However, the Bullet HSS has the advantage of being simpler to use and cheaper. A cheaper guitar may be a safe bet, especially if you think your kid might not stick with their lessons! We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. The Affinity is the orange guitar and the Bullet is the blue guitar. We then saw a Strat in 2001, and since then, the products have kept coming. Overall, these guitars are made very very well. It really depends on your situation, but it does seem to come down to that old saying you get what you pay for. 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. 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. We compare two killer budget guitar ranges from Squier to help you spend your hard-earned cash wisely. Squier Affinitys HSS has better sound, whereas the Squier Bullet Stratocaster HSS has a slightly lower-quality sound. You can download the app for Android or iOS, which allows you to play as you go. Squier Affinity guitars tend to be more expensive, whereas Squier Bullet guitars tend to be cheaper in general. 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. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Theyre both made with alder bodies and maple necks, have single coil magnets, a 3 way switch and master volume and tone. Prefer string through on my guitars. Its considered to be slightly better in terms of sound than the Bullet Stratocaster HSS, mostly because of the higher-quality materials. The following guitars are affordable, durable, and designed for beginners: Ibanez 6 String Solid Body Electric Guitar | Guitar Center Today were gonna take a look at 2 of the most affordable teles from Squier, the bullet and the affinity series. 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 arent a huge amount of extra features to talk about here this is a basic guitar, after all. As it uses cheaper parts, its not as durable as an Affinity guitar. Lets take a look at the pros and cons of both. This makes the pickup sound warmer and thicker in Gibson 498T vs 500T: Bridge Pickup Comparison. Your email address will not be published. Our Fender Standard Stratocaster Review may give you an idea of how it compares to the guitars weve looked at in this article. Best Overall Buy at Amazon.com The LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece add more sustain and make string changing easier. 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. 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. 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. The strings that come on it are a joke. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. 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. 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. 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. 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 have an affinity telecaster 3 years now. As this is a basic model at a great price, there arent many extra features to talk about. Well, we can't say we're overly surprised about the result of this comparison, to be honest. 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. Here is a table showing the features seen on both Squier Strats. In this article I'll compare everything you need to Hey, welcome Pro Sound HQ. The Squier Bullet Stratocaster is available in HSS and SSS pickup configurations, the Affinity Stratocaster is also available in a HH configuration. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. It is this, for us, where the Bullet series falls short. Pro Tools 11 vs 12: Is It Worth Upgrading? Well thats something new! 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. The Squier logo is in black, for example, compared to the gold-and-black logo on the Affinity HSS. Overall, these guitars are made very very well. The Ibanez GRX20 Electric Guitar has a sleek neck and fast action. 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. All of the necks are a bolt-on construction too providing that iconic Fender-style 'snap' on a real budget. First introduced in Japan in 1983, they provided a great budget point of entry into Fender-styled guitars. 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. The Affinity series of guitars is also the cheapest Squier offering to feature a full-depth, full weight body and the difference this makes is huge. The budget guitar market is frankly huge, if we're being honest. Poplar bodies, maple necks and Indian Laurel fingerboards make up the main bulk of the features on both the Bullet and Affinity guitars. They run these about once a year at these prices. Check price Squier Affinitys HSS uses higher quality pickups, whereas the Squier Bullet pickups are of lower quality and may need upgrading later on. Features 700T/650R open-coil humbucking pickups that deliver long, singing sustain and true Les Paul tones. Required fields are marked *. Theyre not as durable and they look a little more basic, but given the price, they do produce great sound. Older children should be able to manage to hold it thanks to the weight. There have been many iterations of Squier guitars over the decades, but in this article we will just look at the models available in 2022. between the Squier Affinity and Classic Vibe models. The hardware, for example, is a shiny chrome that is designed to resist tarnishing. 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 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. These models of guitars don't sound all that different than one another, if we're being honest. 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. You must log in or register to reply here. 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. Check Amazon Price I wanted to like the Affinity because of the top load bridge and maple fretboard, but the Bullet was better. The neck and middle pickups have five-way switching for sonic variety, and you can use the tremolo bridge for string-bending effects. The Affinity and Bullet series are very similar, and both are admired by new guitar players. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. So what are the differences? We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. 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. 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. Because of the weight and size, even children should be able to manage to hold it. 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. Sometimes the Bullets go on sale for 129 or 159. 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. Answer: On the one hand, the Squier Affinity has the advantage of being more durable. However, as you might expect, the sound quality is not as good as the Affinity series HSS. Epiphone Les Paul Special II Electric Guitar | Guitar Center Squier Affinity guitars generally cost between $30-$50 more than Squier Bullet guitars. Its designed to be comfortable to hold, with the C-shaped neck profile engineered to be comfortable for all playing styles. Now, build quality is probably the most important factor to focus on when comparing budget guitars. The switch is exactly the same. Im a Junior Deals Writer here at Guitar World - the ideal job for a gear nerd like myself. 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. You are using an out of date browser. 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. I think the wood on both guitars are basswood your not going to get alder at this price. I wound up buying the Bullet because: I have a Bullet and really like it. For beginners, they are infallible and even for intermediate players, the tones are satisfying and pretty addictive. It has a vintage feel to it, thanks to the retro-style tremolo bridge. Your email address will not be published. BA1 1UA. Its sleek neck provides fast and smooth playability while the improved tuning machines and hardtail bridge ensure rock-solid tuning stability. The Affinity series also offers more color options and has some left-handed guitars. I got a top loader here. In terms of feel, the Affinity model is slightly heavier which makes it feel more like a premium model due to its thicker body. 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. The affinity has a narrower nut and string spacing so its great if you have smaller hands. The Bullet is a string through body design and the Affinity is a top loader. And, according to one of the videos where he measured them, the Bullet has a thinner body, but a wider FB at the nut. Single-coil Stratocaster neck and middle pickups with humbucking bridge pickup, Rosewood fingerboard (check out our guide on, A polished finish which is nice to look at, Suits a variety of genres and playing styles, The paddles might be a bit too much for younger players to get to grips with, The low cost makes it great for kids or beginners, Less durable than the Affinity series due to the cheaper parts. 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. The Bullet series has been around since the very beginning of Squier's guitar making lifetime. It features a humbucking pickup in the bridge position, which should provide a warm tone with a balanced sound. 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. Hey, I'm Heather. Jackson JS Dinky Minion | Guitar Center Pure Nickel vs Nickel Wound Strings: Whats the Difference? it has a string through body which I just think is plain cool! 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. 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. Dont have the bullet anymore, but they were very similar. I am looking at buying a 50's Classic Vibe Telecaster shortly. 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. RH = right-handed version available, LH = left-handed version available. Weve explored the main differences, so you can figure out which one is better for you. 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. Buy at Amazon.com The LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece add more sustain and make string changing easier. 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. Ill start with an overview and then move onto specific comparisons between the Squier Strat and Tele models. Pickups are both ceramic, which is no surprise at this price point, but as I mentioned before, there are slight differences in sound. Neither models have a left-handed version available. This is partly down to the pickups, and partly down to the body being thinner and lighter than usual. 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. I also have just purchased an affinity MN BB and it too has a string through body? The Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS sounds great right out of the box. You will receive a verification email shortly. Squier Affinitys HSS looks polished right out of the box, whereas the Squier Bullet Stratocaster may have an imperfect finish. Here is a table to show the differences between the two Squier Stratocaster models. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. The actual finishes of the guitars the paintwork and lacquering etc are both decent, although the Affinity series is preferred by us due to the number of colors and other options that are available to the player. The Affinity pickups are ceramic, so regardless of the pickup configuration, there's a bit more low-end and more of a mid presence here that we especially enjoy. Same. 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). If you're comparing the models which exist in both the Bullet and Affinity series', then the specs are pretty much the same. If youre looking for advice thatll stick with you for a lifetime, Jodies here to share everything she knows. It stays in tune, too, which is really important, and unlike the Bullet HSS, using the tremolo shouldnt knock it out of tune. Guitar World is supported by its audience. But, she pushed through all of those challenges and shes now here to teach other people too. Bath Last year I upgraded the pickups, made a huge difference (improved tone). 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. We found that the fat, funky tones you might get from the neck pickup on a Strat or Tele either just weren't really there, or needed a lot of convincing to come out. Answer: Fender offers tutorials for new players with their Fender Play lessons. Thanks for visiting! has this changed? The Squier Bullet series is very much a budget-friendly option, but that makes it a good choice for beginners. 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. 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). The Bullet range and more specifically the Stratocasters and Telecasters offers up tones in the traditional SSS and HSS configurations. 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. It is cheaper though, to be fair. If youve used an Affinity or Bullet guitar, wed love to hear your thoughts. Thank you for signing up to The Pick. These are comprised of video lessons, and you can track your progress as you go. Now lets take a look at the Strat and Tele models individually to highlight all the differences and similarities between the two Squier variants. The newly redesigned Bullet Strat is ideal for first-timer players looking for an easy-to-play, affordable electric guitar. 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. Its sleek neck provides fast and smooth playability while the improved tuning machines and hardtail bridge ensure rock-solid tuning stability. You'll find amp controls guides, tips to improve your tone, and answers to loads of specific issues. Does it say Affinity on the headstock? That being said, we've got to give this round to the Affinity series. 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 Affinity guitars tend to be more durable, whereas Bullet guitars can be a bit less durable. Its especially good for younger players, thanks to the lightweight and low price, but adults on a budget should enjoy using it too. I was in the same position as you a few months ago - looking at the Bullet vs the Affinity. Squier Affinity guitars typically cost between $230-$290 in the USA and 200-220 in the UK. Anyone have any experience with these two, and can you offer your opinions please? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Been playing for many years. Please refresh the page and try again. I started playing an electric guitar when I was given a Squier Strat for my birthday around 15 years ago. If you just want to try it out, or youve got a kid who might change their mind about their new love for guitar playing, a Squier by Fender Bullet is a solid choice. The Squier Affinity models have a thicker body so weight slightly more and have upgraded bridges, tuning machines and pickups. 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. 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.. Buy at Amazon.com The Affinity Strat has a 2-point tremolo bridge whereas the Bullet Strat comes with either a hardtail or 6-saddle tremolo bridge. Prosoundhq.com is also a member of other affiliate programmes. 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. it is wider at the nut (42mm) - the same width as American Teles, I liked the thinner body (1.50" vs 1.75") although after trying to mod it, I might have preferred the thicker body to get a proper OG switch installed, I prefer dark fretboards and the Indian Laurel on the Bullet is really nice (to me), In Canada, the price difference is $80 ($249.99 vs $329.99). Jodie fell in love with the guitar at a young age, but has hit a lot of bumps in the road with her journey. The Bullet Tele is $179, and the Affinity is $229. Which one do you prefer, let me know in the comments. I changed them out to a 10s heavy bottom set. Get GC to price-match. 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. 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. The newly redesigned Bullet Strat is ideal for first-timer players looking for an easy-to-play, affordable electric guitar. This is something to bear in mind especially if youre planning on giving it to someone as a gift. Yes, Affinity guitars cost more but as a result you get upgrades and features which are well worth the extra outlay. Although some Japanese copies are still sought after, Squier took over as the number one budget option, and it's stayed that way ever since. Spring for Squier by Fender Affinity if you think guitar playing is going to be a hobby that will sustain you for years to come. Standard rocking tremolo lets you dive bomb your way to musical bliss. 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. 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. The Affinity model is available with either a HH or SS pickup configuration whilst the Bullet is only available in the SS configuration. Absolute deal of a price at 135 from MF. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Squier Affinity vs Bullet: Which Electric Guitar is Best? 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. While the materials themselves are essentially the same, the body and neck thicknesses are adapted for the Bullet series. Set up really good out of the box. So yes, the Affinity series is better but the Bullet series is pretty close behind. Troy Van Leeuwen from Queens of the Stone age plays a Squier Jazzmaster occasionally too. Its like getting aa bullet body and Affinity neck. Basswood is a good body wood and bit lighter. Two howling humbuckers-a Powersound 1 at the neck and a Powersound 2 at the bridge-crank out grinding, gritty tone by the busload.