Ironically, the Japanese made Fender's are some of the highest quality produced guitars in Fender's history.

I've been doing repairs on strung musical instruments since I began my apprenticeship in 2002. (My prices still haven't changed since then.) Something worth mentioning and emphasizing is that the basses that come in at the higher price points do tend to have faaaaaarrrr better electronics. I can set almost any really cheap bass- give it a little fret dressing - and it'll probably play just as well as any Fender American Standard. The troubles people will have will often be most noticeable when it comes to the wiring, pots, capacitors, shielding and all of that jazz. That being said, I've sold loads of cheap basses to beginners along with a nice setup, new after-market pickups and a nice rewiring and in a lot of cases, those players have gone on to use those bases for years and years as backups or as that bass that one finished the set with and doesn't mind banging up a little bit. Those guys have ended up being really grateful to me. So that's a thing to remember, all you beginners out there, and all you who are looking for an instrument to take greater risks with and that. The luthier/decent guitar tech is your friend. But if you want a good guitar from the get-go, just go for broke and buy the bass that makes your special places tingle. But if you're not a Rockefeller and have a limited budget, or aren't sure how serious you are about playing the bass, look for a nice-looking cheaper bass and a decent tech. You'll find your way. You'll see.

I have an Affinity Jazz bass in my home studio since 2005. It records great and nobody can ever tell I'm using a Squire.

I'm an old guy and have been playing guitar seriously since the late 1960s. At that time all the guys I knew playing in all the bands I saw were playing Gibson SGs, 335s and Les Pauls so that's what I wanted. I bought a used Gibson ES-335 at a little local music store that sold cassette decks, cheap stereo systems, guitar strings, etc., and a few guitars. I bought the guitar in 1970 (it's a 1967) for $225 dollars which was a fortune to me (list price at the time was a little more than 2x that). I had to get a loan from a bank to pay for it and I remember the payments were $18 a month for 12 months. I told my Dad that it was a guitar that could last me a lifetime and I could use it for any kind of music, so with some reluctance he co-signed the loan for me. I wasn't lying! I'm 71 years old now and still have that guitar. Today, it's worth in the vicinity of $7000 - $8000 maybe, and I still think it's an incredible guitar, and after 53 years of use it is a true relic. So... if you can, buy the Fender.... used, and when you're an old man you'll be glad you did.

Been playing bass for over 23 years. For 21 of those I invested more heavily in my rig/effects/recording equipment. I basically never owned a bass with a list price higher than $400. For the most part I never had an issue. I bought a Squire jazz bass in 2013 using my employee discount for $99. My only complaint was that the electronics were garbage. The tone was ok, but definitely didn't measure up to the classic Fender tone and it made a horrible popping noise if I plucked it too hard. I couldn't use it in a professional setting for this reason. I ended up buying Fender 60's custom shop jazz pickups for $120, new control plate and replaced them on my Squire. Holy hell! it was night and day. Turned my cheapo bass into a $1500 sounding bass. How do I know this? I got a nice bonus this year and given we saved a ton of money during Covid lockdown I decided to treat myself for my birthday. I felt I deserved a nice quality bass for once after 23 years. I purchased a $1500 American Jazz bass. While it feels a little more solidly built than my modified Squire, I can't say I hear a difference in the sound quality. The tone is a bit warmer on my Squire due to the nature of the Fender pickups I installed, but they both sound very comparable. I use my Fender mostly on settings where there's a high expectation of professional sounding in the recording (so in other words the Fender brand is mostly for show). I use them interchanbly in my own recordings and I sometimes forget which is which. If you are a seasoned player and you have expectations set upon you, then the appearance of a $1500 Fender bass helps, if anything to keep appearances and for credibility. "You can't tell me you are not sure about the bass tone because it's a high end Fender bass guitar, with brand new strings recorded through DI with your cables using the control knob settings you asked for. You can't expect a better Fender Jazz sounding tone." Some people will look at the brand and make up their mind about it before they even hear it. For all other practical purposes, I would advise buying a middle tier Squire and upgrading the pickups. You'll have a great sounding/feeling bass that objectively you can't go wrong with. That won't do much for external perceptions in some situations but you'll be personally satisfied every time for cents on the dollar.

I bought my USA standard jazz about 9 years ago. I paid a lot for it but I knew I would never need to buy a better bass again. It has stood the test of time so far perfectly.

When I started building pickups this was the lesson I really learnt. The electric parts are far better on the higher end basses. But… only a small part of it is actually the cost of those components. Once you start building pickups in particular you realise pretty fast the price difference between a squire pickup and an American elite pickup or whatever is pretty small. Sure you can get custom shop parts that cost a bit more because they use old old parts not made in volume anymore … and that have no effect on tone, but actually the cost of winding your own pickups that transform a squire is pretty small. People would definitely be happy to pay that difference. Then it hits you. Sure they’re nickel and diming on pots and resisters too, but actually these are super simple circuits and a lot of what they sell you on makes NO difference to tone. They are saving a couple of bucks, but actually the sound is worse purely because they must be, because if a squire sounded like an am pro 2 (which it easily could for only a couple of dollars more), less people would buy an am pro 2.

Very detailed comparison, and highlighted important features. You make the difficulty of choosing easier!!!🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Your the first person to ever explain the cost to valve and backed it up with a chart. Super vid...

Interesting comparison, very credible reasoning, and of course your personal view. Great video. Personally I prefer to have fun with four or five cheaper basses instead of spending their combined cost on one USA Fender. Everybody should do what they like best.

In this video, you taught me so much about the bass, which as a guitarist, has always been rather a mystery. I also gleaned a few of your licks from that bit with the drum track. Thanks, man.

i have the jazz classic vibe ...and quite a few other basses well over ten times more in price...i was pleasantly surprised at how good the vibe held its own, i bought it as a cheap throwaway for practice during lockdown fully expecting to sell it on but i still have it, there is something about an instrument that you don't have to worry about dropping in the studio that still plays great, i love it.

I have a 5 string Affinity bass since 2007. Gigs, recording, etc. No issues with sound or playability. Excellent bass. Mine came with nice tuners. I rolled the edges years ago. Easy work. Have no desire to change. Thanks!

Great video, I love how thorough you are when you explain the differences, and switching between the basses instantly playing the same material was great.

Thank you for this video. This is exactly the kind of measured and reasonable information I was looking for and could not find elsewhere. It will certainly guide me in my future base purchases as my first instrument is a Squier affinity PJ. Cheers !

I appreciate the thorough perspective and comparison, excellent video

I was watching and thinking in terms of the actual value adding features, what would it cost to recreate the tangible benefits of the US bass. So, basically, the bridge, the tuners, the pickups/electronics. I paid about $40 USD for a Hipshot high mass bridge. A shot in the dark on tuners would be about $60 USD (Give or take). New pickups/electronics, $150 USD. Rolling fretboard and dressing frets is free if you have the tools. So, we're talking $250 USD to get really close with an Affinity. Hell, if you're that bothered, a waterslide of the headstock branding is about $12 USD on eBay (don't do that). Great video, and you just saved me hundreds of dollars!

For me, having owned Squier & Fender guitars, i only have Squier guitars & basses now. I'm no professional but have played guitars for over 35 years. There was a point when having Fender on the headstock was very important to me. Not anymore. Squier knock out some amazing guitars and basses.

Thank you for going into such detail about the two ~ Appreciate your video and style of presenting the information ~

Great video Jules! Thanks for taking the time to be so thorough. When I was looking for my 1st bass, I considered the Affinity. They have gotten better since then, but back then, they were low quality, entry level instruments that if it didn't work out, would make a nice wall hanger. I opted instead for a Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass. Cool name and cool look! Not exactly the best criteria for choosing a bass. I didn't know that there was a P bass, a J bass or PJ Bass. I bought it because of the Fender name but I didn't want to drop $1200+ on something I wasn't sure I was going to keep up at. I came across a real good opportunity to buy a Fender American Special Jazz bass. It was a demo, and I bought it for $400! I played it for a few months, and honestly, I liked the feel on the Squier better than the Fender. I sold the Fender American Special for $900. About a year later bought a Marcus Miller Signature (made in the USA). I was on top of the world! I have used my Squier as my go to and have gotten loads of compliments on the tone. And let me tell you, it can sustain a note! I put flat wounds on it and it made it just that much better. So where is my Squier? On my bass stand so I can look at it and play it whenever I want! Where is the Marcus Miller? In the case, and only use it about 10 times a year. No argument, the Marcus Miller is a better bass in every respect and when you kick in the active electronics, it's a different and much better world! But there is a lot of truth in that you never forget your first! I will never get rid of my Squier. I wouldn't have a problem selling my Marcus Miller.....eventually! 🙂

Excellent review. I just bought a squire affinity which is still in the box unopened. I’m picking up the base as a fifth instrument to write a symphony. This base will serve my needs. Thank you for your outstanding assessment.

I have a lefty, Fender made in mexico jbass bought used 10 years ago. Played nearly every day, and is still amazing. I have done nothing to it and it is fantastic. Holds tune forever and just works. 300 bucks with the case in the local pawn shop which was a hard sell for them due to being a lefty model. Best 300 I ever spent.

Only a personal finding on this, but I have a Mexican Fender Jazz Bass..., and I found that replacing the standard bridge with a Badass, made an enormous difference... It was like night and day. Much brighter, more sustain, and just a very worthwhile upgrade to the bass. Just my take on it..

Phenomenal breakdown of the price difference and cost-benefit considerations.

The 5 string Squire I bought years is tuff as nails and still plays well,it has active pickups and a hi-mass bridge which is how I purchased it.

Hi Jules - a terrific informed analysis. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I sense. I have a 1967 Fender Jazz bass that I purchased second-hand with my first paycheque in 1978. I replaced the original bridge, as the grub/Allen screws kept collapsing on me, with a Schaller bridge, and never looked back. I was also fortunate to have received, as a birthday present, a Squier short scale Jaguar bass - 2019 model. My word - that Squier Jaguar surprised me in all the right ways. The sound and richness of the tone is beautiful - and for the gigging musician - it is significantly lighter than my '67 Fender Jazz. It feels completely different - I prefer the long-scale Jazz in that regard (probably through decades of familiarity), but I have not been able to knock the Squier in terms of delivering a rich sound and doing what I want it to do. It continues to surprise me.

I love your table that shows law of diminishing return. Great presentation!

A good well considered review. It's always interesting to see comparisons between "original" and "replica" basses. I have a Squier Vintage Modified Precision PJ (made by Cort in Indonesia). Apart from the slightly dodgy machine heads, it's a good quality instrument and only cost around £300 in 2017. The Fender American PJ equivalent is at least 4 times the price.

Interesting, useful,, level-headed approach. I'm not a bass player but enough of the content applies to guitars generally to keep me watching to the end.

Excellent video! I have an Affinity Squier and I'm very happy when I see content like this, as Affinity is unfortunately very underrated. Here in Brazil, unfortunately, even the entrance basses are extremely expensive, so getting a new Affinity was something amazing for me! For you to have a reference: the minimum wage in Brazil is R$1100 (equivalent to US$212). A new Affinity costs around R$2800 (US$540). A new Fender American Professional costs R$16000 (U$3085)! The price is 15x the Brazilian minimum wage! Unfortunately here in Brazil, instrument is a lux item. So I'm still very happy to have a Squier Affinity. And even happier to see with this video that, no doubt, it's a bass that's worth it, especially for those who want a Fender and can't have it.

The bass I currently own was given to me in a trade, where I traded 2 guitars with an old friend for 2 different guitars. In my end of the deal, one was a 1990s Left-handed Squier "P-Bass Special" (P/J) made in Indonesia, strung "Righty" and flipped over, looking like Hendrix's Strat. I was really interested in the other guitar I got, I thought this was a joke, a novelty, never even plugged it in for at least a couple years. The previous owner had removed all the pots and wired it "wide open", which is the way he normally plays anyway, because with it flipped over, they got in the way of his right hand while playing. Eventually I dragged it out, and I installed new CTS pots and wired it back up, volume/volume/tone. The first time I plugged it in, I was struck by how GOOD it sounded. Incredible tone. With the split "P" pickup still essentially inverted, it lends a distinctive sound. Blended with the "J" pickup at the bridge, even better. The neck feels and plays great, just a tiny tweak on the truss rod got the playability superb. Sitting down with it, I certainly experienced issues with my right hand interfering with the controls while playing, but standing up with a strap, that became a non-issue for me. With the strap button now on what was the lower horn, it makes the neck protrude away for a slightly longer reach with the left hand, but I quickly got used to that by playing it a little more vertical, which also helps me avoid screwing up the controls. Now, there's another "bonus". He had sanded off the Squier decals on the headstock, and replaced them with counterfeit "Fender" logo and "Made in U.S.A." decals, and a Fender Custom Shop logo on the back of he headstock. He didn't do this to cheat a "customer", he did it only to "show off" on stage at gigs, and he disclosed it fully to me before the trade. But that's why I'll never sell it, because some yahoo will try to pass it off as "genuine" and rip off some poor soul. I use it for recording, and I LOVE it!

I completely agree with your assessment that the real value can only be known over time. I do think you under valued the case...a lot! I lost the case for my 76 p-bass in a hurricane a few years back. Its almost impossible to replace.

Thank you for this objective presentation. I have not owned a guitar in almost a decade. Long story. That Squier bass, even used and beat up would be a Godsend for me now and would baby it.

I've had lots of basses including Fenders both US and others. The nicest bass I had was a Mexican Jazz Bass - loved everything about it and gigged it for years. Wish I still had it.

Very nice video and explanation. Totally agree and I Always consider the "Cost x Benefit" ratio when looking for a new instrument. Well done!

I own a Squire Music Master guitar. I upgraded the bridge, the tuners, and the nut. Now it is one of my favorite guitars, and it sounds and plays awesome!

I’ve had a Squier Affinity J bass for around 5 years now & it’s never let me down. It sounds good & is very well made. It cost me €300 with a 15 watt amp. Being “well made” is quite subjective at this price though. I’ve come across other basses which were more expensive than mine & had sharp fret ends & problems with the electronics etc. Definitely try before you buy if possible 👍

A couple of thoughts... 1. I started learning to play guitar in the early 80s. For the price, the Affinity series instruments are a upgrade in quality and playability, compared to most of the instruments I learned on. This was very noticeable when I began learning the bass in the early 2000s. 2. I'd be interested in seeing the same comparison done with the comparable Classic Vibe series bass. Finally, I agree with your conclusions on the relative quality and value of each instrument. There's something about the feel of a higher quality instrument that you recognize as soon as you start playing.

Absolutely brilliant breakdown. Thanks. It comes down to how much loot you have available. If you're loaded, you might prefer the posh bass. If you're tight, the Squier works just fine.

WELL DONE! Brilliant summation.

I have a used Chinese Squire bass I bought for $100. Plays friggin' great. Stays in tune. Paint job is great. The pick ups are a little weak compared to an American P Bass but you could always swap those out if you really notice a big difference.

you´re absolutely right in everything! I´m from Argentina and here we all dream of having a Fender made in USA too, so I never thought of buying a Squier, I never even tested one! But recently I bought a 2001 PJ Indonesian Squier and it sounds amazing! I really don´t need a more expensive bass, certainly not for gigs and not even for recording where engineers do their magic and nobody can hear the difference if there is one.

OK. You got me! I had to subscribe because you are so methodical and spot on. I am trying to make this decision for myself. You helped greatly! Thank you!

this is GREAT review; thanks for doing this, very very helpful.

Well done. Agree with your analysis. Have a Squire CV but I don't play it whole lot so I think I made the right choice saving some bucks but also getting sufficient quality for my personal usage

I have two US Fenders, a pj and a j, recently added a squire contemporary p, very nice! The only real difference is the quality of the finish and the quality of the components, tuners, knobs, etc. They all sound great! I’d have no problem recommending squires now.

I dont usually comment but I wanted to say not only is this an excellent video with a very intelligent host, but when he talks about the manufacturing process at the end of the video , and the geopolitics of it , he in my opinion said one of the most elegant speeches about manufacturing and how it truly is that I've ever heard. I'm extremely interested in the logistics and philosophy of manufacturing and tearing down the masses of ignorant beliefs about how other countries choose to create products. Thanks man. Wonderful video

Your comparison videos like this are excellent. I saw a similar one with various iterations of the Fender Strat too. I've owned about 20 Fender basses in my life from the cheapest to the most expensive (not including custom shop) and IMO, the Squier Classic Vibe line is the sweet spot in Fender's catalogue.

Good review. Either one will do good job. I played '63 Jazz bass for ages. I started getting more calls to play guitar. Recently I wanted to get back into bass playing. Picked up a new Squire for $129. It does everything I ask of it. I've never drawn my self esteem from name on the head stock. Some people do, it doesn't bother me.

I have a Squire Jazz.. Added a Hipshot bridge and new Seymour Duncan PUPs and pots.. It sounds AMAZING. First time I recorded with it the studio engineer could not believe it was a Squire.

21:48 Kudos for showing a Ritter as the higher end option; I definitely love mine! :-) But I agree with your video, a Squier - once properly set up - will get you started, can serve as your main instruments for quite a while, and even be a solid backup for a pro gig. Spend more and you get a higher quality product that will definitely amuse the queen. Also, playing music is about transporting emotions, so the way an instrument feels makes a huge difference in a performance. So when an instrument feels worthy, the performance will improve. We're emotional creatures after all. Thanks for this thorough video!

Great explanation of ‘law of diminishing returns’. Thanks for posting.

Back in 1997 I bought my first “real” bass….in my mind it was a choice between two… an American Jazz, or an American Precision. I chose the Jazz. $795 US. About 1350 British pounds at the time. I’ve replaced one tuner, and had one LCP done in 24 years. It is my absolute favorite bass to play, and has a sound that I can not duplicate with any other bass that I own.

I was looking for a fretless bass recently. I’m not a great player, just wanted to mess around and have fun. The squier vibe was under $500 and everything else was more than 3 times the price. I got the Squier. I’m loving it! Interestingly the color scheme is the same as your USA Fender. Looks great, plays good (I’m not an expert so maybe it’s lacking something but I can’t tell what it would be). I figured I’d be missing something spending so much less but your video really explained it all. Great job.

Excellent presentation. I really enjoyed viewing this video. I have both Fender and Squire. I really love the Squires. I've got many of them.

Thank you very much for the great video! I’m looking into bass guitar and this is very helpful. Thank you.

The interesting thing is when you can see them realize they've made a mistake. Such as the hugely popular Squier VM 5-string Precision, which they discontinued when it became clear that it was cannibalizing sales from the much more expensive Fender-branded basses.

Thank you for the video. I'm a bass player, been for 30+ years. I own 4 basses that I regularly play. Among those I own 2 made in Japan Jazz Basses. My first bass, which I bought used from a family member for 40 GBP, is a Kasuga JB from 1979, only 600 were made at Hoshino Gakki in 1978-1979. The other one is an Ibanez silver series JB from 1977 also produced by Hoshino Gakki, this one I got for free from another family member. Both basses are bone stock still, and they sound absolutely great. I have played Fender JBs and there is no difference in quality over the Japan made JBs IMO. A good setup and the Japanese JBs sounds absolutely great. I will never sell them as they mean a lot to me, and there you have it. The name on the headstock doesn't mean anything to me, only what the instrument feel like playing and the sound it produces thru my Ashdown rig and pedals. I also own two new Ibanez SDGR 5 and 6 string basses with active electronics for the more modern sound they produce, they play great but they sound very different from the JBs.

Good video and analysis and for sure, your end conclusion i think is correct. Your a great bass player, so deserve a great quality bass! thanks for your great advice!

An excellent video! Really well thought out! 🎸

I've had two Mexican Fender Jazz basses and upgraded pick ups (Lindy Fralins) electronics and hardware on both and they were both great players after a full set up and fret dressing and still a lot cheaper than the USA models. I did play a pre CBS P-bass once though and that did feel and sound amazing.

I grew up playing Fenders and Rics (got my first Ric at 16yo) an I must say I always enjoyed the respect these old basses received from my peers and opponents. Even at 17 all my gear as top-of-the-line (not from wealthy family, but from hard work, savings, and a good dose of luck), and that made ME look professional. And that image was worth something, then and looking back now. BUT, through the years I've found many lessor known basses that play and sound excellent, and have used such basses with total confidence I was putting my best sonic foot forward! So I say, don't get too caught-up in the name brand battle - get lost in your playing and craft and always play on instruments that are comfortable, reliable, and present a sound you are proud of! If you last in the music game there's plenty of time to snag those legendary instruments along the way. And never be afraid to buy "used" gear if you know what you're doing or have a close friend to make sure your investment is sound!

Great points, very informative for me, thank you!

I really like your videos, I have started watching recently and you hit great points and present them in a nice manner. And do have the chops to back your claims.

The squire classic vibe series is all you need. The ‘70s jazz bass, telecaster custom, ‘50s telecaster, ‘50s and ‘60s strats are all great guitars.

Nice review and breakdown! I think you are right about the pricing, the jumps don't justify the differences. It comes down to your budget, and preferences, like anything music gear related. I have used USA Fender and Gibson for years now, and I know the quality is better than any knock off, but in the early days I had a much lower budget for my gear...lol So, I've owned Squires, Korean Made Spectors, MIM J and Ps, etc, and always got by with them sounding good enough on stage, but can't go down in quality at this point in my musical life. Also, USA Fenders increase in value over time, import versions never do. EX: Ever price a Vintage Fender? This is just my humble opinion after 30 years of Professional experience....

Really enjoyed your breakdown. I've owned many guitars/basses over the years, I recently bought a Squier CV Starcaster which I really like. I have two Strats (American and a MIM Roland-Ready) but for basses I've ended up with the Ibanez fanned-fret 5-strings. Loved the first one so much I bought a second one to leave in my jungle home down south. And the Roland JS-10 completes the kit - loved them so much I now own 3 of them! Truth is subjective opinion of course, be True to Yourself always. Thanks.

I've never been caused to say this 'ever' before...GREAT video: its honest, well-considered, measured, unbiased, accurate, well paced, and thorough. Most of all it sticks to the point and never becomes long-winded or self-aggrandizing. The audio samples were well played, well recorded, short, appropriate, and effectively edited together. That being the case, give Rickenbacker the same treatment relative to...Fender.

This is a great presentation . When I was young I owned a 67 Jazz Bass, a 67 Fender Mustang Bass and a Gibson EB-O. When I went into the Army I began selling off basses eventually being bassless. When I retired at age 67 I decided to go back to playing bass so of course I returned to Fender but being a retiree I bought a Squier. I started with a Squier PJ Precission and after a set up it played really well but a 34 inch neck was hard for me to play fingering exercises so I bought a Squier CV Jaguar Bass and then the new Squier Precission Junior and since I play regularly with an acoustic band I bought a Fender CB-60. My biggest problem I think is that both the mail order and the local Fender dealer really did not do a great job with setup so in many ways the mailrorder basses and local Fender dealer basses felt less good than my trio of 67's did----I think it was more the quality of the luthier than perhaps the basses itself. I agree with you that tapewound strings really are a pleasaure though I remain with the string that came on the basses to save money. I think your comparrison format is the best that I have seen and would be an excellent one for someone deciding at which Fender price point to buy. My big surprise was my Squier Mini Precision which came just about perfect from the factory

Interesting video. You cover a lot of issues I think are important. I think the high end stuff makes sense for pros. A lot of us can get along with lower end gear.

I play a Squire bass, and Ive Always go Fender, they used to have a big shop in Fullerton Ca. Years ago. Appreciate the great info you have shared with ALL BASSMEN , ÷ MUSICIANS

Great indepth looking into the J Bass. Well done mate.

Well-played! A pleasantly informative, rational comparison without any hyperbolic ranting. I own three of the Squier Vintage Modified series made in Indonesia and find them the equal if not superior to the MIM for electronics, especially. The 'Fender Made in USA' doesn't really mean much anymore excepting pre-CBS vintage instruments. Now those really add value ($$$$) ! Cheers from across the pond.

Regarding the feel of the neck, a few minutes with a sanding block on the edges of the fingerboard and a ball of 000 steel wool on the back will bring the Squier on par with the Fender. Darrell Braun has done videos about doing this kind of thing, and it's worked a treat on my Chinesium Strat copy. Only caveat is you need to make sure not to get any steel wool dust on the strings or pickups.

Well done Good clarification in the differences 🙏

Thank You that was really a great look at quality versus price.

I am a former Fender Precision player, and after 16 years of stage performance, I finally sold it because I didn't like the ergonomics. I replaced it with a Squier Affinity J-Bass, and I love it. I am so happy I didn't spend more. The only reason I don't play my Affinity often is because I am now a convert to short scale basses, and I bought a Squier Jaguar SS.

Honestly a budget electric player's best friend is learning how guitars and basses are wired and how to solder. I've torn apart many Squier guitars to pull out everything but the pickups and replacing everything else with American made pots, capacitors, switch jacks, etc. and having a great player for less than $60 of rebuild cost. My main strat is a bullet strat with Custom Shop '54s and Switchcraft everything else. $75 for the guitar, $200 for the pickups (got a deal) and about $45 for the rest of the parts and that's probably less than what I paid for the pots and jack, and capacitors. Built an Esquire from scratch, machining the body and neck and it was less than $400 for parts including the pickup. Buy a Squier and learn how to solder!

Great video! I like your approach here in trying to apply analysis as objectively as possible to something that in many ways is quite subjective. Tough to do, but you did well with it. The hard cut sound samples are very, very helpful too. The two basses sound pretty similar. One point, yes, a Chinese/Indonesian factory absolutely CAN manufacture with the same quality as a western nation, but it all depends on the QC set forth by the company. Just because it’s possible, doesn’t mean they do it. Apple does, but not every company follows suit.

You're complete right. Last year I bought a mexican player precision bass, because I love the body-shaping of this serial. The neck was way to thin and sounded dead. I replaced it by a japanese allparts-neck and changed the cap to a 1uF Cap. Done!! It's so close to my 72 precision, witch is one of the better samples. My mex player now runs cicles around most pro and customshop p-basses. Thank you for this video!

I adore your style and presentation. Very scientific, down-to-earth approach, not a single word wasted. If only all of KZfaq were like this...

One way to make a less expensive guitar (or ANY guitar, for that matter) play better is a good set up - neck relief, string height and intonation. For minimal $ investment, get some better pickups and strings, and it will sound really great.

excellent analyse !

Congratulations! Wonderfull review!

Thanks for emphasizing durability. Few reviewers even mention it. Compare the control cavities on these two and you may find some scary differences. Dull solder joints, wires cut half way through from the stripping step, dinky potentiometers. Stuff that won't hold up to the rigors of gigging, with all the bangs and bumps that go with it. You'll pay big bucks for a road worn Fender, but you won't find many road worn Squiers (not stock anyway).

This is an excellent financial breakdown/cost analysis if I've ever seen one. I have to say the kind of money Fender is charging for their Mexican Made and U.S.A. made models are absurd. Especially in this day and age where there are countless lesser known companies that put out better instruments for way less.

I own a 2006 CIJ Fender Jaguar, and love the guitar. I also owned an American Fender Jag of identical specs. They are both equivalent, IMHO, in quality, performance, and sound. So, to each his own. Thanks for this great video. I hail from Ohio, USA, and am also a huge Johnny Marr fan. Cheers and peace to all.

Extremely well done and interesting.

I have a 2019 Squire Affinity P-Bass and a 2003 Fender Jazz. With the affinity, the hardware is a little more basic, but solid. Even with the lack of setup/intonation/quality fix (sharp fret ends not filed, paint issues at back), the Affinity was a GREAT buy. But I got the Jazz used with Seymore Duncans for a great deal at $875. It needed a partial re-fret ($250), but nothing more. It has a few dings, but VG condition. It plays a little better the neck profile is just a tad different. In summary, its a good horse race between the two, but yes, with the hotter pickups and slight neck differences the Jazz is probably 10-15% better player than the Affinity. The Affinity is maybe a pound lighter, thinner body. But Dollar for dollar value...Affinity wins - No shame ever in playing out with it. Enjoyed your review.

i had the privilege of using a 63 Jazz Bass for some session work a year back or so. it was setup almost the exact same as my squier jazz. and to be quite honest, even if it was identical in setup and feel to my squier, i would probably still prefer my squier. only problem with them are the electronics, specifically the knobs, but those are swapped out faster than you can say bass.

super in-depth, very interesting, DANKE

Great video, absolutely nailed it. I have a $300 Mexican P bass, and a $2300 American P bass. Both Fenders. I love them both! Tones are a bit different, but they have their unique uses. The quality of the hardware on the American cannot be understated. The tuners are far superior. On the Mexican, the switches and input jack have all been replaced. That's one thing I would add to this video: cheap knobs and input jacks will have to be replaced eventually. They wear out much faster than the American made models.

Excellent video. This underscores the role of emotion in advertising and how the USA label holds such value. Fender is a global company whose business model sees players upgrade to the premium-and more profitable-product. That is not to say that non-USA Fenders , or Squier, are poor instruments. My own Mexican Classic '50s P Bass is of very high quality, period-authentic, very playable and sounds great. Its low price, relative to a USA Pro bass, is largely explained by wage differences between the USA and south of the border. At twice the price, though, the Pro has a few incremental improvements but is definitely not twice as good. Indeed, many players are using old vintage basses for decades with original components that are found on today's budget instruments-and are still going strong, my own 1966 Jazz Bass being a case in point!

There are SO many cognitive biases that reinforce people's belief that either a higher price, or a more well thought of brand is better. Choice Supportive bias, Post Purchase Rationalisation, Confirmation Bias, The Decoy Effect, Anchoring, Social Desirability Bias, Spotlight Effect...etc. We're constantly fighting human psychology when we've been drummed into us by friends, family, brands, marketing, idol, heroes that Fender is better than Squier, Gibson is better than Epiphone that we struggle to remain objective. Additionally to this when people talk about *FEELING* that a guitar is better, it's largely psychological between things like a Classic Vibe and a Player.

Excellent vidéo Great job

I purchased a brand new made in Mexico (MIM) Fender player series P bass recently and have fully customized and restored both a Chinese Squire and an Indonesia Squire P Bass. The Chinese Squire went back together like a dream, and after making some upgrades mainly to the electronics I feel it plays and sounds just as good as my MIM Fender. The made in Indonesia Squire was a nightmare to work on. It required new everything, and I noticed it did not use standard hardware like the MIM and China P Bass. Aside from virtually all of the hardware being junk, of the biggest issues with this bass was the neck pocket was routed too deep (the original paint was present so it had not been modified). Once I finally got it fully repaired and set up properly it seems to be performing just fine. I definitely could tell the difference in quality, fit and finish between the two Squires, both of which coincidently were made in 2004.

I wish we had a time machine to bring this guy back to the 50s. Today’s Squier may have been better than an American bass in the late 50s.

Lower cost instruments are getting better as the years pass. Manufacturers, regardless of where they are located, are really producing fine stuff. Liked your Apple example. Nice production.

Nice video dude, congrats!!!!

Good job. Logical positions and fair assessments.