Squier Affinity Telecaster (Great AND Cheap Tele?)

[@MrPolevaulter]

Check out some alternatives to this guitar: ua-cam.com/video/MsEp-yPTRWo/v-deo.html

[@popsfereal]

Oh yeah, I've seen it. I'm subbed.

[@briankuyken9788]

I always appreciate the time difference between you and me because I get to watch your new videos when I’m working the night shift and nobody else is putting anything out.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool bananas :)

[@darrenj.griffiths9507]

As always, I love these videos, love your sense of humour and character and perfect reviews of these guitars.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@biggstavros5876]

I have a 2016 Affinity Tele and it has never had the problems you are experiencing. It plays lovely after I lowered the action.

[@vyger6336]

Do you remember what you paid for it.. I'm asking because i bought mine when they first came out and I forget what I paid but it wasn't very much and nowhere near what they cost now.. Since I have 8 other guitars I leave mine tuned to G and use it to practice Stones songs. I thought it played really well when I grabbed it off the wall at Guitar Center and I still think that for the price I paid .

[@biggstavros5876]

@@vyger6336 £165

[@bluetopguitar1104]

The affinity series is great. I have an affinity strat that has been a great stage guitar and backup guitar. The basses are good too.

[@gvsd3]

I've got the older affinity tele 4 years ago, it does not have belly cut and string through body design, but Im glad it plays well right away, no complain until now, and it seems the newer one is more expensive

[@rockingstar3534]

Now they added belly cut. That's good. Mine bought years back doesn't have.

[@ekisoderqvist]

That bend at 2:53 and the lick after 🔥

[@MrPolevaulter]

:)

[@johnnorth9355]

All the guitar most of us will ever need (which has not stopped me buying many more !). Mine is put away in the garage at the moment as I would not play anything else otherwise.

[@alessandrotorrescampos522]

What a cool video. This reminds me of those times when we would go to the store and choose the best instrument. The Squiers are very affordable, but they have these problems. I keep a woden Squier Stratocaster (I'm thinking of buying some Fender pickups for it here in the US). Cheers! Alessandro/Brazil

[@andrewmooney3523]

I bought one in Glasgow a couple of years ago. It was untunable and I couldn't intonate it for love nor money. The shop replaced it for another and what a difference...great guitar!!!

[@Kushalien51_nv]

I ordered a squier affinity 2 weeks ago & I don't know man but it sounds like a $800 dollar fender won't say usa but darn good not lucky but I'm surprised because my last squier was crap back in 2010 & 2013 lol great video cheers

[@michaelw6277]

You can get these used in the USA for $150. An absolutely smoking deal on a decent guitar.
On the one you're holding... check the neck relief, the nut is probably fine. My Affinity Jazzmaster came out of the box with fret buzz which completely went away by adding relief which also let me lower the action at the bridge. I'm half convinced that Squier ships these things with perfectly flat fret boards.

[@alynnix]

Finally found an affordable left!

[@cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245]

I did just this yesterday. Doing the neck today

[@stevesmith3990]

Thanks Elmo, I already have a number of Fender & Squier's but no lower than Classic Vibe level. I've been tempted to get an Affinity just as a sort of budget bargain, there are so many to choose from.

[@veronicacornet7099]

Save ur money and get a one of the mexican models, from a vibe that cost 450 or more to 650 aint much diffrence,or get a telle 50 second hand and upgrade the electronics,which all that will cost u as much as a new tele from mex,😊

[@davidanastasovski1188]

You may have to do some minor fret job but the neck on this series got a nice and unique feel to it.

[@JohnAdams-xc5yk]

The one thing people do not realise the factory that builds the squire also build other brands of guitars, and most are higher quality for less money, but the kicker is they are not available for sale in the west

[@alexhelmsman8212]

Can you compare it to Harley Benton TE-62? Great content!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Coming up :)

[@RickMichaelis63]

Thank you so much the Review Elmo!!! Cheers 🤙✌️

[@MrPolevaulter]

Same to you man 😊

[@darylconny9198]

i love telecasters. the squire is one i would love to have one day..... when i win the lotto !!

[@Terrysoddy]

Very nice video on this guitar. Man I wish you could be my guitar instructor, because you are an amazing guitarist. Love your playing

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@hunorbarany1701]

I have a Baltimore by Johnson Telecaster
Its perfect!
That’s all I know about it that is made before 2009

[@josehoundneto5028]

My guitar that I love very much!

[@matias1z]

I'd like to play like 90s alt rock bands: Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, Nirvana, Arctic Monkeys. I like the Telecater but they tell me that the strat is better for those sounds. What do you recommend me? Tele has me in love aesthetically.

[@MrPolevaulter]

That's not really my thing, so not sure. Sorry.

[@georgeaslanidis4789]

@matias1z They sure can. Check out Rich. Words. Music channel where Rich plays and reviews the Sonic Tele in all styles including Punk, hard rock and even metal. The guitar is slightly cheaper than the Affinity too if that helps.

[@darylconny9198]

love your reviews. honest. fun and entertaining. i love the squire. id love one but cannot afford

[@MrPolevaulter]

Glad you like them!

[@3762302]

In my country they go for about a 1 month salary if bought second hand in a good condition!.

[@M5guitar1]

I paid $250 in the USA today. The color of mine is more tan than yellow, but that's ok. It sounds great as is, although I may swap the pups later. I had to file the fret ends and polish, but I expected that. What sold me was the sound, belly cut and light weight. For the $ it's a winner.

[@voiceofexperience]

If you like how it sounds, why swap out the pups?
You may be in for a disappointment.

[@ota]

Hi Elmo, best wishes to you and your loved ones and keep on rocking in '23. I purchased my Affinity Tele a half year ago. No problem with the frets or nut so far. My copy has a bit of a problem with the shielding though...lots of hum. For the record I'm an entry level player (I used to have an Aria Pro II LP guitar - but that was in 1979..). Anyway I started playing guitar again a couple of years ago. Oh, and erh...I paid 226 euros new for that guitar, but hey that's Belgium. ;-)

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@wallstreettrader1]

You can correct that hum by gluing aluminum foil to the back of the entire pick guard and mechanically connect a wire from the foil to the bridge. Hum gone. An old guitar tech trick.

[@qelasta]

You can also change the pickup tu Fender Noiseless gen4

[@becausehelivesministryintl6841]

I bought mine back in 2013 $166.00 at a Best Buy in Fresno CA. Still have it its not a string thur or cut away on top. I would put it I p against Any Tele out there. NO BRAG JUDT FACT LOL

[@user-lf3kr1nq2d]

$339 in Canada, as of January 2024. Thank you for the frank and fair review.

[@veronicacornet7099]

I have a squire over 5 yrs stil looms new barwly use it,i up grade it to a vibes tele 60 semi hollow,sweet guit,upgrade the swich to 4,its sound better,now its the pickups next,i need a smooth blues sound, well i need some research about it,

[@juliengoguen17]

Fender and Squier guitars have gone up in prices 2 times already in the last year. The Squier Affinity Telecaster was $339.99CAD + tax a month or so ago, and then I bought one this afternoon and it was $399.99CAD + tax (the owner of the music store sold it to me for $339.99+tax because I've bought many guitars from him in the last 2 years)... so they have been going up in prices....

[@veronicacornet7099]

Mine cost me 5 yrs ago in total 280us,with bag and picks strap and cable,all cheap stuff,no belly cut,if i had looked good i would have gotten a white one,love white😊,but up grade it,i soon will,in the caribbean if a guitarist have a tele,they think he is a blues player or country west,lol lol

[@BrendanLovejoy-yy7pn]

I broght one of these after i watched this video..and i love it awesome guitar great setup.. really impressed with it...rock on 🤟🎸

[@stevesalt9005]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@Rohanadalja]

Thank you for all your effort I appreciate your support 💐💐

[@dean828]

For the initial investment, a beginner student will get a good guitar to start learning on... take the pups, pots, caps, jack, wiring, saddle, tuners, nut off... replace with pro level brand of your choice (and add another string tree...), you will have a guitar that one can keep for years, gig and record with... I heard traces of "Hammer to Fall", but no main riff... :( as Paul Stanley would say... "Ellllllllmmmooooooooooo ooooooaaahhhhhhoooo, C'Mon On!" :)

[@bridgetpollock6760]

Wow I was gonna get this one. I'm gonna stay with the Harley Benton 62cc

[@loupascarelli]

Right or wrong = Those Tele's with the "SQUIRE " logo in Gold letters , are better than those with the black letters .. Gold = has better Pups & controls , as well as some having a 3 ply pick guard .. I may not be right .. Just bringing ups some points as their are lots of different SQUIRE models out there , and we need to be aware of the differences in each one ..

[@guarddog318]

You may be right. Mine has the gold logo and was great right out of the box.
It's a natural finish with a maple string-through body, neck, and frett board as well as a 3 ply pick guard.
I've read on some seller's sites that the natural finish is a limited run, but I don't know if that's true.
I certainly didn't pay any more for mine than any other color/finish.
So maybe I just got lucky and got a good one?

[@prs149]

Had mine for over a year and no issues

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool!

[@robertgallagher2226]

My Affinity is probably my favorite guitar. Warning the factory strings on mine were the worst I have ever seen! Setup was fine once decent strings were installed. I bought some texas special pickups for it but never installed them. Once the stock pickups were dialed in they sounded good.

[@voiceofexperience]

Nothing wrong with ceramic pups on a Tele! Sounds better than some far more expensive versions.

[@christineayres7199]

Maybe try the Jet Telecaster I bet its a better quality guitar and is less money , how ? Because Jet guitars is a new company and has a point to prove.

[@keovongvilaykeo4799]

Great advice thanks again always

[@MrPolevaulter]

No problem 👍

[@GabrielNacu]

Ah, the guitar that started it all for me....
£60 at my local Cash Converters (a pawn shop) ; the rest was history!

[@JamesCameron-wf2zl]

Great, informative video, as always. Please review the Ibanez AZES40 or 31? All the other UA-cam reviewers are raving about them and it would be very useful to know if they are really that good (especially for beginners).

[@MrPolevaulter]

Been thinking of trying one.

[@JamesCameron-wf2zl]

@@MrPolevaulter Appreciate it! Would be great to know how they are straight out of the box, not selected and set up by Ibanez beforehand.

[@juansalvo2374]

Thanks!

[@balajiv7835]

Amazing playing...

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@cylonhibrid]

Wow amazing playing, Is the width at the nut a problem, I just got a Glarry semi I intend to do change a lot, it cost £56 of Ebay as new. Any suggestions on pick ups ect, IT is a telecaster thinline.

[@tonyharley5230]

New Affinities now have full width neck / nut (42mm)

[@krumple4skin548]

Just take the low e off and do the keith richards 😀

[@ralph9725]

Open g

[@mr.coolio4321]

Which guitar was better for you: the Squier BULLET or the Harley Benton TE-62?🤔

[@MrPolevaulter]

TE-62

[@mr.coolio4321]

@@MrPolevaulter Thank you for the advice, have a great day 👍

[@redryderaus]

I bought an affinity tele around the same time as this one. Same problems with the nut and fret levels. The action was very high. The intonation was completely out on all six strings. The neck had a back bow. It seems like this guitar was just assembled and no attempt was made at QC at all.
In short it was unplayable out of the box. I was able to level the frets, cut the nut slots correctly (they were all cut high) and set the neck/action and intonation. To pay someone to do this would be uneconomical on this guitar.
After this experience I would never recommend a squier affinity to anyone. These days there are better guitars in this price bracket. Squier needs to pick up their game a lot.

[@darthgibsonlp6631]

I can see an angry email being sent from Fender/Squier to wherever you get your guitars from. As I recall, the classic vibe Tele you reviewed also had a few build issues - they should be seeing your name on the order and making sure to send a decent one 👀

[@TFFSRAD]

Would you rather buy the 60s classic vibe ? Might as well if you have to pay to fix these small things

[@TFFSRAD]

Never mind lol

[@MrPolevaulter]

Probably neither 😀

[@PeterDad60]

This is some of your best playing, I was not a fan of your playing loud cranked rock/metal music on the origin 50. But this, much of this is played either softly or slowly or both with feeling and shows that you actually have ears that can work well for you. I did not like everything you played today, especially when you played fast and loud as it seemed pointless. I have commented today as just my way of encouraging you to continue to explore the softer slower styles as you actually were making pleasant music, worth listening to. If you were to make an "album" in that style would be appreciated. I like spending hours listening to enjoyable music and the world needs more of it too! - Peter age 72
P.S. As a young man "everything" I played was in the Jimi Hendrix style of wonderfully loud exciting and dynamic music using my Strat and a hot rodded Marshall JCM900 Mk II Hi-Gain amp on top of two (a Full Stack) of Marshall JCM900 1960A and B speaker cabs. When I realized I was going DEAF I decided to learn how to play softly and more slowly and to put feelings into my playing other than feelings for extremely loud and energetic, wide -eyed mind blowing acid rock. It has taken me so many years to actually be able to "feel" this softer style and to be able to put feeling into it. The very plus side by doing this is that my hearing has not gotten any worse, our two little pet birds are not terrified by my music and also my wife seems to enjoy listening to me play sometimes. Also my neighbors hardly notice that I am a musician. No fear of the police coming to our house with a noise complaint. Yes it actually did happen once but that's another story.
BTW, Elmo when you play softly or slowly or both at the same time you are actually sounding better than most if not all the other guitar players here on UA-cam! -Peter

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thank you Peter! I do have two albums of mellow acoustic stuff. I've also been thinking of making an album with just melodic stuff on electric.

[@buck7477]

Try the new triple string tree.

[@raphaelsmith4134]

Hey, great review buddy. Is it MiC or MII?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks! Can't remember.

[@Carl-V]

Is the fretboard glossy or satin?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Can't remember

[@psych336]

I recently bought a classic vibe strat. It had the same problems but actually worse. String buzz on open E And A strings, terrible fret buzz on the first fret of the low E and all over the fretboard. I had to return it it was so bad. Definitely some quality control issues going on with Squier. I see so many people say how good their Squier is, I guess they got lucky.

[@vibes8763]

Just bought this guitar 3 months ago second hand pretty cheap and not used much, now I know why he sold it. The stringbuzz is really bad same as the fret

[@AwkwardHypernerd413]

How is it as a cutting board? I wanna be able to chop onions and play some Radiohead while I’m at it

[@maartensynth]

Hello Elmo. I'm looking for some new pickups for my affinity Tele. Are there Tele pickups you can recommend for an affinity Tele??

[@MrPolevaulter]

Don't know. Sorry.

[@CaptainBeano-lz6mm]

If you could choose between this and the V52 which would you pick and why?

[@OG900Aero]

Which better? Squier Affinity Telecaster or Squier Bullet Telecaster? And why?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Bullet out of the ones I've tried. Can't remember why anymore, as it's been a while.

[@tonyharley5230]

Affinity has always been higher spec than Bullet but they had the thinner neck.
This has been corrected with the new Affinities as well as other spec upgrades, the Affinity is better appointed than the Bullet.
BTW the Bullet has now been renamed Sonic.

[@shanedavis3414]

Forgive me if you already mentioned it, but is this a new one or at least a 2020 ? I guess the pickups are advertised as Fender Designed on squiers now. Haven't tried one, but I'm not sure I've heard much about them, good or bad.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Newer than 2020.

[@joachimleinfelder1200]

So the Harley Benton Te 62cc is the better choice imo...

[@Ben_Mdws]

Does the thinner body of these Affinity Tele’s feel a bit strange?

[@voiceofexperience]

It's better than the "normal" thickness one imo.

[@kaffeice7]

10.03 i tought u gonna play motley crue hah , btw what do u use to have that metal sound?

[@abranbakeraoi]

Hola

[@marcinbreczko4777]

Hola, hermano.

[@skyflakestv2901]

What is this telecaster made in? Thanks

[@Arcade1959]

Do you think these ceramic pickups are louder than alnico 5 ?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Dunno.

[@scottharrison9083]

The player and the amp are the most important things

[@popsfereal]

$139.99 in the U.S. right now. Those issues are a very easy fix.

[@davidkastin4240]

Pops you haven't put out new videos in quite some time. What goin on?

[@popsfereal]

People like Elmo do a much better job, I screw around a lot.

[@davidkastin4240]

@@popsfereal Well hopefully you get back to making more videos. I like your reviews, playing and sense of humor.

[@72dodge340]

Where are they $140 in the US other than maybe used? Cannot find anywhere near that anywhere. And even if I could, I wouldn't buy it. I've had 2. They're junk.

[@SensitivityIsland]

Is this good for Hendrix thumb over chords. Never played a 9.5" radius neck ...just wondered. Only ever played 12". Would I notice the difference? Any comment appreciated.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Not sure, as I'm not too bothered about the whole radius thing.

[@antonioelle4894]

I would say that an affinity it's perfect for that playin' style. 12" or flat radiuses are more common on Gibs' style guitars

[@SensitivityIsland]

@@antonioelle4894 I wondered if the thickness of the neck was less than others ...making it easier to get the grip & thumb over? Surely it s a bit of both ...radius and thickness? WDIK though

[@antonioelle4894]

@@SensitivityIsland Absolutely, width at nut is 1 millimeter less than a regular Fender and the neck it's a slimmer modern C shape

[@metalhead_1996]

been checking this type of guitar and just came across a Tokai brand one, is that any good?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Can't really say. Try before you buy.

[@metalhead_1996]

@@MrPolevaulter thanks Elmo, keep up with the good work and your videos as always! never get bored watching and rewatching

[@darylconny9198]

do you auction guitars off. if so id like to know

[@MrPolevaulter]

I sell them locally.

[@kazzan85PL]

Sounds bad ”cheap” to me. There is an uneven gap at the 6th and 1st string to the edge. Good material to light up fireplace though. Cheers

[@atlejohnnyrygg7124]

I hope you replaced the strings on it because stock are TERRIBLE! Never noticed this much difference after a new set of strings as I did on this one.
I got mine second hand the other day and I think it's a great guitar imo. It does the Telecaster thing so I sold my MIM Telecasterfor 4x the price of this one.
No high frets or fret sprout. Frets were a bit scratchy but thats easy to fix, nut isn't cut really well but it works fine.
I also waxed the neck and fretboard wich took away the unfinished feel.

[@nicolamontoro]

$259 in the US

[@daniellarson3068]

So - they've been making these since 1950. The one Elmo has looks like TV Yellow. I guess it was a color that looked good on black and white TV. Have they changed much? It doesn't look like it. As Elmo suggests, I'll bet a used one could be had for less money. It may be you wouldn't need to change the nut and modify the string tree. In addition, you may not have the microphonic pickups. He didn't play this one very long. I've noted the good guitars get longer playing time in his demos.

[@junito1957]

fender make so much money with their high end guitars and so cheap with their own low end guitars, i got a tele donner guitar and after i change the bridge ,pickups A5 and pickguard it play like a fender 1k guitar , fender is having a hard time staying afloat that their fault if i was to buy a 2k tele you could be sure it will be from PRS they know what the customer want not rely on the brand name fender

[@72dodge340]

The recent Bullet Tele's are much better, for cheaper. I gave away my Affinity and kept the Bullet (I have several high-end guitars also, but just really like the Bullet). Affinity's are the among the worst guitars I've ever played. Hard pass.

[@jogmas12]

Why affinities are bad? Should I guitar up to a vibe instead?

[@69jomen]

Looks and sounds like any other Tele.

[@darylconny9198]

here in uk prices are way too much

[@emreuyank9998]

It doesn´t sound like a telecaster to me...

[@ronr2445]

Elmo all the buzz is a truss rod adjustment,,,,,,is this your first new guitar? and the squeal is your gear not the guitar.

[@christineayres7199]

I just cheat and raise the action when i get fret buzz , yes it makes the guitar harder to play but I'm not going to pay £100 for a setup during a cost of living crisis as most people in my country the UK are poor now lol

[@fixedgear37]

@@christineayres7199 or just adjust the truss rod for free instead of paying...it's not rocket science

[@MrPolevaulter]

The squeal is my gear together with the Tele style thing. The buzz is the frets being uneven. Checked with a fret rocker.

[@jogmas12]

So this is very ghastly guitar then?

[@finnochpress]

Hi Elmo, I'm afraid all Squire guitars are uniformly awful. Atrocious components, atrocious build quality, not worth buying at any price, oh and don't get me started on Eart guitars who seem to be dishing their guitars out to anybody with a UA-cam channel. The fact that most guitar reviewers can't actually play the guitar does not seem to be an obstacle in this race to the bottom. I have never seen so many spam review sites on UA-cam with some joker telling the world Squier, Eart, Donner, Harley Benton are pro level guitars; how would they know? (they are not by the way) Oh and as you explore this Tele you will find an awful lot more wrong with it, just wait and see. Like your videos by the way.

[@nikki.crowley]

boomer

[@jonathanpeden9930]

Yeah, I bought this exact guitar (brand new) a couple of years ago and it was the biggest piece of junk I have ever played. The neck joint was so bad the guitar was not only unplayable, turns out it was unrepairable too so it went to recycling. It was a Quality Control failure that should never have left the factory. Nothing about it was good - the general fit and finish was terrible and the parts used the cheapest, nastiest I have seen in years. I love Squire guitars but I would never buy any Affinity model - my advice is to save a bit longer and go for a Classic Vibe model instead. Do not buy Affinity anything, they are not good instruments.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Sorry to hear.

[@popsfereal]

b.s. detector....

[@popsfereal]

I think you must have bought a Glarry. lol.

[@jonathanpeden9930]

@@popsfereal yeah, you're full of it Pops. You know all, eh? Try growing up

[@jonathanpeden9930]

@@MrPolevaulter I have a 2007 Bullet Strat and it's still great to play. I think Affinity is a product line too many for Squire

[@Maynard0504]

I hate when you people call guitars "entry level".
it's such an obvious ploy by the industry to convince you your expensive gear makes you a pro and not your playing.

[@scottharrison9083]

It’s a smart ploy, because people think they can buy their way to be a pro, that there’s a shortcut to it instead of practicing