When people say budget lines like Squier are shit, sometimes I think they're just being snobs, or trying to justify themselves having likely dumped 2 grand on some bass or guitar. I've met players who swear by Squier. In fact, if anything, it's usually not the instrument itself, but the pickups that pose a potential issue. I knew one guy who played a Squier Jazz bass with upgraded pickups and he swore he couldn't tell the difference from a true Fender jazz bass. Squier uses the exact same specs, and in many cases the same types of materials as fender to produce their instruments. They tend to be made overseas, which considerably lowers the price. Otherwise they have to adhere to the same exact quality control standards and specifications as Fender guitars. If anything, I'd be worried about the conditions for the workers making squiers, i.e. are they slaving to produce them in a sweatshop with no windows for 12 hour shifts?
Another great "budget" line is Danelectro. I think Jack Bruce of Cream played a dano bass at some point, and John Entwistle used a Danelectro Longhorn Bass on several 60s Who recordings. I nearly bought a Danelectro DC Bass way back when I was first shopping for one, before ultimately deciding on a Squier Precision Bass, but sometimes I wish I'd gone with the Danelectro instead. I like the design of the neck better, and it has a very unique shape that stands out amidst an army of brands that have tried to copy the classic fender and Gibson bass designs. And with a good set of flatwound strings, it sounds about on par with a Fender.
Hofner basses are also surprisingly affordable, and one would expect their value to have soared, given the association with Paul McCartney. I played an off-brand copy belonging to a friend once and it was delightful. The smaller scale made it a lot easier to shred.
Regarding more expensive brands, I'd always wanted a Rickenbacker 4001 or 4003 bass, but when I had the opportunity to actually play one in a music store, it was a major letdown. I'd already become accustomed to the feel of fender necks and fretboards, and I just couldn't get used to the flatness and hard edges of the Ric. It also doesn't do as well in lower frequencies. It has a very "punchy" sound and can handle the mid range and higher octaves quite well, which is good if you want the bass up front doing a lot of soloing, but it struggles with the lower notes in a way that most basses do not. Damn it's a pretty instrument though, and if I had the money to burn, I'd probably own one.
he looks like a little kid. Entwistle just keeps a straight face like "I can do this shit in my sleep"
And, they arguably sound quite good live.
