If you’re wondering if Squier Affinity Telecaster is a good electric guitar or not, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right part of the Internet! In today’s article, I’m going to take a very close look on that affordable model. It’s one of the most popular budget Teles available on the market, but is it actually that good?
The truth is that Squier Affinity Telecaster offers a great value for the money. It certainly looks, sounds and feels like a much more expensive guitar. Surely, both beginners and more intermediate players will appreciate its high quality.
Let’s dive deeper with research to find out what exactly makes the Squier Affinity Telecaster so good and so popular. Firstly, we’ll have a look at the specifications and the main advantages of that guitar. Additionally, we’ll investigate if it has any potential flaws. Of course, there will be a few sound demos included too!
Squier Affinity Telecaster – Specs & Pricing
Squier Affinity Telecaster is an inexpensive and great sounding electric guitar suitable for the most demanding guitarists out there. In fact, this is one of the most popular Telecasters made by Squier!
What makes it so cool? Well, the guitar features a lightweight poplar body and a comfortable C-shaped maple neck with maple fretboard. It’s really well made and it looks fantastic from the outside, so you can be sure that this guitar will draw a lot of attention on the stage.
What’s important, the manufacturer equipped this model with a pair of Fender Ceramic single-coil pickups. Although these are not the best pickups in the world, they offer a really good and versatile tone that can be used in a lot of different styles of music. Surely, there’s no need to upgrade them!
The guitar is available in a few different color versions, so anyone will be able to find a model that suits their personal preferences. The colors are: 3-Color Sunburst, Black, Butterscotch Blonde, Lake Placid Blue and Olympic White.
When it comes to pricing, it’s a really budget-friendly model. It’s a bit more expensive than the Squier Bullet Telecaster, but at the same time it’s less expensive than Squier Classic Vibe Tele and Fender Player Telecaster. That being said, it’s definitely worth every cent!
Here’s the official sound demo by Fender – make sure to check it out below.
Squier Affinity Telecaster Deluxe – Specs & Pricing
Squier Affinity Telecaster Deluxe is an another Tele from the Affinity Series which also deserves a lot of attention. In comparison with the standard model mentioned earlier, this one seems to be even more interesting.
What makes it so cool? Well, the guitar features a lightweight poplar body and a comfortable C-shaped maple neck with laurel fretboard. It looks a bit differently than the previous Telecaster, because it has a different pickguard and four controls instead of two.
It is also worth mentioning that the Deluxe Telecaster is equipped with two Fender Ceramic Humbuckers. This is a pretty big difference, because it gives you access to a bit different range of tones. In comparison with the previous Tele, the sound of this model is a but more aggressive, so it’s perfect for rock, grunge, punk and metal.
When it comes to pricing, just like the standard model – it’s really affordable. Honestly, it will be really tough to find a better Telecaster at this price level. Undoubtedly, the vast majority of guitarists will be really satisfied after getting this beautiful axe!
Here’s a quick sound demo and review – feel free to check it out below.
Who Is It For?
Squier Affinity Telecaster is suitable for guitar players of all-levels. It doesn’t really matter if you’re a beginner or a more intermediate guitarist – you will definitely appreciate and enjoy the high quality of that guitar.
It is also worth mentioning that Telecasters are generally really versatile, so they can be used in a lot of different styles of music. Whether you like to play country, rock, blues, indie or metal – the Affinity Tele won’t disappoint you.
Additionally, bear in mind that this is a really affordable guitar. As a result, it’s suitable for all guitarists who don’t want to spend too much money on new gear. This Telecaster certainly looks, feels and sounds like a much more expensive guitar.
Overall, Squier Affinity Telecaster exceeds all the expectations. It’s really difficult not to love that axe – especially when you think about its low price! I’m sure that the vast majority of guitarists will immediately fall in love with that model.
Here’s an another video that highlights the Affinity Telecasters.
Are There Any Disadvantages?
As you already know, Squier Affinity Telecasters are generally really good guitars. Still, bear in mind that these guitars are pretty cheap, so they will never be the same as the high-end Fenders that are much more expensive.
Although the disadvantages of these guitars aren’t too serious, there’s a few things that you should be aware of before you decide to get any of these guitars.
Firstly, the guitars from the Affinity Series are made in Indonesia and China. The quality of instruments from that region is not bad, but sometimes they feature minor flaws that need to be adjusted. The string action tends to be the most common problem of Squier guitars – sometimes you just have to adjust it by yourself and set it up properly.
Additionally, on rare occasions these Telecasters seem to have a problem with the loose input jack. It doesn’t happen too often though and you can easily fix it on your own – you just have to tighten the nut!
Also, bear in mind that the Squier Affinity Telecaster usually comes without a gig bag, so if you’re planning on traveling or commuting with that guitar, you’ll have got find the case separately. It’s not a massive problem, but you have to be aware of it.
Summing up, the main disadvantages of that Telecaster are:
- common problems with the initial setup (string action)
- rare issues with the loose input jack
- no gig bag included
Nevertheless, I’m positive that the advantages of the Affinity Telecaster outweigh the disadvantages of that model. When you consider how inexpensive that guitar actually is, these flaws don’t really matter!
My Verdict
Would I keep the Affinity Telecaster in my own collection? Well, absolutely yes! I have to admit that I’m a big fan of the Affinity Series.
The Affinity Jazzmaster was the first Squier guitar that I bought and I was immediately surprised by its high quality. I think that guitars from this series are definitely better than guitars from the Bullet Series. I’d be really glad to keep the Affinity Telecaster for myself!
Whether you’re a complete amateur who’s just starting out or a bit more advanced player who plays in a band, you can definitely consider adding this model to your own collection. It’s a great and inexpensive piece of gear – and it’s simple as that.
Squier Affinity Telecaster vs Classic Vibe Telecaster
Many guitarists wonder whether they should get the Squier Affinity Telecaster or maybe the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster which is a bit more expensive. But which one of them is actually better?
Well, the answer for that question is not that easy, because it’s all really subjective. Both of these guitars are amazing, but the Classic Vibe Telecaster seems to be a bit better option, especially for those who love vintage-style guitars.
On the other hand, the CV Telecaster has a gloss finish on the neck and it feels completely different. Personally, I don’t like the feel of gloss necks – it’s too sticky for me. So out of these two guitars, I’d probably stick with the less expensive Affinity Tele.
Nevertheless, it all comes down to your own personal preferences. As I mentioned before, both of these guitars are great and they’re definitely worth the money! If you’re not sure which one’s better for you, you can also check out the video comparison shared below.
Are There Any Alternatives?
If you don’t like the sound of Squier Affinity Telecaster or you simply can’t afford it right now, that’s totally fine! The market is full of great and affordable electric guitars. Of course, it all depends on what you’re looking for and how much are you willing to spend.
Here’s a few other good electric guitars that also deserve a lot of attention.
Firstly, I highly recommend checking out the Squier Bullet Mustang. This is one of the cheapest electric guitars made by Squier, but it offers a surprisingly good quality. In comparison with the Affinity Tele, it’s cheaper and it has a shorter scale length – 24 inches. As a result, it’s more comfortable for players with short fingers and smaller hands. It’s a perfect guitar for beginners!
Alternatively, you can also check out the Squier Affinity Starcaster. This is a semi-hollow body guitar, so it’s a bit different than the solid body Telecaster. Not everyone likes guitars of this type, but personally – it’s one of my favorites! I highly encourage you to check it out if you’re looking for something very special and inexpensive.
If your budget is not limited, you should also consider getting the Fender Vintera ’60s Telecaster. In my opinion, it’s one of the coolest Mexican-made Fenders that you can possibly find on the market right now. It’s a perfect instrument for all gigging musicians who are looking for a high quality and reliable piece of gear.
FAQ
Where is Squier Affinity Telecaster made?
Squier Affinity Telecasters are currently made in Indonesia and China.
Where can I learn more about Squier guitars?
If you want to find out more about Squier guitars, you should definitely check out the official website of Fender – they’re the ones who own the Squier brand.
Summary
As you can see, Squier Affinity Telecaster is a really good sounding and great looking electric guitar. Considering how inexpensive it is, it’s definitely worth the money. I have no hesitation in recommending this model to all guitarists who are looking for a high quality instrument available at a relatively low price.
What do you think about that Tele? Would you add it to your own guitar collection? Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!
Thanks for checking out today’s review, hopefully it was helpful. If you enjoyed this article and you’re searching for more gear recommendations, you may also like:
