Squier Affinity Strat FM HSSBB

I bought the Squier Affinity Strat FM HSSBB last year, and honestly, it’s been a fantastic guitar for the price. The flame maple top looks absolutely stunning in person and gives the guitar a nice, premium feel, even though it’s not on the same level as high-end models. It has the modern look I was after, which really stands out compared to the more traditional, plain Strats.

I use it with my Valeton GP-200 processor, and now that I’ve learned how to create good presets, the sound is amazing. Thanks to the versatile HSS pickup setup, I can easily switch from clear, bright tones with the single coils to heavier, punchy rock sounds using the bridge humbucker. The humbucker handles the high-gain amp models on the Valeton really well without adding too much noise, although when I use the whammy bar sometimes there’s a bit of a mechanical metallic sound inside.

The C-shaped neck is slim and super comfortable, which makes long practice sessions much easier. To be completely honest, there are a couple of minor downsides: the tuning stays pretty stable for normal playing, but if you use the tremolo bridge heavily, it can cause the strings to go out of tune over time.

Overall, if you’re looking for a reliable, versatile, and affordable guitar, I’d say the Affinity Strat is a great choice.