How Much Should you Spend on a Stratocaster?
If you’re in the market for a new guitar, the variety of options can be overwhelming. There are so many different price points; all the way from super low budget to extremely expensive high end models. Let’s say you’ve decided you’d like to get a new Stratocaster. However you are new to guitar, or maybe you are new to Stratocasters, so you are hesitant to spend a lot of money. Fender makes a lower budget line of guitars called Squier. I’ve got my hands on three different models of Squier Stratocasters for comparison. Here is what we’re comparing:
squier affinity stratocaster
squier ‘50s classic vibe stratocaster
Squier bullet Stratocaster
The first level of Squier guitar is the Bullet series. This will be the lowest priced guitar in the entire Squier line and comes in a couple variations. Currently you can only get a hard tail version called the BULLET STRATOCASTER HT and you can get a version that comes with a humbucker pickups in the bridge called the BULLET STRATOCASTER HT HSS. A few years ago they also offered a Bullet with a tremolo system. Here are the specs for each model:
BULLET STRATOCASTER HT & HSS specs
Bridge Pickup Standard Single-Coil Strat
Bridge Pickup Standard Humbucking (for the HSS model)
Middle Pickup Standard Single-Coil Strat
Neck Pickup Standard Single-Coil Strat
Controls Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Middle Pickup)
Switching 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup
Configuration SSS
Bridge 6-Saddle Hardtail
Hardware Finish Chrome
Tuning Machines Standard Die-Cast
Pickguard 1-Ply White
Control Knobs White Plastic
Switch Tip White
Neck Plate 4-Bolt Standard
Body Material Poplar
Body Shape Stratocaster
Body Finish Gloss Polyurethane
Neck Material Maple
Neck Finish Satin Urethane
Neck Shape "C" Shape
Scale Length 25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard Material Indian Laurel
Fingerboard Radius 9.5" (241 mm)
Number of Frets 21
Fret Size Medium Jumbo
Nut Material Synthetic Bone
Nut Width 1.650" (42 mm)
Position Inlays White Pearloid Dot
Truss Rod Standard
Strings Fender USA 250L Nickel Plated Steel (.009-.042 Gauges), PN 0730250403
Squier Bullet HT in Fiesta Red
Other Features
Slim (42mm) Body Profile, Traditional Strat Headstock Shape, White Dot Position Inlay
squier affinity stratocaster
The next level up is the Affinity Series. It’s a step up from the Bullet series if terms of price and features. It also got a refreshed update recently and added some new specs that you typically didn’t find at the Affinity level. I will detail all new specs and also provide links to two video reviews that I’ve made. One features the traditional single coil pickup configuration and the newer model has a flame maple top and humbucker pickup in the bridge position.
AFFINITY SERIES STRATOCASTER FMT HSS specs
Body Material Poplar
Body Shape Stratocaster
Body Finish Gloss Polyurethane
Neck Material Maple
Neck Finish Satin Urethane with Gloss Urethane Headstock Face
Neck Shape "C" Shape
Scale Length 25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard Material Maple
Fingerboard Radius 9.5" (241 mm)
Number of Frets 21
Fret Size Medium Jumbo
Nut Material Synthetic Bone
Nut Width 1.650" (42 mm)
Position Inlays Black Dot
Truss Rod Head Adjust
Bridge Pickup Ceramic Humbucker
Middle Pickup Ceramic Single-Coil
Neck Pickup Ceramic Single-Coil
Controls Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck/Middle Pickups), Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup)
Switching 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup Position 3. Middle Pickup Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup Position 5. Neck Pickup
Configuration HSS
Bridge 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Block Saddles
Hardware Finish Chrome
Tuning Machines Sealed Die-Cast with Split Shafts
Pickguard 3-Ply White
Control Knobs White Plastic
Switch Tip White
Neck Plate 4-Bolt Squier®
Updated Affinity Series Stratocaster
Older Affinity Series Straocaster
Buy an Affinity Stratocaster:
squier CLASSIC VIBE '50S STRATOCASTER
In my opinion, the top level of Squier line is the Classic Vibe series. In this case I’ve got a Classic Vibe ‘50s Stratocaster in a Sunburst finish. They are another level up from both the Bullet and Affinity models in terms of hardware and fit and finish. Some are made in China, while more recently they have been manufacture in Indonesia.
CLASSIC VIBE '50S STRATOCASTER SPECS
Body Material Pine
Body Shape Stratocaster
Body Finish Gloss Polyurethane
Neck Material Maple
Neck Finish Tinted Gloss Urethane
Neck Shape "C" Shape
Scale Length 25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard Material Maple
Fingerboard Radius 9.5" (241 mm)
Number of Frets 21
Fret Size Narrow Tall
Nut Material Bone
Nut Width 1.650" (42 mm)
Position Inlays Black Dot
Truss Rod Head Adjust
Bridge Pickup Fender® Designed Alnico Single-Coil
Middle Pickup Fender® Designed Alnico Single-Coil
Neck Pickup Fender® Designed Alnico Single-Coil
Controls Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Bridge/Middle Pickup)
Switching 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup
Configuration SSS
Bridge 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo
Hardware Finish Nickel
Tuning Machines
Vintage-Style
Pickguard
1-Ply White
Control Knobs
Aged White Plastic
Switch Tip
Aged White
Neck Plate
4-Bolt Squier®
Buy a Squier Classic Vibe:
I’ve put together a thorough comparison video, detailing all the specs, and showing how they all sound. I also do a deep dive inside each guitar to show how the internal components compare. You can see how a Stratocaster from each series compares in a side by side situation, Have a look at my comparison video here:
