In this article, we will look at the Difference between Squier Affinity and Bullet Buying your first electric guitar is a big step. There are many things to consider, but the most important question is what you’re going to do with it.
There are two main types of electric guitars: Squier Affinity vs Bullet. While there are some similarities, these guitars have different sounds and purposes.
You should choose your guitar based on what you want it to sound like and how you plan to use it. The best way to find the right instrument is a trial of both types, but this may not always be possible with guitars that have a different price. So, read this article and decide what is best for you.
If you’re on the fence about which electric guitar to choose from Squier Affinity or Bullet then you have come to the right place. We compare these two guitars to help you decide which is best for your needs.
The basic difference between Squier Affinity and Bullet:
1. Body design:
The most basic difference between these two guitars is the design of the body. The Bullet has f-holes while Squier Affinity does not have any holes in its body. This means that while both designs look attractive, both are also less suited for playing live, as they do not provide the air pressure needed. Bullet electric guitars use an acoustically reinforced body with two f-holes and one from the back. Squier Affinity models have a solid body with no holes. Squier Affinity is more popular among guitarists because of its enhanced bass sound coming from the dual single-coil pickups.
2. Different tonal properties:
The two types of electric guitars also have different tonal properties. Squier Affinity guitars do not have any of the problems that other low-cost guitars include, such as: warped necks, loose parts, poor construction and lack of tuning stability. The lower cost of Squier means that the guitar has a solid build, and is more forgiving to beginner players. On the other hand, Bullet guitars tend to be very reliable and have better hardware than Squier Affinity models.
3. Sound type:
The most important thing you should consider is what type of sound you want for your electric guitar. Both electric guitars are suitable for beginners, but they do not have the same sound. If you want to experience a classic rock sound, you should choose Squier Affinity and if your music taste is more towards metal, consider Bullet.
4. Neck type:
Bullet guitars have a thinner neck than Squier Affinity models, so it may be harder to play. The thinner neck is usually preferred by serious players who will use this guitar for long periods of time. The higher action of Bullet guitars also makes the strings harder to tune, especially with single-coil pickups. Despite these drawbacks, Squier Affinity guitars are the best choice for beginners who want to start playing guitar. Squier Affinity guitars come with a bigger variety of colors and styles than Bullet models, making it easier for you to find something that fits your personality.
Squier Affinity Model electric guitars are among the most expensive Squier electric guitars. These models are very similar to Fender Stratocaster Guitars. If you want to play classic rock, this type of guitar will more than suffice for your purpose. Darker colors such as black and dark red are better for classic rock since these will make your sound a little heavier.
Bullet Model electric guitars feature sharp cutaway horns, which means they have no f-holes, and solid bodies that give the option of adding better hardware at a later stage.
Key Specs for Squier Affinity:
• Body shape: Alder body
Unlike the Bullet, the Squier Affinity is made from alder — a lightweight and relatively affordable tonewood. Other tonewoods are available as upgrades.
• Body material: The Affinity has a basswood body with a natural finish.
• Neck joint: The Affinity neck joint is a three-bolt design .
• Neck material: The Affinity has a maple fretboard and bolt-on maple neck.
• Fingerboard material: The Affinity’s fingerboard has 22 medium jumbo frets .
• Neck shape: The Squier Affinity’s neck bends slightly at the nut.
• Headstock shape: The Affinity headstock has a plastic knob finisher.
• Neck pickup: The Affinity has a P-90 or single-coil neck humbucker at the neck position .
• Bridge pickup: The Affinity has a P-90 in the bridge.
• Tuners: Standard tuning pegs are used, although some players have reported issues with tuning stability especially in higher positions on the guitar’s neck.
• Pickups: The Affinity has a single P-90-style pick that is designed to deliver a clear, biting tone.
Key specs of Bullet:
• Body shape: The Bullet’s body is shaped like a biddy, with a rounder backside and sharper edges.
• 25 ½” scale: The Bullet has a shorter-than-average 25 ½” scale length that may be better suited to players with smaller hands.
• Body material: The Bullet has a solid basswood body with a matte finish.
• Neck joint: The Bullet neck joint is a heavy design that features three bolts holding the neck in place.
• Neck material: The Bullet has a maple fretboard and bolt-on maple neck.
• Fingerboard material: The Bullet’s maple fretboard has 22 jumbo frets .
• Neck shape: The Bullet’s neck is relatively straight and flat .
• Headstock shape: The Bullet’s headstock has a modern shape with a dipped corner.
• Neck pickup: The Bullet has a single humbucker at the neck position.
• Bridge pickup: The Bullet has a single P-90 at the bridge position.
• Tuners: The Bullet uses standard tuning pegs, although some players have reported issues with tuning stability especially in higher positions on the guitar’s neck.
• Pickups: The Bullet has two split single-coil pickups that are designed like P-90s.
Pros of Squier Affinity:
1. The Squier Affinity is cheaper than the Bullet.
2. The Squier Affinity has a better tone than the Bullet because of its humbucker pickups.
3. The Squier Affinity’s neck is thinner and less wide, which makes it easier to play it with fingers or a plectrum (i.e., pick).
4. You can change what colour/pickguard you want on a Squier Affinity guitar but you can’t on a Bullet guitar for some reason?
5. It’s a Squier. (So it will make you look cool, if that’s what you’re going for.)
6. The speaker is active on the Squier Affinity because Squiers are made to be plugged into an amp, unlike the Bullet.
7. The Squier Affinity has better tone controls and output jack than the Bullet does.
8. The Squier Affinity is lighter than the Bullet.
9. If you have a cheaper amp, you might not need to buy a different amp for the Squier Affinity guitar, whereas if you have nice, more expensive amps, the Bullet’s amp might not be compatible with it.
10. The Squier Affinity has a better tremolo system than the Bullet.
11. The headstock is shaped like an arrow pointing up to heaven (moon symbol).
12. The Squier Affinity’s neck is thinner and less wide, which makes it easier to play with fingers or a plectrum.
13. The Squier Affinity has more frets than the Bullet does.
14. The Squier Affinity guitar has a cheaper price tag than the Bullet guitar, which means you can save money by buying an amp with the bassist’s money.
15. The Squier Affinity comes with all sorts of accessories like a capo which you have to buy for the Bullet separately.
Cons of Squier Affinity:
1. The guitar’s neck and bridge are made from hard maple, which is a cheap substitute for hard rock maple.
2. The guitar does not have a truss rod which helps to prevent the neck from bending, meaning that if this were to happen the only way the guitar can be corrected for is by either taking it in for professional repairs or through repeated adjustments at home using shims and clamps. In contrast, guitars with a truss rod typically have better action and sound quality because they are more adjustable than guitars without one.
3. The guitar lacks tone control, which means that you have to rely on your amplifier for altering the sound of your instrument, or if you wish to make adjustments you have to do it on the amp’s own EQ controls.
4. The guitar lacks a whammy bar, which is a device that makes it easier to gain extra high pitches through the use of a vibrato bar and string bending.
5. The headstock on the Affinity is protected by plastic, making it more difficult to replace if broken, compared to guitars with traditional tuning machines and saddles.
6. The guitar’s hardware is made from low-quality materials and is not as durable as the one on more expensive models.
7. The guitar’s battery life is short, with only reported use of a couple of months before needing to be replaced.
8. The guitar has light-weight tuners which may need to be replaced by heavier ones in the future, meaning added costs.
Pros of Bullet:
1. Bullet guitars are made from hardwood maple with a gloss polyester finish.
2. Both Bullet and Affinity include a 3-year warranty, which is good for protecting your investment.
3. The Affinity guitars have double binding on the neck, while the Bullet guitars have single binding.
4. Bullet guitars have a thick, fast neck, while the Affinity necks are thinner.
5. Bullet guitars have a fixed bridge, while the Affinity guitars have a tremolo bridge.
6. The Bullet necks are slightly thicker at 1st fret than the Affinity necks.
7. The Bullet guitars come with P-90 style alnico magnet pickups, while the Affinities come with humbucker sized alnico pickups.
8. Bullet guitars have a volume and tone control, while the Affinity guitars only have a tone control.
9. Bullet guitars are usually half the price of Affinity guitars.
10. The Affinity necks are slightly thinner than the Bullet necks, which makes it easier for playing fast riffs.
11. Bullet guitar necks are easily adjustable, while the Affinity necks require more effort to bend and adjust them to your liking.
12. The Bullet guitars are lighter, so you could play longer without getting tired.
13. The Bullet guitars are made in Korea, while the Affinities are made in Indonesia.
14. Bullet offers a lifetime warranty on all their guitars, which is better than the 3-year warranty that comes with Affinities.
15. Bullet guitars have a solid hardwood top (maple), while Affinity guitars have hollow tops (basswood).
Cons of Bullet:
1. Bullet guitars are not available in stores.
2. These guitars often have a low sticker price, but you have to pay an annual fee for the warranty.
3. The low-end models of these guitars do not offer good sound quality and can be difficult to play.
4. Dealing with customer service is difficult because they are located overseas and your chances of getting help or replacements is small if something were to go wrong with your guitar.
5. Bullets do not replace guitars that are lost or damaged.
6. Bullet guitars are difficult to modify.
7. Bullet guitar straps have poor quality and can damage your guitar over time.
8. The “Electronic” tuners do not work well and they often need to be changed which costs an extra few dollars a month.
9. These guitars are expensive.
FAQs:
1. Which is better: Squier Affinity or Bullet?
The two electric guitars are both inexpensive and durable, but they have very different features. We will go over the specifications of each and inform you of its strengths and weaknesses.
2. How do they differ in terms of cost?
Squier Affinity is a lot cheaper and less expensive than Bullet. They are almost half the price, which is very advantageous to most people. So if you are wanting to get an electric guitar but don’t want to spend too much, then Squier Affinity is for you.
3. How do they differ in terms of quality?
Both guitars have the same neck profile and body style, so that part remains the same. But there are some differences in terms of quality. For example, the hardware in Bullet is made of steel and the tuning keys are made of maple. In contrast, Squier Affinity has a graphite or aluminium option for their hardware, and their tuning keys are made of rosewood. The tonewoods are also different. Bullet uses mahogany for both body and neck, whereas Squier chose poplar wood for the body and maple for the neck.
4. How do they differ in terms of features?
This is where the two differ the most. Bullet has a more powerful amp output compared to Squier Affinity. Squier Affinity has a lower magnetic field, which means that the basses in the sound waves are higher than they would be if they were played on Bullet. Bullet also has 2 switchable preamp channels and tuner out, whereas Squier has just a single channel with tuner out.
