The standard Squier, affinity and bullet are quite like each other. However, I prefer the affinity because of its brighter sound (Bone nut), ceramic coils and great build. You could also go for Bullet as the cheapest option or buy a used Squier.
Squier has been making guitars that are one of the most beginner friendly and recognizable electric guitars. Most guitarists start off with a Squier and fall in love with it.
Fender acquired the Squier brand in 1965 and they’ve been producing the most iconic beginner electric guitars with a highly affordable price tag ever since.
However, if you’re looking to buy a Squier, you might get confused on which one to buy because they’re so many kinds of them. As a beginner, being confused in differentiating guitars can be tough because I’ve been there as well.
Getting the right guitar is an important purchase and your guitar needs to provide you with the most value. You don’t want to regret buying the wrong guitar.
This article will compare the three most famous Squier guitars. The standard Squier, Affinity series, and the bullet series.
Standard Squier Vs Affinity Vs Bullet
| Standard Squier | Affinity Squier | Bullet Squier | |
| Number of frets | 22 | 21 | 21 |
| Fret size | Medium | Medium Jumbo | Medium Jumbo |
| Body Material & Finish | Paulownia & Glass Polyester | Poplar & Glass polyurethane | Basswood & Polyurethane |
| Nut details | Plastic, 42mm wide | Synthetic bone, 42mm wide | Synthetic bone, 42mm wide |
| Pickups | Single Coil | Ceramic Single Coil | Standard Single Coil Strat |
| Neck Details | ‘C’ shape neck made of Maple and finished with Satin Urethane | ‘C’ shape neck made of Maple and finished with Satin Urethane with Glass Urethane Headstock Finish | ‘C’ shape neck made of Maple and finished with Satin Urethane |
| Weight | Can Vary | Can Vary | Can Vary |
| Truss Rod | Head Adjust | Head Adjust | Standard |
| Bridge | 6-Saddle Hardtail with Cast Saddles | 2-point synchronized tremolo with Block Saddles | 6-Saddle Vintage-style synchronized tremolo bridge |
| Price | Starting from $299.99 | Starting from $289.99 | Starting from $199.99 |
Number of Frets : Squier Standard Vs Affinity Vs Bullet
The Affinity and Bullet both have twenty-one frets on their fretboard. And the standard Squier comes with twenty-two frets.
The number of frets on your guitar can matter a lot. Especially, if you’re looking to play lead guitar. Most acoustic guitars only have nineteen frets and that restricts them from going higher and hitting a new octave.
That might seem like a small difference, but it gets very annoying when you can’t play your favorite song because of your guitar’s limitations.
Squier Affinity and Bullet both 21 frets. Whereas Standard has 22
Fret Size: Squier Standard Vs Affinity Vs Bullet
For the standard Squier, you’ll find frets with a medium size. The Affinity and bullet series have a slightly larger fret distance and come with medium jumbo size.
Medium frets are between 0.080’ and 0.095’. And you’d find medium jumbo to be 0.106 x 0.036’
Guitars come with multiple fret sizes. Finding the suitable fret size will help in improving your guitar skills considerably.
Now what I mean by this is, depending on the size of your hand, you’d find some guitars easier to play than others.
The larger your hand is, the better you’d be in adjusting to a guitar with bigger fret sizes. Similarly, smaller fret sizes are more suitable for smaller hands. You can increase your reach and not find the frets tiny for your hand.
Body & Neck: Squier Standard Vs Affinity Vs Bullet
All three guitars have a ‘C’ shape neck that comes with a smooth curve all the way around the back of the guitar.
The C-shape neck is considered to be the most comfortable type and is most commonly used in guitar necks.
Squier has created a name for the Stratocaster series because of its recognizable body and shape. No matter which types you get, you’d be surprised by the comfort of holding the guitar and its aesthetics.
The main differences exist in the finishing of the neck and the body for each guitar.
Body Finish: Squier Standard Vs Affinity Vs Bullet
The finishing of your body or neck does not have an impact on the sound of your electric guitar. The primary reason for different finishes are for aesthetics and durability of the guitar.
Now, the standard Squier has a paulownia and a glass polyester finish. Polyester finishes are more resistant to wear and can stay shiny after years of use as well. They’re more durable and the scratches are difficult to notice on the body.
The Affinity series guitar comes with a poplar and glass polyurethane finish. Polyurethane is also resistant to wear and almost as durable as a polyester finish. However, poplar is a softer wood and can get damaged with a hard fall.
The bullet Strat has a basswood and polyurethane finish on its body. Basswood is a soft and lightweight wood. It’s commonly found and is cheaper to shape and deal with making it a suitable option for the bullet Strat and its price.
The Squier Bullet is the cheapest and has the cheapest build – but it’s not bad at all from my experience using it.
Neck Finish: Squier Standard Vs Affinity Vs Bullet
The necks of guitars can influence your performance. A smooth neck will help in chord shifting and an oily or sticky neck can cause troubles while performing.
All three of the Stratocasters have a neck made of Maple wood. Maple neck guitars usually have a brighter tone. The only differences in the necks are of the materials used in finishing of the neck for each guitar.
The standard and bullet Strat have a Satin Urethane finish. A satin finish is also called a matte finish and tends to get less oily.
The Affinity series have a glass urethane headstock finish on top of the satin urethane finish.
Nut: Squier Standard Vs Affinity Vs Bullet
Both the Affinity and bullet have a synthetic bone nut. And, the standard Strat has a plastic nut.
A synthetic bone nut is harder than a plastic nut. A plastic nut is hollow and softer.
Nuts help in transferring sound vibrations. A harder nut on your guitar will automatically give better sound vibrations. This will assist in longer sustain of the notes and an improved tone.
For a detailed review on bone nuts, check out this blog!
Pickups: Squier Standard Vs Affinity Vs Bullet
The standard, Affinity, and the bullet have a single coil pickup with minor differences in each. For example, the Affinity has a ceramic single coil pickup and the standard Strat has a standard single coil.
Pickups are an important factor in determining the tone of your electric guitar.
A single coil is physically narrow and creates a focused magnetic field. The sound produced is clear but can pick up unwanted electromagnetic sounds.
Bridge & Truss Rod: Squier Standard Vs Affinity Vs Bullet
The bridge is vital for a good tone. The bridge holds the strings over the body. A high-quality bridge helps in a clear sound and avoids buzzing of the strings.
The standard Strat has a 6-saddle hardtail bridge with cast saddles. You can use a hardtail bridge with some modifications to give your guitar some famous classy looks.
The synchronized tremolo bridge is a technology that connects the strings with the bridge in a certain way that guarantees better tone and durability if you can use it properly.
The Affinity guitar comes with a 2-point synchronized tremolo bridge. The 2-point technology is superior to the 6-point and has been in use since 1986 by fender.
The bullet series has a 6-saddle vintage-style synchronized tremolo bridge.
Durability & Performance: Squier Standard Vs Affinity Vs Bullet
For under the $300 mark, all 3 Squier Stratocasters offer a highly impressive build quality. The hardware and the wood used on each guitar series is excellent and highly durable.
The satin finish and the quality of wood are excellent, and it keeps the scratches and marks at the least. These guitars can endure a lot of rough treatment.
If you use these guitars properly, you may even last a lifetime with one of these.
All 3 Squiers are built well and can last a lifetime with regular home usage.
Weight: Squier Standard Vs Affinity Vs Bullet
All Strats lie between seven and nine pounds but the weight can be different for each guitar.
This might come as a surprise, but because of the blends of the wood there can be variations in the weight of each guitar.
This weight variation occurs in every Strats and even in those of the same series. For example, every Affinity series guitar might weigh differently.
Heavy guitars can be difficult to play and perform with. Fortunately, the Stratocasters weigh just the right amount and can be played comfortably since they’re not exceedingly heavy.
Tone & Sound: Squier Standard Vs Affinity Vs Bullet
The Affinity series has a brighter, clearer, and better sound than the Squier bullet. The standard Squier Stratocaster gives a unique crisp sound than the rest of the Strats.
It’s possible that two guitars from the same series sound differently. The variations on the sound are very slight and hardly noticeable.
The sound of the Stratocasters would seem great to a beginner. But a more experienced guitar player would notice a considerable difference and would be able to tell the worth of the guitar.
Which Guitar Should You Buy? My Suggestion
Personally, my option would be to get a Squier Affinity Stratocaster because of its reliability, durability, and tone. The pros outweigh the cons clearly in this case.
The Bullet Stratocaster is highly affordable and if you’re not interested in spending a little too extra on an electric guitar, I’d suggest you go for the bullet.
But if you’re looking for something basic on which you can build on and modify, you’d want to get a Standard Squier.
Deciding which guitar you should buy could still be a little tricky. After all, there are only slight differences in each model.
What matters at this point is how much money you’re looking to spend for a beginner’s guitar and what your preference is. In the end, it’s your decision.
If you’re comfortable with a used guitar, you might even find a Bullet Strat under $80 that does the job.
No matter what guitar you decide, you’d still get better value for money in this price tag.
Most of the guitars of Affinity, Bullet, and standard series have more similarities than differences.
The major difference you’ll find is of the build quality, materials used, and the sound of each guitar.
