Comparing 3 Stratocaster models - You Will Be Surprised

Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster:

Squier Classic Vibe 50s Stratocaster:

Fender Player Stratocaster

*Timestamps:*
---------------------------------------------------------
0:00 - Hello
0:18 - Intro
2:08 - Blind Tone Challenge
2:29 - Clean Tones
6:24 - Dirt Tones
11:55 - Challenge Results
12:41 - Parts Walkthrough
12:50 - Weight
13:20 - Pickup Resistance
14:35 - Headstock & Tuners
14:52 - Neck and Bodies
15:49 - Body & Hardware
16:24 - Inside the Pickguard
16:49 - Gallery
18:08 - Summary - My Top Pick
21:00 - Goodbye

*Affiliate Links:*
---------------------------------------------------------

Online music courses
---------------------------------------------------------

*Guitar Gear I use*
---------------------------------------------------------

*Recording Gear I use*
---------------------------------------------------------

*Audio/Video gear I use*
---------------------------------------------------------

*Guitar Maintenance Tools I use*
---------------------------------------------------------

*Follow Me on Social Media sites*
---------------------------------------------------------

_Links to product sites may be from affiliate programs._
_I receive compensation from affiliate programs of which I am a partner._

[jayanthkumar]

I honestly thought the affinity was the Fender player! I rated it the highest. It was obvious that Z was the classic vibe - with its quacky tones, and more classic sounding feel. So surprised.

[choplass]

Guitar Y was my favourite, it had the best balance midrange grit and smoothness.

[renaudhacquin]

Fed up with all those comparisons videos where at the end one just says "you decide for yourself" without giving one's opinion . You on the contrary give your honest personnel opinion that is the reason I watched the video to start with so a huge thank you! Keep it up I love your way of reviewing products.

[stapeljj]

Great video, Landon. I love affordable Fenders and Squiers and this will really help viewers determine the differences. Keep it up!

[olliebrandon]

Love your unique styled videos Landon! Its so clear the effort you put in

[cojohnso]

Well done blind test. I am not a Fender guy but you kept my interest through the entire demo and that is the 1st time that has ever happened. That alone to me is what makes this comment necessary

[peterjanjanin]

I love the Classic Vibe stuff! I have a P and J bass and absolutely love them!

[jwilder]

I thought the Affinity was the Fender. Sounded the best to me.

[gt]

I put down a deposit for the Classic Vibe 50s around the first week of May. It was hard for me to even find a retailer for the Classic Vibe 50s. They’re currently out of stock everywhere I looked, but the store I ordered from said they should be back in stock sometime around August. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on it. I just love how it sounds.

[robbolandsvids]

I guessed the Player series right, which is handy, as I own one, but was really impressed how close the Affinty sounded to it. The CV didn't seem to handle breakup quite as well to my ears, which is why I got the Affinity and CV incorrect, (probably due to my price bias !) This makes me extra happy, as I'm being given an Affinity Strat once lockdown is over, which I was going to give to one of my students, but this video is making me think I might keep it for myself. Top vid Landon, cheers from the UK.

[raceface_m]

I am so, so, so shocked. I thought X was the affinity because it lacked dynamics. Z was the best sounding overall clean for me. I’ll have to get another one of those 50s CVs.
By the way, excellent quality videos! Excellent tear down in detail. Thanks for the time stamps as well. Very helpful overall.

[StringsOfCrossroads]

Great video! Excellently done!
I had actually just done this very comparison myself between my very first guitar a Squier Standard strat that I still had and my fender Mexican standard. I love them both slight preference in playability to the Mexican but I prefer the sound of the Squier which sounds a bit more “vintage” possibly since the Mexican pups are slightly hotter as shown here. I do think the Squiers tend to be more period correct in their specs maybe? But honestly thought they all sounded great! Probably come down to budget, feel and head stock snobbery!

[JosEvan]

I managed to guess them correctly although there was very little difference in tone between them so the winner here really is the Squier Affinity for holding up against the other two. I could hear the little extra brightness and spank from the heavily glossed neck of the Classic Vibe and a little bit of extra warmth from the Player series which is something I’ve noticed about the Fender made alnico pickups from guitars I’ve owned. I think as ever that the real differences aren’t in the tone of the instruments but the construction and resulting feel and playability of them. Great video, cheers Landon 👍🏼

[zd]

I bought a right handed Affinity Strat with the intention of putting all the bits onto a lefty body. One of the nicest necks I've ever got my hands on. Guitar is currently on loan to my daughter, so can't be disassembled yet and the project is on hold.

[kieralexander]

Shocked by that. I thought the CV was the affinity as it sounded cheaper. I was considering getting a player based on the fact I had budgeted for a CV. Y’know save an extra month and just get the Fender. But hearing the affinity has made me rethink. Awesome review

[AndruJorj]

Classic Vibe 50's looks the best.

[DennisJPolson]

Still a great watch the 2nd time around. I really enjoy your comparison vids, Landon.

[handymatt]

Great review, lots of hard work to show us everything. I love my old Indo baltic blue affinity paid next to nothing and it still sounds better than most strats. Love the light thin body too.

[dennisfinch]

Hi Landon, once again a great review. I liked the player series the best for sound, then the affinity and after that the cv 50s. I would definitely go with the player for all round performance. I would like to look at the affinity though i've been told they do not hold tune well compared to the others and the thicker neck on the affinity doesn't appeal. Keep the reviews coming.

[TransistorBased]

Ayyyy I got it 😄
I've figured out it's not too hard to pick out the CV because in a head-to-head comparison it's almost always hotter. Then that just left the other two, and it wasn't too difficult to determine which one was a little bit clearer and which one was a little bit muddier