How to Choose a Bass Guitar: A Guide for Beginners

Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass, Olympic White, Maple Fingerboard: A Review

If you are looking for a beginner-friendly bass guitar that offers great sound, playability, and style, you might want to check out the Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass. This bass guitar is a part of the Squier Affinity Series, which is a line of affordable instruments that are designed to provide the classic Fender tone and feel at a fraction of the price. In this review, we will take a closer look at the features, benefits, and drawbacks of this bass guitar, as well as compare it with some similar products on the market. By the end of this article, you will have a better idea of whether this bass guitar is the right choice for you or not.

Features

The Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass features a poplar body with a gloss polyurethane finish in Olympic White color. The body shape is based on the iconic Fender Precision Bass, which is one of the most popular and influential bass guitars in history. The body is lightweight and comfortable to hold, making it suitable for long playing sessions.

The neck is made of maple with a tinted gloss urethane finish and has a slim “C”-shaped profile that is easy to play. The neck has a 34-inch scale length and a 9.5-inch radius, which are standard measurements for most bass guitars. The fingerboard is also made of maple and has 20 medium jumbo frets and black block inlays. The nut width is 1.625 inches and the truss rod is adjustable.

The Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass has a PJ pickup configuration, which means it has both a split-coil Precision Bass pickup in the middle position and a single-coil Jazz Bass pickup in the bridge position. This combination gives you a lot of tonal versatility, as you can blend the sounds of both pickups using the two independent volume controls and the master tone control. The pickups are passive and have ceramic magnets, which produce a warm and punchy sound.

The hardware of this bass guitar is chrome-plated and includes a 4-saddle standard bridge, open-gear tuning machines, a synthetic bone nut, and a 3-ply black pickguard. The bridge provides solid string stability and intonation, while the tuners are smooth and reliable. The nut enhances the sustain and resonance of the strings, while the pickguard protects the body from scratches.

Benefits

One of the main benefits of the Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass is its affordability. For less than $300, you can get a quality bass guitar that sounds and feels like a Fender. This makes it an ideal choice for beginners who want to learn how to play bass without breaking the bank.

Another benefit of this bass guitar is its versatility. Thanks to the PJ pickup configuration, you can get a variety of tones from this bass guitar, ranging from deep and warm to bright and punchy. You can also adjust the volume and tone of each pickup to suit your preference and style. Whether you play rock, blues, funk, or anything in between, this bass guitar can handle it.

A third benefit of this bass guitar is its aesthetics. The Olympic White color with black pickguard and block inlays gives this bass guitar a classic and elegant look that will never go out of style. The gloss finish also adds some shine and durability to the body and neck.

Drawbacks

One of the drawbacks of the Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass is that it may require some setup and adjustment out of the box. Some users have reported that the action was too high or too low, or that the intonation was off. These issues can affect the playability and sound quality of the bass guitar, so you may need to take it to a professional or do some DIY tweaking to fix them.

Another drawback of this bass guitar is that it may not be very suitable for advanced players who want more features and options. For example, some players may prefer active pickups over passive ones, or may want more controls over their tone and sound. Additionally, some players may find the neck too slim or too glossy for their liking. These are personal preferences that depend on your skill level and taste.

Application of The Crowd

The Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass is mainly designed for beginner to intermediate players who want an affordable and versatile bass guitar that can cover various genres and styles. It is also suitable for players who are fans of Fender instruments and want to get a similar tone and feel without spending too much money.

This bass guitar is not very recommended for advanced players who need more features and options to express their creativity and personality. It is also not very recommended for players who have very large or small hands, as they may find the neck too narrow or too wide for their comfort.

Similar Products Comparison

To help you make an informed decision, we have compared the Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass with three other similar products on the market: the Ibanez GSR200B, the Yamaha TRBX174EW, and the Sterling by Music Man SUB StingRay Ray4. Here is a table that summarizes their main features and differences:

| Colors Available | Olympic White, Black Burst, Lake Placid Blue, Charcoal Frost Metallic (with Black Pickguard) or Race Red (with Tortoiseshell Pickguard) and Black Block Inlays on Fingerboard. All colors have Gloss Polyurethane Finish on Body and Tinted Gloss Urethane Finish on Neck. Olympic White color has Gold Squier Logo on Headstock while other colors have Silver Squier Logo on Headstock. All colors have Chrome Hardware. Olympic White color has Gold Squier Logo on Headstock while other colors have Silver Squier Logo on Headstock. All colors have Chrome Hardware. Black or Walnut Flat (with Black Pickguard), Transparent Red or Sapphire Blue (with Tortoiseshell Pickguard). All colors have Satin Polyurethane Finish on Body and Neck. All colors have White Dot Inlays on Fingerboard and Silver Ibanez Logo on Headstock. All colors have Chrome Hardware. Natural Satin or Root Beer Metallic (with Black Pickguard), Old Violin Sunburst or Translucent Black (with Tortoiseshell Pickguard). All colors have Gloss Polyurethane Finish on Body and Satin Polyurethane Finish on Neck. All colors have White Dot Inlays on Fingerboard and Silver Yamaha Logo on Headstock. All colors have Chrome Hardware. Black, Mint Green or Vintage Cream (with White Pickguard), Fiesta Red or Lake Blue Metallic (with Tortoiseshell Pickguard). All colors have Gloss Polyurethane Finish on Body and Neck. All colors have Black Dot Inlays on Fingerboard and Silver Sterling by Music Man Logo on Headstock. All colors have Chrome Hardware.

As you can see from the table, the four bass guitars have some similarities and differences in terms of features and specifications. Here are some of the main points to consider when comparing them:

– The Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass has the most color options available, as well as the most distinctive fingerboard inlays (black block inlays). It also has the widest nut width among the four bass guitars, which may affect the comfort and playability for some players.
– The Ibanez GSR200B is the cheapest among the four bass guitars, but it also has some unique features that the others do not have, such as an active EQ boost switch that can enhance the sound of the pickups, and a string-through-body option that can increase the sustain and resonance of the strings.
– The Yamaha TRBX174EW has an exotic wood veneer top that adds some visual appeal to the
– The Yamaha TRBX174EW has an exotic wood veneer top that adds some visual appeal to the bass guitar. It also has the most frets among the four bass guitars, which may offer more range and flexibility for playing. However, it also has the narrowSterling by Music Man SUB StingRay Ray4** has a humbucker pickup in the bridge position, which is different from the other three bass guitars that have single-coil pickups. A humbucker pickup can produce a fatter and louder sound that can cut through the mix better, but it may also lose some of the clarity and definition of a single-coil pickup. It also has the highest price among the four bass guitars, but it also has the closest resemblance to the original Music Man StingRay, which is a legendary bass guitar that is favored by many professional players.

Representative Product Reviews

To give you a better idea of what other users think of the Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass, we have selected some representative product reviews from Amazon and rewritten them in our own words. Here are some of the positive and negative reviews:

Positive Reviews:

– I bought this bass guitar as a beginner and I am very happy with it. It sounds great, it feels comfortable to play, and it looks beautiful. The PJ pickup configuration gives me a lot of tonal options and I can play different styles of music with it. The quality is very good for the price and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn how to play bass.
– This is a great bass guitar for beginners and intermediate players. It has a classic Fender tone and feel, but it is much cheaper than a Fender. The Olympic White color with black pickguard and block inlays is very stylish and eye-catching. The neck is smooth and fast, and the pickups are versatile and powerful. It is easy to set up and adjust, and it stays in tune well. It is a solid and reliable bass guitar that will last for a long time.
– I love this bass guitar. It is very lightweight and comfortable to hold, which is important for me as I have some back problems. The sound is warm and punchy, and I can get different tones by adjusting the volume and tone knobs. The neck is slim and easy to play, and the frets are well-finished and smooth. The finish on the body and neck is glossy and durable, and the color is stunning. It is a great value for money and I am very satisfied with it.

Negative Reviews:

– I was disappointed with this bass guitar. It came with some defects on the body, such as scratches, dents, and chips. The action was too high and the intonation was off, so I had to take it to a shop to fix it. The pickups were noisy and weak, and they did not sound like a Fender at all. The tuners were loose and wobbly, and they did not keep the strings in tune. The nut was poorly cut and uneven, and it caused some buzzing on the strings. It was a waste of money and I regret buying it.
– This bass guitar is not worth buying. It looks nice, but it sounds terrible. The pickups are muddy and dull, and they have no definition or clarity. The tone knob does not do anything, and the volume knobs are uneven and scratchy. The neck is too thin and slippery, and it hurts my hand after playing for a while. The frets are rough and sharp, and they cut my fingers. The bridge is cheap and flimsy, and it rattles when I play. The strings are old and rusty, and they break easily. It is a low-quality bass guitar that does not deserve the Squier name.
– This bass guitar is okay for beginners, but not for advanced players. It has a decent sound, but it lacks some character and punch. It has a nice look, but it feels cheap and plastic. It has a simple setup, but it does not offer much room for customization or improvement. It is fine for practicing at home or jamming with friends, but not for performing or recording professionally. It is an average bass guitar that does not stand out from the crowd.

Conclusion

The Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass is an affordable and versatile bass guitar that can provide you with a classic Fender tone
– The Yamaha TRBX174EW has an exotic wood veneer top that adds some visual appeal to the bass guitar. It also has the most frets among the four bass guitars, which may offer more range and flexibility for playing. However, it also has the narrowest nut width among the four bass guitars, which may affect the comfort and playability for some players.
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