Suprising NGD - Squier AFFINITY Tele

[progrmr]

I've been wanting to get my twang on for about a month now and was getting ready to just pony up the dough to buy a standard MIM tele at GC.

Was checking out the local craigslist today and found a Squier Affinity Telecaster in butterscotch. Now, usually I see "Affinity" in the title and move on - well this one was priced at $150 so I read the post to see why it was that much.

This one has been upgraded with fender noiseless pickups, CTS pots, new selector switch and input jack. I thought - wow, that's exactly the minimum that needs to be done to these Affinity's to get them sounding good and it would cost a lot more than $150 to buy a new one and do all that.

Emailed the guy and checked it out - I couldn't believe what I was playing. This is one fine guitar and not just from a sound perspective. Sure, all the upgrades in the electronics made it sound really good but the neck was equally good and fast.

I shelled out $150 right away and ran out the door to get home lol! Have you ever noticed that with some guitars you make some mistakes like missing strings and generally don't play well but with other guitars that doesn't happen? This guitar is one of the latter - for some reason, this guitar just fits me.

And that is why I say it's shocking NGD!

Here's a few pics:

[Katastrophe]

Flippin' SWEET! Congrats.


A good guitar is a good guitar, regardless of what it says on the headstock. I'd say you got a good deal for the work that's been done to it.

Congrats again!

[Heywood Jablomie]

Right there with you! I was looking for my first Strat/first Fender-type guitar, and picked up an Affinity Strat (stock) from a Craigslist ad for $80 including a Crate practice amp that I don't need, and will sell. Had to replace the pots & switch ($20 in parts), and set it up properly, but now it's a nice-playing guitar. I, too, am happily surprised with the quality of these instruments. Even the tuning machines are OK. Congrats on your Tele!

[birv2]

Shh. Don't tell everybody, but the Affinity teles are a fantastic bargain. And they sound good. Not just good for the price, but good. I like it so much I've barely touched my strats since I got it.

I've kept mine stock for 3 or 4 months and am now putting a Nocaster in the neck. But it's a great way to get your twang on, as you say.

[Tig***]

Great find, progrmr! All the good stuff, but without the higher price. I love these kinda' stories.

[markb]

Affinity teles are fine. I'd change the electronics (you've already got that covered), then the bridge assembly (the Wilkinson at GFS is nice) and the tuners if (and only if) they cause problems. Get a good repair guy to 'breathe on" the frets and the nut some time down the line and you've got a nice solid guitar.

Teles rule