okusman

I went back today and did just that. Took a “second opinion” to check….but the Squier was head and shoulders a better finished and playing instrument.

Headed to Guitar Guitar Birmingham today. First thing to say is they had a really good stock/selection and I was totally looked after/put up with. It’s the same chap each time I go in, and he’s a gent. A/B’d Squier CV/New Standard/New Player II and US Pro Precision basses. The Indonesian made Standard bore the spaghetti Fender logo, and played fine but….they were NOT ‘better’ than the Squier. The neck was anaemic and the ceramic p/us were rather lacking in character. I played a 3TSB and the Poplar was rather ugly under the laquer. At £549, it’s the logo you crave at a price you can afford, but the Squier (possibly made in the same factory) was a much nicer looking and playing instrument. Same Poplar/Laurel combo and more pleasing Alnico p/u. £369. The New Mexican made Player Ii at £749 was an improvement on the previous iteration. They had a glorious Alder-bodied Aquatone blue example I played and it was a much more appealing neck with rolled edges to the fretboard. It just played and felt £200 better! Model I played had a maple board, so not an exact. A/B…but the quality jump was obvious. The USA pro was £1000 more. It had the best wood under the laquer, fretwork was 10/10 and the neck just sat right. The tuners, the bridge, the neck joint…it’s a better quality of parts. It’s sound was impressively round and full…yes there is a difference from the Squier CV 😘. There were Ultras and US Performer PJ version available, but I stuck with the single pickup instruments for sake of reference. My conclusions.. The Standard is a marketing ploy…I wasn’t disappointed, just felt it was a triumph of brand over substance. The Squier CV remains a very gig-worthy bass The Player II was impressive; it felt and looked like it was worth playing and equally paying £749. The Pro is what it should be. Anyway, my two pennies worth. PS I don’t, or ever have owned, a Precision bass. I want to add one to my arsenal. Today made realise I really should dip my hand in my (bass) pocket.

I am also IEMs

Regular gigging player: Using Genz Benz 9.0 as ‘power amp’ through Vanderkley MNT210 and EXT112. Always goes through decent PA as well. Nowhere near running out of guts. Want to just take one cab to all gigs. Have already done most usual venues with just the 210 without a problem. I realise the added 112 will/does make a difference, but is just turning up the 210 on bigger stages gonna be as near as damn it good enough? There will be a physics answer, but it’s the real world answer I probably would need. Yes I could sell both and get a single mega cab…. But

Adding the 5th string gives you 5 lower semi-tones, but that shouldn’t be your only thought when you play a 5 string. You then end up playing like you’ve a 4 string with a rather bulky and often underused B string. I suggest you look at your technique and how and where you construct your lines. its a chance to be far more economical with your left hand movement, a chance to be 20% slicker and working ‘across’ the board and less up and down the board. I think it a good opportunity improve your fretboard knowledge. The B string can be the most tricky to manage/mute, but equally it can bring real benefits to your playing. As suggested, it’s not always helpful to jump between 4 and 5 string basses; worth concentrating on the 5 and seeing it as a different tool not necessarily a better tool. Oh, and in the alternative tuning debate, I wouldn’t even consider it, especially if this is all new. Master the new normal first. Enjoy.

We always put everything through our mixer, therefore everyone gets the IEM mix. We don’t always need to put the bass/guitar through the FOH. Perhaps this was ‘the obvious’!!

Go In-ears Reduce stage volume, and actually properly hear yourself. Not get tinnitus.

I loved the neck on a late 80s Squier. Bought a lovely Daphne Blue body from Warmouth. Babicz bridge and 18v EMGs. Worth doing. It is an excellent gigging bass.

It is absolute madness!!! 50+ year old men who hark back to Lessons in Love and have lost all sense of perspective. The shape design is the same was licensed from Status, it used a 100 series (?) preamp and a Status design bridge. Not a drop of “graphite” They are a decent bass. It’s £500 territory.

Indeed. I knew what you meant. Because you can is often not a decent green light

Thanks for your vote of confidence

Experience of this sceanario… 4 piece rock band. QSC TouchMix 16 into 1 RCF 702 (x-over built in) into Two QSC K10s (with EXT sub selected) Loud enough for every pub/club we play All band use IEMs Back line for bass and guitar at sensible levels. Priority is clear and ‘pleasant’ vocal able to sit on the band sound. We regularly get told it’s nice and ‘clear’. The sub is probably the weak link, BUT honestly it’s musical and clear rather than gut thumping. If there’s a friendly wall to reinforce it, then great. Not many venues seem keen on huge bass response vibrating the optics. Mark

It’ll work, have a comfy neck and be worth £120 when you consider an upgrade.