Squier Affinity Series FSR Stratocaster Electric Guitar, Natural, Laurel Fingerboard

This is one of the better made guitars I think I played the neck is so good the Frets are perfect I did 1,000 grit sandpaper on the neck very lightly just to smooth it out and put some mineral oil on it I swapped out the pickups and switches for a classic vibe set up I didn't even have to polish the frets the intonation is very close with updated internals this guitar is flawless oh yeah and I dropped the bridge by tightening the springs on the back a little bit to make the tuning really consistent speaking of the tuners they're really good too very smooth no backlash I absolutely love the maple neck and the thin body I thought it would be a problem but it actually makes the guitar vibrate and it feels really nice when you're playing it like it's got some spring in it step so to speak. The guitar was like 215 on sale and the loadedpickguard w internals from eBay for like $60 add15 more dollars for the fancy pick guard and 20 for a nice strap and some slinky strings. Super budget setup. Take your time learning how to do a setup it pays off and the better switch and pots are equally needed. I found a blackstar ht club 40 tube amp at a pawn shop for 400. So for 700 dollars you can have a very nice starter rocker setup no pedals needed. Take your time learning to tune and intonate. But don't be afraid this string height was perfect the action the neck was straight there was no sharp frets no high frets they were perfectly Polished and everything I couldn't believe it honestly it was in better shape set up wise and fretwise then my classic vibe that was over $400 it seems like unnecessary to add all the pickups and everything but honestly the neck is better than the classic Vibe I think and the bridge is a little nicer and it's lighter and I think the tuners are a little better too than the classic Vibe really you just need the guts from the classic vibe to make this guitar better than the classic vibe. Honestly I wouldn't even upgrade the nut it works just fine and it's perfectly set up. I've been playing the drums for a long time I'm not a super experienced guitarist but I have been around guitars my whole life and who would have thought this would be my top pick.

This Fender electric guitar is great for beginners—comfortable to hold, easy to play, and not too heavy. The neck thickness feels just right, making it easy to move around the fretboard. The Olympic White finish looks amazing, and the sound quality is solid for the price. Perfect for anyone starting out or looking for a reliable, stylish guitar!

This guitar is absolutely wonderful! The craftsmanship is impressive, and the sound quality is rich and resonant. It's comfortable to play and feels sturdy, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced musicians. Whether you're strumming chords or picking melodies, this guitar delivers a fantastic experience. Highly recommend it for anyone looking for a reliable and beautiful instrument!

I've owned a lot of Strats and still have several. I also just went in on a Sire S3 SSS for $400. It's absolutely amazing what you can get at the low-end these days. Back to the Squier...The body and hardware are far beyond what I expected. A plastic nut, but it's perfectly slotted. The tremolo bridge is two-point, not the traditional 6-screw type I was expecting. I guess I didn't look at the photo too closely. I liked the color.The pickups aren't grade A, but it sounds like a Strat and I've heard worse and the natural sustain is very good. The guitar plays great out of the box, though I'll be lowering the action a bit. The frets are fine as is with no buzzing as currently set up. I'll be doing some work on them (I spot level and put a polish on all my guitars frets regularly). None are super out of whack as far as I can tell.About the only thing I don't love is that the neck has that raw look and feel, though it's straight and true. I might finish it with amber before I'm done.For the price, I'm amazed. I like it better than my 80's Japanese models, and nearly as much as my MIM silver anniversary with its Rail Tail after being plek'd. I'd say the Sire S3 SSS has the most playable neck of anything I own, but it's $150 more. This will be close once I do the work on it.Note that I recently played a bunch of Player's series at Guitar Center, and I like this better. Those were likely poorly set up, but save yourself the money. If you can live with the logo and the raw neck, or do your own work.Fantastic beginners guitar and better than a lot of guitars I've gigged with in the past. For the price it really deserves five stars, but in the overall scheme you can pay a lot more money and get a "better" guitar