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iconian | Staff 9.9K Views
Dec 15, 2024 3:37 AM

Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar (Honey Burst)

$199

$299

33% off
+ Free Shippingat Adorama
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Deal Details
Adorama has Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar (Honey Burst, 0378006542) on sale for $199. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Deal Editor iconian for sharing this deal.

About this Item:
  • 9.5" Radius and Maple Fingerboard
  • 21 Frets and Pearloid Dot Inlays
  • Poplar Body
  • 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Block Saddles Bridge
  • Sealed Die-Cast with Split Shafts Tuners
  • 25.5" Scale Length
  • Squier 2 Year Limited Warranty

Editor's Notes

Written by StrawMan86 | Staff
  • At the time of this posting, our research indicates that this is $50.99 lower than the next best comparable prices starting from $249.99.

Original Post

Written by iconian | Staff
Product Info
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Product Info
Community Notes
About the Poster
Adorama has Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar (Honey Burst, 0378006542) on sale for $199. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Deal Editor iconian for sharing this deal.

About this Item:
  • 9.5" Radius and Maple Fingerboard
  • 21 Frets and Pearloid Dot Inlays
  • Poplar Body
  • 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Block Saddles Bridge
  • Sealed Die-Cast with Split Shafts Tuners
  • 25.5" Scale Length
  • Squier 2 Year Limited Warranty

Editor's Notes

Written by StrawMan86 | Staff
  • At the time of this posting, our research indicates that this is $50.99 lower than the next best comparable prices starting from $249.99.

Original Post

Written by iconian | Staff

Community Voting

Deal Score
+16
Good Deal

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13 Comments

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Pro
Deal Hunter
Dec 15, 2024 3:47 AM
7.3K Comments
Joined Jun 2017
jk6812
Pro
Deal Hunter
Dec 15, 2024 3:47 AM
7.3K Comments
Lovin that color..what a beauty!
Dec 15, 2024 4:57 AM
15 Comments
Joined Dec 2024
FancyFlag6310Dec 15, 2024 4:57 AM
15 Comments
Quote from jk6812 View quoted comment :
Lovin that color..what a beauty!
Yeah looks classy with the mint green pickguard too
Dec 15, 2024 6:57 AM
339 Comments
Joined Feb 2022
IndigoKnob7008Dec 15, 2024 6:57 AM
339 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank

In my experience, the Squier Affinity instruments are very hit and miss. You have a significant chance of getting one with serious issues. In recent years I've had better luck with cheap Ebay guitars like Glarry, KST, and Ktaxon, and they cost less too.

This one looks nice with the 70s fat headstock and mint pickguard. But if you're just looking for a cheap starter guitar, there are better choices than an Affinity.
1
Dec 15, 2024 11:23 AM
378 Comments
Joined Sep 2003
Mr FenderDec 15, 2024 11:23 AM
378 Comments
Quote from IndigoKnob7008 View quoted comment :
In my experience, the Squier Affinity instruments are very hit and miss. You have a significant chance of getting one with serious issues. In recent years I've had better luck with cheap Ebay guitars like Glarry, KST, and Ktaxon, and they cost less too.

This one looks nice with the 70s fat headstock and mint pickguard. But if you're just looking for a cheap starter guitar, there are better choices than an Affinity.
Agreed. For about $100-$150 more there are Classic Vibe deals to be had.
Dec 15, 2024 1:59 PM
176 Comments
Joined Jan 2016
BSJS23Dec 15, 2024 1:59 PM
176 Comments
Looks like prices are starting to normalize from the corporate greed.
2
Dec 15, 2024 5:07 PM
1.3K Comments
Joined Dec 2014
ZambonieDec 15, 2024 5:07 PM
1.3K Comments
Quote from IndigoKnob7008 View quoted comment :
In my experience, the Squier Affinity instruments are very hit and miss. You have a significant chance of getting one with serious issues. In recent years I've had better luck with cheap Ebay guitars like Glarry, KST, and Ktaxon, and they cost less too.

This one looks nice with the 70s fat headstock and mint pickguard. But if you're just looking for a cheap starter guitar, there are better choices than an Affinity.
Can you point me in a direction for a good starter guitar? I have an 11 year old that has been getting into guitars and with the holidays, I think it might be a good time to support her interests. I'm unfortunately illiterate to the music world.
Dec 15, 2024 5:10 PM
382 Comments
Joined Dec 2011
impossibillyDec 15, 2024 5:10 PM
382 Comments
Tempting, but I think I'm going to hold out for an after Christmas sale on a Fender Player series.

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Dec 15, 2024 5:34 PM
205 Comments
Joined May 2007
The ChampDec 15, 2024 5:34 PM
205 Comments
Quote from Zambonie View quoted comment :
Can you point me in a direction for a good starter guitar? I have an 11 year old that has been getting into guitars and with the holidays, I think it might be a good time to support her interests. I'm unfortunately illiterate to the music world.
We did the same and almost unanimously had people point to the Squier Sonic or Affinity series to get started, but with an upgraded amp. We went with the fender mustang lt25.
Dec 15, 2024 6:59 PM
459 Comments
Joined Jul 2009
Big0rangeDec 15, 2024 6:59 PM
459 Comments
Quote from Zambonie View quoted comment :
Can you point me in a direction for a good starter guitar? I have an 11 year old that has been getting into guitars and with the holidays, I think it might be a good time to support her interests. I'm unfortunately illiterate to the music world.
This would be a fine starter guitar. I gave my son a Squire Affinity I bought used locally, and I enjoyed playing it before he decided he wanted to learn. The only possible issue is buying from a website, as previously noted, you can't know if it has any issues or not. But if it has issues making it unplayable, I'm sure Adorama would exchange.
Dec 15, 2024 10:58 PM
875 Comments
Joined Aug 2011
GlenzDec 15, 2024 10:58 PM
875 Comments
I think the general rule of thumb, when spending under $300 retail on a strat, is to purchase Yamaha. They're renowned for excellent quality control and customer service at all price ranges. Also, their Pacifica line (strat copy) comes with a decked trem, which is easier for beginners (and can be easily adjusted to free float)
Dec 16, 2024 3:56 AM
339 Comments
Joined Feb 2022
IndigoKnob7008Dec 16, 2024 3:56 AM
339 Comments
Quote from Zambonie View quoted comment :
Can you point me in a direction for a good starter guitar? I have an 11 year old that has been getting into guitars and with the holidays, I think it might be a good time to support her interests. I'm unfortunately illiterate to the music world.
First question: what sort of music do they want to play?

If they want to play metal, hard rock, or other music with heavily distorted guitars, they probably want something with humbucker pickups (the big fat ones that sometimes look like two of these Strat pickups glued together).

If they want to play clean or mildly distorted music, like funk or blues or Midwest/Japanese emo, they probably want something with single coil pickups, like a Stratocaster or Telecaster. (Jazzmasters are the standard emo guitar, but they're really big and heavy and not great for an 11 year old.)

I recommend a "hardtail", which means a guitar with no tremolo, for a first guitar. Tremolos make it really hard to tune a guitar unless you deck them, which is another thing you have to learn how to do.

For humbuckers, this is a good guitar that comes in many colors, several which are on sale, and you can return to Guitar Center if you get a lemon. Your local GC might even have one used if you get lucky.
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/g...3000004000

If she's really small or has a hard time holding a full size guitar, these are slightly smaller and will be easier to play, and are on a little bit of a sale:
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Iban...0309629.gc

For single coils there are a lot of choices, most of which are more expensive unless you're willing to roll the dice on a Sonic Series Fender (Sonic is Affinity level).

Your sanity will remain intact if you get her an amp modeler and some headphones instead of a loud "practice amp", and she'll enjoy practicing more because it'll sound a lot better. I wrote about this at length here:
https://slickdeals.net/f/17765760-iyv-ils-300egr-les-paul-solid-body-electric-guitar-emerald-green-new-open-box-free-shipping-98-25?p=172934424#post172934424

I hope this helps her have fun and stick with it!
1
Dec 19, 2024 9:20 AM
182 Comments
Joined Nov 2008
tivoliDec 19, 2024 9:20 AM
182 Comments
Quote from Zambonie View quoted comment :
Can you point me in a direction for a good starter guitar? I have an 11 year old that has been getting into guitars and with the holidays, I think it might be a good time to support her interests. I'm unfortunately illiterate to the music world.
Ibanez AZES40
Yamaha Pacific 112
Squier Sonic Mustang
Feb 21, 2025 5:33 AM
127 Comments
Joined Nov 2013
ViktoROBOFeb 21, 2025 5:33 AM
127 Comments
I ordered the guitar a couple days ago and it arrived today. The finish looks even nicer in person. There's a slight reddish tint to the burst that doesn't show as well in the product photos. I think in terms of looks it is closer to a Classic Vibe than an Affinity. It of course has the thinness of an Affinity body, and the Affinity internals. But the finish looks really good. My body is made of 2 pieces of wood. I was expecting 3 minimum. The neck is a satin finish on the back but the headstock is glossy. That's my preference.
My guitar has no issues. Neck is straight. Stays in tune, and once I had it in tune the intonation was perfect. I didn't have to make any adjustment to the saddles. The bridge was set really high when I got it. Almost a quarter inch off of the body. Very easy to lower it with it being a 2-point trem. I have no complaints. I have a Vintage Modified Jaguar from 2016 and I already like this guitar more.
If you're looking for a cheap Strat it makes way more sense to grab this one for $199 over the Amazon Debut with the ugly matte paintjob for $119 or the Sonic for the same price. I was considering a Classic Vibe or even one of the Fender Player II's that were on sale for $649, but I'm glad I went with this. If I want to in the future I could swap in some nicer pickups and higher quality pots and have a guitar that looks as nice and plays as well as a guitar that goes for 2-3 times the price. The tuners are servicable. a couple feel a little stiff, but they get the job done. Getting vintage style tuners is a possible upgrade I'd make in the future, but it would be mostly cosmetic. I prefer how they look, especially on a finish like this

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