In Praise of Squier - NBD!

[ChrisJaxon]

I wanted a shortie for a short term project coming up (depping for an upright player), and I wanted to try one out anyway (good ole'gas!), so I pressed the button with GAK for a black Squier VM Jaguar SS for all of £178 including delivery the next day. What can go wrong, I thought, and when it arrived I dutifully kept all the packaging just in case. But when I took it out and gave it a quick once-over, it was faultless. Apart from a little brown knot in the maple on top of the headstock, which looks rather like a fag burn and rather hip. Then I plugged it in, and once again it all functioned without issue, and the sound was exactly as expected. I then replaced the strings with my preferred flats, set the string and pickup heights to my liking, tuned her up and -BINGO -  what a fantastic little bass! And for my dainty little hands, the business end was so much easier and less tiring to play than my long scales. And I found myself able to play faster more accurate runs. I may be converted....

But how does the industry make a great 'beginner' instrument like this, with everyone in the food chain (even DHL to my door) making a profit (including the taxman) for £178? Hats off to Squier.

[Trueno]

Great bass. I got one in Candy Apple Red a few months ago. Got mine from a local dealer so I could check it out for any nasties. I agree with everything you say. I put a Gotoh bridge on mine, but that's more because I hate the look of bbot bridges. I put new strings on and did some setting up over a few days... but didn't need much tweaking... setting the height of the jazz pup was the biggest adjustment I had to make.

I've also got a "fag burn" on the headstock... just in the right place... maybe there's a heavy smoker in the factory with a sense of humour.

Enjoy the bass.

[Wylie]

They are good basses; I had one too (but no fag burn). I think the low cost is due principally to the Indonesian manufacturing/labor cost. 

Edited August 8, 2018 by Wylie

[bazzbass]

because workers are being grossly underpaid in the newest slave labour country.

Just like Japan and Korea previously, the Indonesians will eventually produce top quality instruments at higher prices as they get the hang of it.

[merello]

My school has one…I dont bother bringing my own bass in for rehearsals now…cracking wee plank of wood.

[martthebass]

Just sold mine (but only because I'd picked up a CIJ Mustang).  Cracking basses and dare I say it, sound as good/better than both my Mustangs.