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 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

• 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®

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: