they did in the 50s. This of course depends on model as there are certainly examples of questionable guitars in their line. My only complaint is that the guitars generally need a complete fret dressing and some other mods when they come out of the factory.

 

Bottom line is that there are many Fender inspired guitar builders who make guitars that are better than the ones either made or commissioned by FMIC. I may or not be one of them, but I can say that Callaham, Anderson, Suhr, Grosch and several others would certainly be in this category.

 

Another thing to consider - what percentage of the parts used on a "real" Fender are made by them? I think you would be surprised at the answer.

 

 

[DanYmaL X]

Again, I inquire. What is a "real" bass?

 

Then again, it would be wasted on me. I might be ignorant.

 

Here... look... I googled it...

http://www.unionsportsmen.org/images/uploads/p1070521_optimized_400.jpg

But the real question- did he land it with a Wal-Mart Shakespeare rig or a high dollar Bass Pro Special?

Looks like an Ugly Stik to me...

[hotlix86]

Ok, ok, I get it. Why, I'm going to sell everything I own and buy me a Lull tonight!

 

 

Maybe you do get it.

[SteveC]

If you want to screw with your friends heads, get a great playing and sounding Fender Custom shop bass and then refinish the headstock with a Squier decal on it.

Rocky

 

I just got a Fender CS Classic Jazz. Maybe I'll try that. Oh wait, I won't have it long enough to try that. :-)

[SteveC]

Ok, ok, I get it. I've figured it out. It's a $300 hunk of crap. It's firewood. It's termite food. I get it.

 

Thank God this was a thread where we were compairing a $300 knock-off bass to Lulls, Alembics, Rics and Sadowskis. Why, I'm going to sell everything I own and buy me a Lull tonight!

 

And get rid of my PT Cruiser (which probably sucks) and buy a Bentley! And ditch my Timex (sucks) for a Rolex! And my Brook's Bros. (more sucking) suit for Armani!

 

Oh, wait. It WASN'T a compare/contrast a $300 bass to a $2600 bass! And I'm not rich! And I'm not a studio musician or someone who plays so much that it REALLY makes that much of a difference. It was "have you played one - what do you think"!

 

Sorry I hijacked the thread.

 

I do get it. And I did compare the Squier to a Sadowsky - that I traded for a Fender CS Jazz. I don't tour, or record or anything either. I could use a Squier for my gigs easily. I wish I wasn't a gear snob and thought that anyone but me cared what I play as long as I sound decent. I could be playing a $300 bass and have $1,500 in the bank.

 

Bottom line. I played them. They are nice basses. A pro won't be using them, but the rest of us could.

[wraub]

Pino Palladino has a MIJ Squier.

 

Just sayin'.

 

Peace,

 

wraub

[jeremy c]

Pino Palladino has a MIJ Squier.

 

Just sayin'.

 

Peace,

 

wraub

 

Really? What's that red P he's been playing? (the list price on the Fender Custom Shop version is $4200)

[Rocky McDougall]

If you want to screw with your friends heads, get a great playing and sounding Fender Custom shop bass and then refinish the headstock with a Squier decal on it.

Rocky

 

I just got a Fender CS Classic Jazz. Maybe I'll try that. Oh wait, I won't have it long enough to try that. :-)

 

Steve, don't put the Squier decal on a Fender you plan to sell.

Rocky