This review by my hubby, who plays bass.
Summary: This is an amazing bass and a fantastic value. It has worth to the new bassist and the veteran alike. I’m thrilled with it.
For the new bassist: This is an outstanding bass for a person wanting to explore the instrument. The price is amazingly low and the quality high. It is a very sturdy instrument, well made and very playable. The single pickup Precision Bass (P Bass) design is a classic...simple and easy to understand. The neck is very comfortable and the sound is true.
I’d only suggest two things for the new bassist. First, when it arrives you may want to have a “set up”. If that term is new to you, don’t worry. It merely means making small mechanical adjustments (using Allen wrenches, included with the bass) which make it more playable. You can search and find out to do a bass setup. Better, have a bass player show you how to do it. It will make your playing more enjoyable.
Second, consider buying a new set of strings. The strings felt cheap and “gritty” to me... a decent set of bass strings will run you about $30 and will be worth it.
This is a marvelous intro bass. And it’s way more in addition to this.
For the experienced bassist: I’ve been playing a while but wanted a P Bass platform to get the PB sound I was looking for. I was startled to see these released via Amazon in May 2024. I was very skeptical at this price point, yet owning two MIM Fender Jazz Basses, I was intrigued. Plus, I really wanted a P Bass body but a J Bass neck...which is exactly what the Debut Series has.
A couple of bass buddies whom I respect each bought one and raved about it out of the box. For $130, that was enough for me, so I ordered one.
And I’m thrilled.
I’ve played it nearly 20 hours now and have played in public as part of our church’s worship team. It is super comfortable to play, clearly the equal of either of my $800 JB’s. And the sound! A genuine P Bass! Listening to it on a full sound system, I was astounded to get that sound from a $130 bass. Not a single one of my bandmates suspected my bass was this inexpensive. Instead, they commented on how good it sounded in our mix. Further, several knowledgeable musicians who heard it commented on its clarity and how it added to our overall sound.
Details.... I did several things but not much to modify this bass out of the box. First, I got rid of the stock strings...they felt really cheap. I replaced them with a set of Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats. Man, did that work. Flats on a P Bass is a classic set up and there is a reason it is so well regarded over the decades.
Second, I heard some 60Hz hum when I first got it, so I opened up the cavity and did a full shielding with copper tape, all soldered to ground. Hum fully eliminated. Silent when unplucked, even with volume and tone knobs turned wide open.
I have not messed with any other hardware. The pickups work just fine for me. The tuners are fine...smooth and hold the strings in tune, rock solid. I had zero fret issues. . I did a full set up when I got it. The neck was flat, so I had to loosen the truss rod a little over one full turn to get to my preferred 0.3mm relief. The saddles were very close to true...I only tweaked them about a quarter turn each. Great action, zero fret buzz. Intonation was spot on out of the box, I didn’t touch that.
So, I got my desired P Bass-J Neck for $120 plus a new set of strings. I’ve played it for hours and it balances perfectly and the neck is a joy to play. I’m thrilled and amazed.
Fender Squier Debut Series Precision Bass Guitar, Beginner Guitar, with 2-Year Warranty, Includes Free Lessons, Dakota Red wi
4.3 | 169 ratings
Price: 129.99
Last update: 12-31-2024
About this item
One Squier Debut Series Precision Bass Guitar – a perfect beginner guitar for both kids and adults
Designed by the most trusted name in guitar and backed by a 75-year legacy of quality and craftsmanship
This beginner guitar comes with a free subscription to Fender Play that includes free lessons with thousands of instructional videos to build your skills by playing the songs you love
Designed for beginners, the Squier Debut Series features the iconic Fender Precision Bass model in three signature colors--Black, Dakota Red and 2-Tone Sunburst; this bass includes a super-comfortable "c" shaped neck, laurel fingerboard and thin, lightweight body for more comfort and playability.
The Squier Debut Series Precision Bass features a split-coil pickup with volume and tone controls that offers punchy P-Bass tones, and the vintage-style open-gear tuning machines provide smooth and accurate tuning
2-Year Limited Warranty: Fender guitars are built with unmatched quality, down to the last screw- which is why Fender warrants this Fender bass guitar to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for two (2) years from original purchase
Designed by the most trusted name in guitar and backed by a 75-year legacy of quality and craftsmanship
This beginner guitar comes with a free subscription to Fender Play that includes free lessons with thousands of instructional videos to build your skills by playing the songs you love
Designed for beginners, the Squier Debut Series features the iconic Fender Precision Bass model in three signature colors--Black, Dakota Red and 2-Tone Sunburst; this bass includes a super-comfortable "c" shaped neck, laurel fingerboard and thin, lightweight body for more comfort and playability.
The Squier Debut Series Precision Bass features a split-coil pickup with volume and tone controls that offers punchy P-Bass tones, and the vintage-style open-gear tuning machines provide smooth and accurate tuning
2-Year Limited Warranty: Fender guitars are built with unmatched quality, down to the last screw- which is why Fender warrants this Fender bass guitar to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for two (2) years from original purchase
Product information
| Item Weight | 9.92 pounds |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 7.83 x 3.19 x 9.84 inches |
| Country of Origin | China |
| ASIN | B0CSLMJ2WN |
| Item model number | 0379700554 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars
124 ratings
4.3 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #813 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments) #2 in Electric Bass Guitars |
| Date First Available | January 17, 2024 |
| Back Material | Poplar |
| Body Material | Poplar |
| Color Name | Dakota Red (Matte) |
| Fretboard Material | Laurel Wood |
| Guitar Pickup Configuration | S |
| Scale Length | 34" (864 mm) |
| String Material | Nickel |
| Top Material | Poplar |
| Neck Material Type | Maple |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Guitar Bridge System | Fixed |
| Size | Full |
Top reviews from the United States
Gretchen E
Outstanding Value...Plays way above it's price!!
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2024
Gretchen E
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2024
Summary: This is an amazing bass and a fantastic value. It has worth to the new bassist and the veteran alike. I’m thrilled with it.
For the new bassist: This is an outstanding bass for a person wanting to explore the instrument. The price is amazingly low and the quality high. It is a very sturdy instrument, well made and very playable. The single pickup Precision Bass (P Bass) design is a classic...simple and easy to understand. The neck is very comfortable and the sound is true.
I’d only suggest two things for the new bassist. First, when it arrives you may want to have a “set up”. If that term is new to you, don’t worry. It merely means making small mechanical adjustments (using Allen wrenches, included with the bass) which make it more playable. You can search and find out to do a bass setup. Better, have a bass player show you how to do it. It will make your playing more enjoyable.
Second, consider buying a new set of strings. The strings felt cheap and “gritty” to me... a decent set of bass strings will run you about $30 and will be worth it.
This is a marvelous intro bass. And it’s way more in addition to this.
For the experienced bassist: I’ve been playing a while but wanted a P Bass platform to get the PB sound I was looking for. I was startled to see these released via Amazon in May 2024. I was very skeptical at this price point, yet owning two MIM Fender Jazz Basses, I was intrigued. Plus, I really wanted a P Bass body but a J Bass neck...which is exactly what the Debut Series has.
A couple of bass buddies whom I respect each bought one and raved about it out of the box. For $130, that was enough for me, so I ordered one.
And I’m thrilled.
I’ve played it nearly 20 hours now and have played in public as part of our church’s worship team. It is super comfortable to play, clearly the equal of either of my $800 JB’s. And the sound! A genuine P Bass! Listening to it on a full sound system, I was astounded to get that sound from a $130 bass. Not a single one of my bandmates suspected my bass was this inexpensive. Instead, they commented on how good it sounded in our mix. Further, several knowledgeable musicians who heard it commented on its clarity and how it added to our overall sound.
Details.... I did several things but not much to modify this bass out of the box. First, I got rid of the stock strings...they felt really cheap. I replaced them with a set of Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats. Man, did that work. Flats on a P Bass is a classic set up and there is a reason it is so well regarded over the decades.
Second, I heard some 60Hz hum when I first got it, so I opened up the cavity and did a full shielding with copper tape, all soldered to ground. Hum fully eliminated. Silent when unplucked, even with volume and tone knobs turned wide open.
I have not messed with any other hardware. The pickups work just fine for me. The tuners are fine...smooth and hold the strings in tune, rock solid. I had zero fret issues. . I did a full set up when I got it. The neck was flat, so I had to loosen the truss rod a little over one full turn to get to my preferred 0.3mm relief. The saddles were very close to true...I only tweaked them about a quarter turn each. Great action, zero fret buzz. Intonation was spot on out of the box, I didn’t touch that.
So, I got my desired P Bass-J Neck for $120 plus a new set of strings. I’ve played it for hours and it balances perfectly and the neck is a joy to play. I’m thrilled and amazed.
Images in this review
Curry
Quality for this price is insane!
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2024PBR Guitar
Great Bass for the Money
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2024
PBR Guitar
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2024
Images in this review
Bill2129
It's a cool little bass
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2024SungminYang
Sounds better than what I expected.
Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2024Vic Fusco
electronics make this not worth buying
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2024