Fender 0378002505 Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Fender Affinity Stratocaster electric guitar is one of Fender's most popular and affordable Strat models. Part of the Squier by Fender brand, the Affinity Strat offers classic Strat tone and playability at a budget-friendly price point, making it a top choice for beginners and hobbyists.

With its iconic double-cutaway Strat body shape, 25.5" scale maple neck, and laurel fretboard, the Affinity Strat retains some of the key features of its more expensive Fender cousins. It has a bolt-on neck design with C-shaped profile that's comfortable to play. The fretwork and setup from the factory is decent for an entry-level guitar as well. Hardware includes vintage-style bent steel saddles, chrome tuners, and a synchronized tremolo bridge for expressive vibrato effects.

The Affinity Strat comes loaded with three single coil Strat pickups that provide that bell-like, articulate tone the Stratocaster is known for. Controls include a 5-way pickup selector switch, master volume and tone knobs. Available in a wide range of eye-catching finishes, the Affinity Strat offers a lot of Strat for the money. Let's take a more in-depth look at what this popular model has to offer.

Body Style and Design

The Fender Affinity Stratocaster features the iconic double cutaway Stratocaster body shape that Fender is known for. The body is made from alder wood, which helps provide a balanced tone with adequate low-end, pleasing highs and good articulation.

Alder is a popular choice for electric guitar bodies as it has a clear, full-bodied sound. The lightweight alder body makes the Affinity Strat comfortable to play, even during longer practice or gigging sessions.

The double cutaway design allows easy access to the higher frets, enabling lead guitarists to easily play complex solos up and down the neck. The contoured body edges and beveled heel also improve playability by making it easy to reach around the neck joint.

Overall, the Affinity Stratocaster's alder body and classic Strat shape offer an exceptional blend of comfort, style and great tone. It's ideal for a wide range of musical genres thanks to the versatile sound provided by the alder wood construction.

Another popular electric guitar body style is the single cutaway design found on the Valencia VC204H. This guitar has a mahogany body which produces a warm, rounded tone that works well for blues, jazz, and classic rock. The single cutaway allows good access to the lower frets while still providing solid anchoring for the bridge and tailpiece at the back of the body.

Compared to the Fender Stratocaster's alder, mahogany has a darker, richer sound that emphasizes the midrange. This gives it a smooth, mellow tone that complements playing styles focused on expressive phrasing and dynamics. The Valencia VC204H's mahogany body with single cutaway design provides an appealing alternative to the brighter, snappier Strat tone.

While the Stratocaster is known for its versatility across many genres, the Valencia VC204H's mahogany body makes it a great choice for blues, jazz, and classic rock. Its comfortable body size and contoured edges also promote improved playing ease during longer practice and gig sessions. Overall, the Valencia adds some nice tonal variety alongside the ever-popular Strat-style guitar.

Neck and Fretboard

The Affinity Stratocaster features a maple neck with a modern "C"-shaped profile that's comfortable and easy to play. The fretboard is rosewood which provides a smooth feel and warm, rounded tone.

The 25.5" (648mm) scale length neck has a 9.5" (241mm) radius and narrow-tall frets for comfort and playability. The truss rod adjustment is at the headstock for easy access when setting up the action. Overall the neck and fretboard offer great feel and vintage Fender tonality.

The neck is made from maple which is a hardwood that provides stability and durability. Maple necks are known for having a bright, crisp tone which complements the alder body nicely. The modern C-shape profile has become very popular as it fits nicely in the hand and allows for comfortable chording and lead playing.

The fretboard is rosewood which is prized for its rich, complex overtones. Rosewood has a smooth feel under the fingers and imparts a warm, rounded tone. The 25.5" scale length is the same as vintage Fenders and provides great string tension and intonation. The 9.5" radius strikes a nice balance between vintage and modern - enough curvature for comfortable chording but flat enough for lower action and easy bending.

The narrow-tall frets also make bending strings easier while preserving vintage aesthetics. Overall Fender hit the mark for feel and playability with the Affinity Stratocaster neck and fretboard specs. Players looking for authentic Fender tone and vibe will appreciate the attention to detail. Be sure to check out the Taylor FB02006016005151000 for another fantastic electric guitar option.

Hardware

The Affinity Stratocaster features standard Stratocaster hardware that provides stability and great tone. It has a synchronized tremolo bridge which allows for increased expression and subtle vibrato effects by raising or lowering the bridge. Many players love the smooth, floating feel of a strat tremolo bridge.

The tuners are die-cast tuning machines, which provide precise and accurate tuning stability. These sealed gear tuners smoothly turn the posts to keep the strings locked in tune, even during heavy use. Overall, the hardware complements the traditional Strat design and allows the guitar to deliver the classic bell-like Strat tone that players love.

Pickups

The Affinity Stratocaster is equipped with three single coil Strat pickups that provide the classic bell-like tone Stratocasters are known for. The pickups are arranged in the traditional Stratocaster configuration with a bridge pickup, a middle pickup, and a neck pickup.

The 5-way pickup selector switch allows you to choose between the bridge pickup alone, the bridge and middle pickups together, the middle pickup alone, the middle and neck pickups together, or the neck pickup alone. This gives you a wide variety of tonal options and allows you to go from bright and crisp bridge tones to warm and rounded neck tones.

The single coil design helps produce the Strat's signature sparkling clean tones when played with a clean amp. When driven with gain, the pickups retain clarity and articulation. Overall, the pickups deliver the authentic Stratocaster tone at an affordable price point.

Controls

The Fender Affinity Stratocaster features a simple yet versatile control layout that provides a wide range of tonal options. It has a master volume control, along with individual tone controls for the neck and middle pickups.

The master volume knob allows you to control the overall loudness of the guitar. Turn it up for full-throated rock tones, or dial it back for cleaner sounds.

The tone knobs let you shape the high-end response of the pickups. The neck pickup tone knob rolls off some of the treble frequencies, allowing you to soften the attack for smooth jazz and blues lead playing. The middle pickup tone control can be turned down to tame some of the bite for rhythm playing. With the knobs wide open, you get the bright, snappy tone that Stratocasters are famous for.

Having individual tone controls for the neck and middle pickups makes it easy to get a variety of tones from the 5-way pickup selector switch. You can brighten up the neck pickup while softening the middle pickup, or vice versa. This adds to the tonal flexibility of the guitar.

Sound and Tone

The Fender Affinity Stratocaster delivers the versatile, classic Stratocaster tone that Fender is known for. The combination of the alder body and maple neck provides a bright, resonant tone with crisp highs and tight lows.

The three single-coil Strat pickups are voiced for traditional Stratocaster tones, with the bridge pickup providing plenty of bite and twang for lead playing. The neck pickup has a smooth, rounded tone that is great for jazz and blues. The middle pickup strikes a balance between the other two for rhythm playing.

Using the 5-way pickup selector switch, players can dial in everything from glassy cleans to snarling overdrive. There's a wide range of tones suitable for any genre, from country and funk to hard rock and metal. The classic Strat sound shines through from clean warm tones to growling distortion.

Overall, the Affinity Stratocaster gives players access to those coveted bell-like Strat tones at an entry-level price point. It's a versatile guitar well suited for rock, blues, country and more.

Playability

The Affinity Stratocaster features a smooth and fast maple neck that allows for comfortable, fluid playing across the fretboard. The neck has a modern "C"-shaped profile that contours nicely to the hand. The satin finish on the back of the neck also enhances speed and movement.

Many players find the Affinity's neck provides a great balance of comfort and playability. The action out of the box is set low and buzz-free, making chords and lead lines easy to execute. There is little need to adjust the action unless you have very specific preferences. Overall, the feel of the neck and setup makes this guitar enjoyable to play for extended periods.

The fretwork from the factory is good as well. The medium jumbo frets are finished smoothly and installs properly on the rosewood fingerboard. Bends, vibratos, and slides across the fretboard translate well without sharp or uneven frets hindering technique. The guitar stays in tune nicely even during heavy playing.

In summary, the fast feel of the maple neck paired with the comfortable low action allows players to explore the full potential of the guitar. The Affinity Stratocaster's playability makes it suitable for both rhythm and lead playing across various genres.

Pros

Fender's Stratocaster is one of the most iconic electric guitar designs of all time. The Affinity Stratocaster retains the classic contoured double-cutaway alder body that the Strat is known for, along with the signature 3 single coil pickup configuration. This gives the Affinity Strat the instantly recognizable bell-like tone that Strat players love.

For a budget guitar, the Affinity Strat punches above its weight in terms of build quality and sound. The alder body and maple neck provide a great resonant tone, while the diecast tuning machines help keep the guitar in tune. While you wouldn't expect the same level of craftsmanship as a American-made Strat, the Affinity model provides excellent value for the price point. Most players find it very comfortable to play as well.

So for guitarists looking for that iconic Fender Strat sound and style on a budget, the Affinity Stratocaster is an excellent choice. It provides a quality instrument with the classic looks and sound, without breaking the bank.

Cons

The Affinity Stratocaster is an entry-level model, so it does cut some corners to achieve a lower price point. This means the hardware and electronics are cheaper than Fender's more expensive models.

The bridge and tuners are basic, and may not keep the guitar in tune as well over time compared to upgraded hardware options. The pickups are also beginner-level, and may sound dull or need some tweaking to get the best tone.

Some users report needing to do some initial setup work on the Affinity Strat out of the box. Issues like high action, fret buzz, and poor intonation are not uncommon and may require adjustments to the truss rod, bridge height, and intonation to fix. This isn't unusual for a budget guitar, but it does require some extra time and effort.

The cheaper components make the Affinity Strat less durable and more prone to issues over time compared to pro-level instruments. Serious players may need to replace some parts like the bridge, tuners, and electronics to get pro performance. But the Affinity is intended for beginners, not pros, so this is to be expected.