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Pros:
- Good value for money
- Authentic Telecaster sound
- Wonderful build quality for the price
Cons:
- You’ll have to set it up in the beginning
- Sharp edges on the frets
If you want to own a Fender but you don’t really have the money to afford the best of the best from the brand, you should definitely check their Squier line. The latter has done an amazing job at providing affordable versions of the renowned high-end models, and, thus, catering to those players who don’t have a lot of money in their wallets. This time we’re going to talk about their Affinity Series Telecaster. It’s an amazing entry into the world of Fender and though it doesn’t represent everything this manufacturer stands for, it will surely let you taste their vibe. This puppy is suitable for beginners, since it’s easy to play and affordable. Let’s dive right into it and discuss all of its important specs.
Build
Be it Fender or any other brand out there, cheap electric guitars should always be taken with a grain of salt. What I mean is that they offer decent performance, but you should be ready for the flaws they might have. Even expensive guitars aren’t impeccable, so why do we demand that from affordable models?
With that in mind, Affinity Series Telecaster still has a decent construction. It features a poplar body, which is covered with a glossy finish. A number of different finishes is available for you to purchase: Black, Arctic White, Butterscotch Blonde and etc. The choice is yours, of course, and you can go for the one that speaks to you the most. It also has a 3-ply pickguard, which protects the surface from scratches and makes its appearance attractive, at the same time. The C-shape maple neck is quite thin, which means you won’t have any trouble accessing those strings. Maple fretboard features 21 medium jumbo frets that can be reached easily with a single cutaway on the body. Beware of the sharp edges, though – I recommend taking care of them before you start playing. The scale length is 25.5” – it has the size that’s so typical of similar guitars. Affinity Series Telecaster doesn’t have the best build quality in the world, yet it does have a decent construction.
Hardware
Affinity Series Telecaster isn’t too shy in terms of hardware, either. It has a 6-saddle hardtail bridge, which approaches each string individually and makes sure their intonation is spot on. The nut is made from synthetic bone, and measures 1.6”. I won’t lie to you – you don’t get a lot of space between the strings. But I still don’t think it will cause you any problems during the learning process: you’ll get used to it. Standard die-cast tuners take care of the tuning issues. The hardware color is chrome, which works great for all the finishes. You’ll notice that the hardware is a bit cheap, but you can easily swap whatever you dislike with something else.
Electronics
Electronics is where this guitar starts to show its weaknesses. I can’t say we didn’t expect that, but it’s still something that you should keep in mind. Two single-coil pickups on the neck and bridge positions work decently for beginner needs, but more advanced players would probably need to change them. There are two controls and a toggle switch here: Master Volume, Master Tone and a three-way switch. The latter enables you to select the desired pickup or utilize them both simultaneously.
Squier Affinity Telecaster Sound
Squier Affinity Series Telecaster has enough power to help you in the learning process. It has clarity and punchiness that we look for in a guitar. But this fella is quite gentle – you can’t strum the hell out of it, because it will get annoyed and give you some buzz and noise. If you play subtly, it will respond beautifully. As mentioned, the pickups aren’t the best thing I have ever heard, but they do get the job done. If you’re a beginner, this guitar is more than perfect for you. But if you’re a more advanced player, you should probably do some modifications and you’ll end up with a powerful beast.
Conclusion
It’s clear as day that Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster is a wonderful option for the price. Yes, it’s not perfect, but who is? You should accept it with all of its virtues and flaws, and you’ll find a true friend in its essence. Good luck!
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I currently own a 2020 Squier Affinity Telecaster. The fit and finish on this instrument are near perfect. As an advanced player I will be swapping out most of the hardware and pickups to suit my style. It plays and sounds pretty good as is though. It is a great buy for beginners and struggling artists like myself. Highly recommend.