It's been 8 days w/ my new Tele!

[PraiseCaster]

As you all know, I broke down and bought the Squier Affinity Blonde Telecaster (looks just like a 52RI), and here is my update:

YEEEEHAW! This is a great guitar! It plays great right out of the box! The only thing I've done too it is, I've had to raise the neck pup height, so as to balance the levels between the two pups. I'll probably take it back into the shop to get the volume pot looked at: When turned off, and I begin to feed the volume back on, at about 2 or 3 I'm at about 70-80% full volume! Not too good for my volume swells, so I gotta get that adjusted/fixed.

The one thing I was really surprised of was, when I took off the pickgaurd to adjust the neck pup, I fully expected to see a big route job under their. To my surprise, nothing but solid wood! I figured it would have been routed for a cost savings.

I am totally happy with the neck: Beefy were it counts, and the radius (I believe a 7.5) seems to do me just fine!
I'm just playin and playin and playin, and no hand cramp!

So has any one else gotten one these lil 'diamonds in the rough', or am I all alone here? What do you all think of em? And am I right when I say that the guitar itself far exceeds the price that I paid (under 2 bills out the door)?

[Billy Lee]

PrarieCaster,

You'll be pleased to know that I read your posts about the Affinity Special, and upon further consideration, I ordered, not one, but TWO!

Actually, one is for a buddy of mine, as he wants top try one after me telling him about the great reviews. I figure if he DON'T like it for some reason, I will just throw it in the closet for a "mod guitar" in the future. The other, I will just use for me and the girls to jam around the house on when I'm home.

They seem like a decent deal, and hearing you rave about them, I figure I could do worse.

Billy

[eryque]

What's the neck profile like?

[wmcl]

I have had one for about two months. I alsolutely love this guitar. I can't seem to put it down. My other guitars have not been out of their cases since I got this Tele. It may be cheap but it is one sweet guitar.

[esquirej]

I'm so excited that you love that tele! I have been seeing your posts recently regarding it and each one actually warms my heart.

You know...each model of guitar is truly only as good as the one you hold in your hand. That goes for Custom Shop on "down" to Affinity models.

The love you have for that tele transcends any boundaries of status or price...and that's the COOLEST thing that can be said about your instrument.

I have a Squier Bass on the wall of my studio that I use on EVERY project I play. I wouldn't trade it for the world!!

Congrats once again on grabbing the right Tele for you!!

EsquireJ

[PraiseCaster]

........a beefy fender C shape, and the fret board radius is 7.5 . I got all that info from the Squier web page.

It also comes with a black teflon nut. The little sealed tuners at first looked like Pings too me, but they seem to work alot better than pings I've had experience with in the past.

[jed]

It's hard not to be excited about this Tele. My 52ri has been gathering dust since I got the Affinity in October.

PraiseCaster, are you sure the radius is 7.5?
According to Fender's website, it's a 9.5 radius http://www.squierguitars.com/gear/ge...310203_Special.
The 2 piece neck is the same thickness as my '01 52ri, frets seem slightly larger than the 52.

The fit and finish on these Squiers is very inconsistent. Mine is at least equal to several MIM 50's Tele that I've tried and the Affinity is also lighter (7.0 lbs). While the pickups sound very good for a $170 guitar, the selector switch, jack and control plate are inferior to the MIMs. These parts are easily replaceable. Tuners: no complaints.

[PraiseCaster]

Yeah your right jed, it is a 9.5 radius: cant beleive I typed in 7.5!

The finish on mine is pretty nice, no apparent flaws, and not half bad at matching the grain either: I got a 4 piece plank; I thought it was a three piece at first till I looked a little harder!

I was pleasantly surprised by the high quality solder work under the control plate, but yes, your right, the components dont look to be top shelf items. So, they will end up getting replaced as they go the way of the Dooh-Dooh.

I havent weighed my lil blonde beauty yet, but she feels to be right around 6 1/2- 7 pounds.

And for a top loader, she does have an awful lot of sustain, but that may be more of an attribute of the six saddle design, at the bridge. My previous Tele (Jay Turser) was a top loader too, but it didnt have the sustain I'm getting out of this one.

I just wish I had another 2 bill's: I'd buy another one, and throw a humbucker in the neck position.

[PraiseCaster]

I put my Dunlop Strap Locks on it right away. I thought I would have to plug the old button holes with a dowl and glue, but Squier put in the same diameter screw that Dunlop uses, only a little shorter! So it was a perfect fit, and it grabbed into some virgin wood too!

[Vincent Caster]

Friend of mine just picked one of these up today and they are an incredible value. I went down to 48th street with him to pick it up and had it plugged into a little SS amp and I was having TMF.

His is the affinity but not in butterscotch, I guess those came and went - his is in black. You can't have it all. Sometimes you get caught up in all kinds of stuff but hey life is good these days.

[Mik]

I won't be able to pass up a blond Squire Custom II in January, when its release is scheduled.

Thanks PC,
Mik