ULTIMATE Stratocaster Comparison! - From Squier Affinity to Fender Custom Shop!

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

Let me know which Strat you thought sounded the best, and which one you'd spend your hard-earned money on! Enjoy :)

[@israelgarciaramos1225]

who won the ibanez?

[@agch771]

catch em all

[@kianguitars2537]

I wish someone give me a cheap electric guitar😢

[@groovedoggy]

I know it's not technically a Fender but I would throw a Shijie in there. Apparently they're absolutely incredible guitars. For a little over $1K they'll rival a custom shop. Stainless frets locking tuners and really good hardware.

[@MyButtsBeenWiped]

Play Authentic !

[@theguitarclubonline]

I did a blind test for my student between my 'Classic Vibe' & Custom Shop. Said the Squire sounded better :(

[@monmixer]

Every ones ear is bit different. Don't fret it.

[@lostreb]

@@monmixer Thank you for the laugh, and well played!!

[@PragmaticDany]

It's all about playability and looks. There is nothing like a bad sounding guitar being made anymore.

[@grinne2975]

Squier

[@mandubabulam]

tbf the classic vibe is a really great guitar

[@smrititrivendra4884]

squier affinity 10:54 squier classic vibe 11:05 fender player 11:17 fender professional 11:30 fender select 11:42

[@diujay]

Thanks a lot

[@mw5150g]

Let's be honest, soundwise, the Squier Classic Vibe series is nearly identical to the Fender Player series.

[@karlcarlsburg9641]

The internet is not the proper venue for honesty. Lol.

[@laketownmusic]

Yeah heck the classic vibe has an actual bone nut, so all you gotta do nowadays is replace the electronics (not the pickups because they’re great for the money) and you have basically a slightly better player strat

[@isaacpaolino718]

Yeah I wanted a player series because I thought a fender must be better sounding but when I played the two guitars I couldn't tell the difference.

[@kreechrr]

I love my 50s CV. Swapped the switch, bridge (for the thick block) and pups to a 57/62 for "added authenticity" There nothing like that chime in clean tones Plus the body is alder, like my Charvel DK24 over 2x the price; even if it's not as thick as the fender equivalent.

[@omarvillegas7071]

One big difference its the wood of the body, in squier you get poplar, and the player is made with alder

[@rayschoch5882]

When I bought my Squier in 1986, it was the only "budget" model Fender made. It still looks decent, and sounds good. The high-end model in Darrell's demo sounded the best, but not thousands of dollars better than the Affinity, which is a close 2nd in my book, and you can put high-end pickups in an Affinity to get the same sound quality as the high-end one for a lot less money. I don't much care where the guitar is made, and have instruments from Japan, Indonesia and Korea that all sound just fine.

[@guitar_fed]

Oh good, at least I am not the only one who thought that the Squier affinity sounds impressively good! I would put Custom and Affinity as 1st and 2nd as well!

[@beefnacos6258]

I'm with you. At the end of the day though it's not all about the sound it's about how the guitar actually feels and plays.

[@LukeLX]

The affinity definitely sounds closer to the top models than vibe and player

[@ptrisonic]

You can also get thick, Brass (or Steel) BUT shorter trem blocks..... easy upgrade too.

[@cityofghosts4037]

Your videos are so good. Concise with no waffling you say just what needs to be said, and you seem like a super passionate and nice guy. Thanks.

[@RC32Smiths01]

In many cases, a Strat is simply a guitar's best friend. Always feels awesome to play, and have a range of versatility. Cheers!

[@darphbobo55]

Isn’t a strat a guitar lol? How is it a guitar’s best friend?

[@upshitdownshit4200]

@@darphbobo55 Gibson's got lonely

[@olivereaster2778]

@@darphbobo55 think he meant “guitarist’s”

[@christopher-miles]

@@darphbobo55 nerd.

[@randallcl9925]

I bought that exact same Aged Cherry Burst Player Strat last year and it is gorgeous and fantastic in every way! There is no reason to replace the trem, just get the Fender springs that drop into the screw hole and you can adjust how tight or loose the trem lever is.

[@user-of9ut1hd9q]

I have the exact same one as well and am beyond in love with it. I was actually wondering about the trem bar springs, so that’s good to know they’ll work. Are you using the fender branded springs or the strewmac spring/ball bearing? Edit: I just now saw you said Fender springs

[@randallcl9925]

@@user-of9ut1hd9q Yes it is a fantastic guitar, worth every penny! The resale value of Fender is so high that I could sell mine for what I paid for it (on sale 18 months ago) or more. I love the pickups too, Fender makes so many Strat pickups but the alnico Players are great and it's not worth the expense of upgrading. He did not mention how the bottom tone control works the bridge pickup and how much that improves the sound. This is my main Strat and as Darrell said I will keep it forever. I bought a bag of 12 Fender trem springs for less than $6US online.

[@stephanskogen3817]

I also popped a spring into my 2013 Player (which I believe in slightly different than todays Player), and I have no issues with the trem arm after that

[@gavinw5469]

@@stephanskogen3817 the difference is that it is not a player strat. Player strats didn't exist back then. Just a made in Mexico standard. Also worse quality than the new player series.

[@TexanUSMC8089]

It makes no sense for the MIM to have a plastic nut. A bone or graftek doesn't cost that much. What's $5 when you're already spending $700+.

[@pablo9364]

Exactly

[@BluesCat1980]

Anywhere they can save money, they'll cost cut. You take $5.00 multiplied by thousands, Fender is saving at of money.

[@golfhound]

@@BluesCat1980 yes they are saving, but the cost cut to Fender is not worth it. Put the bone nut on there and raise the price. Also, locking tuners. Both changes would make the player series far more attractive.

[@PragmaticDany]

@@golfhound Fender executives talked about this for days my man. They decided that saving the extra $5 per nut a in a year of production is going to allow them to buy a new porche each. Believe, they know what they are doing. They know that we are still going to buy into the logo, whatever they put in it.

[@edwardglyons]

Marketing. If the MIM gets too close to the quality of the American models, it gets harder to justify the price for a USA strat.

[@dsholt]

The $1500 for a Professional series strat is definitely a jump up in price, but when compared to other US-made flagship guitars, it is still a bargain.

[@mikewilson0077]

and it includes a hard shell case

[@winteroutside7014]

itsa bolt-on neck not a neck-through like Agile has . usa sucks . imitation les paul by gibson , last gibson les paul made in 1960

[@aphotosyntheticworld]

Even more of a bargain in the Mod Shop. Can pretty much make an ultra without noiseless pickups for 1900 with a great combination of materials and colors to choose from. Couldn't be happier with my 1 of 1 strat.

[@TheDanification]

Didn’t mention the American Performer series. Around $1,100 for a Strat or Tele. It’s the lowest price point for a new USA made Fender

[@ahelmste]

I love my performer Tele and I’ll probably get the performer Strat. They really check all the boxes.

[@max98-e3y]

@@ahelmste Same, I have a limited edition performer serie telecaster in a butterscotch with a maple fretboard. Absolutely love it.

[@weaponload6427]

Me too, I have an all black AM Perf. Strat with HSS configuration and it‘s literally the best... does everything, beautiful tone and marvelous playability Edit: Did I mention that I didn‘t need to tune it for almost a year despite constant playing and carrying it through different weather conditions? Yeah, they hold tune wonderfully.

[@rsuazon]

I just wish the Performer series had the Deep C neck profile like the Pro's do. I would probably have a performer strat by now if it did

[@weaponload6427]

@@rsuazon I never noticed when playing... I am not that familiar with neck shapes, what exactly is the difference?

[@93greenstrat]

The Player Strat is basically what the old American Standard Strat used to be. A great bargain, IMO, and very much a professional quality guitar.

[@strawsparky33]

but its not American....

[@iused2bfast153]

You got it, its a pre-2008 Am Std with stamped saddles and 1.65" nut width. Even the bridge assemblies are identical and even weigh the same.

[@yurawylde7212]

no!

[@DavidHBurkart]

Just rehearsed our set tonight with my 70s Classic Vibe Strat. I bought it this past February and it is presently my favorite guitar to play. It just fits me well, I love the classic look and feel, offers quality above its price point.

[@harveywhitehead303]

The player series 2 point trem has a screw in bar. If you want an instant upgrade that requires no tools, buy the tiny trem-bar spring. You simply unscrew the trem bar, drop the spring in the trem bar hole. Reinstall the trem bar. You will feel the spring tension on the trem bar. It actually holds the trem bar where you want it. The spring is tiny but beefy. It does a great job.

[@ptrisonic]

Plumber's teflon tape works as well.... I'm always losing those springs so keep a few in your gig bag. Pete.

[@deadppqqqq4822]

@@ptrisonicI’m sorry but how do you lose them?? Lol you’d have to constantly unscrew your trem bar frequently. Like OP said literally just pop one in and forget about it

[@SpiritOfHalloween31]

I spent $860 on my Player Series Strat mainly due to the humbucker pickups it came with, I wanted an HSS configuration so I could have more versatility. I really love the guitar. Not only is it my first real Stratocaster, but its such a huge upgrade from the guitar I started out with, which is a Starcaster by Fender guitar. I'm not even sure if that guitar can even be called a "Strat." I am also happy to hear that the Player Series is a lifetime guitar. I still say it is well worth the money. On a side note to newcomers who buy the player series, make sure you buy a case with it too. It does not come with a case. I already have a guitar case but that's because I also own a cheap guitar.

[@heavybrett-al4082]

I recently brought a squire 70's classic Vibe Strat,and it plays and sounds better than my Mexican fender.

[@leonedantonio]

There's also an American Professional II Series with the new pickups and push pull as well as contoured heel. And following up this is the Ultra Series which do have locking tuners but come with noiseless pickups.

[@ClintsCrypt]

The Elite/Ultra Series have the compound radius fretboards. My American Professional does not have a contoured heel. The Pro II does have one. So does my Elite. My Elite also has a S1 switch.

[@dsholt]

I was also wondering why he jumped over the Ultra from the Pro to the Custom Shop. Could have given a shout out to the Original series too.

[@robertdonosobuchner3129]

Yes I agree. What's about the other series from Fender...?

[@thesullivanstreetproject]

@@robertdonosobuchner3129 yeah, there are a bunch more. I’m assuming he didn’t cover them because he doesn’t own them?

[@arn999]

@@ClintsCrypt If you have a Pro II, it does have a contoured heel (just less than the Ultra). The Pro I, which I have, doesn't.

[@atb1325]

Squire Bullets are the base model. The Affinity's are the next tier. I bought a Squire Blackout HSS LTD edition last year and it is a great guitar! 129.00 dollars free shipping from Guitar Center. I have the trem edition and the hard tail was 60.00 dollars more at that time. No fret buzz, nice action and good build quality. The Indonesian CORT built are very good for the money spent. I'm a Les Paul guy and bought this affordable Strat just to delve into Stratocasters. I must say that I was very impressed with way it played and build quality right out the box. It has become one of my favorite guitars to pick up and play. The neck is so comfortable with the light satin finish. Great affordable guitars!! I have guitars that cost 5 times as much and I must say that Squire makes some very nice guitars for the money.

[@FayyazAhmed]

No mention of fretboard woods, which is one of the major differences: Laurel, Pau Ferro, Rosewood . No mention of fret specs. Professionals having arguably the best frets, 6105 narrow talls. And should have reviewed the current generation Professional ii. They have heel carve, S1 switching etc

[@DougMen1]

The current CV gutars all have narrow tall frets too

[@retiredguyadventures6211]

I just bought a Fender Player Plus Top aged cherry HSS strat that is identical to the one used in this video. I swapped out the tuners to Fender's Locking tuners and had a professional luthier do a setup on it. I also had him change the nut to a Graph Tech nut because I though the string height was to high, and I installed a Graph Tech string tree. this guitar plays like butter now and I love it...

[@johnwelch557]

I've never had tuning issues with the Affinity. The six screws are just pivot posts. Back them out 3 turns minimum. Thanks Darrell!

[@artamussumatra6286]

I prefer the 6 screw type. I’ve played both, and imho, the supposed superiority of the 2 post is just a placebo effect myth. It’s all in the set up, and both types benefit greatly from doing a correct one.

[@chrisraatz6672]

Agreed. The 2-point/6-screw comparison is usually pointless. Set either up well and you will have no issues.

[@theWARMJET]

I have had some tunning problems on mine, Affinity, but after putting some vaseline on the sadles and graphite on the neck it holds tunning quite well. I have a thing for my Affinity Indonesian Strat

[@jimm8594]

I had a MIM Strat and an American Strat at the same time, the difference was significant. The weight, neck profile, tone. Night and day.

[@muhammadghur]

@@confrex4256 Nope, MIA non-CS are mostly made of 2 or 3 piece. The MIM are 4 piece, if you are lucky, you will get 3 piece. I have both MIM & MIA, and yeah the tone is different if you played it in person.

[@sotg1167]

This is a sick video idea, I hope that you do more like this, with other types of guitars.

[@weedyguitarstudio1715]

Is it worth double your money "Heck No" - Darrell Braun

[@3kil0w4tt]

That's Dah RELL Bra OON...LOL But seriously, thank you, Darrell, for doing these kinds of comparos and really all you do with regard to gear, you're one of my top three that I go to for research. Thanks again!

[@whatspadethinks]

Golly, if I knew Darrell was going to start going all Howard Stern on us I certainly would've plugged my ears. Really Darrell, you don't need to work blue...

[@DaringDan]

I dropped an American Pro I loaded pickguard in my Affinity Strat and love it. After 3 years on the beginner Squier I was ready to up the quality of the sound but still loved the feel of the Squier. It was a great upgrade and only cost me a few hundred bucks on stratosphere.

[@LiesThatBind]

There are actually three lines now that are made in Mexico: Player series, Vintera and Noventa. Personally, the most interesting one for 2021 that is MIM, is the 75th anniversary which is basically a Player series with the Vintera 60's pickups, a matching headstock and a gigbag for little more than a what a Players series goes for.

[@omarvillegas7071]

And the deluxe series

[@LiesThatBind]

@@omarvillegas7071 True I forgot about that one. So many choices nowadays.

[@kentfuqua9634]

I had a MIM strat that I could kick myself for ever trading for a made in America. Tone was great and each position was great. I have a Gretch today-semi hollow and great tone.

[@Ndlanding]

I'd buy it just for the gig bag! Not.

[@LiesThatBind]

@@Ndlanding no one would, but it's still better than none. Vintera 60's pickups, matching headstock and it being a limited edition(collectible) are the main draws here.

[@marksmith7789]

Just bought a player and I love it, the pick ups are sweet enough for me I have to say. The nut I can live with. The trem is kinda not good enough but I did know this when I purchased and I will up grade. Fantastic guitar for me, cheers.

[@slowpoke7888]

What about the "Performer" Strat. My personal favourite. Just love the jumbo frets and Yosemite pickups. I gig with one and have a classic vibe as a backup.

[@arn999]

Yeah, there's a bunch missing. It's all a matter of preferences really. I don' love jumbo frets, so went with the Professional with its narrow-tall frets. Of course it's not great value for money (well, it is compared to Gibson!), but it's the guitar that fit my preferences the most, at a still non crazy price.

[@taildragger53]

YES!! VERY affordable and , together with the older series, (the jumbo fretted "'American Special,) my all time fave. LOVE the frets, can obtain a superb low action because of the fret profile, and the pups are brilliant for a vintage Blues vibe and even jazz.

[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

I love the specs of the Performer series. But I just don’t like the 70’s headstock.

[@slowpoke7888]

@@MrSpeed-lt8gr Yeah, I have to agree but I am growing more accustomed to it. Though I still prefer the smaller headstock.

[@nevaagainwee]

@@arn999 What’s the difference between jumbo and tall frets? Obviously I understand the physical difference but I guess what’s the pros of each?

[@richardcooper7935]

I have a Pacifica 012 and will be looking to upgrade to a fender very soon so I’m always looking for comparison videos - most of which talk about tone. This video is the most comprehensive I have seen in terms of hardware and what you’re actually paying for.

[@bigwavedave8492]

I've been loving made in Mexico Stratocasters since 92 when I got and still have my first one they are without a doubt the sound and feel of a strat ... I suggest constantly to friends that want that tone to just get a player model

[@connorberohn9310]

The player is literally the exact guitar that I have, same color and everything and I love it so much

[@brayandoctor182]

For brazilian people, have a affinity is a great conquer, here the guitar costs 3 times the minimum wage, and the cheapest fender is more or less 10 times

[@kushanisiwara4058]

I am happy that I chose to buy the squire classic vibe 50s strat as my first electric guitar. I have been using it so far and is the only electric guitar I have. Feel happy that I can use it for live shows without worrying too much

[@ApeLikeCreature]

Best sounding in order: 1) Fender Select Custom Shop 2) Professional 3) Squier Affinity 4) Fender Player 5) Squier Classic Vibe I can't believe how close the tone of the ceramic magnets in the Affinity are to the $3500 Custom Shop Fender...that is NUTS! Although I HATE the feel of the Affinity. And it never stays in tune, it needs that upgrade, which is no biggie, you can spend another $60 on good tuners. You can play in that neck eventually. BTW, fantastic video, thank you!

[@artamussumatra6286]

Ceramic pickups are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay underrated. Imho, threy’re actually more versatile than alnicos - full out, they have a hot P-90 like sound, but turn the guitar’s volume down(while turning up the amp to compensate) and they easily nail the vintage low output tone. They key is to get the height adjustment right, ceramics are more powerful(and permanent) magnets, so they need to be set a bit lower than alnicos, so they don’t pull on the strings. Once correctly set, and dialed in, they are fantastic.

[@danielhartman5086]

I just got a Squier affinity strat. Plan on moding the whole guitar. I love the way it plays and feels as well as the light weight.Just little mods at a time will make it a much better guitar.

[@scottreynolds6317]

Great comparison!!! Love my American Professional Strat!!! Agree that MIM Player series gives the best bang for the buck.

[@judih.8754]

Great comparison with your honest comments. I liked the short back to back playing segment. I agree with your assessments of the two choices. I'll stay with my Pacifica though. Cheers.

[@MustafaBaabad]

You just make me more convince that Pacifica is the reasonable choice. Cheers from Indonesia.

[@judih.8754]

@@MustafaBaabad a nice selection in various configurations and price points. They've always been seen as value packed. Darrell has done a few videos on Pacificas. Check them out. Cheers.

[@retroquest3579]

As far as necks go .. Satin over Gloss, 110% of the time. 😎

[@eddiesidorov8635]

Satin feels SO much better

[@chiefobeef]

As a very casual Fender fan out of the loop on what's what with the current landscape, this video is a great overview, thanks!

[@Chrsly]

The Player Series is fantastic! So so sweet.

[@LucyLeheilleix]

Love your channel so much! I just started playing again after a 15 year break. I think the classic vibe is the one I’ll get.

[@darrenhunt7838]

I have the American Professional 11 in HSS and in my opinion it’s a big step up over the pro 1. The V mod 2 pickups sound great. The neck feel is very obviously a big step up over the player series. I tried all but the Squiers and preferred the pro 11 over the Elite. It all comes down to the size of the wallet and personal likes I guess.

[@MarcCoteMusic]

I love that MiM, Darrell, if ever you want to sell it. Nice comparison here, and I tend to agree with you on the value proposition of both the MiM and the Classic Vibe.

[@derekclacton]

Moral of the story - costing twice as much doesn’t mean a guitar is twice as good. You get what you pay for / play for and can upgrade if you feel the need. At the end of the day, if you like playing it you will and a cheap guitar will always sound better through a good amp than an expensive guitar played through a cheap amp …

[@lunarsoundstage8327]

Just got one of the new 2021 affinity strats I might just be lucky but I own a mim fender and a 70s strat and this one is right up there with both them they've upped all the hardware on these new squires

[@richszmal1653]

The base model squier is the bullet series and not the affinity series.

[@philipchau6019]

Not necessarily. Bullet series doesn’t make lefties and more places carry the affinity than the bullet series guitars

[@jimtapia8836]

@@philipchau6019 what does that have to do with it? The Bullet is the base model.

[@myopicautisticmetal9035]

@@jimtapia8836 it's called a bullet because most people riddle them with bullets when they upgrade!

[@cuda426hemi]

Or the no name Mini series or the no name ones in the starter kits. I think the gist is the Affinity is the cheapest popular line you could get away with for use. Pretty sure Darrell has heard of Bullet series. 🎸

[@TexanUSMC8089]

The bullet is the lowest cost. A lot of people prefer the bullet in Tele, and Affinity in Strat though. They're both very low cost. They're great for the price, but don't actually think they compare to a CV or Player. There's a big difference.

[@rixz66sudsy]

Love the 10-14 compound radius and locking tuners on my SSS Ultra..... my Deluxe Lonestar HSS with rosewood fingerboard is another favorite.

[@zacharymiraziz4585]

I own the exact same player series that Darrell showed in this video, as well as an American Professional series, to me the difference is mostly apparent in the sound of the pickups. The American Pro sounds incredible, the Player series pickups, not so much, but that’s just a simple upgrade :)

[@insufferablethrashelitist9305]

I got a green flame maple player series that I love. Couldn't get quite the distorted richness I wanted from the bridge so I ended up putting a Seymour jb trembucker in there, then eventually a jb jr in the middle and hotrail at the neck. Put staggered locking tuners and graphtech stringsaver saddles on the bridge and it's just awesome, for far less than any American strat and in my opinion vastly better.

[@faethe000]

This is kind of long, but I figured you might like hearing how you've inspired me to keep going with my lessons. I'm a non-traditional player as a Gen X woman, and I hired a teacher about 6 months ago. Bought myself a Fender strat and an amp and went at it. My teacher keeps concentrating on theory and technique and I know it's necessary so I do it, and sometimes it's interesting. I'll be glad to know it all later. But god it gets hard to stay focused on practicing that stuff. When things I'm practicing are really hard or really boring and I want to quit, I honestly come watch your gear reviews. I don't actually care about the guitars you review other than enjoying looking at them. I'm satisfied with my guitar. But it's your playing. I really love your playing in your videos. When I hear your playing and how comfortable, familiar and easy it seems for you (which I know is from practice), I think to myself that one day maybe I'll be able to play like you and I can get back to practicing. So thank you, from a struggling student :) P.S. to answer your video's question, I bought a Fender American Pro II.

[@utecastronoova863]

They play and feel diferent. I like the worn in feel of the vintera Road worn, especially the 70s tele with 12'' Radius. Deluxe series has 12'" Radius too. I also tried the boxer Japan strat and playa great and sounds great unplugged. Gotta play them before You Buy one

[@psh_]

I got myself a Player series and I love it. Watching your video, I feel like the Classic Vibe is also a really good choice for people looking for a new guitar, I really enjoyed how it sounds.

[@spencerfreed6947]

Fender now has a US made series in between MIM and the Pro series, it's called the Performer Series, and runs about $1,150. I love mine with a Penny finish!! The pickups they designed for the series are great! Only downside is the poly finish if you're into a more thin nitro finish

[@captainbuck5969]

I bought a PS Strat for my travel guitar. I normally play Gibson, but my Fender PS has really grown on me. Very happy with it.

[@musenw8834]

The Affinity sounded warmest of the Squier tiers surprisingly - and even the professional came close but not as warn

[@24MusicCarats]

Bingo! I been doing my tests and theres something about the affinitys ceramic pick ups they feel very well rounded full bassy warm with bell tones. Where the rest almost feel thin harsh and metallic with no soul.

[@davidlloyd9598]

Just bought a Fender Player Stratocaster. Best value hands down. Alder body, two point trem, crystal clear SSS alnico pickups, maple fretboard and 22 frets. It is absolutely stunning in 3 tone sunburst too.

[@garygosse5747]

Loved the video and it just happens i have a Classic Vibe Strat and a MIM Tele love them both.

[@TheStobb50]

I have a Squire affinity which I bought in the 90s I’ve got to say I love it, I use it for demo recordings as I am a drummer and a bass player. My goto bass is a Squire 50 anniversary p bass which I also bought in the 90s and is better then most Fender p bass Ive have tried. Thanks for all the work you do on this channel I love it

[@MegaChang9]

You are a fair reviewer. You should be a college professor; you explain things very well. I do agree with your recommendation.

[@michaelolz]

I don’t know if that was an American Professional II but if so you may have forgotten the push-push switching on the bottom tone knob. It allows you to add the neck pickup to your switch positions, potentially engaging all three of the V Mod pickups. That may or may not add a lot of the value to the guitar, but it’s not on the Player series.

[@hafstrat]

He Demos a pro. The pro 2 has a different string tree too.

[@markspinner2402]

Deluxe Roadhouse Strat. Noiseless pups, locking tuners, and much more

[@vbrowning1756]

Agreed. I have one myself and love it. Think the value is the best with all that comes with it. Wish it was part of the video.

[@richardgrassia5225]

Hi Darrell! I purchased a pack of little springs for a couple of dollars that hold the trem bar in place! you can still move the bar but it stays wherever you want it to!

[@rahardyanaldi]

This is the topic that we're all waiting for!

[@skyplaysbass]

Awesome very informative video thank you! Im a professional bass player wanting to step in to the guitar world to make some NOT awful demos for my bandmates, and its great to see theres really no wrong choices! My takeaway is almost the same for when I pick my basses, the sound is DIFFERENT, not better or worse, as long as the soldering isnt terrible, no matter what teir you'll have a great time

[@arkram_68]

How About Some Telecaster's Darrell That Would Be A Great Video

[@suqies]

Darryl, when it comes to sound a piece of wood with a pickup probably won't sound that much different with an experiencd guitarist. Its about the playability and feel. I loved my MIM more than my american standard but after buying my CS I don't think I can ever go back. It made me better by allowing me to feel more comfortable etc and thats what I put the price on and justification

[@lonspangrud5992]

Swap the hardware out and the Affinity is nice actually.

[@DoktorLorentzBig]

CV is good as it is

[@kl6711]

@J B Jr it is like an Affinity Pro Max

[@xsteveconwayx]

That’s what I did with my Affinity tele. I replaced all the electronics, pickups, tuners, and rolled the edges of the neck a bit. It sounds great now. I got it to try guitar modding for the first time. It was a smashing success and I play it more than my Gibson LP Studio which plays like a dream.

[@hariboproductions]

You may as well have said the wood is good

[@Ndlanding]

@@hariboproductions Yeah. Everyone replaces everything except the tone screws. Some non-standing players even leave on the strap buttons, but that's betting against fate.

[@elihue_redneckreview]

I've got the hss player series, and it is quite the player indeed. Looks great, plays great, sounds great. I'm happy with it.

[@tdalb8985]

So the sweet spot is the most expensive Squire, & the cheapest Fender. Seems about right. I was obsessed with up grading for years, now I'm come to the conclusion the a Player Strat is all anyone needs. Still I'm proud to own a Made in USA guitar.

[@user-qj2ps2hc1w]

Another thing to consider, you get more color options as you go up, which matters when you have 10+ strat style guitars and 6 are already black or red

[@miguelmachado2006]

Great review and explanations as usual! We will be very happy if you can do the same analysis on LP!

[@pjo1964]

Classic vibe sounded the best! I have an Affinity Indonesia.

[@garymcaleer6112]

Darrell, to me the black affinity was the most pleasant to my ear.

[@KyLesCaster]

so you like the sound of ceramic pickups. nothing wrong with that. they are definately bigger.

[@artamussumatra6286]

Me too. It’s such a shame that the Ceramic pickups are so criminally underrated. They have a full, rich tone not too far from a P-90, and if you want the low output vintage Strat sound, simply turn them down a bit, and/or lower the adjustment screws while cranking the amp to compensate.

[@hanskorn]

They all sound great! Affinity had a warmer, mellower tone that could be used for jazz. Classic Vibe, MIM, American Pro, and Custom Shop all sounded similar. For me, best bang for your buck is Classic Vibe!

[@stevenpipes1555]

I baught a Jay Turser tele copy for 50, and even that had locking Grovers on it. Lol. Its awsome too by the way! New pots, with a treble bleed and a good tone circuit, some squire pickups, crown n polish and set up. . .and i swear that cheapo guitar is alive!

[@nismo8319]

I have owned a Player Series for about two years now. I have no complaints. It's been a great guitar.

[@chrisggoodwin777]

I wasn't surprised I liked the Custom shop sounds. I was surprised my 2nd favorite was the classic vibe... It's amazing what less money buys these days.

[@CraigGriffiths]

I have to agree. My wife got me a HSS player. I love it. I have a MIM Blacktop Jaguar from 2008 as well. I really like the Mexican Fender gear. I might not be good enough as a player to feel the difference to a USA made.

[@artamussumatra6286]

The biggest difference is the prestige factor that the American models have. But performance wise, they’re all great.😁👍

[@budgetguitarherogeartv4143]

A lot of changes have been made to the affinity recently. New pickups, hardware etc. Still a great modding platform. Remember that people pay big bucks for the privilege of a thinner body at the custom shop.

[@24MusicCarats]

Do you know exactly the difference between the older and newest neck pick up in the affinity strat? I have an older version and it has that warm punchy rounded tone that i love. Where everything else by Fender has that thin metallic chimey tone

[@budgetguitarherogeartv4143]

@24MusicCarats I believe the affinity pickups are still ceramic magnets but they have been re voiced to sound closer to traditional strat pickups. That metallic chimey tone is what a strat is famous for

[@elmoz71ls15]

My second guitar ever and I still have it 2004 squier affinity, changed out the electronics, bridge saddles and string trees and it plays and sounds better than a MIM fender any day. My son carries it to school and guitar lessons

[@unacuentadeyoutube13]

Sound test: Affinity: 10:53 Classic Vibe (in my opinion the best for the money): 11:05 Fender Player Seriers: 11:18 Fender Professional: 11:30

[@44scoots]

In my opinion, the Player series will last longer than the CV.

[@unacuentadeyoutube13]

@@44scoots but you are almost doubling the money, and there are other guitars at that price (yamaha pacifica 612) that are better. Of course, the "fender" brand name is something they consider to set its value

[@rafaeltorresbatista]

thanks!

[@44scoots]

@@unacuentadeyoutube13 better?

[@ssm445]

I've had a Squier CV and it was the worst sounding and playing guitar I've ever owned, not even worth doing a better setup. It was really in the league of a $80 Harley Benton Strat style, just much worse. I am pretty sure I had bad luck with the model I received, but one should be aware that these can be decent or junk even in 2022.

[@tonedragon8616]

Nice!! Just looking at pickups to replace the vintage noiseless in my 2000 crimson red deluxe strat. Octave doctors angles or maybe some Klein 65s at the top of my list.

[@Smilenol]

Let's not forget the japanese made Contemporary series from the 80's. I own a 1985 model with the system III trem and the coolest lever action locking nut .

[@tyecook9630]

I have an affinity that I've put tex mex pickups in and upgraded the pots too and it's a nice guitar. I've also got a completely stock daphne blue squier deluxe that has the Duncan designed pickups and that is a seriously great guitar. Being just a home player I couldn't justify spending a ton on another but if I was gonna buy one it would be the classic vibe, preferably the 60's model in candy red...

[@happygolukky]

Wow classic vibe strat was a wake up call! Thanks for the comparison!

[@Jamalama555]

valid point, which is what I thought about the American pro series, your getting really close to the original series. Ide rather step below the pro or go above, the pros are odd to me.

[@BenRobsonMusic]

The mahogany body on that CS strat made me do a double take. Cool look, and not something I'm used to seeing!

[@loubadabin420]

Great demo on the various Strat models, thanks.....

[@sumi_plays_games]

I think I really prefer the player to classic vibe

[@billydworrell8259]

Thx so much for the very clear and quick breakdown of the 5 strat club, I'm seriously considering the Squier Vibe series and thought it looked great and was a quality piece and in the very affordable good bang for the buck product. And the versatility you get from the Strat perspective is always a positive selling consideration. Once again really enjoyed your assessment and presentation on this video.

[@Rastcao1984]

Any updated thoughts about the 2021 updates, specifically for the affinity hhs and hh with the two point trem? Does the difference between they and the classic vibe narrow or is it still a cheaper trem system?

[@277southtombob]

I have a Classic Vibe Strat and I swapped the trem block for a brass one and did a setup with a few tweaks. It made a great vintage style Strat and the pickups are actually great sounding and get that early 60’s sound dead on. The old MIM standard was a great platform for building a custom guitar on, I’ve picked a few up used for a couple of hundred bucks and made solid gigging instruments.

[@Deebz270]

Wha about the 'Ultra' - The latest in the 'Elite/Deluxe' series? I've not played one yet, but the specs are virtually identical to my 2006 'Deluxe' - with S1 switching, noiseless pups (mine are SCN's), compound fretboard, 'D' profile neck with rounded edges (mine has a single piece maple fretboard/neck), locking tuners, single acetate pickup plate, two-point floating VIBRATO with push-in arm, top grade CTS pots and Switchcraft 5--way selector. Bone nut and modern style string guide/tree. Double-acton truss rod and easy-access chamfered asymetric neck joint. And that all so cool chrome/gold raised Fender & Stratocaster logo. The only problem I've had was some paint delamination around the heel, caused by (abuse) stress points created by Fender's 'achillies heel' - those woefully inadequate pathetic neck screws (all models). I always modify the neck join by adding two extra high-tensile steel neck screws located out of sight beneath the neck join plate. Makes a world of difference to the sound too, as the neck sits tighter in the heel pocket. The Elite/Deluxe came fitted with 'micro-tilt' (the Ultra does not...). I don't bother with this as the neck sits fine in the pocket. . No Fender Strat review/comparison is worth anything without mentioning the Ultra.

[@christophercloudstrider5877]

Hmm. I never thought about that. It makes a lot of sense after reading your explanation. I think I might do that to mine. Thanks

[@AffiBlues]

The Fender Pro is so nice sounding, but it's not for my shallow pockets as retired. I'll go for the Classic Vibe - Hank Marvin style. Well, I actually did, and I did two small....yet major upgrades : The pots have been changed and a friend of mine had a spare trem block. Since I'm 67 y.o. this will be my guitar for life, and I enjoy it everyday from early morning to late night plying some deep blues. Nice comparison, Darrell. Greets from Denmark

[@TheLastFraudster]

What about the performer series? What's the difference?

[@Lucas55987]

You could place the Squier Standard before the CV. I've got both Standard and CV, while the CV is stock and great, I've added Fender pickups to the standard, Ratio locking tuners, as you suggested, and orderer a massive steel block from a Brazilian seller... Now it plays great!! I simply love it.

[@TheMandaloriann]

Calm down we know he has a lot of guitars but I'm sure he doesn't have every single squire/fender stratocaster. He made a video of the models in his collection. Working with what you got

[@Ndlanding]

No two Strats are the same, but most are.

[@lostreb]

There is absolutely ZERO reason to calm down!!! I think you may have missed the whole point in this video. It is all about creating response (clicks, comments, generating interest in the video) and getting all the KZbin "Perks" (not to mention creating the extra $$$$ in revenue, if he's clicked all the right boxes) so it is "ALL GREAT" for Darrell's Channel. If someone gets worked up? It's all in Darrell's best interest in KZbin's perspective. (This was explained to me by another KZbin creator, so if people really get worked up, either positive or negative??? It's all the better for the person's channel, in this case, Darrell's.) So get worked up, defend, it doesn't matter. No matter which side you take? It's all good for Darrell!!! Case in point? My response to you? Whether you like it or not? It's a "plus" for Darrell. And, if you decide to respond to me? It's "another" plus for Darrell. And, I love doing this (not trying to start an argument or disagreement, much less a fight, only trying to help by now knowing the KZbin "Rules," so to speak) to generate more KZbin "Points" for those whose channels I follow.

[@maggieo]

I put full size pots and a Callaham bridge in my 50s CV Strat, kept the Tonerider pickups. It's Sherwood green with a matching headstock and it's the ultimate gigging Strat, IMO. Not too expensive, even with the upgrade, but plays and sounds as good as the American stuff.

[@maximo3997]

Prefered the Squier to the Fender Player, the proffeisonal and custom shop where really close, and a lot of money betwen them Great for a blind comparisson, probably nobody could guess all of them.

[@joer4701]

Great Review Darrell, I agree that the Player Strat is the best sound for the dollar. There's another reason. It is the only Strat available with 22 medium-jumbo frets. The American Performer has tall/narrow frets. I really dislike the tall/narrow frets. They are for players who do a lot of bending. I do a lot of sliding up and down the neck, so they feel like speed bumps for me. They're even worse than jumbo. The top of the line Fender Strats, Ultra, etc. all have medium-jumbo frets, but they also have a compound radius. I know this is a personal thing, but I also don't like a compound radius. I like EXACTLY what the Player's Strat offers, a constant 9.5 radius neck, with 22 medium-jumbo frets. I have one of the 75th Anniversary models like the one you played, but it's a gorgeous blue-flame maple. So help me, it's as nice as multi-thousand dollar plus tops. I wired a Semour Duncan Phat Cat HH pickguard assembly with top-of-the-line components, and added locking tuners. My total investment is slightly more than $1,100. There is no hum, the tremolo has a feather touch, it stays in tune, the sustain is remarkable, and the versatility is grand. What's not to like? Keep on keeping on! All the best, Joe R. in Vermont

[@darphbobo55]

Aww yesss I am thinking about buying a Stratocaster thanks for the info