just got one, traded a silvertone studio (les paul copy) and 50 bucks for it. i know it can't be compared to a real one, but i was surprised how nice it plays and how good (and "stratty") it sounds. i'm very happy with it overall (especially compared to what i traded for it).
i'm just curious what others think of the quality of the affinity series guitars.
i own a MIM telecaster and i do notice subtle differences between it and my buddy's 1975 american... so the affinity's "crafted in china"... are the differences just as subtle? or is it a completely different animal compared to a japanese squier, or a MIM fender?
i've never had the priveledge of owning a MIM or american strat, so i don't have anything to compare it to.

opinions on the affinity series strat?

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i've had an affinity serve as my "#1" for several years now. (then again, my only other axe is a LP)

but anyway, i am very pleased with the craftsmanship and it stays in tune very well. feels and plays solid, very nice build. my only gripes were the cheap pickup selector, as well as the pup's themselves. the switch busted on me last year. you oughta see the design of it, its rather strange compared to Fender's design. its no wonder it broke.

and then yes, i do believe the pickup's needed upgrading. i gig often and desired a more versatile and usable tone. the squier pickups are too muddy and hot, lack clarity, unless that changed over the years? nevertheless, i prefer low output.

so, i'm getting the feeling you'd believe as i do - that it's a well constructed and reliable chassis, and it wouldn't be a waste of time and money if i someday decide to upgrade the electronics?
i do notice the neck pu on my telecaster delivers a lot more bottom end than the single coil on the strat. another friend of mine replaced his with a dimarzio stacked humbucker. very chunky compared to mine.
well," if it ain't broke, don't fix it" is a rule i've learned to live with. i'll be taking the guitar to practice tomorrow to see how it stands against the tele.
thanks.

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I've had one for several years, in fact it was my first guitar. For $100 it's got to be the best constructed guitar in that price range, but it's not a Fender. I upgraded the pickups to Texas Specials (cost twice as much as the guitar, I know) and so it can blow the doors off of some guitars that cost $1000 more as far as the sound goes. The frets were very sharp (I actually got cut) when I got it, but my tech fixed it up. The neck feels great otherwise, and mine has a flatter radius than normal (12"). I'm not sure if that's just a quirk that mine has or if others are that way also.

The only thing that's really a pain in the butt is the bridge. I stripped the whammy bar and since it has a thinner body than a Standard Fender or Squier, a replacement block is extremely hard to find. The input jack had to be replaced too since I was having all sorts of trouble with it. I'd plug it in and sometimes it would work, sometimes it wouldn't. Reliability with the stock electronics and hardware can be a problem, but none of the repairs have been major. (Except for the tremolo block fiasco, but that was really my fault.)

I don't think that you can get an Affinity Squier up to the overall level of a MIM Standard Fender, but with the right modifications you can come close. But I really like mine a lot, which is why I've put so much into getting to play the best it can.

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Website: http://www.rebeccalaird.com
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I'll say this about Squier, they have their good and bad years. I am thoroughly impressed with the CV Series (CIC also). I was not as impressed with the Bullet or Standard series, but the rest seem like well built guitars, including the Affinity. As with any guitar you just have to give it a little TLC and it will be your friend to the end.

RK

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

the one i have was used but very well cared for.haven't cut myself on the frets either. i haven't researched the serial number yet so i don't know what year it is. the price was right and it played and sounded good at the store.
glad to hear mostly good news about them.
the way i figure, if the guitars weren't up to a certain quality, the fender name wouldn't be on it in the first place. (it's little, but it's there).

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I forgot to mention that mine is not made in China, it's Indonesian and it's an older one from 2000.

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well, if the serial number decodes the way i think it does, it's an april 2001 guitar - CY01044119... C = china, Y= plant/city of manufacture, 01 = year, 04 = april, 4119 = production number... yes?

in your (or anybody else's) exerience, would that be a good year, or a bad one???

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I've got a 2002 Indonesian-made Squier that I hot-rodded it to the point that the only thing stock is the neck,body,and trem assembly. It's the one I play the majority of my playing time.

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Today is only yesterday's tomorrow