Will a Squier do?

BackToBlack · #1 August 6th, 2007

Hi all-

I'm looking to buy a Tele, and I am trying to decide between a the Squier Affinity Series and the Fender Mexican made series. Obviously I don't want to spend the $399 for the Mexican but I don't want a cheap version that won't satisfy me. I want this to be my signature guitar for my gigs for a long while, so should I just shell out the dough for the Mex, or will the Affinity series do?

PepticDust · #2 August 6th, 2007

Personally, I'd stay away from the Squiers. I have a Squier Strat, Standard Series. I really wish I had of spent the couple extra $200 or so and got a Fender Standard. The Squiers are good but when a Fender isn't that much more of a price jump and you get a HUGE difference in quality, it's not worth it.

That's just my opinion based on my Squier Standard, from what I hear the Affinity is one step below that. So I'd say get the Fender, you'll have fewer regrets and judging by your post, I'm guessing the Fender is what you really want anyway.

BackToBlack · #3 August 6th, 2007

Yeah PepticDust-
You read me like a book. I do want a Fender! I was half-hoping you would say get the Squier so I can buy it now and won't have to save for the Fender-lol. Can't get anything past you all! lol

allthumbs · #4 August 6th, 2007

Get a MIM if your going to gig.

SlickCat · #5 August 6th, 2007

The MIM standard Fender is a great guitar...save a little more.

Squires are fine but most people upgrade them with better pots and pickups...the affinity is the lowest of the Squire line.

Stratrat · #6 August 6th, 2007

I've got a Squire Affinity BSB (Butterscotch Blonde) Tele and a MIM Natural Ash Tele. There's a definite difference in the sound of the pickups, with the MIM sounding better. The Squier body is 1/4" thinner, the input jack isn't as solid and the pickup selector switch feels much cheesier. I won't call the Squier "junk", as it's really a half-decent guitar - but it would be a no-brainer decision if I had to choose to only keep one of them....the MIM would win hands-down. If you're looking for a "keeper" for gigging, etc., I'd definitely lay out the extra bucks for the MIM. The "Classic 50's" and "Classic 60's" models are said to be even better yet (and also more $$$, into the $600-$700 range), but I haven't played one myself.

krissovo · #7 August 7th, 2007

I had a Squier strat and then tried a MIM strat, the MIM was better so I nearly bought that. Then I tried a american strat......so I nearly bought that as it was a better guitar. Then I tried an american delux......I bought that as again it was another step in quality. I also tried a custom shop....I would have loved to have bought that but I decided to take a holiday instead.

Moral of the story is that the more you spend in going up the range the "better quality" guitar you get. If I had no money the Squier would have been fine for me and I could hane carried on with that. GT uses a squier and the tone that comes off that is amazing as for playability I do not know but he pulls it off fine.

coldethyl · #8 August 7th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by krissovo

GT uses a squier and the tone that comes off that is amazing as for playability I do not know but he pulls it off fine.

Agreed! I've no doubt that GT would give the thumbs up

on the Squire.

fly135 · #9 August 7th, 2007

I have both an Affinity Squire Tele and a Std Tele. I could play either one and it's not that big a deal. Perhaps the Std would hold up better. When I bought the Std it buzzed more from picking up noise. But after I put the Bigsby on it I reattached the ground wire to the new bridge that fixed it. The difference in tone between the two isn't huge.

The Affinity isn't a string thru design which cuts down on sustain. But the regular Squire is string thru. I'm going to use the bridge from my Bigsby conversion on my Affinity and convert it to string thru. String ferrules are in the mail from eBay.

IMO the biggest drawback to getting an Affinity is the continuous wondering if you should have got a Std. I've had two Affinitys and they both played perfectly. The tuners where as good as the std. I got my std off Craigslist for $215 and the Affinity for $125. Both great players and good deals. If I had the slightest concern about my guitar getting bashed up on a gig (assuming I gigged) I wouldn't hesitate to play the Affinity. Nobody would notice the difference.

Oh yeah... to answer the original question, IMO yes it will do.

karcey · #10 August 8th, 2007

I predict some GAS coming on. It's fairly obvious that you need both, so that you don't have to risk the better one in dubious situations. Buy the cheaper one first, then you'll have no trouble justifying the other. Well that's what I'd do anyway!

Stratrat · #11 August 8th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by karcey

I predict some GAS coming on. It's fairly obvious that you need both, so that you don't have to risk the better one in dubious situations. Buy the cheaper one first, then you'll have no trouble justifying the other. Well that's what I'd do anyway!

It IS always nice to have that guitar (or two) that you don't really worry about throwing in the car for traveling, or for going somewhere "dubious" (as Karcey said). I love my Taylor acoustic, but if I were going to take a guitar camping/traveling, etc., I'd be much more inclined to throw my $99 Jasmine/Tak in the car with me....it wouldn't hurt as bad if it accidentally got a ding or two, or (heaven forbid) got stolen!