Robbmonster
Squier-holic
First of all, a yellow strat is basically my dream guitar. I had one for a while, a Japanese Fender ST-362 that wasn't a great guitar, and was possibly a refin job.
I have kept an eye on the yellow Affinities on ebay, hoping to score one for a bargain, never expecting they would show up on my shores.
Well, a few did, and I managed to grab one of the last ones in the state! I think it was the one off the rack in store, as it has marks on the neck and has been tuned up. The price on the tag reads AUD$489. I got it online for AUD$369, which is about par for an Affinity here.
First impressions...
Well, the guitar looks AMAZING, as I expected it would.
The fretboard is DRY and the frets scratchy. Playing unplugged the scratch is almost as loud as the guitar itself. The neck is a little bowed in the middle, but easy fixed.
In addition to the fretboard being dry, the back of the neck is also dry. It doesn't feel like a satin finish, it actually just feels like wood - no finish at all. Most of my other guitars are satin finished and they don't feel like this one.
The body is unblemished save for an off stain where the vibrato bar screws in, possibly from the sticker they use to cover the hole.
The future...
Mods are on the cards. I will probably drop a set of Tonerider Surfaris in there, and do a full electronics upgrade at the same time. I had planned to swap necks with my 1999 Affinity, but the neck on the old guitar is about 0.2mm wider at the heel than the new one, so that won't be happening.
I will upgrade the saddles to old-style Fender stamped ones, and will throw a mint green pickguard on it. Single ply if I can find one, if not, three ply will suffice.
Next step will be pulling the guitar apart (pics to come), oiling the freboard, and leaving it out of action until I can get the setup and mods done (as is my usual habit).
And everyone say hi to Rocky Raccoon Littleman in the background there, loving life in the times of iso!
I have kept an eye on the yellow Affinities on ebay, hoping to score one for a bargain, never expecting they would show up on my shores.
Well, a few did, and I managed to grab one of the last ones in the state! I think it was the one off the rack in store, as it has marks on the neck and has been tuned up. The price on the tag reads AUD$489. I got it online for AUD$369, which is about par for an Affinity here.
First impressions...
Well, the guitar looks AMAZING, as I expected it would.
The fretboard is DRY and the frets scratchy. Playing unplugged the scratch is almost as loud as the guitar itself. The neck is a little bowed in the middle, but easy fixed.
In addition to the fretboard being dry, the back of the neck is also dry. It doesn't feel like a satin finish, it actually just feels like wood - no finish at all. Most of my other guitars are satin finished and they don't feel like this one.
The body is unblemished save for an off stain where the vibrato bar screws in, possibly from the sticker they use to cover the hole.
The future...
Mods are on the cards. I will probably drop a set of Tonerider Surfaris in there, and do a full electronics upgrade at the same time. I had planned to swap necks with my 1999 Affinity, but the neck on the old guitar is about 0.2mm wider at the heel than the new one, so that won't be happening.
I will upgrade the saddles to old-style Fender stamped ones, and will throw a mint green pickguard on it. Single ply if I can find one, if not, three ply will suffice.
Next step will be pulling the guitar apart (pics to come), oiling the freboard, and leaving it out of action until I can get the setup and mods done (as is my usual habit).
And everyone say hi to Rocky Raccoon Littleman in the background there, loving life in the times of iso!
