Members hbar Posted April 28, 2006 Members Share Posted April 28, 2006 Let's hear the FACTS on Fender Squiers, particularly the affinity series. I spotted this suhweet looking squier tele at GC yesterday for $169. For that price, I can get interested pretty quickly. It was a dark, dark butterscotch, with a tiny hint of orange in the finish. There was a touch of the grain showing, and it looked very nice. Ok, so talk to me about all the stuff that sucks on them. Neck, bridge, tuners, frets, pickups, wiring, etc. ps. I just got dunkin donuts sugar paste all over my backspace key. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TheDarxide Posted April 28, 2006 Members Share Posted April 28, 2006 This is my affinity tele:The butterscotch photgraphs badly. Only gripe with it was that I had to spend longer than normal doing a set up on it, the neck has a smaller radius than I'm used to, but that's not the guitars fault. Other than that, it was a steal.Am planning to stick a Lil '59 in the bridge, and put a black scratchplate on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hbar Posted April 28, 2006 Author Members Share Posted April 28, 2006 Hmmm, given the photo quality, it is entirely possible it's the same guitar. I didn't really care for the neck, but tele necks aren't exactly rare. A swap wouldn't be terribly difficult, right? You say you want to swap out the pickups...are the stock ones passable? I mean, do they NEED to be changed as a first order of business? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TheDarxide Posted April 28, 2006 Members Share Posted April 28, 2006 Originally posted by hbar Hmmm, given the photo quality, it is entirely possible it's the same guitar. I didn't really care for the neck, but tele necks aren't exactly rare. A swap wouldn't be terribly difficult, right? You say you want to swap out the pickups...are the stock ones passable? I mean, do they NEED to be changed as a first order of business? Depends what music you play. I'm a metal head, but i love the simple nature of telecasters. The bridge is quite shrill on it's own, sounds great with both together, and the neck is nice and warm without being farty and muddy. Swapping the neck would be a doddle on this thing. Just keep your scale length the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members inscho Posted April 28, 2006 Members Share Posted April 28, 2006 I guess it depends on how much of a tone snob you are I have been planning on getting that exact tele for a few months now. Be sure to play it before you buy it. each ones quality varies greatly.frets can be a little rough and may have to break out the file. in my experience about 1 in 5 have smooth fret ends. pickups sound pretty good to my ears, so I don't feel that it is an immediate replacement. I have never experienced problems with the tuners on any of my guitars, but a lot of people say that have to replace them immediately on these guitars. I beat on the ones at guitar center and they held their tune. *shrugs* The input jack will likely give you some problems, put some clear fingernail polish on the threads so the nut will stay on it for a cheap temporary fix, or replace it altogether.for the money it is an excellent buy, and you can upgrade parts here and there to make it one helluva guitar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CicadaSilence Posted April 28, 2006 Members Share Posted April 28, 2006 I have two Squier strats, one with a Danelectro 30" scale neck. I love them both dearly. They could both use a pickup swap, but as of now, I'm in no hurry. They're definately workhorse guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hbar Posted April 28, 2006 Author Members Share Posted April 28, 2006 Well I think I'm gonna go play it at lunch. I'm normally a master haggler at GC, but that thing is already so cheap. How much do you figure I can get them down? I won a $50 visa gift card from a poker tournament here at work, which will offset this little indiscretion even further. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members inscho Posted April 28, 2006 Members Share Posted April 28, 2006 Originally posted by hbar Well I think I'm gonna go play it at lunch. I'm normally a master haggler at GC, but that thing is already so cheap. How much do you figure I can get them down?I won a $50 visa gift card from a poker tournament here at work, which will offset this little indiscretion even further. on the affinity tele i think cost is $109 if I remember right, so you could probably get one for 130-140 pretty easy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gorebuc Posted April 28, 2006 Members Share Posted April 28, 2006 I really like what I've played from the Standard and Vintage Modified series Squiers, especially my modified Jagmaster... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hbar Posted April 28, 2006 Author Members Share Posted April 28, 2006 That mac sticker....do you have to put your guitar in the trash in order to remove the cable from the jack? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gorebuc Posted April 28, 2006 Members Share Posted April 28, 2006 Oh, you mean that little poop-mark on the pickguard...yeah, thats from a soldering mishap. Looks kinda crappy, but oh well. As for the mac sticker, its only been on one day as an experiment after I read a sticker thread on the Electric guitar forum. It may come off...I'm not really a sticker guy, they're best saved for the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members inscho Posted April 28, 2006 Members Share Posted April 28, 2006 Originally posted by gorebuc I really like what I've played from the Standard and Vintage Modified series Squiers, especially my modified Jagmaster... nice guitar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members desertlimosine Posted April 28, 2006 Members Share Posted April 28, 2006 Originally posted by gorebuc I really like what I've played from the Standard and Vintage Modified series Squiers, especially my modified Jagmaster... Awesome looking guitar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pinkjimiphoton Posted April 28, 2006 Members Share Posted April 28, 2006 hey bro, i been GASSin' for one of them too...they are SWEEEEEEEEEEEET looking. if it were a strat, i'd say hold out for a korean made ash body squierII....they are {censored}in great guitars, tho old... the squier standard teles are ok, they need a lot of setup, and maybe some good pickups...i LIKED the stock ones on mine, but i don't use a super saturated gain, i'm more of a melody guy. the one thing i don't like about afinisties is they are plywood, basically, no matter how ya polish a turd.... the strats are kinda weak sounding i thought compared to the standards...and lacking some sustain ( a standard squier strat is damn near identical t a mexican fender except for the pickups and hardware, or at least they were) but...on a tele, it may sound great, real airy and alot of twang. check the sustain out, some are kinda dead cuzza the plywood construction. once ya play it tho, if you like it, it plays well/sounds good, for $169.00 you could do LOTS worse!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hbar Posted April 28, 2006 Author Members Share Posted April 28, 2006 Originally posted by gorebuc As for the mac sticker, its only been on one day as an experiment after I read a sticker thread on the Electric guitar forum.You will elaborate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Burningleaves Posted April 28, 2006 Members Share Posted April 28, 2006 If you must buy a "Fender" tele then theSquire models are the way to go. Snag the best feeling affinity you can find, rip out and replace the pickups and electronics and your on your way. Throw some brass saddles on there if you feel the need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hbar Posted April 28, 2006 Author Members Share Posted April 28, 2006 See, I'm trying to undo all the things I don't like about my '69 thinline. Starting with the thinline, followed by the 3 saddle brass bridge. After playing it at lunchtime, stock already suits me better than what I've got. On the other hand, my thinline probably just needs new strings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pwn3d Posted April 28, 2006 Members Share Posted April 28, 2006 Originally posted by gorebuc I really like what I've played from the Standard and Vintage Modified series Squiers, especially my modified Jagmaster... OOOOooohow do you like those Retrotron Memphis P'Us? I thought about putting some of those in and not selling the jag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NiCkMiLnE Posted April 28, 2006 Members Share Posted April 28, 2006 i used to have an affinity tele, awsome playing guitar...wish i didne sell it now affinity have real wood, not ply, but worse pups go for an affinity then change the pups and WOW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gorebuc Posted April 29, 2006 Members Share Posted April 29, 2006 I love the Memphis Retrotrons in the Jag. Duncan style humbuckers just don't take advantage of the guitar's large resonating wood area, if that makes any sense. They seem to be too "mids" focused. These Memphis Retrotrons are really low output for HB's, but still have a full sound. The neck is nice and chimey...the bridge really jangly. I've got them set for splitting, and I get some decent Fenderish single-coil tones that way. They are so low output that I can get clean tones on the Pro Jr 1/2 way up with the SD1 maxed out...but it still sounds full. I think they are about the perfect pickups for the Jagmaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 89strat Posted April 29, 2006 Members Share Posted April 29, 2006 Originally posted by TheDarxide This is my affinity tele: The butterscotch photgraphs badly. Only gripe with it was that I had to spend longer than normal doing a set up on it, the neck has a smaller radius than I'm used to, but that's not the guitars fault. Other than that, it was a steal. Am planning to stick a Lil '59 in the bridge, and put a black scratchplate on it. I had a tele deluxe and I put a lil '59 in the bridge. Great pickup for a tele. Real nice tone and I put a push pull pot in there to split the coils to get a single coil tone, real convincing one also. I tried a hot rails in there and it came out with a day. Brought it back for the 59 and it sounded great. I still wish I didn't sell it, but I needed cash for more gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members book_of_lies777 Posted April 29, 2006 Members Share Posted April 29, 2006 I LOVE my Squier Strat!! It's not given me ONE problem in the 3 years I've owned it. The intonation was spot-on, it stays in tune forever, & all I did was change the strings and raise the pickups abit when I brought it home.I am going to put some stronger pickups in it though...I've been eyeballing that exact Tele too! Just make sure to check for the snaggy fret ends - it's been a problem on alot of those, but not ALL of them. Just check around for a good one - if not, you could always haggle the price down abit, then clean up the frets yourself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members shaun79 Posted April 29, 2006 Members Share Posted April 29, 2006 i must say if you are planning on swapping a neck and pickups, possibly other things you didnt mention, you might as well at least go for a mim tele. it would have better parts and be alot cheaper than switching neck and pickups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members manus Posted April 29, 2006 Members Share Posted April 29, 2006 I needed some single coil action and so I recently got a squier tele custom II and it is awesome!It was set up well and the neck pickup is ridiculous Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Headlow Posted April 29, 2006 Members Share Posted April 29, 2006 I've had a few Squier strats. The first one was the best of the lot, in that I think it was the one with the best pickups. The rest would feedback un-controllably when played with any amount of gain. My first Tele was a Squier, and I've always kinda regretted getting rid of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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