{"product_id":"2007-squier-affinity-stratocaster-hss-metallic-red","title":"Valentine! - 2007 Squier Affinity Stratocaster HSS in Metallic Red","description":"\u003ch3 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eMeet Valentine\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe may have started life as an Affinity, but after nearly two decades and a trip through our workshop, Valentine has developed rather expensive tastes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eValentine is a 2007 Squier Affinity Stratocaster HSS in Metallic Red, Crafted in Indonesia and equipped with a maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and versatile HSS pickup configuration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome guitars arrive needing major surgery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOthers simply need somebody to take them seriously.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eValentine belongs firmly in the second camp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAn Older Affinity With Plenty to Offer\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNearly twenty years later, Valentine has survived remarkably well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer Metallic Red finish still has a deep sparkle beneath the gloss, paired beautifully with cream-coloured plastics, a traditional rosewood fingerboard and the familiar large Stratocaster headstock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe looks considerably more expensive than the word Affinity on the headstock might suggest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnderneath is one of the most useful pickup arrangements available on a Strat-style guitar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eValentine's HSS configuration combines two traditional single coils in the neck and middle positions with a bridge humbucker.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat means access to everything from clear cleans, blues and familiar Strat sparkle through to thicker rock sounds and considerably more convincing higher-gain tones.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe five-way selector makes moving between them straightforward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne guitar. Quite a lot of musical personalities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd thankfully, all of them are useful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Stray Chord Treatment\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAffordable guitars often contain fundamentally good ingredients.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere manufacturers frequently have to save money is in the amount of finishing time each individual instrument receives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo we supplied the time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eValentine's frets have been levelled, crowned and polished, with the fret ends carefully refined and the fingerboard edges rolled to remove the sharper production-guitar feel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer rosewood fingerboard was thoroughly cleaned and conditioned, restoring the richness and smooth feel of timber that has now seen nearly two decades of life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer electronics and hardware were inspected, the tremolo checked and adjusted, and the pickup heights carefully balanced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNeck relief, action and intonation were then dialled in as part of a complete professional setup before she received a fresh set of strings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe result is exactly why we enjoy working on guitars like this.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe still says Squier Affinity on the headstock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe simply no longer feels like somebody's compromise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCondition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a guitar dating from 2007, Valentine is in genuinely lovely overall condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are naturally some small signs of previous use and age, all of which are represented honestly in our photographs, but the Metallic Red finish has survived beautifully.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis isn't a new guitar pretending to have history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe actually has some.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy Valentine?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause sometimes the badge on the headstock doesn't tell the whole story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA properly prepared Affinity can make an excellent first guitar, dependable backup or everyday instrument.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eValentine has already received the fretwork and setup that can make the difference between an affordable guitar somebody struggles against and one that actively encourages them to keep playing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe is approachable without feeling disposable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVersatile without becoming complicated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd thanks to that HSS layout, she can accompany somebody from their first clean chord right through to the moment they discover distortion and the neighbours begin reconsidering their life choices.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter nearly twenty years, Valentine is polished, rehabilitated, professionally set up and ready to fall hopelessly in love with somebody new.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJust try not to break her heart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eManufacturer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Squier\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eModel:\u003c\/strong\u003e Affinity Stratocaster HSS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYear:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2007\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCountry of Manufacture:\u003c\/strong\u003e Indonesia\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Metallic Red\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNeck:\u003c\/strong\u003e Maple\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFingerboard:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rosewood\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrets:\u003c\/strong\u003e 21\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePickup Configuration:\u003c\/strong\u003e HSS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eControls:\u003c\/strong\u003e Volume and tone controls with 5-way pickup selector\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBridge:\u003c\/strong\u003e Synchronised tremolo\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardware:\u003c\/strong\u003e Chrome\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Used, very well preserved for its age\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWorkshop:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full fretwork and professional setup completed\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHE STRAY CHORD\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRESCUE • RESTORE • REHOME\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Stray Chord","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58525157327112,"sku":null,"price":175.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1059\/2829\/4664\/files\/image0_bdde221d-eab5-4144-b224-d6c5386400b4.jpg?v=1787584702","url":"https:\/\/thestraychord.com\/products\/2007-squier-affinity-stratocaster-hss-metallic-red","provider":"The Stray Chord","version":"1.0","type":"link"}