With sealed die-cast tuning machines, the classic gold-and-black Squier logo, and the chrome hardware, its nice to look at whilst being hard-wearing. The neck and middle pickups have five-way switching for sonic variety, and you can use the tremolo bridge for string-bending effects. It has a vintage feel to it, thanks to the retro-style tremolo bridge. Buy at Amazon.com always makes me chuckle when folk discard it because of the nut width, it's only 0.2mm difference in the string spacing when it comes down to it.. We'll be pitting Squier Bullet vs Affinity in a number of categories, from features and tones to build quality and design, and coming to a verdict about how either of them fare. There was a problem. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Been playing for many years. Prefer string through on my guitars. Anyone have any experience with these two, and can you offer your opinions please? Theyre designed to hit a kind of middle ground between Squier Bullets, which are very much aimed at beginners, and more expensive Fender guitars. Thank you for signing up to The Pick. The Squier Affinity models have a thicker body so weight slightly more and have upgraded bridges, tuning machines and pickups. I thought about getting the new affinity tele but i have to learn to play my bullet firstcheck this post, 3rd page last post.. Hmmm, I have an Affinity Tele. Thank you! Thanks for visiting! Lets take a look at the pros and cons of both. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Now, build quality is probably the most important factor to focus on when comparing budget guitars. You can do lots of other inexpensive upgrades and a good set up that will make any cheap budget guitar play and sound WAY better than stock. In that case, its worth investing in some upgrades. I dont think they have the same pickups, the guitars are from different factories, so Id guess the pickups are too. BA1 1UA. The Squier Bullet series is very much a budget-friendly option, but that makes it a good choice for beginners. Its always a good idea to try them out in person if you can, so you can get a feel for them before you buy, but if you cant, you can be assured that either one works well as an entry-level guitar. Reaper vs Pro Tools: Which is Right for You? Last year I upgraded the pickups, made a huge difference (improved tone). Our contributors use and test each instrument, accessory, or service in their real lives and we never recommend anything we wouldn't use. Check price The build quality can also be inconsistent, and sometimes the finish on the neck is imperfect you can expect the Affinity HSS to look more polished in comparison. Today were gonna take a look at 2 of the most affordable teles from Squier, the bullet and the affinity series. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. I have an affinity telecaster 3 years now. I ended up with a Bullet Mustang instead, for a super chesp line of guitars, they are surprisingly good. has this changed? I find it hard to recommend either one of these I have both but I only use my Squire Standard Telecaster as even though I have put upgrades all through the both of them they are still only useful to hang on the walls. However, if you dislike the basic sound and the feel of the guitar, its worth spending the money on a guitar that suits you better. As this is a basic model at a great price, there arent many extra features to talk about. Squier by Fender Affinity | Guitar Center Theyre both great guitars that are fun to play. Answer: Yes if you like the way the guitar plays and feels. Squier Affinity guitars tend to be more durable, whereas Bullet guitars can be a bit less durable. Epiphone Les Paul Special II Electric Guitar | Guitar Center Verdict: If you like your guitars slim, lightweight, beginner friendly and sounding 'classic' then the Bullet range is where you should be looking. Squier Affinitys HSS offers more control over the intonation, whereas the Squier Bullet doesnt offer that control. With a bit of gain onboard, the pickups do come to life a little more but there's still a little more to be desired. The switch is exactly the same. The Squier Bullet Stratocaster is available in HSS and SSS pickup configurations, the Affinity Stratocaster is also available in a HH configuration. Here is a table to show the differences between the two Squier Stratocaster models. I also have just purchased an affinity MN BB and it too has a string through body? Guitar World is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Now lets take a look at the Strat and Tele models individually to highlight all the differences and similarities between the two Squier variants. Players can change the intonation using the six separate paddles, which may feel a bit overwhelming for beginners but does give you a bit more control. Best Overall The main differences between Squier Affinity vs Bullet are: Here are the main features of the Squier Affinity and Squier Bullet: The Squier Affinity series is very popular, thanks to the quality parts used whilst still being reasonably priced. However, the Bullet HSS has the advantage of being simpler to use and cheaper. link to Gibson 498T vs 500T: Bridge Pickup Comparison. Wed love to stay in touch, sign up for The Pick team to contact you with great news, content and offers. Answer: Squier guitars tend to be cheaper, but not as high-quality as regular Fender guitars. If youre looking for an entry-level electric guitar then the Squier range is a great place to look. Our Fender Standard Stratocaster Review may give you an idea of how it compares to the guitars weve looked at in this article. The Affinity pickups on both videos sounded more flat and dull. Up until then, Fender had been making its lower-priced guitars in California, but a combination of more affordable Japanese copies, cheaper labor and production costs inspired the move, in order to help Fender compete against brands such as Tokai and Fernandes. The nut slots are small for wider strings I left as is and just changed the string height. The sounds that the Affinity range produces are chunky and sound fairly authentic, and while they're not exactly vintage-spec or era-appropriate, they sound pretty damn good. Answer: The bass player Troy Sanders from Mastodon sometimes uses a Squier bass. The Affinity series pickups aren't high-end by any stretch of the imagination, but they definitely have a bit more life in them than the Bullet options. Thank you for reading 5 articles this month*, US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year, UK pricing 2.99 per month or 29.00 per year, Europe pricing 3.49 per month or 34.00 per year, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription. As a sub-brand of Fender, Squier is able to faithfully recreate some of the most iconic guitars at impressively low prices and without an impending lawsuit meaning that all of your hard earned cash is going into something that looks as good as it sounds. Overall, these guitars are made very very well. Overall, these guitars are made very very well. Even though both guitars offer some pretty high levels of quality considering the price bracket they fall into, the Affinity series is the winner here. So much so that we're disregarding the other brands for now, and comparing two product ranges from Squier Bullet and Affinity to see which is best for you. We compare two killer budget guitar ranges from Squier to help you spend your hard-earned cash wisely. If you want more ideas, here are a few alternatives you can try. Whether the quality of the wood is better on the more expensive models, it's hard to tell but the impact these materials have on the tone of these guitars is virtually identical. It stays in tune, too, which is really important, and unlike the Bullet HSS, using the tremolo shouldnt knock it out of tune. Dog Ear vs Soapbar P90 Pickups: Is There a Difference? Even if an Affinity guitar does get knocked out a bit, it may last longer than a Bullet guitar. Build quality is the hardest thing to change or to fix on a guitar, and for that reason, making sure that it feels right and is put together properly is crucial. Get one for yourself: https://www.thomann.de/intl/gb/fender_t_models.html?partner_id=78967, Is the headstock larger on the Affinity or smaller on the bullet. Check out my comparison between the Squier Affinity and Classic Vibe models. https://www.squier-talk.com/threads/squirrel-affinity-tele-or-maybe-bullet.176040/page-3. Squier by Fender Affinity | Guitar Center, how to properly clean a rosewood fingerboard, Ibanez 6 String Solid Body Electric Guitar, Ibanez 6 String Solid Body Electric Guitar | Guitar Center, Epiphone Les Paul Special II Electric Guitar, Epiphone Les Paul Special II Electric Guitar | Guitar Center. Most Affordable RH = right-handed version available, LH = left-handed version available. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Same. Especially in the world of budget and beginner guitars, the only thing you need a guitar to be is easy to play and both the Affinity and Bullet ranges provide an enjoyable and easy playing experience. The first Squier guitars were produced in 1982. Buy at Amazon.com The Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS sounds great right out of the box. The Bullet is better in IMO though it doesnt say Bullet on it anywhere. The extra tonal versatility and pickup output means that you're ready for most musical scenarios with an Affinity, too. You'll find amp controls guides, tips to improve your tone, and answers to loads of specific issues. Absolute deal of a price at 135 from MF. Figure its a bullet because of string through body, thats why I bought it. Due to this fact, we'd say that while the Bullet range has the more 'classic' tone, the Affinity series has much more power and versatility behind it. Its sleek neck provides fast and smooth playability while the improved tuning machines and hardtail bridge ensure rock-solid tuning stability. Squier began making budget versions of Fender guitars in 1982 in Japan's iconic FujiGen factory. Prosoundhq.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk. The LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece add more sustain and make string changing easier. Just like the Affinity, its designed to suit all genres, and the humbucking bridge gives a nice warm tone. Within the Affinity series, you've got a huge amount of choice when it comes to the model of guitar you want to buy. Fender describe the sound as genre-defying which again shows how this guitar has been engineered to suit a wide variety of styles its a very welcoming instrument in that way. Just got an Affinity through Sweetwater. If you're comparing the models which exist in both the Bullet and Affinity series', then the specs are pretty much the same. We do think its worth spending extra on for the slightly higher sound quality and increased durability (both of which are down to the superior parts used). Dont have the bullet anymore, but they were very similar. I wound up buying the Bullet because: I have a Bullet and really like it. Check Guitar Center Price It turned out way better than I thought it would! It is cheaper though, to be fair. The Ibanez GRX20 Electric Guitar has a sleek neck and fast action. I think the wood on both guitars are basswood your not going to get alder at this price. Basswood is a good body wood and bit lighter. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Hey, I'm Heather. It is this, for us, where the Bullet series falls short. Squier is just one of a massive number of brands that are producing cheap electric guitars, so the amount of choice you've got can be pretty overwhelming at times. While we don't hate the sounds which come from the Bullet series, they do sound a little bit flat in comparison to the Affinity series. Great if you're small, a beginner or just don't like heavy guitars, we suppose but if you want a guitar with some extra guts behind it, as well as some extra sustain, then the Affinity range is the one for you. Theyre both made with alder bodies and maple necks, have single coil magnets, a 3 way switch and master volume and tone. The affinity has a narrower nut and string spacing so its great if you have smaller hands. https://www.thomann.de/intl/gb/fender_t_models.html?partner_id=78967, The Rolling Stones PART 2 | 25 Guitar Riffs from your comments, 50s Guitar Riffs | The Decade RockNRoll Was Born. I wanted to like the Affinity because of the top load bridge and maple fretboard, but the Bullet was better. Squier Affinity guitars tend to be more expensive, whereas Squier Bullet guitars tend to be cheaper in general. Standard rocking tremolo lets you dive bomb your way to musical bliss. Thankfully, the sheer amount of competition means that Squier has been constantly upping its game and we think that it's the best brand to buy a budget guitar from. If you're looking for a high output Gibson bridge pickup then the 498T and 500T are your best options, but what's the difference between them? 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This Strat features several player-friendly refinements such as a slim and comfortable C-shaped neck profile, a vintage-style tremolo bridge for expressive string-bending effects and sealed die-cast tuning machines for smooth, accurate tuning. Squier Bullet Strat (Standard) Only the Affinity offers a left-handed version. Two howling humbuckers-a Powersound 1 at the neck and a Powersound 2 at the bridge-crank out grinding, gritty tone by the busload. If youre a new player looking for the best electric guitar, you might be looking at the Fender Squier series if you want to know what is better in the battle of Squier Affinity vs Bullet, youve come to the right place. Get GC to price-match. It also uses cheap switches which are a little stiff, and may not last as long as those on the Affinity HSS, and may become a bit annoying after a lot of use. Two howling humbuckers-a Powersound 1 at the neck and a Powersound 2 at the bridge-crank out grinding, gritty tone by the busload. For an entry-level player, a Bullet may be the way to go. Hi the bullet Squier Telecaster has a thinner body than the Affinity Telecaster interestingly enough is that the Bullet gets trough the body strings whereas the Affinity is a hardtail rear loading bridge. In terms of feel, the Affinity model is slightly heavier which makes it feel more like a premium model due to its thicker body. They're still well-put-together, and the lighter, thinner body feels great to play, particularly if you're in the market for a great beginner electric guitar or a killer guitar for kids but if you've got some room in the budget and are willing to spend it, then the Affinity series is the place you should look. Pro Tools 11 vs 12: Is It Worth Upgrading? You can learn more About Us here. You can download the app for Android or iOS, which allows you to play as you go. The words Fender, Squier Telecaster, Stratocaster and the associated headstock designs are registered trademarks of the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Well the Bullet is made in indonesia, the Affinity in China. I just watched two YouTube videos and the Bullet pickups sounded brighter, more alive and clearer to me. Answer: On the one hand, the Squier Affinity has the advantage of being more durable. In my spare time, youll catch me writing songs, taking my greyhound, Simba, to the beach, or getting very nerdy about coffee. I was in the same position as you a few months ago - looking at the Bullet vs the Affinity. All of the necks are a bolt-on construction too providing that iconic Fender-style 'snap' on a real budget. The Bullet series is a solid choice however for beginners, kids, or those on a low budget. The parts used, however, do differ and this is what seems to make all the difference. Check out this YouTube video to hear both guitars played back-to-back. Squier Affinitys HSS uses higher quality pickups, whereas the Squier Bullet pickups are of lower quality and may need upgrading later on. The Affinity has better-quality pickups, which make a big difference in terms of sound. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. This is something to bear in mind especially if youre planning on giving it to someone as a gift. Here is a table showing the features seen on both Squier Strats. Its like getting aa bullet body and Affinity neck. Youll get a fairly slim C-shape neck on both models which feels comfortable for most players. I am looking at buying a 50's Classic Vibe Telecaster shortly. A Guide To the Best Distortion Pedals on the Market, My 5 Best Fingerstyle Guitars [2022 Picks]. Pickups are both ceramic, which is no surprise at this price point, but as I mentioned before, there are slight differences in sound. This is a lightweight guitar that, like the Affinity, is designed to be easy to play. The Squier Affinity Series HSS comes in a variety of colors: The materials used in the Affinity series are actually impressive given the price. The hardware is solid on both options, the pickups (although different) all sound perfectly good, and there isn't any sharp fret edges, sharp saddles sawing through strings or splintery spots on the body or neck. I got a top loader here. While the materials themselves are essentially the same, the body and neck thicknesses are adapted for the Bullet series. Features 700T/650R open-coil humbucking pickups that deliver long, singing sustain and true Les Paul tones. link to Dog Ear vs Soapbar P90 Pickups: Is There a Difference? Heres why you can trust us. Since I can't get the SX Tele with Strat vibrato that I want without buying a $70 hard case for it, even though it comes with a gigbag, making the total cost for a $159 guitar $420, including $190 shipping for the guitar and case, when shipping for the guitar was only $73 before adding the case, I'm now looking at other Teles. While the two ranges do sit at slightly different price points, they're both aimed at the same area of the market so either way, we think you'll be happy with whichever one you choose. The hardware, for example, is a shiny chrome that is designed to resist tarnishing. This makes the pickup sound warmer and thicker in Gibson 498T vs 500T: Bridge Pickup Comparison. The newly redesigned Bullet Strat is ideal for first-timer players looking for an easy-to-play, affordable electric guitar. It has a C-shaped neck profile which is designed to be comfortable for all playing styles, and the rosewood fingerboard feels comfortable to hold. JavaScript is disabled. Many new players struggle to make the choice between the Affinity and Bullet series, so in this article Ill highlight all the similarities and differences so you can decide if the Affinity model is worth the extra money. Verdict: Well, you can probably guess that we're going to choose the Affinity series again. At the time of writing, they were offering a free trial.If not, there are lots of other online tutorials and apps you can try. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The Bullet series has a lot to offer too well explore both in our in-depth comparison, so you can figure out which one suits you best. Neither models have a left-handed version available. The electronics and pickups also showcase a difference in spec between the Bullet and Affinity series'. It really depends on your situation, but it does seem to come down to that old saying you get what you pay for. You must log in or register to reply here. Theres a person on here goes by blues256, they just got a new affinity tele and its string through body and they say measures 42mm at the nut. The Ibanez GRX20 Electric Guitar has a sleek neck and fast action. Squier Bullet guitars typically cost between $200-$220 in the USA and 120-140 in the UK. Which one do you prefer, let me know in the comments. They both play and feel great, they have modern C shaped necks, with a 9,5 inch radius, 25,5 inch scale length, and 21 frets. That being said, we've got to give this round to the Affinity series. The LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece add more sustain and make string changing easier. Answer: Yes, Squier is owned by Fender. Lets take a look at what models the Bullet series has to offer: Well be looking at the Bullet Stratocaster HSS, to compare it with the Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS. We would argue, though, that the smaller, thinner bodies and necks on the Bullet series makes the guitars feel a little more flimsy and easy to break in adult hands. As for the electronics, on the affinity you get full size pots, and on the bullet they are much smaller, as you can see. The Bullet Tele is $179, and the Affinity is $229. Youll get a fairly slim C-shape neck on both models which feels comfortable for most players. The Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS is full-sized, but lightweight to hold making it suitable for many people. The Affinity and Bullet series are very similar, and both are admired by new guitar players. They kick out a pretty classic, thin and bright tone which is good for cutting through a mix, and no beginner player is going to find issue with them either which, when you consider who these guitars are aimed at, isn't so much a bad thing. Since then, there's been more than 25 different guitars made within the 'Bullet' range, in four different countries Japan, Korea, China and Indonesia. It was Squier's first product range to be made in China, and it began with an Affinity Telecaster. Well, we can't say we're overly surprised about the result of this comparison, to be honest. Im a Junior Deals Writer here at Guitar World - the ideal job for a gear nerd like myself. For this kind of money, we're expecting the basics to be done to a good standard nothing else and we were pleasantly surprised at how solid and well-made these ranges feel when playing them. Affinity pickups are hotter, with higher output, and have more pronounced mids, the bullet pickups, to my ear have sort of a scooped mid response in comparison., The bullet body is a little thinner. They run these about once a year at these prices. While all of the Bullet range is equipped with a set of 'Standard' Squier pickups, the Affinity range is specced out with Ceramic electric guitar pickups, everywhere you look. Im gonna play 10 riffs on each guitar and let you hear the difference. it has a string through body which I just think is plain cool! For the purposes of comparison, well be focusing on the Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS, so we can directly compare it to the same model in the Bullet range. Home Electric Guitars Squier Affinity vs Bullet: Which Electric Guitar is Best? Theyre also mostly made in Korea or Indonesia to keep the costs down. Some Affinity models, such as the Affinity Starcaster, are made in Indonesia now too. Older children should be able to manage to hold it thanks to the weight. The pickups, like we mentioned before, are described as 'Standard' Squier pickups, and while they aren't bad by any means, they could justifiably be described as a little 'uninspiring' at times. Squier-Talk.com is an independent, member supported forum and is not affiliated with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. For this kind of money, we're expecting the basics to be done to a good standard nothing else and we were pleasantly surprised at how solid and well-made these ranges feel when playing them. On launch, the Squier Affinity range was marketed as the budget option but this is no longer the case, with Affinity guitars improving in quality and Bullet guitars introduced as the cheaper choice. You could upgrade the pickups if youre really enjoying the Bullet and you want to improve the sound quality, but this obviously comes at an extra cost, so you may be tempted to shell out for the Affinity instead. Please refresh the page and try again. I think these are both amazing for the price, and you cant go wrong with either one. Verdict: We might start sounding like a broken record, but the Affinity has to be the one we'd choose here. I played both side by side and thought the Bullet was better overall. Poplar bodies, maple necks and Indian Laurel fingerboards make up the main bulk of the features on both the Bullet and Affinity guitars. If you want one for yourself theres a link in the description.
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