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Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat

Summary
Price New Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat @ Musician's Friend
Manufacturer URL http://www.fender.com/
Features 7.0 (289 responses)
Sound 6.9 (296 responses)
Action, Fit, & Finish 7.2 (279 responses)
Reliability/Durability 7.3 (286 responses)
Customer Support 7.7 (40 responses)
Overall Rating 7.2 (281 responses)
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Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $149
Submitted 03/16/2001 at 08:16pm by Well Heck
Email: well_heck<at>hotmail dot com

Features : 7
it's a strat. the BOTTOM LINE strat. it is a decent guitar, though after playing it for about a year, i am DEFINATELY ready to move up. it's arctic white w/ rosewood fretboard. it's a BEGINNER guitar and i got it when i was a beginner. i wouldn't recommend this to anybody who doesn't want to upgrade in one year.

Sound : 7
sounds decent. i played some les pauls and some fender strats today that put it to shame thogh. it's a cheap guitar, but it doesn't sound THAT bad. in fact, it sounds good, just not as good as some others. i like the guitar, i just like others better. when you get one, you'll be the same way.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
it looks good. looks the same as a standard strat from 3 feet away. overall good fit and finish. it's a comfortable guitar to play. it look better than sounds.

Reliability/Durability : 8
i've been rough on this guitar and it has held up great. i've dinged it, nicked it, banged it, and it still won't screw up. it seems like it should last a long time, althogh the pick guard will get kindof ugly if it's played quite often.

Customer Support : No Opinion
never dealed with 'em

Overall Rating : 7
it's a good BEGINNER guitar. i like it, but i'm to the point where i need better equipment (that gives me a reason to buy a new guitar :) )I've been playing for about a year and it's decent for just messing around.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: #110 (UK)
Submitted 03/09/2001 at 05:36am by Rob
Email: r dot meehan1<at>ntlworld dot com

Features : 5
21 frets, China made 1998, Black With White pick guard, usual strat features - 5-way tone - 3 S/C rosewood fretboard, maple neck etc...

Sound : 3
Through my 30W marshall amp the sound is laughable at making bluesy clean tones but isn't really that bad with high distortion and treble (The distortion disguises the poor pickup sounds). The sound is O.K for a begginer but I definatly wouldn't gigging with it

Action, Fit, & Finish : 4
The action on the guitar was way too high, and so too was the pickups, there were no major finish flaws although the finish was lumpy in places (very small). The machineheads are very bad and the guitar goes out of tune ALL OF THE TIME! also recently I accidenty scratched and realised they are made of PLASTIC under a silver covering - very poor. The nut was very bad and needed sanding and also the 5th and 2nd strings were out of place (They should be directly in the middle of th 12th fret markers. Another problem is that the low E-String rattles a lot and I have always had problems with the truss rod

Reliability/Durability : 2
Well I've heard of people who have smashed up their squier bad and it still runs on but mine has given up on me after only 2 years of playing it (Fairly lightly as well). I just cannot be bothered to replace the pickups and it is now collecting dust. Also the finish on the back of the neck has now rubbed off leaving it uncleanable .

Customer Support : 2
Never dealt with fender

Overall Rating : 3
I have been playing for around 8 years and I own 2 old acoustics my broken Squier, a heavy metal USA strat, a mexican standard, and a USA standard. I reall wouldn't recommend this guitar to anyone playing seriously, I have been disappointed with my squier since the day I bought it and to be honest I don't know why I did. I would reccommend some getting a mexican strat- They sound great, just as good as both my USA's and not a lot more money than the Squier.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: 130 (UKP)
Submitted 03/09/2001 at 04:09am by Mike Whitaker
Email: none

Features : 8
Made in 2000, if you believe the serial. Rosewood or rosewood-alike fingerboard, sunburst, white scratchplate, yer actual standard three single coils and five way switch. In short, it's a Strat.

Sound : 7
It's a Strat.

Contrary to popular opinion, this means it isn't a hooligan distortion machine, and trying to make it sound like one will be disappointing.
It's a STRAT, people. Wakey wakey. If it looks like a Strat, and quacks like a Strat, it's not going to sound like a Les Paul.

I've heard better Strat's, but for the money this is pretty decent at a Strat *clean* sound, like Strat's are mostly for, y'know. I will be buying it a set of Stewmac's vintage pickups to improve the clean sound a touch. For a 130 quid guitar, I was pleasantly surprised. It is perfectly useable as is.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
Action pretty decent, played well, although I did a) pick and choose the best in the shop (one or two were BAD) and then b) get it professionally set up. It had a trem, but I had it blocked.

Nice woodwork job on it.

If my old Hondo Strat (bought for about the same money in 1980) was
this good, I'd never have switched to Les Pauls.

Reliability/Durability : 7
Looks pretty durable: I WILL be fitting it with straplocks.

It was bought expressly to keep in open D for one song, and I will be quite comfortable not having a spare.

Customer Support : 3
Never dealt with Fender. I am, however, going to mark them down for poor marketing. This is not a metal guitar, Fender. Half your negative reviews are from people expecting one.

Overall Rating : 7
Been playing for 20+ years: see a bunch of reviews dotted around this site for the rest of my kit, which includes a Tokai Les Paul, a Squier JV series Tele, a Steinberger Spirit...

The only thing I wish it had is slightly better pickups.

DON'T buy this guitar if you wanna be Limp Bizkit or Steve Vai. It's not that kind of guitar. Think clean, chorused and subtle. S-u-b-t-l-e. Ok?


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $180
Submitted 03/08/2001 at 08:39pm by Anonymous

Features : 6
Korean made.
21 Dret.
Solid, laminated top.
Volune, 5-way selectory, 2 tone switches
S/S/S
Fender pickups (model?)
Passive electronics
Black finish w/ white pickguard.
Classic Gender bridge style w/ trem bar
Fender tuners

Some of the features...dont seem to...do anything

Sound : 4
This guitar sounds terrilbe. I run my guitar through a Fender Princeton Chorus 50 watt pedal, and a whole array of pedals (but usually only one at a time) including: a Dunlop 95Q Wah, Electroharmonix Big Muff, and the Chorus/Dist. on the amp.

And without fail, this guitar's pickups fail to satisfy any of these devices. Distortion sounds weak, and far too muddy, individual notes can't be picked out. On the wah, putting the pedal to the toe position causes such a high pitched tone to occur so as to deafen the player. The sound is faaar too bright on the 1st setting, and faaar too muddy on the 5th.

Annnd, the pots on it crackle a lot when moved, with the volume pot, when put below 10, ceasing to work entirely.

The tremolo bar is a joke, and I don't even keep it attached

Action, Fit, & Finish : 5
I had to have the guitar setup after I bought it, because the setup that it came w/ caused the strings to buzz from time to time. After the setup, it stayed in tune relatively well, and the strings ceased to buzz.

Classic black + white Fender finish.

Flaws: The pots crackled/cut out a lot.

Reliability/Durability : 10
Ive dropped it, and beaten it, and done some terrilbe things to this guitar, and it hasn't broken yet.

This is its only redeeming quality.

This guitar of course will never be used for any sort of live venue, simply for at home practicing.

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : 4
It just sounds bad, and buzzes like a small swarm of bees. Ive been playing it for about 2 years now, though I've bought other guitar in that time frame.

It doesnt really compare to any other guitar over $400.00.

I wish it had pickups that were a) noiseless and b) had more than 2 tones.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $130
Submitted 02/22/2001 at 06:17pm by Ben
Email: Bkbeastie at hotmail<dot>com

Features : 9
I have read alot of BAD things about the Squier Affinity STARTOCASTER, but if you have one and you don't really know anyting aobut guitar then it'll be really good of a guitar to you. But if your an really experince player you might find in to some problem's some time ( such as going out of tune and and Fret farts if you are a beginner ) about the out of tune part you don't have to give a damna bout that one cause all guitars go our tune the LEad guitarist of my band he has an LES PAUL and he's guitar goes out of tune, and i tell ya LES PAULS aren't cheap. And Fret farts only have to inexperince players. Every guitar have it's weakness. The Squier Affinity STRAT is a pretty good guitar if you don't want to spend a million dollar on a guitar that sounds decent. Iam not sAying the STRAT have a really good pick uo but a good i dea would be that when u get really good and u want to keep the guitar just replace teh pick ups with a set of DiMarzio Pick ups and it'll sound like a LEs Paul but like i said it will sound liek it but is not. and a another good id ea would be that you replace the guitar with ERINE BALL strings cause they sound alot nicer. The guitar sometime's dent's easy but works great so if it does dent just buy sticker of you favorite bands and stick them on it. What ever you do DON'T TOUCH THE BRIDGE. The head of the guitar can be annoying goin out of tune but it's orginal. A amp that goes good with is is the IBANEZ IBZ10 10 watt amp sounds great.

Sound : 6
This guitar can play many variety of music. i use this guitar during my band practice of couse not live perfromance but practice. and my band is a Heavy Metal band so you decide. I like that it's changable and cheap and comes with the whamy bar. i don't like it becuase it's body and it's head it goes out of tune sometimes but a lil more offent then the LES PAUL

Action, Fit, & Finish : 7
it's set up pretty good but the fishing is not so good sometimes you like things u HAVE To clean it your self but is only a few minor things that won't take long. and the Machines heads that goes out of tune a lil more offen the then other guitars but for a cheap price you get a great deal. the pick up heads look a lil sratch but sound good. and OK quality wood but like any other guitar it dents when u hit something. the neck is jsut the right size but ther si just something witht eh frets i don't like.

Reliability/Durability : 8
after getting dent and dropping and a lot of screwing and spills it still wrok is a good guitar to have for a frist timer and a good lil practice guitar for experince guitar player.

Customer Support : No Opinion
N/C

Overall Rating : 9
i have only been playing like 7-8 months but i know alot of about guitars. over all rating is GET IT , it comes in handy in alot of times. i would always love and keep this guitar


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $260
Submitted 02/04/2001 at 07:35pm by Ben
Email: Bkbeastie at hotmail<dot>com

Features : 10
I have an Squier Startocaster Affinity series Electric Guitar. Squier is a division of Fender. The guitar has 22 frets and it's made of roosewood, I have it in Black which is more then the other colors I don't know why but it is. I have always been a fan of the StartS but it's about a week ago that i finally got one for my self. I wasn't disappionted at the guitar at all like i usually does with my stuff. the guitar is built in a metal bar inside the nick for later on striagten out. And the guitar have a very changable body you can basicly change the guitar in alot of ways (faceplate,control nobe's,the plates on the guitar, andyou can change from single coil pick to humbucker pick up) the guitar orginally comes with 3 single coil pick up and 2 tone control and a volume control ( in my personal opinion the 3 single coil pick up that the guitar comes with is awesome and shouldn't be replace unless is really need it) and a 5 way switch. The guitar has a orginal Start body.

Sound : 9
not just because i have own the guitar but is just as good as any guitar. the guitar has a rich sound that is perfect if you have cheezy amps or even better with a good amp like the Ibanze IBZ10 amp, i use my guitar to play heavy metal cause I have a band and stuff and they got like all these Les Pauls and B.C. Rich Warlock and they even love my guitar even thought Iam the guitarist for the band (iam the Vocal, but plays guitar for fun). i give it a good sound but the pick up it comes with is too strong and it's loud. well it's good for mini amp and best for loud live perfromance.

Action, Fit, & Finish : No Opinion
When I got my guitar Brand new from teh store and I just strum it and it sound so beauitful I can't believe it. I think it's maybe the way they come the pick ups were perfect level (then I change it because I want it louder) for heavy metal.

Reliability/Durability : 10
Well so far still haven't fell me even thought I bang it a few times against the wall and stuff still sounds better every day

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : 10
AWESOME


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 02/03/2001 at 11:12pm by Anonymous

Features : 7
i got this guitar for christmas with the package.it seems to work well the tuning keys stay in tune,it has a good neck,nice finish.

Sound : 5
i use this guitar to play punk and only punk.it sounds pretty good on distortion and in the 5th pickup posotion.i dont really mess with the tone nobs much but i have a little and it sounds alright.except there is one downset whenever you play heavy(which i do)the low e string rattles a bunch.

Action, Fit, & Finish : No Opinion
i dont know much abot the action cause it is my first guitar.

Reliability/Durability : 8
it seems durable so far i have given it a couple dents but i would play it on stage any day

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : 8
overall it is a good beginners guitar wether they want to mess a round or become a famous musician.oh yeah,the black guitar looks dank covered with stickers.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: $500 (Australian)
Submitted 01/30/2001 at 02:39am by Reddy
Email: none

Features : 8
Mine is a Indonesia affinity squire stratocaster, it has 21 frets, rosewood fingerboard, vintage tremolo,

Sound : 7
it sounds nice and warm, but the bridge pick up is kinda dull,
the neck is very warm, all in all i like the sound i get,

Action, Fit, & Finish : 6
well, lots of people say the squire affinity arn't that good but this one is really good. nice neck, but it will leave marks easily if bumped. The pickups are really good actully, warm and bright at the same time. The electronics ie:5 way switch and tone controls are not very good, they go bad after a few months of playing. i had to change them. The Tremolo stays in tune very well... hardly goes outta tune i love it... i play alot of hendrix so it needs the tremolo and it does stand up to the tremolo bombs i give it.. hehehe :) the out put jack came loose the first night i got it, and i found out all of the affinitys have that... the action is good and low, no fret buzz, neck is straight. the guitar is pretty light. The tuners are very good, i guess i was lucky!!!

Reliability/Durability : 8
Yes it is good, i would use it on stage without a backup...

Customer Support : No Opinion
N/A

Overall Rating : No Opinion


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $125
Submitted 01/17/2001 at 06:34pm by jeremy
Email: jsarnold513<at>hotmail dot com

Features : 7
The basic Fender Strat configuration and style, made in Indonesia (not sure of the year). SSS configuration, standard tremelo, poplar body, 21 fret rosewood fingerboard on a maple neck, 5 way switch, satin finish, cheap ass non-locking tuning keys.

Sound : 7
I play mostly stuff that I've written myself, with a lot of grungy early 90s rock, plus some stuff like Pink Floyd, SRV, and whatever else strikes my fancy thrown in. I only use a clean sound at the moment, mainly because I'm too cheap to spring for a good distortion pedal. I primarily play it through my Fender BXR 60 Bass amp (I started out as a bass player). This guitar works well for what I play. It has a nice, moderately bright sound to it, with very smooth mids (which the BXR brings out nicely) and a slightly muddy low end. A set of heavy strings makes it sound much better, giving it a sort of SRV-ish tone. This guitar has a sort of "warbling" quality to it when I hold a chord for a few seconds, almost like it has some sort of soft tremelo effect going on. I don't think it's supposed to sound that way, but I've never heard another guitar with that tone, and I kind of like it. The pickups aren't that great, which is probably the biggest reason for this, but I haven't had the problems with noise that other people talk about. Through my BXR and through my old Mirage 15W practice amp (a total POS, BTW), I get some moderate hum on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th settings, but nothing too bad. However, I did once plug it into a Crate bass amp that belongs to a friend of mine and the thing made a god-awful racket on those settings. I think the amp makes a big difference here. All in all, my Squire delivers what the ads promise: the basic Fender Strat sound at a lower price. A guitar with the Fender label does have a better sound, but I genuinely like the sound of my Squire.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 5
THE TUNING KEYS SUCK!!!! Because they can't keep the guitar in tune, and reduce the tremelo to an IDD (Instant Detuning Device), it ruins the whole thing. Aside from that, and the mediocre pickups, everything else on it is really good for the money. The action is pretty low, the pickups were set about right, I hardly ever get any fret buzz (when I do it's my fault). The control knobs turned smoothly (though I can't tell that the affect the sound that much) and the volume control really works (unlike what some other people have told me about theirs). If not for the pathetic tuning keys (including a ridiculously bad one on the high E string), I'd give it about a 7 here, but because the tuning keys are so bad (which in turn affects so much else), I give it a 5.

Reliability/Durability : 7
So far, this guitar has been very reliable, and seems to be pretty sollid. I try to take reasonable care of my gear (a $125 *is* quite a bit of money, afterall), so, aside from falling over onto the tile flooring of my dormroom a few times when I had it propped up against the wall (which is how I usually kept it), it hasn't taken much punishment. However, when I bought it, it did have about a 1" X 1/2" chip in the back of the body, where it had been dropped in the store. It seems pretty solid, though. The finish has a few spots where the white paint on the walls rubbed off onto the black body, and it has a couple of small scratches here and there, but overall, I haven't done much to it in the 10 months I've had it. The strap buttons are very solid. Overall, on a scale of 1-10, I'd give the body an 8. The neck is also sturdy and smooth, with fairly low action. I'd give it a 9. Because of the horrible keys, it would be a real pain to play live, as it WILL go out of tune, to some degree, during each song, so it gets a mediocre rating here because of that. If I were to replace them, though, I wouldn't be afraid to use it on gigs. I would have to buy a backup, however. Strings do break.

Customer Support : No Opinion
NA Never dealt with them, and I don't remember anything about a warranty.

Overall Rating : 6
This was my first guitar, and I think I made a good choice. As I said, I started out as a bassist. My bass is a Peavy Patriot (which is a piece of crap, but does have a unique, punchy sound to it). I wish I had tried to talk the salesman down a few more bucks before buying it, but if I had it to do all over again, I would have bought this same guitar. I love the mids and that nice little warbling sound it naturally makes, plus it feels very comfortable in my hands. The tuning keys suck badly, and I really do need to change them if I ever plan to use this for anything other than noodling around in my room. It could also use some better pickups, but all in all, it's a good buy and (at least in my experience) is one of the best guitars out there in its price range. C'mon, what else are you going to get for $125? I compared it to all sorts of inexpensive guitars ($200 and under) out there, both new and used, before I bought it, and I can honestly say that this was the best one I found. However, I would caution potential buyers to be careful, as I've heard mine may be of really good quality compared to the majority of Squires. I did try out a couple of guitars in the same line that didn't sound as good.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $140
Submitted 01/07/2001 at 12:47pm by jon briggs
Email: jon at weezer<dot>org

Features : 8
'00 Blue w white pickguard squier strat. This si my first eletric guitar. I have had it for 3 or 4 months and really enjoy it. I played on my acoustic for 2 years before i bought this. it's made in Indonesia. it has the regular string thru body...just like every other review. Everyhting was in good working order when bought and was a steal for 140 bucks.

Sound : 7
I give this a 7 because it was only 140dollars. The big thing i don't like about it are the pickups. Soon i will change them to a (bridge to neck)George lynch lil' screamin demon, a Duncan Hotrail, and a fender red lace pickup. Hopefully that will change some of the hum and other problems. The only way to get a none hum sound is puting the selector in the 4th position. It has a ok sound ,but it was cheap! You cna basicly play anything you want on it. Sure i guess some things sound better on it then others, but i don't have money to buy lots of guitars.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
Everything was set up right with the exception of the tuners. I think i might just have to get new ones soon. Oh and one oher problem is that one of the bridge holes wasn't drilled correctly ,yet it is still useable.

Reliability/Durability : 8
Well after a couple months of abuse it has held up. I don't trash my guitar's or anyhting so i didn't thing it would break. It looks as nice as the day i bought it. It sounds good and the tuners/bridge/pick up's haven't pulled any fast ones on me yet.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Don't have a clue.

Overall Rating : 9
For $140 it is a great deal. If it was stolen i would just save up for a real fender strat. I liked it so much that i am thinking of buying a squier tele. Once i change the pickup's it will be cool. Solid built and recommended


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: $500-600 (Australian)
Submitted 01/04/2001 at 06:17pm by Anonymous

Features : 9
It's a 1999 model its blue with a white pickguard three single coil pickups which are sloped with the strings two tone knobs 5 way selector switch. Rosewood fretboard 21 frets and mapel neck. I don't know what the bodies made out of but it's one of the lightest electric guitars I've ever used. I've seen and played other squire strats but this is a lot better lighter and is a different blue to the ones that come it the stat pack.

Sound : 10
Sounds excellent. Very good sound through all the ranges. Better sound range than a lot of other quitars I've used.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
The action is bloody excellent it is one of the easiest and nicest guitars I've ever played. The action is low but there is no string buzz. Nice finish and it looks excellent.

Reliability/Durability : 10
I've played this guitar for thousands of hours and it hasn't stuffed up once. It's been dropped onto concrete when my soft case stap broke and it's got a few dings but it still works.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never dealt with them.

Overall Rating : 10
I am a fairly accomplished quitarist I play anything I'v used a lot of guitars and this is easily one of the best. I've played a lot more expensive guitars and this one is up there with them. The thing I love about this guitar is the neck the action and the wieght, when I'm going to upgrade I'm not going to get a new guitar just some more expensive pickups and a humbucker. Also I never seen another one like this anywhere else.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $149
Submitted 12/29/2000 at 08:19pm by Justin

Features : 9
I'm guessing it was made in 2000, I just got it for christmas.

-21 frets
-Volume, 2 tone knobs
-5-way selector
-Cheap tuners (need new ones so I can use the trem)
-Thin neck, which is really nice

The Pickups buzz at loud volumes, but overall good.

Sound : 9
I and others have used this guitar with many music styles, mostly different ranges of rock (from Blink-182 pop to thrash metal to Everclear) and I must say it sounded good on all of them. I'm using a Kustom KLA-10 12w amp. It's pretty noisy on 1, 3, 5. Go with 2 & 4... of course if you don't know that already, you should :D

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
It was set up just fine. Just tune and you're ready to go. The cable jack has went loose a lot, but is easily fixed.

Reliability/Durability : 9
I think with new pickups, and a new set of Tuners, it'd be fine on stage. The tuners don't look like they will last. I've noticed if you wipe off fingerprints with your sleeve, it leaves those spiderweb-ish scratches that are on cars sometimes. I can definately depend on this guitar for a long time.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never have had to try.

Overall Rating : 10
I've been playing about 4 years. I own a Samick 3/4 size acoustic that I've been playing for years. I'd probably buy another if it were stolen, or save up for something different, if I needed a change. I love the action, neck, sound, and practically the whole guitar. The tuners are okay, but I can't use the trem with them, sadly. Want me to bitch about that some more? :D


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $180
Submitted 12/28/2000 at 07:54pm by Matt McL
Email: none

Features : 7
If your reading this review you probably aready know all the features; tone x2, volume control, s/s/s pickup configuration. This is really a "no frills" guitar for the begining player.

Sound : 6
Sound quality is really a matter of opinion and the type of music style your wanting to play, so this is kind of a hard part to review. I now own a Wolfgang(BADASS!!!!)and it puts the squire to shame, BUT they are two different guitars desinged for different music styles. When I first got my squier I knew nothing about guitars and when I played it for the first time when I got it home I just thought it was awesome, but I didnt know any better at the time. It had kind of a bright flat tone to it, not much Gruughhh. At first I was just playing it straight through my Crate GX-20 amp. Then I bought a Zoom 707 a few months later which helped out a lot because the distortion on the GX-20 blows. Then I realized it was my guitar not just my amp that was the problem so I got the Wolfgang(did I mention that the Wolfgang is BADASS?)
I imagine this guitar(the squier)would sound great playing through the right equiptment, but it just didnt cut it for me. I dont remember the guitar ever being really noisy at any point exept for that standard hum you will get from any guitar plugged straight into an amp. This guitar I would say is more suited for Blues and classic rock type music, not that you couldnt play Hard Rock or Metal through it but it just wouldnt sound as good as a guitar with a nice pair of humbucking pickups. Now if your a young teenage moron like I was and wanted a guitar that you could play Metallica,Pantera, or VAN HALEN with this is not the guitar for you. If want to play the heavy stuff get a guitar with some humbuckers and an amp with a lot of gain and distortion a good distortion box wouldnt hurt with said products either.

Oh, dont use the trem or else every frickin string will go out of tune.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 7
The guitar was set up just fine frome the factory until my dumbass self started dickn' with all the little knobs and things.(I ended up breaking several strings.) Everything was just fine eletronically except for the cable jack that kept coming loose, but thats an easy 1min fix. The body and neck seemed to be crafted quite well, I guess those little kids in indonesia can work a router pretty well for 3cents a day. The finish seemed to scratch pretty easily (mine was black so they stood out more)the scratches were barely noticable unless you were up close.

Reliability/Durability : 6
I dont own the guitar anymore so I couldnt tell you if its an "In it for the long run" guitar, but as I said the finish does seen to scratch easily. Otherwise everything seems to be built pretty solid.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never needed it. I only owned the guitar for about 9 months then I got my Wolfgang(BADASS!!!)

Overall Rating : 7
Id have to say this is a pretty good guitar to start out on like I did, unless you want to start out on the heavy stuff. If I still owned it and it were stolen I wouldnt give a rats ass and would buy another different guitar if I didnt have my Wolfgang(BADASS!!!) But if someone stole my Wolfie God help them because I would hunt them down and rip their friggin spine out.

Check out my outher reviews for my Wolfgang(BADASS!!!) and the BOSS GT-3.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $300 (strat pack)
Submitted 12/15/2000 at 06:31pm by Anonymous

Features : 7
The normal strat set-up: SSS, 1 volume, 2 tones, tremelo.......

Sound : 6
It sounds decent, but for the money it is really good. The low end is muddy, and there isn't much treble. i need to get new pick ups, maybe some seymore duncans. otherwise it is all right. When the trem bar is used it goes way out of tune, way fast.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
I love the action, just right for all the fast Metallica solos i play. Plus, the neck isn't glossy, so my hands slide real easy. The finish is nearly flawless, only one little raised bump, but that is the wood and not the paint. It is solid black and the only bad thing about it is that it finger prints show up real well on it.

Reliability/Durability : 9
I have dropped it numerous times and it is stil playing.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never had to deal with em'.

Overall Rating : 7
overall it is a good gituar, but i think my next one will be a Fender American Strat.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $130
Submitted 12/07/2000 at 10:44am by Anonymous

Features : 3
Model: 1999 Squier Strat
Frets: 21 Frets
Controls: Volume, 2 Tone, 5 Way Selector
Pickup: Cheap Squier Pickups S/S/S
Fretboard: Rosewood
Body/Finish: I don't know about the body, but I've had it for less than a year and take good care of it and it has 3 chips and many scratches.
Bridge: String-thru
Tuners: Non-locking
Neck: It's really easy to play
Accessories: Extra Fender Bullet Strings (Probably Worth More Than The Guitar)

Sound : 7
I play punk rock rock (green day, blink) and it works pretty well (wow!) But I also play heavier stuff (deftones) and it doesn't work very well. I play through a Rogue DST5 -> Ibanez TB25 and it sounds ok, but it doesn't have a very bright sound to it.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
Just Peachy

Reliability/Durability : 6
Never actually tested the durability of the thing. Poor Poor finish. Great strap buttons. It is dependable. I would use it a gig without a backup because it's all I have.

Customer Support : No Opinion
N/A

Overall Rating : 7
I'll live with this guitar until I get my GAX70. :-) http://shootthelionandrun.itgo.com


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: #130 (pounds)
Submitted 12/06/2000 at 06:45am by Jimi Hendrix
Email: a_kopjas<at>hotmail dot com

Features : 7
This Guitar was made in 2000? in Japan
21 fret rosewood fingerboard
5 way selector switch s,s,s
pickups are standard crappy squier
Tocano red strat body
Tuners are crap you can see the mould lines!
neck is quite smooth
no free stuff

Sound : 7
My style is hendrix Mick ronson classic rock mainly
im using a 30w marshall mg series amp pretty damn good more expensive than the guitar!

Action, Fit, & Finish : 5
Guitar was set up ok
I had to adjust the pickups myself another thing that pissed me off was that it was covered in some sort of plastic that i had to pull off i ended up taking the guitar apart only a few days after i got it!!!!!!!

Reliability/Durability : 6
The guitar dents easily so far i managed to dent the neck and put a dent in the body its really a throw away guitar U GET WHAT U PAY 4!!!
strap is always twisting!!!
once i had to take it apart because there was a small piece of wire coming off the positive touching the negative on the jack!

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never dealt with em!

Overall Rating : 7
A THROWAWAY GUITAR GOOD 4 BEGINERS ACTIONS NOT 2 BAD BUT NOT 4 THE EXPERIENCED PLAYER


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $120
Submitted 12/02/2000 at 07:19pm by f
Email: carter at aol<dot>com

Features : 6
It is a 2000 year model, with 3 single coils, and came with a gig bag. it has a rosewood fingerboard.

Sound : 4
it isounds like a piece of crap, but what do you expect for $120!!!

Action, Fit, & Finish : 7
The action is horrible. Everything else, besides the fact that it scratched all over.

Reliability/Durability : 1
This guitar was nothing like a fender, i know now not to buy the lower company's look alike, like a squier or an epiphone. I had to replace the jack, 2 of the pick-ups and the 5 way switch within the first 3 months.

Customer Support : 10
The company was very helpful when i called them to ask them what was wrong with my guitar, but they didn't give me any parts to fix it, it is fender so what do you expect, they are gonna be nice, but since it is a squier they weren't gonna give me any parts!

Overall Rating : 10
over all, it is a good beginner's guitar, i don't mind if it falls apart!!


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $150
Submitted 12/02/2000 at 05:03pm by thumper
Email: none

Features : 7
22 frets,single coils, you know it.

Sound : 9
This is the best guitar on the market at $150.It is perfect for funk and punk.You could guess my favorite band is the red hot chili peppers.This guitar gets a good trebly-dirty sound much like john fruscante(I think thats how you spell it.)The only thing i dont like about this guitar is that it is limited to clean or dirty.Heavy is out of the question.I want to tell all the people that BAD MOUTH THIS GUITAR THAT ARE SAYING THAT IT GETS FEEDBACK,MABY YOU SHOULD TAKE IT MORE THAN AN INCH AWAY FROM THE AMP, AND THAT MIGHT DO SOMETHING TO HELP!!!

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
Good setup.Awsome action straight from the box.

Reliability/Durability : 7
First off I would not play this in a gig because I mainly play Bass.Thick paint.(arctic white)The strap buttons keep untwisting when a wear it for a while.Input jack comes loose alot, and because if the position of the jack plate its hard to fix.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never delt with 'em

Overall Rating : 8
Good guitar that isn't to serious with it.And to all those people who are using this through a marshall stack with some killer effects,If you have that amp and effects, then why did you get a cheap guitar?


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $328 strat pack
Submitted 11/11/2000 at 04:34pm by Anonymous

Features : 8
97 Probally Indonisionan or korean Black white pickguard crapy coverd tuners rempved the covers rosewood good finish thisck. Tremelo bridge tunning problems keeps geeting nocked out of tune.

Sound : 4
This guiar has crapy pickups. REplace um wit seymor duncan hot railz. They make soo much noise and feeedback at low volumes. Gets muddy on the lower notes.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
Set up preety good,when i got the guitar it had plastic all ove rthe pickguard which im stil removing from under the knobs

Reliability/Durability : 8
belive it or not this guitar is very durable i have thorwn it down a set of stairs and nothing has really happened solid guitar. Deffeniotly put straplocks on it. I would gig with out cause it a squier. The finish cracks if it ges hit hard. Would do a show with it hard to keep in tune all fenders are get a floyd rose bridge.

Customer Support : No Opinion
N?A

Overall Rating : 6
I give it a 6 only becuse its squier and it sucks. Good for kids but why must eveyone have a fender get some eppiphones or gibsons the sell kits too!!!!!! Whats with that marshaal guitar?


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $131.99
Submitted 10/31/2000 at 09:03am by George Garcia
Email: theundertaker<at>kzepmail dot com

Features : 5
Made in 1998 in Indonesia
22 frets
solid-top
2 tone, 1 volume
sss pickup config.
cheap stock squier pickups single coils
passive
poplar body and the fretboard that is natural wood looking color. Maple i think its called.
dont know what kinda finish just regular red paint
squier bridge regular strat style bridge.
cheap squier tuners non locking
i got it for 131.99 brand new it didnt come with any extras cept for tremelo arm and allen wrench for truss rod.

Sound : 5
I play classic metallica (anything after black album is a no no) and some pink floyd etc. i dont like punker music or any of that type crap. It doesn't suit my style for jack.
it's noisy on ever damned setting except for 2nd and 4th. where 2nd position is the one that enables both the neck and middle single coil, or in 4th position the bridge and middle single coil. but when you have it in that position it sounds too muted and sounds like crap too.
I go through my peavey rage158 15watt combo which also sucks but is cheap and then into either boss hyper metal which is a really crappy petal, a danelectro fab tone which sounds pretty good on other guitars but not this one, or a DOD grunge pedal (2nd version) which those two last pedals to me sound almost identical at least on my guitar but I know for fact that the DOD grunge sounds really good into this same amp but using a jackson performer ps-4. thats my friends setup and he can do mad harmonics.
The sound is kinda bright but not bassy enough for metal. its a kinda glassy bell like tone when its on clean channel. actually it sounds ok on clean channel but it just sucks for disortion but then again most single coils suck for distortion. I can get any kinda sound i want cause i got all those different settings to mess with on the pedals and the amp but seriously, as far as i can tell, the 2 tone knobs on the guitar dont seem to change the tone a damn bit no matter which way you have them.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 5
This was my first guitar so I didnt know jack about setups when i first got it but i tried messing with the truss rod once and that ended up giving me fret buzz so i adjusted it back to the way it was originally and i dont get buzz on any frets so i guess thats a good thing. I did lower the pickups to where theyre flush with the body though cause i just like it that way. Also i adjust the bridge pins so that they all line up in a row because when i got them some went up and down, up and down. Also I never use the tremelo arm so I took it off, and screwed the all the bridge screws down so the bridge is flush with the body. it seems to stay in tune better that way. Whenever i restring it, I usually put a little wd40 on a q-tip and lubricate the bridge contact points and the inside part where the ball or bullet of the string sits. Like I said, the pickups were adjust the way all other strats were but I lowered them into the body. Don't know what bookmatched top is or routed bridge but I explained how i fixed all the stuff so thats good enough. I gotta admit their were no flaws on the guitar everything works the way its supposed to I just dont like the thickness of the neck cause its not good for metal as well as the pickups arent hot enough for metal. but the finish wood and all that stuff was perfect. got it at a store called hermes music. I know they have these stores just about all over texas (im in San Antonio, Texas) and I think they also have a few stores in mexico and in California but im not positive about that. This is a really good store they have awesome prices and they kick butt on all other stores here especially their 2 major competitors, Mars Music and Century Music. They have a lot bigger selection and such. I just wish I had a Guitar Center in my city. :)

Reliability/Durability : 5
Don't know if this guitar would withstand live playing cause I play for fun and with friends I'm not in a band or anything but playing guitar is a kick ass hobby. The hardware seems like it will last but I always get paranoid when I use my peg winder cause I'm afraid that it is going to cause the pegs and tuners to get loose but it hasn't yet. the bridge seems like it will last but one of the string trees moves slighty but thats not a problem when strings are on their. the finsh is definitely gonna last. I dunno what it is but ive dropped this thing banged it on the wall and all kinds of stuff and when i take just a cloth to it to remove fingerprints it looks like new again. Yeah the strap buttons are solid. Although sometimes when im playing standing up my strap will fall off buy I think that is more the straps fault cause the holes are getting bigger from wear more then it is the pegs fault. I could depend on this guitar to play but I really wouldnt want to cause I dont like the way it sounds. Sure I would play it on a gig without a backup but I don't think people would like the way it sounds but I have no doubt that this thing isnt gonna crap out or break or anything it will last cause its lasted me two years and I play everyday. The pickups have never died and the frets havent become worn or anything. One complaint I do have is that no matter what I do I always manage to turn the strings that aren't round wound (the plain strings) black after only like 2 weeks of play. Also the fretboard gets really dirty after a while and gets all this gunky moldy build up of dirt from my hands and stuff which I don't understand cause I always wash my hands before I play. Also don't buy stainless bullet end fender strings. I mean they sound great and everything but I busted the A string after only 1 day which REALLY pissed me off. Before that I usually used GHS boomers 10-46 which rarely break on me. But that damned bullet end was a .36 and the winding came unwound during the chorus from fade to black which really got me bitter. I left the rest of the bullet ends on their cause thats all I didn't have a whole set of strings lying around besides the others are still good i guess but I replaced the A string with a ball end fender nickelplated .36 string and I really dont like the way it sounds. Those bullet ends sound really good if only they didnt break so easy. It's almost like the ball end string doesnt wanna cooperate with the other bullet ends because even though its in tune it almost sounds like it isnt or something. I will prolly end up trashing these strings after bout a month or so and get some markley 10-46's which is my favorite gauge or maybe some markley blue steels just depends. I used to have blue steels and if i recall they were pretty good. I also had some regular markleys but I was stoopid back then and I got the real heavey ones 13-52 or something like that because I thought it would make me sound heavier but really they didnt and I didnt like them because they made it more difficult to play speed runs and the G string was roundwound which i really hate. I HAVE to have a plain G string to play my pink floyd stuff because of the bends and with a roundwound you just cant get the right bending off it. Well youre prolly tired of reading cause I've wrote a lot but I'm at school and bored as hell so I'm trying to do something to keep busy :)

Customer Support : No Opinion
I never had to deal with the company so I don't know how helpful or friendly they would be and I've never had to get it repaired and I'm not sure how long the warranty was but if I recall it seems like it was one year so it would be out of warranty right now anyway.

Overall Rating : 5
I've been playing since I first got this guitar for my 15th b-day on april 21st, 1998. Their really isnt anything I wished I had asked before buying this guitar except I really wish I wouldve gotten something with a humbucker in the bridge position so my metal would sound thicker. At the time I got this guitar I was really into Pink Floyd and David Gilmour was my idol and he plays a 1957 candy apple red strat loaded with EMG SA's and his own tonal settings. I got this guitar in red cause back then I didn't know better and it looks like his guitar and I asked myself, "gee, their cant be that much difference all the parts look the same." Boy was I wrong. His strat rules, mine sucks. If it were stolen I would find out who stole it cause then I wouldnt be able to play anymore cause it's my only axe and I would really jack that person up. I would then proceed to musicyo.com and get the imperial kramer guitar dont remember the model number but looks like a really bad ass instrument. Its an explorer copy with a double locking licensed floyd, and has all black hardware. It has kramer's own quad rail pickups which is basically like having a humbucker on the size of a single coil and it comes with one in the bridge and one in the neck so it basically has 4 humbuckers. It also has a bad ass slip taper "elliptical" neck which from what I hear people describe it as being very much like the jackson necks and I love the jackson necks. It has 24 frets and gotohs. It also the body is alder and the neck is something or other but the fretboard is rosewood with plain dot inlays but I like the dots better anyways. It's not the neck-thru model though. I was originally gonna get one of their neck-thrus but with further review I decided to get this bolt on because the neck is thinner. I heard that the neck-thru kramer neck was kinda clubby which isnt gonna suit me playing my metal. I'm intensely happy because I get paid this coming friday which is only 3 days away and I'm probably gonna order this kramer sometime Saturday during the day. Their guitars are steals you cant beat em. Everyone I talk to compares the quality to jacksons and jacksons are my favorite guitars but if I can get the same quality for only 200 bucks without having to lay down 500 or more for a decent jackson then hey im a happy guy. I gave it all 5's cause I don't wanna say its crappy completey. It may just be crappy to me but I guess some people might like it that play clean stuff because like I said before I really do think it sounds good clean especially in the neck position. It almost sounds as good clean as some real fender strats ive heard played clean. Oh yeah that kramer has this sweet coil tapping feature which allows you to use just one of the pickups like it was only one humbucker which I hear produces a really good clean tone. On the other hand, when all the coils are engaged I hear it really has a fat tone and that harmonics just leap off the axe. I can't wait till they deliver this bad mofo to my front door. In the future probably for xmas or asap I wanna get a marshall g50rcd amp which is a basic marshall combo with reverb and all the extra goodies that make marshall the company that they are. It drives 50 watts to a 12" speaker which is plenty powerful for me playing for fun at home or with friends. I also want to get a boss metal zone (that pedal is so bad ass.) a boss super chorus, and an original crybaby. I also wanna get (but am not worried about right away) some kinda of multi effects pedal for flange delay etc because I use those effects every once in a while so theyre nice to have but in my opinion they dont constitute buying seperate pedals for. Suggestions anyone? By the way, sorry bout my bad english I'm really a sophisticated SOB that knows hot to build computers and such (no joke) but my typing skills are lazy and I'm just spitting out the crap that is coming off the top of my head. Oh yeah and I dri


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $140
Submitted 10/22/2000 at 05:47pm by Chris
Email: chrisdc3 at elrancho<dot>com

Features : 5
It is a 1999 affinity strat, made in China. 3 single coils, 5-way switch, 22 frets, 2 tone controls, volume. Standard strat features. You get the idea

Sound : 4
The pickups are very noisy on pretty much every setting, some less than others, but they're all noisy. I'm using it with a zoom 505, and that can quiet it down a bit, but it's still freakin noisy. This guitar can have a good high sound, but it fails with bass. There isn't much variety in the sound you can get from it. I normally use it for hard rock and metal type stuff, and its lacking in that area.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 5
The original action was a bit too high, but acceptable. I adjusted it and made it lower. The pickups aren't set up too well but I haven't taken the trouble to move them. The tremolo really throws this thing out of tune quickly. Neck is straight though. The tuners absolutely SUCK. I would highly recommend upgrading them as soon as you get this guitar.

Reliability/Durability : 6
I haven't gigged with it yet, but I would trust it. Seems fairly durable, but the tuners won't last long. Strap buttons are fairly solid, but I wouldn't call the guitar very reliable.

Customer Support : No Opinion
I haven't used it, but i heard Fender doesn't give a crap about their customers.

Overall Rating : 6
I've been playing for close to a year now. This doesn't have much of a sound range... can't get much distortion out of it. If it were stolen or lost, I would probably get a cheaper ibanez instead of buying this again. This was a good guitar to start on, but for anymore than that, it sucks. I would give it a 9 for beginners, but for anybody else - 4.

PS - if anybody's got any good ideas for zoom 505 patches, i'll be happy to tell you some of my good ones if you give me some. i like patches with a metal/heavy sound.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $300
Submitted 10/21/2000 at 02:30pm by Brian

Features : 8
pretty much the same as a fender strat, just a little cheaper....

Sound : 9
the sound is decent. the pickups 1,3,5 make the 60's (amp wave length) really buzz, but for what i paid it is pretty darn good. I took it apart once and fiddled around with the pickups and stuff so I made the sound my own.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
The action was awsome when i got it, but i put some heavy gages on it so i think it needs to be adjusted. It feels like nothing else, i can play it like a dream. the finish is also awsome. Perfect black body, and the neck isn't glossed so your fingers don't stick when sliding.

Reliability/Durability : 8
i've only had it for 3-4 months but i've dropped it numerous times and it still performs so what can i say

Customer Support : No Opinion
have had to deal with em'

Overall Rating : 8
overall, this guitar does what i want it to so i have no complaints


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 10/20/2000 at 02:43pm by dave

Features : 5
21 frets, s/s/s, black with white pickguard. the tuners suck cock. they're really loose and crappy. black with white pickguard. overall, i don't like it that much

Sound : 6
ehhh. it's ok. i'm using it through a line 6 spider 210, and it could be worse. it's very noisey in the first pickup position. wish it had a humbucker. it sounds kinda kool if you have a slightly heavy distortion (like insane on the spider)with chorus and the guitar in last pickup position.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 4
as i said before, the tuning pegs are crappy. the volume knob causes static if it's on 5 or 6. i had to adjust the bridge at the bottom

Reliability/Durability : 2
i'd laugh my ass off if somebody brought this sorry excuse for an instrument to a gig. the high e always snaps if i tune it by harmonics, and the b never stays in tune. after the first time i cleaned it, the pickups and bolts all rusted. it's worthless

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : 3
do yourself a favor and don't buy this thing. you'll thank me later


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $125
Submitted 10/11/2000 at 09:55pm by Andrew

Features : 5
this is a typical strat, 3 single coil pickups, 5 way selector, u get the point

Sound : 6
this guitar suits my style very well, i play mostly bush, and nirvana on it, stuff like that. i play it through a carvin mts3200, and it feeds back like a son of a bitch!, oh well what do you expect from a $125 guitar. it has a thin, empty sound, kind of, on some amps it sounds like shit, on others great. i put a humbucker in the bridge position(highly recomended), and it still feeds back really bad, but sounds a hell of a lot better than before.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 7
setup=shit, pick up adjustment=shit. whats bookmatched??? the neck makes me pop a boner! its just they way i like it, i love to play this guitar just cos its light, and the neck feels great!

Reliability/Durability : 8
it seems pretty durable. since i got ot for so cheap i plan to upgrade all the hardware and pick ups, it will be more depended on after that. i would gig w/out a back up

Customer Support : No Opinion
never dealt with em

Overall Rating : 7
its a great value, and if you have the cash and love the way this guitar feels in your hands, just upgrade the hardware and pick ups. if it were stolen or lost i would eventually get a new one.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $150
Submitted 10/10/2000 at 12:58pm by Anonymous

Features : 3
The year on this guitar is 1999. I got it at Northern Kingdom Music store in Rockland. It was made in China. I hate that guitar some much. The guitar has two tone knobs. And I a 5-way selector.

Sound : 5
The sound sucks. If you put sound limiter it takes away some of the noise but not complety. I try to play creed & Meticalla with this guitar. I play it on a Crate GFX-20 amp with a Zoom 505 multi-effects processor. It is noisy on all setting.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 5
The factory setup were ok but i had to adjust the action of the strings. The finish was pretty nice and the fret were in good conidition.

Reliability/Durability : 4
The finish of this guitar sucks the paint peels off all of the time.
The hardware will last but i am wondering how long the guitar will stay together. I can't depend of this guitar. If you use the tremolo
it put all of the strings out of tune. I would not use with guitar at all for a gig.

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : 3
I have been playing for about 1 year. Noone would steal this guitar i would have to pay them to steal it. I would not get that lucky if that guitar was lost. I am going to an Ibanez S470. I hated everything about this guitar. I have compared this guitar with an Americain made Stratocaster. The Strato destroyed my guitar. Don't buy this guitar buy an Ibanez they are much better guitars.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: $450 (Australian)
Submitted 10/10/2000 at 12:32am by Anonymous

Features : 5
Something all guitars have
pickups etc

Sound : 7
Well if you have know idea like I did then it sounds sic, now that I have an idea (3 years later) I think I was lucky, man i've heard some shit ones, mines still to thin, needs some beef.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 7
Tunes OK, here's the deal: I've Dropped it numerous times - no scratch
dings etc, back when i was at school a tapped it on the desk, CHUNK-O-RAMA! I don't get it!

It's comfy!

Reliability/Durability : 7
It's all I got, it survives live.

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : 5
Beginner - 10
Anything other - Screw It!


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $129.95
Submitted 09/18/2000 at 10:09am by Troy Hall
Email: none

Features : 5
I think its from China. I got it a year and a half ago. The usual Strat stuff. Three single coils, 6 strings, 21 frets, you kow the rest. I've learned everything with it and now I'm ready for the big time, so I can't complain. Watch for my band. We call it "GuilloTeen" (get it?) We're into the heavy sound like Korn, Everclear, Slipknot, and Limp Biskit.

Sound : 5
It's OK to learn on. It would be good for the classic rock sound, like the Red Hot Chili Peppers or Pantera. But we're cutting edge, so I need a Ibanez 7 string for my tone. Right now I ply thru a Squire Sidekick, but I want to get one of those Gorilla Tube Crunchers for playing concerts. Strats are for geezers like Clapton. Remember about the graffitti in London that said Clapton is God. Well that's bullshit, cuz he's too old. Head is now the guitar God, and everybody knows it. He's my main influence. Along with Wes Borland.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 5
Just gimme a guitar and I can play the HELL out of it. I've got a year and a half of playing behind me, and I'm ready to rock, people! Watch for my band - GuilloTeen. You'll be hearing from us.

Reliability/Durability : 5
Works every time.

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : 5
Like I said, its OK to learn on. But it doesn't fit my heavy style so good. I need that Ibanez to go to the highest levels. Right now, my band is just me and the bassist, Trent. He's awesome, too. We just need to find a drummer who can keep up, then we'll be on the way to the TOP! All the drummers we've plyed with are wankers who just want to pound too loud and steal the spotlight. Screw that. We're all about TONE, man.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $138
Submitted 09/11/2000 at 01:50pm by Spelunka Tom
Email: thomaziv at starmedia<dot>com

Features : 10
It is a GREAT GUITAR FOR WHO KNOWS HOW TO PLAY!!!!!!! These guys that have never used a single-coil doesn't know what they are talking about!!!!!!!!!!

Sound : 10
It have a GREAT CLEAN SOUND and a very good distortion when you use 2 single-coils at the same time.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
It is seted up from at the factory, so you don't need to pay $1000 for a Luthier.

Reliability/Durability : 10
I have this guitar for 27 years and I didn't change anything on it, and any Luthier touch it!

Customer Support : No Opinion
What? I heard about a costumer support but I have never used it.

Overall Rating : 10
PPPPPPPPRRRRRRRRREEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTYYYYYYYYY AAAAAAWWWWWWEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $130
Submitted 08/31/2000 at 08:42pm by Anonymous

Features : 7
The features are the same as on all these other reviews. I'm only going to talk about the problems I had with this guitar. Horrible tuners,(if youre gonna use alternate tunings, they need to be replaced)
Neck however was great (better than most fender american strats but im sure this was a fluke)

Sound : 4
I play rock and metal so this isnt exactly ideal. The pickup only have two sounds, clean and sludge. horribly thin even for single coils. its a beginner guitar and i dont recommend fixing this though because its not worth putting money into. i cant understand how anyone(beginners) can give this above a 5

Action, Fit, & Finish : 4
came set up with buzzing strings on every fret. the guys at guitar center are such assholes that rather than take their crap, i fixed this myself. there is some sort of sharp object in the bridge that keeps breaking my strings when i play hard. probably from fenders mass production. like i said before awesome neck, and not too bad of a finish but other that that ive had problems with the tuners, knobs, selector switch and a creaking when i use the whammy bar

Reliability/Durability : 5
i could play live, but it would still sound like crap. nothing seems like it will last. strap buttons are always bad on pretty much any fender.

Customer Support : 1
fender doen't stand behind their products, so don't expect them to help you with this. I'm gonna buy a new guitar soon (not a fender) and this was my first guitar so now i know what im looking for.

Overall Rating : 5
its a $130 guitar and thats what it sounds like. my advise is this. if your gonna play rock and metal, save up and buy a gibson SG (its the only metal guitar that sounds good clean. if you want to stick with the single coil, and they do have their advantages, buy a G&L, they are made with fender custom shop quality and are more affordable than the high end fenders. gibson and G&L both stand behind their guitars (even the lemons) so buy from them instead


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $134
Submitted 08/20/2000 at 02:47pm by jon jon
Email: butr4u aol dot com

Features : 10
its a begginers guitar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Sound : 10
sounds like a 130 dollar guitar should ya cocks

Action, Fit, & Finish : No Opinion
thats your decision.fret board is nice

Reliability/Durability : 10
its not made of styrofoam

Customer Support : 10
dont know

Overall Rating : 10
if you like distorion why would you get a guitar with single coils?


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $130 (strat pack new)
Submitted 08/16/2000 at 08:26pm by Adam

Features : 6
'98( got with strat pack), has 22 frets everything standard...s/s/s. The tuners on this guitar aren't very good. A tuner locked up on me and i had to take it apart to see what was wrong. It turns out that the gear had come off the tuner! I put the gear back on oiled it,l so i would't have another problem. Like i said it was a strat pack, so it came with all the bare essentials.

Sound : 10
Fit's my sound perfectly! I play mostly 60's rock, and Nirvana, so it makes a perfect sound for that. I also have a Boss DS-1 distortion pedal, which helps the sound put some more.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
Very well manufactured, no flaws that i can find.

Reliability/Durability : 10
VERY durable! I have had the guitar for about a year-and-a-half(1st guitar) and it only has a few minor dings.....besides it takes and awful lot to hurt a fender(from what I hear).

Customer Support : No Opinion
not needed

Overall Rating : 9
Very happy with this guitar. I am looking to get a Fender Mustang or Jagstang in a year or two. Watch out for the tuners..there crap! I am going to try to get some better quality tuners sometime soon. Needs re-tuning about every 3-5 days with regular playing and standard tuners.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: #189 Strat Pack (UK sterling)
Submitted 08/06/2000 at 09:00am by Chris Blackburn
Email: chris<at>blackburn dot worldonline dot co dot uk

Features : 7
It's actually a quite well made Indonesian strat in may - 1999
Teal Blue i think with s/s/s set up, although after taking the thiung apart i found it possible to fit h/s/h. Two tone and one volume pot. 5-way selector switch and trem-arm that stays in tune pretty well providing the intonation is set correctly.

Made of some crappy wood coated in plastic. well, it looks and feels like plastic anyway. nice 21 fret maple neck and fingerboard though. also curved, not flat so the pick up magnets are set staggered. Crappy pick ups but they dont sound too bad, or didnt till i got my second guitar

Sound : 6
The sound wasn't too bad till i got a Fender Pro-tone telecaster. Now it's pretty bad. I used to think it was good. It does have good treble sound but when it comes to adding a bit of bass it is truly pathetic. I run it thru Zoom gfx707 - marshall bb2 - marshall supervibe chorus - ibanez ts5 - crybaby - Marshall cd50 amp.

This sort of makes up the sound a bit but it's not a scratch on my newest acquisition. Still a good back up on stage though

Suits my music however - radiohead, dire straits, stereophonics etc although it does lack a bit of sustain on the higher notes. can get a bit tinny too

Action, Fit, & Finish : 5
well, the intonation was a mile out when i got it. The pickups weren't too bad but they needed a bit of adjusting for my action. the strings were set too high aswell. The rest was fine although the jack input does come a bit loose

Reliability/Durability : 5
It's now only a second guitar on stage but i would still use it (if i was drugged up to eyeballs, drunk out of my mind and couldn't tell the blue of this guitar from the red of my new one)

Ok, so that's exaggerating a bit but i dont think i would choose it as a first guitar anymore. Mind you, it does seem to like annoying me by not damaging in the slightest, no matter what i do to it

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : 5
I've only been playing a year and a bit now but i feel i have become quite accomplished in waht i play. I wish i'd asked how long it would be before i came runing back saying "this guitar is crap" but it's done and dusted now. The strat-pack amp is built like a tank though. I've even thrown it off a stage and it wont break. I want it to break and it wont. It's like, this amp wouldn't even win a contest to get out of a factory quicker than a marshall amp. It just stinks.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $150 used
Submitted 08/03/2000 at 06:09pm by umm...no
Email: aqo87 at hotmail<dot>com

Features : 8
I'm not certain what year it was made but i know it was either 98 or 99. It has 24 frets, 5 way selector, s/s/s. The pickups are stock(in other words, crappy) and i plan to replace them. I dont know what wood this thing is made out of but it has a pretty good sound. It's a standard strat and has pretty good sound.

Sound : 10
I play mostly rock and alternative and some blues. I have a little Peavy 10w practice amp that i am borrowing, hopefully i can get a new one soon. The guitar sounds good clean and excellent distored. It has a nice bright sound on all of the pickups, the neck has a bit more bass, the middle has a nice mid-range sound, and the bridge has a nice amount of treble.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
The action was pretty good but i had to raise the bridge a bit to stop the buzzing. Everything else was set up alright from the factory, but i had problems with some of the wiring.

Reliability/Durability : 9
This guitar has been dropped, stepped on, and almost anything else that can be done to hurt a guitar and it still works. I think it'll last a while. I can depend on it for live playing.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Haven't had to deal with the company.

Overall Rating : 7
This was my first guitar and i've used it for about a year. I would probably buy a different guitar if this one was lost or stolen.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 07/24/2000 at 02:56pm by Anonymous

Features : 8
I think it was made in China, 21 frets, 5-way selector, s/s/s, rosewood fingerboard, tremelo, non-locking tuners.

Sound : 9
It is very good sounding for blues and rock. I use it for grunge rock too. I use it with a Squier Champ 15 amp and a Crybaby Wah. It is noisy with overdrive on 1, 3, and 5. On clean channel it sounds great with the neck pickup. I can get a relatively good hard rock sound with the middle and bridge pickups.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
My guitar had tons of buzzing on it and was very annoying. So I made the saddles to almost as high as they go and the buzzing went away. the pickups were set up almost perfectly. I got one noticable scratch, but what are you going to do. The volume control was loose, but I fixed it.

Reliability/Durability : 10
I would use this guitar for live playing cause I have no other guitar. I think it could stand live playing. The strap buttons are solid, and I would use it without a backup (I would have to).

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : 10
I have been playing for 1 year. I have a Squier amp and a Crybaby. I soon will be getting a Fender Princeton 65. I would buy another one if it were stolen. I love this guitar. I have compared it with a Ibanez RG? that was $200. My guitar was better, except for the buzzing and pickups noise. It was well worth whatever cheap price was paid for it. Fantastic Value


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $159.95
Submitted 07/18/2000 at 10:59am by Ray Helsley
Email: none

Features : No Opinion
I bought it in 1999 at GC and it was made in Indonesia. All the features have been descibed already. I have no idea what kind of wood it is made out of. I've had over a year to evaluate it.

Sound : 10
I use this guitar to play rock and blues. I'm currently using it through a silverface Champ with a Weber P8Q speaker (no effects). It isn't any more noisey than to be expected of a single coil pickup guitar. In fact, I never notice any noise at all! The pickups have a nice sound and are higher output than the Mexican 50's Strat I also have. Bottom line: I like the sound of this guitar!

Action, Fit, & Finish : No Opinion
The action is set pretty low on my guitar, but I'm going to have a professional install a bone nut on it. I'm sure that the nut that is on it is made out of plastic. The fifth and first strings sound dead when played open. The guitar has a pretty Arctic White finish.

Reliability/Durability : No Opinion
I'm going to replace everything with gold plated hardware! I think it will look even prettier with gold hardware. The finish is good and seems like it will last. I'll replace the strap buttons with gold straplocks in the future.

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : 10
I've been playing since 1971. I really like the tone of this guitar! One other thing that I'm going to do is replace the Tremelo with a gold plated model. I don't like the way the stock bridge works. It doesn't work smoothly.
The important thing is the sound of the guitar and I give it the highest rating! Everything else can be fixed.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $130
Submitted 07/08/2000 at 01:56pm by Paul Sohn
Email: jedipsohn at hotmail<dot>com

Features : 8
OK, Not loaded up with stuff, but enough for a beginner...
21 Frets, 1 volume, 2 tone controls.
Standard strat pickups, 3 single coil
Rosewood Neck, strat body, stringthru body
more than enough fora beginner.

Sound : 9
It's sort of regular sound, the three single coils are quite noisy tho. Fits my style ok, I play alternative
I use a tiny crate amp, sounds nice under distortion,
If you set it to the neck pickup both the tone controls at 0, it sounds mellow and sweet.
If you set it to bridge both the tone controls anywhere else, it sounds more biting..
Lotsa variety. I like the sound, it's a strat sound.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
I can't say much about the action...
Pretty much everything was fine, the finish was bright, nothing chipped, but the strings were a bit weak.
The only thing that's annoying...
The input (or output, im not sure) jack's nut is loose.

That's all, it's ok,

Reliability/Durability : 10
Very durable construction. I would definitely use it live if I had nothing else, I would otherwise use it as backup. The hardware will last, it's pretty strong. the finish is good, it hasnt chipped or been scratched yet, and a I haul it around a lot, it gets bumps and stuff, but everything is ok with it. I can depend on it.
I would not use it without backup, because i guess it could break if something went wrong, but it's a good construction.

Customer Support : No Opinion
I havent dealt with fender or squier

Overall Rating : 9
Great guitar, for a beginner. Ive been playing not too long, but i know my guitars by now. If it was stolen, I would get a different one with better pickups, but, it's a great guitar anyways. What I hate about it is that it has all the dials and the pickup switch in a bad place. They get in the way.
I wish it had better quality pickups.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $230 strat pack
Submitted 07/04/2000 at 12:16am by mark green
Email: babar_24<at>hotmail dot com

Features : 7
made in china. 21 frets. basic strat s/s/s. maple neck, body is "select hardwood". my friend sanded his and it didn't look plywood maybe poplar but i doubt it. crappy tremolo. cheesy tuners but get the job done. got this guitar in the strat pak which is a pretty big ripoff but i got it for $230 so it was ok.

Sound : 6
i play mainly just rock. pure rock and a little alternative (zeppelin, aerosmith, everclear) and this guitar did not suit my taste. but that is because almost all my guitar heroes used les pauls and we all know strats and les pauls are 2 different worlds. i use it into a line 6 spider and use to run it into a cheesy squier 15w amp that sounded like poop. pickups hum alot but they're ok. the guitar can make alot of strat type noises because it is a strat! i think it sounds somewhat good it will proabably stay with me forever as my strat (maybe new pickups and tuners and it will be pretty good). its a good sounding guitar for so cheap.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
the guitar seemed pretty well set up out of the box never had to adjust the neck (i think i need to though the action is getting high). pickups adjusted good. really nice feeling guitar and good for so cheap.

Reliability/Durability : 10
this guitar is a nice guitar for $130. really, i'm going to keep it around as my backup guitar i am pretty proud of it. i think if you treat this nice and keep it in its case at home it will last forever. plus, a guitar like this is good to carry around to places you don't want your real nice guitar to get dinged up so you throw this thing in a case and its out the door. my friend took his apart completely even the neck then put it all back together. seems to work well! i wouldn't gig with it but thats just common sense.

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : 9
i've been playing over a year now. i own this guitar and a dean evo special. the dean acts as my 'les paul' guitar and this one acts as my stratocaster guitar. this is a good beginners guitar and lasts a long time as a back up guitar. i can't really complain, i got a well built guitar for very cheap. now of course when i say "very good" and other praises in this review i'm referring to household use and small practices. i would not gig with this guitar because its mainly a practice guitar. i'm sure you could gig with it but it wouldn't go over too well. probably get alot of feedback.

so if you want a good beginners guitar and a good backup guitar, this guitar might be your buddy.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: 600 (strat pack) (Aussy dollar)
Submitted 06/29/2000 at 02:43am by blo me
Email: off sideways

Features : No Opinion
read the others

Sound : No Opinion
read the others
hum on 1,3,5 but its single coil
quit your bitching

Action, Fit, & Finish : No Opinion
good for the money

Reliability/Durability : No Opinion
by the time this dies you'll know what u really want and wont need it.
its durable anyway

Customer Support : No Opinion
deal with your shop/dealer, screw the manufacturer

Overall Rating : 10
This is ezily the best guitar in this price range, regardless of what style u play... best for beginners who are unsure of they're "style"
best axe for the cash, 'nuff said go get it


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $139.99
Submitted 06/23/2000 at 10:52pm by Anonymous

Features : 8
made in china-1999. 21 frets. 3 single coil p/u's;1 voume 2 tone. rosewood fretboard and artic white finish. standard vibrato system/bridge.

Sound : 9
before i bought this guitar, i read the many bad reviews written about it here. but, i bought it anyway. i wasn't going to do a review, but someone has to do this guitar and the Fender/Squier name justice. i'm 30 years old and i've been playing guitar since the days when Studio 54 was alive and well (and i was barely out of diapers). so read this review knowing that i KNOW what i'm talking about. This guitar is very good. 15 years ago you could pay alot more for a guitar that couldn't hold a candle to this modern day affinity strat. and it's not a "beginner's" guitar...it's a guitar!!! before i discuss how it sounds just remember- if you want your guitar to sound good, then you have to learn to play good. if you've only have played for 1 or 2 years, don't blame the crappy sounds you hear on the guitar! go take a look in the mirror,my friend. anyway this guitar is perfect sounding when it's in a clean setting. perfect for rock, country and blues. it can be used for metal too folks! just get a Zoom 505 pedal and you can play hard rock. and on top of that,
the Zoom pedal makes the guitar sound like it's worth $1500. remember, it's not a les paul. strats are known and were built to sound "twangy"(high treble). best part of all if you decide to install more powerful pick-ups, the guitar will sound even better. i have Select/EMG's in an '86 strat of mine. they are inexpensive, powerful and quiet. i have the original single coils in the affinity and i like them just fine. also remember- all single coil pick-ups hum...not just the ones in a squier guitar. just be glad fender took the time so they operate quietly in the 2nd and 4th position.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
the strings needed to be raised slightly to remove fret-wire buzz. the finish is beautiful and flawless. remember to wipe clean the metal parts at the end of everyday. if they rust or corrode, it's because you neglected them. again, don't blame the guitar maker if this happens! it can happen on any guitar.

Reliability/Durability : 8
unlike most of the reviews i have read, i will say that i would use this guitar to play live. but if i was some of you, i would wait a few years until you actually know how to play the guitar.....anyway it's a solid rugged guitar....just don't be suprised if you have to replace the pick-up switch at some point. that happens on lots of strats and copies.

Customer Support : No Opinion
never had a problem that i needed support, but i am a "Fender Historian" and i love this company.

Overall Rating : 10
like i said, i've been playing since the 1970's and have owned and played lots of guitars. the biggest point i want to make is this isn't a beginners guitar...it's perfect for anyone. i know from past experience that maintaining a guitar properly is extremely important...it's a daily commitment. if you do this, you will love your Squier Affinity...i love mine! i named it "Cricket" in honor of Buddy Holly. MOST important, if you want your guitar to sound good its up to you, not the guitar. Fender deserves alot of credit for making a quality guitar that anyone can afford....back in the 1980's, when everyone was buying guitars, you couldn't...i repeat- COULDN'T get a brand new guitar as good as the affinity at the affinity's price.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $140
Submitted 06/21/2000 at 01:02pm by Anonymous
Email: apt<at>msn dot com

Features : 4
99' model, China. 22 frets, s/s/s pickup config. Agathis body. Solid Baltic Blue finish. Strat style body. Standard Bridge. My brother got his included in the squier strat pack. Includes a video, a set of extra strings, a gig bag, a 15 watt squier amp, and a cable. This guitar has the most basic features, clearly intended for beginners, but I think even the most incapable beginners deserve more. Don't you think that beginners should be using guitars that are easier to play rather than harder to play than more expensive ones ? I'm giving it a 4 in this category because of what's included in the whole package. The amp may be crappy, but at least it's 15 watts and not 6 or 10.

Sound : 3
Well, it doesn't suite my musical style at all. I like Metal and Blues. While some would argue that this "Strat copy" is great for classic rock and blues, playing B.B. King on this guitar sickens me. It has a fine classic rock sound and feel, but with it's limited features, that's pretty much it. It sounds terrible with any kind of distortion. The sound comes out cheap and thin, with no tone or sustain. On my brothers amp it sounds absolutley terrible, but not even my 35 watt Brownsville with reverb can save this disaster of a musical instrument. It has tons of frett rattle, especially on frets 1-9 on low E and A strings ( The ones I most like to use for Heavy Metal and those Haunting Melodic Instrumentals I like to write. The only thing I could possibly like about this guitar is that it's compact, reletively light, and reminds me of Jimi Hendrix ( not the sound or look, The fact that sometimes I'de like to set it on fire.)
I hate everything else about it.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 1
What a disaster. What where they thinking? Just because beginners would most likely buy this hunk-o'-junk they think they can get away with charging over $140 for it ? My brother only bought it cause' that's all he could afford, and being his first, he would've just taken anything. I would pay $40 or $50 for this Hideous Clone of a great guitar. As far as the set up of this guitar, It feels as if it was slapped together with tape and elmers glue ( may not be too far from the truth. ) It feels like it's gonna fall apart in your hands. The pickups suck terribly, after a month my brother is already having minor problems with the neck pickup. The frettwires are all uneven and if you look at this guitar from it's profile it looks awful. The pickup selector is just too noisy. But the guitars construction isn't totally crap. The finish looks fine ( allthough the color, baltic blue is hideous ), The Agathis body seems to be good wood for a beginner guitar, and the controls are just fine too. Judging by all it's problems and it's few slight upside, this guitar was put together by Three year olds working a Sixty year old broken down assembly line. this guitar is basically a cheap toy. Maybee an adequate guitar just to have lying around, no, then again, not even that.

Reliability/Durability : 1
Live playing ? it won't even withstand practice. The hardware hasn't lasted, after a month, there are already problems. The finish seems fine now, but it also looks like with a few good years of playing (If the guitar could last that long ) the finish would definatley wear off. The strap buttons suck, I wouldn't play this guitar standing up unless I was gonna purposley drop it at a gig for the sheer pleasure of the audience seeing a piece of crap hitting the floor. It's not a dependable guitar, it's a TOY. I would only use this guitar at a gig as the backup for the backup's backup, and then I'de olny use it if all three of the other guitars completley exploded and dissintegrated into microscopic pieces. On the other hand, it may be fun to bring it to a gig just to smash it on the stage.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Not dealt with them although me and my brother might be soon.

Overall Rating : 2
I've been playing for 2 1/2 years, but my brother ( It's his guitar ) has been playing for a month. I've got an Ibanez acoustic and an Ibanez RG-170 ( great beginners guitar. )I should have asked "What the hell was wrong with this store for having this product for sale". If it were stolen or lost I would tell my brother to count his blessings, be glad he and this guitar have parted ways, and go buy yourself something better. I don't love anything about it and I hate everything about it. All the features suck. My brother didn't compare this to anything before he got it but that's basically all he could afford. After the purchase though I compared it with my Ibanez, a Fender standard strat, and a B.C. Rich warlock wich my friend owns. The Ibanez kicks the shit out of this thing seven ways to sunday for a little less than double the price. The Fender standard Strat should be proud that it isn't a squier, at least it stays together and sounds good. And the B.C. Rich warlock although alot more expensive will destroy the Squier in any category. There are too many things I wish this guitar had, It would be a totally different guitar. DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT PURCHASING THIS GUITAR it's worthless and awful. Don't even buy it if you're an early beginner who knows nothing about guitars and is on a tight budget. Save up for a better beginners guitar like the Ibanez GRX-40 or RG-170, or even a Fender strat, they're only twice as much, but twenty times better.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $300
Submitted 06/01/2000 at 07:50am by Dan Vincent
Email: kefka<at>banet dot net

Features : 8
This is a follow up report to my review made almost six months ago of my Squier Affinity Strat. Now that I've had some time to do some serious stuff with this guitar, I feel it's time for a "Long Term Challenge," to rip off Popular Mechanics. It's still the same Baltic Blue strat made in 99, with the maple fretboard, same tuners, same EVERYTHING except for strings. I replaced the regular stock strings with Fender Super 250 bullets and this guitar KILLS with them. It was made in Indonesia, apparently that's for imports to countries besides the US of A. It has an agathis (pseudo hard pine) body. Paint hasn't chipped or anything yet. I looked behind the pickguard when I opened it up and found it was HSH routed, so that may be an option in the future.

Sound : 8
With a few mods I've made here and there, the guitar fits my style of sound. I'm still using it at my house with my (Now fixed) Fender Frontman 15 Reverb amp. When i perform with the band I'm using a quite nice Fender Princeton Chorus. Yes, it still buzzes on 1,3,5 but I don't really use those positions with what I play. In case you've forgotten, my style is Classic rock, heavy rock, etc. like Pink Floyd, Santana, Cream, etc. Good music. =) I can get good harmonics out of it on pos. 2, since it combines the bridge pup. Roll the tone back and you can get a good, fat sound on pos. 4, which I use for most of my rock stuff. The basic sound hasn't changed, which is good for me.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
When I first got the guitar in december, I fiddled around with it. I didn't really know how to adjust a guitar until my band director at school showed me how to make certain adjustments. Since I live in massachusetts, the weather changes in the seasons and requires a change once in a while. The guitar keeps in tune extraordinarly well. I was thinking about changing the tuning pegs, but I eventually didn't because these ones, although difficult to turn, keep the guitar in tune for weeks at a time. Action needed a slight adjustment, but worked well.

Reliability/Durability : 8
This guitar, as stated before, could withstand being run over a semi. Nothing has broken on it yet. Which is good. I think It will withstand live playing, since i've been with our band at a few gigs and it works great.

My Explorer is my backup. =) Never leave home without one, kiddies.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never dealt with fender.

Overall Rating : 8
I just like the damn thing. I wouldn't get rid of it. When i get a new axe, this will be right beside me. I'll make it into a clock, like my brother did with his flying V. This guitar will never leave.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $129.00
Submitted 05/29/2000 at 11:13am by Ken Doucet
Email: rudos1<at>mediaone dot net

Features : 8
Mine was bought late February of this year (2000), and is a Chinese made model made in 1999. It has the large headstock and chrome enclosed tuners that looked exactly like the ones on the American Standard models. (note not all of the Squier models had these tuners, some had the older F style ones that had a finger indention shape to them and they mostly could not or would not tune properly) I wouldn't care to guess on the wood type of the body but the finnish is very nice, a shiny black body with the bare bones white plastic pickguard. Rosewood fretboard and what I imagine is a maple neck. The tremolo on this baby was the sweetest part. Most of the other Strats in stock had stiff or un-natural feeling vibrato arms but this one feels good and stays in tune well. I assume this one was made on a Wendsday cuz it really is hard to imagine such a well made axe coming off an assembly line. The action is as low as I would have set it myself, the frets and neck were all well set and needed no adjustments. The only thing I have changed is raised the neck and bridge pickups and lowered the middle one. I have the neck and bridge just as high as they can go without the strings touching when i play a note on the last fret. True the pickups are a little cheap and very microphonic but this is easily worked around with the right effects and amp settings. I have found the 2 and 4 out of phase positions to be fine even under the highest gain situations but you have to be more careful in 1,3, and 5. Pickups are the stock three single coils and I had planned on replacing them but have since changed my mind and rock on as is and love it!

Sound : 8
I wanted a fender guitar to compliment my gibson and at 129 bucks it was a no brainer. It suits my style and I can get pretty much what I was looking for with the Squier Strat. I get a higher treblier tone and a classic whammy bar style that i think has much more life to it than the locking type trems and certainly doesn't jut out of the bridge the way most locking systems do. I manage to use the bar for even dive bombs right to the pickups and it stays in tume 95% of the time if the stings are new enough and not overwrapped on the tuning pegs. Definitely was worth playing every Strat in the place (even the 1,000 dollar ones) before picking out this winner because some had major flaws and/or could not be tuned or played properly.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
All cosmetics are great on this gipfiddle and now only the test of time will tell whether or not the components will hold up. I do always keep my guitars in their cases so i have high hopes that it will be around for a long time.

Reliability/Durability : 9
Everything appears well built and solid, i would gig without a backup but I have a backup...

Customer Support : No Opinion
no idea as I'd usually rather do it myself or bring it to Mr. Music in Allston who does all the work that I know better not to try myself.

Overall Rating : 10
How can you beat the deal. My drummer had me help him shop for a good first guitar and we opted for an Affinity Tele that I began to really like so i read some other reviews here on the Strats, played a bunch of them til I found one that felt nice, plugged into a Prosonic amp and that's all she wrote...


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $149.99
Submitted 05/27/2000 at 03:14pm by Anonymous

Features : 8
This underestimated guitar was made in China, 1999, I think. It has 21 frets.... Volume and 2 tone controls, S/S/S pickups..(Very nice for me). Not really sure of model though..but their plastic. It has a nice baltic blue finish. The body is like a Fender strat replica, although the headstock is way bigger. The bridge is just simple but very strong...Rosewood neck... It came with picks, whammy bar, cable,
strap,and a Fender gig bag..this one was cheap, but really
underestimated by some.

Sound : 9
It suits my style like this guitar was meant for me..I play rock/punk/hardcore/contemporary and others... I use this with a Crate
GX15 practice amp through a Zoom GFX707 processor with 90+ effects,
through a DOD grunge and a Boss Xtortion. This thing rocks!!! I think
my pickups are quite different from the rest I looked at the store.
The similar strats had different and lousy looking pickups. I saw this one and started playing it..It sounded way different from the rest. This thing has never been noisy with me. The technique is knowing how to use the 5 way switching system thingy..I use distortion
a lot and on very high levels..You have to switch to the 4th setting
to get quiet..I do this and use the dist. without any problems..
This guitar has really rich and bright sound. Has good tone too..
Using my GFX707, I can imitate tons of artists..A lot of variety if
you ask me..I like everything about this guitar. I only wish it had more pickups...hehehehehehehehe....

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
I got this at Mars Music. They sell quality merchandise.Good
and very good pickup adjustment..This thing is proper in so many ways,although the bridge isn't the greatest..This thing was top quality when I got it..Like brand new..and it still is..This wasn't
some knind of used material..When I look to buy something, I'd rather
get something new than used...No glitches as far as I know..I love
this guitar!!

Reliability/Durability : 10
I've giiged this for countless times..Inclusing jumping around with it and playing hard on it too..Strap buttons are way solid...I surely
can depend on this thing...Like I said, I have gigged with it, and I never needed backup...

Customer Support : No Opinion
It had a warranty with it..I think 1 year..But I never had to deal with Fender.

Overall Rating : 9
I've been playing for a long time now. I just wish it had more pickups and a better bridge and tuner...If stolen,I'd certainly check
something better..I compared it to some Gibson guitars and this is pretty good..(for the price)I recommend buying this if you're looking for a very good guitar for a cheap price..


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $140
Submitted 05/23/2000 at 04:43pm by Andrew McNeill

Features : 7
&quot;crafted&quot; (yeah right) in China

21 Frets

Nice finish (baltic blue)

Have S/S/S configuration (plan to change it)

Rosewood fingerboard

Plywood body

Normal Fender Tremelo

Came with wammy bar and hex keys

Sound : 7
I usually play rock, hard rock, and metal

I use a Line 6 Flextone XL (digital amp) so I get tons of sounds

It sux under distortion

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
Good intonation and the pickups were fine

Reliability/Durability : No Opinion

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : 10
I gave this a 10 because it is just what I wanted, a piece of crap. I'm 14 and i was looking for a project guitar. I have never changed anthing about a guitar other than strings and I wanted to learn to wire it and all the electronics. I plan to change the pickups for Semyour Duncan Hot Rails stacked humbucker in the bridge, a DiMarzio Fast Track 2 stacked humbucker in the neck and then just change the middle with a lace sensor. I'm gonna change the nut to a roller nut and the tremelo to a Hipshot Multiple-Tuning Bridge and the machine heads with Sperzel Trim-Lok Machine Heads. Also I'm gonna change the white pickguard to a white pearloid one and (If i ever get good enough at this wiring thing) install a push/pull 250K pot and coil tape the bridge pickup. This is just what I wanted.(I would have bought all the parts seperatly but most bodies cost more than this guitar)


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $150
Submitted 05/17/2000 at 03:12pm by Gavin Combs
Email: gavincombs at hotmail<dot>com

Features : 8
Made in China. It is a really cool blue color, I believe it is called Baltic Blue. It has 21 frets, 3 single coil pickups, a single ply, white pickguard, and it is thinner than a standard Fender. Very similar set-up to the Mexican Strats. It cost me $150 dollars

Sound : 4
I play punk rock, and I wanted a cheap guitar that I could play until I saved up enough to get a Fender Toronado. This guitar sounded allright at first, but after playing it for a while, I recognized some problems. First of all, I am playing through a Fender Princeton Chorus. I love this amp. My Epiphone Firebird sounds sweet through it, but the Strat sounds to buzzy. It makes terrible humming noises on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th positions. I know it is bottom-line, but the feedback is pathetic. I thought it was doing this because I was using to much gain, but it buzzes even on the clean channel. It does sound really bright though, which could work for my music, but it won't work right without sounding generic and cheap. I play mainly MxPx, Blink-182, and The Ramones type stuff, I think a humbucker would really suit me better.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 3
As I said before, the paint looked great, but it chips really easy. I finally decided to cover it with stickers, it looks very sweet now. The string action is nice however, and the pegs keep it on VERY well. It has never fallen off of me, which is rad cuz' I'm always hoppin' 'round. The pickup selector also makes a clangy echoing sound when I touch it, and the volume and tone knobs are too sensitive, and act like a mic and pick up noise from my hand brushing against them.

Reliability/Durability : 5
This guitar has worked allright so far. It hasn't cut out on me yet and it stays in place. It doesn't sound of high enough quality though to be played at a big gig (mainly because of the hellacious feedback it gets.) I would definately carry a backup however.

Customer Support : 10
Fender is great. They are the greatest company ever. Very helpful. I am a true Fender man. Hopefully I will have my dream guitar--the Toronado soon.

Overall Rating : 2
I would not buy this if you plan on playing anything with distortion. It is far too noisy. I wouldn't leave the Fender camp however, go with their other cheappies, the DeArmounds, they sound great. If it were stolen, I'd buy a DeArmound to have as my backup.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 04/16/2000 at 08:22pm by David Field
Email: dfield at tiac<dot>net

Features : No Opinion
This is hopefully the last follow-up to my reports of 1/29/00 and 2/8/00.
The problems with the sound (the hum and cutting out) eventually were traced when I opened the guitar and found the the ground wire from the jack had parted company with the pot it was soldered to. It had broken, not become unsoldered.
I fixed this and ever since then the guitar has acted fine. I intend to rewire the whole guitar when I get some new pickups.
Re the sound: I had only heard this through a guitar amplifier when the guitar repair guy played it. It sounded good, and because the repair guy's amp was hidden behind his bench I specifically asked him what it was (all I knew was that it was a Fender of some kind). It turns out that it's a FrontMan 15 reverb - hardly the kind of amp to make a cheap guitar sound great! All kudos to Fender for making a guitar that sounded good with an amp at this price.
I bought a replacement pickup, which I thought was a Bill Lawrence blade stacked humbucker. It blew away the stock pickup in the neck, so I called Bill to get a couple more. Turns out that what I'd already bought was a fake! I paid $55 for a fake pickup when Bill sells the real thing direct from www.billlawrence.com for $36 + $5 shipping. Be warned! Even if it says "Bill Lawrence," it doesn't mean it *is* Bill Lawrence.
I still haven't bought pickups from Bill (hopefully I will this week) but I did buy a Line 6 POD which makes all the pickups on the Strat sound good.
So, to reiterate - this is a bargain. A Fender VP on the Fender Forum says that incidents like mine are rare. I believe him because if everyone had the same troubles Fender wouldn't make any profit on them because of warranty claims.
Since buying this I have looked at the Fender Made in Mexico Standard Strat and the American Standard Strat. While both of these feel better acoustically I couldn't justify the price. I also tried a Yamaha Pacifica 112 and I would advise anyone who could afford the $200 this costs to try it. However, you should also try the Squier Standard Strat as well.
But for anyone who sees the Affinity for around $129 and thinks "That must be a piece of cr*p for that price," just try it. You'll be amazed. I'm already making excuses to myself about how I really *need* an Affinity Telecaster and/or a bass.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $99.95
Submitted 04/08/2000 at 01:13am by Nick Blazer
Email: twobitpunk<at>mindspring dot com

Features : 6
1998, or 9(?) it seems to be a leftover model since it was "Blow out" priced, and has slightly different features than the current ones. It was made in China. 22 frets. Unknown wood, but feels and sounds like Alder. Standard Stratocaster pickups(staggered polepieces, which seems to be pretty rare in the Squire line)and the regular compliment of Strat controls. Maple Neck with Rosewood fret board, small(Pre, post CBS style)headstock. "Artic White" finish(Looks more like a creamy blonde though, very pretty), White one piece Pick Plate(11 screws). Came with Whammy bar, allen wrenches, no case.

Sound : 8
This Guitar has a very Sweet sounding Strat tone, lots of Quack in the in between positions, and nice and juicy in the neck alone, and middle alone positions. The bridge pickup is the weak link, it doesn't sound bad, but it's just basically a more trebely version of the others(This holds true for the more expensive Fender Branded Strats too, though.) I actually prefered the sound of the Squire over several Mexican Standards, which I tested on the same amp at the same settings,(A VOX Path finder, in clean, and distorted mode) the Mexi's had surprisingly less volume and punch. I intend to replace the Bridge Pickup with a Seymour Duncan Little 59 humbucker - which I have experienced on another Squire, and it sounded AWESOME, great snarling Gibson like Blues tone, and yet it still sounds completly Straty when combined with the middle pickup. The Pickups don't seem to by very noisy, at least not any more than the ones on the "Real" Strats(I've owned a few California ones of various vintages, and this Squire sounds a whole lot like them!) Pretty much the same deal as with any Stratocaster - swap the bridge pick up with a powerhouse, and you've got a great Axe for just about any style of Music.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
The Action, and intonation are as good as any Strat I've owned. Pickup adjustment is fine. The Machine heads are obviously of cheap origin, compared to the Mexi, and American(and even the more expensive Squire)standards, but they seem to work ok - about as good as the CBS "F" heads from the '70s. The one piece white plate looks good on my creamy white model - but it looks kinda cheap and tacky on the darker colored ones - I'm going to replace it eventually with a MOTO Pearl, which will really give it a Classy look. This Guitar plays like Buttah - no exess glue guming up the frets like you usually find on budget models, and the wood on the neck looks great with nice swirly grains. I can't really think of any complaints in this area, considering the cost of this machine, it's pretty darn Amazing, actually. Once I get better tuners, this Guitar will definatly be a keeper - even as it is, it reminds me quite a bit of the '68 I used to have, and always regreted selling.

Reliability/Durability : 5
I wouldn't use this Guitar for steady gigging, unless you put better tuners on it, the ones that come with it seem to work - but they shure look cheap, I don't think I'd trust them to take the punishment of performing Live on a regular basis. The rest of the gear seems ok, the bridge is solid, and has the CBS style saddles. If you get better tuners, this would be a great Guitar to take on the road - because it looks, plays and sounds like a Cali made Strat, but if it got trashed or stolen, you're only out pocket change! I'm giving it a 5 ONLY because of the Toy tuners - with a better set, I'd give it at least an 8, maybe a 10.

Customer Support : No Opinion
I've never had this serviced, it's pretty simple, and everything works.

Overall Rating : 5
I'm giving a 5 rating here for Squires in general - because there are good AND bad ones out there, but for the Guitar I bought, I'd give it a solid 9, if it had been equipt with heavy duty machine heads, I'd make that a 10. I've been playing since Dinosours ruled the Earth, I've owned several "Real" Strats - ranging in vintage from a 1968 Cali made early CBS(My personal favorite)to a 1987 Japanese model. I can honestly say, that this Squire is about 90% "There" as far as being what I look for in a Stratocaster - a few hardware, and cosmetic enhancements, and I won't be missing that '68 so much anymore! I would caution anyone in the market for one of these though, to try SEVERAL of them before you lay down your money. You will notice that the quality control on these is all over the map - if you get hold of of a good one, it'll make you wonder why anyone would want to pay 6 times the price for an American Standard - but get hold of a bad one, and not only will it not stay in tune, it won't tune AT ALL. I have heard Horror stories about People getting real Lemons in this catagory - but just use comon sense - if the thing is all THAT BAD, why would you walk out of the store with it?! By the way, I got this Strat at a leftover "Blowout" sale price $100.00, the "Current" ones go for $130.00. Also note that the features have changed, the new models have a slightly thinner body, and they went back to the bigger CBS style head stock. These variations don't seem to effect the tone, or playabilty, but I kinda prefer the thicker body - the new ones look slightly Cheesey when seen from the side next to the costlier ones.(I suspect Fender may have done this on purpose, since the earlier ones were a little too close to the real thing for comfort, perhaps they thought making the Squires look a bit lower budget would sway more buyers towards the costlier Mexi, and American Standards.) Overall, I consider myself quite Lucky in finding this Gem, cheese ball tuners aside, this is definatly a Stratocaster that compares very favorably to most Cali built ones. The specs on these tend to change, I think Fender just farms them out to the lowest bidder, but there ARE really good ones out there waitng to be discovered. So if you want to get that classic quack at a next to nothing price, look around and definatly try before you buy - one thing is for shure, it's ALOT more fun to be pleasantly surprised by a $100.00 Guitar, than it it is to be dissapointed in an $800.00 one!


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: english pounds 139
Submitted 04/02/2000 at 12:28pm by M. MOUSE

Features : 7
This guitar is an exact copy of a fender stratocastor except it is made with cheeper parts. The features are a strat shaped body, tremelo system, 3 single coil pickups, 5 way pickup selector switch, rosewood fingerboard, plastic tuners.

Sound : 5
I mainly play thrash metal (slayer,slipknot,biohazard etc) and to be honest this guitar is shit for this kind of music. The guitar was built for blues and soft rock. I anyone out there is even thinking about taking this thing to a metal gig i would have and escape root planed as the crowd would probable try to get on stage and break the guitar

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
The guitar needed a tiny bit of adjustment as they kept snapping but i sorted that problem out easily.

Reliability/Durability : 3
After saying how good the feratures of the guitar were i am going to have to critisize now. At my first gig i was thrashing the gitar like hell when all of a sudden the top strap button fell of and the guitar fell to the ground. The damage was the neck pickup wouldnt work nor would the selector switch and half the paint had come off the front of the guitar. That is one fucked guitar. AT the next gig i took this guitar along and at the end smahed it on stage, however someone after the gig picked the guitar out the bin and have subsiquently fixed it for under #10.

Overall Rating : 4
The guitar is currently being played through a fender frontman 15r with a gfx 707 effects unit. This guitar is crap so i bought a ibanez gax 70 and most recently a jackson ps3 signed by fear factory. DONT BUY THIS GUITAR IT IS TOTALLY SHIT


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $160
Submitted 03/29/2000 at 02:42pm by Dmitry
Email: Crash00200<at>aol dot com

Features : 7
I go this guitar in 98 so i guess it was made in 97. It was made in China. It has 22 frets and the worst and most easily chipping paint job. It has 2 tones one volume and a five-way selector, it uses the s/s/s pickup config'. I got the one with the rosewood fret board but i think the maple looks better. The only thing it came with was the tools that really do nothing for the guitar

Sound : 4
This is a very versatile guitar but only because it is based on the strat. if ur looking for some good tremelo action you've picked the wrong one , it detunes easily. Actually i was able to break my tremelo off. It got stuck in the guitar and wouldn't turn any way so i yanked it and the thin (some kind of metal) broke off and now i can't use it. It is very noisy no matter what u plug it in to.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 3
THis thing was set up alright at the factory of course at the time i couldn't tell being my first guitar. Actually it was the third one i brought home. THe first one chipped while i was bringing it home! the second one had some weird fuzz every time i hit the 5th and 3rd strings. And the third one was alright at the time.

Reliability/Durability : 2
THis guitar will not withstand live playing. First of all i would never bring it out in public just for the sheer fact that it's a squier. Second of all it never stays in the straps especially if ur the type of player that likes to move around a lot. The selector switch on mine went crazy. Maybe soemthings wrong with the wiring but when i switch to the neck pickup the guitar goes mute! I might use it as a backup if the place was really dark and my other guitar exploded.

Customer Support : No Opinion
No

Overall Rating : 6
I have been playing for two years, But i have progressed really fast and just have more needs than this guitar can provide. I own the boss distortion pedal which i think is too weak and A Brownsville Choir boy amp. I wish i had know more about guitars when i purchased it. THere are some many great guitars for this price range including the Epihone LP special II and the SG specialII also ibanez has a better begginer guitar. TH one thing i love about it is that it grows on you . IT's light and easy to just pick up and start playing anytime. It's sleek and has easy access. I prefer an Epiphone LP studio or the G-400 Custom. I wish it had better pickup s and everything else.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: # 130
Submitted 03/27/2000 at 11:48am by Paul Davidson

Features : 7
Squire bottom of the range Affinity . "Crafted" in China . Normal Squire strat features ; Maple bolt on neck, rosewood fingerboard . S/S/S cheap pickups . Red finish, white scratch plate . Vintage style tremola system . No Accesories ( I bought it from a catalogue that sells TV's etc...0

Sound : 6
Until I tried other guitars I thought it sounded great . Then I tried my brothers Epiphone Special 2 . The strat sounds bright and clear (not far off a "real" strat). But has a (and I don't like saying this) "cheap" sound . It's an excellent beginers guitar, if you can't stand Gibson/Epiphone . My advice is this :
go around and try out guitars (don't just buy it 'cause Jimi or Angus have one).
If you choose a squire strat go for the standard series (not too much more $/#), with a maple fingerboard .
Don't choose Red go for black or white .

Action, Fit, & Finish : No Opinion
My guitar was set up VERY well, however there are rumours that squire quality goes from almost Fender-like to dismal fall apart in your hands . As i've said try and see your guitar in the shop . Changing the pickup selector sounds like a gun going, but this was my only comlaint, although you've got to watch that the control jack doesn't come loose (happens all the time) and the volume knob fell off (easily fixed) oh, and the tremola system puts the guitar chronically out of tune . But that's all

Reliability/Durability : 8
This guitar is quite tough, i wouldn't throw it down the stairs though . The neck chips easy, and the SQUIRE transfer can be scratched off . It's a well built guitar though

Customer Support : No Opinion
Have'nt dealt with anyone, however if anyone out there lives in Stirling (Scotland) they should buy from Andy Simpson, he really knows his stuff . Not roadshow music .

Overall Rating : 7
If you're considering this guitar, then my advice is go for a Epiphone Special 2, or an SG G310 . If any one has a left-handed Epiphone or Gibson SG for sale under #200 . Contact me .


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $200
Submitted 03/24/2000 at 07:47pm by Anthony
Email: Go2Michigan at cs<dot>com

Features : 7
A basic strat. 21 frets, Fender standard tremelo, 3 single coils,1 vol 2 tone. all the cheap squier woods. Blue finish. Standard stuff.

Sound : 8
Every body needs a strat in thier sound. Somewhere... I use a Bandit 112 and a Boss ME-30 with it. It gets an 8 because for a good strat sound...you want Fender, not Squier.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
Finish is really easily chipable. Fine with every thing else.

Reliability/Durability : 7
I hate floating bridges. Pop a string...your outta tune.( Badley too) This is my back up guitar, so I doesn't take a beating like my main guitar. Squier is basically a beginer learning guitar. Not made for live gigs.

Customer Support : 4
Only one year warranty. fender's is lifetime. See the differece?

Overall Rating : 6
Get a stop tailpeice guitar ( Gibson/Epiphone Fes Paul or Fender Telecaster.) If you NEED some kind of tremelo system: For dive-bombers get a double locking floyd Rose equipped guitar. For light 60's trem's go for a bigsby or, if you can afford it...a rickenbacker vibro arm (on Ricks only) Fender standard tremelos are too touchy for light stuff and untune too easily for dives.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $139.99
Submitted 03/12/2000 at 06:01am by Dave

Features : 9
This is a '99 Chinese Affinity Strat. I LOOKS NICE!!!!. most people go straight for the guitars that are black w/ black pickgaurds. Mine is a really nice red w/ a white pickgaurd. 21 frets, 2 tone, 1 volume, 5 way pickup selector. Pickups are S/S/S which most people say suck but they're not too bad. I think its passive. Solid maple neck, and i think body's poplar. Most poeple will say the reason that squiers are so cheap is because they're made out plywood. This cant be true for two resons-1) the way it's carved and shaped, and 2) It sounds too good to be plywood. The bridge is standard Squier tremolo, but the retard at Manny's that i got it off of didnt give me a trem bar. Standard tuners, medium jumbo frets, nothing special here.

Sound : 10
WOW!!! It suits my style perfectly( pearl jam, soundgarden, nirvana...). I use w/ a Fender frontman 15G. No effects, but my first impression was to buy a BOSS Turbo Dist. pedal, but this thing has gain on which is the exact same thing( makes some feedback, which is really annoying). Some noise, but I play grunge so noise isnt a problem. The sound varies with the pickup switching and its 5 way, so you know the variety. The 3rd string has a really annoying weird twang on it, and I think its cheap pickups.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 7
The guitar was set up great at the factory. Pickups are set up fine and so was the bookmatching( if it was bookmatched, I cant tell). As i sed before, the finish is great. The nut is very low quality(I would guess it costs 1-2$), and the pickup selector clicks like crazy, but thats okay.

Reliability/Durability : 10
I dont play live that often, but when i do and im using this, Idont need a backup. Hardware's gonna last and the thing is heavy and sturdy as a tank. Finish is great, and strap buttons are solid( most poeple will tell you that Fender buttons suck, but thats not true).

Customer Support : No Opinion
I think its a life time warranty. Never dealt with them, never will(I heard they're jerks, though).

Overall Rating : 10
This is my only Squier and I also own a mustang. I which i had asked if it came with the trem bar. If it were stolen i would find the theif and beat him crapless with, than get another one off the waranty. I love the finish the strings, 5 way selector, and the bridge. I hate the cheap pickups and the weird 'twang' on the 3rd string. This is one GREAT guitar. every body should go out and buy one or else.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: Canadian 200
Submitted 03/05/2000 at 11:32am by Kyle
Email: kyle dot waldner<at>sympatico dot ca

Features : 5
This one was made in China. It's got all the features all the other stratocasters, 3 single coils. It's black (polyuro-whatever) and the maple neck actually feels pretty good. All the mechanical parts are very bottom end.

Sound : 2
The sound that comes out of this thing is truely terrible. The sounds are very thin and one dimensional. Don't even attempt to get distortion out of this thing, becuause it won't happen, unless you like the sound of one-thousand garbage trucks unloading at once (annoying). On the clean channels, it stinks. On the bridge pick-up, the bluesish sound isn't totally awful. It has to be played with the volume all the way up, or else you WILL be sorry.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 3
The volume knob is crackily, as is the pickup selector. At certain point in the volume knob, the guitar goes mute. The low action is actually quite nice. It is very easy to play. The body was no where as nice as it sould be. The wood looked as is it has multiple tension warps. The pickups had small corrosion spots after only three years.

Reliability/Durability : 1
I'm emabarassed to take this guitar anywhere, but it is the only on I can afford. The tuners stink. The strings go out out tune constantly. I woulde never gig with this, nor would I ever use it as a backup. It will probably die in a year or so.

Customer Support : No Opinion
I can't get any warranty help becuase my friend bought it and only had it for a year. He took really good care of it, as did I. Despite the TLC, it still deteriorated.

Overall Rating : 2
I wish I knew more about guitars when I bought this one. I could have saved myself. The action is the only thing I like about it. If is was lost or stolen, I would be happy. I would get any insurance money from a theft I could and get a Jackson JJ2 maybe, or something a lot better. This is even a bab guitar for beginners.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $119
Submitted 03/05/2000 at 10:49am by Brian
Email: BauerQB at hotmail<dot>com

Features : 8
I got this in January 99, so I assume it was a 98. It was made in China, as indicated on the lovely stamp on the neck. 22 frets, S/S/S pickup arrangement, 1 volume 2 tone, standard Strat configuration. Pickups are stock, nothing special, but not as bad as most people say they are. Tremolo bridge, although I don't use it, it'll kill the tuning after one dive. It came in a decent arctic white finish, with the cheap one-ply pickguard. Tuners are cheapo's too, but they hold tune pretty well (surprisingly). I give it an 8 because it comes with enough features for anyone to get the sound they want.

Sound : 9
Once again, this guitar is nothing special, but it can hold its own. I play through a Peavey Classic 50 (2 12") and really like the rhythm tone I can get, after I fooled around a bit and found the settings that fit my needs. I put it into the second position (neck/middle), dial the first tone switch down to 4-5 and the second all the way to 10. I keep the volume up because it keeps it real even and glossy. With those settings, it delivers an AWESOME rhythm sound. Distortion is ok, but I'll stick to rhythm. I give it a 9 for the rhythm sound I can get.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 7
It was set up "ok" when I got it. I took it back to Guitar Center and had them adjust the neck, because it buzzed after the 5th fret. I raised teh pickups to about half the distance from the pickguard to the strings, with it a little higher on the bass side. with this setup, I got some good tones. The neck is perfect, frets ae even, and it feels good in the hand. Finish was ok, not sloppy, but no figured top either. :) I give it a 7 for the fact that it got out of the factory with that amount of buzz, but that can be fixed easily.

Reliability/Durability : 10
This may not be the best sounding guitar, but it can go through hell and back again. This guitar withstands live playing very well. My buddy dropped his NUMEROUS times, without even causing a scratch. The hardware leaves much to be desired. I definitely am going to replace the tuners. I changed the buttons to Schaller strap-locks, the stock buttons are ok, but I prefer the safety of strap locks. I've gigged without a back-up, no problems, but I usually bring along my trusty Samick, just in case. I give it a 10 due to the fact I can throw it off my roof without concern.

Customer Support : No Opinion
I don't know much, but with as cheap/solid this guitar is, don't fix it, get a new one

Overall Rating : 10
I've been playing for about 5-6 years, acoustically, and got into electrics about 2 years ago. If this guitar was stolen, I'd hunt the bastard down, throw him against a wall, and yell at him for wasting time on such a cheap guitar. Then I'd probably give him a $20 and send him on his way. My Squier s different from mosts. I've noticed the Affinity Strats now have a thinner body (either 20 or 40 mm, I don't really know, I hate the metric system) compared to my thicker one ( once again either 25 or 45 mm). I also think my neck is different. It seems longer and fatter than other Affinity's. Overall, this is a solid guitar. It has some decent heft to it, but not too much to weigh you down on stage. I give it a 10 for the fact that it will suffice until I can get enough money for the Godin I want. :) It's a good guitar to use until you can get enough money for something better.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 02/08/2000 at 09:10pm by David Field
Email: dfield at tiac<dot>net

Features : No Opinion
This is a follow-up to my review of 1/29/2000. It seems my criticisms of the guitar are mainly due to a faulty component.

Sound : No Opinion
I mentioned that the there was an intrusive hum. I tried all the channels on the Peavey KB100 amp and found that the hum could be reduced to somewhat unintrusive on the third input (electrically the same as inputs 1 and 2). With level tone settings (the Peavey has four tone controls) I could get a Buddy Holly sound. If I tried to change anything I ran right into the hum again.
I presumed that this was an amp fault and I decided to get a Korg footpedal (the AX1G). I tried the Strat through this using the Peavey amp and some Sony MDR-V600 headphones. In both cases the sound was terrible. Plenty of hum and general wierdness.
This led me to believe that there was a fault with the guitar. I have a 20-year-old Hondo Explorer with humbuckers, so I tried that through the Korg. WHOA!! It sounded great, far better than the Strat and most of all, far louder.
Tonight I took the pickguard off the Strat and poked around (not too literally!). I wasn't impressed with the quality of the soldering, nor with the unshielded leads from the volume pot to the output jack. I can't understand why the leads from the pickups to the five-way switch are shielded but the volume pot to the jack isn't, because unless you have the volume up full the signal from the volume pot will be less than that from the pickup.
However, I couldn't find any place where there might be a strand of wire accidentally laying across a ground lead, so I re-assembled the guitar. Suddenly I found that I was getting a far more powerful signal. I tried one or two presets on the Korg and everything was OK until I moved the pickup selector switch two or three times and the volume suddenly went back to its old level. I found that if I bent the lever sideways (i.e. toward the bridge) I could get the full output. but I don't have a third hand to do this all the time.
Anyway, the result is that there's a faulty selector switch, so my comments on the hum seem to have been overstated. I didn't have the chance to play as I had been playing before, so I can't say how intrusive the hum is if the guitar is OK. I may try to get Guitar Center to fix this under warranty or I may do what I was planning to do all along - get a Carvin pickguard, pickups, and switch.

Action, Fit, & Finish : No Opinion
Two further comments in this area. I dropped the action a whole turn of the allen screws at the bridge saddles. I think the G string rings a little, but generally the action is as low as anyone would ever want. So I still think the woodworking is outstanding.
I noticed when I had the pickguard off that the body is routed for three humbuckers if that's the way you want to go. I might get the Cavin pickguard with a humbucker in the bridge position - I'll see how the guitar sounds with the stock pickups when the selector switch is fixed/replaced. But it's nice to know that humbuckers are an option in any position.

Overall Rating : No Opinion
By the way, when I bought the Korg AX1G I also bought a bunch of picks so the dog biscuit is now retired - in fact, it's currently inside my dog.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $139.99
Submitted 01/31/2000 at 03:19pm by Ryan
Email: ertai72<at>excite dot com

Features : 7
I think it's from 1998. Made in Mexico. Three single coil pickups. It has a tremelo (which can be fun, even though it makes it horribly out of tune). Made of poplar, probably cause that's the cheapest that could be bought. I wish it had a humbucker in the bridge, as this would be better for soloing.

Sound : 9
One thing that I like about this guitar is its versatility. I play a lot of different music styles. I usually use the neck pickup because I like the mellow sound it gives. You can get some pretty warm tones from this baby.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 6
The action was pretty good, but I wish I had had the sense to get the les paul special instead of this since it's easier to play. Everything was fine with this guitar at first, although eventually something a little weird happened with the finish, there's only one little hole in the finish, and it's hardly noticeable, but alas it's there.

Reliability/Durability : 9
For my level of playing I can depend on this guitar. That's basically all I can say for this category.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Haven't had to deal with the good folks at Fender yet.

Overall Rating : 9
If you're just starting guitar I would recommend getting this, the Epiphone Les Paul Special, or the Ibanez GAX70. I was going to get the Epiphone one, or this one. I'm glad I got this one so I could get a good amp, instead of the crappy one that came with the Epiphone. I've only been playing for 2 years, so maybe I don't know what the hell I'm talking about. I plan on soon getting either the route 101 solimar, or the Fender Standard Stratocaster(could somebody who knows a lot about guitars please give me advice on which one), maybe I'll then sell this to someone. Maybe I'll keep it and use it as a decoration or something.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $105
Submitted 01/29/2000 at 08:52pm by David Field
Email: dfield at tiac<dot>net

Features : 8
This is the standard el cheapo Strat, with rosewood fingerboard, made in China. Usual three single coils, master volume, tone for middle pickup, tone for neck pickup, tremelo.
I looked at a maple neck model, and discovered that it was made in Indonesia, and had different tuners (oval) and back of neck finish (slightly better, but I don't mind). The pickup polepiece heights seemed different also.
Despite what some people say, I would bet that these guitars are made by computer-controlled woodworking machinery.
The price on this was $129. I found a couple of nicks in the paint job, which I thought might be worth $10 off, but for once I kept my mouth shut and the salesman said "I can do it for $105." Woo-hoo!
Asked for (and got) trem arm and truss rod and bridge wrenches, but no high-class cardboard box.

Sound : 5
My music style is basically 55 year old pimply guy trying to sound like 15 year old pimply teenager. I've been paying badly for forty years (certainly not good enough for public consumption) and this is a last-ditch attempt to get better and pick up chicks (if my wife lets me).
In other words, it makes noises but I wouldn't like to say what kind of players would prefer it. The sound is thin, but I am playing it with no effects through a Peavey KB-100 keyboard amp (for my synths, which I also can't play).
However, the hum. The Peavey has never been a healthy amp, and I suspect that it could do with some fixing, but turn up the guitar's volume and you dial in a massive dose of hummmm. It varies depending on the position of the guitar to the amp, but I can't see exactly what's making it worse. You can cut down the hum if you touch the strings. If you played this in a band you wouldn't notice the hum except between numbers, but I can see why people change the pickups. It didn't help that they were fairly low when I bought the guitar.
Although the pickups are somewhat microphonic I don't see that this would be a problem for most people. Jab at them with your pick and they make noises. Solution? Don't jab at them with your pick.
The tone controls seem to cut the treble to a massive degree, so that a reasonable volume at full treble becomes almost inaudible at less than 5.
My plan is to get a Carvin pickup/pickguard set for $100 and a Zoom 505, with maybe a Zoom amp simulator. I figure that this will make the sound halfway decent.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
Well, this is the main attraction. The woodworking on this guitar is phenomenal (Yay CNC!). I have played about a couple of dozen strats for very short periods since the late 50s and this one is as good as any. In fact, I now have a guitar which I cannot blame for my lack of ability.
As I said, the pickups could have been higher. And as I also said, there were pretty minor dings in the body, and when I got the guitar home I discovered another small imperfection that had been painted over. I suggest that if you decide to buy one of these that you should run your hand over the front and back to try to find imperfections (don't worry about the other people in the store thinking you're getting off on it).
All of these things are only apparent if you look for them. I just checked over the nut (fine) and examined the rest of the guitar and couldn't find anything else wrong.
I looked at about a dozen of these, and mine and the Indonesian maple neck had the lowest action. I would guess that it's more a matter of adjustment - none of the necks looked bad. If you had told me that this was some $1000+ Strat I'd believe you, based on the action.

Reliability/Durability : 8
Well, I can truthfully say that in the twelve hours that I've had this guitar, it's held up well. Others have spent longer with their guitars before passing a usually favorable opinion, and from everthing I've seen it looks like mine will be as strong.

Customer Support : No Opinion
About all I can say is that I spent some time at Fender.com and that was fairly reasonable. Obviously I haven't had to deal with Fender. I didn't even check, but I presume I have a one-year warranty.

Overall Rating : 10
I own a bunch of older synths, but I've had a Hondo Explorer for about 15 years, and it's been gathering dust. It's certainly not as good a guitar as the Strat.
What blows me away is that when I was a teenager in the UK in the 1950s, a Strat was around ten weeks' before-tax pay for an unskilled man (over 21). Even if I'd paid Guitar Center's normal price, that comes to around 25 hours at minimum wage (and I earn much more than that). I'd rate this guitar at around 80-90 percent of the Strats of the 1950s. Really.
My dream is to get good enough to play for money. If that ever happened, I'd get a Carvin, which is the best guitar I've ever played. But for now I'm really happy with what I have, and I know that it's up to me to make something of it - I can't use the guitar as an excuse.
The price is the obvious attraction, but I tried the range of low-cost Epiphones, Danelectros, and De Armonds. Maybe the pickups might have less hum, but nothing played any better. And for the price, i forgive the noisy pickups.
Thanks to everyone who's taken the time to give opinions here - I know that I would have been far less likely to buy *anything* if Harmony Central didn't exist.
One last tip: if you go shopping for a guitar, remember to take a pick. It's kinda embarrassing to have to strum a guitar with a dog biscuit.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $110.00 used
Submitted 01/25/2000 at 11:36pm by Bruce Edwards

Features : 2
This Squier Affinity Stratocaster was made in China in 1998.I purchased the Squier Strat used. It is Arctic White laminated.22 Frets.It has the standard cheap pickups, volume, two tone controls and a 5 way switch. I mentioned to my nephew that this was a great entry level guitar. He answered by calling horse manuer, horse manuer. But, it is still a great entry level guitar.

Sound : 3
Since I am learning I haven't developed any musical style. I have been crazy about progressive rock for 30 years, which can encompass all styles of guitar and a few styles which are unique styles also.I play the Squier through a Brownsville 15 amp and a Zoom 505. I get some interesting sounds depending on which settings I use. It is noisy though. When I get good enough to jam or even perform I will definitely get a much better guitar such as an American Standard Strat or a Carvin DC135T. My other guitar is a Sigma Martin 28AE which is no contest between that and the Squier.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 3
At first I thought the action on this was pretty good until I tried an American Standard Stratocaster and then I realized what good action was. I have not had any work done on this guitar. In the future I may replace the pickups and redoo the electronics. It would be a great guitar to learn on.

Reliability/Durability : 2
Again, I do not think I would want to perform with this guitar, maybe jam when I get better.

Overall Rating : 3
I've been playing about 2 months. Again I also own a Sigma Martin 28 AE which has great action for an acoustic. If it was stolen I would not buy another one. I am saving up for an American Standard Stratocaster or a Carvin DC135T. I figure that I will make the purchase about a year from now. What I love about it is that it is easy to pick up and play. It plays about as good as I play right now.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $250
Submitted 01/23/2000 at 06:25pm by Adam
Email: sextypething11 at yahoo<dot>com

Features : 6
This guitar was made in 1998. It's got 21 frets. There are 3 low grade single coil p/u's. I'm not sure what kind of wood it is, probably maple, but definately not plywood. Standard strat bridge and tuners. Medium sixed frets.

Sound : 5
Sound.... thats a little tough on this axe. Clean sound is pretty airy, and bright. Distorted, its crunchy, and dirty. In between the 2 there is the mildly dirty sound. I don't like it. The 'cheap' sound of the p/u's really come thru on that setting for some reason. The tone can go from muddy to jangly.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 5
Action? I didn't know what action was when I bought this guitar. And i frankly dont remeber what it was like factory. But I've since tweaked it. The poor electronics on this guitar really hurt it. The volume pot is wearing out and the selector is very noisy. And the P/U's are cheap.

Reliability/Durability : 10
One thing about this axe is its durable as all hell. It's been dropped, banged, kicked and all that happened to it was a few paint chips. (character!). I've put a bunch of stickers on it and it only enhanced the looks. I never have been in a real gig, just jammed w/ other players.

Customer Support : No Opinion
NA

Overall Rating : 6
I've had this axe for a year and have been playing for 2. If it were stolen, I'd kick then bastards ass if I ever caught 'em. And then I'd either buy and Epiphone Texan acoustic or an LP junior or an SG or I'd buy a mexican strat. (I'm very indecisive). feel free to email me and talk guitars.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $Cheap
Submitted 01/06/2000 at 12:50pm by The Great Theomund

Features : 5
Twas made in 1999 in an indonesian sweat-shop, has 21 frets, one volume and two tone controls, 3 single-coil pickups, an (apparently) maple neck with a body made of some sort of wood that is usually used to build public housing with, a neat white finish, a standard strat bridge, really awful non-locking tuners, a really nice neck, and that's it.

Sound : 9
It sounds awesome on the 2 and 4 positions, really neat, but the other positions are garbage because of the huge amount of noise. Seems to me that it would fit many genres, including but not limited to: country, punk, and classic rock. Overall the pickups are pretty horrible, but they just have a certain magic on the 2 and 4 positions that I can't get over. Note: I give this a nine only because of how awesome the 2 and 4 positons are.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
It's fine. Buzzez a little, but I don't mind.

Reliability/Durability : 7
I trust it more than I trust my pacifica, but that isn't exactly saying all that much. It would survive if you dropped it. Seems solid.

Customer Support : 1
I've never dealt with them, but since I'm so evil, I'll just give them a 1.

Overall Rating : 9
It's a nice guitar. I'm intent upon ripping out the pickups and putting lace sensors in, but then I won't get those orgasmic 2 and 4 sounds... Oh well. What are you gonna do? I'm also intent upon putting locking tuners in, though it does stay in tune relatively well. It's a good guitar for incredibly poor people like myself.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $150 (i think)
Submitted 01/04/2000 at 12:46pm by mike
Email: mike at ultimateguitarpage<dot>com

Features : 4
This is a Squier Stratocaster made in the worst of all places a guitar could be made: INDONESIA. It has 21 frets, 3 single-coil pickups, 2 tone controls, 1 volume control, 5-way selector switch. The neck is maple, the body is cheapo plywood stuff. I wouldn't be suprised if the body was made of plastic. Normal bridge like any other strat.

Sound : 3
I like to play all kinds of music, usually using distortion. This guitar sounds bad for all of them. I use it with a peavey Bandit 112 an Ibanez Distortion and an Ibanez Echo. The pickups are very noisy. They pick up all the sounds you DON'T want. They hum worse than any other strat I've ever heard. You will have to have a very nice amp to get this guitar to even sound okay. It sounds pretty bad with distortion. The tone controls don't effect the sound as much as they should. I want to get a seymour duncan humbucker at the bridge. The only thing I like about this guitar is the price. And the box it came in was pretty neat.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 7
I was amazed that the action isn't bad. The finish is pretty good. There were no finish flaws. The pickup selector makes way too much noise when changing settings. Overall, it looks okay but sounds as bad as my mom's 30-year old "Lark" acoustic piece-o-junk.

Reliability/Durability : 2
This guitar does withstand live playing, but i can't withstand playing live with it. The output jack broke once, and i had to go get the wires fixed. Now the output jack comes loose all the time, but i can't do anything about that without taking off the pickguard. Because the jack is loose, if I bump it while playing it makes crackle noises. The tremelo/bridge are garbage. If I even touch the tremelo my G-string drops to F#. Almost always when I use the tremelo, I lose my tune badly. This is one of the worst parts of this guitar. I am forced to use it live often because my acoustic has been gone getting repaired for TWO FREAKING MONTHS.

Customer Support : No Opinion
I haven't Dealt with Fender.

Overall Rating : 2
I have had it for a long time, and it hasn't fallen apart YET. I wish i would have known what a good guitar sounds like when buying this guitar. If it was stolen, I'd probably feel very sorry for the poor guy who stole it. The best feature is how tough the finish is. It also works very well as a doorstop, baseball bat, blowgun target, or for getting christmas lights out of a tall tree. I am just going to have to forget about this guitar and go to my buddy Mark's house, where I can play his Gibson Les Paul Standard or his Ibanez Steve Vai through his Marshall Stack. Any body want to trade my Squier for an Ibanez RG-570?


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $309
Submitted 12/29/1999 at 01:39pm by Dan Vincent
Email: kefka at banet<dot>net

Features : 7
Your standard Stratocaster stuff... 21 frets, maple fingerboard, single 1-ply white pickguard, 5-way selector, three single coils (somewhat cheap), one volume pot, two tone pots, covered tuners, two trees, very tough strap buttons, floating tremolo, baltic blue finish, medium frets... Made in 1999, brand new from Indonesia. The reason it gets a seven is because, well, it's a strat, it's tried and true, and this guitar adds nothing to it.
I bought it with a Stratocaster pack Wood bros. offered, different than the fender pack. It came with a Frontman 15R amp and a standard Fender gig bag.

Sound : 6
The sound is okay - assuming you're using positions 2 and 4. I've been playing guitar for a year and a half now, and I'm an intermediate player. I've gotten my hands on many other Strats and other kinds of guitars... This strat is middle of the road. Assuming I put a little work into it, it'll sound better. I play classic rock, jazz, and blues, and I find that with what I do, it works fine until I can get my Tex-mex.
Positions 1,3,5 have the usual stratocaster 60-cycle hum, it really bothers me, so I use 2 and 4 mostly. It is excellent on a clean channel, but I almost always have distortion on, and in overdrive it really gets to me. It's not shielded well (gotta fix that) and unless you touch a metal part (the screw next to the pickup selector is good), it has a very slight noise in 2 and 4. If you don't use too much gain, it works fine in distorted, but I like playing lots of clapton and floyd, so when i go on the solos it gets aggrivating.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 7
The action was middling from the factory. Everything was in place, the truss rod just needed a bit of adjusting. Everything else worked fine. Pickups need to be raised, I won't replace them because I'll get my tex-mex in a few months.
The tone pots might die eventually, and the covered tuners really do suck. I don't use the tremmylo because I head a floating trem, when overused, will ruin the bridge. My friend has an Am-std with a floyd rose, and I almost hand to strangle him when he started dive bombing my guitar.

Reliability/Durability : 9
This guitar, like all other Fenders I've come in contact with, could withstand being run over by a semi. The pickguard does collect a lot of dust, but a little mini-vac I have solves the problem nicely. It's gotten rammed into cabinets, fallen off couches, and withstood an all too curious little sister.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never had to deal with Fender.

Overall Rating : 7
Excellent starter guitar, and an excellent guitar-guitar with a few mods. I will keep using it religiously till i get my tex-mex. My jazz band director, who has a degree in guitar, played it and asked how much it cost and when I said "169 dollars outside of the package" his eyes bugged.
Of course, that was when it wasn't plugged into an amp. ^~


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 12/28/1999 at 12:50pm by Steve
Email: Deft_Chauffeur<at>hotmail dot com

Features : 9
It's a Chinese Strat with 23 frets.Its a laminated wood top and the finish survives whatever i hit it with.. Its got a 5 way, 2 tones, and one vol. knob.Its a standard S-coil config and sound pretty cheap unless you lower the top pickup and raise the rear.Im not sure the miodel of the pickups but ill probably replace them with some dean hotrail humbuckers. The electronics havent gone bad yet, but a lot of my frineds have trouble with the bottom pickup on the selector switch to where it works to the effect of a toggle. Body is mahogany and the neck is also, it was mounted with a rosewood fretboard. It was a basic black body with a white pickboard that ill probably replace. Tune-o-matic bridge and fat neck.. Hella accessories were included... An amp, picks, wiring stops, strap,5 foot cord, 14 inch cprd, chromatic tuner... etc...

Sound : 8
IT suits my style of music, which is punky, and thrash, and a little heavy metal stuff..Its not bassy enough but i regulate that on my amp. ITs not noisy unless you adjust the pickups as i mentioned above.Pretty full sound, its not muted or anything like guittars ive played with before. I play int with an Boss MT-2 distortion pedal and a Jimi Hendrix wah... I al;so use my friends GT-3 and can produce any sound i really desire on it. I dont like as i mention earlier how trebely the damn thing sounds.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
The actioon and setup was fine, the people at fender obviosly knew what they were doing when they built this machine.Pickups needed a little adjustment, bridge was routed fine, and the finish and wood were in extremely good qualioty when i recieved it.

Reliability/Durability : 10
I pretty much guarentee this thing will withstand gigs, especially if it withstands my room and the woman that wont put i down. The finsish has been slapped around and so far no scratches or knicks... And my friend haad his for four years and its still truckin with him. The strap buttons are solid but i recomend using strap locks. I COuld use this for a great while and probably alwasy depend on it.I wouldnt gig without a backu cause there is always room for an accident or two. I always recomend using a backup.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Havent dealt with em... hjope i dont have to.... i hate operators.. they annoy the piss outta me

Overall Rating : 9
Ive been playing for about 3-4 years give or take... i havent always been dedicated but im really started getting into now that i have a good guitar. If it were stolen or lost, i might buy the same type, but id rather have an SG or Les Paul, but who wouldnt? I still really like this guitar and recommend it to begging users and intermediate users.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $140
Submitted 12/25/1999 at 07:29pm by Michael

Features : 6
Made in Japan or something. 21 frets. Volume, two tone knobs. Three single coils with 5-way selector. Pickups suck and deserve to be shit on. Crap plywood body. Strat style body. Standard Fender Strat bridge, non-locking tuners.

Sound : 2
I play mostly hard rock/metal, mostly like Metallica or Creed. It absolutely, positively sucks for this style. I use a Digitech processor, Crybaby 535Q wah, and several Mesa Dual Rectifiers with Mesa cabs. It is noisy on all settings. Even with the best amps and effects, it still sounds like I bought it at K-Mart. The guitar can make this really good out of tune sound, especially after use of whammy bar. It may be good for pissing off the neighbors, you know, if your neighbors are good guitarists and know what shitty tone is.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 6
The guitar was fine from the factory, a real eye pleaser, but that's all. It doesn't matter how the pickups are adjusted, they still sound bad. The action is about as good as the action that Rush Limbaugh gets.

Reliability/Durability : 6
If you are playing this thing live, you need to check yo self fo you wreck yo self. This thing won't break, but I guarantee you it will sound bad. My strap buttons fell off after having the thing for about a year. This guitar should not be played without a back up because this guitar should be no higher than a back up, like sixty or seventy guitars down the line.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never dealt with them.

Overall Rating : 3
I have been playing for four years and let me say the Ibanez I play now blows this guitar to some other planet. I wish I knew more before I bought this mistake. If this was stolen or lost, I would rejoice and stroke the comforting neck of my new Ibanez and tell it how much I love it. I hate everything about this guitar, especially it's shitty sound. This guitar is only good for beginners.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $139
Submitted 12/19/1999 at 06:29am by Anonymous

Features : 9
Made in China price $139 from Mcfayden music

Sound : 9
I have only been playing for a year,so this guitar is perfect for me.I play it through a FENDER FRONTMAN 15 amp.I play blues and classic rock and this works fine for me.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
It is black with a white pickguard.The action is o.k. but I might have it adjusted.The finish shines

Reliability/Durability : 10
I have had no problems.It survives my 4 year old constantly messing with it.

Overall Rating : 10
Its the perfect guitar for someone starting out,or someone who does'nt think a good guitar has to cost a lot of money.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $129
Submitted 12/16/1999 at 01:38pm by Jack Partington
Email: partingj<at>phasemetrics dot com

Features : 8
I just purchased a Made In China Squire Affinity Stat for my nephew, as he wants to learn guitar. I have been playing for 25 years and own a Les Paul Standard and a American Standard Strat. This Affinity has 21 frets, a solid hardwood body, a rosewood neck and a Torino Red paint job. All the standard strat features are included, although the tuners have a very low tuning ratio and require a light touch and a bit of patience.

Sound : 8
The pickup sounds are a tad brighter than my American Standard, and lower output, but it sounds fine.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
the construction is top-rate. I was very surprised. The neck fit is excellent, the set-up out of the factory was fine except for intonation, which easy to adjust. The paint job is superb, as is the satin finished neck. There were no flaws on this guitar.

Reliability/Durability : 10
I feel this guitar will stand up to anything a 13 year old can dish out. I remember the junk guitar I had to learn on, and I would've jumped out of my skin to have a guitar this good back then.

Customer Support : No Opinion
No experience with this.

Overall Rating : 9
This guitar was still in the box when I bought it, and I'm thinking of getting one for myself to mess with. I'd love to hear a triplet of Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro's in this thing.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $129.00
Submitted 12/09/1999 at 10:59am by Ricardo Baerga
Email: Ricardo<dot>Baerga at fluor<dot>com

Features : 8
This guitar is a Stratocaster knock off made in China in 1999. It sports a polyurethane finished solid wood body (I took it apart and couldn't see signs of plywood in any of the cavities) and a 21 medium fret, large headstock, rosewood capped maple neck with a satin finish. This neck is not as deep and narrow as vintage models but is comfortable for all purposes. Electronics are pure Strat: three passive single coil pickups connected via a 5 way selector (that in this case is a piece of junk) to one volume and two tone pots. Tremolo system is a basic Strat unit with improved saddles (have rounded edge where the string rests to prevent string breakage). The stamped out enclosed tuners are also very deficient for pro use. The guitar includes tremolo arm, adjusting tools for truss rod and saddles, warranty booklet and owner's manual.

Sound : 10
I bought this guitar to hot rod so I didn't even try it when I bought it. I quickly proceeded to replace the stock pickups (which are basically pretty cheap) with Carvin Alnico blade type single coils, the selector switch with a Switchcraft 5 way and the tuners with WD/Gotoh non locking tuners. I ended up with a pro instrument for less than $275.00. The guitar sounds as good or even better than my American '57 Strat reissue (probably due to the pickups). The sound is thick and full of definition clean or distorted. Acoustically, the guitar also resonates as much as my '57 reissue, which is an indicator of good tone in an electric guitar. I play pop, rock'n'roll and blues/country based rock and it works perfectly for all I do, it's very versatile. I've tried it through a Korg G3 effects pedal and a Crybaby Wah into a '59 tweed Twin repro and it sounds full and throaty.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
The guitar was almost perfectly set up from the factory, at least for the majority of players; I'll need to raise the action for my taste, though. Intonation was almost perfect from the factory as was the neck, fretwork and finish.

Reliability/Durability : 8
As already mentioned, the tuners, pickups and selector switch are very bad quality but for $129.00 how much can you ask for? After replacing those, (and maybe the pots which will eventually die) this thing will withstand a lot of use and abuse. Could use without a backup.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never dealt with Fender and probably won't need to, their stuff is good and built to last.

Overall Rating : 10
I've been playing for over 20 years and own at least one each of all the desirable models and makes of guitars (mostly in reissue form but a couple of vintage players) and when set up like I did, this Squier stands up to American made Fenders. If it were stolen or lost, I'd buy it again and "repeat the procedure". It's hard to find this much quality for so little money; I don't know how Fender does it. Great value!


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $315
Submitted 12/07/1999 at 07:35am by Jim
Email: bg18860 at binghamton<dot>edu

Features : 7
My Squier has the standard Strat controls(2 tones, volume). It has also has 3 single coil pickups. My guitar pretty much has the features of any strat you can find in the world.

Sound : 7
The sound is decent. It's rather thin, but that's how all strats sound. Great for Blues and Rock music. I play it through a boss distortion pedal(sometimes) and then into my Fender Blues Junior(Which is a kick-ass amp). My amp actually makes my Squier sound ten times better than my old amp, which was a cheapy Squier amp that came with the guitar. The worst thing about the sound is that the pickups are cheap(of course, on a $150 guitar). They can be very noisy in the 1,3,5 positions, but I'll hopefully be upgrading to Texas Specials shortly.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
The set-up that my guitar came with seems fine with me. I've had it for a year now and never adjusted the neck or bridge. The finish is great looking for what I paid, It's white with a white pickguard. The action is wonderful and I recently compared it to a $1200 Deluxe American Strat which my friend owns and couldn't tell the difference between the playability between the two.

Reliability/Durability : 8
This guitar would last anyone for years and years. It is the only electric I own and is veery durable. The hardware is excellent, it stays in tune, the strap buttons will last FOREVER, and I can always depend on it.

Customer Support : No Opinion
I don't know to much about Fender customer support???

Overall Rating : 7
I've been playing guitar for 2 years and I am very pleased with this guitar. If you want the ultimate strat, do this: buy a squier strat(150 bucks), texas special pickups(150 bucks), and a new set of quality tuners(50 bucks). Pay a good guitar tech 50 bucks or so to install the stuff, set it up nicely, and you have a $1200 strat for 400 bucks!


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $220.00
Submitted 11/23/1999 at 06:14pm by Garrett Partridge
Email: garr<dot>w at usa<dot>net

Features : 7
This guitar features a laminated top, 22 frets, made is china in 1997 I believe, the controls are two tone, one volume, and 5-way selecter. The pick up configuration is s/s/s, the pickups are single coils but I dont no what kind they were special ones put on. the neck is maple the body I think is alder but I am not sure, and the fretboard is rosewood. finish is soled black. its a strat. tuners are non locking. the neck is relativaly thin and great playing.I had to but the case seperatly. the pick guard makes it kind of plain but if you change it with a pearl pick guard it really brings out the guitar. The only really thing bad with it is its bridge it breaks the strings quite easy if you dont file them down.

Sound : 9
This guitar defenetly suits my stile of music blues, and is really good for metal, rock, and clasic rock. I guess it would do good for country but I havent really tried it. This guitar is excellent for lead. The sound of this guitar is all really in the amp, some say that it's the guitar thats crappy when they got this little $50.00 on sale used crappy amp. but I just got a Marshal G30RCD for a relativally good price and it rocks with my strat. Its kind of tacky on the bridge pickup by itself but sound good with both middle and bridge, also for blues I think sounds great on the neck and middle pickups which I mostly use. The only dislike I really dislike is the swiching controls they kind of are touchy but can be fixed just go under the pick guard in the controls and tightin the screws.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
this guitar was made quiete well and satisying it is very comfterble and plays really easy I like it a lot. there was loose controls but can be easily fixed. Its all in how you treat it.

Reliability/Durability : 9
This guitar will withstand live playing if you dont thrash it. Some simple hardware might not last but is easy to replace but I havent had any bad problems. The finish will defenetly last. The strap buttons are defenetly solid. I can depend on it. And I would use it on a gig without a backup. DONT PURCHASE USED, PEOPLE THINK BECAUSE ITS A CHEAP PRISED GUITAR THEY CAN RECK IT.

Customer Support : No Opinion
never really had to.

Overall Rating : 10
This guitar is great I have been playing for 7 years and have lots of equipment six guitars and many amps and effects. This guitar goes good with effects. if it were stolen I would by it again. I like the comfert and some what light wait of the guitar, I especially like the neck.I dont like about how hard it is to find the same parts. I have compared it to other guiters like the Fender Standerd and American strat and think if the others were $200.00 cheaper I would buy the Squier. The reoson I bought it instead of the Fender is because it feels more comfterble and is easy to play looks better if you add the right stuff to. I wish it had better hardware though.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $350
Submitted 11/09/1999 at 12:04pm by Oman
Email: football_85<at>hotmail dot com

Features : 9
My guitar was made in 1998. It was made in Indonesia. It has 22 frets. Regular Strat features 1 volume, 2 tone controls, a five way selector switch. I thinkl that it is made out of Alder but I'm not sure. It hasd non locking tuners. I got the Strat pack so it came with a gig bad, an amp, cord, tunner, strap, stings. I did buy a guitar case for it though latter on.

Sound : 10
The sound on this guitar is awsome. I play moslty rock/hardrock and it does the job just fine. One thing that I did find that if you put the toggle switch on 2-4 it's not near as noisy. When I use distotion I fing that a high pitch squeel comes through the amp. The sound is very rich and also bright. It's great for those kick ass solos. I think overall it sounds great.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
I got my guitar brand new and I thought that that it came pefect and ready to play, just needed tunning. All I have to do is to raise the pickups and thats about it. That finish is really good, these guitars take a beating and keep on playing. I did find that the tunners are not the best so I will have to replce them once I get enough money.

Reliability/Durability : 10
This guitar will last live playing, I mean I wouldn't play with backup, but I wouldn't play any guitar without backup. This guitar will last forever! The strap buttons are on there for good. I couldn't see them breaking. If the opertunity came around and I didn't have backup I would play without backup. Well I would have to think about it first but probably would.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never needed it!

Overall Rating : No Opinion
I have been playing for a year and a have and this is my second guitar my first was a Epiphone Strat. and it can't stand up to my Fender. If I lost this guitar I would find the thief and beat the crap out of him then take my guitar back. I love the sound, the shape, got to love the shape. The thing that I don't really care about is the colour of my guitar. When I get enough money I will buy a pedal, I'm not quiyte sure with kind buyt somthin that will make it sound really cool. Oh yea and a Larger amp.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $119
Submitted 11/08/1999 at 04:42pm by Richard M. Coibion
Email: none

Features : 7
Typical Strat configuration, 3 single coil pu's, 5 way switch, "vintage" style trem, 2 tone, 1 volume control. Mine is is a 1998 model made in China by real Chinese prisoners (why else do you think that they could sell them for about $100 and still make a profit?). It's arctic white with a w/b/w 3 ply pickguard, and maple neck with rosewood fretboard. The tuners are covered and cheap, but hey, they do what tuners are supposed to do...get the guitar in tune, and keep it there. Oh, and don't complain about the whammy bar making it go out of tune if you're doing dive bombs with it. This type of trem wasn't designed for dive bombing, the Floyd rose was. If you have it set up correctly, it will stay in tune reasonably well, even with heavy use.

Sound : 9
Well, I bought this guitar planning to upgrade most of the parts over time, but after playing it for about a month now, I think I'm just going to leave it stock. This is not a bad guitar, and I believe the stigma around the Squier series revolves around the fact that 99% of them are bought as a first guitar by some guy who want's to be the next James Hetfield. I have played guitar for 17 years, and have owned everything from this Squier to various Gibson's, Hamer's, Charvel's, Jackson's, Epiphone's, Peavey's, and...you get the picture. I have come to the conclusion that you don't have to buy some upscale, expensive whatever to get an excelent tone. The BIGGEST factor in anyone's sound is...you, not your equipment. If your equipment sounds like shit, you probably play like shit. The only thing those expensive guitars are going to get you is an empty bank account. Now I will admit that you would be a fool to by the first Squier Strat that you pick up (except in my case). The guitar store had 12 of these sitting out for $119, and I spent a good 2-3 hours playing through them to find the best one (which happened to be the first one I picked up). The quality varies greatly on these. Find a good one, though, and it's every bit as good as an American Standard Strat. I own 3 other Strats besides this one; an American Standard, and 2 Mexican Strats. This one is just as good as my others, it just cost a lot less. It suits all of my musical styles from psychadelic, to blues, to classic rock, and even Slayer (yes, I really do play all of these). This guitar does a fine job of translating the sounds in my head, through my fingers, into the amplifier.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
It was set up ok at the guitar store, but I adjusted the action to my liking at home. I changed the strings to 10's, raised the action a little, adjusted the trem to just barely float, and adjusted the truss rod. If you don't know how to do these things, learn. It will save you time, money, and a lot of headaches in the future. Finish is nice. Overall, it looks like it was well put together (unlike some of the other ones I tried out).

Reliability/Durability : 10
Stratocaster's are the BOSS pedals of guitars. They will survive just about anything except fire and being run over by a semi. In a fit of rage I once threw a strat from a 3rd story deck onto the concrete sidewalk below. Well, it did go out of tune, and got small indentation where it impacted the concrete, but it was still in perfect working condition.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Who cares, don't want or need it, unless my guitar just split in two for no apparant reason.

Overall Rating : 9
To all of the people who have ripped these guitars...next time before ripping on something, take a good look at yourself first. How long have you been playing? Are you any good? Should you have bought this guitar if you are going to play in a band called "Brain Dead Rotting Flesh"? Did you buy the first guitar you picked up? This is a decent guitar. You get out of it what you put into it with your heart, soul, and fingers.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $129
Submitted 11/05/1999 at 06:42pm by Alex Broner

Features : 6
Comfortable neck, maple with rosewood fretboard 22 frets. Body is made of plywood but until some of the finish got scraped off I wouldn't have known. Standard Strat style tremolo, bad for tuning. Crap tuners, if you have the money replace these as soon as you replace the crap pickups. Electronics arent that advanced, master volume, indiv. tone controls for neck and mid pickup. VERY noisy.

Sound : 5
I play lots of things, mostly metal, rock, and punky type things, though I love classical but I've only been playing for a year and am not exactly a virtuoso. Very bright sound. Great clean sound (minus the horrible noise that comes out of this thing) Decent distorted sound, with my Korg AX1G i can get some heavy s*** coming out of it. I run it through the AX1G into a cheap o Park MKIIwhtevr 10 watt solid sate amp and it sounds allright, though I cant stress the noise enough.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 4
Whammy bar broke off in a very short time, finish scratched easily. The non locking trem bridge in combination with the crap tuners make sure that it never stays in tune. The neck is pretty good, real comfirtable for chording, but the rather low radius makes it a little hard for soloing. The wire connecting the output jack breaks constantly, I can seem to be able to keep it soldered on. It broke after playing the thing for a month and breaks probably monthly now.

Reliability/Durability : 7
The guitar, besides the finish, could have a bomb dropped on it and it would still play. The hardware is all good, esp the strap buttons, except the tuners, these things blow. I cant depend on it at all because i never know when the output jack wire is goin to break.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Uhh...

Overall Rating : 6
I've been playing since Christmas 1998. I own some kind of Washburn dreadnought acoustic, a Korg AX1G effects box, and a Park (Marshall) 10watt crappyamp. My dad bought me this guitar cuz its the cheapest one we could find. If it were stolen or lost I would say good riddance cuz I would have an excuse to buy a real guitar to replace it. I really like the clean tone, but thats about it. I've played my friend's BC Rich Warlock and Mockingbird and all different kinds of guitars in stores and liked em all better, bsides harmonys and crap, and other fenders. If it had better pickups it would put the score up a few points higher.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: Pound Sterling 120
Submitted 10/25/1999 at 12:46pm by John Tawadrous
Email: rosorus<at>yahoo dot com

Features : 8
I have a Chineese made Strat. 24 Fret. It has a nice 5 way selector, volume and tone controls. All in all it has a decent amount of features compared to many "replicas" of this model.

Sound : 6
I use a squier sidekick amp with my guitar and although it's not the best setup in the world it's ample for my home use. Some tone settings do cause a fuzzy noise but this is to be expected, after all it's not the most expensive of guitars.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 5
Well my wammy bar broke after about a month what I was a bit pissed off about apart from that it's been pretty much ok.

Reliability/Durability : 5
This isn't exactly a guitar that I'd use for live gig use. However I'm not upto that standard at the moment so for the while this guitar suits me fine.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Dunno!!

Overall Rating : 7
This was my first of 3 guitars. I've only been playing for 8 months. It's no way an amazing guitar but it's fine for the beginner but I wouldn't recomend it for the semi pro or pro. I was annoyed when the wammy bar broke so soon but on the most part the guitars been OK. I think that if I ever do buy another guitar it will be a REAL Fender Strat not a Squier as I do love the design, I'd just like something thats a bit better built.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: Canadian $199
Submitted 10/08/1999 at 05:55am by Anonymous

Features : No Opinion
Its your standard cheap-O strat. 21 frets, 3 single coils, etc.. The model I bought had the maple fingerboard and an artic white finish. Very classy looking. Not much else in the way of features

Sound : 10
Contrary to popular opinion, Squier's do not totally suck, you just have to put a little work into them that's all. There are lots of aftermarket strat parts available and beleive me they are a REALLY good investment. Admittedly, the stock pickups aren't the best and are a little noisey (but no more than other single coils), but there are some totally useable "strat" tones in there. I replaced the stock neck pickup on mine with a Seymour Duncan Hot Rails and what a difference this pickup made. My guitar now sounds equal (if not better) to my friends $1800 (CAN) American Standard Strat, and I only paid $200 for the guitar and $100 for the pickup (both new). I plan to change the other stock pickups later too. I give it a 10 for sound quality after you do some upgrades, otherwise by itself I give it a 7.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
When I received my guitar, the action was set up very well and I have had no problems with it. There was a minor imperfection in the finish (I mean MINOR!) but otherwise the guitar was in excellent shape. Most of the hardware on the guitar was in good shape but I will probably upgrade to better stuff shortly (like I said there are many things on this guitar that you can improve on)

Reliability/Durability : 7
It will withstand live playing and it has. The hardware seems like it might wear pretty easily though, so I am going to replace most of it. Finish is good and seems like it will handle wear and tear. I would definitely use this guitar on a gig without a backup.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never dealt with them.

Overall Rating : 10
I have read some really bad reviews of this guitar and of all Squier's for that matter. Frankly I think a lot of people have brand-name-itis. I played Washburn BT's and MT's, real Fender's and a bunch of other guitars before I bought this one and many of them would have required the same upgrades that I am performing on the Squier, and they cost over twice as much. It is an excellent beginner guitar by itself and with some upgrades can become an excellent main guitar for a full time musician. I have not been disapointed with this guitar yet. For the price, it's a steal.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: AUS 400
Submitted 09/10/1999 at 05:34am by Anthony
Email: gatley1<at>hotmail dot com

Features : 6
You should all know what a Strat is by now. Mine is a red1997 model, made in Korea.

Sound : 5
The sound of this thing is pretty crap. The single-coils are noisy and the electronics in it suck. I play all sorts of different styles and the variety of this guitar suits me but it's so NOISY!

Action, Fit, & Finish : 7
The guitar came from the factory looking quite good but on the back of the guitar the finish is all rippled. It wasn't set up very well but i didn't expect it to be. The hardware on it has held up quite well to a years worth of hard playing but the pickup selector swith is starting to get harder to move.

Reliability/Durability : 7
I think this guitar would stand up to live playing because i've knocked it around quite a bit and it hasn't affected it. The strap buttons on it are good and have never let go once. I would use it without a backup.

Customer Support : No Opinion
N/A

Overall Rating : 5
I've been playing this guitar for a year now and it has been good to me. If it were stolen i wouldn't buy it again though. I like the way there is a varitey of sounds avaliable from this guitar but i hate the cheap components they use in it to keep the price down.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $400 (strat pack)
Submitted 08/27/1999 at 10:18am by rick
Email: fagley at excite<dot>com

Features : 5
1998 Chinese model. Standard Strat stuff. Features are like all Strats.

Sound : 5
Suits Blues very well.. The guitar doesn't sound bad at all compared to other options in the same price range.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 5
Well set up out of the box. Almost a year old and no problems. The neck on this thing makes it the easiest guitar I have to play. Much easier than any of the other three Fender Strats I have, all of which cost significantly more. That reson alone makes it well worth the price, and invaluable to me.

Reliability/Durability : 2
I've used this guitar live and gotten away with it. I wouldn't try it however until I replaced the top two bridge saddles with graphite ones. I broke light gage strings on the rough saddles far to frequently to count on the thing gigging. (Blues = Bend) I also see some problems with the 5-way switch starting to short once in a while. The tuners are absolute garbage also. The finish is very nice.

Customer Support : No Opinion
No needs.

Overall Rating : 8
This is a great guitar to learn on. Buy a new one and take care of it. If you are lucky, the neck might be as fine as the one I have. The "v" shape isn't chunky at all, and the 9" radius makes an easy playing neck too. Someday I might rip the neck off this thing and mount it on a better body with good electronics, but I hate to touch it and mess up the playability. I learn new stuff on this cheap junk and then repeat it on my better guitars.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: Sterling #80 used
Submitted 08/27/1999 at 04:42am by CS

Features : 5
Entry level Strat. Basswood body-same as Japan Reissues. Maple neck Rosewood board.Vintage hardware. Unknown tuners. Cheap pickups. Made in china and unbeatable for this price.

Sound : 7
It sounds like a Strat. Pickups are weak. But plated through a valve amp with small speakers I got an excellent Ren and Stimpey sound(listen to the theme music) I have written this because I am fed up reading- I play a cheap strat through a solid state practise amp and it wont sound like metallica. This is a cheap strat and it will make cheap strat noises.A valve amp greatly improves the tone.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 7
This guitar was sh and I tried it against 3 other simular guitars. It was better than the others. I also tried it through a 30w valstate and it souded fine. This one was set up by the shop as is all their s/h stock.

Reliability/Durability : 6
I sold this guitar after two weeks-read overall rating to see why. Weak points-pickups,change to seymours or simular-trem ugh. Tuners change to anything. What you do get is a good body and neck with fender on the headstock. Everything else can easily be changed.

Customer Support : No Opinion
N/A Vendor has always been good to me.

Overall Rating : 8
A workmate wanted to buy his first electric. To cut a long story short I saw this strat in my local shop, compared to any other guitar in its price range it was one of a kind. It was better than all the other chinese strats. Past experience told me to buy it. I did. I gave him the option of buying it at cost or I would keep it. He played it for 5 mins and gave me cash (the git). Moral of the story don't play just one guitar of the same model. And being honest hurts. I give this an overall 8 cos what else can you buy for this money,also its the only guitar I've sold without making a loss.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $139
Submitted 08/26/1999 at 06:07pm by Dar
Email: newcastle1 at earthlink<dot>net

Features : 5
Bought it new in '98. China-made. 22 frets. Solid black. Maple neck. Rosewood fretboard. Plywood body. Your usual Fender configuration. And like everyone else's, it's cheap as all hell.

Sound : 4
Well, what can I tell you, the sound sucks, unless you mistakenly bought it as a microphone, then you should be pretty happy. I play it on a Peavey 158, Crate GFX65 and a Line 6. I bought it as my kick-around guitar, and it sure can take a lickin'.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 6
When I bought it I went to GC and grabbed about 6 or 7 of these things, sat down, played them, and picked the best of the bunch. Good action. The neck wasn't set right though: the low E string was almost off the fretboard at the higher frets, but nothing a cut-up credit card couldn't fix. Paint was well done.

Reliability/Durability : 4
I've knocked this thing around a ton but it doesn't seem to mind. I would never gig with with, but for sitting 'round the house, playing with your garage band, it's fine. I mean, how can you go wrong at $139 bucks?

Overall Rating : 5
Okay, here's what I did to this thing to make it decent: I ordered a new pickguard from Steward-MacDonald for ten bucks (one with a humbucker cutout at the neck). Then, before I put it on I sheilded the cavity with copper tape and got rid of the ground loop (took all of about two hours). Then I took a Dimarzio PAF I had laying around the house and put it in the neck position (on the new pickguard). Then I recently bought a new set of Texas Specials for another guitar of mine and had two left over so I threw those on the Affinity. So now I've spent about 160 bucks for a guitar that sounds awesome and hasn't cost me hardly anything. If you want it to sound better, swap out those crappy pickups, I mean, geez, ANYTHING sounds better.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $280 (for the Strat Pak)
Submitted 08/25/1999 at 04:48pm by Nick Murphy
Email: nick<at>gamedev dot net

Features : 3
I got this guitar along with the Squier Strat Pak. It was made in China. It emulates all of your basic Strat features; it has 22 frets on a rosewood fingerboard, maple neck, 3 piss-poor passive single-coil pickups, a trem. I'm not certain of the wood used for the body -- the Squier website just says it's made of "select hardwood". The body is, however, .5 cm thinner than a normal Stratocaster, though that makes very little difference. It comes only in solid colors, and mine is candy apple red. And, the tuners (which are covered, rather than die-cast) are awful. But, the things are extremely inexpensive... you can pick them up through Musician's Friend for 130 bucks.

Sound : 2
I try to dab around with a wide variety of types of music, and while I play primarily rock and blues, I also fool with jazz and classical. The pickups, as aforementioned, are very poor -- probably the weakest component in the guitar. They are extremely noisy, even in the hum-cancelling, out-of-phase positions. And the noise is greatly increased when I'm not touching a metal part of the guitar (I see that others share this problem). Acoustically, however, it sounds fine, and I think that with some new pickups, it would sound fairly good. Whether I want to invest 150 dollar on saving this guitar is another question, though.
I play through a 15w solid-state amp (a Squier Champ) that also came with the Strat Pak. This amp has horrible tone, and I can't get anything that resembles a pleasant overdriven sound, so I mostly play clean. I've played the guitar through some better amps, though, but it still sounds pretty bad. It just has a weak, flubby tone. Also, even with a good amp, it's tough to get any usable distortion, which I blame again on the pickups. This guitar gave me a bad image of Strats in general, though this changed when I recently test drove a Fender American Standard.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 3
Out of the box, the guitar had a pretty good action, and it's always played well. I prefer low action, though, so I've since changed the bridge height. The pickups were set up horribly, and the neck pickup began sinking into the body. I've since fixed that, too. The finish, as I already described, is a solid candy apple red (or, more specifically, Torino red). The finish is very poor; it was not applied very evenly, and has some ugly streaks running through it. It also chips very easily, and I've put quite a few dings in it. But, hey, it's all character. =) The pickup selector isn't very noisy, and the pots aren't scratchy or anything. With my personal modifications, this category scores a 7 or 8, but from the factory....

Reliability/Durability : 5
I don't do any live playing, so I couldn't comment on that. I don't know if it could stand up to a great deal of battery, as any little bump will result in the finish being chipped (but that's just the finish). The tuners are already starting to corrode a bit, so that's a testament to how crappy they are. Also, I never play with a strap, because it falls off every five minutes or so. You would *need* straplocks. But, otherwise, it's fairly solid.

Customer Support : No Opinion
i've never dealt with customer service, as I'm a do-it-yourself kind of guy. Likewise, I'm not sure about the warranty details.

Overall Rating : 5
I bought this guitar 7 months ago, and, at the time, I was a complete novice to the electric guitar world. Since then, however, I've learned an incredible amount about guitars and am a fairly proficient players (I have over 12 years of experience playing Piano). Since I am 18 years old, I kind of have a problem with coming up with the large sums of money necessary to purchase a quality guitar, so this is all I can have for a while yet. (If you would like to donate to the Nick Murphy Guitar Fund, you will get good kharma....) While the guitar is, overall, a piece of shit, I'm happy with it. Without having purchased it, I never would have been able to learn as much as I have. In my opinion, it's a fine guitar for beginners.
Were it stolen, I would not buy again. Ideally, my next guitar would be a Paul Reed Smith McCarty Rosewood, but... I don't see that happening anytime soon. I'm building a tube amp right now, and will probably be buying a Epi LP sometime soon, so I'll be able to lay this thing to rest shortly. And, while it's my first guitar, and there's some kind of emotional attachment kind of thing with it, I don't think that I'll miss it a great deal. =)


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $139.99
Submitted 08/22/1999 at 05:24pm by Brandon Franz
Email: thefranz at msn<dot>com

Features : 5
Made in some far east country, 21 frets, 2 tone 1 volume controls, 3 single coil pickups, made of some cheap wood, covered heads, maple fretboard, black finish.

Sound : 3
I play tons of Metallica and really heavy music. This guitar is not what I should have bought. It has no sustain and crappy tone. I use a crate GX15 amp and a Zoom 505 processer. The cheap single coil pickups are extremely noisy and pick up many annoying FM radio stations (such as spanish channel). It often squeels high pitched when facing an amp, tv, or computer.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 4
I have adjusted and readjusted the pickups and found that the factory setting is the best. The high frets (19, 20, 21) are hard to reach and uncomfortable when playing a long solo. The shape of the neck often hurts my hand after 45 minutes of playing. The back of the guitar scratches on the touch of any other metal object, especially belts.

Reliability/Durability : 8
Haven't had anything break, although I've been tempted to break it myself.

Customer Support : No Opinion
N/A

Overall Rating : 1
This guitar sucks. I don't care if you are a beginner and can't afford anything else. SAVE YOUR MONEY!! Wait untill you can get something else. You'll thank me.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $117.13
Submitted 08/20/1999 at 02:42pm by Sam W.
Email: GrayAngel6<at>aol dot com

Features : 5
contoured hardwood body; maple neck; late '60s "big" headstock; rosewood or maple fingerboard; 22 frets; 3 single-coil pickups; 5-way switching; 1 volume, 2 tone controls; single-ply white pickguard; tremolo.

Sound : 7
i play everything from shred to metal to jazz to rock to classical. my main guitar is an ibanez jem7vwh. i purchased this guitar as a practice guitar, or secondary guitar. this guitar, for my purchase price, is an excellent practice guitar. it does not sound nor feel anywhere near my jem, but, for the money, it's a decent sounding axe. i do however think that it's little brittle in the clean channel, but overall the sound is decent. it's nothing specatular, but decent. before deciding on purchasing this guitar though, i looked at a few yamahas, arias, and jacksons. this squire blows them away!

Action, Fit, & Finish : 6
the action is just okay. it's not on the fast side though. u can't really dig into the notes, but they always come out sufficiently.
the tremolo though throws your guitar out of tune. i would not recommend using the tremolo at all.
the finish is a bit fragile, but i guess i got what i paid for.

Reliability/Durability : 8
for the price i paid, it's seems like a pretty robust guitar. i'm sure it'll last me a few years or more.

Overall Rating : 10
if u have a more expensive axe, and are looking for a practice guitar. this is definitely the guitar for u. like i said, it sounds brittle in the clean channel, and the finish is a bit cheap. still, this guitar plays well enough to warrant u to bring along to practice sessions.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $350
Submitted 07/28/1999 at 05:47pm by Tyler Walters
Email: Tyrone13<at>hotmail dot com

Features : 7
I got this guitar in the Fender Strat Pack. This is a great deal for ppl starting out. It came with all cables, amp, tuner, extra strings, strap, and picks. Its a great deal for the price i paid. I would suggest buying a better guitar cable, then the fender one that comes with it.

Sound : 4
It has a good sound for how much you pay for it. The pickups seem to buz a lot but i play in front of my computer while looking up tabs. I played a blackie eric claptons and that doesnt pick up the sounds that you dont mean to play but barley hit like this does. Id say to make it easier to start out buy a better guitar. I play witht he Squire Champ 15 which came with the Strat Pack i bought.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
When i got the guitar half a year ago it was ready to play as soon as i got i out of the box. Everything on it seemed to be perfect. Although there was a small indention in the wood it wasnt noticeable. Over 6 months later everything is still fine on it but the back gets scratched up easy by my belt buckle. Ive dropped it and it still works great.

Reliability/Durability : 7
I dont think i would use this for a gig unless i had an effects pedal. It stays in tune great and i can go a week without tuning it again. Its pretty dependable in my opnion.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never delt with fender, or had to make repairs.

Overall Rating : 5
Nice guitar, but after playing for about 6 months I want a new guitar with better sound and features. If you are just buying a guitar then id save up and get a better one, even just a regular squier strat would be better then the affinity series. If it was stolen id be happy so my parents would buy me my new guitar faster.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $159
Submitted 07/27/1999 at 08:09pm by Chase
Email: cts234 at roanoke<dot>infi<dot>net

Features : 7
I got this guitatr in a strat package so it came with everything i needed to get started. Tuners are a little crappy, but you get used to it. Its got three single coil pickups that are noisier than a crowded New York Street, but this guitar is a beginner so i wouldn't worry about it.

Sound : 8
Like i said, very noisy. But can cover a good range of music for the beginning guitarist. I like the neck pickup put it is very muffled and the bridge is too bright. I can play many types of music including heavy stuff like godsmack and alice in chains. I use it most for alternative like offspring, green day, etc. Great sound for a beginning guitar, but you wont be able to get by with it your whole life

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
I noticed no flaws in the guitar and liked it very much.

Reliability/Durability : 10
This is were the guitar scores big. It is sturdy enough to stand up to a ceiling fan(dont ask, long story.) This guitar will last a lifetime. You could take this guitar to a gig and through it into the audience and whoever caught it would enjoy it for years.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never had to deal with fender.

Overall Rating : 9
Great beginner guitar. It will last a lifetime and get you started on the guitar the right way.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: pound sterling 120
Submitted 07/23/1999 at 12:16pm by greg mullen

Features : 8
This guitar, made in china this year has 22 frets and has an alder body on rosewood neck. all three pickups are single coils and their make is unknown to me (but they aren't too good!). otherwise this guitar contains standard strat features (vol, tone and tone pots etc.) the pickgaurd is single ply white plastic but seems tough enough to me.

Sound : 8
Because of the mediocre pickups, the original sound of this guitar on on some pickup combos, it sounds crap in a grungy sort of way. but in other settings, it sounds just like a real fender strat! because of this, I am seriously thinking about changing some of the pickups. the bridge pickup is noisy and a little too sharp sounding but the other two are pretty damn nice. I usually play rock / grunge music and am playing through a fender frontman amp and this setup suits me perfectly!

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
excellent! in tune straight out of the box! the guys who I bought it from were really helpful. the finish on this guitar is black and was done perfectly. the pickups seem to have been mounted well. the frets are medium sized and well made.

Reliability/Durability : 9
it seems pretty sturdy to me. the strings do not seem to go out of tune easily unless you use the trem arm which is a bit of a novelty anyway. the finish does not scratch easily at all. the wood of this guitar is extremely strong and has withstood collisions which would write off any other guitar. because of its slightly dodgy pickups, If playing on stage, I would keep a backup merely because of squire's reputation.

Customer Support : No Opinion
never had to use them

Overall Rating : 10
straight out the box, this guitar will do very nicely as a starter. throw in a few, simple modifications and you've got yourself an amazingly priced beautiful machine! either way, this guitar is slick beyond words. in my opinion, fender strats are the perfect guitars, and, no matter what others say, this is a fender strat! and at this silly price?


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $150
Submitted 07/22/1999 at 08:57pm by Anonymous
Email: hyperstreamr<at>hotmail dot com

Features : 8
A standard strat from fender. 5-way switch 3 single coil pickups setup S/S/S ...21 fret maple neck bolt non-locking tuners.

Sound : 9
OK This is why im putting my info in. I cant stand people complaning about it being "TOO DISTORTED" Why the hell are you even using distortion?? ITS SUPPOST TO BE FUZZY AND ALL CRACKLY!!!! Yes, ill agree the microphonics arent great on 1,3,5 but put it through a good amp and it sounds identical to a stratocaster.I play Nirvana,Offspring and other punk, alternative and metal. I found out if you raise the bridge and neck pickup up about 1 mm from the strings and put the middle pickup as low as possible it give it a much richer tone and stops the humming when your idle.Ive played stratocasters and compared the sound--ITS THE SAME!!!!!

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
I guess I got a jem of a squier cause of all the other complaints about it. Well mine had no flaws and the factory setup was perfect.Ive beat the hell out of this guitar and its still in great condition..I dropped it once and a chip of the finish came off but that would happen on any guitar.

Reliability/Durability : 9
This guitar would withstand alot and especially live playing.The hardware would defitnaly last and almost never gets out of tune if anything its the High E string...I would replace the strap buttons cause there not big enuff to hold my leather strap...I know the finish will never wear unlike the old strats like 60's...I kinda want mine to wear off alittle to give it "character" hehe

Customer Support : No Opinion
Nope so far so good its been one year...

Overall Rating : 9
Overall this is a great guitar... Very solid and great sound.As someone said before if you want a stratocaster just get a squier and write -ocaster next to strat. There the same guitars!!!


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $220
Submitted 07/08/1999 at 02:56am by Anonymous

Features : 6
The standard Strat stuff: 3 single-coil pickups, hardwood body, maple neck, rosewood fretbaord, standard tremolo

Sound : 5
I am a rythm player who play lead. As a rythm guitar it sounds okay, but when I the use the bridge pickup alone, the sound is way too sharp and treble. Not powerful enough for lead. An okay guitar for amateur players. One thing: the pickups are quite noisy for a guitar this price.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 5
Well, nothing much to say... what can this price offer?

Reliability/Durability : 5
so far, so good. owned this guit for over 6 months and it never gave me any problems. However the pickups are tempremental... sometimes they sound as good as a real fender, but sometimes sounds worse than a brandless guit. The tremolo tends to fail once in a while (esp on wet days)

Overall Rating : 6
Well, if you are a beginner, you won't mind owning one. If you are a pro or a performer like me, you will not like it... If is stolen, I will probably invest in a Fender Califonia Strat or a Fender Tex Mex. But this guit sounds very good for the price...


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $About $275 bucks.
Submitted 06/27/1999 at 06:55pm by Anonymous

Features : No Opinion
Made in China, I think.
22 frets

Sound : 10
It all depends on what kind of amp you have, if you have a cheap piece of junk amp, it will sound like a piece of junk. It's all in how you want it to sound. If you get the right amp it sounds just as good as any other guitar, maybe even better. I have a Crate Frontman Series GX-15 amplifier, and it sounds awesome.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
The guitar was made very well in fact. I don't see why anyone would pay the price for a Stratocaster unless they just wanted it to say "STRATOCASTER" on it. If it makes you feel any better write "-OCASTER" out beside "STRAT". Only Difference.

Reliability/Durability : 10
I've dropped the guitar, smacked it into doors,walls, and just about everything else and it has sustained all that so I bet it could last a very long time.

Customer Support : 10
Fender is very good about Customer Support.

Overall Rating : 10
The Squier Strat outpreforms most other guiatrs I have played. If you starting out, this is the guitar.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $150.00
Submitted 06/25/1999 at 05:45pm by Anonymous

Features : No Opinion
just like all the other strats but with generic switches and tuners and stuff

Sound : 8
Everyone says it has a buzzing sound when you put it on the 1\3\5 switch.I noticed that too but it only does it when the tv is on in the room next door.also when my cd player is on in goes thruogh my amp so i would turn off all appliances before playing this guitar.the pickups are also noisy so i would buy some on ebay you can get at a great price.after you get past all that i think this guitar pretty good.I think for price you would have a hard time finding a better deal.i like playing some of the heavy stuff and i can get some pretty good distortion out of this thing

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
everything was fine except the third string rung against the fretboard all i had to do was buy some new strings and it was fixed

Reliability/Durability : 9
ive had it for over a year now and it works like its brand new even after droping it a dozen times

Customer Support : No Opinion
fine i guess

Overall Rating : 8
overalll im happy with this guitar but if i saw a good deal i get rid of it quick


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $200 (i am a friggin idiot)
Submitted 06/17/1999 at 12:28pm by Mark P.
Email: wprokopc<at>visuallink dot com

Features : 4
1998 Fender Squier Affinty Series. Made in Korea. General Strat features. Really poor quality single coil pickups. Trem. bar use results in tuning problems that render the guitar useless. Don't even try to use it. Cheap fretwork, tuners, wood, hardware; your basic wanna-be-a-real-strat Squier.

Sound : 4
If you own a Squier, you know what they sound like. Extremely poor sound. All single pickup positions (1,3,5) are microphonic and VERY noisy when distorted. If you use distortion, you must use position 2 or 4. Bridge position is very trebly, almost no bass. Neck setting could almost make a decent blues sound with tone down and a little distortion. No sustain to speak of. (Running through a Fender Frontman amp)

Action, Fit, & Finish : 5
The guitar was set up fairly well considering it was done by a starving Korean 9-year-old kid. The wood(alder?) is pretty cheap; you can see some blemishes through the finish. Finish is decent, hard to scratch. The pickguard is somewhat warped.

Reliability/Durability : 7
This guitar can be dropped over and over, whether it is and accident or intentional. (After playing it, the latter might be more likely. I don't gig; I never would get on stage with this beast.

Customer Support : No Opinion
never dealt with Fender

Overall Rating : 4
it is a beginner's guitar and nothing else. play it for 1/2 a year, then sell it to some unsuspecting sucker. I just graduated high school and have been showered with money, so I will buy either a USA Fender Strat or an Epi LP.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $0
Submitted 05/31/1999 at 12:02pm by Anonymous

Features : 8
I am a pro player who has been playing for about 17 years. I recently won one of these guitars at a local store. They normally retail for $100-$150 new. I'm going to try to detach myself as much as possible from details and go back to basics; otherwise it would be like having a vintage car aficionado review a Yugo for performance. It's a brand new maple neck/rosewood board made-in-China Affinity Strat with a late 60's-70's style large headstock. The finish is kind of a basic Royal blue, looks like car paint. Traditional Strat configuration (S/S/S), 6-screw trem, enclosed tuners. Medium frets, fairly fat neck. I believe the body is plywood, as Fender does not mention what sort of wood is used in their ad copy, so I'm assuming the worst. Nothing included as I won this guitar. I give it an 8 for features only because it's a Strat and possibly one of the most versatile guitars ever, but NOT for any preference for this particular model.

Sound : 4
I'm primarily a blues/jump/swing player. I play straight through either a Deluxe Reverb or a Super Reverb, both '68s. The stock pickups in this guitar actually are not too bad compared to others in its price range; they are better tonally than Mexican Standards - much clearer and a little brighter. However they are HORRENDOUSLY microphonic - the slightest touch or tap on the pickup cover, pickguard, or even the guitar itself gets amplified - you can speak into the pickups and hear it coming out the amp. Also, you can hear the selector switch moving between positions. It sounds reasonably like a Strat should, for blues.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 3
Action was okay from factory, no buzzing, however the 12th fret action compared to first fret action was very noticeably higher and it became progressively harder to chord as you move up the neck; however this could be a matter of personal preference and not a flaw per se. Finish is very cheap but has no real flaws i.e. orange peel or anything. It looks like something I could have gotten out of a Krylon spray can, however. It's very likely plywood. When I took off the back trem cavity cover because a ball-end of one of the strings had gotten caught in the trem block, I noticed that they had apparently already started to install the trem when they realized they still hadn't painted the guitar - some of the metal parts were sprayed blue. The tuners are real cheap enclosed tuners and are difficult to turn but hold tune okay. Nut was cut okay, no burrs in saddles or loose screws. However there was the aforementioned problem with the microphonic pickups.

Reliability/Durability : 2
This guitar is going to be a "couch" guitar. I would not recommend it to anyone, really - even students. I'd say save a few extra dollars and get something better. I doubt it would withstand a heavy gig schedule, the hardware is dubious at best - this guitar would need 300$ or more in upgrades to make it good enough to tour. I wouldn't use this guitar even AS a backup, never mind gig it without one.

Customer Support : No Opinion
N/A never had to deal with them, probably wouldn't be worth the trouble for a disposable guitar like this one.

Overall Rating : 2
I'm going to place a little note that says "thank you" in the pickup cavity of the guitar just in case anyone steals it. I love the fact that this guitar will take the knocks of my 4 year old son and save my other guitars from such a fate.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $220
Submitted 05/06/1999 at 06:12am by Orlin Shirov
Email: orlins at hotmail<dot>com

Features : 7
Chinise production.It was made in 95 i think. It has 21 frets and a solid top, two tone and one volume controls.5 pickup combinations. Maple neck, stratocaster.

Sound : 9
On first pickup it works good! On the third one it sounds like a real fender! With distortion it works good! I like the sound of my guitar!

Action, Fit, & Finish : 6
The pickups are properly adjusted,but thewhamy bar is very weak!

Reliability/Durability : 9
It is a good guitar for begginers i think, i am playng for 3 years and i have this one for 1 and i am satisfied! I have used it on a gig once and it havent let me down!

Customer Support : 5
I am from bulgaria and here we don't have Fender workshop so if it breaks down i'll try to fix it on my own or i'll bring her to repairer!

Overall Rating : 7
I have played on several Ibanez models, and i think that it is obvious that squier isnt that good, but in my oppinion it is the best guitar for begginers. I dont like that the second pickup isnt as good as the other two! I think that that is only my problem , a few friends told me that their pickups are working properly!


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 05/02/1999 at 11:25am by Anonymous

Features : 4
Made in China s/s/s Cheap ass Tuners Tremlo bridge. 1 volume 2 tone cheap plastic nut Maple Neck Rosewood Fret board Very small frets

Sound : 5
THe sound is pretty good for a cheap guitar, its not all that bad it could have been worse. The tone from the Stock pickups were pretty fat, The bridge had a pretty rounded off tone, it would have been better. THe neck and the middle Pus were realy noisey for some wierd reason. I changed the pickups inthis bird. And it sounds a lot better.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 5
The action, i just love the feel of this axe. It is nice, Really nice. I said to hell wiht the pickups and changed them. THis thing needs a refret desperatly. THe finish of thise guitar is awasome. i like the Transparent SUnburst it looks sweet. The screws holding the bridge got rusted over time.

Overall Rating : 6
After i changed a lot of stuf fon this guitar it became a real killer axe. Buy one and do mods to it, and then it would be able to blow out any other axe you have played. and it SAVES MONEY.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $150-200
Submitted 04/28/1999 at 06:37pm by Kyle Beamsderfer
Email: Kenny_Cartman at juno<dot>com

Features : 8
I don't think that this guitar has anything fancy when it comes to features. Although, I think that the features are great for someone who is just learning to ply. I have been learning to play since December 27, 1998. Once again, I think it has good features for someone who is just learning to play.

Sound : 10
The sound on this guiter rules. I have hooked it up to my Fender Frontman amp and I haven't had any problems with the sound. I t fits my music style perfectly. ( Alternative - Heavy Metal ). I have no negative comments about the sound.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
This guitar in my opinion has been assembled perfectly. That's one of the ggod things about Fender/ Squire guitars- they are so perfectly made that if someone who can think of a better design, I would like to hear it. I don't think that that will happen anytime soon.

Reliability/Durability : 8
This guitar since it is Fender made, will probably last through live playing. The hardware will also probably last as well as the finish. The strap buttons are solid and it is highly dependable. Only, no matter how dependale it is, I wouldn't play any gig without a backup.

Customer Support : 10
The salesperson that sold the guitar to us was extremly helpful and helped out whenever we needed it. I never had to get it repaired yet considring I play it almost every day.

Overall Rating : 10
I have been learning to play since December of 1998 and my other guitar ( which I never played much ) can;t compare t this one. If lost or stolen ( which I don't plan on it happening ) I would buy it again than I would find the criminal and beat him to a bloody pulp. I love all the features on it. I was looking at some Gibson's or Epiphone, but I am glad that I bought this guitar.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $300
Submitted 04/25/1999 at 05:33pm by Anonymous

Features : 7
1998 made in China. 22 frets. S/S/S Pickup. Body is Maple, Fret board is Rosewood. Smooth black finish. Got the Strat Pack.

Sound : 7
Sounds fine for my style (alternative/rock) 6th string vibrates TOO much. Bridge pickup a little too twangy. Otherwise it does fine.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
It looks REAL nice considering it is a cheap Fender. The finish is nice, and the pickguard is nice too.... unfortunately collects alot of dust.

Reliability/Durability : 7
Live,.... wouldn't trust it. Hardware MIGHT stick around a while... the finish i am sure will last. the strap buttons are solid. No, I wouldn't trust it with no backup.

Overall Rating : 6
It's good. What else can I say.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: Phil. Pesos P 8995.00
Submitted 04/12/1999 at 07:04pm by Aaron Dulog
Email: Aaronius_kirk22 at yaho<dot>com

Features : 9
I bought this guitar last week and it has 22 frets, I dont know where it is made and when it is made, it has 3 single coil pickups, 1 master volume and 2 Tone, single ply pickguard, non-locking tremolo and machine heads and a black finish, just like a standard strat

Sound : 10
At first it sounds like shit but now it sounds different because i had changed its stock pickups with a Dimarzio virtual vintage solo on the bridge position and a Dimarzio Blue Velvet on the middle and neck positions and it sounded excellent, it gives me highs mids and lows, It now has the punch I needed to kick into my musical needs, it has now a very agressive tone . It suied my playing style even before I changed its pickups and now it really suits my playing style which is Pop, Rock, Metal, Blues and Funk.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
It has an excellent low action which was setuped to my specification by the sales person I bought it. It has a good finish just like my friends '62 Fender Strat he was astonished when he saw my guitar. The only weak points of the guitar is the Tremolo, Machine heads or Tuning pegs and the Pickguard, but there is no problem there I had changed its Tuning pegs to Schaller staggered height tuning pegs, it is "A MUST" for every guitar with a non locking Tremolo or machine heads, also I have chenged the white pickguard into a white pearloid pickguard which made the guitar look stunning, I am looking forward to change the bridge this month for my guitar to look vintage, but I think I may not change the bridge it does the job for me quite fine coz' I'm not a DIVE BOMBER.

Reliability/Durability : 10
It Seems to me it will last long because I also have a RJ guitar which is made in the here in the Philippines which is a Stratocaster copy and is made out of plywood and it is still in my posession and still working fine for me, though I made some modifications with it,. Therefore I can say That My Squier will last long for me considering my playing habbit of banging it on the wall and floor. On a gig I will use it without a backup because of my past experience with my RJ guitar which never ever let me down in my gig.

Customer Support : 10
I they have the best customer support in the country, they will help you, even though you bug them so much, and give you options that will make your guitar look and sound great

Overall Rating : 10
I have been playing for 2 1/2 years and as far as I am concerned this guitar has the best tone of all the guitars I have ever used, because of the pickups. The only pedal I have is a Boss MT-2 Metal Zone and I'm proud of it. Also I wish that Fender would put a White pearloid pickguard options on their Squier Guitars.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $130
Submitted 03/10/1999 at 06:58pm by Doug
Email: dwaurin<at>hotmail dot com

Features : 4
This P.O.S. was made in 1998. It was made in China. It has 22 frets, two tone and one volume nobs. It has a five-way selector. The paint job is all right but the pick guard collects a lot of dust. It has medium size frets.

Sound : 3
I play allternative rock and the sound quality is not very good. The guitars tuners vibrate when it is played to hard. I have a squier sidekick amp which is allright for my purposes but it tends to pichup radio stations. The distortion is not very good. I dont really like the sound of this guitar.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 4
The guitar was out of tune out of the box. The pickups seem to low to me. The srews holding the on the bridge became rusted within weeks . This is not a high qualiy guitar. The tuning pegs were very tight and sometime became very loose.

Reliability/Durability : 2
The guitar has taken a lot of bumps withuot any scrathces. I think it will last it just doesnt look good after a while. The finish on the pickguard is starting to wear off after just a few months of playing. The strap buttons are solid. If you like to tune guitars this is the one for you. I have to tune it three times a day atleast. I wouldnt use the squier in a gig at all.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Havent had any experience with Fender.

Overall Rating : 2
Ive been playing for about a year and im thinking of trading this in for a mexican strat. I wish i would of asked to try this guitar out in the stoor first. If it were stoolen i would forget about it and get another guitar. I hate the tuning pegs and the pickups.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $185
Submitted 03/04/1999 at 07:49am by Anonymous

Features : 7
3 SINGLE COIL PICKUPS 5 WAY PICKUP SELECTOR 21 FRETS ROSEWOOD FRETBOARD INCLUDED TOOLS AND WHAMMY BAR RED WITH WHITE PICKGUARD

Sound : 9
IT IS GREAT FOR MY STYLE. I PLAY GRUNGE AND LOOK FOR THE NIRVANA SOUND. ALSO A CERTAIN PICKUP POSITION IS GOOD FOR PUNK. I'M USING IT WITH A KUSTOM 40 WATT AMP AND A BOSS DS-1, DOD GRUNGE , AND A ROADKILL DISTORTION.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
PERFECT

Reliability/Durability : 9
THE GUITAR HAS BEEN HIT BY OPENING DOORS AGAINST POINTY CORNERS AND HAS BEEN BUMPED TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND THERE'S NOT EVEN A DENT OR PAINT CHIP PR SCRATCH ON IT

Customer Support : No Opinion
NEVER DEALT WITH FENDER

Overall Rating : 10
WHY GET A FENDER STRAT WHEN THE SQUIER IS CHEAPER AND IS THE SAME THING? IF IT GOT STOLEN I WOULD GET IT AGAIN IN AN INSTANT. IT GIVES GREAT SOUND FOR NIRVANA AND DICKLESS


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $300
Submitted 02/19/1999 at 05:33pm by Ben Harris

Features : 8
This guitar I got as part of the Squier Strat Pack. It is my first guitar, and it came with gig bag, strap, cable, a Squier Sidekick 10watt amp, and some replacement strings. It's got a rosewood neck, and it's got 3 single coil pickups. I still haven't figured it out, but I have a 5-way pickup selector. It also came with a nice black finish, but the white pickguard looks almost worn...

Sound : 6
It sounds great for what I play it with. Like I said, I play it with a Squier Sidekick, a little amp with a 5" speak, and I soon hope to upgrade to a Crate GFX-60... I like it on a 4-bass/1-treble setting on the amp, and forget overdrive, it just sounds shotty.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
The guitar looks real nice, but the pickguard as I said almost look used straight outta the box. Sucks, but I am gonna replace it anyways so who cares.

Reliability/Durability : No Opinion
It is my only guitar, so I really can't say. It takes bangs nicely though.

Overall Rating : 7
I haven't been playing long, and I don't own anything else except a bag and an amp. If it was stolen, uh, i'd get the insurance company to buy me a new one! It is a good guitar, for what I know.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $120
Submitted 02/17/1999 at 10:31am by Oscar Colorado
Email: onates<at>hotmail dot com

Features : 6
1998 made in Chine. 22 frets, seems like alder body, 5-way selector. Classic strat pickup configuration. Sunburnst finish (really cool and nice for a really cheap guitar) Floating bridge is useless (lots of noise, the guitar gets out of tune immediately, please do not even try it!)

Sound : 2
I'm a classic rock, blues and jazz player. The guitar suits my style somewhat. I'm using a Peavey Audition 110. The guitar is really noisy. The sound is thin (due to very bad pickups) For SRV like tone it sounds fairly good as well for blues. Forget it for great solos or high distorted rhytmes. Basically it is as flexible as any strat, but with a weak sound.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 1
The guitar was awful! Unplayable action, no routed bridge. I had to adjust everything to make it playable. Very bad point.

Reliability/Durability : 5
I wouldn't use this one live. The hardware (specially the pick ups look like they will be rusted in a year or less9. The finish looks nice, but I don't think it will last. This is a home-based guitar and for practice. I don't think this guitar will last to anyone playing 4 hours a day 365 days a year. The electronics are poor, the 5-way selector is noisy.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never dealt with the company.

Overall Rating : 1
I've been playing for more than 10 years. I also have a Yamaha 120SD, , an X-Pectra electroacoustic, another yamaha classical acoustic, an Ibanez Cimar acoustic and a cheap classical guitar. If stolen or lost, I would just forget about it.
I liked the sunburst finish. I hate the overall quality. I didn't expect a great guitar, just a cheap one for practice. The hardware is real junk. You have to replace everything: pick ups, selector, tone knob, volume knob, bridge, tuners. The guitar doen't deserve the cost of changing everything. Just buy a better guitar next time.
For first timers, it is OK, but frankly there are much better guitars for this price (e.g. Yamaha PAC120SD). Don't buy it just because it says "Fender", IT IS NOT A FENDER it is a really poor copy of a stratocaster. Actually, I would buy it just to make a nice clock with it or as decoration for home (it looks really cool hanged in a wall), but it is not a nice instrument or an inspiring one. I think that tone and reliability is important, in the long run you will feel like you just spend stupidily your money.


Product: Fender Squier Affinity Series Strat
Price Paid: US $129.99
Submitted 01/18/1999 at 01:36pm by Cassandra
Email: Cassiejof6<at>aol dot com

Features : 1
The guitar was made in china, 1998 I believe. 22 frets. There is a five way selector switch one tone and one volume control. There are three super cheap single coil pickups. Garbage Trem, no lock. there is a rosewood fretboard. But, hey it was only 129.99

Sound : 2
Suits no music. No one should have to start playing on this instrument, but so many do. The guitar sounded like crap. If I select an ok sounding setting on tone/5way selector, there would be a huge BUZZZ. If I set it so it sounds the most horrible, there wasn't as much buzz. Nothing on it that's good. But, hey it's only 129.99

Action, Fit, & Finish : 2
The action was bad, but playable. But pretty bad. Pickups were garbage, super cheap stuff. Everything looked very low quality. The pickups were rusted (brand new out of a new box). Oh yea, and the arctic white finish looked very very cheap. Hey, it's only 129.99

Reliability/Durability : 1
No reliability. I think that it would break within 4months. Everything all around looks super cheap. It looked as if it would last very long. This guitar should be used for practice, and gigs? ha

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never dealt

Overall Rating : 1
I think that no one should have to start on this guitar. Try to get something that's not a Squier. Ibanez guitars seem to be the best deal. Strats may get better once you're in the 1000dollar range, but then you can get one hell of an Ibanez! I returned this guitar within a week, because it can't even be considered a real guitar. It sucks. Anyone that likes the strats are stupid. They sound like crap, and low quality construction.

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