Squier Sucks and You're Not a Professional

Shoutout to our newest subscriber Nic Serpa ! Your support is very much appreciated!

Let's get to 15k Sub! ||||||||||||||| 89% ||||||||||||... 13.4K/15K

Show some Love!

Get my Helix and other presets here:

In this YouTube video, I dive into the ongoing debate surrounding the use of affordable gear in music recording and production. It really frustrates me that there's this idea floating around that you can only be considered professional if you use certain brands of gear, while looking down on those who opt for more affordable options. Frankly, I think that attitude is ridiculous. Sure, I own some high-end gear like the full-size Helix rack, HX Stomp, and multiple Solar guitars, but one of my most cherished and frequently used pieces is my 2010 Squier Jaguar bass. I adore the sounds I get from this bass, and it has been a staple in almost all of my recorded music. So, let's put an end to this nonsensical argument and focus on the music we create, rather than judging each other based on the brand of gear we use.

Now, let's take a closer look at Squire guitars and address some of the criticisms and advantages associated with them. People often criticize Squire guitars for their lower build quality compared to Fender guitars. While that may be true, I believe it's unfair to judge solely based on materials and attention to detail. Sound and tone are another aspect that people bring up, claiming that Squire guitars don't possess the warmth or clarity of more expensive counterparts. However, I've found that with some customization and experimentation, I've achieved great results with my Squire Jaguar bass, which I've aimed to make sound as close as possible to a high-end Dingwall bass. So, it's time to appreciate the affordability, diverse range of models, iconic Fender aesthetic, and the potential for customization that Squire guitars provide. Let's reject the narrow-minded opinions of others and make music with joy, regardless of the price tag on our instruments.

My Recording Gear

Video and Camera Gear

Great and affordable Cameras

Sony Lenses

00:00 - What are we talking about?
00:44 - One of my most used pieces of gear
01:14 - The Bullshit argument being made
02:10 - Let's talk about Squire and affordable instruments
02:58 - 1st potential negative - Build Quality
03:13 - The 2nd potential negative - Sound and Tone
03:33 - The 3rd potential negative - Electronics and Hardware
03:47 - The 4th potential negative - Playability
04:11 - 5th potential negative - Resale Value
04:32 - Let's think about things DIFFERENTLY
04:45 - 1st Advantage - Affordability
05:01 - 2nd Advantage - A Variety of Models!
05:11 - 3rd Advantge - That familiar FENDER LOOK
05:23 - 4th Advantage - Improvements in Quality
05:31 - 5th (and my biggest) Advantage - Customization and Modification
05:49 - This is how I feel we should be looking at this
06:08 - In conclusion
06:30 - Lots of talking but thank you!

#AffordableGearDebate #MusicGearCommunity #EmbraceYourSound

[klauswigsmith]

As my grandfather used to tell me "A poor craftsman blames his tools."
A great musician can make great music with just about any instrument they're competent with, whilst a mediocre musician will always be just that, regardless of the instrument they're using.

[AlYeah]

Seems like having a Squier on a bar gig is a way better idea than using a custom shop strat. Sounds good enough for the drunks in the crowd and won't break the bank if you have to replace it because it got stolen.

[TJH]

I started collecting basses around 6 years ago. I started out by buying the basses I owned as a young player that I really liked. I moved on to basses that I'd always wanted to own, but never did. My collection grew to over 30 basses. I've got a $199 Ibanez Talman bass that I play all the time. The $4, 000 Fodera, the Wal, the Alembic, and the higher-end Spectors have all been sold off. If I've learned anything from this experience it is that it does not matter where an instrument was made or how much it costs, as to whether it is a great instrument or not.

[mikemiller]

Squires are underated, They make fantastic guitars.

[jeffthompson]

Without a doubt - I modded an Affinity Strat by Squire - and turned it into a powerhouse of an electric guitar. I even refretted the rosewood fingerboard with steel frets and put in locking tuners with a brass roller bridge AND revamped the electronics and put in humbucking alnico pickups. Squires are a modders dream come true! You can make this a one off - and never have regrets of it losing value. Collectable guitars are for investors - but inhibit actual players. And even without modding - I can tell little difference in tonal quality between them and more expensive models. A lot of the tone comes from the fingers anyway!

[Keanu.J]

As a teen who isn’t employed and had to buy all my gear myself (expect for strings every few months, thanks mom!), I also think the snobbery in the music community sucks. I’m never gonna buy anything from Gibson or like a 60’s Strat, and don’t even get me started on pedals (100 to get one or maybe two effects?). and no matter how “unimportant and stupid” the snobbery is it does get to me sometimes and it sucks. But I think overall your mindset will always be more important than the stuff your using. So I’m just gonna stick to my cheap stuff and make the best music I can with the stuff I have, and try not to forget that ultimately at the end of the day…it’s about having fun and making music.

[Butter]

You’ve earned a new subscriber. Professional bassist here. The best bass I’ve ever used till this day. Was a Sterling SUB Ray Bass, that cost me 150 used on Reverb. “Cheap” “Lesser” brands. Can be better.

[dereksmith]

I have a mid-2000's Fender Geddy Lee signature that has been my preferred bass since I bought it in '05. That was up until a few months ago when I picked up a Squire 40th Anniversary Gold Edition P-bass. Now, the Squire is all I play. Squire QC has definitely come a long way over recent years. And for those who say there is no resale value, try to find a Squire Matt Freeman signature P bass on Reverb. What used to retail around $300 is now selling for close to $2000. I'm kicking myself for not buying one at a reasonable price when I had the chance.

[IndigoJo]

I saw an article about Richard Thompson which mentioned a story in which he was playing a show in a guitar shop, and the owner asked him to choose between a Danelectro and a Squier Strat. He chose the Squier. He normally plays Fender Strats (or custom Ferringtons) but he didn't seem to mind that Squier. The higher-end Squiers are made in the same factory in Indonesia as D'Angelicos, PRS, Lakland Skylines and quite a few other consumer brand guitars, some of them as expensive as a lower-end American Fender.

[J_Music]

If a Squier is good enough for Mike Rutherford, it's good enough for you. And Squier basses kick ass

[jeffpagel]

jeff healey played a squier. RIP brother

[thelongestdongrod]

I feel like people tend to forget that a lot of the greatest music was founded on cheap and inexpensive gear, hell some great guitar players straight up made their own guitars out of scratch.

[funkybundtcake]

Thank you for pointing out the mod potential there! I wish more people thought of it that way and realized that for less than a fender, you could buy a Squire and mod it. With a little elbow grease and some cash, I’d much rather have something I’ve made to cater to my style and preferences

[PhilDoleman]

Spot on.
Most of the musicians I know with very expensive, high-end, famous brand gear are NOT professions (as in they don't earn their money from music). they have good jobs, disposable income, and enjoy spending it on fancy gear. That's absolutely fine.
The actual pros I know (again, 'pro' in the sense of how they ear their money) often use mid-range or cheaper gear because they have to think 'how many gigs would I have to do to pay for this?' If they do have a fancy expensive instrument, they probably have just one, and have played it for their entire career. I can think of very few working musicians who could afford the many thousands of pounds for a top-end Gibson guitar and if they could, would they really want to drag it around clubs gigging it?
I too have a Squier bass (25 year old Precision) that has appeared on all of my recordings over that time. Sounds great, plays great, records well.
The uncomfortable truth is that you can make music with just about anything, and buying expensive gear is sometimes an easy substitute for putting the work in, or an excuse for not being as good as we could be. If only I had that guitar, I could play like that guy...

[NickHillMakesMusic]

A FEW NOTES:

- For the fender Daddy’s out there who have been or may be butt hurt.. This is not a video suggesting YOU are the problem because you love your Fender and in some cases, spent a lot of $$ on it. You probably know this if you’re being objective and open minded.

- This video is based on recent conversations, things I’ve witnessed and yes, some troll like folks who do think this way.

- Yes, affordable gear may be manufactured in less then ideal to straight up terrible conditions (this is not always the case and not a thing of normalcy for several modern companies (not that any business is a do good entity simply due to the fact that the pursuit of money and a healthy bottom line is by definition, the very point of a business) but that same concern about working conditions can and should be applied to every thing you probably put your hands on including the device you’ll use to contribute to this conversation. To use that as a reason to shit on those who choose an affordable instrument is a bit of a reach even if I agree with the very questioning of working conditions abroad.

- Yep, I’ve misspelled Squier and made corrections where I could and I’ll do it again simply because I learned how to spell squire back in grade school and old habits die hard. I realize this makes me an idiot.

- And again, to drive the point home, and from a guy who has no “made in America, ” or often more accurate, “assembled in America” guitars… This is not a poor person jealous of a better off person because YOU have a fender or a Gibson. It’s a guy who historically has had to start from the bottom and make due with what I could acquire.

Either way, be civil, I appreciate the clean and respectful back and forth and there is no need to feel any sort of divided on any of this.

✌️

[TheHiFiTeam]

I'm 48 southpaw. I recently picked up a Squire Affinity Telecaster after taking about a 20 year break from playing. I aboslutely love it, it's gotten me back into practicing, playing and improving and the best thing about it is how by just looking at it on the stand, it ends up in my hands. It was under £200, which after owning it now for 6 months or so still absolutely amazes me..

Thanks for this video, the guitar industry very much feels like the Emperors new clothes, if you know what I mean.

[jsaundersmusic]

Agreed, I've used a Vintage Modified Jazz Bass for 14 years on over 100 recordings and approximately 100 gigs. I have no plans to stop now

[THEItchybruddah]

Something that needs to be said is: They make fantastic platforms for modifications and certain upgrades that truly transform them into VERY important weapons in one’s arsenal.

The first Squire I sought out was the Mascis Jazzmaster. THAT neck with the jumbo frets is on par with some VERY expensive stuff. It was purchased for less than 300 clams. After realizing I couldn’t stand the bridge I had no regrets in buying Mastery components. Then applying Frailin noiseless pickups. I love handing it to naysayers to play it. The looks on their faces are priceless!

But, the one that’s truly been astonishing is my classic vibe Jag. Purchased for TWO hundred clams. Once setup and neck shim applied I realized I’d be repeating a similar process. It’s become the thing I reach for most often. (Also, I’ve found the strangle switch in certain situations makes for “Instant Rickenbacker”)

Love this vid.

[ericwarrington]

Mad respect to you sir for sticking up for common sense and common folks...if a guitar connects with you it doesn't matter... nothing else matters..I could go on for days with this discussion and I have...thank you my friend..and yes your bass tone is AMAZING..SUBBED immediately after watching this.. fantastic job🤘😁🎸❤️

[dog]

People looking down their noses at people playing affordable instruments has been going on since forever. When I was first starting on bass in the mid 70's budge/affordable guitars/basses were cheap crap. We would have been thrilled to have the quality we have now.