All user reviews for the Squier Stop Dreaming, Start Playing Set: Affinity Strat Special with Fender Frontman 15G

I bought this from a local guitar store for £99 second hand. I played practically every guitar in the shop and found this to be the best sounding, even up against £2000 Gibsons this, for the price, had the edge.

It is made with a thin body and neck which means it is so easy to play, especially in the high register.What I particularly like is that you can hear all of the strings when you play a chord, not just a mess of sound. ALso, it has such a nice "sharp" sound. It really sounds good!

The colour is not nice. It is "torino" red, which is fun but not the most professional look. But this is not much of a problem. The pickups are a little quiet. But I have a Fender 30 watt amp, so plugging it into input 2 makes it sound that bit better.

The construction seems sound. I like the way it is thinner than other strats as I have said. I have had no problems with it - a solid guitar!

A great guitar at unbelieveably great value! But I would definately recommend playing the one you are going to buy. I played another identical blue one in the shop and it didn't sound a patch on mine. Don't be so quick to ignore cheap guitars - might strike gold!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this piece of shit out of a magazine for £180. It came with a strap, lead, video and a cheesy 10watt amp.

er...... it was cheap and i was just starting out so i thought i got a good deal! Apart from that NOTHING!

The cheap wood used in the construction(maple i think), the cheap ass pickup's. If you think that it could pass for a usa fender strat by covering the squier logo, your wrong because the cheap ass pickup's are more painful than getting your balls chopped off with a pair of rusty scissors. On clean there's no warmth or decent tone and when i'd switch to distortion and crank up the volume all you hear is SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECH!!! If i stood closer than 10ft away from the amp it sounded like it was going to explode! The action is too high so shredding and fast playing on a guitar like this is not an option! I hate the fact that you have to tune it every half an hour because it never stayed in tune. The tone knobs on the guitar do JACK SHIT!! The b string gave out a horrible twanging noise even if i changed it the day before!

Cheap and poorly built. Worked fine for a month but after that EVERYTHING seemed to go wrong!! Strong though, it's bin dropped once or twice and the neck hasn't snapped off....shame.

Even if your a beginner DO NOT buy this pile of crap! Go for a Peavey, washburn or even a yamaha. There IS alot better out there for he same price.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

My Squier was a Christmas present from dad, therefore i dont know how much he payed for it. It seems that there going for about $250 U.S according to Fenders price list.

The overall feel of this guitar is great. It has a great body shape, the unmistake- able Stratocaster style. It also has quite wide frets (great for beginners). It features three single-coil pickups to give it that classic american Fender sound. It has a five-way pickup switching system to get all those great tones. You get a great set of strings with it too, the one that came with mine lasted for ages. As for the controls you get a basic volume and two tones. There in the right place too, you don't bump them when your plucking and struming.

There is absolutely nothing I don't like about this guitar! All my friends say it's got a great sound and feel, and they can't believe how cheap it is.

The Squier has great quality construction for a resinably cheap unit. The lacker is very hard, I've had a few bumps around with it and the finish is still fine. Not only is the finish hard but the headstock and neck are too. The tuning pegs are very sturdy, they never seem to come out of place (only when you want them to). The only thing I can think of that is "bad" about this guitar is that some of the screws holding the pick-guard in place are wonky, which is an easy fix!

This guitar is great. Its affordable for beginners, but sounds, looks and play great for intermediates and the advance guitarist. The good thing is Squier is backed up by Fender. You can get one with a "whammy bar" or one without, mine dosen't have one. For pictures and more info go to www.squierguitars.com and for the price list and package deals go to www.fender.com\resources\pricelist\


This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I was going through a rough patch in my life and decided to buy an electric guitar, because i'd always wanted one (a bit of retail therapy).
I didn't have a lot of money to spend, and had resigned myself to the fact I couldn't get an expensive guitar, I had already half decided on a squier strat, so went to my local music store to have a looksy.
I paid £139.00 brand new.

Mine is a dark blue squier affinity strat, made in china ser. no. CY21115304, I like the colour, which I haven't seen many of, they're usually black, or sunburst, I believe it was made between 2000 + 2002.
The neck is very slim and smooth, and facilitates fast slides (not by me though), the finish on the body is excellent,hard wearing and shiny, I must admit I try and not damage it, but, it still looks like brand new.
It looks like a normal strat, but, with a slightly thinner body, I believe they're also lighter than most strats.
The standard pickups did not buzz, or hum, and the five way selector switch does not crackle when changing position, unlike some cheap! guitars.
Mine never goes out of tune, although, I have read some can.

The standard pickups, were on the dull side, although, I must admit, when I bought this guitar, I did intend to mess about with different pickups anyway.
I've heard that using the whammy bar knocks them out of tune, I haven't used one, but, bear it in mind.

The construction quality is excellent for the price, the finish, and overall appearance is very pleasing to the eye, although light in weight. It feels solid, and nothing on mine has ever come loose.
I like mine and am pleased with it, it has also, fullfiled it's role as a guitar to learn on, furthermore, I intend to keep it for some time.

As a beginer guitar, or, one to mess about with, it's excellent value for money, I always intended messing with the pickups, even before I got it, it now has a dimarzio virtual vintage blues in the middle, a standard squire affinity one in the neck, and a genuine, 1980 american strat pickup in the bridge, this setup gives a good range of sounds, to mess with.
I love my guitar, and, it's given me a lot of pleasure, in many ways, from experimenting with different pickups, to being there to play, and lifting me when i'm down.
I've just got to learn to play it well now, although in all honesty, I may never achieve it. And, up to a point, I don't really care, because, it still gives me pleasue anyway, and that was why I bought it.
My score is based on value for money, construction, etc, and the amount of pleasure it's given, while there might be "better", more expensive guitars, i'm giving it a five, because, overall that's what I feel it deserves.
It's also backed by fender,and, I think it was Money well spent.



This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Compared to about ten other stratocasters throughout the price range, including the Eric Clapton autograph model. Paid $150 at Guitar Center in Oxnard/Ventura CA.

I must have picked a good one because this Strat sounded as good as almost any that I have played. American, Mexican, whatever. Sure there are a few rough edges, but what do you expect for $150?

The pick guard that supports the pickups, pots and switch was flimsy cheap plastic. A replacement standard strat pick guard for $20 with foil shielding on the back cured that and greatly increased the sustain and tone quality while reducing the tendency to hum.

Alder body and neck (?), rosewood fingerboard. Polished black laquer is holding up well on body and looks bitchin with the new black pick guard. Everything still works pretty well but i've only had it six months.

Great value for money. A good guitar to throw in the trunk without worry.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I payed 150 for it, it came with a Frontman15g I got it at guitar center. It was my first guitar.

I like that this thing came with everything you needed to get started on guitar. Great fender cable, shitty guitar, great amp, decent strap. I like that this thing can stay in tune for a while. The amp is great it has a decent overdrive on it and the amp can take a beating and it gets pretty loud for a small bastage. I liked the picks too because heavier picks help beginners gain speed faster.

I hate the guitar. It is a waste of money. The cord plug on it unscrews and decides to fall off the first week you get it. Within the first 2 months I got it, it suddenly shut off when i was playing. It would shut off ones a day where the tone knobs became volume knobs and the switch wouldnt work (no sound out of the guitar) unless in the bottom position.

The electronics on the guitar are highly unreliable. It will die on you electronically any time. The guitar refuses to break externally though, because I tried to break it so I could have a reason to get a new guitar. But the POS didn't.

Avoid this guitar please. Do not buy this shit, send squier a message because they dont make good products. Buy a real fender stratocaster if you like classic rock, or get a Jackson js1 if you like rock.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Ok, here's the deal. I started playing the guitar almost a year ago and almost instantly after I started I knew I was going to want to buy an electric guitar. So I looked around on the internet (I even came to this site) and just did basic reserch on a hole lot of diffrent guitars. I made a couple of trips to the Guitar Center and found the a Squire Affinity Strat in sunburst. I tryied it out and loved the feel and playiblity of it, it also had a great tone and good sustain. A few months went by and I suddenly got a flyer from the Guitar Center. It had all there newist deals on gear and stuff. So I was looking through it and......There It was! My Strat, but this one was a Squire Affinity Special Strat because it had a classic 60's big head stock and a darker sunburst finish. And I could not belive it! It was $149.99! I went by and played it and loved it! They showed me other guitars but nothing could stand up to the Strat. At least in the 100 to 200 dollar price range.

This guitar has awsome tone and sustain, a standerd whammy bar, a great feel, a slightly slimmer body, classic 60's big head stock, two tone sunburst finish that is incredable, two tone knobs and one volume and five-way pickup switching for a wide range of sounds, and it stays it tune pretty well too.

The only thing that I wish was diffrent is the pick gaurd. it is nice but it is not a three ply pick gaurd. But that is nothing that could keep me from buying one.

It has a bolt on neck with 21 frets. It strings through the back and has a standerd floting bridge. And the body is thinner then a normal strat which gives it a better feel.

I think this is ine of the best guitars you could buy, not the most expinsive but certinly superb in quality.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I got this guitar as a beginner pack about 3 years ago before they were upgraded at Dawsons Music Shop Altrincham UK i paid £189 sterling for it and it came with everything you need to play.

I like this guitar because its so tough over the three years ive been playing i have joined a band and this guitar gets hamered it has stickers all over it and knobs are missing but thats what i like about plus the sound is really good for such a cheap guitar its sounds better than my mates (ade) Epiphone Les Paul standard.
It is sooooo cool.

The only thing i dont like about this unit is it says Squier on the head instead of Fender and the colour isnt that rad its sunburst.....

The quality and construction of this unit is sturdy and tough.
Heres the tech bit:

Rosewood Fretboard.
Body is so light it feels like its made out of polystyrene.
SSS pick up configuration.
Vintage style tremolo.
And a lot of bang for the buck.

This is very cool it has nice sound and it does the job for me although im hopefully getting a Fender Mexican Statocaster for my Lead guitar part in my punk band 4th Wheel. I cant say anything else except RANCID ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I thought that I would start this off with saying hello. I got my guitar at GP music, in Grand Prarie Alberta, this year (2003). I got a good deal on it, the guitar itself probably cost me around $190 - $240 canadian.

This guitar is perfect for a beginner, like me, and im sure alot of others that are interseted in learning guitar. I like how this strat has a somewhat slimmer body. Its lighter which to me, makes it easier to play standing up. I like its 5-way switching, it makes it rad to get those in-bewteen tones.

I actually like this guitar alot the only thing i dont like about it is my guitar is black and im sort of a slob (not the cleaning type). A black guitar gets noticable finger prints all over it and i hate getting out the windex every week to get rid of them!

I think this guitar is built and crafted really nicely. But if your a pro-guitar player, i might try buying something a little more advanced to fit your skills (or in other words something that you can really rock out hard on).

Well guys, I guess this is where I say good-bye. The last thing I have to say is this is a affordable, handsome and awesome beginner guitar. If your just starting out and you dont have all the money in the world this here's a good guitar to get.
later guys, merry christmas!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this guitar at Samash because i was sick of acoustic guitars. i wanted to try something different so i bought something VERY inexpensive and simple. even though its aztec gold with a maple fretboard, it was only $150.

i definetely like the look of it and that as "inexpensive" as it is, it has a tremolo bad. it also is EXTREMELY easy to slide from fret to fret.

the only thing i really dont like is that.......nothing. i have nothing too bad to say except that the sound isnt remarkable but wat do u expect for $150?

it has a maple fretboard with 21 frets and dot inlays. it has 3 pickups, 2 tone knobs, a volume knob of course and a tremolo bar. its really not great quality hence the price and the made in china label making the sound pretty UNremarkable.

(sigh...) in conclusion, wow i feel like im writing and essay. this guitar is great for begginners and gives a begginner early access to a tremolo baar.if u take a look at it, it really is beautiful until your eyes rool to the squier label.....but thats ok because i would still reccommend it.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this Guitar at a shop in Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands called Express Music costing £139 with a new lead and many picks also included. The guitar even had its allen key packaged. I bought this out of need to progress from my bass. The shop replaced my snapped strings free of charge


This guitar is fantastic. Its similar to a full on Strat only with a thinner, lighter body. The wood is high quality, the feel is good, and the look, much nicer than having a copy at this price. For practise and church hall purpose the sound is fair and you get the class of wielding in some way a Fender, mine being two colour sunburst. Ease of upgrade- this body id predrilled for full size humbuckers in the neck and bridge positions.


The pickups are not the greatest, and arent wound coils as should be in a proper single coil guitar as on my new Fender Nashville Tele. Due to age and continued storage, my guitar had a habit of breaking strings at the bridge which has now settled. On tone contol (middle p/up) gave way which again was a fault of aged storage and not the manufacture. The scrachplate being 8 hole is difficult to replace, which would make the guitar nicer.

Brilliant, the only problems are as a result of longer storage. Finish is fantastic, looks are fantastic and feel is amazing for a £140 guitar. Dont but anythin else for the money except for a Tele.

Great- before buying a Squier have your shop set up the tremolo and bridge

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I got this unit at a well known Edinburgh (Scotland) guitar dealer as part of a package with an amp unit for roughly £200. I wanted a really cheap guitar to learn on, and buy a better one when I got good.

It is quite cheap, and can be taken seriously to look at. Looks just like a genuine Fender Strat. It's not too heavy, and contours quite well with your body.

1) It's too easy to get fingerprints on it that won't come off

2) Scratches WAY too easily

3) Gets covered in dust and grime so easily (maybe that's just me, though). Dust accumulates under the strings on the body.

4) Rubbish tone. I need to use a multi fx to get a decent tone

5) Difficult to keep in tune.

Mine has a dark coloured fretboard (I'm not sure if this is rosewood or maple). It feels a bit sticky on the back of the neck, and the thing gets scratched and damaged too easily. The controls seem a tad flimsy too. The laquer finish is good though, it does look good.

Good for beginners, but if you plan to join a band or gig (like I want to), then save up for something else. Only use this for learning.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I got this at Matt Umanov (NYC) in the Squier Strat Pack. I paid $250 for the whole thing, with the guitar as about $125 of that. 'Tis my first guitar

Factory setup was very good. The guitar is very playable. String changes are easy, the thing sounds great, and it's fairly light. It also takes a lot of banging about (I've dropped it twice...)

The tuners on the Strat are not very good, especially the G and low E. The whammy bar throws things out of tune fast, and at one point the output jack screws popped out. I replaced them, and it's all right now.

The wood on the neck and headstock feels a bit cheap, and corners were cut on the output screws and the tuners. However, it's solidly built on the whole, with knobs that stay on.

Very good guitar. Not a Fender or even a Squier Standard, obviously, but it's great for beginners and not too shabby for anyone else.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I got my guitar off Guitar Trader on the Internet. I paid a total of $149.00. I had been playing acoustic guitar for a while, and wanted to expand my colection, so this guitar fit, especially money-wise.

The first thing you notice is that it looks great! I got it in black, and it has a white pickguard. The colors contrast beautifully, and the black paint is dark and shiny. It has all the classic lines of a Strat, the most beautiful instrument ever created. The three pick-ups all give great sound, especially the neck and middle ones. It has a powerfull sound. The bridge's whammy bar works great, and the guitar does not go out of tune very quick. Also, the action on the neck is very light, great for beginners!

Not much not to like here. Uhhh, I really can't think of anything.

Quality and construction are great. Nothing has broke or rattles at all. Remember, even though it says "Squire" on the Headstock, it still says "By Fender", and that means a lot.

The Bottom Line is that this guitar is an incredible deal for how much it costs. A guitar like this could cost a lot more, and I would STILL buy it. If you are a begginer, or even some-what experienced, this is a great guitar.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com