Squier Affinity Stratocaster Review (2020) - How Good is it?

[@JL-mu9sl]

Great guitars. Great action. Great tone. Plays just like a Fender. Just put a strip of duct tape over "Squier" and write "Findur". If the elitists can't handle the humor you know you've won. And you saved hundreds of dollars. It is not the guitar, it is the guitarist.

[@mikoajtokar5846]

Fenders feel a lot better tho

[@rickraydubs]

@@mikoajtokar5846 not a thousand dollars better.

[@keatomic]

Tru

[@riverrhodes7394]

It's not being an Elitist. It's called "Accomplished or advanced guitarists can easily hear and feel the difference between a real quality guitar and a firewood guitar" Once you get used to the feel, quality, and sound of a Fender Strat/Tele, music man Majesty, Gibson LP, PRS McCarty, Macmull, etc, you won't be satisfied with a Squier. So no, we're not elitists, we're just people who work hard to be able to afford expensive guitars of good quality and would not prefer to play anything less. Not slamming anyone for playing Squiers or Epiphones bc everyone has their preference or financial limitations.

[@JL-mu9sl]

@@riverrhodes7394 I bet you feel a lot of different types of wood.

[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

Sounds just like a Stratocaster. I’ve got a 2020 Bullet Strat. No sharp frets, stays in tune and plays and sounds great. I love gigging with it.

[@muhammadfirdaus-ty2kk]

Yeah I'm also own bullet strat and refret with jumbo stainless steel change pickup selector with Ernie ball andd wowww very worth to upgrade feel like high end guitar

[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

@@muhammadfirdaus-ty2kk did you refret it yourself? I’d love to put stainless steel jumbo frets on mine.

[@muhammadfirdaus-ty2kk]

@@MrSpeed-lt8gr yes I'm refret by myself 😙 and jumbo fret make it feel like a light scalloped fretboard makes bending easier 😃

[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

@@muhammadfirdaus-ty2kk yes I have 2 guitars with jumbo frets; a Harley Benton EX84 and an EVH Wolfgang. I love how the extra jumbo frets feel.

[@thenowherestairs]

The Nowhere Stairs is using only Squier gear.. It's good stuff, live and in the studio.

[@scottcummings8602]

If Shane was playing a $3,000 USD Custom Shop and it sounded JUST like this, many would say "I can hear the crispness of those alnico pickups" and "wow, listen to that tonewood", or my favorite "the rosewood fretboard gives it that nice dark tone." LOL.... in reality, the player is FAR more important than the guitar. Shane sounds like Shane no matter what he plays.

[@KrenarCilkuGuitar]

Affinity Series has always been a solid and good choice for beginner guitars, it sounds good, looks classic, feels good. But, we live in a golden era of gear, companies like Harley Benton are able to manufacture almost all types of guitars, set necks, bolt ons, active, passive you name it for the same price or even less in most cases.. they're exciting and fun and most of them are gig ready out of the box, perfect example, my Harley Benton DC Junior, it's a gem and I will never let go of it.. I'm in no way affiliated with Thomann or Harley Benton but they've brought the game into a whole other level.. nonetheless, awesome video! Cheers!

[@flinx649]

This truly is the Golden Era....When i was young...a cheap guitar was a CHEAP guitar.

[@DMSProduktions]

Totally AGREE with you Krenar!

[@bradpoole400]

I ordered an in stock Harley Benton 3 0r 4 months ago. Not seen hide nor hair of the guitar. no satisfactory answers in contacts with then.

[@KrenarCilkuGuitar]

@@bradpoole400 I'm afraid that is thanks to the pandemic... Luckily I live in Austria and shippings take 2 to 3 days to get to me, international shippings are far more prone to complications.. I agree on that point but the guitars are really worth it, at least in my experience.. cheers buddy!

[@bradpoole400]

@@KrenarCilkuGuitar Thanks for your response. I do have one Harley Benton, a tele style. It is an amazing guitar for the money. I'm looking forward to the next one. I'll stick with them. Thanks again. ? m......

[@jamalabdul2009]

It really is a great time to learn the guitar especially with reasonable priced and well made guitars like Squier! This another example of a guitar with the classic looks and tones without going broke. I personally love the big headstock on this Strat 😁!! I know it’s tempting to want the flashy, expensive guitars, however these Squiers offer the same experience. My second guitar was a Korean made Squier from the 80s and it was fantastic! I only wish that I still had it!!!!🎸🎸🤙🏾🤙🏾🤙🏾

[@erwinmatthewhoffmanndealar9753]

It's the first strat that I bought, I use it for everything

[@caseypayne5138]

I got an Affinity strat on a whim and I was absolutely floored by how well it played and felt. Setup was fantastic. Whatever Chinese factory they're made in has some pretty great QA/QC now, and they really hit above their weight class. I thought the pickups were pretty servicable if a bit thin, but loaded pickguards are pretty cheap and they make an excellent mod platform. For an extra hundred bucks you've got a fantastic playing and sounding strat for peanuts. The new 2021 Affinites all look like they have two-point trems in them too, which is pretty cool. Squier and Epiphone have been KILLING IT lately

[@WillGamache]

I have one I've played for years. Not my gigging go-to, but decent and fun to play. Great review

[@leonide8683]

Is it good for just playing at home as a hobby?

[@kennethcoon7547]

Yes

[@broccolisalad9556]

Thinking of buying my first one, is there any you (or someone else) would recommend for under $700 aud?

[@WillGamache]

@@broccolisalad9556 I would recommend picking out the squier affinity that you like (about $400 aud) then pay a good tech to level the frets and set it up right. The extra $150 you spend on the fret leveling and setup will make the guitar perfect to play and enjoyable to have. worth every penny.

[@markl2757]

Seems like gig is the place for it, unless you are doing concerts. Bar gigs doesn't matter. Nobody listens anyway. Too busy grabassing and being a obnotious loud mouth drunkass.

[@analogoutdoors]

The Affinity is a great budget strat. They sound pretty good, play well, and some of the necks I've played on them are killer in that price range. We actually had a guy in one of the bands I was in that played one. He was a beginner, but a really instinctive player. It was the only electric guitar he had. Didn't even have an amp; we ran him through a little Zoom multifx and into the board.We were a jam band, and would go off into a far country musically, then bring it back, and he ended up being a real asset rythmically. The only thing I don't like about Affinities is the thin body, which can make it difficult to update things like the bridge. Other than that, there ain't a thing wrong with them. It's the player, not the guitar.

[@keremkaya6915]

Hi. I am gonna buy either affinity strat or standard strat. There is a deal and their prices are pretty close. Affinity one is the color I really want but a downgrade from standard and standard isn't the color I want. Do you think is it worth getting the standard or should I go for affinity strat surf green. I have been playing for some time btw, I am not a beginner. I am just poor lol.

[@analogoutdoors]

@@keremkaya6915 I know you are probably directing this to Shane, but I would go with the standard if the prices were even remotely close. The body on the Affinity is thinner than most strats, which makes upgrading a problem sometimes, especially upgrading the trem. I would get the Standard. It should be a solid instrument that you can play for a long time, but if you get the hankering down the road to upgrade anything, you are putting it into a body that is standard thickness. And, many people will (wrongly) look down on an Affinity, where they would be fine with the standard, if that matters. IMHO.

[@keremkaya6915]

@@analogoutdoors Thanks so much for the answer. Obviously both Mr.Shane and you are more experienced with guitars than I am so your answers too are appreciated a lot. Here in my country guitar modding is pretty expensive and we can't find the parts we want mostly. Selling the guitar in used market and upgrading to a higher-end guitar is usually more affordable than modding it so I don't think I'm going to do modding. If you compare a stock affinity to a stock standard is there still a significant difference? I have tried affinity and it was comfortable for me, I will try standard strat when I go to the store so ergonomics isn't the case. Thanks again.

[@HandToolWoodGuy]

@@keremkaya6915 Honestly, the Affinity and Standard both sound and play good. I would be happy with either. But over here in the state, if you are trying to get in the and, that Affinity label will handicap you. And you definitely do good to try the Standard and judge for yourself, before you plunck down the cash.

[@keremkaya6915]

@@HandToolWoodGuy Thank you so much for your detailed replies. I will definitely keep these things in mind. I am also happy that because of this conversation I have found your brilliant channel about guitar crafting. Good luck with wood work!

[@shanewalton8888]

Checking the same guitar every year? That is an awesome idea. Like to see how the affinity does 20 years from now.

[@nicholaskimpel]

Position 2 mandates Dire Straits be played in a guitar demo and you complied. Great review as always.

[@estofadodepollo16]

This was my first guitar, still have it and love it

[@Oldmaite]

I have one of these that i always leave lying around and probably do 90% of my playing on while the American pro strat and les paul sit in the spare room 😅

[@soyborne.bornmadeandundone1342]

Heck yeah. And also since it's a bit of a cheap instrument, you don't really care about being too hard on it. So you can kind of push yourself and feel more confident in trying harder stuff on it. Always good to have cheaper guitars. Not everything has to be super fancy.

[@charlesthomason7885]

Nice review mate. These Squier strats are exceptional value for the money. I’ve been playing for over 50 years and had some amazing guitars through my hands. I cut down my ‘collection’ last year and only had a ‘58 CS Les Paul left. But when I decided I needed a strat back in my life I bought one of these. An FSR shell pink ltd edition....sounds like a strat! Plays easy, once I’d polished the frets and put a new set of strings on it. There are quite a few comments about body thickness....I think they’re the same as the standards now. I had a deluxe custom shop strat for a while and I’m sure the body on that was thinner than the squier! Overall though, this one sits by my chair and gets played a lot.

[@Bobuk666]

Nothing wrong with that axe Shane. Looks good, sounds good, priced well nothing to not like great little guitars. Got one a few years ago from my 9 year old son and the wife as a Father’s Day fun gift ...... set up, new strings = good little axe.

[@craigcotter7476]

Is this 3/4 size then?

[@jcd13able]

That intro jam was awesome Shane. One of my favorite strats is a fender starcaster with the big fender headstock. If you're able to put in the time and some money, you can upgrade it to a really good guitar. One recent thing I did on it was to narrow the neck on it so I can play with thumb over neck licks. Also rolled the fingerboard which helped a lot to get easier grip on the neck.

[@thetattedpharmacist3215]

Your Mark Knopfler licks on the bridge-middle position were lovely!!

[@crowhaven200]

Well from my computer it sounds as good as any strat. Looks very nice too. I have a Tele affinity. It;s a couple of years old and I can't honestly say anything negative about it. It's a top loader which adds something to the mix. It is light I think because it is thinner than a fender or higher up squier. The almost unfinished neck looks like that one, and it feels and plays beautifully. That guitar you are playing, it is thinner also correct..? Great beginner that are hard to let go of. Great for just kicking around the house. I wonder if they will ever come out with a relic model...lol... You gotta love affinity guitars. And they are getting better for sure. What's not to love?

[@Alejandro1956]

Since 1990 I am a semi pro guitar player. Shane is right, It looks good, sounds good, , tunning well, and has the most comfortable neck. I have Fender Strat Elite, EC Strat Signature and Player Deluxe and I do not have any problem or shame to play the Affinity in any gig. The only mod I did was put DiMarzio noiseless PU's, but I did the same things with the fancy ones. So my fiends, you can rock and enjoy with the Affinity

[@paulallen3557]

Mine, which I bought for $50, has the best, most comfortable neck on any guitar I've ever played and, at 76, I've played several.

[@jaumejimenezfuster9931]

I am a Les Paul guy but this option is way better than the epi special II for a beginner. Way more sustain and it doesn't go out of tune as often. It also sounds better IMHO and if you get the HSS version it's even more versatile.

[@StellsBellz]

Just purchased this today. Should be here Monday. Excited as this is my first electric guitar. Just started playing a month ago and slowly getting the hang of it.

[@jeremy4410]

how’s it going?

[@StellsBellz]

@@jeremy4410 so I’m a beginner. Played my acoustic for about a month and built my finger tips up pretty solid now. I got this guitar the other day, I love it. Still trying to figure out what the settings do and what amp settings to play on, but overall omg I barely have to press down on the strings for a nice clean tone. Sure it’s a bit heavier than the acoustic but it just seems like night and day as far as playability. Much easier.

[@OskarFFS]

@@StellsBellz I got a HSS Affinity one in January and it was such a good purchase I love it. Although it's cheap it stays in tune do well, the action is great and the intonation was a bit off but that could be fixed quickly. Also it looks amazing

[@graciejohnson1570]

@@OskarFFS im a beginner so sorry if this is a dumb question but wuts the difference between a regular affinity vs one with HSS

[@StellsBellz]

@@OskarFFS yes I am eventually going to drop it off at a music store here locally to get tuned up. The whammy bar doesn’t even budge, maybe it’s locked or something. Not sure. I just haven’t had time to look at it myself as anytime I pick it up I just want to play it. I’m very happy with it though.

[@thatpeterboy]

Got to say this sounds awesome…just goes to show, it’s usually the hardware that let’s guitars at this price point down but I’m suitably impressed with this :) thx Shane

[@intheblues]

Let me know what you think of the Affinity Series Strats! 😀 ► Sky Music: alnk.to/d3wALJg ► Sweetwater: imp.i114863.net/SquierAffinityStrat ► Thomann: bit.ly/2C1PKUD (Affiliate links ) Time Codes: 0:00 - Rock Backing Track 1:39 - Clean Rhythm Backing Track 2:49 - Guitar Specs 4:40 - Clean Tones 6:54 - Dirty Tones 8:35 - Final Thoughts

[@yaguitar]

I just got a 2004 Squier standard, which sits around the affinity level. Really really impressed with it!

[@intheblues]

@@yaguitar Nice mate!

[@capurnakissulvaney9665]

Next time I do a flashlight review.. I’m just gonna turn it on and off like 1000 times and then say “thanks for watching guys” I like your style! I’m only playing you demonstrated this guitar well man.. on a serious note.. good job.. and thank you!!

[@TLGElectro]

I just got one of these, lefty, same colour etc, for 69 quid from a pawn shop. It's fantastic! The neck is awesome, the guitar delivers the classic strat sound. Plays really well, and great finish too.

[@DayOneAdeleFans]

Have one, black and brown. Had a lil setup on it and I beat the hell out of it and take it everywhere. Light as a feather. Fun to mod out, too. Totally worth it and if you get the the combo from Sweetwater, it comes with amp and gig bag. I have an American Professional Strat that I leave home, but my Squier goes with me everywhere!

[@stephenkennedy7347]

Compared to the Squire Strat I bought in the late 90's it's streets ahead but definitely a pick up upgrade would be the best thing for that guitar.

[@beatlemike9]

I just put Fender Deluxe Drive pickups in my new Squier...Happy!

[@edip2128]

1:28 my favorite part starts here

[@byronmitchell2067]

Meow

[@alhamedabdulrahman1835]

bruh I'm in love with your playing more than the guitar

[@bonyobondov4364]

1:58 to 2:48 it was very nice solo man! Epic!

[@johnschillace6634]

Looking to purchase a used Squire Affinity Strat from Craigslist. Thanks for the review. I play but not well. So thanks for making it sound great.

[@ZoranSandorov]

I would love to see review of Squier Stagemaster/Showmaster,they are realy unsung heroes among Squiers,i have several in different pickup configurations,with of without Floyd Rose,even a seven string and omg,they are so good

[@indigos290]

For the price they are great! Between that and the Standard I recommend to my electric guitar students.

[@kaynemusic32]

Awesome review. I have 2. Necks are great for small hands. My 2007 weighs a little over 3kg and my 2016 weighs 2.7 kg.,It’s sooo light. I put some old jackson charvel pickups in the 2016 ( my favourite) and it made a huge difference. Play it all the time.

[@wesjackson71]

I am lefty too. I just bought a 2008 affinity Strat. It’s my first Squier and I love it. It feels really solid and nothing feels cheap. I had a Mexi Strat and had to part with it a while back. If you cover the headstock I might not be able to the tell the difference

[@stonks5174]

This is proof that you don't have to play fast to sound good :) thank you sir!

[@StratMatt777]

... much like how David Gilmour is proof of the same thing. Playing slower makes you sound better, while shredding kills all feeling and soul (I know because I am so good at doing that)!

[@kennethcoon7547]

I like it! I’m getting one next. If you make them set it up right when you buy it, it does really well. I live in the U.S. I don’t live Overseas, You Do! Just Kidding! We both do! Excellent Review! Keep Rockin’😎

[@andrewjohn56]

Ive got a contemporary and a classic vibe from squier, my old tele made in the usa in 93-94 and my gretsch dont get out of their case since i get those squiers😊

[@Doowopsid]

Love this guitar, have one in surf green, and leave how your cat meanders over your amps. Thanks for posting this excellent review and demo.

[@BladeDoomer86]

In a mix, no one could really tell the difference, especially with all the pedals people are using nowadays.. The affinity series has such an incredible value.. I don’t play my Les Paul anymore since buying my Tele lol

[@mikejones-vd3fg]

It really has that distinct squier sound, same sort of thinness I remmeber hearing when trying one at a shop of the tele variety and it was plugged into a good amp, but man it was setup and played really well.

[@AZ-FPV]

@5:25 that was pretty red hot chili peppery there Shawn !!

[@GRBAquatics]

Thanks Shane. I have found an Affinity as New used at a Great price and am very interested. This has been a great help in what to look out for. Thankyou. Cheers

[@doogledog1740]

G'day Shane. the Affinity Strats are light-weight mainly due to the body being a bit thinner than a normal Stratocaster. This can also make fitting standard replacement Strat parts a little tricky from what I gather (trems, maybe pickups, which require the full depth). However, they seem to be quite decent guitars at the price level. I have an Affinity Strat in Surf Green and Buttercream Player Strat. There is a marked difference in overall feel, and finish, and some difference in fit, fret ends, tuners, etc. Also, a noticeable difference in sound with the Affinity's ceramics pickups being a tad harsher, but not at all a bad sound. Overall, the guitar you get in the Affinity and what you don't get is commensurate with the price. However, I agree with others that there is much competition in this price range. Take for example some offerings from Artist Guitars, at least in Australia. Thanks for the review, (and all the other interesting stuff you do).

[@jacksolomon451]

"tricky" is hardly the word for it. Used an Affinity body for a partscaster and it was a headache. No room in the body route, nothing fits, and the soft wood is so easy to strip the screw holes. Never again.

[@mikecorey8370]

Most single coils will fit. I just had the Fender N4 Noiseless pickups installed this week. They are stacked coil pickups so the body had to be routed about an 1/8 of an inch. Well worth it. It now sounds fantastic, after sitting for several years.

[@chrisreynolds7164]

Its only lead players who find replacement part fitting "tricky" . It ,s quite simple actually.

[@countblue]

Trems that fit standard Strats wont fit in Squiers thats true. But I havent seen a pickup that wont fit in a Squier from the height. I had a Bullet and I still have an Affinity. I put "Roswell" AlNiCo5 pickups in it and it sounds very much like a standard Strat. The stock ceramic pickups sounded very harsh (to me) and might be good for high gain stuff since they have a high output but for blues I prefer ALNiCos.

[@arjnoro1]

Ive had MIA strats, but now I have one exactly the same color. Is a great guitar, it sings around the 12 fret. The stock pick ups sound great. Ive played.many gigs with it and I recommend it. It just needs adjustments like string action,pickup height, etc. Only the Indonesian ones. With the exception of the classic vibe (have one) the other models arent as well made as the made in Indonesia. Buy it, theyre cheap too

[@travelinman617]

I have the same guitar left handed it's great for the money can't beat it great action

[@DanDjurdjevicplus]

Great review dude, as always. I have to say, without my glasses your hoodie looked like a space suit. 😂

[@thenowherestairs]

Nice tones as always mate. Rock on! (from Sydney).

[@ziggylayneable]

I learned how to play on a USA American standard strat. It was a 1980. I played it for 25 years. There is no life left to do another fret job, I damn sure am not taking the neck off and switchin it out. I'll put it in its case and let it rest. I've been playing an SG lately, but sometimes I still get Stratocaster fever so I have a squire for that. In my opinion it is a damn good guitar. Even the bullets are not that bad. The affinities are better as far as feeling sturdy solid and strong.

[@gunkanjima3408]

I’m always impressed with the bodies on these cheap guitars, the burst looks fantastic. Squiers issues are in the smaller details: tuners, nuts, some string trees, and the setup.

[@martinconcannon7140]

Sounds great, just like mine, i've been playing for years and this was the first lefty stratocaster last year, Thanks

[@Axess-sv8nq]

Jack Pearson played in the Allman Brothers with his Squiers that were all stock. After he auditioned with one, Dickey Betts called up Gregg Allman and said: "If we don't hire him, I'm gonna pay him for guitar lessons!" So, that definitely says something about the quality of the Squier Strats.

[@andyoc]

Sounds great. Nice demo Shane, awesome very of Born Under A Bad Sign the other day also.

[@theresasnakeinmyboot3006]

Haha, just ordered one left handed too for myself to learn electric. Have been playing on a old $70 acoustic for a while now.

[@markdarrylloresco4421]

I have the Squier Standard with a flamed maple top. It is really good sounding with easy playability. Really great stuff

[@PunkandDrunk7782]

I’ve got a 20th anniversary one from 2002 made in Indonesia. Solid guitar!! Surprised how solid it was and how well it’s held up.

[@nubfishin9152]

Whats the tone without the mojo cat hanging around during the demo?

[@therollband1290]

I love it! Ceramic pickups sound a little harsh for cleans but they’re great for dirt

[@tctoguy]

Cheers mate! Great playing, reat demo! Ta!

[@Rickenbacker954]

I have a Chinese 1998 squire affinity. It’s been in my closet since. I broke it out and although the strings are rusted it was still in tune. Now I want to mod it. Should I?

[@TheStobb50]

I’ve got a fender affinity from the 90s which I bought new and I love it. Guitar is not my first instrument I’m a drummer, I use it for recording demos it’s more then good enough for that and I’m left-handed it’s exactly same as yours

[@jimmyjimmy951]

I still have two of my first Affinities. Great guitars that I hang onto because the used resale is toast. Not worth selling them for the fun I still get out of them.. 👍🇦🇺

[@benallmark9671]

If I were to guess they are gonna skyrocket in price over the next decade. Just a guess , but I’ve seriously considered taking out a loan to buy a dozen because I feel that strong about this thought.

[@johncollins5552]

I think you made it sound good, nice playing. Glad you put it through an affordable fender amp too, thanks for that. Still think the Mustang is better for less money but I prefer humbuckers in general, that's my taste, I like a fuller, less plinky sound fender single coils do best, maybe apart from danelectro 💄 style ones😃

[@fluidalchemist68]

I have three in different colours, just because.

[@jeff811]

can u pls give me one

[@draconnis7]

I have none😔

[@User-ew6cs]

i remember watching your original video of the squier before i learnt how to play

[@DMSProduktions]

Donkeh!

[@connordixon23]

The cat in the back groud lol, wants to do some shredding

[@aussiefarmer8741]

I loved that opening jam. I would like to here 1 of these through the peavey bandit. Can you oblige ?

[@likeanuuk6612]

the bridge pickup sounded like slash's tone a little bit. you make strats sound THICK

[@mikecorey8370]

Through a good amp, that bridge pickup is like getting knitting needles shoved in your ears.

[@lucamodello6604]

Congratulations on the video, a question to clarify the squier c.v. 50 s MN 2 sb: the wood of the body is pine or alder and, if it was alder, is it multi-layer glued or a single block? and the squier classic vibe 50 s FSR black limited edition the body is in NATO? Which of the two would you choose? Thanks

[@intheblues]

The wood makes very little difference other than weight so don’t stress too much about that. Just try it out if you can and see how it feels to play and make sure you like the tone.

[@getenlightened]

Not sure about the offerings in Oz, but here in the states, if it says 'stratocaster' instead of just 'strat', then I think it's a step up from the base Affinity model. They cost a few bucks more and usually have a little better hardware. Was this one made in China or Indonesia? What's the body thickness? It's hard to keep tabs on all of the versions. I guess they don't make a 'deluxe' anymore, but this one is closer to a deluxe. Perhaps between an entry Affinity and a Classic Vibe.

[@anthonybymallia7067]

Beautiful sunburst mate awesome I just bought the placid blue maple neck 2 bolt bridge I use the trem a lot very lightly it stays in tune isn't that awesome yeah great guitar

[@ericcross7863]

I've got one.....and I put some Tex-Mex's in it and it sounds good and frets decent.

[@mikecorey8370]

I've had one for several years. Loved the neck. Alder body. But the pickups were awful, especially the bridge. This week, I had Fender N4 Noiseless pickups installed. 200% difference. The guitar now sounds as good or better than my American Standards. A couple of hundred bucks investment and you've got a fantastic guitar. You may have to rout about 1/8 inch for the pickups to fit, because the Affinity isn't a full size body.

[@HRRN-gh3wj]

Yeh I agree the pickups are pretty terrible.. Hmm I may have to have a look at upgrading them for mine

[@wfm210]

Hey Shane, you make everything sound great.

[@MrArnoldarnold]

He says Rosewood fretboard in the video but the 2020 comes with an Indian Laurel fretboard.

[@mikecorey8370]

Habit.

[@rogereriksen726]

Some comes with rosewood. I have a 2020 Affinity with rosewood.

[@kuitaristi3003]

My affinity stays in tune better than my Fender strat. These are pretty amazing guitars for the money when you get good one. I put 250k pots to my and i think those sounds better than stock 500k.

[@grmm6845]

Just picked one up for cheap recently, I love it so far! Tho I bought it used so it didn't have a trem bar

[@Parariddle]

Great review sir, I love my affinity and that Mustang amps on my list to try. Out of interest what's the wireless system you are rocking?

[@kimamey]

I was going to ask the same question.

[@nealdewar9959]

Some of the Affinity Strats fretboards are on par with a Fender. I got a 2002 with a polished rosewood fretboard if anybody gets the chance buy one. They are very high quality for buttons.

[@scottcummings8602]

Sorry if this has already been covered, but are the 2020 Affinty's full size bodies now? That's the rumor on the street.

[@ninjasancho6711]

Yeah man I just got one with these new SN I guess from a new Chinese factory? But yes it has a thicker alder body and weighs as much as my mexican strat. I was pretty stoked when I pulled it out of the box , it was the first thing I noticed. Also the tuners are different from older Squier and they are using one string tree now. The headstock logos are a little different and the fret edges are smoother than usual but not rounded. Frets are a bit rough though and could use a polish. Still not the best tuners or pickups but I really dig It!

[@ilovehot_cocoa]

I have been wanting to buy the Squier Affinity guitar to add to my Acoustic-electric guitar. I was debating it or the Pacifica

[@strumminronin]

It's sounds pretty good when YOU play it! :)

[@craigparse1439]

1:30 The adventures of 'Blues Cat'.

[@DMSProduktions]

BLOOSE Kitteh! \m/

[@Axess-sv8nq]

The cat is playing an .... uh.... explorer....... (I'll see myself out.....) 🤪

[@DMSProduktions]

@@Axess-sv8nq DERRRRRRR!

[@Axess-sv8nq]

@@DMSProduktions HURRRRRR! 😂😂😂🤪🤪🤪

[@DMSProduktions]

@@Axess-sv8nq ;oP

[@vancesnyder2426]

I want to know how the neck fells when your playing. Is the back satin?

[@rockerbob949]

Good stuff. They can and occasionally do play and feel better than Player/MIM Strats. I have Squiers that play better than Fenders but the best Fenders are unbeatable.

[@Steven_SK]

Sounds really nice to me. I have a 2008 Affinity and I love it except for the body thickness. That has complicated finding a good tremolo for it. Are the new Affinity Strats sporting a normal body thickness now? Thanks Shane!

[@johnlannigan7453]

What's backing tracks especially the first one. Thanks

[@bernardogui3933]

great learning guitars!!

[@KurtFuller]

IMO, the Squier guitars that really worth it are "Standard", "Vintage Modified" and "Classic Vibe" series.

[@msh6865]

Player series is also worth checking out. They fall somewhere between the Squiers and standard Strats.

[@stephenhookings1985]

Agreed. I got a 2nd hand Standard HSS - setup and fret levelling its great. I got the VM Jaguar Short Scale bass - again levelling, setup and I made a YT vid on changing to a higher mass bridge - just to improve balance. I not found CV in right colour in stock. Having said that I love the SX's - Player feel at Bullet prices. And some Harley Bentons are good. Again basic setup - rarely need to change the parts. Shane proves tone is in his fingers :-)

[@stephenhookings1985]

@@msh6865 yeah - and my SX Telecaster handles like player at price of bullet. £139 for a LPB maple fingerboard ... so bright I can play it thru my bass amps :-). What I like about Standard Squier is body thickness is same (or similar) to Fender to better parts fit especially if u want to change trem block.

[@93greenstrat]

Unfortunately, the Standard (and Deluxe) series has been discontinued.

[@chrisfrank6449]

@@93greenstrat yeah I have a Standard Strat, really nice guitar but not available anymore, as is the Contemporary HSS I also have, love it too.

[@abanggebing5307]

What this model and since?

[@Jonathan-L]

Hey Shane, what would a good brand of pickup set to upgrade this guitar? Or maybe one of those 'loaded pickguard' compbined pickups/pots/switch kit?

[@benallmark9671]

Can you give me your honest opinion on which amp between the Kantana and Mustang you’d recommend a guy that’s not rich to get between the two ?

[@tomelcock7659]

Gonna use this as an upgrade guitar

[@toddflowers8052]

Sounds great mate ! 😎🎸🎶🤘

[@anupphilip]

Shane, have you tried the Artist ST62.....wanted to know your opinions on that one.

[@ekan1578]

Great review as always! I’ve got a Classic Vibe strat and is thinking of upgrading my pickups, but have no idea what to put in instead. It’s a jungle. Love the classic blues and rock sound and don’t want a distortion monster. Any ideas?

[@vinlander8484]

Dimarzio true velvet is great, especially in there bridge. Seymour Duncan quarter pound is great too.

[@DamianS1893]

Shane, You seem to be getting great tones from this Strat. Get r Done!

[@stevenboulton9911]

Do these still have the skinny necks that came with the previous versions of affinity strats......?

[@dimitris470]

I'd say, just get a bullet and keep the extra money. The difference in quality is not much (if any at all). And you can always spend the extra for a decent set of locking tuners or a set of better pickups. Plus on the bullet you get a normal-sized nut instead of that weird 40.6mm on the affinity

[@DickieboyBradders]

I have one but I think the Donner stratocaster is as good if not a bit better for half the price with a package of goodies in amp bag tuner strings lead pick etc 🎸