Squire Affinity owners

Are there any Squire affinity owners out there besides me?
I really like mine and I have been learning since I got my first Perrys Bros.elec.back in 1966,(perrys was a 5&10 when I was growin up in Bay City Tx, I am now 56) I have played several Fenders and owned and still own a Gibson Sonix 180 that was my Dads,This Squire is the first Tele modle I have owned and I LIKE IT! The neck is honey and the body weight is perfect for me.So far the only mods I intend to make is a set if Keystome pups and maybe a new 3 or 4 way swtich depending on what the wiser heads on here think.(dont tell the wife but a new amp sure smells good too).
Not intendingto be long winded but was just asking for a little info and finding someone else that likes thia style of guitar.She is a 20th anniversery modle Affinity Squire in a pretty shade of blue.
Thanks,,
David

Hey David. Nice guitar you have there. They sure are a great value. I've got a couple of Affinity Tele's myself. I enjoyed modifying them, although certain things can be a bit of a hassle with the dimensions of the body. I put a set of Keystones in one, and Esquired the other. I'd recommend replacing the electronics (Pots, Switch, Jack, Pickups). I also replaced the capacitor with a .022uF for less bass when rolled down. Replacing the tuners really helped as well.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/1233/img0304a.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/i/img0304a.jpg/)

I bought one off ebay about a year ago for about a hundred bucks. I did some work/mods to it. here are the before and after pics.

http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m408/apolloguitars/Squier%20Tele/ebay001-1.jpg
http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m408/apolloguitars/Squier%20Tele/squier011.jpg

I really like playing it. Its a fun and inexpensive guitar. A great axe for modding.

Hi,pics of mine,bought in 2001 and was a demonstration guitar,originaly blue so I stripped it,laquered it and polished it although you wouldn't know it now!!!:roll:
Mod's are Les Paul neck humbucker in neck position(still got the bridge pup of the pair) with AXL/AMG bridge pup,wired as per Craig Anderton 5 position and tone volume link wire moved to ctr lug on volume pot and shielded cavities,using a 0.05mf cap.vintage type bridge and through stringing with reversed control plate.
Really like this guitar but can find no info' on year etc as I can't trace the s/no's.I can get loads of tones but love the neck/bridge series which gives,in my opinion a nice classic blues sound.:smile:
Hope the pics come through!!!

Count me in!
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/attachments/guitar-owners-clubs/30407d1250657176t-c-note-guitar-appreciation-society-squier%AE-telecaster%AE-butterscotch-2-jpg

Heres mine.

1998, with a rosewood board neck. Older Affinities have these rosewood board necks, they also have thicker bodies, thru stringing, and mine had pretty hot pickups. The neck pickup died, so I "esquired" it.

A nice guitar, which I got for very little money. Only other mods I have done are replace the nut and widen the string spacing
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k7/andys_01/BSBE-Squier3.jpg

That was my first Telecaster.. Great guitar...

I'm a little late to this thread, but I have a white one... 2007 or 2008. I find the neck really thin, and narrow. The switch is flimsy. However, when the switch fails, if it ever does, I'll replace it easily. The neck is something I am saving for... I am looking to get a 7 1/4" or 9 1/2" radius neck that is thich and fat. As for sound, playability... this is supreme in my opinion. I have a mid nineties American Standard Strat, and this Affinity Tele gives me all the tone and sound I was looking for... just looking in the wrong place. I am sure the MIM and USA models have better components, but for the price I paid.. the Affinity Tele is TOO sweet.

I have a MIM tele that is just what I need-- more than i need really. But I'm looking for a used affinity to practice on when i get a break at work-- but i don't see many used ones out there--a testament i think to their quality--anybody know where to look and what is a reasonable price--I hope to stay around a C note

Ed

Ed, I got mine for $99 before tax at a local "music store". Not a guitar store specifically, as they sell saxiphones and sheet misic as well. In fact, they don't even have USA made/ higher end guitars at all. I found this one hanging there, marked down because it had a mark on one bout, and a small ding on the other. The pickguard had already faded unevenly.. because of the sunshine from the front display window. It was also missing a tone knob. Anyway, it plays, and sounds utterly amazing. So I would check those types of places routinely and see if there is anything with blemished that you can use to negotiate a better deal. You can also monitor to see how long stuff has been sitting there. They might be willing to haggle if something has been sitting there a while. I'd also keep an eye on major online retailers for their used/ clearence/ blemished invatory... which is usually significantly discounted. Hope this helps.

It's SQUIER not SQUIRE

here's my Squier Affinity Tele with its brand-new black pickguard:

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z114/pesky123/Affinity%20Telecaster/SANY1101b.jpg

I bought one off ebay about a year ago for about a hundred bucks. I did some work/mods to it. here are the before and after pics.

http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m408/apolloguitars/Squier%20Tele/ebay001-1.jpg
http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m408/apolloguitars/Squier%20Tele/squier011.jpg

I really like playing it. Its a fun and inexpensive guitar. A great axe for modding.

Can you tell me how you did the vintage-style bridge?

I did the bridge mod too (best $10 buck upgrade you can make to this guitar IMO)
Just drilled 3 holes in the back for the new saddles. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/mypetelvis/100_1333.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/mypetelvis/100_1328.jpg

Where did you get the three barrel set up for $10? Can you hear a difference? I like the look, and would like to do the same if I can do it on the cheap...

wow excellent mod!!! how did it intonate ok ?

bw

i really like the neck on my bsb special it has this flamed fretboard and the body has this nice grain & i think it sounds way better than my cv strat thats a really sweet guitar
but honestly i play the affinity more


bw

Can you tell me how you did the vintage-style bridge?

I have two of these, a CAR and a BSB. What did you tint the neck with? The bright white neck is my only complaint and it is cosmetic.

I did the bridge mod too (best $10 buck upgrade you can make to this guitar IMO)
Just drilled 3 holes in the back for the new saddles. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/mypetelvis/100_1333.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/mypetelvis/100_1328.jpg

I did mine the same way, except I used a set of brass compensated saddles. I got them on ebay for about $14.00. They intonate pretty well.

HERE (http://www.tdpri.com/forum/1700985-post66.html) is a link to my mod thread.

Hi,pics of mine,bought in 2001 and was a demonstration guitar,originaly blue so I stripped it,laquered it and polished it although you wouldn't know it now!!!:roll:
Mod's are Les Paul neck humbucker in neck position(still got the bridge pup of the pair) with AXL/AMG bridge pup,wired as per Craig Anderton 5 position and tone volume link wire moved to ctr lug on volume pot and shielded cavities,using a 0.05mf cap.vintage type bridge and through stringing with reversed control plate.
Really like this guitar but can find no info' on year etc as I can't trace the s/no's.I can get loads of tones but love the neck/bridge series which gives,in my opinion a nice classic blues sound.:smile:
Hope the pics come through!!!

Nice guitar! - anyway here is some info for you regarding the age of your guitar (taken from the fender forums).

It would seem that yours was made in China (Yako Taiwan) in 2000.

Serial number tracing

As follows is an approximate method in which Squier dates the serial numbers of manufactured instruments

Japanese Squiers

For Japanese Squier serial number dating, see Fender's serial number dating service. The Japanese MIJ (Made in Japan) Squiers were made by FujiGen up to 1997 and the Japanese CIJ (Crafted in Japan) Squiers were made by Tokai and Dyna from 1997.

Mexican Squiers

MN: M = Mexico, N = Nineties (1990s), the first number following the serial number prefix is the year.

For example

* "MN8" indicates that it was made at Ensenada, Mexico in 1998.

USA Squiers

Fender did not make many Squiers in the USA. Some USA made Squiers have a serial number with a E = Eighties (1980s) prefix, and some have a serial number with a N = Nineties (1990s) prefix. Some USA made Squiers also had a 000XXX serial stamp on the neckplate with no letter prefix and no serial number on the headstock.

USA Squiers were made for less than a year spanning 1989 and 1990 before production of Squiers went back to Mexico.

Korean Squiers

CN/VN: C = Cor-Tek (Cort), V = Saehan(Sunghan), S was already taken by Samick so Saehan(Sunghan) used V instead (Saehan(Sunghan) made the Vester guitars), N = Nineties (1990s), the first number following the serial number prefix is the year.

For example

* "CN5" = made by Cor-Tek (Cort) in 1995.
* "VN5" = made by Saehan(Sunghan) in 1995.

KC/KV: KC (Korean Cor-Tek (Cort)) and KV (Korean Saehan(Sunghan)), the serial number prefix is followed by a 2 number year.

For example

* "KC97" = made by Cor-Tek (Cort) in 1997.
* "KV97" = made by Saehan(Sunghan) in 1997.

KC and KV serial number prefixes are usually used on Crafted in Korea Squiers.

S/E: The S and E serial number prefix Korean Squiers are from the late 1980s/early 1990s. S = Samick, E = Young Chang, E letter serial numbers were used on Young Chang's Fenix brand guitars [3]. The first number following the serial number prefix is the year.

For example

* "S9" = made by Samick in 1989.
* "E0" = made by Sung-Eum in 1990.
* "E1" = made by Sung-Eum in 1991.

There were also Korean Squier serials with no serial number prefix and 6 or 7 numbers and the first number is the year.

Chinese & Taiwanese Squiers

YN: Y = Yako (Taiwan), N = Nineties (1990s), the first number following the serial number prefix is the year.

For example

* "YN5" = made by Yako in 1995.

CY: C = China, Y = Yako (Taiwan), the serial number prefix is followed by a 2 number year.

For example

* "CY97" = made by Yako in 1997.

CY serials are usually used on Crafted in China Squiers. Some Chinese made Gretsch guitars also have a CY serial number.

Miscellaneous Chinese serials: CD, CT, CJ, NC: C = China, the first number following the serial number prefix is the year. Probably made by Yako (Taiwan).

Some Squiers that are sold only in the Chinese and Asian markets are made by Axl in China.

Indonesian Squiers

IC: I = Indonesia, C = Cor-Tek (Cort), the serial number prefix is followed by a 2 number year.

IS: I = Indonesia, S = Samick, the serial number prefix is followed by a 2 number year.

Indian Squiers

Some Squier IIs were made in India around 1989-1990, as well as some more recent Squiers, including the Vintage Modified series (serial numbers starting with SH), introduced in 2007.

Thanks scosystems for that,at least I can keep that for the record. I have just started another project; tele body with a P bass neck,am putting a bucker in from the bridge of a l/p (left over from the orig tele mod) straight through to the jack,at the moment. That is on the go with just the neck/body and bridge fitted as yet.:lol:

I have an affinity squier tele that has only ahd the pickguard changed and the pickups have been upgraded to Texas Specials, I love the way it plays and sounds, one of my favorite guitars.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n148/jwj4856/IM000415.jpg

Here's mine and I absolutely love it. Best playing neck I've ever put my hands on.
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs218.snc1/8531_103614032987162_100000156963703_102877_278467 8_n.jpg

here's my Squier
http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/flag72/Photo003.jpg
my luthier did a set-up on it, Dam it play's nice and it's all stock
Daniel

I didn't realize there was an earlier Affinity thread when I posted to the "Club Affinity" thread that was started about a month after this one. Maybe a mod can merge them.

I'd like to know what jkingma did to get that tint to the neck as well. I tinted mine a little, but have considered some amber tint from Reranch. The sanding on the back of the neck wouldn't be a problem, but the fretboard could be an issue. I also don't want to sand off the logo but would have to for an even stain. Does anyone know where I can get a Squier logo to put back on? A nice gold foil one like the CV's would be cool.

My parts will be here this week and I'll tear the Affinity back down this weekend, finish dressing the fret ends, and put in the new electronics. I really didn't plan to do all this modding, but I'm so addicted to it. Being OCD and guitar modding seem to complement each other.

The electronics came today and I couldn't wait for the weekend. I'm glad I didn't...several of those unexpected things came up while I was swapping things out.

I removed the neck and finished dressing the fret ends. It feels great now, can't wait to play it again. I put shielding in the body cavities and wired as much as I can without the pickups. The pups are scheduled for delivery tomorrow; I should have her back up and chugging before the night's over.

I can't wait to see how she plays/sounds when I'm done.

I plan to pick up an Affinity to get the "feel" back (haven't played guitar for 5+ years, haven't owned a Tele since '79, but always missed it). I already have a relatively cheap parts list lined out for it. I plan to, as money and time permits, replace the saddle with a Wilkinson comped 3 saddle (brass) bridge (29.99), a set of Neovin "Hard Vintage" noiseless pups (59.95), and some nickel split shaft Kluson style vintage tuners (21.95). I realize that will bump me a little beyond the price of a Squier Standard and within a couple hundred of the price of a MIM, but it will allow me to spread out the cost and play around with some modding and make all my mistakes without breaking the bank before I get my hands on a Fender, and also give me time to save up for a proper Tele while getting the enjoyment of having a beater to use to get my chops back in the meantime. :smile:
Besides, I'm not a fan of rosewood fretboards, and the Standards only seem to come with that option, and a replacement neck seems to be a much more expensive proposition than what I have planned for the Affinity. The only thing that really bothers me about it is no string through, but that will come when I get my Fender. :grin:

I bought one off ebay about a year ago for about a hundred bucks. I did some work/mods to it. here are the before and after pics.

http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m408/apolloguitars/Squier%20Tele/squier011.jpg

I really like playing it. Its a fun and inexpensive guitar. A great axe for modding.

And how did you age the neck?

And how did you age the neck?

i'd like to know as well.

I picked up a used BSB Affinity at a local guitar shop last year. Replaced the neck with a nicely worn neck from a basket case '80s Squier Bullet. Added a 'bucker in the neck with a replacement bridge p'up from dragon mountain (I think). Replaced the switch as the original switches are junk, upgraded pots and reverse wired the thing to put the switch at the back. I distressed the hardware with some 400 grit sandpaper and stout steel wool. Then I pinstriped it so it would sound better!

This thing has cured me of any Strat desire I may have harbored in my heart. Took it to a good set up guy and he told me it was one of the best sounding partscasters he had ever worked on, thankyouverymuch.

BUT I WANT TO KNOW HOW TO TINT MY AFFINITY NECK TOO! I'm gathering parts for another project but I hate the bone white of that Affinity neck

Here's mine: :)
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/rohanszp/guitar002-1.jpg

I installed the GFS pups, a Repro Vintage Alnico neck pup and a Repro Vintage 50's Alnico Boutique bridge pup. They're a little on the quiet side but have very nice tone.

My Stew-Mac fret kit and some other tools arrived last week and I did my first leveling job on a Harmony that I bought from Craigslist. It turned out awesome so I'm ready to do the same on the Affinity. I couldn't believe what a difference it made; I don't know if I've ever had a guitar that played so smoothly.

During the process of checking the Affinity out I found that the neck measures closer to a 10" radius than it does a 9.5" as listed in the specs. I only ordered a 9.5" radius sanding block so I'll probably wait to do this until I get the 10" block.

I also got a set of the GFS upgrade saddles that I may throw on that I had ordered for another project that I won't be doing for another month or so when the finish cures and is polished.

Late but I just recently got it. Looks great as a blackguard but I wanted a torty. I will wear out the screw holes in the body.

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff259/jimmel_2007/teletortfront.jpg


Oh BTW I can't play, I'm trying but I just love these things in and of themselves.

Did everyone that has a vintage style bridge drill theirs or is there someplace I can buy an ashtray bridge that would fit?