New year project

[greentel3]

Thinking of pimping a squier tele to fend off the January blues. Seem to be able to be able to pick them up fairly cheap. Lost touch with all diff variations though. Is Korean better than china etc. what's diff with an affinity? Or are they all much of a muchness? Any input appreciated before I splash out my £60-70

[TheGuitarWeasel]

Affinity have thinner bodies, nasty ceramic pickups and a 41mm nut rather than 42.6mm. I actually like Affinity necks as they are chunky as well as a tiny bit narrower ... the bodies sadly, tend to feel cheaper as they are 5mm or so thinner.
Korean is generally seen as better than Chinese, but I have had a fair few good Chinese models through my hands. To my mind Affinities are good upgrade fodder if you can take a lighter construction.

[Ozric]

The affinities depend on age. Earlier ones (made in china) are full thickness bodies and string through bodies made from alder. (Just sold one on ebay as parts). The necks are not as narrow either, 42mm nut.
One thing to note about squier teles is the neck plate are longer than US or Mexican teles so doing a bridge swap results in the old plates screw holes showing.
Website TDPRI would be the first port of call regarding tele upgrades (although it is American but with plenty of uk guys on it).

[meltedbuzzbox]

My father in law has a made in China squier tele. Its not an affinity, but my god for the price its a damn good guitar. It plays wonderfully. I did change the pickups for him though. The standard pups are a bit weedy

[greentel3]

Thanks. Pup change was on cards anyway. Seen a few through body strung to which would be nice. Note what you say re bridge though

[zenzeypher]

The affinities depend on age. Earlier ones (made in china) are full thickness bodies and string through bodies made from alder.

this is very true, early 90's ones.. the Korean ones are also up to standard spec. I had one with stock USA parts from 94' it was a killer guitar.

Get a standard and up the pups, anything but the ceramic crap in them..sometimes the stock electronics will be fine too - only change those if they give you an issue.

i love projects like this, especially a tele means you can make it into anything you want it to be.

[bochetagrave]

I've just flogged an affinity body, but kept the neck. Bought a knotty body off the bay, and I'm throwing some HB sized p90's in - should be awesome when finished.. I actually like the thinner, lighter affinity bodies.. Not keen on the pups, though..

[greentel3]

Thanks for advice guys. Also enjoy tele mods. Simple to work with but so many possibilities

[TheGuitarWeasel]

I've just flogged an affinity body, but kept the neck. Bought a knotty body off the bay, and I'm throwing some HB sized p90's in - should be awesome when finished.. I actually like the thinner, lighter affinity bodies.. Not keen on the pups, though..

Got an Affinity body on my 'Pink Terror' Strat ... a breeze to gig all night as it's feather light ... and with proper pickups ... sounds the business too. Remember, Leo's original prototype 'spade head' Telecaster was only 1 1/2 inches thick as well! More of an issue with Strats than Teles, as a US spec full block trem sticks out the back of the body by a couple of mm and needs a special block made (£25 online) to have the back cover fitted. The only issue I have had problems with with Affinity Teles is that the bodies are a little too shallow to allow the use of some switches (like push/pull pots) as the routs can't go deep enough.

[greentel3]

Just drill through and leave a hole in the back ?!