Tele Bullet vs. Affinity

Affinity. If you're buying a tele, it may as well have the best part of a tele - its bridge pickup.

 

I agree with this. I played an Affinity, and I was very surprised at how good it was.

If you're going to buy a telecaster, perhaps it would be better to grab one with a more traditional pickup combination. It would be a shame to buy the Bullet, and buy a Baja or MIM based on your experience with it. The Affinity would be a great gateway to the tele world, whereas the Bullet would not, based purely on pickup combination

 

Yup. Affinity. I tried both out side bu side. I was not impressed with the fit and finish on the bullet, also the neck did not feel anywhere near as nice as my affinity. Furthermore, the Affinity with it's more tele desing is nicely upgradable with standard parts. Not the bullet.

 

There is really nothing wrong with the bullet... BUT, if you want a "Telecaster" for your first guitar, the Affinity really fits the bill more, tonally (the HS bullet is cool, but not really traditional "tele", especially in the bridge and bridge/mid positions)

 

All of the bullets I have played in stores have been absolute crap. Affinities, on the other hand, are good guitars. I own two of them. I would definitely go with an Affinity.

 

+1

 

Buy used on Craigslist and either save money or get you a better guitar.

 

Congrats on the very nice looking tele! What model Squier is that? Is it the new Affinity?

 

He hasn't bought one yet.

I have never tried one of the new Bullets so I can't say anything other than the color is nice. I have an Affinity and agree that they can be very playable, good guitars... but my main advice is to play as many Teles as you can get your hands on before you make any decisions. Ideally you buy one you've had the opportunity to try first. The guitar will speak to you. Doesn't matter what it says on the headstock.

The tele chooses you. A good one will teach you stuff. When you pick it up and play something you didn't know you knew how to play, that's the one you want to take home.

 

I played a friends Bullet..Was not to impressed..may have
just been his setup..Or it just did not agree with me..Dont know..?? I have played several affinitys and found them all to be very decent players..??

 

Something just feels right about the Affinity, and its one great modding platform, for better pickups, bridge , so on and so forth.....

 

I compared the bullet tele with an affinity tele at a local GC this past winter. I thought the bullet was the better guitar with better hardware, string through, slightly thicker and lighter body, and better finished neck (not to mention it was less expensive). The bullet was made in Indonesia vs the affinity which was made in China if that makes a difference. Of course, the bullet is routed for a humbucker in the bridge position, so if you're looking for a traditional tele, the affinity may be a better bet.

 

I have the bullet. I like it, but it's my first tele. My brother bought a standard tele a few years ago, and I like mine more. That being said, it looks like a tele, but has a hb in the bridge and is routed for a hb at the neck.

I agree with the guy above who said to play as many as possible. Buying online is 50/50 IMHO. You never know how it's going to feel or sound.

 

The way to buy a bullet is have a good luthier in your pocket. The affinity is okay, but not a stellar instrument. The bullet with a humbucker gives you a much better bridge pickup. The affinity bridge pickup is really screechy.

Set the intonation, check string height with a guage, adjust the truss. All of that comes haphazard from Indonesia. Then have the luthier file the fret edges. Takes him 20 minutes to do that.

The whole job cost me $30 and now I have perfectly good guitar for less than $170 taxes inc.

 

Affinity pickup screechy? Mine was plain dull. How many have you tried?

 

Now I am seeing this on ebay. It says Bullet, but with a standard affinity bridge/pickup. Weird. http://www.ebay.com/itm/FENDER-SQUIER-BULLET-TELE-BLACK-TELECASTER-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-NEW-/251442529578

Edit: They are strung through though, unlike the affinity.

 

Affinity all the way.

 

That's what I am talkin about.

I had Strat Bullet and could not be happier. HSS for that particular model is the way to go.