What makes a Squire "Affinity" bass "Affinity"
- Thread starter Aceman
- Start date
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: What makes a Squire "Affinity" bass "Affinity"
My P bass is an Affinity. Like Clint mentioned, it’s a great modding platform. All I had to do to mine was replace the bridge with a Fender Hi Mass, the pickup with an EMG, and the neck with a really sweet Allparts. Now it’s pretty sweet.
I’m being half-facetious with that. The stock pickup was good enough, but the EMG is infinitely better. The stock bridge was garbage, and the neck was OK. It took a frightening amount of truss rod tension to get it playable, but had almost no room left to tweak. If I hadn’t scored the $350 Allparts neck for $75, I’d have either used ultra light strings to get it setup really well, it would’ve sold it. The stock tuners are fine, but really heavy. I intend to replace mine with something lighter to improve the balance. Paid $100 for the bass and a 15 watt amp, totally worth that price. A few years ago, I had another Affinity, same floppy, junk neck.
My P bass is an Affinity. Like Clint mentioned, it’s a great modding platform. All I had to do to mine was replace the bridge with a Fender Hi Mass, the pickup with an EMG, and the neck with a really sweet Allparts. Now it’s pretty sweet.
I’m being half-facetious with that. The stock pickup was good enough, but the EMG is infinitely better. The stock bridge was garbage, and the neck was OK. It took a frightening amount of truss rod tension to get it playable, but had almost no room left to tweak. If I hadn’t scored the $350 Allparts neck for $75, I’d have either used ultra light strings to get it setup really well, it would’ve sold it. The stock tuners are fine, but really heavy. I intend to replace mine with something lighter to improve the balance. Paid $100 for the bass and a 15 watt amp, totally worth that price. A few years ago, I had another Affinity, same floppy, junk neck.
Chris Pile
Well-known member
Re: What makes a Squire "Affinity" bass "Affinity"
My fretless Affinity Jazz bass has a finish on the neck.... And it plays fine. The electronics need an upgrade, but the bones of the axe are good.
My fretless Affinity Jazz bass has a finish on the neck.... And it plays fine. The electronics need an upgrade, but the bones of the axe are good.
Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Re: What makes a Squire "Affinity" bass "Affinity"
Nah, you can replace the pickup only and be pretty much good to go. It's way better off than changing the pickups on say a bullet strat and then still getting clank from the bridge, trem, and saddles.
Nah, you can replace the pickup only and be pretty much good to go. It's way better off than changing the pickups on say a bullet strat and then still getting clank from the bridge, trem, and saddles.
Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Re: What makes a Squire "Affinity" bass "Affinity"
I originally set out to change the pickups on my Jazz, but never did. They sound fine, but like most Jazz pickups, they hum. One day I will put a set of Apollos in there. I think they use 2 of the same size pickups.
I originally set out to change the pickups on my Jazz, but never did. They sound fine, but like most Jazz pickups, they hum. One day I will put a set of Apollos in there. I think they use 2 of the same size pickups.
Chris Pile
Well-known member
Re: What makes a Squire "Affinity" bass "Affinity"
Yes, the pickups are the same size.... UNLIKE American made Jazz basses....
I bet some folks don't know the bridge pickup is longer than the neck pickup on a Jazz.
And Apollos sound great. I thought about a set for my Toby bass, but I got a good deal on some Bartolinis instead.
Yes, the pickups are the same size.... UNLIKE American made Jazz basses....
I bet some folks don't know the bridge pickup is longer than the neck pickup on a Jazz.
And Apollos sound great. I thought about a set for my Toby bass, but I got a good deal on some Bartolinis instead.
Re: What makes a Squire "Affinity" bass "Affinity"
Yeah *I* didn't know they were different sizes until I started researching. I forgot if it is 2 neck pickups or bridge pickups.
Yeah *I* didn't know they were different sizes until I started researching. I forgot if it is 2 neck pickups or bridge pickups.
ginormous
Understatmentologist
Re: What makes a Squire "Affinity" bass "Affinity"
I'm just gonna leave that one alone.
Hmm... :scratchch
I'm just gonna leave that one alone.
Chris Pile
Well-known member
Re: What makes a Squire "Affinity" bass "Affinity"
I see what you did there....
I see what you did there....
ItsaBass
New member
Re: What makes a Squire "Affinity" bass "Affinity"
Specs often change on the lower end Squiers.
Years ago, Affinity used to mean a thin plywood body, and they were heavy as hell because of it. I think they are solid now.
Even the ones that appear to have "no finish" on the neck do have a very thin matte sealer IME. I have the Strat Mini, and it's like this.
Take a Affinity neck, take it for a fret leveling and dressing and an edge roll. Have a handmade nut installed. Spray some lacquer or poly over it, or apply even as few as three or four coats of TruOil. You've got a fine neck that won't get dirty like the factory Affinity necks do.
Specs often change on the lower end Squiers.
Years ago, Affinity used to mean a thin plywood body, and they were heavy as hell because of it. I think they are solid now.
Even the ones that appear to have "no finish" on the neck do have a very thin matte sealer IME. I have the Strat Mini, and it's like this.
Take a Affinity neck, take it for a fret leveling and dressing and an edge roll. Have a handmade nut installed. Spray some lacquer or poly over it, or apply even as few as three or four coats of TruOil. You've got a fine neck that won't get dirty like the factory Affinity necks do.
Last edited:
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: What makes a Squire "Affinity" bass "Affinity"
Here’s my recent Squier experience....
There was a special edition Affinity Strat (crazy sparkle) that was being clearanced out at MF. I got one of each color thinking I was going to upgrade pickups three ways and have some cool, cheap guitars. All three obviously needed setup work, but only one was limited enough work that I wanted to keep it. The rest had fret sprout, the wobbly neck, loose pocket, then of course the nut is narrow so no easy replacement, the body is thin so only the GFS replacement even fits.... So I’ve got that one affinity that I have just ignored.
In needed a Jazz Bass, so I played a bunch at GC, one was a Vintage Modified I think? Wow, completely different story, it plays great, sounds great... I was planning on replacing pickups but I didn’t even do that. Just new strings and a simple setup and it’s an awesome bass.
I think the lesson is, the cheaper you go, the more important it is to play and check out that specific instrument. I’d play the bass live with no concerns, the guitar still needs attention before I’d want to play it live. For laying down a track you can make anything work.
Here’s my recent Squier experience....
There was a special edition Affinity Strat (crazy sparkle) that was being clearanced out at MF. I got one of each color thinking I was going to upgrade pickups three ways and have some cool, cheap guitars. All three obviously needed setup work, but only one was limited enough work that I wanted to keep it. The rest had fret sprout, the wobbly neck, loose pocket, then of course the nut is narrow so no easy replacement, the body is thin so only the GFS replacement even fits.... So I’ve got that one affinity that I have just ignored.
In needed a Jazz Bass, so I played a bunch at GC, one was a Vintage Modified I think? Wow, completely different story, it plays great, sounds great... I was planning on replacing pickups but I didn’t even do that. Just new strings and a simple setup and it’s an awesome bass.
I think the lesson is, the cheaper you go, the more important it is to play and check out that specific instrument. I’d play the bass live with no concerns, the guitar still needs attention before I’d want to play it live. For laying down a track you can make anything work.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: What makes a Squire "Affinity" bass "Affinity"
I should’ve said this above, but my experience with different basses is pretty limited. I’ve owned a few prior to now, but since I didn’t know how to set them up and didn’t own a bass amp then, I’m not counting any of those.
Since I embraced the Dark Side (as my local bass playing friend calls it), I started with a Yamaha TRBX174. Though inexpensive, it’s a ridiculously well built instrument. Excellent fret work, quality woods, dual-action truss rod, so it sets up and plays however you want with ease.
The Squier Affinity P was the second bass, and needed the truss rod cranked to near breaking point to get playable. Not long after getting it playable, I found the deal on the Allparts neck, which is extremely high quality. I put 50-120 D’Addario balanced tension strings on it, and was afraid the tension would be too much. The truss rod laughed and said, “Quarter-turn yo. I got this.”
Shortly after that, I got the Warwick. It has approximately 500 points of adjustment, and once you get it, sets up effortlessly. The build quality is excellent, as are the materials.
A few weeks ago, I got the Meyers boutique bass. Again, easy setup and excellent materials.
The point here is, unlike my guitar journey, I got out of the junk section with basses pretty quickly. Had I experimented more with string gauges, and replaced the Squier’s junk bridge before replacing the neck, it may have been a different story.
I should’ve said this above, but my experience with different basses is pretty limited. I’ve owned a few prior to now, but since I didn’t know how to set them up and didn’t own a bass amp then, I’m not counting any of those.
Since I embraced the Dark Side (as my local bass playing friend calls it), I started with a Yamaha TRBX174. Though inexpensive, it’s a ridiculously well built instrument. Excellent fret work, quality woods, dual-action truss rod, so it sets up and plays however you want with ease.
The Squier Affinity P was the second bass, and needed the truss rod cranked to near breaking point to get playable. Not long after getting it playable, I found the deal on the Allparts neck, which is extremely high quality. I put 50-120 D’Addario balanced tension strings on it, and was afraid the tension would be too much. The truss rod laughed and said, “Quarter-turn yo. I got this.”
Shortly after that, I got the Warwick. It has approximately 500 points of adjustment, and once you get it, sets up effortlessly. The build quality is excellent, as are the materials.
A few weeks ago, I got the Meyers boutique bass. Again, easy setup and excellent materials.
The point here is, unlike my guitar journey, I got out of the junk section with basses pretty quickly. Had I experimented more with string gauges, and replaced the Squier’s junk bridge before replacing the neck, it may have been a different story.
NegativeEase
New member
Re: What makes a Squire "Affinity" bass "Affinity"
I was recording at a studio last year that bought several Affinitys and threw Duncans in them and then challenged us to A/B compare the vintage and/or American Standard versions of the same guitar he had.
I was impressed.
I was recording at a studio last year that bought several Affinitys and threw Duncans in them and then challenged us to A/B compare the vintage and/or American Standard versions of the same guitar he had.
I was impressed.
