Stock Affinity or Standard which sounds better?

[adr8]

Hello all,

I am unsure as to which Squier Stratocaster to buy, being left handed it narrows my choice to either Affinity or Standard as the CV is out of my price range.

Was reading as much as I could about the two, most point to getting the Standard for the bigger body/neck, better hardware and better quality finish. The only thing that worries me is that some people like the alnico pick ups but some don't, I don't really want to purchase the Standard to later find out that the Affinity sounds better.

The price difference between the two is only $100 so not really a factor and I am not planning on modifying either guitar so which do you think sounds better? Being new to guitars I am not sure which sounds better so thought I would ask here.

 

[jefffam]

Hi and welcome to Squier Talk. Look around and enjoy yourself.

On your question; If at all possible, try out both models, but especially the Affinity. Affinity has a narrower neck, beside the slimmer body. Some like the Affinity neck, some find no real noticeable difference and others hate it.
Overall the Standard will have the better quality components, but pickup sound is a very personal thing. What sounds best to your ears is the only thing that matters.

Good luck.
Being a lefty will make trying out harder, but it really is the best way to choose. If trying them out is not possible, I, personally would default to the Standard. Worst case scenario, pickups can always be changed.

 

[Kenneth Mountain]

Like Jeff stated - go with the standard because of the better hardware - pickups can be changed !

Welcome to S T !

 

[Ralph124C41]

Like Jeff stated - go with the standard because of the better hardware - pickups can be changed !

Welcome to S T !

Do not argue with The Mountain.

Seriously, the Standard should have alnico pickups vs. the ceramics in the Affinity. But the Affinity does have an alder body while the Standard has agathis (I think). However that neck in the Affinity may be the clincher as you may hate it or love it. Actually I like the narrower width.

But the Standard should have better resale value too. But as Jeffam and everybody else will tell you, try to go to some store that has both models in stock and play them against each other. As I said before my Affinity Tele is my daily guitar after I had a 4-way switch installed. I briefly owned a Standard Strat and I've played some Standards and even FMT Standards (beautiful guitars) and I wasn't blown away by them. But I am comparing apples and puppies in a way, you know, Tele vs. Strat. I've played a couple Affinity Strats and I liked them but not as much as I do the Teles.

 

[SpeedKing]

Depends what ears you're using!

Seriously though the only way to know is to get yourself to a store and try both. How they sound is one thing but how they feel is something else altogether and is much more important if you're just starting out and learning. If you're new to guitars as stated you may find like me the Affinity represents the logical choice… I couldn't justify anything more than the Affinity for a year or so until I became able to feel and hear the differences for myself.. then I bought a VM to go along with it!

 

[so1om]

The answer is: yes.

Like they wrote above, try them out in person (as playability is a huge factor) and watch as many vids. Even if a guitar is right handed, you can plink around on it. Or have someone right handed play and wail away.... Trust your own ears. I hope a store visit is an option for you even if they only have one or the other. You may hear the one they have and say yes or no....

 

[Radiotech]

G'day, and welcome!

Another vote for the Standard, I do prefer it's neck, and alnico pups.

 

[Eddie]

I'm a big fan of the Standard. It probably offers the best value. $199 for an Affinity vs. $249 for a Standard. No contest.

Standard wins all the time ... full thickness body, improved pups, better electronics, better tremelo. You get a lot more for your $50 extra.

Many times you'll find CL sellers under pricing Standards because they don't know the difference. If that's the case, snag it immediately.

 

[Kenneth Mountain]

Do not argue with The Mountain.

Seriously, the Standard should have alnico pickups vs. the ceramics in the Affinity. But the Affinity does have an alder body while the Standard has agathis (I think). However that neck in the Affinity may be the clincher as you may hate it or love it. Actually I like the narrower width.

But the Standard should have better resale value too. But as Jeffam and everybody else will tell you, try to go to some store that has both models in stock and play them against each other. As I said before my Affinity Tele is my daily guitar after I had a 4-way switch installed. I briefly owned a Standard Strat and I've played some Standards and even FMT Standards (beautiful guitars) and I wasn't blown away by them. But I am comparing apples and puppies in a way, you know, Tele vs. Strat. I've played a couple Affinity Strats and I liked them but not as much as I do the Teles.

I am A mountain not "The Mountain" lol

I gassed 2 years for a standard - them 2 came to me at once - I liked the guitars but the pickups I did not - in the tradition of keeping them "stock" I didn't mod them because there are people who love them the way they are - so I set them free to find those people !

Both were matching HS - GMG and satin black - one was SSS the other was 2 HB's - both played nice and had great necks !

 

[Lookingfortoday]

I have both. I like both guitars for what they offer me. I choose the Standard over the Affinity just because it's a better guitar. To be honest, I think I play my Affinity more than the Standard. It's just fun to play.

 

[mikm]

Squier Standard would be my choice. I'd probably take a Bullet over an Affinity. I like a full size neck. I don't believe they make a left handed Bullet. Good luck.

 

[Ahnlaashock]

Depends on the sound you hear in your head, the amp/system you are playing through, the music you are playing, the year and manufacture of the two guitars, and the size of your hands.
I actually like the sound of my Affinity better than any stock Standard I ever held. The Stock Affinity is much louder through the amps. It has a tone and chime that make it the right guitar to take to church on Sunday to play gospel.
Alas, my fat fingers don't fit, so i pick the Standard every time.

 

[Posho]

I have got both, the affinity and one standard. I like very much the sound in the affinity! and the neck is very nice and playable but the width at the nut is narrow and I ve got a médium large hand. It s difficult to play chords. Now the hardware nothing to do... standard rules. Right now in the affinity the Jack is making some noise , the pickup selector too. the pots ...all is making some strange things. The estándar is silent, all the hw is like new.

so if you are only thinking "the sound" maybe the affinity could be. But if you are thinking in quality, durabily stándar is your choice

 

[Eddie]

I have got both, the affinity and one standard. I like very much the sound in the affinity! and the neck is very nice and playable but the width at the nut is narrow and I ve got a médium large hand. It s difficult to play chords. Now the hardware nothing to do... standard rules. Right now in the affinity the Jack is making some noise , the pickup selector too. the pots ...all is making some strange things. The estándar is silent, all the hw is like new.

so if you are only thinking "the sound" maybe the affinity could be. But if you are thinking in quality, durabily stándar is your choice

If the Affinity is marking noise, consider an inexpensive upgrade:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/152201552972?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Prewired pickguard with Alnico V pickups for $22. Impossible to beat this deal. I installed it in one of my Affinities, and it gives it a brighter tone. A few other ST members have done the same.

Great fix/upgrade for next to nothing. I flipped the Affinity pickguard/pups for $20 ... so the Alnico set cost me $2.

 

[adr8]

Thanks for all the replies it is greatly appreciated.

I will definitely go and play both guitars to see how they feel and sound. I think I will be able to hear the differences between the two but not knowing what to listen for I am afraid I won’t be able to tell which sounds better, it will be just two different kind of sounds to me. I was hoping to get some insight from you knowledgeable folk such as this particular guitar sounds better because of this or that, having said all that I do understand it is totally subjective .

Can I ask which of the two guitars sounds more like a MIA strat or do they both kind of sound like different MIA strats from different era’s, for example does one sound more like a modern strat while the other sounds more vintage strat? Or is it more of a case they both sound good just pick the one that feels better to play?

Finally I haven’t found much on the topic so I am assuming it isn’t common but is the two point tremolo prone to cracking the guitar body or is it something I shouldn’t really be concerned with?

Just to reiterate I won’t be modding any guitar I want to keep it stock unless something fails, thanks once again for all your help.

 

[jefffam]

Thanks for all the replies it is greatly appreciated.

I will definitely go and play both guitars to see how they feel and sound. I think I will be able to hear the differences between the two but not knowing what to listen for I am afraid I won’t be able to tell which sounds better, it will be just two different kind of sounds to me. I was hoping to get some insight from you knowledgeable folk such as this particular guitar sounds better because of this or that, having said all that I do understand it is totally subjective .

Can I ask which of the two guitars sounds more like a MIA strat or do they both kind of sound like different MIA strats from different era’s, for example does one sound more like a modern strat while the other sounds more vintage strat? Or is it more of a case they both sound good just pick the one that feels better to play?

Finally I haven’t found much on the topic so I am assuming it isn’t common but is the two point tremolo prone to cracking the guitar body or is it something I shouldn’t really be concerned with?

Just to reiterate I won’t be modding any guitar I want to keep it stock unless something fails, thanks once again for all your help.

On the 2 point, it depends on how hard you use it. I know the older ones would break out under hard use. Of course if you deck it, no issue.

I don't have enough experience with MIA to give an opinion relative to sound.

 

[Eddie]

Thanks for all the replies it is greatly appreciated.


Can I ask which of the two guitars sounds more like a MIA strat or do they both kind of sound like different MIA strats from different era’s, for example does one sound more like a modern strat while the other sounds more vintage strat? Or is it more of a case they both sound good just pick the one that feels better to play?
.

Don't stress the MIA stuff. You're getting either a $199 guitar or a $249 guitar ... not a $1500 guitar. The majority of your tone will most probably be run through pedals anyway.

Get the guitar that you're most comfortable with and enjoy playing the most. Don't worry about comparing it other guitars. Because the comparisons will never end.

 

[Posho]

Finally I haven’t found much on the topic so I am assuming it isn’t common but is the two point tremolo prone to cracking the guitar body or is it something I shouldn’t really be concerned with?

My standard 2 point tremolo is really nice but the sustain is very bad! The sustain in my affinity is better. If you want to play making hard use of the tremolo get some Ibanez with floating system I have a RG for that.

 

[skypeace]

...Depends on whose playing it...

 

[Davey]

Standard, no contest at all.

I would buy used, way way way more bang for you buck.