Fender 0372821069 Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Fender Affinity Stratocaster is an entry-level electric guitar designed for beginners, students, and intermediate players. Part of Fender's Affinity Series, this guitar is a more affordable version of Fender's iconic Stratocaster model. Made in Indonesia, the Affinity Stratocaster features a slim, comfortable C-shaped maple neck with a laurel fingerboard and 22 medium jumbo frets. The guitar has a classic double cutaway Strat body shape made from basswood. The Affinity Stratocaster is available in a variety of eye-catching finishes to suit different tastes. This is a great choice for new guitarists looking for a quality instrument that delivers classic Strat tone and feel without breaking the bank. The versatile Affinity Stratocaster gives players a perfect platform to develop their skills on an authentic Fender.

Body & Neck

The Fender Affinity Stratocaster features an alder body and maple neck for classic Fender tone and feel. Alder is known for its balanced and well-rounded tonality, providing a smooth medium between bright and warm sounds. The lightweight body resonates nicely with a comfortable contour against the player's body.

The maple neck offers stiffness and stability. Its modern "C"-shaped profile is comfortable and fast playing, while the satin finish allows for effortless movement up and down the neck. The fretwork from the maple neck also delivers excellent intonation across the fingerboard. Overall, the combo of alder and maple offers an excellent platform for varied playing styles.

The tonewood combination of alder and maple is a tried and true formula employed by Fender for decades. This pairing delivers the snap and brightness that Stratocasters are renowned for, with a muscular low end and rounded highs. While the wood selection lays a solid foundation, the pickups, hardware, and electronics take the Strat into even more versatile territory. The Affinity series aims to deliver these ingredients at an accessible price point for players of all levels.

Other notable manufacturers also utilize alder and maple to great effect. For example, Martin's Martin 11DX2E-02 combines these tonewoods in an auditorium body shape. This results in a crisp, balanced tone across the frequency range. While Martin is better known for their acoustic guitars, the 11DX2E-02 demonstrates their ability to craft fine electric instruments as well. The Stratocaster and Martin 11DX2E-02 take different approaches, but both benefit from the alder and maple combination.

Pickups

Fender has equipped the Stratocaster Affinity with three single-coil pickups, giving it that unmistakable clear and bright Strat tone. The pickups are designed to be vintage-style and noiseless, providing classic Stratocaster sounds without unwanted hum and noise.

The neck pickup produces a warm, round, and mellow tone perfect for jazz, blues, and clean playing. The middle pickup has more edge and bite for all-purpose playing. Finally, the bridge pickup is bright and twangy, excellent for cutting through a mix with its piercing treble.

With the 5-way pickup selector switch, you get a great range of tones - from soft and delicate to aggressive and biting. The pickups and switching give you the versatility to go from atmospheric cleans, to vintage rock, all the way to searing metal leads. Overall, the pickups capture the essence of a Stratocaster's tone.

The Fender Stratocaster Affinity features three single-coil pickups that provide a wide variety of classic Strat tones. The neck pickup delivers a warm, round sound perfect for jazz and blues. The middle pickup has more bite for all-purpose playing. Finally, the bridge pickup's bright and cutting treble allows it to pierce through a mix. With the 5-way selector switch, you can access tones from glassy cleans to aggressive metal leads.

Another popular model of electric guitar that features single-coil pickups is the Epiphone ENA2AANH3. This affordable guitar comes equipped with Alnico Classic humbucker pickups that provide a balanced, warm tone. The neck pickup delivers a smooth, melodic sound while the bridge pickup has more crunch and bite. Together they offer versatility for playing anything from blues and classic rock to hard rock. With coil-splitting, you can also simulate single-coil tones. Check out the Epiphone ENA2AANH3 for an excellent entry-level guitar with great pickups.

Controls

The Affinity Stratocaster features simple and straightforward electric guitar controls. It has a master volume knob, as well as individual tone controls for the neck and middle pickups.

The master volume knob allows you to control the overall output level of the guitar. Turn it up higher for more volume, or roll it back to clean up and reduce the output. This gives you a wide range of volume levels to work with.

The two tone knobs allow you to shape and customize the tone of the neck and middle pickups independently. You can dial in more brilliance and treble on one pickup, while making the other darker and bassier. Having individual tone controls gives you more tonal options compared to guitars with just one tone knob.

The tone controls have a very usable range, allowing you to go from warm and rounded, to bright and cutting. Even with the tone knobs turned all the way down, the tone doesn't get overly muddy. Overall, the electronics complement the pickups nicely.

Hardware

The Fender Affinity Stratocaster features quality hardware that enhances its playability and sound. The chrome hardware has a sleek look and includes Fender's vintage-style tremolo bridge.

The six-saddle tremolo bridge allows for increased sustain and expressive effects by utilizing the whammy bar. This classic Fender bridge stabilizes tuning while still providing the signature Stratocaster tremolo functionality guitarists expect. The saddles are stamped steel which is durable and helps transfer string vibration.

Overall, the hardware supports the versatile potential of the Stratocaster and allows players to experiment with effects like tremolo, vibrato, and string bending. While staying true to the Stratocaster's heritage, the Affinity's hardware provides a solid base for musical creativity across many genres.

Sound & Playability

The Fender Affinity Stratocaster delivers the versatile and articulate tone that Stratocasters are known for. The three single coil pickups provide a wide range of tones, from sparkling clean tones to growling overdrive.

The bridge pickup produces a bright, biting tone that cuts through a mix nicely. The middle pickup has a quacky, funky tone perfect for rhythm playing. And the neck pickup delivers a smooth, round tone that excelles at blues and jazz playing. With the 5-way pickup selector switch, you can blend the pickups together to access those iconic in-between Strat tones.

The comfortable C-shaped neck is ideal for chording and soloing. It provides modern playability while retaining the classic Fender feel. The rosewood fingerboard adds warmth and resonance. Overall, the Affinity Strat offers great Stratocaster sound and feel that punches above its weight class.

Pros

The Fender Affinity Stratocaster offers many of the iconic features and tone you'd expect from a Strat at an affordable price point. This makes it a great value for players looking for that classic Stratocaster style and sound without breaking the bank.

• Iconic Strat style: The Affinity Stratocaster features the familiar double cutaway Strat body shape with contoured edges for comfort. It has the classic three single-coil Strat pickup configuration that provides the bell-like and quacky Strat tones. The slim maple neck and fretboard feel comfortable and fast. Overall, it nails the visual aesthetic and playing feel of a real deal Stratocaster.

• Good value: Considering the price tag, the Affinity Stratocaster packs in impressive build quality and components. While the hardware, pickups, and electronics are more basic, they still deliver very solid performance that belies this guitar's budget status. It's an amazing value for getting into the classic Strat sound and style without having to spend over $1,000. The Affinity series appeals to new players, parents looking for a good beginner guitar for their child, or really anyone wanting an affordable player's Strat.

Cons

The Affinity Stratocaster does have some downsides common with cheaper guitars. The hardware and electronic components are more basic compared to Fender's American-made models. This can lead to issues with tuning stability as the cheaper machine heads may not hold tension as reliably.

The bridge and tremolo system is also more basic, using zinc rather than steel block saddles. This can impact tone and tuning stability when using the whammy bar. The pickups and electronics, while decent, also use cheaper components than higher-end Fenders.

While these cheaper parts help keep costs down, it does come at the expense of top-notch hardware and electronics. Serious players may want to consider upgrading some components like the tuners, bridge, and pickups down the line. The Affinity Strat offers great bang for your buck as an entry-level model, but lacks some refinement in terms of hardware quality.

Alternatives

The Squier Affinity Stratocaster is a popular alternative to the Fender version. It has a very similar look and feel but comes in at a more affordable price point. The hardware and electronics aren't quite up to Fender's standards, but it's still a great option for beginner and intermediate players.

Epiphone also makes some quality Strat-style guitars like the Les Paul SL and Les Paul Studio LT. These have humbucker pickups instead of single coils, so the tone is thicker and heavier. The craftsmanship is solid, especially considering the reasonable prices.

For metal and hard rock players, Ibanez offers the GRX70QA which has a double-locking tremolo bridge and two humbuckers. It brings lots of tonal variety and dive-bombing potential. The slim fast neck and flat radius make it ideal for lead playing and shredding.

While the Fender Affinity Strat holds its own, brands like Squier, Epiphone, and Ibanez provide excellent alternatives depending on your budget and musical needs. It pays to check them all out before deciding!

Conclusion

The Fender Affinity Stratocaster is a great Strat style beginner electric guitar with classic Fender tone and playability. It's an affordable option that gives you the iconic Strat shape and feel, with three single coil pickups for versatile tones.

The Affinity Strat is ideal for new players getting started on electric guitar, as well as Strat fans on a budget. It provides a comfortable modern C neck profile that plays fast. The alnico pickups and tremolo bridge give you familiar Strat tones and expressive vibrato effects.

While it's not built to the same specs as an American-made Strat, the Affinity delivers impressive quality and playability for the price. It's an excellent entry point into the Stratocaster family and Fender's wide range of tones. Overall, the Affinity Strat offers classic styling and Strat functionality at a beginner-friendly price.