Affinity Squier Deluxe

[Tonray's Ghost]

This looks interesting. You know it's funny...both Fender (Squier) and Epiphone have been coming out with new models in head spinning fashion...the only problem is that Fender seems to be able to deliver inventory while a year later Epi is short on delivering much of anything.

[BatUtilityBelt]

Good thing they don't do lefties or I'd have to try it.

[nomadh]

Squier Affinity deluxe? As opposed to squier deluxe.
Not quite as dumb a marketing move as recycling the starcaster name from the very high end model to the lowest end strat. Then reissuing the high end model again.

[thepezident]

Looks similar to this one I sold a couple months ago...except for fingerboard...

[toomanycats]

This is all so confusing.

I thought the rungs up the Squier ladder went something like Bullet, Affinity, Standard, Classic Vibe.

So is a Squier Affinity Deluxe better than a Squier Standard?
And why not a Squier Bullet Deluxe?
And while we're at it, how about a Squier Standard Deluxe? And would that be equivalent to a Fender Standard?

You understand my confusion, right?

[dabbler]

This is all so confusing.

I thought the rungs up the Squier ladder went something like Bullet, Affinity, Standard, Classic Vibe.

So is a Squier Affinity Deluxe better than a Squier Standard?
And why not a Squier Bullet Deluxe?
And while we're at it, how about a Squier Standard Deluxe? And would that be equivalent to a Fender Standard?

You understand my confusion, right?

What? You think vendors want you to know what you're getting!? Marketing is all about getting you to buy whatEVER the company is selling. If they can make you think what you're getting is "the next great thing", all the better... for them.

[Mossman]

"Deluxe" is the model name, not a tier designation. It's a Tele with two wide-range humbuckers that first came out in the early '70s (there's also a Classic Vibe Deluxe).

But is that Affinity Deluxe a special run? All I could find on the Squier website was the CV version.

[Mossman]

Nevermind... I found them on Sweetwater, and I noticed those are just regular humbuckers on that guitar (I'm on my cell phone), so it's not exactly a Deluxe.

[aullucci]

I dont think the Squier names matter much at all. Other than the Classic Vibes, which seem to be really well regarded, Squier seems like the kind of brand that I want to put my hands on before I buy one. I have a cheapo Affinity tele and I like how it feels/plays but it needs new electronics. I would imagine there are a lot out there like that. And a lot of duds, too...

[glasshand]

Historically, "Affinity", "Standard" and "Deluxe" definitely meant something, though. For example, the Squier Standard or Deluxe Stratocaster had a two-point trem, which you wouldn't find on any Affinity (of which I am aware). This latest name just muddies the waters.

[thepezident]

@toomanycats And what about mine? *Telecaster Custom*

[toomanycats]

@toomanycats And what about mine? *Telecaster Custom*

Man, I have no idea where Squire Deluxe, Custom, Supreme, Ultra, etc. all fall in the food chain.

I think they should just drop the MOAB with the Squier Richman's Bastard model, USA made in the Fender Custom Shop. Now that will really mess with people's heads.

[Razzle]

I have had several Affinitys, and the necks are really small (too small for me, and I like thin necks)

I always figured they were marketed for beginner guitarists (smaller hands for young-uns).

I always associated Bullet with WalMart.

[Tonray's Ghost]

I have had several Affinitys, and the necks are really small (too small for me, and I like thin necks)

I always figured they were marketed for beginner guitarists (smaller hands for young-uns).

I always associated Bullet with WalMart.

I had an Affinity Telecaster briefly (turned out somehow the pickups were wired incorrectly...leading me to believe they had sold me a returned unit that someone had fiddled with). I thought it was no better than the average cheap Chinese brand....a step lower than Harley Benton and a step higher than Bullets. One thing i dislike in any guitar are unfinished headstocks...makes it look cheap...at least throw some clear lacquer or a bit of stain for some color. I just thought the current offering was interesting partly because of the color choices, the CV line would be more to my choosing but the colors offered are severely limited...my one huge gripe with Fender CV models.

[Razzle]

I had an Affinity Telecaster briefly (turned out somehow the pickups were wired incorrectly...leading me to believe they had sold me a returned unit that someone had fiddled with). I thought it was no better than the average cheap Chinese brand....a step lower than Harley Benton and a step higher than Bullets. One thing i dislike in any guitar are unfinished headstocks...makes it look cheap...at least throw some clear lacquer or a bit of stain for some color. I just thought the current offering was interesting partly because of the color choices, the CV line would be more to my choosing but the colors offered are severely limited...my one huge gripe with Fender CV models.

I meant to mention, I looked up my lone strat I have in my stable. This guitar I liked the color but it had one of those small affinity necks, I had 3 of them at the time - all squiers and all purple (all different shades of purple). So I (on the nice color one I had, which I think was a Mars Music special build) swapped out the affinity neck and put in a china neck from another squier. That's because this neck plays GREAT. I sanded the back of the neck down and treated it tru-oil, just like my EBMMs, and it feels butter smooth. I finished it off by putting in some PUs I had, Fender Hot Noiseless in aged white. I happened to have an aged white pickguard and the guitar just popped! I got lucky on it all. But this Squier is the only strat that has survived in the stable.

[Tiga]

It looks like this latest line of Affinity's has increased the nut width to 42mm ( I think they used to be 40). I wonder if the bodies are still thinner than the CV and Fender models.

[Sinster]

I absolutely love my Affinity. The only regrets I have on it is that I should of left it butterscotch. I wound a few pickups for it, made it a through body, and changed out the electronics. If I was a touring musician or even played out this would be one of my guitars that I would use more. I want to change the neck because I like the skunk stripe, but I think if I do that it will lose it's mojo.

[Frozensoda]

I’m glad Squier has finally corrected the main complaint many had about the older Affinity models, the new 2021 models all have 42mm nuts.

[Tonray's Ghost]

I’m glad Squier has finally corrected the main complaint many had about the older Affinity models, the new 2021 models all have 42mm nuts.

Hard to go wrong with bigger nuts...in all aspects of life

[Mossman]

I’m glad Squier has finally corrected the main complaint many had about the older Affinity models, the new 2021 models all have 42mm nuts.

And the Teles are now string-through... The old Affinity Teles were top-load only.

[Mossman]

It looks like this latest line of Affinity's has increased the nut width to 42mm ( I think they used to be 40). I wonder if the bodies are still thinner than the CV and Fender models.

It would be nice if the bodies were 1.75" thick, but I have a Tele that I built from what I think is an Affinity body, as it's only 1.5" thick and it was a top-loader (I bought it from some random dude on ebay, who said it was of unknown origin), and the thinner body has never bothered me... What bothers me are the cock-eyed string-through holes that I drilled through it.

[Tiga]

My Squier '51 has the thinner Affinity body and it's never been an issue either. I actually like the reduction in weight - more comfortable.

It looks like this latest line of Affinity's has increased the nut width to 42mm ( I think they used to be 40). I wonder if the bodies are still thinner than the CV and Fender models.

It would be nice if the bodies were 1.75" thick, but I have a Tele that I built from what I think is an Affinity body, as it's only 1.5" thick and it was a top-loader (I bought it from some random dude on ebay, who said it was of unknown origin), and the thinner body has never bothered me... What bothers me are the cock-eyed string-through holes that I drilled through it.

[Mossman]

My Squier '51 has the thinner Affinity body and it's never been an issue either. I actually like the reduction in weight - more comfortable.

Aren't those made of Basswood, though?

But yeah, I would think the reduction in weight would be appreciated more. Like I never understood people who complain if an LP copy is 1/8" shy of 1.75", but also complain about how heavy it is... Well... You can't have it both ways. (no offense intended if this describes anybody reading this ). It's not like that thin slice would have imparted so much more magical tone to your dense slab of wood.

To be honest, that Tele I mentioned may be the lightest one that I own (not counting my 12-string Thinline), but not by a wide margin. It's got a decent heft to it (weighs about 8-8.5 lbs), and I never feel like I'm playing a "toy" when I pick it up. My Furrian is also made of Alder and has a 1.5" body (which I completely forgot about), and that one's about 9lbs. Not "heavy" guitars, per se, but I wouldn't want them any heavier.

[Tiga]

My Squier '51 has the thinner Affinity body and it's never been an issue either. I actually like the reduction in weight - more comfortable.

Aren't those made of Basswood, though?

But yeah, I would think the reduction in weight would be appreciated more. Like I never understood people who complain if an LP copy is 1/8" shy of 1.75", but also complain about how heavy it is... Well... You can't have it both ways. (no offense intended if this describes anybody reading this ). It's not like that thin slice would have imparted so much more magical tone to your dense slab of wood.

To be honest, that Tele I mentioned may be the lightest one that I own (not counting my 12-string Thinline), but not by a wide margin. It's got a decent heft to it (weighs about 8-8.5 lbs), and I never feel like I'm playing a "toy" when I pick it up. My Furrian is also made of Alder and has a 1.5" body (which I completely forgot about), and that one's about 9lbs. Not "heavy" guitars, per se, but I wouldn't want them any heavier.

Yes I think you're right it is basswood. I was thinking for a moment it might be Agathis but that would have been the Affinity Strat that I bought at the same time (another good guitar). Although there's something special about that '51.

[archetype]

Here you go, folks. This is the mother lode of Squier info. Given the state of avaialble info and introduction of models, it is at all times IMO about 99% correct and 95% complete.

http://www.squierwiki.com/HomePage