squier telecaster bullet vs affinitywooden frame mirror full length

Weve explored the main differences, so you can figure out which one is better for you. For this range of guitars, things have been slimmed down considerably and lightened as a result. For beginners, they are infallible and even for intermediate players, the tones are satisfying and pretty addictive. If you want more ideas, here are a few alternatives you can try. Answer: Squier guitars tend to be cheaper, but not as high-quality as regular Fender guitars. Anyone have any experience with these two, and can you offer your opinions please? Overall, these guitars are made very very well. Overall, the build quality is completely neck and neck. Last year I upgraded the pickups, made a huge difference (improved tone). I, along with help from the rest of the eCommerce team, write, maintain and update our buyers guides and keep you up to date with the latest and best deals on killer gear. Squier Affinity guitars tend to be more durable, whereas Bullet guitars can be a bit less durable. 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. 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. The tremolo can, however, knock the guitar out of tune slightly when used. The Affinity is the green guitar and the Bullet is the purple guitar. Theyre both great guitars that are fun to play. it has a string through body which I just think is plain cool! Theyre not as durable and they look a little more basic, but given the price, they do produce great sound. Reaper vs Pro Tools: Which is Right for You? Here is a table showing the features seen on both Squier Strats. Here is a table showing the different models available in each Squier series. And, according to one of the videos where he measured them, the Bullet has a thinner body, but a wider FB at the nut. We compare two killer budget guitar ranges from Squier to help you spend your hard-earned cash wisely. If youre looking for advice thatll stick with you for a lifetime, Jodies here to share everything she knows. 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. Pickups are both ceramic, which is no surprise at this price point, but as I mentioned before, there are slight differences in sound. We also like that the Affinity series has a slightly more polished look this is purely aesthetic, but its nice to have. Before working on Guitar World I was a guitar salesman at a local music store, so I know a thing or two about matching people with their perfect instruments. The both come with the same sealed tuners for great tuning stability and they both come with a modern 6 saddle bridge for good intonation. The Affinity has better-quality pickups, which make a big difference in terms of sound. Theyre easy to tune and take care of, and theyre simple which is a big thing for beginners just beginning to get to grips with guitar playing. Guitar World is supported by its audience. Well be looking at their differences, their key features, their shape, sound, and durability, and their pros and cons. 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. The sound, given the price, is pretty good. Squier began making budget versions of Fender guitars in 1982 in Japan's iconic FujiGen factory. So what are the differences? Buy at Amazon.com The tuners kind of suck but it stays in tune. link to 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. After Squier's success in Japan, those aforementioned Japanese copies had begun flooding the European and US markets. Check price JavaScript is disabled. I now own an acoustic guitar and several electric guitars including my personal favourite, a PRS SE Custom 24. 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. 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. Bath Its like getting aa bullet body and Affinity neck. It features a humbucking pickup in the bridge position, which should provide a warm tone with a balanced sound. Epiphone Les Paul Special II Electric Guitar | Guitar Center It was Squier's first product range to be made in China, and it began with an Affinity Telecaster. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Squier Affinitys HSS has better sound, whereas the Squier Bullet Stratocaster HSS has a slightly lower-quality sound. The Squier Affinity is a little more expensive because it uses higher-quality parts, and has a slightly better sound as a result. Neither models have a left-handed version available. Required fields are marked *. good luck Mike. The affinity has a narrower nut and string spacing so its great if you have smaller hands. The materials are simple and low-cost, but what you get in return is impressive considering the price. We then saw a Strat in 2001, and since then, the products have kept coming. Answer: On the one hand, the Squier Affinity has the advantage of being more durable. Buy at Amazon.com It really depends on your situation, but it does seem to come down to that old saying you get what you pay for. Even if an Affinity guitar does get knocked out a bit, it may last longer than a Bullet guitar. Your email address will not be published. All rights reserved. After introducing Squier to the European market, Fender decided to import Squier guitars into the US in the mid-'80s, and it worked. The strings that come on it are a joke. As it uses cheaper parts, its not as durable as an Affinity guitar. The nut slots are small for wider strings I left as is and just changed the string height. I think these are both amazing for the price, and you cant go wrong with either one. Here is a table to show the differences between the two Squier Telecaster models. In my spare time, youll catch me writing songs, taking my greyhound, Simba, to the beach, or getting very nerdy about coffee. The Bullet is better in IMO though it doesnt say Bullet on it anywhere. Squier-Talk.com is an independent, member supported forum and is not affiliated with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Standard rocking tremolo lets you dive bomb your way to musical bliss. Figure its a bullet because of string through body, thats why I bought it. The Affinity and Bullet series are very similar, and both are admired by new guitar players. The Bullet series has been around since the very beginning of Squier's guitar making lifetime. 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. Just purchased a bullet but it has an affinity sticker on headstock. Some Affinity models, such as the Affinity Starcaster, are made in Indonesia now too. We are a community of guitar players, and enthusiasts and we want to spread the love for music to anyone with the heart to play. The Dinky Minion JS1X has a poplar body, speedy bolt-on maple neck with graphite reinforcement rods and a 12 radius amaranth fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets and sharkfin inlays. The Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS is full-sized, but lightweight to hold making it suitable for many people. They just may be THE best band for the buck teles out there so if youre looking to buy one but dont know which one to choose, youre in the right place. Squier Affinity vs Bullet: Which Electric Guitar is Best? In fact, the low price makes it very appealing for younger players, as it doesnt feel like such a huge investment if something goes wrong (or if your child decides they dont want to play anymore). They run these about once a year at these prices. The Bullet Tele is $179, and the Affinity is $229. Squier Bullet Strat (Standard) Jackson JS Dinky Minion | Guitar Center The table includes model variants which have different pickup configurations (single coil or humbucker). Like the Affinity version, it looks nice, although it does look a little more basic. 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. Verdict: If you like your guitars slim, lightweight, beginner friendly and sounding 'classic' then the Bullet range is where you should be looking. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). This is also where the Bullet series falls short compared to the Affinity series. Pure Nickel vs Nickel Wound Strings: Whats the Difference? Please refresh the page and try again. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. I created this website to share everything I've learnt over the past 15 years of playing guitar. Squier has a strong and well-deserved reputation as one of if not the best budget electric guitar guitar brands in the world, and with a product series fitting every major budget-friendly price bracket, its not hard to see why. Overall, these guitars are made very very well. If you've specifically had your eye on a Squier Bullet, or it's all you can afford, you won't be buying a bad guitar by any means. 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. The tones you'd expect to hear from a Strat or Tele are there in abundance, and especially when paired with some gain, life feels pretty good when playing one. The Squier Affinity series has to be our favorite. The following guitars are affordable, durable, and designed for beginners: Ibanez 6 String Solid Body Electric Guitar | Guitar Center Buy at Amazon.com link to Dog Ear vs Soapbar P90 Pickups: Is There a Difference? The tremolo bridge allows players to use some very expressive string-bending effects. It also has solid, die-cast tuning machines that provide accurate tuning. Within the Affinity series, you've got a huge amount of choice when it comes to the model of guitar you want to buy. Squier Bullet guitars typically cost between $200-$220 in the USA and 120-140 in the UK. With regards to how these Telecasters feel, the Affinity model is slightly heavier which makes it feel more like a premium model due to its thicker body. Both have 40mm nuts/necks which will throw you out if you are used to playing the Standard Telecasters 42-43mm nut/neck. The Affinity model is available with either a HH or SS pickup configuration whilst the Bullet is only available in the SS configuration. The Affinity Strat has a 2-point tremolo bridge whereas the Bullet Strat comes with either a hardtail or 6-saddle tremolo bridge. The bottom line? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Been playing for many years. The Squier Bullet series is very much a budget-friendly option, but that makes it a good choice for beginners. Im a Junior Deals Writer here at Guitar World - the ideal job for a gear nerd like myself. The parts used, however, do differ and this is what seems to make all the difference. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. You can download the app for Android or iOS, which allows you to play as you go. 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. RH = right-handed version available, LH = left-handed version available. The words Fender, Squier Telecaster, Stratocaster and the associated headstock designs are registered trademarks of the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. The switch is exactly the same. You can see more great Fender guitars in our top 10 Best Fender Guitars. The newly redesigned Bullet Strat is ideal for first-timer players looking for an easy-to-play, affordable electric guitar. Theyre both made with alder bodies and maple necks, have single coil magnets, a 3 way switch and master volume and tone. 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. Heres why you can trust us. The Squier logo is in black, for example, compared to the gold-and-black logo on the Affinity HSS. Its a durable guitar that should last you a long time with proper care (see our guide on how to properly store your guitar for more information on guitar care). Now lets take a look at the Strat and Tele models individually to highlight all the differences and similarities between the two Squier variants. If youve used an Affinity or Bullet guitar, wed love to hear your thoughts. 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. Pro Tools 11 vs 12: Is It Worth Upgrading? When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Squier Affinitys HSS offers more control over the intonation, whereas the Squier Bullet doesnt offer that control. 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. This is a lightweight guitar that, like the Affinity, is designed to be easy to play. Just like the Affinity, its designed to suit all genres, and the humbucking bridge gives a nice warm tone. has this changed? Our contributors use and test each instrument, accessory, or service in their real lives and we never recommend anything we wouldn't use. She knows all of the frustrations that come with learning the instrument without any formal lessons. Yousician is a popular app that beginners enjoy using. I got a top loader here. It has a vintage feel to it, thanks to the retro-style tremolo bridge. 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. 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. P90's are single coil pickups but with a wider and shorter bobbin compared to standard single coils where the wires are closer to the pole pieces. 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. I was in the same position as you a few months ago - looking at the Bullet vs the Affinity. It is cheaper though, to be fair. Things like a full-depth, full-weight body don't seem obviously valuable at first, but after comparing the two options, it's clear to see where the extra cost comes from. This is partly down to the pickups, and partly down to the body being thinner and lighter than usual. The Bullet range and more specifically the Stratocasters and Telecasters offers up tones in the traditional SSS and HSS configurations. 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. 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. 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. Basswood is a good body wood and bit lighter. Squier Affinitys HSS uses higher quality pickups, whereas the Squier Bullet pickups are of lower quality and may need upgrading later on. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Older children should be able to manage to hold it thanks to the weight. Both the bullet and affinity use the exact same electronics and hardware and in some cases the bullet has more features than the affinity. The Squier Affinity Telecaster has better pickups, and an upgraded bridge and tuning machines compared to the cheaper Squier Bullet Telecaster. However, the Bullet HSS has the advantage of being simpler to use and cheaper. Get GC to price-match. https://www.squier-talk.com/threads/squirrel-affinity-tele-or-maybe-bullet.176040/page-3. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. 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.. The Affinity series also offers more color options and has some left-handed guitars. You must log in or register to reply here. The only other notable difference is that the Affinity has medium jumbo frets whilst the Bullet has narrow tall frets which make it easier to press down on the strings. 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. A Guide To the Best Distortion Pedals on the Market, My 5 Best Fingerstyle Guitars [2022 Picks]. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, The Affinity is the orange guitar and the Bullet is the blue guitar. 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. Standard rocking tremolo lets you dive bomb your way to musical bliss. Check Amazon Price Check out my comparison between the Squier Affinity and Classic Vibe models. Our Fender Standard Stratocaster Review may give you an idea of how it compares to the guitars weve looked at in this article. I ended up with a Bullet Mustang instead, for a super cheap line of guitars, they are surprisingly good, I played both side by side and thought the Bullet Was better overall. All of the necks are a bolt-on construction too providing that iconic Fender-style 'snap' on a real budget. 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. Troy Van Leeuwen from Queens of the Stone age plays a Squier Jazzmaster occasionally too. For an entry-level player, a Bullet may be the way to go. There's numerous Strats with various pickup configurations, Telecasters in Limited Edition finishes, and even a sweet offset option in the Affinity Jazzmaster. Well the Bullet is made in indonesia, the Affinity in China. The Bullet is a string through body design and the Affinity is a top loader. 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. I played both side by side and thought the Bullet was better overall. Buy at Amazon.com Best Overall I changed them out to a 10s heavy bottom set. These models of guitars don't sound all that different than one another, if we're being honest. As for the electronics, on the affinity you get full size pots, and on the bullet they are much smaller, as you can see. 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. 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. BA1 1UA. The hardware, for example, is a shiny chrome that is designed to resist tarnishing. Today were gonna take a look at 2 of the most affordable teles from Squier, the bullet and the affinity series. The electronics and pickups also showcase a difference in spec between the Bullet and Affinity series'. Hey, I'm Heather. 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. Updated May 2022. With both series' being made in the same country and most likely the same factory they're neck and neck when it comes to build quality and the level of finish. The Bullet series is a solid choice however for beginners, kids, or those on a low budget. Dont have an Affinity to compare it to, but I dont think you can go wrong with the Bullet. Here is a table to show the differences between the two Squier Stratocaster models. Check out this YouTube video to hear both guitars played back-to-back. Two howling humbuckers-a Powersound 1 at the neck and a Powersound 2 at the bridge-crank out grinding, gritty tone by the busload. I am looking at buying a 50's Classic Vibe Telecaster shortly. Answer: Yes, Squier is owned by Fender. Thank you! 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. The budget guitar market is frankly huge, if we're being honest. 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. 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. 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. It has through the body stringing. The Affinity pickups on both videos sounded more flat and dull. Theyre also mostly made in Korea or Indonesia to keep the costs down. Its especially good for younger players, thanks to the lightweight and low price, but adults on a budget should enjoy using it too. A cheaper guitar may be a safe bet, especially if you think your kid might not stick with their lessons! i have both an affinity and a bullet here and on close inspection there is NO difference in the hardware at all but cannot speak for the internals or pickups The bullet is a basswood body and like some ibanez signature series guitars and thier legendary ibanez blazer the basswood resonates so well back to the player its truly awesome to play There is no question to me that the bullet is an awesome guitar and i would certainly not think an affinity is any better at all having said that it may well be true that the affinity has "better' pick ups but i've happily recorded a number of albums now with a basswood guitar and they rock Basswood is not inferior it is Superior and this is something of a secret to seasoned guitarists in the know so dont be fooled into being told the bullet is a cheaper begginner childs first time guitar It is definitely anything but A nice effort, but many of the claims (too many to list) are inaccurate.