Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster Review

The Squier by Fender line of guitars has a longstanding tradition of making instruments at what are usually considered great prices. They have the essential features that powered the guitars of some of the most famous musicians in the world. One particular instrument they offer, the Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster, is an essential for people looking to enter the world of playing music. Let's take a closer look at what exactly the Affinity Series Stratocaster has to offer.

Features: The body of the Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster is made of a solid, countoured alder wood. Also, all models have a single ply white pickguard. It comes in some of the most well known Strat finishes, including Olympic White, Cherry Red, and Ebony. The neck of the Affinity Series Strat is bolted on the body, and is made of authentic maple. This is a nice quality, especially for an entry level instrument. The neck also features dot inlays, a rosewood fretboard, and 21 frets total. The headstock of the guitar is modeled after the 1970's series Fenders, which means it has a big and bold look. The hardware, including the tuners and bridge, is made from die cast chrome. Also, the bridge has a tremolo system, which means it comes complete with a note-bending whammy bar. Electronicall, the Affinity Series Squier Stratocaster has 3 single coil pickups, one volume and two tone control knobs, and a five way selector switch. This creates a wide range of tonal opportunities. Overall the Squier Affinity Series Strat has all the essentials that have made the Stratocaster a legendary instrument.

Playability: Fender Stratocaster are known for their ability to be picked upa nd played on a dime, and the Squier Affinity Series Strat is no exception. Its maple neck is beautifully smooth, and the frets rately have any buzzing problems. The action is set at a nice level out of the factory. The body of the Affinity Series Strat is light and comfortable, and has the contours that make the Strat comfortable and shapely.

Sound: The sound of the Affinity Series Squier Strat is easy to put in one word: versatile. Considering this is a beginner's guitar, it's not surprise that you won't sound exactly like Eric Clapton or Stevie Ray Vaughan right out of the box, but it does have several high quality tones in the same ballpark as the legends. With a little familiarization to the settings, you can sound reasonably like any musician from John Mayer to Angus Young.

Overall: For the beginning musician, it's hard to beat the Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster. It has the necessary features, tonal capabilities, and playability to belong in the class of serious musical instruments. And on the other hand, it can take the beating that first instruments often do. You can find the Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat in music stores for about $170.