Squier Affinity Tele SH FMT CRT

Bonjour. Le colis est arrivé rapidement et très bien emballé. 1èr détail que j'ai regardé est le centrage du chevalet par rapport au manche: parfait ! J'ai réglé la hauteur des cordes, la corde ré ou sol était trop haute par rapport aux autres, je pense aux débutants. Puis j'ai apporté mes petites modif : j'ai changé le sillet plastique par un "graph teck PT 5042 00", le micro bridge est une merveille, bien country. Le micro manche sonne joliment "feutré" ...sur les cordes Mi, La, Ré....mais devient trop aigu, bright sur les 3 autres cordes. J'ai remplacé ces micros par un "yosemite set telecaster", les sons "chantent" sur mes petits amplis lampes. Je joue avec plus de volume côté ampli, puis je règle le volume (4à10) ET la tonalité (0à10) côté guitare. Ce qui me donne de belles sonorités différentes. Le manche est très bon, bonne prise en main. Le corps est très joli avec le binding et ce qui m'a le plus surpris, c'est quand j'ai mis le pickguard (pour accueillir le micro single manche) de couleur noire, et là ! cette couleur change tout le rendu de cette télé !!

Cet achat est un nouveau coup de coeur ! La table FMT de cette Tele est magnifique. La couleur CRT est rehaussé par le binding blanc autour de la table. J'apprécie la découpe stomacale pour le confort. L'épaisseur du corps est de 45mm. La guitare est plus légère que ma Telecatser Contemporary Dark Metallic (50mm). Le micro chevalet sonne avec le punch et le fameux twang de la Tele. Le humbucker du manche arrondit la sonorité percutante de la Tele. Je la joue en clean et en crunch. A mon goût elle fait merveille pour ma pop rock et bluesy. A présent, je possède 13 Strato et 2 Tele Squier. Comparée à ma Strato US, la qualité de fabrication est remarquable. Je suis donc satisfait de mon achat et je partage mon enthousiasme pour la marque Squier. Je souligne également la qualité du service thomann. Bonne musique à tous et à bientôt. Une nouvelle Tele me fait les yeux doux... Cordialement Hervé

First thoughts were yes this is a nice looking guitar but before taking a closer look I did plug in just to make sure it worked, it did, so a quick tune up. It was quick as it was very nearly in tune, just a few tweaks and job done but I noticed whilst tuning the humbucker was out of line, slanted in its slot, a large gap at the bottom and flush at the top. Not good I thought, I now started to cast a more critical eye on it as a whole.

Tuning was very much fine, the tuners were doing a good job, the nut looked well cut and the frets were fine, no issues so far then. The action was very low and I noticed the saddles were very much on parade, very regimented, this needed sorting and also the intonation, although as it stood that was not far out but once saddle height was adjusted and the action sorted so to was the intonation so I was getting somewhere but the mis-alligned humbucker was really annoying me.

I loosened the strings and removed the scratchplate to see if the wiring was a bit too short and pulling it out of line, it was short but not enough to cause that, it did look though that the screw holes were a bit out on the one side. I replaced it tuned back up intending to readdress it later.

The neck was slim and easy to get around on, a very nice feel to it, the binding on the body was more cream coloured than white but the bodies finish was very nice indeed, faultless.
The bridge pickup was indeed pure Tele, the neck had nice depth to it and combined a very pleasant sound, all in all played clean with a touch of delay we had a very pleasing experience.

The humbucker though plagued me so having a spare scratch plate I decided to change it as nothing I had tried aligned the pickup correctly. I removed the strings, the pickup and scratchplate, reassembled and a perfect result. I restrung it with pure nickel strings and not only had I a good looking guitar but an even better sounding one and before I forget the weight is nice and light and the body shaping an excellent addition.

Summing up, yes I was a bit disappointed with the pickup alignment but that was solved with the mint green one I used but it in the end even without a skunk stripe it is a guitar I am more than happy with.

I bought it after watching the YouTube analysis from Alamo Music Center.
In fact I bought two of them to give one as a present to my brother.
And I can say they were right about the guitar...
...But there's one and only one thing that made me return this guitar: the neck finish. (Well, it was that and the lack of a split coil).
In my opinion, Squier made one mistake here: instead of spending time and resources sticking a veneer on top of the body, they should've finished the neck.
Because the wood on the back of the body was actually beautiful. It would have made the same aesthetic effect as the current veneer, and even a more authentic feeling.
I can't understand why they made this absurd decision to bring to the market a winner guitar with such an evident flaw that affects the playability so hugely.
Because the moment you grab it, you have the feeling it's a QC miss. But no, they produce them like that.
The feeling is that you're grabbing a non finished instrument from the factory.
In fact, I could perfectly felt two points where the skunk stripe clearly was higher than the maple around. Not just with the tip of my fingers, but with my palm. Incredible.
And yes, this guitar's neck DOES HAVE a skunk stripe. At least the models I ordered. I mention this because I've read another review where they say it's lacking it.
Anyway, I don't know how this unprotected neck will behave in changing dry/moist, high temp./low temp. environments, so it gave me no confidence at all.
The rest is EXCELLENT FOR THE PRICE.
Aesthetics are impressive.
The joint between mast and body, perfect.
FRETS were almost perfect in height (some highs and lows), but rugged on the surface (not a problem) and a bit sharp on the edges (not dramatically).
The ceramic PICKUPS have quite high output. Not a vintage approach here. Not very clear and the humbucker is not splittable, but they work well.
The SUSTAIN unplugged is quite good: I compared them to a Jet Guitars JT-350 SH BK and the sustain was better in the Squier. Like substantialy better.
The weight is OK.
A tiny bit of neck dive, nothing worrying. Just needs a rugged strap.
The electronics are quite decent and so are the tuners. For the price.
The cable jack worked well.
I must say that on one of the guitars there was a loose screw on one saddle. One of those tiny ones that adjust the saddle's height.
Pretty much what you could expect for the price.
Would I recommend it?
If you own a little home workshop and can easily sand and oil / paint the neck for free, get it. It's a beauty, and very confortable.