Squier Affinity Stratocaster Review (2023)

Build Quality:
Hardware:
Electronics:
Sound:
Value:
Average:

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Pros:

• Affordable
• Great First Guitar
• Comfortable and Easy to play

Cons:

• Nothing much beyond the basics
• Not too flexible in sound
• Beginner oriented

It is high time we all take a strong look at ourselves in the mirror and be honest with ourselves. We all want a good electric guitar for beginners. You over there have been considering picking one up for so long, it is not even funny how many excuses you have come up with to not buy one so far. Without any further ado, let me introduce Squier Affinity Stratocaster, the guitar you will have no way to excuse yourself from buying.

Build Quality

The build quality of the guitar is important to consider, especially if you are looking for a guitar you want to build memories with. In the case of the Squier Affinity Strat we have a very interesting combination of tonewoods and construction that results in an affordable, but a quality guitar. The body of the guitar is Alder, a very respectable tonewood that has a long history of being used in the Fender series electric guitars. The guitar is manufactured in China, and this shows through the fact that the Alder used in the body is slightly different from what was used in the past. This has no effect on the guitar though, keeping the construction as sturdy as with North American alder.

The maple neck of the guitar is a bolt-on, just like on other Stratocasters from Fender. Such necks can be found both on inexpensive and high-end guitars, and that’s why seeing it on affordable Squier isn’t a surprise.  And let’s be honest – Fender has been making them for a while and knows how to bolt one on the right. The neck itself is sturdy and slender, making the Rosewood fretboard easy to access. The fretboard itself is high quality and smooth, highly resistant to wear and tear from play and practice.

Hardware

The hardware of the guitar, ranging from the bridge to the string buttons, fret markers are all well enough made. The bolts through the neck, the neck plate, and all the ones I mentioned before have a sturdy look. They seem like they will last a while, though there have been reports from players that the hardware wears down and needs to be replaced a year or two into owning the guitar. Since this is a beginner guitar, and cheap as it is, this is acceptable. Don’t expect all of the hardware to last eternally though.

The strings that come with the guitar are definitely nice, something a beginner will find useful. Medium gauge, full enough sound and malleability are all acceptable. While a professional might look to replace them soon after getting them, the beginner will find these strings acceptable.

Electronics

The electronics on these guitars are pretty average. The guitar has three Standard Single-Coil Strat pickups, each dedicated to the bridge, middle, and neck of the guitar individually. While these pickups are pretty acceptable for first-timers and even average players, some of us might find them lacking and decide to upgrade. Still, starting out, you will not be needing much more than the flexibility in sound these provide.

Squier Affinity Stratocaster Sound

The guitar sounds really good, especially for the price range it is in. The beginner picking up the instrument will have a  great time practicing and playing it. The Alder body of the guitar would have been a little expensive about 20 years ago, but thanks to the Asian source of the hardwood, the player can have access to the high tones of the tonewood. The mid and low ranges might seem a little more dull, but as a beginner player, you will not notice any difference. The single coil pickups on the guitar definitely provide a very nice, warm sound. Any aspiring frontman will find the sound to be just funky, warm and clean enough for their needs.

Conclusion

Now that you have been introduced, you really should not have any type of excuse stop thinking about picking up your first guitar and start thinking about what notes you will be picking on it. This one is definitely a solid beginner’s guitar, especially for those of you who are more price-conscious. Though if you want something more advanced than a little more beyond the basics, you might want to keep looking.

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