Show Full Spec Comparison
| Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V | Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass | |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Fender Squier | Fender |
| Year: | 2022 | 2023 |
| Configuration: | SH | PJ |
| Strings: | 5 | 4 |
| Made in: | Indonesia | United States |
| Series: | Contemporary | Precision Bass |
| Colors: | Black | Burst |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | No |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | Solid Body |
| Body Material: | Poplar | Alder |
| Bridge: | 5-Saddle Standard | 4-Saddle HiMass Vintage (String-Through-Body or Top-Load) |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | Bolt-On |
| Tuners: | Vintage-Style | Standard Open-Gear |
| Fretboard: | Indian Laurel | Slab Rosewood |
| Neck Material: | Roasted Maple | Maple |
| Decoration: | Pearloid Dot | White Pearloid Blocks with Custom Mastodon Inlay at 12th Fret |
| Scale Size: | 34" | 34" |
| Shape: | Bass C Shape | Custom '70s Precision Bass |
| Frets: | 20 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver | 20 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | 9.5" |
| Nut: | Graphite | Synthetic Bone |
| Nut Width: | 47.6mm (1.875'') | 41.3mm (1.625'') |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Squier SQR Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Active) | Fender Custom Troy Sanders Single-Coil Jazz Bass (Single Coil / Passive) |
| Middle Pickup: | Fender Custom Troy Sanders Split-Coil Precision Bass (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Squier SQR Split Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 0 Way | 3 Way |
| Knobs: | Dome | Dome |
| Pickup Mods: | None | None |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | 1 |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | 0 |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | No |
| Hardware Color: | Black | Chrome |
Reasons to Get
Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V over Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass
Reasons to Get
Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass over Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V
Other Key Differences
Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V vs Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass
Shared Features
Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V vs Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass
Common Weaknesses
- Neck-Through Build
- Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
- Weight Relief
- Retainer Bar
- High-Quality Frets
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Luminescent Sidedots
- Strap Lock
- 21:1 Tuner Ratio
Price History Comparison
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V Prices
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Hand Size Comfortability
And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass favors large hands more than the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V.
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V:
Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass:
Beginner Friendliness
The Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass meets 4 out of our 6 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V meets only 3. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.
New Player Friendliness
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V- Comfortable shape
- Tall frets
- Comfortable neck
- Comfortable fretboard
- Narrow nut
- Short scale
New Player Friendliness
Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass- Comfortable shape
- Comfortable fretboard
- Tall frets
- Comfortable neck
- Narrow nut
- Short scale
Sound Quality Comparison
The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.
Woods Used in the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V
Roasted Maple is just maple without a finish. It's technically cheaper than regular maple, but it doesn't have any extra disadvantages because of this. The color is darker, and it's lighter weight and very stable even when there's a lot of humidity.
There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.
Poplar is a cheaper and heavier alternative to Alder wood. It terms of tone, it emphasizes the low-end and has cutting mids. It's relatively soft compared to most body woods. Find out more about Poplar.
Woods Used in the Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass
Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.
Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.
Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.
Winner: Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass.
Pickup Configuration
The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V has an SH configuration while the Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass has PJ pickups.
SH is a more versatile version of the classic telecaster (SS) configuration. The bridge pickup usually produces a bright and twangy tone, while the neck Humbucker gives you the warmer tone you'll need for more Jazzy/Bluish solos and chords.
On the other hand, A PJ bass offers a versatile tonal range by combining the warm, punchy sound of a Precision-style (P-style) pickup with the brighter, more articulate tones of a Jazz-style (J-style) pickup. This makes it a great choice for those seeking tonal flexibility.
Pickups Quality
The Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Jazz and similar genres.
Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.
Preamp Circuit
A preamp in an electric bass functions as an electronic circuit that acts as an interface between the bass's pickups and the amplifier. Its main purpose is to amplify and customize the bass's initial signal before it reaches the amplifier, offering enhanced control over factors like tone, volume, and sound attributes. Preamps typically come equipped with tone adjustments, equalization options, and sometimes built-in effects, empowering bass players to fine-tune their sound to suit their personal preferences and the musical environment.
The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V's preamp is Active while the Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass's is Active/Passive.
Active: Unlike passive basses, which rely solely on passive pickups and tone controls, active preamps require a power source, typically a 9-volt battery, to operate. The active preamp offers several advantages, including the ability to boost or cut specific frequencies, resulting in a more versatile and customizable tonal palette. Active basses are favored in genres where precise tonal sculpting and extended tonal options are essential, such as jazz fusion or progressive rock. However, they do require occasional battery replacement or recharging to ensure optimal performance.
Active/Passive: This type of circuit combines both passive and active electronics in one instrument. This versatile setup allows the player to switch between passive and active modes, providing a wide range of tonal options. In passive mode, the bass relies on traditional passive pickups and tone controls for a warm and organic sound. In active mode, the onboard preamp circuit is engaged, offering enhanced EQ shaping capabilities and sometimes a signal boost. This flexibility caters to a broader spectrum of musical styles and playing preferences, as it allows the bassist to switch between the classic, vintage tone of passive operation and the more versatile and finely tuned active mode, all within the same instrument.
Winner: Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass.
Versatility Comparison
Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.
Switch Options
The Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass gives you 3 switch options while the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V gives you 0. This means that the Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve
Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.
When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.
Winner: Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass.
Final Sound Quality Scores
Build Quality Comparison
When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V compares to the Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass.
Country of Origin
The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V is built in Indonesia while the Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass is made in United States.
Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.
The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.
Winner: Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass
Nut Material
If you want your bass to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.
The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V has a Graphite nut. It's a self-lubricating material that will allow the strings to slide over the nut without a lot of friction. It's a good type of nut if you want to have better tuning stability than with plastic, although it's not as resistant as Bone or Tusq.
On the other hand, the Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass comes with a Synthetic Bone nut. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.
Winner: Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass.
Fret Material
Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.
Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.
Winner: Tie.
Tuners
Both come with regular tuners. The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V's are Vintage-Style while the Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass's are Standard Open-Gear
Winner: Tie.
Neck Joint
Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a bass is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.
Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.
Winner: Tie.
Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V
- Active Preamp
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No High-Quality Nut
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
- No Strap Lock
Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Synthetic Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Active/Passive Preamp
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
- No Strap Lock
Final Build Quality Scores
Playability Comparison
Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a bass might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.
Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a bass feels in your hands.
Nut Width
The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V has the wider nut with 47.6mm (1.875'') vs 41.3mm (1.625''). This is a 6.3mm (0.25'') difference
This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.
Scale Length
The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.
In this case, both have a scale length of 34".
This is a scale used for baritones and guitars with more than 6 strings. Since the scale is so long, the tension of the strings will be higher. This means that bending will require a lot more strength than with a shorter scale. However, it also allows you to use really low tunings without causing fret buzz and without needing to increase your string gauge too much.
Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.
Neck Profile
No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.
Both the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V and the Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.
Fretboard Radius
Most bass fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.
In this case, the Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V.
Fret Size
The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Precision Bass PH V has Narrow Tall frets, which should be taller than the Fender Troy Sanders Precision Bass's Medium Jumbo frets.
Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.
