Squier 5 string or Chinese Jazz knock-off?

Ironbar

Ironbar

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Aug 24, 2013
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#1
In the market for a cheap 5'er. Surprisingly enough, the Squier i tried at GC played better than other 5's costing much more. However, they're ugly and passive.

Can pick up a Chinese knock-off from Aliexpress for about the same price, but it's gorgeous, and active. What say you?

I hope I didn't just poke a hornets nest
 
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#3
Ironbar said:
In the market for a cheap 5'er. Surprisingly enough, the Squier i tried at GC played better than other 5's costing much more. However, they're ugly and passive.

Can pick up a Chinese knock-off from Aliexpress for about the same price, but it's gorgeous, and active. What say you?

I hope I didn't just poke a hornets nest
Click to expand...

You already answered your own question! :D and you lucked out, as Squiers/Fenders tend to be hit or miss in my experience
 
#8
Ironbar said:
In the market for a cheap 5'er. Surprisingly enough, the Squier i tried at GC played better than other 5's costing much more. However, they're ugly and passive.

Can pick up a Chinese knock-off from Aliexpress for about the same price, but it's gorgeous, and active. What say you?

I hope I didn't just poke a hornets nest
Click to expand...
go buy a used one- GC used site sometimes has some good inexpensive ones for $20 shipping.
If you want an inexpensive five string, you should look at used Schecters.
 
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#10
Ironbar said:
In the market for a cheap 5'er. Surprisingly enough, the Squier i tried at GC played better than other 5's costing much more. However, they're ugly and passive.

Can pick up a Chinese knock-off from Aliexpress for about the same price, but it's gorgeous, and active. What say you?

I hope I didn't just poke a hornets nest
Click to expand...

I've heard quite a few horror stories about some of those basses from Aliexpress-a friend bought one not too long ago, the pick ups were absolute crap and needed replacing - hardware (bridge/tuners/knobs) were cheaply made and didn't seem durable - the output jack had to be replaced out of the box, the fretwork was horrific and neck stablility was suspect - this is worrisome with 5 string basses especially due to higher string tension on them.
While not from Aliexpress, I bought a Chinese knock off bass from Ebay years ago, it was one of those Dr. Tech Stingray clone basses in a nice red color. A few days after I got it, the finish bubbled at a spot on the back of the bass and flaked off! The neck also needed constant adjustment seemingly each time I played it and started to get worried that it wouldn't be long before the truss rod gets maxxed out and unable to adjust the neck any longer. I had the bass for only about 2 weeks before I decided to get rid of it, I didn't even sell the bass but gave it away to a kid.
Think of those knock off basses as fake building fronts you see at Movie studio lots, looks great from afar, looks the part but take a closer and you really notice, appearances are all superficial and the bass as an instrument is terrible. By the time you replace parts to get it playable, or half-way decent, you will have spent more money if you bought a more reliable brand and model in the first place. I'm sure some of these Aliexpress basses are better than others, but you won't know until it's too late. I would recommend steering clear of them, if it sounds too cheap to be true, it probably is.
 
#11
Which one sounds better and plays best.

I'm very aware of the "buy cheap, buy twice" advice.

I'd rather pay more for a bass that I've played and verified to be what I want.
 
#13
I am not sure what you call ugly? Squier, being owned by Fender, is THE Jazz bass, so I can't see how it is an ugly jazz bass.

However, instead of the cheap chinese bass, how about a Sire v3? It's as cheap as the Squier and active.

V3-5ST-AWH.jpg
 
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#15
Squier Vintage Modified seems to be the best bang for the buck and pop up on Craigslist all the time. I would go that route first. You will more than likely save more money going Craigslist and/or Reverb first before going GC
 
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#17
Id say Squier VM or CV if you can find one. I have played some of the cbinese knocks. A couple were pretty decent. Only thing I notcied besides need some uogrades was the basses were heavy. But Vm and Cv are great basses. If you dont wanna spend a ton of money.
 
#19
Get the Squier and add a pre amp. Take a look at the Rondo site too. Lots of choices there and you can still add a pre amp. I had an active sixer that played and sounded great, but six just wasn't my thing after all so I found a new home for it. Happy hunting
 
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